And today it's Mark Kelly's turn, the talented keyboardist of "Marillion". (Photo: Will Ireland) Let's read some interesting facts about him: 1. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 9, 1961. His full name is Mark Colbert Kelly. 2. Mark grew up in Ireland until the age of 8, when his family moved to England. 3. The first musical influences on him were the "Glam Rock" bands from the early '70s, from there he switched to Rick Wakeman's album "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and was simply preceded by Wakeman's playing. This has already put him into Progressive Rock and from there he went on to the bands "Genesis", "Yes", "Pink Floyd" and more. 4. After graduating from high school, Kelly began studying electronics at university. 5. At the same time he performed in pubs and clubs with his first band "Chemical Alice", which operated in the Essex area of ​​England. 6. In 1981 he released the mini-album "Curiouser and Curiouser", with "Chemical Alice". 7. One of the bands that warmed up "Chemical Alice" was "Marillion". After one of the performances, Kelly received an invitation from singer Fish and drummer Mick Pointer to join "Marillion" as a replacement for keyboardist Brian Jelliman. ( Photo: EMI) 8. His first appearance with the band was on December 1, 1981. It was held at the "Great Northern Pub" in Cambridge. 9. From the band's first album " Script For A Jester’s Tear " to their latest album " An Hour Before It's Dark " Kelly has participated in all 19 of "Marillion's" studio albums. 10. In 1994 Kelly produced and played on the album "Under the Red and White Sky", by musician John Wesley. Guitarist Steve Rothery and drummer Ian Mosley also participated in the album. 11. In 1995 he produced and played on the album "Myth of Independence", the fourth album of "Jump". 12. In 2011 he played on the album "In The Last Waking Moments ...", of "Edison's Children". The album also featured all the members of "Marillion": Steve Rothery , Steve Hogarth, Ian Mosley, and Pete Trewavas. 13. Mark came up with the idea of ​​"mass funding", when in 1997 he asked the fans to fund the recording of the album "Anoraknophobia", which was released in 2001. 14. Kelly served as co-CEO of the "Featured Artists Coalition", which was designed to protect the copyright of artists in the digital age. 15. Since 2009 he has served as CEO of the organization "PPL" (Phonographic Performance Limited) - a British copyrighted music collective. 16. In 2016 Kelly was cast as a guest keyboardist on "Ayreon"'s 2017 album "The Source". 17. In 2020 he released his first solo album under the band "Mark Kelly's Marathon". The album includes the musical piece "Amelia" and also features guitarist Steve Rothery . 18. Not for nothing did Kelly call his lineup "Mark Kelly's Marathon." One of his favorite hobbies is running. 19. His "Marillion" favorite album is "Marbles", he thinks the band surpassed itself in terms of diversity and creative ability. 20. The "Marillion's" song that he most likes to play live is "This Strange Engine". For listening to Mark Kelly's solo album: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On April 9, 1978, "Rainbow" released their third album, "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll". Here is the story about the bizarre circumstances that surrounded its recording and of the scandal related to the album's inner sleeve and the Canadian power trio - "Rush". This is Rainbow's third and final album with legendary singer Ronnie James Dio , who later joined "Black Sabbath". Recordings for the album began in mid - 1977. The intention was to record the album at Musicland Studios in Munich, where the band's two previous albums were also recorded, but the studios were taken. Drummer Cozy Powell was chosen to look for an alternative location for recordings. After a frantic search, Powell chose the Château d’Herouville, an 18th-century castle located about 30 km from Paris, because he liked the way the sound of the drums sounded there. The band members did not have finished materials for the recording and the writing process for most of the album's songs were done in the castle itself. The recordings did not progress satisfactorily. The band members were not focused on the writing process and preferred to take advantage of the beautiful weather and indulgences offered by the estate, instead of engaging in writing. In addition, the recordings were surrounded by strange faults in the recording equipment and unexplained phenomena. Hence the band members and the recording team decided to perform a seance to find out the reason for these unusual phenomena. At first, they sought to conjure up the spirit of "Chopin" who was the owner of the estate. Ronnie James Dio said in one of his interviews that during the seance one of the pianos produced a strange sound even though no one was next to it. In another seance session, the friends brought up the spirit of the demon Baal who promised to harm them. A hint of the seance held at the Château can be found on the back cover of the album where it reads: "No thanks to Baal". Several band members were replaced several times during the recordings, which added another difficulty to the creation process. Keyboardist Tony Carey, a former member of the band, was recruited for the recordings, but Ritchie Blackmore 's repeated harassment made him spend most of his time in his room. Ritchie Blackmore who did not like the idea, stuck an ax in the door of Carrie's room who hurried away and did not return to the Château. The band's former bassist Jimmy Bain , who like Carrie, was also recruited as a salaried player, was soon replaced by Mark Clarke, but Ritchie Blackmore was not thrilled with his performance and recorded some of the bass roles himself. Auditions were then held for about 40 bassists until the role was offered to Bob Daisley (who would later play with Ozzy Osbourne , Gary Moore , "Uriah Heep", and more). The significant delays in the recordings led the record company to put pressure on the band to release new material. To get the record company off their backs, "Rainbow" released the excellent live album " On Stage ", which was released in 1977 and gave the band more time to complete the recordings. Finally, "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" was released with a one-year delay - on April 9, 1978. Despite all the unusual circumstances and delays that surrounded its recording, it is an excellent album that includes powerful songs that over time became legendary. To illustrate how good this album is, just imagine that from 2004 to 2010, Ronnie James Dio included 3 of the 8 songs from the album in his setlists. The songs played in all of Dio's shows are the anthem "Long Live Rock N 'Roll" the fast and amazing opening track "Kill the King" which Ronnie James Dio wrote about a game of chess and the epic track with oriental influences and one of Ritchie Blackmore 's great solos - "Gates of Babylon". Whoever got to see Dio in his excellent performance in Israel in 2005, knows that during his performance Ronnie James Dio explained the reason for choosing these songs as part of the setlist. Dio said that it bothered him so much that these beautiful songs would be lost, because there is no active band that has been performing them for years, so he decided to include them in his setlist regularly. But this album is definitely not just these three songs. " Lady of the Lake " is one of the most amazing tracks on the album. We do not doubt that the riff and its rhythm were influenced by "Led Zeppelin's" " The Wanton Song ", but we have no problem with that. " L.A. Connection " is actually the proof that this is one of the greatest hard rock albums ever. Why do you ask? Because this is perhaps the most "weak" song on the album and it still gets us shivering every time we listen to it. "The Shed (Subtle)" with Ritchie Blackmore 's guitar intro is one of the underrated ones in this album, the light and catchy " Sensitive to Light" hints at the direction Rainbow will continue in their next albums, and " Rainbow Eyes " is Definitely one of the beautiful and moving ballads in hard rock And now to the small scandal related to the album's the inside cover. The inside cover of the album includes a photo from a performance that is allegedly a performance by "Rainbow". The photo shows an enthusiastic audience carrying a sign with the caption: "Long Live Rock N 'Roll" (see photo). But no! This picture