ב- 17 לינואר 1981 הוקמה בלוס אנג'לס להקת Mötley Crüe. (Photo: Neal Preston) The band's foundation story begins on the day bassist Nikki Sixx left his band "London". His band had great potential, it included Slash and Izzy Stradlin , who would later form "Guns N' Roses" and Blackie Lawless would form "W.A.S.P.", but Sixx no longer wanted to be subject to the dictates of his bandmates and decided he wants to start his own band in which he would control all matters. In fact, one of the "London" band members was the one who recommended Sixx to contact drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist Greg Leon, both from the band "Suite 19". But, Greg Leon did not last long leaving Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee to look for a new guitarist for their band. The two saw an ad in the newspaper that said: "Loud, rude, aggressive guitar player available". The person who posted the ad was guitarist Bob Deal, known by the stage name of Mick Mars. Mars came from the band "White Horse" and was immediately invited to audition by Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx , which of course he passed. This was not the end, since any good band requires a charismatic frontman. After a short "affair" and one demo with singer O'Dean, the band recruited singer Vince Neil, whom Tommy Lee had known since high school. Vince was then with "Rock Candy" and after the three members saw him perform, they knew right away that he should be the one to lead them. Vince initially refused, but relented and joined "Mötley Crüe" on April 1, 1981, after his previous band began to crumble. The band's name was given to it by guitarist Mick Mars, who recalled a sentence of one of the members of his previous band "White Horse", calling the band members "a motley-looking crew". Mars spelled the name as "Mottley Cru". The band members played with it, dropped the "T" and added "E" and the "Mötley Crüe" brand was born. Over the next three decades, "Mötley Crüe" will become one of the greatest bands in the world, with sales of over 100 million copies, 10 top-ten albums on the Billboard charts, 7 of them platinum or multi-platinum albums. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 17, 2001, bassist Jason Newsted left Metallica. (Photo: Nigel Wright) Newsted joined "Metallica" in the fall of 1986 following the tragic death of legendary bassist Cliff Burton . He came from "Flotsam and Jetsam" and was recommended to "Metallica" by "Metal Blade" President Brian Slagel. Newsted helped "Metallica" in its greatest moments of crisis and he was undoubtedly a key player whose talent and professionalism helped the band get back to business and later achieve meteoric global success. He joined the band in 1987 after the death of Cliff Burton and was thrown straight into the fire with work on the mini album "The $ 5.98 Garage Days Re-Revisited" . During his 14 years with "Metallica", Newsted has played on six albums of the band, Justice For All... , Metallica , Load , Re-Load , Garage Inc , and S&M and he has performed with it more than 1,000 shows around the world. Very sadly, Metallica members who were left angry and hurt by Burton's tragic death, often vented their frustration on Newsted, which was an easy target for them. In the retirement announcement, Newsted was very diplomatic and only stated that this was the hardest decision he had to make in his life. However, behind the scenes, Newsted said he left "Metallica" because they did not allow him to develop his creativity and that "Metallica" spends too much time fighting Napster instead of working on new music. At that time, Newsted sought to release new music as part of the Echobrain band outside of "Metallica", but for James Hatfield , "Metallica" was a fortified fortress that none of the band members were allowed to leave as long as he was a member, which forced Newsted to eventually announce his retirement. Jason also noted that he needed time to recover from the neck and back injuries he suffered as a result of the excess headbanging he has performed in the band shows over the years. Newsted's last appearance with "Metallica" took place about two months before the official announcement of his departure, on November 30, 2000, during a performance at the VH1 Music Awards. The last song played by Newsted with "Metallica" was "Fade To Black" - a song that Newsted has repeatedly stated that has a very high emotional value for him (even though he was not a co-writer). Newsted, who already knew then that this was going to be his last appearance with the band, released during the song a thick hint of what would happen about two months later. As James Hetfield sang the lyrics: "Now I Will Just Say Goodbye", - towards the end of the song, Jason waved goodbye to the camera hovering over him, just during the word "Goodbye", as if saying goodbye to "Metallica" and fans. You can see the wave in the video in the attached link at exactly 4:47 of the song: "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 17.01.1966 Dr. Michael Mosley, considered a health and science guru in Britain, recommends singing out loud for at least five minutes a day. Singing stimulates the nervous system responsible for the strength of a wide range of bodily functions, from our mood and appetite to the way we cope with pain. Previous studies have shown that nearly 50% of young people in Israel aged 18–24 sing in the shower. That was exactly how a young Paul Simon worked on improving his vocal technique. To the echo created by the bathroom tiles, Simon added a gentle trickle of water, turned off the light, and connected with his singing in the most complete and intimate way. That was when the words began to flow out of him: "Hello darkness, my old friend" . Simon began the writing process of a song in the shower that was destined to be a beginning that felt like an ending, only to start all over again. A song that opens the second album by the duo Simon & Garfunkel, "Sounds of Silence", released on January 17, 1966. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel grew up together in the Queens neighborhood of the United States, with Simon being three weeks older than Garfunkel. They attended the same schools and bonded early on through their shared love of music, already during elementary school. By junior high they were performing together, and at the age of fifteen they signed a recording contract with the small label "Big Records" under the name "Tom & Jerry". After several years working as a songwriter and producer in the Brill Building scene, at the age of twenty one Paul Simon approached Art Garfunkel with what he felt was the best completed song he had written up to that point, and suggested they sing it together. The duo began singing together again, and they immediately felt that their connection through "The Sound of Silence"  was stronger than ever. Convinced they were on the verge of a major breakthrough, they signed with Columbia Records  on the way to recording a debut album, and along the way changed their name from Tom & Jerry to Simon & Garfunkel , fitting musicians who now saw themselves as serious artists. The duo’s debut album "Wednesday Morning 3 AM", which included "The Sound of Silence" , was released in September 1964, but reality hit hard. The album failed commercially, selling only about 3,000 copies. Simon and Garfunkel decided to dissolve their partnership, each going his own way. Was this the end? Meanwhile, jazz musician and producer Tom Wilson, who had produced the album and was one of the key figures behind Bob Dylan ’s transition from folk to rock, saw unrealized potential in Simon’s song. Wilson decided to inject new life into "The Sound of Silence"  by bringing in session musicians to record electric guitar, drums, and keyboards over the existing track through overdubbing. He released the new rock oriented version to radio without Simon and Garfunkel’s knowledge. The song became a massive success and climbed to number one. A surprised Simon and Garfunkel reunited to work on a second album, already carrying with them several songs they had written together before their split, such as "We've Got a Groovy Thing Goin'"  and "Somewhere They Can't Find Me" . Added to these was a blues based instrumental titled "Anji" , originally written by guitarist Davy Graham. From this point on, Simon fully revealed the unique melodies and lyrics that the world would come to recognize as his signature. He also succeeded in delivering an impressive adaptation of works that were not his own, as in the case of "Richard Cory" , a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson that tells the story of a young man who seems to have everything, yet ultimately takes his own life. In the 1970s, teachers even used this song as a motivational tool for students. The closing track on the album, "I Am a Rock" , despite its relatively energetic and driving feel, deals with the desire for isolation and emotional withdrawal, born from the understanding that love inevitably brings pain as well. The album cover shows Simon & Garfunkel looking back toward the camera at Franklin Canyon Park in Los Angeles. They are wearing scarves that originally belonged to members of the Brentwood family, with whom Paul Simon stayed during his time in Britain. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He was a member of "John Mayall's Bluesbreakers" and later of "The Rolling Stones". He has collaborated with great artists such as: Bob Dylan , Mike Oldfield , Jack Bruce, and with the psychedelic-progressive band "Gong". Even Slash noted that he was greatly influenced by him. (Photo: Larry Rogers) Here are some interesting facts about guitarist and musician Mick Taylor: 1. He was born in England on January 17, 1949, and named Michael Kevin Taylor. 2. He started playing the guitar at the age of 9. The one who taught him at the beginning of his career was his uncle - his mother's brother. 3. He formed his first band "The Juniors" when he was in high school, they managed to appear on TV and release a single. 4. In 1965 when he was only 16 years old, he formed the band "The Gods" together with keyboardist Ken Hensley. 5. In April 1966 he went to a performance of "John Mayall's Bluesbreakers", which was held at the "Hop Community Center" in the town of Welwyn Garden City . It was a fateful moment for him. For no apparent reason, guitarist Eric Clapton, who was part of John Mayall's band, did not take the stage. The first set was played without him when Mick Taylor jumped at the chance after the intermission and asked Mayall to come up and replace Clapton. John agreed after a brief deliberation. 6. John Mayall did not forget the 16-year-old boy who stepped into Eric Clapton's big shoes, and a year later after Peter Green left the band to form "Fleetwood Mac", Mick Taylor was chosen as the band's guitarist. 7. Taylor, joined the band in 1966 and was a member until 1969, releasing four studio albums with the band, from "Crusade" in 1967 to "Blues from Laurel Canyon" in 1968. 8. During his time in John Mayall's band, Jones developed his playing technique and even began playing the slide guitar. 9. After guitarist Brian Jones left "The Rolling Stones" in June 1969, John Mayall recommended Mick Taylor as a guitarist to replace him. Taylor was asked by Keith Richards , and Mick Jagger to come to the studio He was pretty sure he was going to record with the "Stones" as a session guitarist. However, the very next day the members informed him that he had been accepted into the band, and he recorded with them 4 songs intended for the band's next album, including "Honky Tonk Women" and "Let It Bleed". 10. Taylor's first appearance with "The Rolling Stones" was at their famous free concert in Hyde Park , held on July 5, 1969, in front of an audience of 250,000 people, just one month after Brian Jones was left out of The band, in June 1969 John Mayall was the one who recommended Mick Taylor to "The Rolling Stones". Taylor was then only 20 years old !!! 11. Taylor was a member of the band until 1974 and took part in its masterful albums such as: "Let It Bleed", " Sticky Fingers ", "Goats Head Soup" and "Exile on Main St". 12. During the recordings of "It's Only Rock' n Roll" album, disagreements arose between Taylor, Jagger, and Richard. But "the final straw" was the fact that Taylor found out from reviewing the album cover, that he did not receive any credit for the Songs he wrote. 13. In December 1974 Taylor announced that he was leaving the band His successor was Ronnie Wood, who co-recorded the theme song of the album "It's Only Rock 'n Roll" along with David Bowie , who performed background vocals. 