On April 12, 1981 "Rush" Band members made a historic visit to Cape Canaveral - the Kennedy Space Center in Florida USA. Which of the band's two songs was influenced by this visit, and what is the Israeli connection? you will soon find out. On April 12, 1981, the three members of "Rush" arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida. They were special guests of NASA - the US space agency, during the launch of the first space shuttle ever - "Columbia", on mission STS-1. During their visit, they were given a tour of the space center, after which they were taken to a special area called "Red Sector A", from where all the special guests watched the launch of the spacecraft. This visit and the launch of the first spacecraft, led Neil Peart to write the lyrics to the song Countdown, which appeared as the last song of the 1982 album "Signals". The communication sounds heard in the song are recordings from the space shuttle's communication system, between astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen, and to the ground control center. The band also dedicated the song to the two astronauts and all NASA personnel for the inspiration they gave them during the visit. It should be noted that the song " Countdown " also served as the astronauts' alarm clock during the penultimate mission of the Columbia shuttle - mission STS-109 from 2002. (Photo: 2112.net) As we all know, the same - "Columbia", on which the song was written, crashed about a year later on February 1, 2003, during mission STS-107, in which the first Israeli astronaut - Ilan Ramon was also a crew member, and here the Israeli connection to the story. By the way, astronaut Mike Fincke also chose the song " Countdown " to be played during his last mission before retirement - mission STS-134 of the Andover spacecraft. Rush members were so fascinated by the visit to NASA that they decided to include a special thank you to the staff members who accompanied them on the liner notes of the album " Exit... Stage Left ", as follows: "To the people of NASA for the spectacular launch of Colombia which we were privileged and thrilled to witness" As you may recall, the live album " Exit... Stage Left " was released about a year before the album " Signals " which included the song. The second song influenced by Rush's visit, to the Cape Canaveral Space Center, was of course " Red Sector A ", which got its name from the same VIP area from which the band members watched the historic launch. The theme of the song is of course not about the same launch and it was influenced by the story of Geddy Lee 's parents, both Holocaust survivors, who survived the Bergen-Belsen and Dachau concentration camps. This song is of course included on the " Grace Under Pressure " album which was released on the exact day of the historical "Rush" visit in the year 1984. For Listening: Click: H ere . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 12.04.1983 Murmur suggests a soft rustling sound. The members of "R.E.M." who chose that title for their debut album were actually drawn to one of the simplest words to pronounce in English. It also sounds a bit like an indistinct mumble, much like the way Michael Stipe  sang in the band’s early days. That was the atmosphere surrounding the release of "Murmur" on April 12, 1983. A few months before the debut album, "R.E.M." released an EP titled "Chronic Town", which served as a kind of test run and helped convince the executives at "I.R.S." that the band was worth investing in for a full-length album. The EP was produced by Mitch Easter. In 1980, Easter founded Drive-In Studio, a professional recording studio located in what had originally been his parents’ garage. A year later, he formed the band "Let’s Active" with his then-girlfriend Faye Hunter. Around the same time, he was working with "R.E.M." on their debut single "Radio Free Europe" , which sold thousands of copies in Athens, Georgia, and gave the band early local recognition. Right as Mitch Easter was setting up his home studio, a chance meeting took place between Peter Buck, who was working at the record store "Wuxtry Records", and an eager customer named Michael Stipe . The two quickly fell into conversation and discovered a shared love for Patti Smith, "Television", and "The Velvet Underground". According to Stipe, he realized at that moment that he had been buying all the records Buck had been setting aside for himself. Buck and Stipe decided to form a band, and through a mutual friend, Kathleen O’Brien, they were introduced to two University of Georgia students who had been playing together since high school, Bill Berry and Mike Mills. In its early days, "R.E.M." struggled to attract interest from record labels. Their debut single "Radio Free Europe"  was released on a small local label called "Hib-Tone", founded by a law student named Johnny Hibbert. Only after the single was selected as one of the best singles of the year by The New York Times did attention begin to build. A demo that reached "I.R.S." eventually led the band to reject an offer from the major label "R.C.A" in favor of signing with "I.R.S.", a label known for its focus on college rock and new wave acts. "I.R.S." was founded by Jay Boberg, Carl Grasso, and Miles Copeland, the brother of Stewart Copeland of "The Police". After signing with "I.R.S." and releasing the EP "Chronic Town", produced by Mitch Easter, the label initially tried to pair the band with producer Stephen Hague. However, Hague’s insistence on technical perfection left the band dissatisfied. The members of "R.E.M." asked the label for a trial session with Easter instead. The label agreed, on the condition that producer Don Dixon would join the sessions alongside him. Following a successful recording