was taken at a "Rush" concert and proof of this can be found in the picture below. just note that the picture of "Rainbow's" album inside cover is a "mirror picture" of the original picture taken at the "Rush" concert. The sign made by "Rush" fans was deleted and replaced with the caption "Long Live Rock N 'Roll". In addition, the "Rush" fans' shirts which bore the inscription of the band's name were blackened, And if you still think this "theft" is actually "Rush" from "Rainbow", you better think again. First, a quick glance at the picture will reveal that it is not possible to do a reverse manipulation and plant the caption "Rush" on the crumpled and partially hidden shirts, certainly not with the technology that existed in the 70s. More of that, which fan comes to a show with a sign that does not bear the band name or one of its members or at least a symbol of the band and instead chooses a sign that includes a slogan that has nothing to do with the band itself? Fourth, how did the fans predict the name of the record even before it was released? But the story here is not just about forging a picture (and we do not take lightly the seriousness of the act), it is about rewriting history, stealing a very special moment of fame from "Rush's" fans, which is captured on camera. Despite this small scandal, this is an excellent album that is also Ronnie James Dio 's "Swan Song" in Rainbow. Dio will continue to a glorious career with Black Sabbath and then with the band that bears his name "Dio". For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 09.04.1984 It happened in October 1983, when four young musicians from Athens, Georgia made their first major appearance in front of all of America on Late Night with David Letterman. They opened with "Radio Free Europe"  from their debut album "Murmur", released earlier that year, and when asked about the name of the second song, Peter Buck replied, “It doesn’t have a name yet.” Letterman’s viewers unknowingly received that night a song that would later become one of the defining staples of "R.E.M.", taken from their second album Reckoning, released on April 9, 1984. Years later, Thom Yorke  of "Radiohead" would admit that "So. Central Rain"  is his favorite song from their catalogue. The song had been written just a few months earlier, on a single summer day in June, when "R.E.M." were opening for "The Human League" at a show in Los Angeles. Michael Stipe  and his bandmates tried to call home to family and friends, but couldn’t get through, as all the phone lines in Athens, Georgia had gone down due to heavy flooding across the area. That night on Letterman stayed with them for a long time. On one hand, it was a confident performance from a young and still relatively inexperienced band, just over a year into their journey. On the other, Michael Stipe , the introverted frontman who was so uncomfortable with attention, fled the interview with Letterman as if from fire, and simply sat down on a floor monitor in the studio. Ahead of recording their second album, "R.E.M." abandoned the post-punk direction of "Murmur" and instead returned to their garage-pop roots on "Reckoning". The goal of producers Don Dixon and Mitch Easter was to capture the raw energy of the band’s live sound. Dixon, who hadn’t seen the band perform live before working on "Murmur", gained a much clearer understanding of their strengths and weaknesses after finally experiencing them on stage. Between the two albums, the band spent more than 100 days on the road. "Murmur" carried a dark, Southern gothic atmosphere, wrapped in mumbled vocals, obscure lyrics, and dense layers of sound. In contrast, "Reckoning" constantly circles around water imagery, ports, oceans, rain, rivers, the sea, reflecting life that keeps moving forward even while the band itself is constantly in transit. The album deals with themes of loss, of friends, lovers, relationships, and time, as well as regret, becoming a powerful document of a band living on the road and longing for the life continuing without them. Friends who were once couples break apart, new jobs begin, new places open, people pass away, and community life moves forward regardless of whether you’re there to witness it. These shared moments are the ones the band misses while touring. The album opens with "Harborcoat" , a song that evokes ghosts and friendly harbor spirits. Michael Stipe  once suggested it could be interpreted as relating to Nazi Germany from a Jewish perspective, even hinting at connections to The Diary of a Young Girl. From World War II imagery, the album shifts to the 1938 children’s book "The Five Chinese Brothers", which inspired "7 Chinese Bros" . Stipe struggled to record the song, as his early vocal takes felt too soft. In an effort to lift his mood, Dixon played him the gospel album The Joy of Knowing Jesus by The Revelaires. Stipe ended up singing its liner notes along to the melody of "7 Chinese Bros" . In the second half of the album, the songs become more personal. On "Camera" , Stipe dedicates the track to his photographer friend Carole Levy, who was killed in a car accident. Meanwhile, on the album’s second single "(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville" , Stipe sings lyrics written by bassist Mike Mills, about his then-girlfriend Ingrid Schorr from the University of Georgia. When the band formed, they enjoyed life on campus in Athens and wanted to stay there through the summer, but her parents insisted she return home to Rockville, Maryland. The song captures Mills’ attempt to convince her to stay. The album closes with "Little America" , offering a perspective shaped by life on the road, but also hinting at a deeper reflection on American life itself, a look toward the future, a fading past, and a world gradually losing its meaning. In summary, if "Murmur" revealed a more defiant and mysterious side of the band, then "Reckoning" feels like a moment of introspection. Driven by his growing interest in visual storytelling, Michael Stipe  secured funding for a short film to accompany music from the first half of the album. His concept was to shoot the project at the Whirligig Farm of folk artist Vollis Simpson, and he recruited Athens filmmaker James Herbert to direct it. Rather than following traditional music video conventions, the film consists largely of the band wandering through the farm, with Herbert using close-ups, silhouettes, and slow-motion shots. During editing, Herbert used rephotography techniques, capturing stills of random frames and moving in and out of them without a clear narrative structure. Peter Buck later explained that the project was very inexpensive to produce and quite enjoyable, and although the band initially wanted a short clip, Herbert approached it in the format he was used to, ultimately creating a film that matched the length of the first side of the record. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Rock's first lady in Israel! The woman with the amazing and powerful voice, Orit Shahaf known as TT !!! During our podcasts, we gave her the nicknames "Lioness", "Hippolyta" - Queen of the Amazons, but no nickname can describe her mighty and unique voice, so here are some facts about one of the greatest singers we have in Israel: Photo: Avihai Levy 1. She was born on April 9th, 1971 in Eilat as "Orit Ben Issachar", later she changed her last name to "Shahaf" and left "Ashkelon" for her enlistment in the IDF in 1989. 2. Her singing talent was discovered at an early age. In the years 1981-1989 she was part of an "Ashkelon" youth band called the "The Bells Band". 3. On this occasion we are proud to share that we were part of this period when the band used to hold rehearsals at the "Beit Vosk" community center in "Ashkelon" and this is the first time we saw the Queen of the Amazons live. We will never forget the moment as children, sitting in the front row on the blue cover chair and were blown away by Orit's voice. 4. In 1982 she took part with the band in a local music competition called "Pastilon" and won first place with the song "Little Boat". 5. In 1989 she enlisted in the IDF, where she served in the Gadna Band, where she met Tom Petrover . Photo: Ronen Lalena 6. After being released from the army, the two formed the cover band "Tom and the Bomb", with which they performed songs by bands such as Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and more. 7. In 1992, the two formed the band "Hayehudim". Photo: Ronen Lalena In addition to Orit's singing and writing roles in the band, she is also responsible for designing some of the band's albums and often plays guitar in shows. She also designs her clothes for the band's performances. 