14. Before leaving "The Rolling Stones" and before Ronny Wood joined the band, Taylor played guitar, bass, and keyboards on Ronnie Wood's solo album, which was released in September 1974 and was titled: "I've Got My Own Album to Do". 15. Taylor will also play guitar on Wood's second solo album - "Now Look", which was released in July 1975. 16. Although he was no longer part of "The Rolling Stones", Mick received credit for two of the band's songs from the excellent album "Tattoo You", released in 1981. Recordings of "Tops" and "Waiting on a Friend" began in 1973, during the sessions for the album "Goats Head Soup" and Mick Taylor was a part of the band while recording them. (Photo: popexpresso.com) 17. Despite leaving "the Stones", the friendships between Taylor and the band members were maintained, and he was occasionally invited to be a guest guitarist on their live performances. 18. Further proof that the membership was preserved, can be found in the fact that Taylor was invited to play on the album "Talk Is Cheap". Keith Richards' first solo album, from 1988. 19. While he was a member of "The Rolling Stones", Taylor collaborated with Mike Oldfield during a tour to promote the album " Tubular Bells ", in 1973. 20. In 1983 Taylor played alongside Mark Knopfler on Bob Dylan 's album "Infidels". Taylor also played on Dylan's 23rd album from 1985 - "Empire Burlesque". 21. Taylor collaborated with many more artists, including Jack Bruce, Joan Jett, "Little Feat", "Gong" on the album "Expresso II" and later with "Pierre Moerlen's Gong" on the album "Downwind" and more. 22. In addition, Taylor released 2 solo albums, the first named after him in 1979 and the second - "A Stone's Throw" from 1998. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Kai Hansen, best known as the founder, lead guitarist and vocalist of power metal band "Gamma Ray" and the co-founders of "Helloween": (Photo: traveljapanblog.com) = He was born Kai Michael Hansen on January 17, 1963 in Hamburg, West Germany. = At age ten, Kai began playing wash-drums, but his parents bought him an acoustic guitar to reduce noise. = He took a six-month classical guitar course and formed his first band with classmates after purchasing an electric guitar. = He began his musical career with the band "Gentry" in 1978, co-founded with Piet Sielck (later of "Iron Savior"). = He co-founded "Helloween" in 1984, taking on roles as guitarist and vocalist. = In 1985 "Helloween" released their self-titled EP and debut album, "Walls of Jericho", with Hansen on lead vocals and guitar. = In 1987 he played guitar on "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I"' the first with Michael Kiske as the lead vocalist. = Kiske was brought in as a singer, originally because Hansen had trouble singing and playing the guitar simultaneously, though later in his career he seems to have overcome these problems. = In 1988 he contributed to " Keeper of the Seven Keys : Part II ", cementing "Helloween's" influence in power metal. = In 1989 Kai left "Helloween" due to creative differences and touring fatigue. = The same year he already founded "Gamma Ray", initially featuring Ralf Scheepers as the lead vocalist. = "Gamma Ray" released their debut album, "Heading for Tomorrow" in 1990. = In the years 1989-1990 Hansen contributed as a guest Guitarist and vocalist to "Blind Guardian’s" albums "Follow the Blind" and "Tales from the Twilight World". = In 1993 Hansen appeared on "Angra's" "Angels Cry" album, playing guitar solos on the track "Never Understand." = In 1995 Hansen took over as lead vocalist in "Gamma Ray", debuting his vocal work on "Land of the Free" album. Since then, Hansen has provided the vocals for "Gamma Ray". = During that time Hansen transitioned to a more melodic and clear vocal style compared to his earlier raspy approach. = Up until 2014 Hansen Released 11 studio albums with "Gamma Ray". = In 1997 Hansen joined "Iron Savior" as guitarist, releasing three albums with the band before leaving to focus on "Gamma Ray". In 2001-2002 Hansen played the role of Regrin the dwarf in "Avantasia's" "Metal Opera" albums. = In 2004 Hansen provided vocals for "Angra's" "Temple of Shadows" on the track "The Temple of Hate." = Later, in 2008, he was featured in "Angra's" "The Scarecrow" album playing guitar in the song "Shelter from the Rain". = In 2005 he toured with the German power/Viking metal "Stormwarrior", performing material from "Helloween’s" "Walls of Jericho". = In 2011 he joined "Unisonic" as second guitarist, collaborating again with Michael Kiske. = In 2012 "Unisonic" released their debut album and embarked on a world tour. = In 2014 "Unisonic" released their second album "Light of Dawn". = "Unisonic" also released 2 EP's and a live album. = In 2016 Hansen released his solo album "XXX – Three Decades in Metal", marking 30 years in the industry. = In the years 2017-2019 Hansen reunited with "Helloween" for the "Pumpkins United" World Tour, performing with Michael Kiske and the current lineup. = In 2021 Hansen contributed to "Helloween’s" self-titled album " Helloween ", his first studio work with the band since 1988. = In 2023 "Gamma Ray" released the live album 30 Years Live Anniversary, celebrating Hansen’s legacy. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 16.01.1981 “ A disastrous day is a day of change, and a day of change is a disastrous day ,” sang Eran Tzur as a paraphrase of Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gabirol’s poem “My throat trembles when I call out.” About a decade and a half before “B’Kislev”  was written, the American rock band Styx had already embodied that very idea. Formed in 1972 in Chicago, Illinois by Dennis DeYoung, Steve Young, John Curulewski, and brothers Chuck and John Panozzo, "Styx" began as a hard rock and progressive rock band. However, the hit “Babe” , written by singer and keyboardist Dennis DeYoung toward the end of the decade, completely changed the band’s trajectory. DeYoung, who enjoyed the chart success, decided to shift direction and lead "Styx" toward a more melodic sound, ignoring the wishes of guitarist and songwriter Tommy Shaw (who joined the band in 1975), and guitarist and vocalist James "JY" Young, both of whom wanted to remain faithful to the band’s original style. As if that were not enough, “Boat on the River” , written by Shaw, also became another hit from the album "Cornerstone". The disputes between the parties led to DeYoung’s temporary dismissal, but upon his return, Styx proved they still