of "Pilgrimage", the label approved full album sessions with Easter and Dixon. Recording for "Murmur" began in early January 1983 and was completed within about six weeks, before the end of February. The lead single released from the album was a more refined version of "Radio Free Europe" , originally released two years earlier. "Murmur" is characterized by a jangly pop sound blended with elements of folk and country, creating something both highly accessible and distinctly different from what was being released at the time. Easter and Dixon experimented with unconventional recording techniques that helped create the album’s sense of mystery. For example, Mike Mills’ bass on "Radio Free Europe"  was run through a noise gate, producing a strange buzzing tone. Another example is the dull thudding sound heard throughout "We Walk", which was achieved by recording Bill Berry playing pool at a slowed-down speed. Add to that Stipe’s often indistinct vocal delivery, along with the shimmering guitar textures created by Peter Buck, and lyrics that are sometimes deliberately ambiguous. Tracks like "Perfect Circle"  carry an emotional weight that can be interpreted in multiple ways. For Buck, who wrote the song, it reflected memories of children playing football one evening in Trenton, New Jersey, while Stipe viewed it more as a song about longing within a relationship. On "Sitting Still" , Buck’s guitar riff strongly echoes the sound of "The Byrds". The track, which had already been recorded back in 1981, was included on the album in its original form, unlike "Radio Free Europe" , which was re-recorded. Part of the inspiration for the lyrics came from Stipe’s sister, who is deaf and works with deaf children. Another standout track on the album is "Talk About the Passion" , which deals with themes of homelessness, poverty, and hunger. It reflects on how these issues are constantly discussed, yet rarely acted upon, suggesting that while awareness exists, real change is far more difficult when faced with the weight of the world’s problems. The album cover features an image of kudzu, an invasive plant that grows so rapidly it overtakes entire landscapes, suffocating other vegetation by completely blocking out sunlight. 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 - 12.04.1994 Sometimes it feels like certain aspects of rock music were never fully explored, as if a distinct female perspective never truly had its place. In the early 90s, Courtney Love  took on the role of an uncompromising musician and frontwoman. She stepped into a world that had long been dominated almost entirely by men and proved that there was room for the raw, unfiltered voice she brought with her. She became one of the defining faces of early 90s rock and grunge alongside her partner Kurt Cobain . With "Hole", she aimed to create music that would shake people, channeling intensity and confrontation through the band’s sound. Their second album, "Live Through This", was released on April 12, 1994. She never filtered herself and never tried to soften her image. Instead, she projected a take me as I am attitude, pouring everything out vocally, at times sounding like a cry for help. Courtney Love ’s early life was far from stable. Her parents divorced when she was just four years old, and her mother, who lived a hippie lifestyle, exposed her to an unconventional and often chaotic home environment. Love later described a household where people would come and go freely, sometimes without clothes, engaging in yoga sessions and various spiritual rituals. At the age of 14, she was arrested for theft and spent time in juvenile detention. After her release, she was placed with a foster family until 1980, where she was exposed to music by Patti Smith, "The Runaways", and "The Pretenders". Before returning to the United States in 1982, Courtney Love  traveled through Japan, the UK, and Ireland, supporting herself with various odd jobs. While in the UK, she became romantically involved with Julian Cope of the post-punk band "The Teardrop Explodes". That same year, during a performance by "Faith No More", Courtney Love  approached the band and asked to join as their vocalist. The band agreed and even recorded several songs with her, but the collaboration ended after only a few months. In 1985, Courtney Love  moved to Portland and met musician Kat Bjelland. The two initially formed a band called "Sugar Baby Doll". Later, they established "Pagan Babies" in San Francisco, recording a demo that included four tracks. Bjelland would later go on to form "Babes in Toyland", with Love briefly involved before being dismissed from the band. At this stage, Courtney Love  considered shifting her career path and began studying film and theater. She appeared in several minor film roles, in "Andy Warhol's 15 Minutes", and in the music video for "I Wanna Be Sedated" by "Ramones", which was released in 1988, a decade after the song originally came out. About a year later, Courtney Love  returned to Los Angeles and to music. She taught herself to play guitar and, together with guitarist Eric Erlandson, formed the band "Hole". The name of the band, in Courtney Love’s version, was partly inspired by a line from Euripides’ Medea , describing a feeling of an internal void consuming her. Courtney Love  and Eric Erlandson began working on material together. At night, she worked as a stripper to fund equipment for the band, while during the day they rehearsed in a studio space lent to them by "Red Hot Chili Peppers". The band’s first performance took place in November 1989. Their debut album, "Pretty on the Inside", was released in September 1991, produced by Kim Gordon of "Sonic Youth". The album was extremely raw, heavily influenced by punk rock and