Today we will tell you about keyboardist Rami Jaffee, best known as a member of the "Foo Fighters". (Photo: Palmspringslife.com) = He was born in Los Angeles, California on March 11, 1969 to a father of Jewish-Russian origin and a mother of Jewish-Moroccan origin. = He bought his first keyboards with the Bar Mitzvah gift money and in a short time started playing in local school bands. = Rami attended "Hancock Park" elementary school and "Fairfax" high school. He testifies that he could be seen improvising on the grand piano during breaks in the high school auditorium, with long hair and a Grateful Dead T-shirt. = He grew up in the "Fairfax" neighborhood and used to attend the "Beit Am" synagogue in the neighborhood. At the age of 16, he was working as a counselor at the camp of the Jewish Community Center (JCC). = In the years 1982 to 1987 he played in local bands, mainly "Daisy Chamber" which played David Bowie style music. = At the same time, he made sure to visit the neighborhood bar "Kibitz Room" where he watched the performances of local bands every Tuesday night. = After finishing high school, he started working as a session player in recording studios. In the nineties, he participated in the albums of artists such as Rickie Lee Jones, "the Hookers", Leah Andreone and Chalk FarM. = In 1989 he joined the band "Apples" founded by Jakob Dylan (son of Bob Dylan ) and Tobi Miller. = A few weeks later, they changed their name to "Wallflowers" and signed a recording contract with "Virgin Records". (Photo: Fanart.TV) = In 1992 the band released their debut album "The Wallflowers". Rami played keyboards, sang background vocals and participated in writing one of the songs. = The album was not very successful but the band got to serve as a warm-up band for bands like "Cracker" and "10,000 Maniacs". = The big break came with the second album "Bringing Down the Horse", which included the hits "One Headlight", 6th Avenue Heartache", "Three Marlenas" and more. Listen to how the sounds of his Hammond organ influence the song "The Difference". = At the same time he was a member of the "Wallflowers" Rami was a sought-after session player and played among others on albums such as "On How Life Is" by Macy Gray, "Undiscovered Soul" by Richie Sambora and "Jubilee" by "Grant Lee Buffalo". = In 1998 "The Wallflowers" received a Grammy nomination for the song "Heroes" which appeared in the movie "Godzilla". = In 2000 they released their third album "Breach". Rami will remain a member of the band and will also be a partner in its next three albums including "Glad All Over" from 2012. = In 2005, Jaffee began collaborating with the "Foo Fighters", in their live performances. Even when he was not an official member of the band, Rami influenced the band's sound at concerts, as can be heard, among others, in the following performance from the album " Skin And Bones " from 2006. = At the same time, Rami was a guest on all the band's albums as a session player, starting with " In Your Honor " from 2005, and later on the albums " Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace " from 2007, " Wasting Light " from 2011, " Sonic Highways " from 2014. = In 2012 and 2013, Rami was a member of the "Sound City Players", a supergroup formed by Dave Grohl , who, in addition to appearing in Grohl's 2013 documentary " Sound City ", performed a limited number of shows in 2013. = In 2017, Rami was announced as an official member of the band. The first full album he released with the band as an official member was " Concrete and Gold " from 2017, but whoever looks at the credits for the mini-album " Saint Cecilia " from 2015 will see that he is already mentioned in the credits as a member of the band. = In 2021, together with the Foo's, he released the album "Medicine at Midnight" and the tribute album to the disco days of the "Bee Gees" " Hail Satin ". (Photo: Fanart.TV) = In March 2022 he released the album " Dream Widow " - the debut album of Dave Grohl's and the members of the "Foo Fighters" imaginary band. = In the same year he participated with the band in the film " Studio 666 ". = In March 2022 the band loses its drummer Taylor but not its way and a year later they introduce their new drummer Josh Freese. = In June 2023, the band releases its first album after Taylor's death, the album "But Here We Are". The album was produced by Greg Kurstin and the band with Dave recording all the drums parts on the album. This is undoubtedly a lament album, both in terms of sound and lyrics, Dave reflects in the songs the feelings that he and the band experienced following Taylor's death but also what he himself experienced following the death of his mother Virginia. = Rami led the house band of "The Fran Drescher Show". = In 2007 he participated in the album "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow" - the fourth album of "Coheed and Cambria". = In 2010 he became a co-owner of the recording studio "Phonogenic Studios" in the San Fernando Valley. = In 2014, he discovered the Facebook group " Bring Foo Fighters To Israel " and responded to the page with these words: "Yes!!!! Bring Us!!! Been to long Since I was Chilling in Neve Tzedek!!!" = When the Foo's appeared on the "Saturday Night Live" show in Christmas 2017, Rami placed a Chanukka Menorah on his keyboards. = The variety of keyboard instruments that Rami plays on the various albums and in the concerts in which he participates, is particularly wide and includes among others: piano, synthesizer, Hammond organ, Mellotron, Wurlitzer, Vox organ, Optigan, Farfisa, accordion and more. He also sings and plays the harmonica. = During his musical career Rami played and performed with other artists such as Pete Yorn, "Stone Sour", Joseph Arthur, "Soul Asylum" and more. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 11, 1983, "Quiet Riot" released their third studio album "Metal Health". In the early 1980s the Los Angeles Sunset Strip scene was exploding. Clubs like the "Whisky a Go Go" and the "Starwood" were packed nightly with bands trying to turn loud guitars and big choruses into record deals. "Quiet Riot" had already spent several years chasing that dream. The band was originally formed in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, with Kevin DuBrow joining as vocalist shortly after. Their first two albums were released only in Japan and failed to break the band internationally. When Randy Rhoads left the band in 1979 to join Ozzy Osbourne , the future of "Quiet Riot" seemed uncertain. The tragic death of Randy Rhoads in a plane accident in March 1982 cast an even darker shadow over the band’s story. Yet by that time a new lineup had taken shape. Kevin DuBrow remained at the front, joined by guitarist Carlos Cavazo, bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Frankie Banali . This lineup would soon record the album that would change everything. Working with producer Spencer Proffer at "Pasha Music House Studios" in Hollywood, the band crafted a sound that blended raw heavy metal power with radio friendly hooks. The result was "Metal Health", a record filled with massive riffs, gang vocals and arena-sized choruses that perfectly captured the spirit of the early 1980s metal scene. The album explodes to life with "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" , one of the defining metal anthems of the decade. Built around a pounding riff and a chant-along chorus, the song captured the rebellious spirit of the headbanger culture and quickly became a staple of MTV and rock radio. The album’s biggest commercial breakthrough came from "Cum On Feel the Noize" , a cover of the classic track by "Slade". Interestingly Kevin DuBrow initially refused to record the song. He believed the band should focus only on original material and worried that a cover might make them look less authentic. Producer Spencer Proffer convinced the band to record it anyway, and the track was completed quickly and without great expectations. Ironically it became the band’s biggest hit and the song most associated with "Quiet Riot". Another highlight is "Slick Black Cadillac" , a song that had previously appeared in an earlier version on the band’s Japan-only debut album. The rerecorded version here feels tighter and heavier, driven by Carlos Cavazo’s aggressive guitar tone and Frankie Banali ’s powerful drumming. A different moment on the album appears with "Don't Wanna Let You Go" , a slower ballad that reveals a more melodic and vulnerable side of the band. The track allows Kevin DuBrow to showcase his vocal range beyond the typical metal screams, adding a brief emotional pause between the album’s heavier riffs. "Love's a Bitch"  continues in a similar melodic direction, functioning as a kind of power ballad built around a strong chorus and expressive vocals, while still maintaining the band’s hard rock edge. The striking album artwork was designed by Stan Watts, who had previously worked on covers for "Black Sabbath" and "The Doobie Brothers". The band wanted to create a visual icon and Rudy Sarzo suggested something inspired by Alexandre Dumas' "The Man in the Iron Mask". The masked figure on the cover was not Kevin DuBrow as many fans believed, but Watts himself, photographed by his wife and later airbrushed for a dramatic high contrast look. The mask became so closely associated with the band that DuBrow wore a similar one on the cover of the follow up album "Condition Critical". When "Metal Health" reached number one on the Billboard 200 later in 1983 it shocked the entire music industry. At the time heavy metal was still considered a niche genre and few executives believed a metal album could top the American charts. Its success made "Metal Health" the first heavy metal album ever to reach number one and helped open the door for the explosion of bands that would dominate the decade, including "Mötley Crüe", "Ratt" and "Twisted Sister". Even today, "Metal Health" remains one of the defining albums of the early MTV metal era. It captured the moment when heavy metal moved from club stages into the center of popular culture and turned "Quiet Riot" into unlikely pioneers of the 1980s metal explosion. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

The masterpiece album "Déjà Vu", was released on March 11, 1970. It features a unique collaboration of four marvelous writers and performers. The story of this album begins where the story of the trio's amazing debut album " Crosby, Stills & Nash " ended. CSN's debut album was a huge success and received rave reviews. It was sold in large quantities and released several hits that create high expectations and demand for new material from the trio. Since on the debut album most of the instruments were played by Stephen Stills , the members decided to increase the circle of musicians for their next album. The first choice was Steve Winwood, however, he was unavailable and the band continued their search for musicians, who would complete the lineup and allow them to transfer the materials recorded in the studio to the stage, as well. At the recommendation of "Atlantic records" founder Ahmet Ertegün, Neil Young joins the band and the new quartet goes on tour in the summer of 1969. About three months after the release of their debut album, the trio is already performing at the legendary Woodstock Festival, with Neil Young on stage. Their amazing show in Woodstock and the electrifying connection between the four members only increases the anticipation for an album of the four members and thus was born "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young". (Photo: Last.FM) The quartet enters a studio reinforced by Dallas Taylor drummer and bassist Greg Reeves, both received credit on the album cover title. In the studio, however, the