9. In 1993 Orit and Tom married and in 2007 their son "Hedi" was born. 10. In August 1995, the band's debut album "Separate Reality" (Metsiot Nifredet) was released, which in addition to Orit and Tom co-created: Avi Yifrach on bass, Eran Mittelman on keyboards, Shmulik Budgov on guitar and Asher Pedi on drums. 11. On the same day of the album's release, a special performance was held at the "12th Night" club, which was attended by less than 20 people. Tom and Orit tend to mention this show in their shows when they share the hard time believing where they are today. 12. The significant exposure the album received was when 6 songs from the album were part of the soundtrack of the dramatic and tragic film "Youngs Forever" which was broadcast in December 1995 on Channel 2. 13. Three years later the band's second album was released and was named after the band. 14. The first time the band received significant media exposure on the radio was in 1999 when it won the title of "Band of the Year" by Gali Tzahal radio station. 15. In July 2002, the band's third album, "Deep Fear" (Pahad Mavet) , was released. 16. In the same year, Orit took part in the re-production of the rock opera "Mami" as a soloist and in fact as the star of the play. She fit perfectly into the big shoes of "Mazi Cohen" who played and sang in the original show in the 1980s. This is the best rock opera that has come up in the country (maybe even the only one). 17. In August 2003, the band released a double album and a DVD of a live performance at the "The Theater Club", a club that is officially considered the home of the band. In 2021 the club was closed due to the severe economic damage caused by the COVID-19. 18. In July 2004 the band released an "Unplugged" double album of acoustic performance, the single from the album "If Already" (Im Kvar) which was not released or recorded in any other version was widely played on radio stations. 19. In the period after the third album, the band went on tour in the USA. They wanted to try to live abroad as a band while performing and writing. Due to the problematic name "The Jews", the band changed its name to "I.U.D.M". The experience was crowned a relative failure and the band members returned to Israel. 20. In 2009 the band started working on a complete English album but it did not materialize. 21. Five years after the third album, the band's fourth album "Forte" was released, the album won the title of "Album of the Year" at the AMI Awards Ceremony. 22. The song "Here It Comes" (Hene Ze Ba) from the album was a commercial soundtrack by "Fiat" in the US. 23. Orit and Tom also participated in the advertisement of the cellular company "Cellcom" with the song "You have no place" (Ein Lah Makom). 24. After the release of the album and until 2015, 8 years, the band spent most of their time in non-stop touring while at the same time Tom and Orit were building their family cell. 25. At that time, the band performed an acoustic show that was very successful, following which they went on a long tour called "Hayehudim Beyeshiva". Out of the tour came the cover version of Meir Banai 's song "With You in the World" (Itah Baolam), a song that also received many plays on popular radio stations. 26. In 2014, there were rumors that Orit and Tom would be part of the judging panel on the "Hacohav Haba" tv show, but this did not materialize. 27. In August 2015, the band's last album "No More" (Yoter Lo) was released. Orit recorded the album when her son Hedi was on her knees. 28. The song "Son" from the album was written about him. 29. The song "Sister" from the same album was written about her step-sister whom she did not know for many years. She first met her a few minutes before one of the band's shows and told her she was her sister. Orit was so shocked that Tom and the band asked her if she was interested in canceling the show. Orit took the stage, performed, and later wrote the song about the story. 30. To promote the album, the band performed the entire album in a live streaming broadcast through the Walla! portal. 31. In the same year, Orit participated as a model at the Tel Aviv Fashion Week. Fashion designer "Inga", who adores Orit, took Orit to her show session with models such as: Bar Refaeli, Michal Ansky, Tahonia Rubel, and more... 32. The band was the opening act to a large number of rock bands from abroad, such as Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, and more ... 33. The band appeared four times in "Caesarea", in 2010, 2011, in 2019 and 2022. Photo: Avihai Levy 34. Orit played the character "Nicole" in the crime comedy TV series "The Fraud" by Yael Polyakov. 35. In 2017, Orit participated in Aviv Geffen 's song "Ba Eli", it came out as the second single from the album and was played frequently on radio stations. For Aviv this was closure, he supported the band on their tour with the release of their debut album. 36. Tom and Orit recently participated in an advertisement for the "Quik" shopping app with an adaptation of the song "Looking for an Answer" (Mehapes Tshova). 37. Orit opened a store on eBay where she sells clothing line of her design in 2019 but now she is selling her designs and art through TT Clothes and Art 38. In 2020 Orit surprised us with an electronic remix she did for the band's song "Screaming You" . 39. On the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8, 2022, Orit participated in an exhibition by the photographer "Ido Isaac" entitled "Muse Moments" which documents the "behind the scenes" of 30 of the greatest singers in Israeli music - just before they take the stage. 40. In 2024, Orit appeared together with Tom in the reality food show "Oto Ochel: VIP". Here we must point out that it was very exciting and surprising to see our much-admired duo on TV prime time and even in a reality show, in our humble opinion the two have never appeared in any prime time TV show, great fun!! "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A rhythm guitarist rarely gets the recognition he deserves or the spotlight that the lead guitarist gets. This is especially noticeable when you are in a band where the lead guitarist is Slash . But Izzy Stradlin was not interested in the spotlight but in the creative work itself. (Photo: IMDB.com) Let's get to know this talented guitarist, writer, and musician: 1. He Was Born On April 8th, 1962. His full name is "Jeffrey Dean Isbell", he adopted the nickname "Izzy" from high school, because of his last name. He later added the Stradlin. 2. His parents divorced when he was 8 and he was mostly influenced by his grandmother who was a drummer in a jazz band. This is what made him ask his parents to buy him a drum set at a very young age. 3. When he was in high school he formed a band together with a guy named William Bruce Bailey who later changed his name to Axl Rose . Not much came out of that cover band and they just played together for fun. 4. In the early 80s he moved to Los Angeles to seek his future in the music world and joined as a drummer in a punk band called "Naughty Women". After a few months, his drums were stolen, so he moved on to another punk band called "The Atoms", this time as a bass player. From there he moved to a heavy rock band called "Shire" and there he started taking the role of rhythm guitar. 5. In 1983, he and his longtime friend Axl formed the band "Hollywood Rose". The band recorded a demo with five songs: "Killing Time", "Anything Goes", "Rocker", "Shadow of Your Love", and "Reckless Life". 6. In March 1985 Izzy co-founded with Axl and other members of the band "L.A. Guns" a new band called "Guns N 'Roses" with the final line-up consisting of Izzy, Axl, Slash, Duff McKagan , and Steven Adler . (Photo: Ross Marino) 7. During the first two years the band performed and wrote material that would later enter their masterpiece albums. Izzy was a co-writer and became a significant part of the songwriting. 8. In December 1986, the band released their first EP "Live?! * @ Like a Suicide", to get the record labels interested. The EP included 4 tracks, two of which were covers and two original songs that Izzy was a full partner in writing. 