metal. Recognizing Gordon’s artistic strengths, Courtney Love  approached her with the request to produce the band’s debut album. Don Fleming, frontman of the rock band "Gumball", joined Gordon in producing the record, which found success within the grunge scene and sold over 200,000 copies in the United States. In 1992, Courtney Love  married Kurt Cobain . Shortly afterward, the couple faced severe personal struggles due to Cobain’s heroin addiction and a controversial article in "Vanity Fair", which portrayed them in a highly negative light as drug addicts raising a child in neglectful conditions. Courtney Love  later explained that the article had a deep and damaging effect on Cobain and on their relationship. The second album by "Hole", "Live Through This", was recorded over a period of roughly three weeks in October 1993. The album marked a departure from the band’s unpolished hardcore aesthetic, moving toward more refined melodies and structured songwriting. Before recording began, bassist Kristen Pfaff joined the band, a classically trained cellist who brought a new level of musicianship to the group. She joined drummer Patty Schemel, who had entered the band in 1992. Tragically, Pfaff would pass away from an overdose just two months after the album’s release. Courtney Love  wanted the record to challenge expectations, to confront those who assumed the band was only about noise and aggression, while still maintaining a sense of toughness. The album was produced by Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie, who had also produced " Pablo Honey ", the debut album by "Radiohead", in 1993. It was partially mixed by Scott Litt, known for his work with "R.E.M", along with "Dinosaur Jr." member J Mascis. The lyrics and packaging reflect Courtney Love’s thematic focus on beauty, as well as recurring motifs of milk, motherhood, anti-elitism, and violence against women. The album title "Live Through This" was inspired by a line from the film "Gone with the Wind" (1939). Although some of the lyrics on "Live Through This" directly reference Courtney Love ’s personal life, she maintained that the record was not intended to be autobiographical. She stated that her goal was simply to write a strong rock record and to create great rock songs in the spirit of artists like Chrissie Hynde . The album explores themes of motherhood, depression, body image, child abuse, and elitism, alongside recurring imagery of milk, pregnancy, and suicide. The opening track, "Violet" , was inspired by Billy Corgan  of "The Smashing Pumpkins". While songs like "Plump" , "Miss World" , and "I Think That I Would Die"  revolve around recurring themes of motherhood and postpartum depression, "I Think That I Would Die"  specifically references the custody battle between Courtney Love  and Kurt Cobain  over their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, in 1992. The album’s most successful single, "Doll Parts" , was written by Courtney Love  in the Boston apartment of music executive Joyce Linehan in 1991. The song offers a glimpse into Love’s insecurities regarding Kurt Cobain ’s romantic feelings toward her. Fashion model Leilani Bishop appears on the album cover, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth, dressed as a beauty queen with a tiara and bouquet, with mascara running down her face like tears of joy. Courtney Love explained that she wanted to capture the look on a woman’s face at a moment of triumph. The album achieved major commercial success, selling over one and a half million copies in the United States alone. It was included in "Rolling Stone" magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It also appeared in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and was ranked number 84 on "NME"’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Tragically, the album was released just four days after the body of Kurt Cobain , Courtney Love ’s partner, was discovered. Cobain also contributed backing vocals on two tracks from the album, "Asking for It"  and "Softer, Softest" . The album was dedicated to the memory of Joe Cole, a roadie for the bands "Black Flag" and "Rollins Band", who was shot and killed during a robbery in December 1991 after attending a "Hole" show at the Whisky a Go Go. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... If two days ago we recommended the first album of the amazing Israeli band "Drugstore Fanatics" then today we recommend their second album "SPIELTPLATZ" which came out 5 years later and contains 6 songs. If the previous album was made only by Daniel and Aviv, from the writing, through the recordings to the production. This time more friends helped them: Gregg Cash and Amit Ofir on guitars and Maor Applebaum on mastering. You are welcome to watch the documentary that the two took on the recording of the album on their Facebook page . Listen to this excellent album 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 the fourth album "Return of Saturn" by the band "No Doubt". After the success of the album "Tragic Kingdom" which was released in 1995 with the successful and long tour (two and a half years) that accompanied it, the band collected about 20 songs in order to start working on the next album. During the preparations for the album, they felt that something was not working. Gwen Stefani - The lead writer felt uncomfortable with the material that came out, something in the production also did not work for the band. Their record company exerted heavy pressure to release a single, not to lose the momentum of the success of the previous album. Gwen agreed with the record company but the rest of the band did not, which led to a rift between the members. This was not a small, short-time rift, this rift lasted