He is very tall, he is a certified "pyromaniac", his lyrics are very controversial and he has one of the most successful German bands of all time !! Till Lindemann was born on January 4, 1963. (Photo: Jens Koch) = He was born in Leipzig to a journalist mother and a poet father. = His parents divorced when he was young and he moved in with his father but since his father was an alcoholic their relationship was unhealthy and Lindemann's adolescence was difficult. = He was a high school professional swimmer, ranked in the top ten in the 1,500m and 400m categories, and was even scheduled to participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics but soon abandoned the sport. = In 1986 he formed his first band "First Arsch", together with bassist Jörg Mielke as Lindemann was on drums. A punk rock band that performed all over East Germany and released one album in 1992 called "Saddle Up". = In 1992, Lindemann traveled to the United States with two friends, guitarist Richard Kruspe and bassist Oliver "Ollie" Riedel. Richard, who was heavily influenced by American music, knew he wanted to form a band but did not want to make English music. = The two who added drummer Christoph "Doom" Schneider, started creating new music. They did not really succeed in writing the lyrics and asked their friend Lindemann to join their new band. = They gave themselves the name "Rammstein". The origin of the name is not unequivocal and is divided into two meanings, one is after the aviation disaster called the Ramstein air show disaster that occurred in West Germany in 1988 during the Flugtag '88 event in which three Italian pilots and 67 spectators were killed. The other M in the name of the band was written by mistake... Two, it is named after a "Gate Stop", "ramming stone" which is called in German Rammsteine ​​and served as a stopper for large and old gates. (Photo: Rammstein Instagram) = The new quartet participated in a Junior Bands Competition in Berlin in 1994 and won. The win gave it a record deal with Motor Music from Berlin. They added keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz and another guitarist named Paul Landers and began work on their debut album. = In 1995 the band released their debut album called "Herzeleid" (Heartache). To promote the album they went on a tour in Europe which brought them great exposure mainly thanks to their performance on stage. = The band is the one created a genre called Neue Deutsche Härte which in English translation - "New German Hardness". The name was given to Rammstein by the music media after the release of the album which combines elements of groove metal / alternative metal with techno and electro-industrial. = In 1996 they got a significant boost to their exposure in the US when Trent Reznor from "Nine Inch Nails" embedded two of their songs, "Heirate mich" and "Rammstein" in the soundtrack of David Lynch's film called "Lost Highway". = In 1997, the second album was released "Sehnsucht" (Desire) which was also released in the US by the label Slash Records. To promote the album, the band embarked on a major tour in Europe and even participated a year later in the famous Family Values ​​Tour in the US with Korn, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube, and more. = In 2001 came out the band's third album called "Mutter" (Moher) from which, came out 6 singles including "Sonne", "Links 2 3 4", "Mutter and" Feuer frei! ". = The band continued their affair with Hollywood when it appeared in the opening scene of the movie "XXX" in which it performed the song "Feuer frei!". = In 2002, Lindemann released a book of songs called "Messer" which includes 54 songs. In 2013 he released another book of songs called "In Stillen Nächten". = In 2004 came out the fourth album "Reise, Reise" (Rise, Rise). The band's first album released exclusively under the American label Universal Music worldwide (including Germany). The album continued the band's success and took over the top of the charts worldwide and even made it the most successful German band of all time, the singles "Mein Teil", "Amerika", "Ohne dich" and "Keine Lust" came out of the album. = A year later a fifth album was released called "Rosenrot" (Rose-Red) from which came the singles "Benzin", "Rosenrot", "Mann Gegen Mann" and "Te Quiero Puta!". = In 2009 the fifth album "Liebe ist für alle da" (Love is There for Everyone) was released. After the release of the album, the band's tour increased significantly and it became the main headliner at the "Rock AM Ring" festival that took place in 2010 in addition to other major festivals. = In 2013, Lindemann co-founded with the Swedish multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren the duo "Lindemann". They released two albums "Skills in Pills" in 2015 and "F&M" in 2019. = After 10 years, in 2019 came out the band's sixth album without the name of the band Rammstein on it. Despite such long absences the album conquered the top of the charts in Europe and became a best-selling album in Germany. From the album came the singles "Deutschland", "Radio" and "Ausländer". = After the album's release, the band was supposed to go on a huge world tour, but all the plans for the tour were shelved instantly due to the coronavirus. Since they had a lot of time when they were closed at home (like many other artists), the band members worked on the next album, although it was not planned. In April 2022 the band released their eighth album "Zeit" (Time). This album also topped the charts in Europe and USA and was a great success!! = Lindemann is the main lyricist of the band and his lyrics have a huge weight on the band's character, musical style, and success. Classical German poets very much influence him and he writes mainly on controversial topics and those that society tries to suppress such as: sadomasochism, pedophilia, cannibalism, pyromania, sexual violence, and more. = Lindemann is a certified "pyromaniac" !! The band holds the reputation of being the best performer in the rock world and for good reason. They use pyrotechnics, effects, scenery, and costumes that look like they were taken from a scene of an apocalyptic Hollywood movie with a budget of tens of millions of dollars. Lindemann's favorite effect is fire, in their performances they make massive use of fire. After an incident in 1996 at a performance in Berlin, in which the scenery crashed and caused many injuries among the audience, especially burns. They decided to use qualified operators, and professional stage designers, and Lindemann decided to specialize in fire and received a Fireman certification. He also has quite a few burns on his head, hands, and ears. (Photo: Universal/G.Karp) = Nothing stops him from achieving the creative effect he aspires to achieve. For the video clip for the song "Ich tu dir weh" Lindemann wanted a light to come out of his mouth. He was not willing to settle for computer effects or other solutions and he underwent surgery that passes through his cheek an electrical wire connected to a bulb inside his mouth. = Some say that Lindemann is unable to look at the audience during performances, this is one of the reasons why he likes to use pyrotechnics a lot. In moments when there is no "drama" on stage, he tends to focus on the soundman station that is usually located in the center of the audience. = He has a special movement while performing that even got its own name "Till Hammer". In it, he bends his knees, bang on his thighs with a hammer movements, and moves his head from side to side. = In January 2022 Lindemann performed in Israel, as is customary in Lindemann's performances there were unique surprises for the fans, like throwing cakes and even fish !! But the biggest surprise of the show was the participation of the Israeli drummer Shaked Furman. A day before the flight to Israel, Lindemann's drummer was positive for Corona and did not board the flight. Shaked was chosen to replace him and learned the entire show setlist from start to finish in just three days. = In November 2023 Lidemann issued his debut solo album "Zunge" ( tongue). While Lindemann wrote the album's lyrics, the music were written and produced by Sky van Hoff, Daniel Karelly, Olsen Involtini, Lois Cass and Clemens Wijers, musicians which he worked with in the past. While the album was finished and in the hands of Universal Music, both Lindemann and the label agreed to suspend their collaboration for the album's release. As a result, the album was self-released by Lindemann. Listen to Lindemann's latest solo album on: Spotify , Apple Music   "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He's a bass player, he's a keyboardist, well... he's a multi-instrumentalist, he is also a very diverse and talented songwriter and he is the secret weapon of "Led Zeppelin" who's responsible for quite a bit of their musical development. (Photo: Gary Miller) Here are 50 interesting facts about John Paul Jones: 1. John Paul Jones was born on 3 January 1946 in Kent, southeast London, as John Baldwin. 2. Both his parents were involved in music. His father Joe Baldwin was a pianist and music arranger of Big Bands in the 1940s and 1950s. 3. As a result, the musical influences on John ranged from blues and jazz to classical music. 4. He started learning to play the piano at the age of six. 5. By the age of 14 he had already become an organist and conductor of a choir in the local church. 6. That year he was already playing on stage with one of his father's bands. 