9. In July 1987 the band released their debut album "Appetite for Destruction" which was not so successful in its first year but then became one of the best-selling albums of all time. This time too, Izzy was a full partner in writing the songs and even wrote the immortal "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City" himself. 10. In November 1988 the band released their second EP "G N 'R Lies" , which is considered a full album by many. 11. After the success of the album the band began to gain momentum and with the success came the troubles. The band members used to live a life of revelry with heavy drug and alcohol consumption. At one point Axl even threatened the rest of the band members that he would leave if they did not stop. In 1989 Izzy was arrested for (please note) peeing on a plane and not in the toilets, so he decided he was quitting alcohol and drugs and moved in with his mother in Indiana. 12. Two years later and with a new drummer named Matt Sorum , the band released in September 1991 the double, crazy, powerful, and masterful double album "Use Your Illusion I & II" . Here, too, Izzy co-wrote immortal songs like "Don't Cry" and even (unlike in the past) took the lead role in singing four songs: "Dust N 'Bones", "You Ain't the First", "Double Talkin' Jive", and - 14 Years ". 13. Immediately upon the release of the album, the band embarked on a 28-month tour, which was considered the longest tour at the time. But in November of that year, Izzy left the band!!!!! 14. We and probably you also are wondering HOW??? How can it be that you are leaving a band of this magnitude? With amazing talent and contribution to the band? With such insane success? how?????? So there were several reasons for that: 15. Izzy was clean from drugs and alcohol but the rest of the band (except Axl) still went on with a life of debauchery, which no longer suited Izzy and he was not willing to be a part of it anymore. 16. Axl's hostile takeover began to gain momentum and he began to do with the band as he pleased, without consulting or consenting with the rest of the band, like firing the band manager, adding new musicians like Dizzy Reed, and coming up to the stage two hours later, when the whole band waiting for him. Izzy did not like the conduct and did not want to be influenced by it, he said that when he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol it was easier for him to absorb the bullshit, but after he became sober he was no longer able to take it. 17. Later Izzy was also not included in the music video for the song "Don't Cry" which instead featured a fan holding a sign that read "Where is Izzy". But the breaking point, was the contract Axl submitted to Izzy to continue to be part of the band. This contract turned Izzy, from a full-fledged co-writer, creator, and royalty member, into an inferior deputy who gets much less, with a significantly low share compared to the rest of the band. Izzy who did not agree to sign the contract left the band. 18. It's hard not to think what would have happened if Izzy was not leaving, how much good music could we have had... 19. Izzy returned to his hometown and formed a new band called "Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds". In October 1992 they released their only album bearing the band's name which has a rough and heavy blues style. (Photo: Fanart.tv) 20. For the next 6 years he spent his time in his long-time hobby, car racing, traveling around the world. In March 1998 Izzy released his second solo album "117°' which took him more than two years to write. His friend from Guns, Duff, contributes his talent to that album. 21. In December 1999, Izzy released his third album, "Ride On", with Duff helping his old friend here as well. 22. With the same band, Izzy released two more albums, "River" in 2001 and "On Down the Road" in 2002. 23. That same year, members of Guns, Duff, Matt, and Slash asked Izzy to become the rhythm guitarist in their new band "Velvet Revolver", Izzy co-created their first album but did not agree to join the band as a full member. 24. In 2005 Izzy released his sixth album "Like a Dog" only after a fan got 1000 signatures in support of the release of the album, which was delayed to release from 2003. The album was released as a digital copy only via i-Tunes. 25. A year later Izzy contacted his old friend Axl and expressed his desire to join the band and enjoy as they did in the old days. He joined Guns' new lineup and made 13 appearances with them. He said it took him three weeks to recover from a six-week tour with the band. 26. He released his seventh album "Miami" in May 2007 and in November of that year he released his eighth album "Fire", an acoustic album. 27. Izzy has released three more albums in which he re-collaborated with Duff, "Concrete" in 2008, "Smoke" in 2009, and "Wave of Heat" in 2010. 28. In April 2012 he was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" along with the other members of Guns, but he did not attend the event. 29. A few years later Izzy performed again with Guns on several shows but refused to be part of the big reunion that took place in 2016 because the band members did not agree to share the same piece of the pie. Listen to Izzy's latest album "Wave Of Heat" - Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Guitarist, writer, and producer Steve Howe, is one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in progressive rock. Let’s get to know him better. (Photo: Rock and Roll Photo Gallery) 1. He was born in Holloway, north London, on April 8, 1947, to Stephen James Howe. 2. Howe was the youngest of four children and as a child absorbed a lot of music that was played at home. 3. Among the artists who influenced him as a child are Les Paul, Barney Kessel, Wes Montgomery, and Chet Atkins whom he first discovered in 1959. 4. Howe noted that he was very influenced by Chat Atkins and drew from him the idea that a guitarist could play in several styles. 5. He noted that he was also influenced by ם and said he thinks Dylan took the rebellious side out of him. 6. Steve wanted to learn guitar at the age of 10 but his parents only bought one for him at the age of 12 as a Christmas present. It was an acoustic guitar. 7. Howe began teaching himself to play the guitar, audibly and without knowing how to read notes. 8. He formed his first band at the age of 14. 9. In 1961 he purchased his first electric guitar and by 1964 he had already purchased the Gibson ES-175D quarter-volume guitar that he is so identified with. 10. Before Howe became a professional musician he worked in a piano-making factory and later in a music store. 11. In 1964 at the age of 17, Howe formed his first professional band - "The Syndicats", with which he managed to release several singles. 12. In 1965 Howe left the band and joined "The In-Crowd" which later changed its name to "Tomorrow" and its style to psychedelic rock. Howe also recorded several singles with this band. 13. At the same time he received an offer to play in several recordings as a studio player. 14. "Tomorrow" disbanded in 1967 and Howe continued to accompany various artists in playing, until he joined the band "Bodast" in 1968. 15. After the dissolution of "Bodast" Howe auditioned for the progressive rock band "The Nice", but decided the next day it was not for him and left the band. 16. Steve also auditioned for the band "Jethro Tull", but realizing he was not expected to write any material for the band, decided not to continue with them. 17. He was even considered for the band "Atomic Rooster" back in the time when Carl Palmer was their drummer, but in the end, decided against it. 18. In 1970 he received an offer to replace "Yes" guitarist Peter Banks who played on the band's first two albums. 19. In June 1970 he was officially admitted to the band. That was after the band finished recording their second album "Time and a Word". Howe was on the album cover even though he did not play it. 20. His first real album with Yes was " The Yes Album " (1971) by then he was revealed as a key player who contributed a lot to the sound and style of the band. 21. Howe's musical diversity is more pronounced on the band's next album - the masterpiece "Fragile" (1971). It ranges from the complex and advanced " Roundabout " to the classic " Mood for a Day ". 22. In 1971 Howe and his bandmate Rick Wakeman played in Lou Reed 's debut album "Lou Reed" which was released in 1972. 23. That same year, Howe joined "Stone the Crows" in a performance at the Great Western Festival. 