for almost two years until guitarist Tom Dumont sent Gwen several ideas for the album as a peace offer, and the band returned to the studio to record their fourth album. Four singles have been released from the album with the two most prominent being: "Ex-Girlfriend" and "Simple kind Of Life". The album reached number two on the Billboard charts as it lost to "N'sync". Listen to the album on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On April 11, 1983, "Metallica" members said no more! And decided to fire guitarist Dave Mustaine . (Photo: Rockandrollgarage.com) On the morning of April 10th, 1983, Lars Ulrich , James Hetfield , and Cliff Burton woke Dave Mustaine up, and informed him that he was fired from the band. What the band members did not tell Mustaine, was that they had already hired a new guitarist - Kirk Hammett , who ten days earlier, on April 1st, was invited for an Audition By Phone Call , while sitting in the toilet. The dismissal came to Mustaine as a complete surprise. Just a few hours earlier he was standing on a stage with his three friends performing at the "L'Amour Club" in Brooklyn, New York and a day later he found out that the band was kicking him out. When Dave asked his friends when are they flying back to California, he was told he was not flying. His bandmates bought him a bus ticket for a four-day ride to California, and the bus was leaving from Manhattan Central Station in one hour. The stunned and confused Dave packed his bag took his guitar and got into the car along with Hetfield who drove him to the bus station. Needless to say, Mustaine was just furious and the ride home was very difficult. Not only was Mustaine kicked out of the band, not only was he shamelessly sent back home on a four-day bus ride, but he knew his bandmates were about to enter the studio to record their debut album " Kill 'Em All ", and that some of the material he wrote was going to be played by another guitarist. Mustaine wasted no time and during the long drive home began writing songs. One of the sentences he wrote on the back of a bill had one word that would later become the name of his majestic band. And so he wrote: "The arsenal of megadeath can not be rid". Mustaine bore the insult of his dismissal years later, even after the great success of his own band "Megadeth". But if we want to advocate his fellow "Metallica" members, the writing was on the wall, but Mustaine refused to read it. Mustaine had a severe alcohol problem. It was not that the others would not drink, but Mustaine would just become violent whenever he got drunk. His bandmates tried to come to terms with his extreme behavior, but eventually, they said enough. This was not the first time Dave was fired from the band. One day Mustaine brought his dog to the rehearsal room and the dog started destroying bassist Ron McGovney's car. After James Hetfield yelled at the dog to get out of McGovney's car, Mustaine got upset and physically and verbally attacked his two bandmates. He was fired after the incident but begged for his return. In another incident, Mustaine got drunk and poured beer over McGovney and his bass guitar, causing it damage and nearly electrocuting McGovney. He asked Mustaine to leave his house and left the band. Before leaving "Metallica", Mustaine managed to record the demo tape "No Life 'Til Leather" from 1982. In 2015 Lars Ulrich announced that the mythological tape would be released soon, but due to legal issues, it was not officially released to this day. Despite Dave's dismissal from "Metallica", he received credit as a songwriter on the albums " Kill 'Em All " and " Ride The Lightning ". Mustaine said he asked his friends not to record his songs, but they did not pay attention. After being fired from "Metallica" Dave worked in telemarketing. At the same time, he set up a band called "Fallen Angels" that did not last long. After quite a few unsuccessful auditions, Dave decided to take on the role of singer, changing the band's name to "Megadeth" and the rest history. "Megadeth" will soon become one of the biggest and most influential bands in the thrash metal genre. Mustaine's revenge for his dismissal from "Metallica" will be the fuel that will propel his engines as a lyricist and a writer and launch his band's career to compete head to head with his former band, for the title "the biggest band in thrash metal". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On April 11, 1988, "Iron Maiden" released their seventh album, "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". This was the band's last album with the 'classical' lineup, since after its release, guitarist Adrian Smith left the band, until his return in 1999. This is "Iron Maiden's" first concept album and also the first in which the influence of "progressive rock", which Bassist Steve Harris grew up on, is particularly noticeable. The album continues the musical diversity that began in the previous album " Somewhere in Time " and is mostly led by Adrian Smith and Steve Harris . It is also the first album in which the band made full use of synthesizers, another sign of the "progressive rock" influence. Bruce Dickinson said in one of the interviews that the band was not interested in adding a full-time keyboardist so the synthesizer roles were played "with one finger" by Adrian Smith or Steve Harris , depending on which of them had a free finger. Admittedly, the previous album " Somewhere in Time " also included synthesizer sounds, but these were produced by electric guitar and bass guitar, using Guitar-Synth effects, while on this album it's full use of keyboards. The idea for the band's seventh album was driven by Steve Harris , after reading Orson Scott Card's book "The Seventh Son". Harris shared the