7. His first bass guitar was the Fender Jazz Bass. 8. At age 15 he formed his first band "The Deltas". 9. He later played bass in the jazz-rock band "Jett Blacks" and in the band "Herbie Goins", which also included the virtuoso guitarist John McLaughlin. 10. In 1962 he was hired by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan from "The Shadows" to accompany them in the studio and live shows. 11. Another player who collaborated with Jet Harris and Tony Meehan at the time, was Jimmy Page who played their hit "Diamonds" from 1963. 12. The two even invited John Paul Jones to join "The Shadows" which was very successful at the time. He was supposed to replace their bassist Brian Locking who left the band in 1963, but this did not materialize in the end. (Photo: Mark And Colleen Hayward) 13. In 1964 John recorded his first song - "Baja" which was also released as a single. 14. Before the single was released to the market, John Baldwin changed his name to John Paul Jones, on the advice of producer Andrew Loog Oldham. 15. The producer chose the name after seeing a poster for the movie "John Paul Jones the American". 16. The film was based on John Paul Jones, one of the first commanders of the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. 17. Jones' work with Jet Harris and Tony Meehan caught the eyes of "Decca" and from 1964 he became a highly sought-after session bass player, keyboardist, and orchestral arranger for artists and bands. 18. Among the artists Jones worked with at the time were: "The Everly Brothers", Etta James, Marianne Faithful, 'The Supremes", and Bo Diddley. 19. John is in charge of the string arrangements in "The Rolling Stones" song "She's a Rainbow". 20. He played bass in Donovan's greatest hits such as: "Sunshine Superman", "Hurdy Gurdy Man", and "Mellow Yellow". 21. He's in charge of all the bass roles on Cat Stevens' first album - "Matthew and Son". 22. He played bass and conducted the orchestra on Dusty Springfield's "Dusty… Definitely" album. 23. He played bass and was responsible for the cello arrangements on "The Yardbirds" 1967 "Little Games" album. It was the band's first album with Jimmy Page as a guitarist, replacing Jeff Beck . (Photo: ledzeppelin.com) 24. He also played and made orchestral arrangements with "Tom Jones, Nico, Rod Stewart , "Herman's Hermits" and Jeff Beck . 25. He also recorded the track "Beck's Bolero" with Jeff Beck , in May 1966. Drummer Keith Moon and of course Jimmy Page were also present at the studio in those sessions. 26. This session was very groundbreaking for John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page , as beyond the connection between them it gave Page the idea of ​​forming a supergroup that would include himself, Jeff Beck , Keith Moon , and John Entwistle of "The Who", Steve Marriott and Stevie Winwood. 27. When John Entwistle heard the idea of "the supergroup" he immediately said that they will fall just like a lead balloon and Keith Moon sharpened the sentence noting that they will fall like "Lead Zeppelin". Keith Moon's words were caught in Jimmy Page 's memory and they would pop up at the right time and place, two years later. 28. Jones plays the Hammond organ in the immortal song "Since I've Been Loving You", performing his bass roles using a bass pedal. 29. The symbol chosen by John Paul Jones for the album "Led Zeppelin IV" is "Triquatra", a symbol representing a competitive person, with abilities and self-confidence. 30. John is quite a bit responsible for the odd time signatures of "Led Zeppelin", among the most famous of which is the 5/4 weight he chose for the riff of "Black Dog", which he wrote for the album Led Zeppelin IV . 31. During Led Zeppelin's live performances John Paul Jones was the one singing Sandy Denny's vocals in the song "The Battle of Evermore". 32. John was the one responsible for expanding Led Zeppelin's sound range and musical styles, especially in songs like "The Rain Song", "Trampled Under Foot", "Kashmir", "Friends" and "No Quarter", playing instruments like Hammond organ, Melotron, Moog synthesizer, Mandolin, and Bass pedal, as well as being in charge of the orchestral and strings arrangements. He also plays the Piano, Ukulele, Violin, Cello, Sitar, and more. 33. For Christmas 1970, the single "The" Man from Nazareth" by an artist named John Paul Jones was released. It was not John Paul Jones we know from "Led Zeppelin". but another artist named Reginald John Davidge. This fact led to a conflict between "the Zeppelin" John Paul Jones and the other Jones, and eventually the other Jones changed the spelling of his name in the UK to John Paul Joans . 34. John Paul Jones played bass in the opening track of Roy Harper's album "HQ", which was released in 1975. The one who played guitar on that track was David Gilmour . 