24. On Yes next album - "Close to the Edge" (1972), Howe expanded his range of instruments and included a pedal steel guitar. 25. In 1973, Howe played guitar in the song "Catherine of Aragon" from Rick Wakeman's solo album "The Six Wives of Henry VIII". 26. Steve Howe's contribution to "Yes" great success in the 1970s is unquestionable. The influences he brought with him from both classical and jazz music, as well as his love of exploring and experimenting with musical styles and other instruments, helped "Yes" become one of the leading bands in progressive rock. 27. Howe continued to release masterful albums with the band until 1980, when Wakeman and Anderson left the band. 28. Steve did not "abandon ship" and in 1980 released with Yes the controversial album " Drama ". The album included a lineup change with the addition of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes from "the Buggles", as well as a change in style that included a combination of New Wave elements Horn and Downes brought with them from their previous band. 29. In 1981, "Yes" disbanded and in the same year, Howe together with keyboardist Geoff Downes , bassist John Wetton , and drummer Carl Palmer , formed the supergroup " Asia ". 30. Howe will release with the supergroup two albums and during the recordings of the third album, he will leave the band following disagreements with Downes. 31. Howe will return to collaborate with "Asia" in 1992 and will take part in the band's subsequent albums, alternately, until 2012 with the excellent album " XXX ". Howe will play a total of 7 of the band's albums. 32. In 1984, Howe was featured on the album "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" by "Frankie Goes to Hollywood". 33. In 1985, Howe formed the "GTR" supergroup with guitarist Steve Hackett of Genesis. The band's name derives from the word "Guitar" since it was a collaboration between two great progressive rock guitarists. They recorded one album, from which one hit was released - " When the Heart Rules the Mind ", but the band disbanded immediately afterward, in the face of disagreements between Hackett and Howe. 34. In 1988 Howe joined his past bandmates for a kind of Yes reunion, under the name "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe". The four released An album of the same name. 35. In 1991, Howe was part of Yes's reunion album called "Union" and included the band's two major lineups. 36. That same year, Howe was featured on the Queen's song "Innuendo" from the album of the same name. He performed the Spanish section in the middle of the song, since Freddie Mercury thought he will do it better than Brian May. 37. Howe returned to "Yes" again in 1995 and since the album "Keys to Ascension" he was part of all the band's later albums released so far. 38. Steve Howe also has a glorious solo career that he started in 1975 with the excellent album "Beginnings". As part of his solo career, Howe has released 13 studio albums. 39. In addition, Howe released under the name "Homebrew" 6 more albums, and under the jazz ensemble "The Steve Howe Trio" three more studio albums. (Photo: Michael Putland) 40. And if that's not enough, Howe will release two more albums with Paul Sutin, one album with Oliver Wakeman, and one album with his drummer son Virgil Howe. 41. Howe was named Guitar Player Magazine's Best Guitarist for 5 consecutive years (1977-1981). 42. In 1981, Howe was the first guitarist to enter the Guitarists Hall of Fame. 43. In 2003, Howe was ranked 69th on "Rolling Stone" magazine's 100 greatest guitarists of all time. 44. In 2017, Howe entered the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" with "Yes". 45. In 2018, Howe received the title of "Prog God" as part of the Prog Music Awards ceremony. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On April 8, 2022, the debut album of "Envy Of None" was released. We are talking about guitarist Alex Lifeson 's project and no, it does not at all sound like "Rush", but there is a small tribute to a great drummer and friend Neil Peart . In June 2021 Alex Lifeson surprised the music world with his odd choice to release two bizarre instrumental pieces on his website. We know Alex well, he's one of the most versatile guitarists we know. He challenged himself and examined us in a variety of genres musical styles, over 40 years and more of his musical career. Hard rock and Metal, Progressive and New wave, Reggae, Ska and more. However, his choice to release the Kabul Blues/Spy House tracks after almost a decade of silence since the last "Rush" album, was not understood by us. Next to it, even the album " Victor " which he released in the mid 90's felt like "Safe grounds". It turns out that this was not Alex's last experience. He focused on a new project that, no matter how well you know his repertoire, will still be able to shatter any prediction you have of what it's sounds like. We're talking about the Cndian-American Supergroup "Envy Of None", which includes his collaboration with "Coney Hatch" bassist Andy Curran, singer Maiah Wynne and producer and multi-instrumentalist Alfio Annibalini. The project came about when Andy Curran, who participated in the recording of Alex's two instrumentals in June 2021, began working on new music with singer Maiah Wynne. This caught the attention of Lifeson who asked Andy to listen to the material. Andy encouraged Lifeson to contribute guitar parts, if any of the material interested him. Alex played one part, which soon became two and three, until finally Alex participated in each of the eleven songs of the album and became part of the band. On January 12, 2022 the band released their first single " Liar ", with its industrial sound and atmospheric guitars, which sound to us like a combination between "Depeche Mode" to "Nine Inch Nails". On March 2, 2022, the band released a second single, " Look Inside " and about a week later a music video was also released. Also in this case, it is a combination of atmospheric music together with industrial. The third single " Never Said I Love You " already reminded us here and there of "Garbage" with industrial rhythms, fuzz bass and atmospheric guitars from Lifeson , that create a seductive whirlwind of music. Alex said Maiah became his muse. He said after hearing her sing "Never Said I Love You", he felt so moved and noted that he had never been so inspired working with another musician. The album which includes 11 tracks, combines different styles of music such as Alternative Rock, Industrial, Experimental Rock and Synth-Pop, the last of which " Western Sunset " is an instrumental piece dedicated to Alex's good friend, drummer Neil Peart who passed away in 2020 after a violent battle with brain cancer. Alex composed the song at Neil Peart 's house in Santa Monica, shortly before the drummer's death. Alex referred to the song by saying: "I visited Neil when he was ill. I was on his balcony watching the sunset and found inspiration. There’s a finality about a sunset that kinda stayed with me throughout the whole process. It had meaning. It was the perfect mood to decompress after all these different textures… a nice way to close the book." Song List: 1."Never Said I Love You" 2. "Shadow" 3. "Look Inside" 4. "Liar" 5. "Spy House" 6. "Dog`s Life" 7. "Kabul Blues" 8. "Old Strings" 9. "Dumb" 10. "Enemy" 11. "Western Sunset" For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