atmosphere was not as happy and joyful as it was during the initial connection between the four members. Sadness hovered over the album recordings, when most members experienced loss upon entering the studios. Graham Nash just broke up with his beloved girlfriend, singer, and songwriter Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills broke up with his girlfriend, singer Judy Collins, and David Crosby lost his partner Christine Hinton in a tragic car accident, caused when one of their two cats jumped on her while she was driving to the vet. There is a controversy as to the number of studio hours invested in the recording of this album, ranging from 500 to 800 hours according to Stephen Stills ', but it is clear that it's an exceptional figure for these times, which probably stemmed from the mental state of most members. The album features ten songs. Each of the four members contributed one song to each side of the album, with most of the songs usually recorded solo by the artist who wrote it, while the rest of the members later added their parts, mainly vocal harmonies. This of course contributed to the diversity and versatility of the songs on the album. The other two songs that completed the album were " Woodstock ", which closes the first side of the vinyl, and " Everybody I Love You " which seals the album and was written by Stills and Young. Surprisingly, despite the difficult atmosphere in the studio and even though most of the recordings were made independently and in the absence of the entire quartet in the studio, this album is still complete, uniform and so cohesive that the background stories surrounding it and the lack of full collaboration between members can not be discerned. The result is an album with honed and precise playing, rich harmonies, and strong rhythms, from which three successful singles were released and whose other songs continue to resonate even five decades later. " Carry On " is a rhythmic folk song with amazing harmonies, that Stephen Stills wrote at the request of Nash, who said they lacked a rhythmic song to open the album with. In addition to guitar, Stephen Stills also plays bass, percussion, and Hammond organ. This song actually consists of two songs, with the second part being a variation of the song "Questions" that appears on the album "Last Time Around" from "Buffalo Springfield". " Teach Your Children " is a lovable country song written by Graham Nash and deals with his complex relationship with his father, who spent time in prison. Jerry Garcia from "The Grateful Dead" plays amazing pedal steel guitar here. In return for his playing, the members gave him lessons in vocal harmonies, which he successfully applied on subsequent albums of "The Grateful Dead" - "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty". " Almost Cut My Hair " is a hippie blues anthem by David Crosby . It features an amazing guitar "attack" by Crosby, Stills, and especially Young, who plays solo. This is the most spontaneous piece on the album. It was recorded in the last few hours left for the band in the studio and so it almost does not include overdubbing and vocal harmonies, except the broken voice of David Crosby, who was affected by the death of his girlfriend Christine at the time. The album changed direction with Neil Young 's melancholy and amazing " Helpless ", which was influenced by Young's childhood memories, especially the polio disease he had when he was six years old. Neil Young originally recorded the song with the "Crazy Horse", but in this album version, he plays almost all the instruments. The first side of the vinyl is sealed with " Woodstock ", which Joni Mitchell wrote after hearing about Nash, Crosby, and other musicians' experiences Woodstock festival. Mitchell did not attend the mythical Woodstock festival, as she was scheduled to appear on a television show at the time. The song was originally written a folk song, but the four members gave it an electric interpretation that did it a favor and sent it straight to the top of the charts, as the band's first single released from the album. Mitchell later recorded her own version of the song, appeared on the album "Ladies of the Canyon". The other side of the vinyl opens up with the theme song " Déjà Vu " which combines Folk with Blues. The song was written by David Crosby about a Déjà Vu experience he had, when he was invited to join a friend's boat ride. Crosby, then influenced by Buddhism, believed that life was like a cycle wheel. " Our House " is one of the most magical tracks on the album. Graham Nash wrote the song about one day in his relationship life with Joni Mitchell, in their shared cottage in Los Angeles. " 4 + 20 " was written by Stephen Stills . An acoustic folk piece that tells a sad story about a child who was born into a poor family and finds himself destitute at the end of his life, already wishing that death would come. The only instrument used in this song is the Stephen Stills acoustic guitar. " Country Girl " is a short work by Neil Young , in an almost waltz rhythm, with a deep organ and vocal harmonies, consisting of three parts. The first part "Whiskey Boot Hill" is based on a piece Young wrote back in 1967 for his first solo album. The second part "Down Down Down" is based on a section he wrote for "Buffalo Springfield", but did not see the light of day, and the last section is called "Country Girl (I Think You're Pretty)". The album is sealed with a positive and "hippie" tone befitting the period, with " Everybody I Love You ", which is the only song that was not written solo by one of the members. Stills and Young collaborate in writing it, with each of the band's six members contributing to singing or playing. In the year following the release of the album, each of the Fantastic Four will release his own solo album. Neil Young will release " After the Gold Rush ". David Crosby releases " If I Could Only Remember My Name ". Graham Nash releases the album "Songs for Beginners". Stephen Stills releases his debut album "Stephen Stills". The fact that the albums are released very soon after the release of "Déjà Vu", allows us to say that in this case, the whole is larger than the sum of its parts, and that as amazing as the quartet's solo albums, each in its own right, there is still added value in the creation of all four together, making this album a classic beyond space and time. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Noam Asulin Release Date - 11.3.2022 Before I started writing this review, I knew I needed to do in-depth research on "Ghost". Not because I do not know the band, but because in its 16 years of existence "Ghost" has gone through quite a bit and its success has been meteoric. "Ghost" was founded in 2006, by singer and multi-instrumentalist Tobias Forge in Linköping, Sweden. So far the band has released 5 albums. It's hard to define the style of this band. You could say it revolves around hard rock, glam, doom, heavy, progressive metal, and a few other genres. Apart from Tobias, the band's founder, the other members are not known by their real names, but are called "Nameless Ghouls". They all dress in the same way except Tobias whose character has changed through the years and he's the only one whose real identity is known over the years. Between the years 2010-2017, Tobias' characters were "Papa Emeritus / II / III", when in 2018 his character changed to "Cardinal Copia" and two years later again changed to "Papa Emeritus IV". The band members imitate members of a Catholic church. They worship the devil and not the Holy Trinity. Each member of the band (except Tobias) has a symbol on the garment that symbolizes the instrument he is playing (lead guitar-fire, bass-water, keyboards-wind, drums-earth, rhythm guitar-the fifth element). Since 2015 all members have all the symbols on their outfits, with the symbol representing the instrument on which they play highlighted. In 2018, another guitarist joined the band, two keyboardists known as "Ghoulettes" and a saxophonist known as "Papa Nihil", with Tobias' character "Papa Emeritus", actually representing a satanic priest. Before approaching the review itself it is worth mentioning the band's meteoric rise. The band recorded their first album, "Opus Eponymous" in the basement of Tobias and released it under the independent record company "Rise Above Records". The album managed to sweep many fans and received good reviews, which led to the band's next album "Infestissumam", already being released under a big label - "Loma Vista", a subsidiary of "Atlantic Records" / "Universal". Since then the band has only gained more and more success and even appeared with one of the singles from the "Impera" on Jimmy Kimmel's show in the US. All band members were replaced in 2018, after previous band members filed a lawsuit against Tobias due to an unknown dispute. (Photo: Fanart.TV) After this introduction, which tries to explain what exactly is going on in the band, let's approach the fifth album - "Impera". The theme of the album is the rise and fall of empires. The album is defined as one that takes place thousands of years after the 14th century, the period on which the band's previous album "Prequelle" is based on. When asked about the idea behind the album, Tobias explained that the inspiration came to him after reading a book called "The Rule of Empires: Those Who Built Them, Those Who Endured Them, and Why They Always Fall", written by author Timothy Parsons. The album begins with " Imperium ", an intro section interesting enough not to skip it. The next song “ Kaisarion ” highlights something very dominant on this album. The production. Already in this track, you can hear how grandiose and rich the production is. In terms of the mix, everything is in the right place, even the bass which is always very important for me to hear. Throughout the album, there is a sense that the songs are very much influenced by the rock of the eighties. The sixth track " Watcher In the Sky " is in my opinion the strongest track on the album. It starts with a calm melody, when after a few seconds the guitars come in with an addictive riff. Tobias sounds wonderful and the bass kicks and is very bold. The chorus is catchy and the keyboards are also very dominant. The solo in C-part is simply stunning. The next track “ Dominion ”, which serves as a bridge is very boring in my opinion and I tend to skip it. It is followed by " Twenties " which came out as the third single from the album. When I first heard it I raised an eyebrow. This song is a weird one compared to the rest of the album. It starts with trumpets in a kind of oriental tempo (not in sound, only in the way it is played). The point is that the more I heard it the more I fell in love with it and this is my second favorite song on the album. It has an addictive charm and the solo towards the middle of the song is generally amazing. If I have already mentioned the solo then solos on rock and metal albums are in my eyes a very significant part of the experience and when it comes to addictive solos the album gets a few more points from me, as in this case. In conclusion, this is a wonderful album whose most songs can function as fun stadium anthems. True, it's still not "Meliora", one of "Ghost's" masterpieces from 2015, that features a more progressive and perhaps psychedelic sound, but this album certainly continues to show how much talent lies in Tobias and his bandmates. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music , Deezer "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... This is Chris Cornell 's first "POP" album and also the third album he released in his solo career on March 10' 2009. As the album cover implies, a picture of Chris with a guitar hoisted in the air towards a total crash to the ground, Chris wants to let you know, before you hit play, that you are not going to get a rock and roll based music like before but something completely different. We can run a lot of clichés here like... the whole is small from the sum of its part ... two huge artists in their field meet in order to destroy each other... Musical change is not always a blessed thing... and more and more but let us share our thoughts for a moment. This album is a collaboration of... a huge artist in the rock world, Chris Cornell, with an armor-piercing voice, charisma that sparkles with a hydrogen bomb, and tremendous musical talent with... A huge artist in the pop world, Timbaland, whose digital symbols cut through membranes, his arrangements will make you frolic even if you deny the genre and many artists have been produced under his hands. (Photo: YouTube) But what can we say... not always huge musical talents connect and not always the outcome is according to the plan. The two tried to get out of their comfort zone but since they held the altar funds so tightly, there was no full cooperation or joint creation here. Each tried to fit the other to his side. Chris said the workflow was not shared and started from scratch but, Timbaland would come up with the rhythm and melody and Chris would write lyrics and melody, so the album was written in just 6 weeks. At "All Music" this combination was beautifully defined "it is not a collaboration but a car accident". The album includes 14 songs written and produced by Chris and Timbaland but incorporated with a number of other star artists from the pop world such as Jim BEANZ who is a producer, songwriter, and singer, producer Johnkenun Spivery, singer Ryan Tedder from the band "One Republic", musician Justin Timberlake and more... We must note, that, unlike the album versions, some songs that went into the setlist at Chris's shows, were granted with phenomenal versions, in Chris' much-loved musical style. You can listen to the album on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is without a doubt one of the most recognizable and influential figures in the Seattle grunge scene. His name is Jeff Ament and we really want to tell you some interesting details about him: (Photo: Kevin Mazur) Ament was born on March 10, 1963 as Jeffrey Allen Ament in Havre, Montana, USA. 2. He is the eldest of 5 brothers and sisters. 3. Ament grew up in the town of Big Sandy in Montana with only 700 residents. The town was so small that his father served both as the post office manager and as the mayor. 4. Jeff was a very athletic kid and participated in basketball and soccer teams at school. 5. Upon graduating from high school in 1981 he began studying art and graphic design at the University of Montana. 6. Ament also played on the university basketball team, which is also his favorite sport. 7. He left the university and moved to Seattle in 1983 after the university abolished the graphic design track. 8. At the same time, Ament realized his love for music. One of the first bands he played was called "Deranged Diction". 9. In 1984, after the band "Deranged Diction" disbanded, Ament was asked by Mark Arm and Steve Turner to join the "Green River" band. 10. Later, guitarist Stone Gossard also joined the band, in order to allow Mark to concentrate on singing. (Photo: Charles Peterson) 11. Ament and "Green River" released their first EP "Come on Down" in 1985, already then the collaboration between Ament and Gusard began to work, with the duo composing most of the EP songs. 12. In 1987 the band released a second EP called "Dry as a Bone", this was the first release of the mythical Sub Pop label so identified with Grunge. 13. In the publications for the promotion of the EP, the label first mentioned the concept of Grunge in the following words: "Ultra-loose grunge that destroyed the morals of a generation". 14. In 1988, "Green River" released their only full-length album "Rehab Doll". During this period the relationship within the band was murky, with Ament and Gusard on one side and Mark Aram and the others on the other. (Photo: Charles Peterson) 15. These controversies led to the dissolution of "Green River", but its place in the history of music remains as one of the first and most influential bands in the Grunge style. 16. In 1988, Ament and his "Green River" friends Gusard and Fairweather formed the band "Mother Love Bone". The three will be joined by drummer Greg Gilmore as well as a talented and charismatic character named Andrew Wood who came from the band "Malfunkshun". 17. Ament and the members of "Mother Love Bone" created a strong buzz in Seattle and soon the record companies started courting them. As early as November 1988, the band signed a contract with Mercury Records / Stardog, a subsidiary of PolyGram. 18. On March 23, 1989, Ament and the band released an EP with six songs called "Shine", making "Mother Love Bone" the first band in Seattle to release an album with a major record label. 19. At the end of 1989, Ament and the band members returned to the studio in California to record their debut album "Apple" . The album included 13 songs and was scheduled to be released in March 1990, but just days before the planned release of the album, Wood passed away as a result of an overdose. (Photo: Mother Love Bone) 20. Wood's death of course dismantled the band but also threatened to dismantle the friendships between Ament and Gusard. Ament even played briefly with "War Babies", before recovering and returning to collaborate with Gusard. 21. The two added Gosard's childhood friend Mike McCready and the three tried to form a band. 22. While searching, the members of the emerging band were invited to join a project in memory of Andrew Wood led by "Soundgarden" band leader Chris Cornell and called "Temple of the Dog" . (Photo: Tumblr) 23. In 1990, Ament, Gusard, and Creedy, along with singer Eddie Vedder , formed the band, "Pearl Jam". 