idea with Dickinson , who immediately became enthusiastic and began writing songs that would fit the overall theme of the story. The album deals with a folklore legend about the life of the seventh son of the seventh son, which according to the legend has special qualities of healing and vision of the future, and it concentrates on philosophical questions, good versus evil, prophecy, reincarnation, and life after death. The plot behind this concept album begins with the birth of the seventh son of the seventh son and describes his special powers and the danger behind them. The story continues with the child's inner struggle of choosing between good and evil as both sides try to use the child as a tool to achieve their goals. As the plot progresses it is described how Lucifer (the evil one) tries to drag the child into the evil path and the child realizes that choosing the good path will lead to his death. The ending of the plot describes the child's death and explains the choice made by the seventh son of the seventh son. The album ends the same way it opens, closing a cycle of the struggle between good and evil that will never end. (Photo: Ilpo Musto) And now for the album's sequence of songs: The album opens with a classical guitar fret (not typical of Maiden) and is somewhat reminiscent of "Jethro Tull", one of the bands Harris grew up on. In the background, we hear a kind of Dickinson recitation designed to put the listener in the mood of the plot and explain the myth of the seventh son. The classical guitar and Dickinson 's recitation will also end up the album, a kind of closing circle that reinforces the conclusion that this is a concept album. The song " Moonchild ", which officially begins immediately after the end of Dickinson 's recitation, opens with a synthesizer sound, something not so typical of the band. In this song, we are introduced to the seventh son of the seventh son's parents. Later, Lucifer (the Evil One) warns the child's parents about the possibility that he is cursed before he was born and the destruction evil he may bring. Lucifer even tries to prevent his birth: " Do not you dare to save your son, Kill him now and save the young ones " Lucifer warns the child's parents. We continue to a soft and melodic solo which opens the song “ Infinite Dreams ”. The main character in this song is the seventh son, the father of the second (chosen) seventh son, who also has special powers of foresight. The song tells of the father's fear of the visions he sees about the afterlife and of his fear of the fact that he will never awaken from these visions. The third song on the album " Can I Play with Madness " is probably the most famous and perhaps the one that is most musically different. The song is about a young man, the seventh son of the seventh son, who is interested in learning what the future holds from an old prophet with a crystal ball. The young man thinks he's going crazy and asks the old prophet to help him deal with his visions. We continue " The Evil That Men Do ". One of the best songs on the album and a favorite track on the band's gigs. The title of the song was taken from the speech "Marcus Antonius" to the Roman audience after the assassination of "Julius Caesar" in Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar", however, the content has nothing to do with the title. This is probably the only "love" song Maiden has written and it describes the intense love of the protagonist of the story (probably the seventh son's father) for a woman. It is also a kind of flashback to the moment of the birth of the second seventh son. The next song on the album is the theme song " Seventh Son of a Seventh Son " which is at the center of the album's plot. The song tells of the moment of the birth of the seventh son of the seventh son, the "chosen one," who has healing powers and foresight, though at first, he is not at all aware of his powers. The rest of the song describes the child's inner struggle with how to use his powers and the choice between good and evil. The song is an indication that the future cannot be changed " So It Shall Be Written, So It Shall Be Done ", and there is also a hint of the difficult choice the child will have to make later in the plot. This is the longest and most complex song on the album and it includes a large number of styles and rhythms. Nicko McBrain 's drumming in this song is phenomenal, the band members' playing is tight and polished. The second half of the song is a progressive and brilliant instrumental piece that begins quietly and softly and slowly builds and intensifies until the end. The song " The Prophecy " is about the seventh son's attempts to get the villagers to hear his warnings about the disaster he is about to inflict upon them. The villagers do not hear his warnings and the song ends with the words: " No one believed in my true prophecy And now it's too late ", after which the music fades slowly and ends with an acoustic, short, melodic, and beautiful guitar duet. The song " The Clairvoyant " is a kind of introspection of the chosen seventh son over his life and deeds. In the song the seventh son describes how his strength grows stronger and how he fears he will not be able to control them. " I feel strength, an inner fire, But I'm scared I won't be able to control it anymore ". The second part of the song is already from a third-part angle (probably after his death), in which the narrator notes that despite all his powers the seventh son could not have predicted his death. The cause of death is not explained and it is not clear whether it was his strengthening forces that led to his death or whether he committed suicide to prevent further disasters. Harris' bass line at the opening of the song is one