So this time we'll make it shorter and more focused... Just read our review of " Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.1 " and amplify and multiply... Why amplify? Because everything that is said in our previous review was increased and intensified. We came to the conclusion that "Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.2" is actually " Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.1 " on overdrive. So here, we are repeating exactly the same chapters from the previous review, only specifying the details for you, so that they fit the musical wonder that took place last night at the Gagarin Club in Tel Aviv. The Production and Management Were Masterful... If we thought that the management and the production at the previous festival were masterful, then this time Vladislav Mazourenko and the "Hotbox" team simply surpassed themselves in every professional aspect. Managing a festival that lasts 12 hours that includes 14 bands, is no small matter. Just think that no less than 14 different bands go up and down the stage during the festival. Each band has its own instruments, amplification equipment, unique sound, video art, and lighting that suits its show. This festival had more bands than the previous one and it spanned more time, yet the complex production behind this massive thing was managed in a professional and precise manner. In addition to the beautiful video art of the bands at this festival, we also got the addition of pyrotechnics. Literally "fire and smoke" that came straight from the "Passover Haggadah" to the stage, accompanied and enhanced the show, even managing to surprise some of the bands themselves. We got more merch booths, and more diversity. The attention to detail was particularly noticeable this time, from the welcome of the "closed ward" Doctors wearing wardrobes to the bracelets that were distributed at the entrance, in which a numerical code was hidden that helped to locate the winner of the guitar raffle, at the end of the last show of the festival - of the band " " Scardust ". How did the singer Ilya Badrov express himself during the " The Fading " show? Vlad is a genius!!! And we certainly agree with him. The bands Were Amazing... How many amazing bands were at this festival... we have tremendous talents here in Israel "no need to look for anything abroad", and yes, we are, again, using Ilya Bedrov's of " The Fading " quote, and he is so right!!! Those of you who were there saw in their own eyes, levels of writing and performance at the highest level, of each and every one of the 14 bands that took the stage. We have nothing to be ashamed of, we have crazy bands here in Israel and they deserve worldwide recognition and international success! What's more amazing about that, is with the exception of " SaffeK ", " HotBox ", and " Walkways " who also appeared at the previous festival, this time we received 11 great bands that were not part of " Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.1 ", so if we add great Israeli bands that weren't part of both festivals, we do not doubt that this massive project can be turned into one big festival of several days, just like the huge legendary festivals abroad. So this time there were also: " Scardust ", " Clapsodra ", " Sinnery " , " StormbounD ", " The Fading ", " Revision The Dream ", " Serpentale ", " MATRICIDE ", " Desert Band ", " Cyclops and " Structural ", who came up, each in turn, on the small stage of the "Gagarin club" and made us feel as if we were a minimum at the legendary "Wacken" festival. (Photos: Ofir Avrahamov) Do you realize what crazy bands we have here in Israel??? The never-ending talent that was on one small stage, in a relatively short period of time, was simply unimaginable!!! It's not for nothing that we were informed (only during this festival) that we are already exporting Metal abroad 😍 " Scardust " is going to join forces with none other than "Blind Guardian", and support them in Europe this fall, " SaffeK " plans to Scorch the stage at the "Masters of Rock" festival in the Czech Republic this July and " Walkways " jumps for a short trip to London this May, performing as special guests of "The Omnific" and will later host them in a concert here in Israel, together with "Shell Beach" from Hungary, at "Reading 3". The Crowd Was Unbelievable... Yes, yes, neither Passover nor the complex situation in Israel stopped the crowd that came in and voted with their feet (which must have been burning with pain after 12 consecutive hours of excellent live shows). In our opinion (and only the organizers of the event can confirm this), the number of attendees was even greater than the previous festival. This could be seen both inside the club itself and outside, at the entrance plaza and in front of the merch stands during the short breaks between the shows. Even the tough time - 1:00 p.m., did not deter the festival crowd. Already in the first minutes of the opening show of " Serpentale " a respectable audience presence was observed, most of whom were present throughout the entire 12 hours of the festival, until the final show of " Scardust " and the raffle held at the end. (Photos: Ofir Avrahamov) As in the previous festival, the audience came to enjoy, to experience this amazing thing called music, to fly in the air, to roar at the top of their lungs, and forget for a few hours about their problems, troubles, and worries. But more than that, like the previous festival, this time too we felt more than anything that the crowd that visited the "Gagarin Club" yesterday came to support their favorite bands, to be a part of the amazing metal scene in Israel, to have mingled with their peers and also to inaugurate the next generation. Yes, we also saw quite a few families in the audience who came with the children and shared this crazy experience together and it was definitely a very exciting sight!!! In Conclusion... Everyone who was a part of this crazy thing, bands, promoters, producers, booth operators, and of course the large crowd that poured in their masses already knows!!!! Israel has a crazy metal scene and we should all be proud of it. Allow us to use a nickname from the mouth of Alon Karneali from " Sinnery " You are the "AntiTribe". Or in other words, the different and other tribe, the minority destined to grow and spread some light on dark days. All that's left to do is wait patiently for "Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.3" and imagine what other surprises Vladislav Mazourenko and the "Hotbox" team will prepare for us down the road... "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

In 1994 the album "Smash" became the ninth best-selling album in the US, with high sales all around the world. Along with "Green Day"'s album "Dookie" , the punk rock bands conquered the American mainstream for the first time in 18 years !! On April 8, 1994, the album "Smash" was released. The only difference between these two bands is that "Green Day" released "Dookie" under the big label "Warner Bros" and in contrast "The Offspring" released the album "Smash" under the independent small label "Epitaph". This is a significant difference in both American and international terms, you will soon understand why... In 1988 the band signed with a small and independent label called "Nemesis", it took producer Thom Wilson who had experience with punk bands, and released the debut album that bore the band name and was released on a very limited number of tapes and vinyl. They performed in clubs and tried to promote the album independently but without much success. Already at that time, Thom tried to bring them to a bigger label and aimed for "Epitaph", but the label was not really enthusiastic about the bunch and did not agree to sign them. Three years later they re-enter the recording studio and this time the goal was to create a strong EP that will buy them a contract with a label a little bigger than what they have today. Again with producer Thom, they release an EP called "Baghdad 7". This time around, the EP manages to grab the attention of Brett Gurewitz, guitarist of the punk band "Bad Religion" who was also the president and owner of the record company "Epitaph". Brett felt the potential this time and decides to sign the young band to his label. At the end of 1991, the band entered the studio together with Thom to record the second album "Ignition". The album is released at a time when the buds of Punk Rock are starting to sweep more and more listeners and The Offspring manages to create a fan base for itself and fill clubs with an audience. They even go on tour with similar (punk rock) bands like "Pennywise", "Lunachicks" and "NOFX" in the US and Europe. (Photo: Courtesy Of Offspring) In January 1994 the band entered the studio to record their third album "Smash". The band members said that many things at that time happened spontaneously and were made by momentary decisions, without long-term thinking or long-term plans and vision. One example is that upon entering the studio the band members decide to purchase new and better equipment than they had, they purchased one double amplifier and upgraded the drum set, no more than that. In retrospect, Dexter Holland said that was what allowed them to sound so good on the album because if they had used their previous equipment most likely the singles would not have been played on the radio. This time, too, producer Thom joins the group and within two months with a meager budget of $ 20,000, the band records the album. Since they were on a very limited budget, Thom slept in a