35. Another John Paul Jones collaboration with David Gilmour was on Paul McCartney 's 1984 album "Give My Regards to Broad Street". 36. John Paul Jones also collaborated with Paul McCartney and David Gilmour on the Wings' "Back to the Egg" album, which was released in 1979, this time also with his friend John Bonham . (Photo: Quora) 37. He wrote the soundtrack for the 1985 film "Scream for Help", which also featured Jimmy Page . 38. He wrote and co-wrote the song "4-Minute Warning" from Brian Eno's 1988 album "Music for Films III". The same year he produced and played keyboards on "The Mission" album "Children". 39. John Paul Jones is responsible for all the orchestral arrangements on the masterpiece " Automatic for the People " album by "R.E.M.". 40. He produced the album "Independent Worm Saloon", the sixth album of the "Butthole Surfers" from 1993. 41. In 1994 he released the album "The Sporting Life", together with the avant-garde singer Diamanda Galàs. 42. While he was on tour to promote the aforementioned album, his friends Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were busy with the " Unledded No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant " show, which aired on MTV and was released on an album and a DVD. 43. Page and Plant did not even inform John Paul Jones about the mini-reunion. He learned about it from the media. John Paul Jones was very hurt when his friends did not tell him about the reunion, especially after they chose to name the album and show as "No Quarter", which is a song written mostly entirely by him. In 1990, he was responsible for the orchestration of two songs from the "Cinderella" album "Heartbreak Station", including the theme song. 45. He played a large variety of instruments and produced the album "The Road Home" from 1995, by "Heart". 46. He has released two solo albums, "Zooma" from 1999 and "The Thunderchief" from 2002. 47. John Paul Jones also played in two tracks from "Foo Fighters" " In Your Honor " album. A mandolin in the song "Another Round" and a piano in the song "Miracle". 48. Four years later, this collaboration with Dave Grohl would give birth to the supergroup and album "Them Crooked Vultures", along with Josh Homme from "Queens of the Stone Age". 49. In 2009 he collaborated with "Sonic Youth" writing and playing the music in the dance show of "Merce Cunningham". 50. He met his future wife Mareen in 1965 and he is with her to this day. The two have 3 daughters. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

"A Sneak Peek".... On January 3, 1981, the band "38 Special" released the album "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys". This is the band's fourth album and also it's breakthrough album and the first to reach platinum status. After three albums that focused on the Southern Rock style, the band decided to open up to a more up-to-date and accessible sound, aiming for the radio. The band made a deliberate effort to differentiate themselves from classic "southern" bands like "Lynyrd Skynyrd" and "The Allman Brothers Band", and undertook a change of musical style towards a lighter and more catchy sound than their previous albums. This was not a simple craft, as the comparisons to the bands we mentioned above were obvious, in terms of musical style, origin, and look and especially because one of the band's founders and the spirit behind was Donnie Van Zant, brother of Ronnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant from "Lynyrd Skynyrd". Don’t get us wrong, Southern rock style still dominates this album, but it includes additional influences designed to make the material accessible in a much more friendly way, to appeal to a wider audience. The band, formed in 1974 in Jacksonville Florida by friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant, released their debut album in 1977, and have been searching for their hit for three albums since. The band received it in the form of the opening song " Hold On Loosely ", which became the band's biggest hit. The song was co-written with Jim Peterik who was not part of the band and was a member of the band "Survivor", yes the one that would release the immortal song " Eye of the Tiger " a year later. Patrick co-wrote three more songs from the album, including the album's theme song. It turns out that Jim Peterik is a very talented writer who has written for artists such as: "Cheap Trick", Sammy Hagar , "REO Speedwagon", Brian Wilson , "Lynyrd Skynyrd", "The Beach Boys" and more. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 1, 1998, Berry Sakharof released his fourth album "Touches", if we wrote that his second album " Signs of Weakness " was an influential album and one of the biggest rock albums in the country, then this album is Berry's breakthrough album to the mainstream. To put it more subtly, this is the album that brought Berry from the alternative rock to the mainstream of Israeli radio. This is the best-selling album among Sakharof's albums, and he even won four "Tammuz" awards. Berry continues here the combination of electronic elements and adds elements of Mediterranean music with rock outputs that reflect his musical DNA. The album includes songs that have become a milestone in Israeli music such as the opening song of the album " That's How It Is (To Love You) " which was played non-stop on radio stations and was the opening song of the Israeli drama series "Saturdays and Holidays" and was originally written and recorded for the series, " Slaves " with Berry guitar trademark, " Touches " which was played on all kinds of dance floors around the country, " Whole Heart " that opens with the oriental violins and the sweeping drumming as if we were in a Turkish men's club in the 40s and the song " Summer City " so powerful and addictive !! In this album, as in any of Berry's albums in our opinion, there are also songs in which he experiences more and stretches the boundaries of his musical creation and that of his friends who work with him. Berry is known for his talent for working with other artists and giving them the freedom of expression in his work, he does not state or demand anything specific but rather asks you to express your creative essence and bring it out in his album. There are fascinating and different songs on this album like " Life Opposite " that didn't sound like something Berry had created until then, the intriguing and mysterious " Foreign Land ", and " Two Faces " so diverse in their musical dynamics and the special "Time Tunnel" as well. Many musicians participated in the creation of the album. Among them, Yizhar Ashdot, Oren Lutenberg, Danny Makov, Tal Segev, Peter Roth, Sharon Rotter, Assaf Amdursky , Johnny Shuali, Dan Toren, Micha Sheetrit and many others. As we mentioned earlier, Berry likes to draw inspiration from other artists, and if he likes another artist's idea or work he asks him to put it out on his album freely. In 2018, Berry celebrated 20 years of the album with a festive show in which he performed the 12 songs on the album in the same order (and other additional performances), and with him on stage also participated: Haim Laroze, Danny Makov, Assaf Amdursky , and Johnny Shuali. Listen to the album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 3.1.1970 “When one door closes, another door opens.” That was the scenario that led Syd Barrett  out of "Pink Floyd", and paved the way toward his debut solo album, "The Madcap Laughs", released on January 3, 1970. By mid-1967, the members of “Pink Floyd” were witnessing their bandmate Syd Barrett transform from a brilliantly creative musician into a shadow of himself. Barrett, who until then had been the driving force of the group, wrote 8 of the 11 songs on “ The Piper at the Gates of Dawn ”, the band’s debut album. He was responsible for the group’s psychedelic and experimental sound and also shaped its visual identity. Barrett, a graduate of Cambridge Art School, developed his musical vision during his time there. Alongside this, he became immersed in what he referred to as “the psychedelic experience”, inspired by the teachings of the American poet and psychologist Timothy Leary. Leary advocated the use of LSD as a way to “fix” the world, claiming that the drug detached the ego from the id and the superego, returning a person to a childlike psychological state, pure in intention and full of love for life. In reality, Leary’s vision mainly resulted in large numbers of people addicted to a substance that turned them into emotionally numb, disconnected zombies. Beyond the many instances in which Barrett would suddenly stop playing during a performance for no apparent reason, one particularly bizarre incident is remembered in which he begged his bandmates not to peel him, convinced that he was a banana. Toward the end of 1967, the members of “Pink Floyd” brought in a second guitarist as a backup for Barrett: David Gilmour . On January 26, the decisive moment arrived. While traveling from London to a show at Southampton University, the question was raised: “Should we pick up Syd?” The answer came immediately: “Let’s not bother.” And just like that, Syd Barrett found himself outside of “Pink Floyd”. Deeply hurt by his bandmates behavior, Barrett initially continued to visit the studio, watching his former bandmates record with growing bitterness, until he decided to create music on his own. He entered the studio alongside Peter Jenner and Andrew King, two of “Pink Floyd”’s