24. In August 1991, the band releases their debut album "Ten" which will become one of the great albums of the nineties and in general. 25. Ament, co-wrote the songs for the album and among other things wrote the music for one of his biggest hits "Jeremy". 26. It is interesting to note that Jeff almost left the band before the release of the album "Ten", all due to an argument he had with Gusard over the song "Brother". Ament very much wanted the song to be included on the album, but Gusard objected and the song did not go into the final version. The song was finally released on the 2003 album "Lost Dogs" as well as on the album's 20th-anniversary release. 27. Here it is worth noting that Ament's talent in art and design that he began to study at the university was reflected already in the first "Pearl Jam" shirts that were designed by him. 28. Also, his very special handwriting adorns the inner covers and lyrics in some of the band's albums. The very unique writing style has become the “font” most identified with Seattle’s grunge albums. (Photo: Paul Bergen) 29. Ament will later establish with his brother Barry an art design company called "Ament founded Ames Bros." The company will be responsible, among other things, for the design of Pearl Jam's posters and covers. 30. The company will also design the cover and box cover album released after Chris Cornell's death in 2018. 31. In 1992, Ament played his part in the cult film about the grunge scene in Seattle - "Singles" . 32. He was also employed by the film's director - Cameron Crowe, as the artistic director who was in charge of the set design. 33. Moreover, the actor Matt Dillon who plays Cliff in the movie, wore Jeff's real clothes and all the items in Cliff's apartment belong to Jeff. 34. And if that's not enough, during the filming of the movie, Jeff designed a real tape with fictitious names of songs on it. Cornell responded to Jeff's challenge and composed amazing classics to the fictitious songs that Jeff gave them names. These songs include "Flutter Girl", "Seasons" and "Spoonman". 35. On "Spoonman" Emment even got credit as part of the cover of Soundgarden's "Superunknown" album which we wrote about just a few days ago. 36. In 1993, Ament together with "Pearl Jam" will release their second album "Vs" . Which broke the sales record of an album for the first week (or rather five days), and he held that title for 5 years !!! 37. A year later Ament and "Pearl Jam" released the album "Vitalogy" . Ament wrote, among other things, the music for the song "Nothingman". 38. Ament's contribution to the writing of the songs in "Pearl Jam" was in most cases limited to the writing of the melodies. Starting with the band's fifth album "Yeild" , Ament also began writing some of the lyrics. 39. Ament plays guitar in two of the "Pearl Jam" songs for which he also wrote the music. "Smile" from the album "No Code" and "Bee Girl" which is only included in the compilation album "Lost Dogs". 40. Jeff is also the lead singer on two "Pearl Jam" songs - "Sweet Lew" which was also released only as part of the compilation album "Lost Dogs" as well as in the cover version of the Ramones song - "I Just Want To Have Something To Do". 41. Ament released with "Pearl Jam" 12 studio albums including "Gigaton" released in 2020 and  "Dark Matter" released in 2024. 42. Ament is known for his fondness for strange hats, some of which were designed by his ex-partner. 43. In 1995, Ament and his friends accompanied "Pearl Jam" to grunge godfather Neil Young on the album "Mirror Ball" and the supporting tour. 44. In 2008 Emment started his solo career with his debut album "Tone". The album featured songs that Jeff wrote during the 12 years prior to the album's release. 45. Ament will later release three more solo albums "While My Heart Beats" in 2012, "Heaven / Hell" in 2018 which also featured his friends Mike McCreedy and Matt Cameron and "I Should Be Outside" in 2021. 46. Ament was also a partner in other bands such as "Three Fish" with whom he released two albums in 1996 and 1999 and "RNDM" with whom he also released two albums in 2012 and 2016. 47. Ament was also a partner in the "Tres Mts" project. Which included members from King's X and Fastbacks, among others. 48. In 2004, Ament climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with the aim of assisting the Association for Children in Distress. 49. Ament is known as a very versatile bass player and he likes to diversify his playing with unusual instruments like portals bass, contrabass, and 12-string bass. 50. In 2017, Ament entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with "Pearl Jam". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

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

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

On March 9, 2018, "Judas Priest" released their 18th studio album "Firepower". Not only is it the band's best album since " Painkiller ", but it's also the most successful "Judas Priest" album in the US and the band's first album to enter the UK's top ten since " British Steel ". The name of the album definitely indicates its content. The "firepower" of "Judas Priest" rains down "heavy metal" with high intensity on us, with sound and musical material that manage to recreate the "golden age" era of the band. Singer Rob Halford noted that the stated goal of "Judas Priest" on this album, was to reinvent some of Priest's classic moments and to that end they traced the band's roots. It can be said that this goal has been realized with a classic "Judas Priest" album, which sounds and looks (yes the cover also has a part) like the greatest albums in the band's repertoire. Indeed, this album combines the classic and rooted style of the band, with a modern and updated sound, courtesy of legendary producer