had a few tricks up their sleeve, just before heading toward the sunset, with the release of the concept album "Paradise Theatre" on January 16, 1981. The album presents a fictional portrayal of the “Paradise Theatre” in Chicago, from its opening in 1928 to its closure in 1956 (it was later demolished), serving as a metaphor for America’s changing times from the late 1970s into the 1980s. Dennis DeYoung, who envisioned and developed the entire concept, explained that the album’s theme is a theme of hope and renewal in the spirit of the American people, to understand the problems facing the world and this country, and to find solutions to those problems on their own. Do not rely on others to do things for you, but do them yourself. If you hate your job but have a dream, chase it. Just do not sit around and complain. The songs on the album deal with people who are out of sync with themselves and with their surroundings. The idea connects rapid decline with a lament for a bygone golden age, symbolized by the theatre that was built on the eve of the Great Depression in 1928 and died in the mid-1950s. This concept resonated strongly with America’s economic struggles of the late seventies and early eighties. Musically, the album blends rock tracks with more melodic songs, and the tension between DeYoung’s approach and that of Shaw and Young is clearly felt. The album opens with “A.D. 1928” , which serves as an intro to “Rockin’ the Paradise” , a song in which DeYoung urges the American people to return to the hard work that once made America great. That line of thought continues with “Too Much Time on My Hands” , which tells the story of an unemployed man who spends all his time at the local bar, complaining about everything happening in the world without the ability to look at himself in the mirror, pick up the pieces, and leave the bar to earn his living again. The song was written by Tommy Shaw, inspired by his experiences at a local bar in Niles, Michigan. The album continues with a song filled with hard-earned wisdom, “Nothing Ever Goes as Planned” , or as it is often paraphrased in a faith-based Hebrew version, “Man plans, and God laughs.” The song was inspired by the 1979 novel " Good As Gold"  by Joseph Heller and reflects Murphy’s Law in musical form. Dennis DeYoung explained: “The song is about three characters who make plans, and then something unexpected happens that completely derails those plans.” The next stage is the realization that the world is changing, and not for the better, and that the way to endure is through love, as DeYoung sings in “The Best of Times” , which was the album’s first single and became a massive success on the American charts, peaking at number three. With “Snowblind” , "Styx" faced condemnation from fundamentalist Christian groups who failed to understand that the song was a warning sign about cocaine addiction. Instead, they believed the track supposedly contained a satanic message and encouraged drug use, completely missing its cautionary intent. The song “Half Penny, Two Penny”  deals with themes of financial corruption that led America to its troubled economic state at the time. Beyond the concept itself and the internal tug-of-war between the band’s dominant creative forces, "Styx" also demonstrated clear forward thinking. The band produced three music videos for three singles from the album, a move that proved highly effective. When MTV went on air in August 1981, the channel aired those three singles frequently, a factor that helped "Styx" gain a large new audience of young fans during that period. In the end, Paradise Theatre  marked the end of an era, not only for the theatre or for America of the seventies, but also the approaching end of "Styx" themselves. "Justice for money what can you say, we all know it's the American way" For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 16, 1972, the debut eponymous album of the "Blue Öyster Cult" was released. The band established in 1967 as "Soft White Underbelly", was founded by guitarist Donald Roeser and drummer Albert Bouchard. The band's initial name came from the nickname Winston Churchill gave to Italy during World War II, when he defined it as the "soft underbelly" of the Germany-Italy-Japan axis of evil. Music critic Sandy Pearlman heard them play at Stony Brook University in Long Island, where the band was formed and offered to be their manager and promote them. The band agreed and Perlman became much more than that. He produced the band's albums and even helped write some of its songs, until 1995. In 1971 and after several lineup and name changes, the band changed its name to "Blue Öyster Cult", a name given to it by Perlman ("The Oyster Man") under the influence of a song he wrote. Perlman saw the American answer to "Black Sabbath" before his eyes (hence the title of the band's name also includes the color "blue"). The lineup that recorded the band's debut album was also its most successful one, creating and releasing its major albums including: "Tyranny and Mutation", "Secret Treaties" and "Agents of Fortune". The band members were: Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser on lead guitar and vocals, Eric Bloom on guitar and vocals, Allen Lanier on keyboards, guitar and vocals, Joe Bouchard on bass and vocals and Albert Bouchard on drums and percussion. (Photo: Fanart.TV) This album was critically acclaimed and included some of the band's greatest songs that were played in its performances throughout the band's 50 year career. The opening song " Transmaniacon MC ", was influenced by the "Altamont" festival held in 1969, with the letters "MC" representing the acronym "Motorcycle Club". The track " Then Came the Last Days of May " is based on a true story that happened to two of Buck Dharma's friends, who were murdered during a drug deal. The song " Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll " was written by Perlman, Roger and Albert Bouchard who also serves here as the lead singer. The riff of the song reminds us of "The Wizard" riff by "Black Sabbath". The riff of the song " Stairway to the Stars " reminds us a bit of that of the song "La Grange" which "ZZ Top" will release a year later. This album was a great opening shot for a band that will only get better on their next albums, with songs like "Godzilla" and " Astronomy " that "Metallica" will cover and of course its two greatest