of the strongest on the album. The chord passages in the song verses are among the most beautiful of Maiden. The combination of Maiden's typical riffs and synthesizer is perfect and Bruce's voice sounds vital and passionate. Closing the album is " Only the Good Die Young ", a fast-paced song that is also the least progressive song on the album. The song continues its search for the meaning of life and death, good and evil. The seventh son of the seventh son was just a game of chessboard between good and evil, a game neither of which won - " Some innocent pawn in an endgame, one more stalemate ". The song also mocks Christianity and describes how the villagers preferred to believe in "walking on water" and "the bible" instead of listening to the chosen one. They did not heed the warnings of the seventh son and thus inflicted on themselves a disaster that could have been avoided. There is also a kind of hint in the song that history repeats itself because the human race does not learn from past mistakes. In conclusion, this is a masterpiece and one of the best metal albums of all time, which unfortunately also turned out to be the pinnacle of the band's work. After its release, the band performed at the "Monsters Of Rock" Festival in front of an audience of over 100,000 people. Adrian Smith will then leave the band and from that point on the band's popularity will begin to decline. Although "Maiden" remained a tremendous band that maintained a very high level of writing and performance on subsequent albums, at the same time it was difficult for them to recreate the success and completeness of the classical 80s era. to 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 1, 2021, we were introduced to "Bare Dreams" in an unforgettable show in the "Ozen Bar" club in Tel-Aviv. Today we want to tell you about their second EP "Lost With All Hands" which was released on April 10, 2020, and was a leap forward for the band. They released their first EP "Au Revoir" in 2018. Itai (vocals and guitars) said that this EP is a collection of songs composed from the inspirations of each of the band members. Each brought to the table his part and what started as an acoustic session with classical guitars and drums evolved into an electric EP consisting of six songs, all written and produced by the band members, with the help of Priel Horesh (the drummer of "Walkways"). To continue the momentum, the band members decided to record their second EP abroad, they looked for a suitable producer and found the English producer Neil D. Kennedy who worked with bands like "Creeper", "Milk Teeth", "Boston Manor" and more. They traveled far away to Southampton in England and recorded their second EP "Lost With All Hands". This EP is actually a kind of turning point for the band, mainly because it was the first time they left Israel to do something related to their music. Itai said, "The two weeks' stay in the studio brought us to know the guys from the band "Hangman" that we went on tour with and even brought to Israel to perform with us. The engagement with Neil during the recordings evolved to a strong friendship and business relation with him and his family, which lead to the creation of our debut album that supposes to come out in 2022." The EP contains four songs written and recorded by the band. In January 2020, the band released the first single from the EP called 'Coffee Stains'. The band members made connections with Neil and other bands that recorded at the same studios at the time. They were supposed to go on tour in England to promote the album, along with the English band MAYPINE, but the Corona crisis thwarted the plans. It is important to note that the band members do everything themselves, like many artists in Israel, they collect each dollar and set themselves goals that they try to achieve, one after the other, whenever funding allows. Although the flights were canceled the band members found a way to perform the Pre-Production with the all-too-popular tool for 2020, the Zoom. On the first opportunity the skies opened they flew to Neil's recording studio "The Ranch" and worked on their debut album. Itai said that the connection with Neil was significantly strengthened during the work on the album in relation to the last EP. He and his Jewish wife (important to note) adopted the band members, supported them, and worked closely with them, to make this album the best it could be. The album is due out this year and we are looking forward to it !!! Listen to the EP on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek.. . with the potential for a big scandal ... The story goes. In the late 1960s a band called "Jazz Sabbath" was touring in England. It was a jazz trio formed in 1968, performing in all the reputed clubs in London and slowly building a fan base. The band signed a recording contract and managed to record their first album in 1969. The album was supposed to be released on Friday, February 13, 1970. Sounds familiar to you? True, this is the exact date Black Sabbath 's debut album was released. And then the worst happens, bandleader Milton Keanes suffered a severe heart attack, he was hospitalized and hangs between life and death. The record company is under pressure and immediately freezes the release of the album. Later that year, a fire broke out in the offices of the record company, and the masters of the "Jazz Sabbath" recordings were lost. Milton eventually recovers from his severe heart attack and was released from the hospital several months later, in September 1970, then he learns that a band from Birmingham, known as "Black Sabbath", has managed to release two albums containing metal versions of his songs during his hospitalization. In early 2019 it became clear that the