Andy Sneap, known for his "magic" with veteran metal bands such as "Accept" and producer Tom Allom, who produced the band's albums in the 80's. "Judas Priest", who dominated the classical metal scene for three decades, began to lose its relevance in the 1990s with the departure of Rob Halford . The band, formed in 1969 (even before the year when Metal was born with the albums " Black Sabbath " and " In Rock "), but released their debut album only in 1974. Since then, especially during the 1970s, the band has been responsible for the design of the "Heavy Metal" genre, no less than the "Founders' Generation" bands, with masterful albums such as "Sin After Sin" and " Stained Class ". In the early '80s, with the rise of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" bands, "Priest" managed to reinvent itself, with an accessible and catchy sound like on the " British Steel " album, but still not lose its identity and maintaining the DNA that defined it. Even as the wave of Thrash Metal swept the world of metal, "Judas Priest" managed to stay relevant and give the new (second) wave of metal bands a serious fight, with one of the greatest albums in metal " Painkiller ". But then, just at the height, Rob Halford decided to retire and cut short the success while at it's peak. Even after the return of the "Metal God" "Judas Priest" failed to replicate the success and failed to produce masterful albums, such as those that raised it to the top of the metal world. Therefore, "Firepower", in a sense, is a great celebration for metal lovers wherever they are. And as we mentioned, we think this is the best album by "Judas Priest" since " Painkiller ". All 14 songs were written by Rob Halford , Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, who not only stepped into K. K. Downing's big shoes with great success, but even manages to cover up for Glenn Tipton, whose playing abilities were impaired due to Parkinson's disease. The theme song " Firepower " opens the album "With a Scream", literally, and sets the tone for everything that comes after. The heavy riff and Scott Travis's brutal drumming are a purposeful display of powerful demonstration and "firepower". Richie Faulkner noted that a friend of his told him that the song sounded like "Painkiller", only faster so it's probably Priest's fastest song, especially in terms of the drum playing. Undoubtedly, this is a crazy energy bomb at a fast pace, but still sweeping and catchy, especially in the melodic solo, with the harmonic sound of the twin guitar. The album continues at a high rate of "fire" with " Lightning Strike " - the first and excellent single released from the album. Rob Halford noted that the general idea of ​​the song was to use the ​​"lightning strike" to pull away and tear apart at an individual, at a body of people, maybe an organization, maybe an administration, that is kind of leading you, or leading us, into potentially a destructive place. Similar to the opening song, this is a powerful and melodic piece that showcases everything that characterizes the classic "Priest"ת as well as the performance ability of all the band members. Then comes " Evil Never Dies ", which starts heavier and slower, with a dark riff during the verses, which sits on the "Black Sabbath" slot. It's a dynamic, surprising and complex piece that gets a first twist in the transition part to a chorus that sounds like a classic "Priest", it changes again with the guitar solo sitting on the c-part and continues to evolve with the quiet atmospheric section that takes us back to the "Black Sabbath" influences. This is without a doubt one of the most interesting excerpts from the album that demonstrates the incredible writing ability of the Halford-Tipton-Folkner triangle. By the way, this is not the only track on the album whose riffs and general vibe will remind you of "Black Sabbath". Take for example " Children of the Sun ", " Specter " or " Lone Wolf " and you will understand what we mean. The amazing sequence of songs continues with " Never the Heroes ", the third single released from the album. It opens with a synth effect that momentarily takes us back to the days of " Turbo ", but immediately after the heavy riff arrives and changes everything, with one of the album's more catchy anthems. "Priest" manage to maintain a high level of writing and performance throughout the album. The flamboyant metal of " Flame Thrower ", the dynamic complexity of " Traitors Gate " and the recorded metal of " No Surender " prove that there are no falls on this album. Even songs that initially sound a little less catchy like " Necromancer " or " Rising from Ruins " end up sticking and not letting go. It is interesting to note that the album includes a short and symphonic instrumental track called " Guardians ", which cuts the album in two as well as an epic metal ballad " Sea of ​​Red ", which ends the album with a loud bang. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 09.03.1983 "I sing about love, about God, and about unity. I sing about life, and people prefer to focus on my clothes." Lenny Kravitz is a singer and living proof that different cultures and different people can live together. As an artist born to a Christian mother and a Jewish father, he was in many ways a cultural fusion, always searching for spirituality and for a message that could unite people. You can hear part of that spirit in his third album "Are You Gonna Go My Way", released on March 9, 1993. Lenny Kravitz himself has said that he loved music from a very young age: "Music was my passion from the moment I was born, and by the age of seven I already knew that music was what I wanted to do with my life." The defining moment that made him realize he would pursue music came after seeing the "Jackson 5" perform live. "One day my father surprised me with tickets to see the Jacksons at Madison Square Garden. When