hits " Don't Fear (The Reaper) " and " Burnin' For You ". And how gratifying is it when on October 9, 2020 this excellent band was back with a new and excellent album after a break of two decades " The Symbol Remains ". For Listening: Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 16, 1968, "Blue Cheer" released it's debut album "Vincebus Eruptum". Some have defined this album as the first Metal album. Others stated that the band "Blue Cheer" actually invented Heavy Metal. Whether you agree with these definitions or not, you can not ignore the fact that this band has influenced bands like "Led Zeppelin", "Deep Purple", "Black Sabbath" and even "Rush", with the album "Vincebus Eruptum" clearly influencing the development of "Heavy Metal". "Blue Cheer" is an American blues-metal and psychedelic rock band that was formed in San Francisco in 1966. At the time of its formation, the band had six members, but as early as 1967 there were only three left: Leigh Stephens on guitar, Dickie Peterson on bass and vocals, and Paul Whaley on drums. The band's name came from a variation of the LSD drug, that was common at the time the band was formed, in San Francisco. While it is common to think that the roots of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres are firmly planted on the other side of the ocean, in England of 1969-1970, these American guys did so even earlier, when in January 1968 they released an album featuring a combination of styles such as: blues, Hard Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelia, Stoner and Heavy Metal. This is a powerful band - an American power trio that was among the influencers of another power trio - the Canadian "Rush". The members of "Rush" even made a small tribute for "Blue Cheer" when they performed a cover version of the song " Summertime" Blues " in their " Feedback " mini-album from the 2004. This song was originally performed by Eddie Cochran, but the members of "Blue Cheer" gave it their own powerful interpretation. The song reached number 14 on the Billboard 100 and won the band great success, as it also pushed sales of the album which ranked 11th on the Billboard 200 chart. "Spin" magazine ranked the album 22nd on the 40 greatest metal albums of all time. The streaming service "Rhapsody" placed it among the ten biggest "Proto-Metal" albums. For Listening: Spotify This time we prepared for you a YouTube playlist of the album's songs: Youtube "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Eric Clapton 's "Unplugged" album was released on August 25, 1992. It is not clear what exactly went through Eric Clapton 's mind when he sat down on the stool on January 16, 1992 at the Bray Studios near Berkshire, England. One of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time, that wrote and composed quite a few classics that became masterpieces, a gifted musician who was a part in bands that became legends, from "The Yardbirds" and "The Bluesbreakers" through "Cream", "Blind Faith" and "Derek and the Dominos" to a glorious solo career, a phenomenal guitarist who has won quite a few titles and is ranked in every possible list at the top ten of the best guitarists of all time, the second of the top 100 on Rolling Stone magazine list, who in 1967 was the reason behind the famous graffiti painted on a wall in Islington and which leaves no room for doubt: "Clapton Is God". So it's really not clear for what this man of many titles needed the adventure of an unplugged show? Why did he have to get into it at this point in his career, especially when he's so identified with the electric guitar? Just thinking that Clapton, who for over two decades has had a Fender Stratocaster guitar attached to his main artery, should disconnect from any cable, effect or amplifier and play a complete, clean, naked and exposed set, teaches us that Clapton took a big risk here that could cost in the tremendous reputation he has. But Clapton is the "guitar god" and he just doesn't think like a mortal. He left "The Yardbirds" precisely when it began to be commercially successful and went with his heart and his love for the blues when he joind John Mayall's squad. He swam against the current when after his meteoric success with "Cream" he chose to establish "Blind Faith" where he served as an equal player between equalls, instead of being the leader. He consciously chose to move behind the scenes when he served as a guitarist in the "Plastic Ono Band" and "Delaney and Bonnie and Friends". He later took it a step further, setting up "Derek and the Dominos" because he was tired of being expected for long and virtuoso solos, there he even hid behind a fictitious name. He even started his solo career with an album in which he gave his friends the lead. When everyone expected him to play blues he broke right into reggae with a cover version of Bob Marley and immediately broke left with a country style song "Lay Down Sally". In short, Clapton does not always align with the logic of the masses and often does the unexpected. And so this time around, Clapton chose to go with his emotions rather than mind and became one of the first leading artists to record an unplugged show as part of the MTV series. One of the triggers that pushed Clapton to go with his heart, was related to a tragedy that occurred several months earlier. On the morning of March 20, 1991, Clapton's son, Conor, was staying with his mother in an apartment building in New York. Clapton was then at a nearby hotel preparing to go out to pick up his son for lunch and later to visit the Central Park Zoo. Conor fell from the window of the 53rd floor apartment, that was accidentally left open, following cleaning work in the apartment. He was found dead. Two song where written by Clapton at the time and was directly inspired by the death of his son. " Circus Left Town " tells the story of spending time in a circus with Conor on the night before his death. " Tears in Heaven " which is a personal and touching song, which like many ballads, was greatly influenced by the emotional state of its creator. For Clapton, this song was created out of intense pain following the death of his son. In the song Clapton faces the loss of his son, his heartache and longing of a grieving parent. The two songs were not originally intended to be released, but the producer of the film "Rush" that Clapton was suppose to write it's soundtrack, insisted