trailer outside the studio and the band members would record mostly while other artists would cancel because then the price was much lower than usual. The band members finish the recordings and present the final mixing to Brett (the president of the label), Brett gets in his car, puts the cassette in the car audio system, and turns the volume to the max. After two hours and more than twenty rounds around his house, Brett gets out of the car, gets into his house, and informs his wife excitedly "Honey, everything’s going to be different now". The first single from the album "Come Out and Play" was sent to various radio stations and a few days later Brett receives a phone call from the radio station "KROQ" (the biggest rock station in the US) informing him that the song is so good that it is going into the "power rotation". In less than 24 hours the song airs non-stop on the radio station, spreads to other radio stations in Los Angeles, and immediately becomes a hysterical hit. Dexter said that writing the song was inspired while driving to the university and watching the riots that took place in Los Angeles in 1992. Later the song was nicknamed "Keep 'Em Separated". At the same time, the single "Welcome to Paradise" by "Green Day" was released and these two singles were the opening shot of the Punk Rock takeover of the mainstream in the US and around the world. The radio stations did not have time to calm down and here comes another release, the second single "Self Esteem" which creates another explosion that breaks the radio airwaves. The song also took it by storm to the top of the charts but this time not only in the US but also worldwide, it topped the charts in Europe and many other countries around the world. Dexter said he did not write the song from personal experience but from a close friend who experienced a takeover relationship. By the way, a few months earlier, "Green Day"'s second single "Basket Case" was released. Almost a year after the album's release, the third single "Gotta Get Away" was released, which was a tremendous success and continued the band's rise. Although it only reached number 6 on Billboard, it was constantly played on radio stations. With the release of the album, the band embarked on a two-year tour to promote the album around the world. They really liked to perform in clubs and wanted to keep their performances close to the audience, they refused several times to be an opening act and perform in stadiums with bands like Metallica and Alice in Chains. In addition to that, they also avoided appearing on famous TV shows and rejected offers that came from host shows like SNL. As you already understood, saw, or even experienced firsthand the insane success, you could not turn on the radio without hearing "The Offspring", you couldn't spend your night at a rock club without dancing to the band's songs at least several times, and you couldn't watch MTV without seeing "Noodles" at least ten times. The band members sold close to 15,000 copies of their second album and saw the flagship band of the label "Bad Company" sell about 100,000 copies aspiring to reach a maximum of 80 or 90 thousand copies. But they never imagined the success would be so huge and the album would sell over 11 million copies worldwide, the best-selling album in the world under an independent label. ( Photo: IMDB.com) The band members said that at the time of the album's success, they were still working part-time jobs because they had a commitment. Noodles had a funny story while he was a janitor at the "Earl Warren School", students would turn to him and be amazed when in the morning they see him at school and in the evening they see him on MTV. Brett said that in light of the insane demand for the album, he had to mortgage his house to produce the required quantity. Several months after the release of the album, the entire parking lot of the label was filled with pallets of the album, and all the warehouses in the city were rented by Brett and stored additional albums. The sales were so impressive that Sony Music wanted to buy a percentage of the label but was denied by Bret. We do not want to go into comparisons, because there is no such thing as "better" in music, it is an art and anyone can perceive it differently. But it cannot be ignored that "The Offspring" was successful with this album under a small and independent label as opposed to "Green Day" which had a strong back from a huge label. It's a point worth considering, but in the end, they both managed to blow punk rock back in our ears! Listen to the album on: 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 - 08.04.1975 When “Aerosmith” began working on “Toys in the Attic”, their growing confidence was fueled by the momentum of their previous tour. While their first two albums were largely built on songs they had been performing live in clubs for years, this time the band approached the process differently and started almost entirely from scratch. Guitarist Joe Perry  later described it as a turning point where the band truly began to develop its identity in the studio. During the making of the album, the band learned how to function as recording artists, adapting to deadlines and a more structured creative process. The sessions evolved into a collaborative environment, with all members contributing ideas and shaping both the songwriting and arrangements together. Released on April 8, 1975, “Toys in the Attic” became the breakthrough album of “Aerosmith”. A major part of that success is credited to producer Jack Douglas, who guided the band closely throughout the sessions and effectively acted as a sixth member. Douglas, who had previously worked as a recording engineer with artists such as John Lennon , "The Who", Miles Davis and "Cheap Trick", described how the band entered the studio with only a handful of songs. For the first time, most of the material was written during the recording process itself. Prior to the sessions, they spent time in the studio rehearsing, developing ideas, and shaping the songs before committing them to tape. A significant amount of time was dedicated to pre-production, allowing the band to focus creatively without the pressure of touring. This period helped Douglas understand the strengths of each band member and how to bring them together into a cohesive sound. According to Douglas, Steven Tyler  stood out as a particularly gifted lyricist. His approach was to write lyrics after the music had already taken shape. While he possessed a sharp sense of humor and creativity, he was also deeply self-critical and increasingly struggled with the pressure he placed on himself, making the writing process more difficult over time. Joe Perry later reflected on Tyler’s process, describing how challenging it is to craft lyrics that both tell a story and fit rhythmically. He noted that Tyler would often immerse himself in the recordings, listening repeatedly while moving around until he was able to find the right words. Tensions within the band also influenced the material. Steven Tyler reportedly had a difficult relationship with Joe Perry’s then-wife Alicia Jarrett, comparing her presence to that of Yoko Ono, and this dynamic became associated with the inspiration behind the song “Sweet Emotion” . “Adam’s Apple”  was written by Steven Tyler  as a modern interpretation of the biblical story of Adam and Eve. At the same time, Tyler subtly weaves in references to his own struggles with substance use, particularly in the title track, which reflects a state of mental disorientation and loss of control. With “No More No More” , Tyler shifts perspective and writes from the point of view of a touring musician, capturing the realities of life on the road, from hotels and groupies to the underlying sense of monotony. The song functions almost like a personal journal, documenting the experience behind the scenes. As the album neared completion, “Aerosmith” realized they were still missing one more track. They turned to a piece Joe Perry had originally composed in Hawaii, though it still lacked both lyrics and a title. Producer Jack Douglas pushed the band to develop it into a high-energy track. The music was recorded, but the band struggled to come up with lyrics or even a clear direction, and at one point considered leaving it as an instrumental. Despite that, the groove of the track was too strong to ignore. The band decided to step away from the studio to clear their heads, heading with