original recordings of that album survived the fire and they were returned to their owners - band leader Milton Keanes. On April 10, 2020, 50 years after the album was due to be released, "Jazz Sabbath" released their debut album, featuring 7 songs allegedly stolen from them by "Black Sabbath". Milton argues that although "Jazz Sabbath" is a jazz ensemble, there can be no mistake in stealing the musical material and the identity of the band. Shocked? We also found it very hard to believe, but several reputable magazines including "Classic Rock" published the story, and the band even released a documentary featuring interviews with representatives from the music industry who seemingly verify the story. And now that you've read the whole interesting story and maybe even watched the documentary, we're sorry to disappoint you, because it turns out that this wonderful story is nothing more than a marketing trick, ingenious to say, of a band called "Jazz Sabbath". the person behind it and the one playing the role of Milton Keanes is none other than Adam Wakeman - the keyboardist and guitarist of "Black Sabbath" and Ozzy Osbourne , who found an interesting way to promote the trio's album released on April 10, 2020. Source: https ://www.loudersound.com/.../long-lost-debut-album... It's no secret that the musical roots of members of "Black Sabbath" come from Jazz, among others. So if you want to imagine how everything could have sounded like in a parallel world where "Black Sabbath" would play jazz-style songs, just click on the link: Spotify . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And today... "Sonic Temple" - "The Cult's" 4th album that was released on April 10th, 1989. This was the album that completed the US breakthrough for "The Cult". It brought them to mainstream radio playlists and a new and wider audience. "The Cult", which started as a post-punk band just 6 years earlier, has managed to release a streak of 3 masterful albums in a row. from their second album "Love" released in 1985, through "Electric" released in 1987, to "Sonic Temple" which completed the masterpiece trilogy. On these three albums, the band managed to produce an amazing fusion between "Led Zeppelin" and "The Cure", between "Aerosmith" and "Echo & the Bunnymen", between Hardcore Punk and New Wave to Hard Rock and Metal. On this album, the band pulls this unique fusion more towards heavy and powerful Hard Rock. A very dynamic album led by layers of electric and acoustic guitars courtesy of Billy Duffy, a strong and bombastic drum production, and Ian Astbury's powerful baritone voice. It's the band's last album with bassist Jamie Stewart and its first with Mickey Curry, former Hall & Oates, and Bryan Adams drummer. It is also the band's first album with producer Bob Rock, who will later work on the production of "Metallica's" " Black Album ". (Photo: Andrew MacPherson) The process of creating this album was not easy for the band. This album started with 14 demos recorded with Eric Singer - who would later become the drummer of "Kiss", but the band decided to shelve all the songs and start from scratch. On the second try, the band recorded 15 demos, this time with Bob Rock drummer Chris Taylor, but again they were not happy with the results. The band reached the desired result only on the third attempt, with ten songs all written by Duffy and Astbury. This album produced unforgettable hits like " Fire Woman ", which was also released as the first single and reached number 2 on the American Billboard. " Edie (Ciao Baby) " is another great song with an acoustic opening and string production, written about Edie Sedgwick who was part of the Andy Warhol scene in the early seventies. Sedgwick lived a troubled life with mental health issues and drug addictions. She died In 1971 from a drug overdose when she was only 28. " Sweet Soul Sister " which sounds "AOR" compliant was written by Ian Astbury about the Americanization of European culture, especially of the youth in Europe. But make no mistake, these are by no means the only excellent tracks on the album. The opening song " Sun King " with Billy Duffy's electric guitar intro, " American Horse " with oriental influences, the "Kashmiri influenced " Soul Asylum " that screams "Zeppelin" from the guitar parts and Bonham's drumming and the rhythmic and rocky " New York City " Feat. Iggy Pop , Bring this album close to perfection and makes it one of the most important rock albums of the eighties, no less! Follow the link, enjoyment is guaranteed: Spotify . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

The Singer and musician Gerard Way we all know from "My Chemical Romance" (Photo: Courtesy Warner Brothers) 1. He was born in New Jersey on April 9, 1977 as "Gerard Arthur Way". 2. He has Scottish roots on his father's side and Italian roots on his mother's side. 3. When he was two years old, his brother Mikey Way was born, who would later join him in the band "My Chemical Romance" (refer as "MCR"). 4. He started singing when he was in fourth grade, it was in the musical "Peter Pan" that was staged at his school. 5. The one who pushed him to sing was his grandmother Helena. 6. In his youth he loved "Bon Jovi" - also a band that grew out of New Jersey, however one of the bands that influenced him the most was "Iron Maiden". 7. But Gerard did not focus only on hard rock and metal, the musical influences on him were varied and also included bands like "The Smiths", "Blur", and "Pulp". 8. He originally wanted to be a guitarist. His grandmother bought him his first guitar when he was 8 years old. 9. He even played guitar on several bands like "Nancy Drew" where he met his future MCR friend - Ray Toro, but he was so bad at playing that he quit soon after. 