that he include the song in the soundtrack as she convinced him that the song could touch and help many people who experienced the same pain. It is possible that the "Unplugged" show would not have happened without the tragedy described, for sure it certainly would not have sounded as it is. Clapton has proven that when you go with the heart then nothing can stand in your way. Clapton's "Unplugged" album became his best-selling album, ever. What’s more, it has become the world’s best-selling live album of all time, with sales of over 26 million copies. The album has also won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Artist of the Year. "Guitar World" magazine chose the album as the best guitar album of the year, and more and more, this list of titles just does not end. Clapton's playing on this album proved that no matter, electric or acoustic, he is a guitar wizard, a "master" who is attached to this mighty instrument as if it were another organ in his body. The album opens up with " Signe " an instrumental piece by Clapton that immediately puts the listener in the mood with the acoustic, smooth and clean sound of his Martin guitar. Immediately after, Clapton brings us a cover version of Bo Diddley's song " Before You Accuse Me ", a blues classic that simply surpasses the original. This is not the only cover version on the album. Here you will find, among others, " Hey Hey " by Big Bill Broonzy, " Malted Milk " by Robert Johnson, which Clapton admired and even dedicated an entire album to in 2004, "Rollin 'and Tumblin" by Muddy Waters, and more. But the highlight of the album focuses on two songs that surpass the rest. The first is an immortal version of "Derek and the Dominoes"' " Layla ". Clapton simply broke the song and the electric guitar line so identified with it to tiny elements, and rebuilt them, slower, acoustic, more emotional. The second song "Tears In Heaven" is a tear-breaking song that Clapton wrote in memory of his son Connor, who fell from the 53rd floor of an apartment building in New York when he was just four years old. The song appeared on the soundtrack of the movie "Rush" and was released as a single about a week before the show was recorded. In conclusion, Clapton proved that the fan who wrote the famous graffiti in 1967 was not wrong. This album managed to inspire a new and fresh spirit in Clapton's career and was the final stamp intended for those who have not yet grasped it. Clapton is indeed a God! And now all you have to do is listen to the album : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 16, 1981, a great thing happened in the world of Israeli music, with the release of the debut album of the band "T-Slam" - "Strong Radio". This is a groundbreaking album that puts rock on the map of Israeli music. It has influenced young artists and rock bands, that until then had not dreamed of recording and releasing rock albums in Israel. It's a bit funny to use the phrase "Hard Rock" in the context of this album, but the distortion effect used in some of the songs on the album was somehow "new" in the Israeli musical landscape of those years. It was the closest to Hard Rock we could listen to in Israel at the time. It was also one of the reasons we fell in love with this album, with the band and its members, "at first sight". T-Slam or "Tislam" was formed in 1979 by two friends who served in the IDF: guitarist Yizhar Ashdot, who was the Israeli Army Radio music editor, and keyboardist Yair Nitzani, who was a broadcast technician. The two, who shared their intense love for music and especially Rock and Roll, played and wrote songs together. At one point singer Danny Bassan, who was part of the Air Force entertainment team joined them, and thus came the core of the band. During their service, the three recorded the song "Gimmie rock 'n' roll", a kind of protest song designed to shout the cry of rock music lovers, which unfortunately did not get enough expression in Israel. This recording was done in "Galei Tzahal" studios, without the station commander's knowledge. In 1980, while the band members were only 22 years old, the three recorded demo tapes in English, for songs that would later become part of the band's debut album. During the recordings, Yoshi Sadeh, a guitarist and singer who was a recording technician at the "Triton" Studio, joined the band. The four gave the band the name "T-Slam", as the name of Ashdot and Nitzani production company. The songs on the album were written by the band members with the help of Dori Ben Zeev. They included memorable Israeli rock hits such as: the theme song and the hit "Loud Radio ", " Anemones ", written by Yoshi Sadeh in English even before he met the band members, " See you Aroud ", " Smoking In The Boys Room " (a cover version of a song first performed and recorded in 1973 by "Brownsville Station" and translated here by Kobe Meiden); And of course " Down The Road ", which won the title of Song of the Year and excites us today just like 40 years ago, especially in its amazing live version. For the recording of the album, drummer Alon Hillel and bassist Ohad Inger were recruited, as well as other guest musicians such as: Barry Keys, who played the "Hammond" organ, Dave Boroff on saxophone; And Jackie Kelso, Chuck Finley and Jim Horn on brass instruments. The album was recorded in 1981 and at the time considered to be the album with the most expensive production in the Israel. It turned the band and its members into superstars overnight, with an admiration not seen in the country until then and reserved only for bands like "The Beatles" and the like. It was a groundbreaking album that created new standards in the Israeli music of the early 1980s, which over the years became a pure Israeli classic. The album sold about 10,000 copies within two months and about 60,000 copies within six months, a very respectable number on an Israeli scale. Later it also led the band to the title "Band of the Year" also winning "Song of the Year" for the song "Down The Road". It is interesting to note that the album was also released in English and was given the name " Loud Radio ", after being recorded in Los Angeles. On the occasion of the album's 40th anniversary celebrations, the band has released a remixed version of the album in its expanded edition - A one that includes 5 bonus tracks of the English song versions. The album cover was