Douglas to Times Square to watch “Young Frankenstein” by Mel Brooks. That break would prove pivotal. Inspired by a scene in the film where Marty Feldman, playing Igor, walks awkwardly down a platform and delivers the line “ Walk this way ” to Gene Wilder, Douglas immediately recognized the phrase as the perfect title for the song. Back in the studio, the band now had a concept, but still needed lyrics. That same night, Tyler wrote them in his hotel room, only to accidentally leave them behind in a taxi on the way back to the studio the next morning. At first, no one believed him, and it seemed as if the lyrics had never existed at all. Shaken by the situation, Steven Tyler  took a cassette of the instrumental track along with a portable tape player and headphones, disappearing into a stairwell to reconstruct what he had lost. He ended up rewriting the lyrics on a wall in the upper floor of a record store called Planet. After roughly two hours, he managed to fully recreate “Walk This Way” , shaping lyrics that tell the story of a teenage boy losing his virginity. Joe Perry  saw the result as something exceptional. Coming from a background as a drummer, Tyler approached lyrics not only as storytelling, but as a rhythmic element. For him, words had to carry meaning, but also function like percussion, bouncing within the groove of the track. Tyler was constantly drawn to double entendres rooted in the blues tradition, pushing lyrical boundaries while maintaining enough subtlety to avoid censorship. Perry later recalled the reaction of David Johansen of “New York Dolls”, who responded strongly to “Walk This Way” , recognizing just how far the band had pushed that edge between suggestiveness and mainstream exposure. The song went on to become the second major hit for “Aerosmith” in the United States, following the success of “Dream On” . More than a decade later, at a time when the band’s career was in decline, it was a hip hop reinterpretation by "Run-DMC" that brought “Aerosmith” back into the spotlight and reintroduced them to a new generation. As for the album’s title, Steven Tyler  later explained that it was chosen for its layered meaning. Beyond the immediate imagery, he viewed the record as something that listeners would return to years later with a sense of nostalgia, much like rediscovering old toys stored away in an attic. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On April 8, 1977, "Judas Priest" released their third studio album "Sin After Sin". "Sin After Sin" finds "Judas Priest" moving beyond experimentation and beginning to shape the sound they would soon claim as their own. Moving to a major label and working with Roger Glover , the band tightened their sound into something sharper and more controlled, stripping away much of the blues haze that still lingered over their earlier work. It's the band only release to feature drummer Simon Phillips, a session player brought in to replace Alan Moore. Coming off "Sad Wings of Destiny" , the shift is immediate. The riffs feel more deliberate, the structures more disciplined, and the overall weight of the album comes from precision rather than atmosphere. There is still darkness here, but it is no longer drifting, it is focused and aimed. The opening stretch makes that clear. "Sinner"  unfolds with a slow, stalking presence before expanding into something far more forceful, built on the emerging chemistry between Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing. This is where the twin guitar attack starts becoming a defining feature rather than a stylistic choice. Rob Halford  anchors the track with a performance that moves between restraint and eruption, giving the song a constant sense of tension that never fully settles. Then "Diamonds and Rust"  shifts the perspective. Instead of pushing further into aggression, "Judas Priest" pull the arrangement inward, reshaping the Joan Baez  original into something colder and more introspective. It is a reminder that control can be just as powerful as volume, and it broadens the emotional range of the record without breaking its cohesion. As the album progresses, the blueprint for what heavy metal would become starts to take shape. "Let Us Prey / Call for the Priest"  starts with the slow "Queen"-like " Let Us Prey " then explodes with the sharper, faster attack of "Call for the Priest" . "Last Rose of Summer"  closes the first side of the vinyl with a slow bluse-vibe feel. Together with "Here Come the Tears"  it is slowing the album's pace without losing it's weight, adding atmosphere and emotional depth that make the heavier moments land with greater impact. No doubt, "Sin After Sin" plays a crucial role in shaping the rhythmic foundation of heavy metal. The album introduces a tighter, more technical approach built on rapid bass patterns, driving guitar rhythms, and early use of double bass drumming. That evolution reaches a peak with the closing track - "Dissident Aggressor" , where the increase in speed and intensity pushes the band into more aggressive territory, laying the groundwork for the faster, heavier styles that would emerge in the years that followed. Its speed and intensity hinting at directions the genre would fully explore years later. Simon Phillips’ drumming plays a critical role here, giving the faster material a precision that feels genuinely dangerous rather than simply energetic. In the story of "Judas Priest", "Sin After Sin" is where direction becomes identity. It still carries traces of the band’s earlier, more exploratory side, but it clearly points toward the precision, speed, and authority that would soon define heavy metal at its core. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On April 7, 1975 Ritchie Blackmore made his last show with MK III lineup. It was early April 1975, and "Deep Purple" had just wrapped up their U.S. tour in support of "Stormbringer", an album that had pushed the band further into funk and soul influences—territory that didn’t sit well with Ritchie Blackmore . Disillusioned with the band’s musical direction and increasingly alienated from his bandmates, Blackmore made a decision that would shake the hard rock world: he was leaving "Deep Purple". The tipping point had been brewing for months. Blackmore, the band’s founding guitarist and riff-master behind classics like “Smoke on the Water” and “Burn,” had grown frustrated with what he saw as a lack of edge in the new material. While David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes embraced a more soulful, groove-based sound, Blackmore longed for the heavier, more classical-inspired rock that had defined earlier albums like " Machine Head " and " In Rock ". The "last straw" for "The Black Man". During the recordings of the album "Stormbringer," Ritchie Blackmore  asked the band members to record a cover version of the song "Black Sheep of the Family" by the band "Quatermass" from 1970, but they objected. Blackmore decides that was too much for him and already in February 1975 he joined Ronnie James Dio , from whom he was very impressed while with his band "Elf" warmed up "Deep Purple". In secret, he recorded a solo project with Ronnie James Dio and members of "Elf" — what would soon become " Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow ". That album, released later in 1975, was proof that his departure was more than just a reaction; it was a calculated move toward a new vision. When the tour ended in Paris on April 7, 1975, Blackmore informed the band that he was done. No press conference, no public fallout—just a clear, final decision. He would play no more shows with Deep Purple. That performance at the Palais des Sports would be his last with the band for nearly a decade. The rest of "Deep Purple" was stunned but determined to press on. Within months, guitarist Tommy Bolin was brought in to fill the void, and the "Come Taste the Band" era began. But fans and critics alike knew something fundamental had changed. The chemistry that fueled the classic Mark II and III lineups had been deeply tied to Blackmore’s unique sound and presence. For Blackmore, leaving "Deep Purple" was both an artistic escape and a risk. But it led to a new chapter with "Rainbow"—one filled with epic, neo-classical hard rock and a legacy that would become legendary in its own right. Luckily, Blackmore's last full show with the MKIII lineup was recorded and you can listen to it here: "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website