managers who left with him. Jenner took Barrett to EMI Studios (later known as "Abbey Road Studios") in northwest London to record several solo songs. It quickly became clear to Jenner that working with Barrett was extremely difficult due to his severe mental state. After two months of intermittent recording sessions, Barrett abruptly stopped the recordings, ended his relationship, and set out on a journey across Britain that eventually led to psychiatric treatment at a clinic in Cambridge. Only six months later, in early 1969, Barrett began to recover slightly and decided to return to recording. At that point, it became clear that Jenner was no longer interested in continuing to work with him, and the producer’s role was given to Malcolm Jones, head of EMI’s progressive rock label. Much like John Lennon , Barrett turned surreal images and childhood literary influences into songs. In April 1969, after a nine month break, he resumed work on his debut album, "The Madcap Laughs". Barrett enlisted the help of many friends during the sessions. Among them were two of his former "Pink Floyd" bandmates. David Gilmour played twelve string guitar, bass, and even drums on one track, while Roger Waters produced parts of the album. Also contributing were Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge, and Hugh Hopper of "Soft Machine", Willie Wilson - drummer of "Jokers Wild", ( David Gilmour ’s first band), who played bass, and Jerry Shirley, drummer of "Humble Pie". Most of the songs were initially built around Barrett singing and playing acoustic guitar, with session musicians later adding their parts. Even in this stripped down format, problems arose. Barrett’s playing was unpredictable, sometimes skipping beats or inserting them at random, making it difficult for the musicians to understand the songs’ structure. Despite these challenges, this is an album that became a milestone in music history. Blending acoustic folk with psychedelic rock, it went on to inspire countless artists. Many of its songs were later covered by other artists. "Octopus"  was the only track released as a single, reaching the UK Top 40. The album cover was photographed by Mick Rock. For the shoot, Barrett painted the floor of his bedroom at Wetherby Mansions in vivid shades of orange and purple, turning his personal space into part of the album’s surreal visual identity. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Neil Young wrote about him in his autobiography "Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream" from 2013: "Stephen is a genius". So let's tell you a little about the man Neil Young crowned as no less than a "genius" - singer, guitarist, and songwriter Stephen Stills: (Photo: last.fm) 1. Steven (Stephen) Stills was born in Dallas Texas as Stephen Arthur Stills on January 3, 1945. 2. As someone who grew up in a "military" family he used to move with his parents from one place of residence to another. Following his family's residences in various places in the southern United States and Central American countries, he was influenced by folk, blues, and Latin music. 3. One of the first bands he was a member of in the early '60s was "The Continentals", which also included Don Felder who would later become the guitarist of the "Eagles". 4. In 1964 he was part of the folk band "Au Go Go Singers", where he met Richie Furay, who two years later would form the "Buffalo Springfield" with him. 5. After the dissolution of "Au Go Go Singers" in 1965, he formed the folk-rock band "Company" which played live in several places in Canada. That's how he first met Neil Young , while performing at a club in Ontario Canada. 6. In 1966 he persuaded Furay to move with him to California in search of their musical future. 7. That same year Neil Young and Bruce Palmer went on a similar voyage. After disbanding their band "Mynah Birds" in Canada, the two sold all of the band's equipment, purchased a funeral car named Mort II, and crossed the U.S. border, illegally, in search of a musical future in Los Angeles. 8. Stills and Furay will spot Neil Young and Palmer traveling in Mort II while stuck in a traffic jam at Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Stills made an illegal U-turn to get Young and Palmer and it was this random encounter that spawned "Buffalo Springfield." 9. "Buffalo Springfield" has greatly influenced the development of the country-rock and folk-rock genres. Stills was the living spirit behind the band along with Neil Young . 10. On December 5, 1966, they released their debut album, " Buffalo Springfield ". 11. The single "For What It's Worth" from it was released on the day. Stills wrote the song which immediately became a hit. Later the song was also adopted by the anti-war movements against the Vietnam War and become an anti-war anthem. 