10. One of the deepest traumatic events he experienced in his youth was a Magnum 357 pistol aimed at his head. 11. He loved comic books and after graduating from high school he went to art school to pursue it. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1999. 12. After graduating, he worked in an animation company of the Warner Bros Company located in New York. He was in the city at the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and experienced firsthand the traumatic events. 13. It was one of the events that influenced him to move from art to music. The song "Skylines and Turnstiles" - Was MCR's first song he wrote, and it was about the disaster. 14. He noted that his involvement in music helped him go through quite a few crises, including depression, alcoholism, drugs, and more. 15. Immediately after the traumatic event of 9/11 he formed together with the drummer Matt Pelissier the band MCR. 16. Soon the guitarist Ray Toro was added to the band, since Gerard could not sing and play at the same time. 17. The name "My Chemical Romance" was suggested by Gerard's brother - bassist Mikey Way. He got the idea from a book he read - "Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance". (Photo: Alternative Press Magazine) 18. Only three months after the band was formed they released their debut album "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love". 19. In 2003 the band signed with a major record label "Reprise Records" and released their second album "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge". 20. In the song "Helena" Gerard wrote about his grandmother who pushed him to music and also bought him his first guitar. 21. The band's huge breakthrough came on the third album "The Black Parade" which was released in 2006. 22. The album was originally intended to be called "The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance" inspired from David Bowie 's Ziggy Stardust album which Gerard admired. 23. The album was written in the house known as ghost hunted which is called "The Paramour". 24. Gerard changed his look towards the release of the album. He dyed his hair blonde and white and shortened it to a sick look. He literally got into a new character. 25. The EMO and goth culture that surrounded the band provoked strong opposition against them especially in the UK, following an article published in the Daily Mirror called Suicide of Hannah, the Secret Emo. An article tells the story of a girl's suicide case allegedly caused by the emo culture and a band. 26. It was supposed to be the band's last album that Gerard felt at the end. 27. Although the band announced that they were going on a final tour, Gerard and friends released in 2010 their latest studio album to date "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys". 28. Gerard sees MCR as a kind of gang. 29. He tends to dress in black and red because it reminds him of a funeral. These are also the colors of the "gang". 30. He designed a shirt for the band "By Thursday". 31. He was also a guest on their 2002 song "Jet Black New Year". 32. Gerard had also other collaborations. He has contributed to bands such as Every Time I Die, Head Automatica, Say Anything, The Oval Portrait, and more. 33. On March 22, 2013 MCR officially announced its disbanding. 34. In May 2014 Gerard announced that he was starting a solo career and a few months later in September he released the first solo album of "Hesitant Alien". 35. He created the comic book "The Umbrella Academy" published by Dark Horse Comics. Later the comic became a TV series on Netflix. 36. To our delight in October 2019 the band announced a reunion, it turns out that the band has been working together since 2017 but did not reveal this to the general public. 37. In 2020 the band was supposed to have three shows at Milton Keynes that were sold out within minutes and to set for a North America tour which was sold out in 6 hours but them came COVID and changed all plans. Instead the plans were postponed and the band went on the tour in 2022 38. In May 2022 the band released a new single "The Foundations of Decay", their first release since 2014. 39. In 2024 the band headlined the famous "When We Were Young" festival in Las Vegas alongside Fall Out Boy. The band performed their 2006 album "The Black Parade" in its entirety. Listen to his first and last album to date: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... On the 9th of April 2009 the debut album "What's Born in the Basement" by the band "Drugstore Fanatics" was issue This is an excellent and amazing album created by the duo "Daniel Bercher" (vocals, guitars, and bass) and Aviv Cohen (drums). Daniel was a guitarist and partner on one of the great albums of the band "Hayehudim" - "Forte" while he was part of the band for 6 years. He and Aviv met through a mutual friend and began playing together, initially covers of other bands and later original material. For several years Daniel and Aviv met alternately, trying different styles and new songs until they finally composed ten new original songs, all of which they recorded in the basement of Daniel's house. They played & recorded all the instruments and produced the entire album on their own. As far as we know, today the band resides in Los Angeles and includes Daniel and Aviv, along with Gregg Cash on bass and Amit Ofir on guitar. The two said that they got their inspiration from the fathers of Rock & Roll, but today they learn and get a lot of inspiration from unusual artists who use all kinds of musical instruments and means to bring their musical work. Their second album "Spielplatz" was released in 2014. Feel free to listen to this great album - Apple Music , Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website