also "politicly corrected" to the present day, dressing up the nude model. As you may recall, the original album cover, which is one of the best-known in Israeli music, included a naked girl with her back turned to the camera, while in front of her are the four members dressed in black suits while indifferent to her nude appearance. Now let's listen to an Israeli masterpiece and a true classic: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Despite the short period in which she was active musically, Inbal is considered to have had a significant influence on Israeli music. Photo: Rinati Dvorski Dor She was born on January 15 1971 in Rehovot to the poet Ofra Shunit and the guitarist Avraham Perlmutter when at the age of eight he exposed her to music and taught her to play the violin. Her sister Iris was a keyboardist for the band "Bearers of the Hat". Of course, she is best known for the band "The Witches", which she formed at the end of 1992. Together with Yifat Netz and Yael Cohen, they began performing in clubs in Israel. Perlmutter wrote and composed most of the songs and served as Guitar player, Yael Cohen as drummer, and Yifat Netz as bass player. The band had its first success at the Ein Gev Festival in 1993, arranging and performing the song "Magic on the Sea of ​​Kineret". The band's performance of the song came out on a broadcast record that Perlmutter painted the cover of. The song was broadcast extensively on various radio stations and created great exposure for the young band. Photo: Ronen Lalena In early 1994, the band recorded their first album - "Until the Next Pleasure". Corinne Elal produced the album, and all of his songs (except for "Bird" written by Cohen and "Sexual Tension" written by Netz) were written and composed by Perlmutter. The album featured energetic rock songs and was a huge success and a gold record status. The single "Until Next Pleasure" is one of the band's most prominent songs and its most famous to date. In the middle of 1995, the band recorded their second album - "Strange Times". This time arrangements and production were done by all three. Perlmutter wrote and composed all the songs on the album, except for "Unknown Pursuit," whose lyrics were written by Cohen. With the release of the album, it was less successful than its predecessor. The Witches continued to appear frequently, including a show in Caesarea as a warm-up for Bjork performance and in "Amphi Wohl" with Ohad Naharin. In April 1996, the band released a mini-album called "The Witches Are Covering" with covers of songs that are beloved by the band members. There's a story that connects to the album, Annie Lennox has banned the band from including the cover version of the song "Sweet Dreams" in the mini-album and as a protest, Perlmutter distributed the song on an underground tape she designed and wrote about it "Shit Rights". Another amazing cover version that exists on the album is the song "Shivers" by The Boys Next Door - Nick Cave 's first band. Inbal loved Cave and his songs and when he came to Israel for the first time she bravely approached him and asked him to record a song with her and her band. Cave agreed and it was a dream come true for Inbal, but also and especially a groundbreaking event in Israeli music when an artist on the scale of Cave agrees to collaborate with an Israeli artist. After the release of the album, the band went on a tour to promote it, where they hosted Dana Berger, Korin Elal, and Alona Daniel. After the release of the mini-album, the band's activity diminished greatly and their last performance took place in September 1996. With the decline of The Witches, Perlmutter continued to pursue independent musical activity. She recorded sketches for a solo album, played in Korin Elal's shows, and recorded an album in London with Ram Orion called "Inbalance". The two intended to release the album but this did not materialize at the time. In the album, Inbal gave expression to the collection of baby games she had in her possession, sounds of the games appear throughout the album in the various songs. The recordings were made over five days in January 1996 on a four-channel tape and all the songs were written by Perlmutter during her visit to London. On March 25, 2016, the album "Inbalance" was released for sale by Orion, with all proceeds going directly to the Animal Welfare Association of Israel. Inbal was also part of a temporary supergroup called The Fuckers. Tal Gordon, Iggy Waxman, Asi Levy, and Inbal just wanted to play and have fun together, without production, without interventions, and without record companies. Inbal is the one who invented the name for the band but the other girls refused and only after her death did they decide to adopt it. Tal Gordon wrote: "We wanted to be like boys, do nothing with producers and record companies, put each one the 40 shekels per hour in a rehearsal room, order pizza and swear. It was kind of child's play." Photo: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law Drugs were an integral part of Inbal's life and accompanied her, especially in her last period until they took center stage. With heroin, she first experienced on her trip to London at the age of 20, and in the last year and a half of her life, she was already heavily addicted. Her friends tried to help but without success. Among other things, they were right with her in rehab treatments and even collected NIS 15,000 for her to finance special treatment. Korin Elal who was with her in a relationship for a while said that at first she hid it very well and not everyone knew and until they understood what was going on they did not know what to do. Perlmutter was killed in a car accident on October 1, 1997, at the age of 26. It happened on New Year's Eve and just one day before The Witches planned reunion appearance. In the evening she went into her black collectible Volvo and drove towards Ramat Gan for a holiday dinner at the home of her new partner, Shrek de Mayo. She did not get there. Her car collided with a guardrail at the Rishon Lezion interchange. No stop signs were found on the road, and no evidence of drug use was found in Perlmutter's blood. The mystery surrounding her death continues to this day, more than 20 years later. In 2023, a new documentary film about Inbal's life "If It Ends" was released. The film reveals for the first time her personal diaries, rare archive pieces, and intimate meetings with those who were closest to her. Some did not know about the power of the dark beast behind the good fairy. "If It's Ends" dives into the soul of a groundbreaking creator who plunged into the abyss and left a mark on music and culture in Israel. On January 15, 2021, on the occasion of what was supposed to be the 50th birthday of the late Inbal Perlmutter, the band "Fruit of the Imagination" released their debut single "In Eternity". The song was written by Dudu Rose - the band's lead singer and a devoted fan of Inbal and The Witches, more than twenty years ago, on the night he was informed of Inbal's death. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about the well-known Irish singer and songwriter Dolores O'Riordan from "The Cranberries": (Photo: XAVI TORRENT) 1. She was born in Ireland on September 6, 1971, and she died on January 15, 2018. 2. She is the youngest of 7 brothers and sisters. 3. She attended a religious school and already at the age of 7 the school staff recognized her singing talent. At age 12, she stood on one of the school desks and loudly announced her name and intentions to be a rock star. 4. From the age of 8 to 12, she was sexually abused by an acquaintance whose identity is still unknown. The song "Fee Fi Fo" from the band's fourth album talks about the subject. 5. During the 6 years she attended Laurel Hill School she played the piano almost every day in the school hallway with the other students sitting around her. 6. At the age of 17 she learned to play the guitar and replaced the piano performances at school, with the guitar, performing alone in front of everyone. (Photo: DONNA SANTISI) 7. Dolores mother pressured her to become a nun or go on to academic studies but Dolores wanted to be a singer and at the age of 18 she ran away from home with her partner and lived for almost a year and a half in utter poverty to pursue her dream. 8. In 1989 a band called "The Cranberry Saw Us" in the same city of Dolores was looking for a lead singer. Since the band's lead singer, Kevin, decided he was leaving, and he knew Dolores he offered her the role. 9. Dolores came to the audition and took an instrumental tape of the band's materials and after a short time came back with lyrics and vocals. When she sang the song "Linger" she amazed the band members and immediately got the role. (Photo: The Cranberries) 10. The band consisted of Mike Hogan on bass, Noel Hogan on guitar, drummer Fergal Lawler, and Dolores. Immediately after that, the band changed its name to "The Cranberry" and released an EP with three songs called "Nothing Left At All". 11. The demo is what created the band's spark and gave it great exposure in the music industry and radio stations in the UK. 12. The Cranberries' first album was released in 1993 and was called "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" It was written by Dolores and Mike. The album reached number one in the UK and Ireland. 13. The second album "No Need to Argue" was released in 1994 and was the band's most successful album with the band's most famous song "Zombie". A year later the band broke the Irish band's sales record in the US since the U2 band's success. 14. The third album "To the Faithful Departed" was released in 1996 and as its name implies, it was dedicated to two important people in the band. One is their manager from the beginning Denny Cordell and the other is Dolores' grandfather, both of whom passed away that year. 15. The band's fourth album "Bury the Hatchet" was released in 1999 and reflected Dolores' past experiences in the three years prior to the album, the birth of her first son, and dealing with the effects of stress and anxiety. 16. The fifth album "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" released in 2001 was the last before the band took a break/farewell that lasted until 2009. (Photo: Jess Baumung) 17. In 2004 Dolores participated in the soundtrack of the Italian film "Evilenko" in which she wrote and recorded a number of songs. 18. Dolores was invited and performed several times during the period in Vatican concerts and met with 2 different popes. 19. In 2007 Dolores released her first solo album "Are You Listening?" And went on a tour to promote the album in clubs and small halls in Europe and the USA. 20. Dolores' second album "No Baggage" was released in 2009. Although it won the EBBA Award for Artists Who Break Through the Boundaries of Their Country, her solo albums were not a great success, neither in the UK nor in Ireland. 21. On January 21, 2009, Dolores received a Medal of Honor from the Philosophical Society (Trinity College, Dublin) and invited the "Cranberries" to perform at the ceremony. 22. This performance began with a string of reunion performances by the band, including a special performance in their hometown of Limerick that took place 15 years after their last appearance there. 23. In 2012, 10 years after the band's last album, she released her sixth album "Roses". Although 18 songs were recorded for the album, only 11 of them were released on the album. 24. In 2014 Dolores joined DJ Olé Koretsky and bassist Smith Andy Rourke and together they formed the alternative band D.A.R.K. They released a single album in 2016 called "Science Agrees". 25. In 2017 "The Cranberries" released a special acoustic album recorded with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and included 10 old songs of the band in acoustic performance and another 3 new songs. 26. The band announced a special tour to support the album which included accompaniment by a live orchestra but immediately upon the start of the tour it was discontinued due to medical issues which Dolores contracted. 27. Several months later, on 15 January 2018, Dolores was found dead in a hotel in London. The cause of death determined was drowning in the bath as a result of intoxication. 28. After Dolores' death, the band decided to take the material recorded before her death and release their latest album with it. In April 2019, the band's last album was released called "In the End", the last song on the album bears the name of the album and symbolizes the band's end. 30. In her last years Dolores suffered from bipolar disorder, anorexia, and severe back problems that affected her ability to live a normal life and also her ability to sing. 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