I saw the energy of the crowd around me, everything suddenly became very clear. I became obsessed with music." Leonard Albert Kravitz was born in May 1964 in Manhattan, New York. His father, Sy Kravitz, was a Jewish-Ukrainian television producer for NBC, while his mother, Roxie Roker, was an actress (best known for appearing in the groundbreaking series "The Jeffersons") who came from an African-American Christian family originally from the Bahamas. At a young age he moved with his parents from New York to California. There he taught himself to play guitar, bass, drums, and piano. He also studied vocal development and began performing under the name Romeo Blue, inspired by Prince, whom he admired deeply. Kravitz dyed his hair blue, wore blue makeup, and started playing funk-pop that strongly resembled Prince’s late-1970s sound. Other artists who influenced him, and whom he was exposed to when they visited his parents’ home, included Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis. After undergoing a spiritual experience as a teenager, the young Lenny began praying regularly and became a devoted believer, though not tied to any specific religious stream. Additional musical influences included "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones", Fela Kuti, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Jimi Hendrix, and others. In 1985, under the name Romeo Blue, Lenny Kravitz recorded a demo at the studio of keyboardist and bassist Henry Hirsch. Shortly afterward he returned to using his birth name, Lenny Kravitz . Hirsch would continue to accompany Kravitz for many years. Together they began working on a debut album, with saxophonist Karl Denson receiving a prominent role on Kravitz’s debut album "Let Love Rule". In January 1989 Kravitz signed a recording contract with "Virgin", largely thanks to his friend Steve "Stevo" Elvis Smith, who supervised the music for the "Cosby Show" spin-off "A Different World", starring the American Jewish actress Lisa Bonet, who later became Kravitz’s wife. The marriage lasted several years, and Kravitz arrived at his second album " Mama Said " heartbroken. That pain was clearly felt in several of the songs, many of which became reflections of longing for Lisa. In 1990 Kravitz wrote and produced one of Madonna’s most controversial hits, "Justify My Love", largely remembered for its provocative music video. Toward the end of 1992 Kravitz entered the studio to record his third album "Are You Gonna Go My Way", while at the same time producing and writing the English-language debut album of French model and singer Vanessa Paradis. The album showcases the wide range of styles and influences that Kravitz absorbed over the years. It blends R&B, classic rock, pop, reggae, and funk. The title track "Are You Gonna Go My Way"  carries a strong Jimi Hendrix-style vibe and became one of Kravitz’s most recognizable songs. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song and also earned the award for Best Male Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. The second single "Believe"  is perhaps the most memorable song on the album, largely because of its unforgettable guitar solo by Craig Ross in the final minute. It is a powerful ballad about faith and self-belief, both in oneself and in God. Next comes "Come On and Love Me" , driven by drumming in the style of John Bonham , a track that brings the listener back to the raw energy of classic rock and roll blended with plenty of soul. Like many moments on the album, Kravitz manages to make the music sound both retro and modern at the same time. Further along, Kravitz continues to give the listener everything they could want: thick, powerful drums, a dominant bass line, and his voice climbing close to the heights once reached by Prince, as he whispers to his listener that he is ready for love in the third single "Heaven Help" . Next comes "Just Be a Woman" , which for some reason recalls "Led Zeppelin" in its chord transitions. The resemblance to Zeppelin continues in the following track "Is There Any Love in Your Heart" , which was released as the final single from the album. Later arrives "Black Girl" , one of the groovier tracks on the album, once again highlighting how deeply Kravitz is influenced by the funk and soul music of the 1970s. The prominent bass and bouncy rhythm create an almost James Brown-like feel, as Kravitz blends rock and funk in a completely natural way. "My Love"  reveals a very different side of Kravitz. It is a gentler ballad with psychedelic touches that emphasizes his romantic and melodic side. Here you can clearly hear the influence of "The Beatles", and especially John Lennon during his solo years. On "Sugar" , Kravitz brings the energy back, combining it with the warm sound of late-1960s rock. It is one of those moments where the album feels like a modern tribute to classic rock. "Sister"  continues the funky direction with a deep and particularly sensual groove, while "Eleutheria"  (the name of an island in the Bahamas, where his mother’s family originates) is a reggae-styled and more intimate moment on the album, with an almost spiritual atmosphere. The song deals with freedom, roots, and identity, connecting Kravitz’s personal world with the universal message he tries to convey through his music. The album "Are You Gonna Go My Way" became Lenny Kravitz’s major breakthrough. It reached platinum status in several countries and turned Kravitz into one of the biggest rock stars of the 1990s. The album managed to bridge past and present, blending soul, rock, and funk while proving that it is possible to draw deep inspiration from the music of the 1960s and 1970s and still create something that sounds fresh and original. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

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

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