12. By 1968 Stills would release 2 more albums with "Buffalo Springfield", before disbanding. 13. Following the breakup of "Buffalo Springfield" he will team up with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield to release the 1968 masterpiece album " Super Session ". 14. On April 26, 1968, he entered a recording studio in New York with his girlfriend Judy Collins. After Collins finished recording Stills asked to take advantage of the time left from the session for which Judy paid in advance to record his demos. He was left in the studio alone that night and recorded the first demos for songs that would be released shortly thereafter as part of "Crosby, Stills and, Nash". 15. Stills will release the original recordings of the demos from that magical night as part of the album "Just Roll Tape: April 26, 1968", released in 2007. 16. Stills' connection with Crosby and Nash began in late 1967 when David Crosby was fired from "The Byrds". Graham Nash who was a member of "The Hollies", met Crosby during the Byrds' tour in England. 17. After the dissolution of the "Buffalo Springfield" in July 1968, the three meet at a private party held at Johnny Mitchell's house (Stills still insists it was at Mama Cass' house from "The mamas And Papas"). (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives) 18. Crosby and Stills played a new song written by Stills "You Don't Have to Cry", which will later appear on the band's debut album. Nash joined them in singing the third harmony, and right at that moment, they realized that there was an amazing vocal combination between them that could not be ignored. The crazy vocal chemistry and this special connection, made Nash leave "The Hollies" and join the emerging "Supergroup". 19. In May 1969, the supergroup's first album, named after the band Crosby, Stills & Nash, was released. 20. Stills took the lead and played most of the instruments on the album, guitar, bass, keyboards, and, vocals, with Crosby and Nash adding acoustic guitars and of course the vocal roles. Dallas Taylor was hired to perform the drum roles. 21. The album opens with "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" written by Stills, a four-part work, lasting more than 7 minutes, with a number of transitions and rhythm changes, that Stills wrote about Judy Collins. 22. Together with "CSN" he will become the leader of the struggle against the Vietnam War. This will earn them the nickname "the voice of the generation". 23. About three months after the release of the debut album, "CSN" has already appeared at the legendary Woodstock Festival. It was only their second live show ever. 24. Neil Young will take the stage and join the trio in the second and more "electric" part of the show. This moment will be the trigger that will turn the trio into the quartet "CSNY", when Neil Young joins them as a full member. (Photo: Tom Copi) 25. During the 1969 "Big Sur" folk festival in California, which was supposed to send an anti-war message, Stills was caught on camera in a fit fight with one of the spectators. 26. In 1970 he released his first solo album called "Stephen Stills". 27. It's the only album in history to feature both Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix . 28. The album also features Ringo Starr , Cass Elliot, David Crosby , Graham Nash , Rita Coolidge, and more. 29. Stills was a good friend of Jimi Hendrix and used to jam with him. 30. In fact Jimi Hendrix was the one who taught him to play lead guitar. 31. Rumor has it that he was also a candidate to fill the role of bass player in Jimi Hendrix 's backing band. 32. Stills auditioned for the 1960s TV series and the band "The Monkees". 33. In 1971 he participated in Bill Withers' album "Just as I Am" and played guitar on the hit "Ain't No Sunshine". 34. At the end of 1971 he joined Chris Hillman who was the bassist of "the Byrds", to form "Manassas". 35. In 1976 he played the percussion in the song "You Should Be Dancing" by the "Bee Gees", band is taken from their album "Children of the World". 36. The Gibb brothers returned a favor, when Andy Gibb (brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb) sang background vocals in two songs from Stills' 1978 album "Thoroughfare Gap". 37. In 1976 when Crosby & Nash recorded and performed under the name "Crosby & Nash", Young and Stills formed "The Stills-Young Band" and released the album "Long May You Run". 38. The idyll between the two fell apart after only nine shows, while Young abandons Stills in a telegram message. 39. In 1979 he took part in the "Havana Jam" festival held in Cuba and became (along with Billy Joel , Chris Christopherson, and others who performed there), one of the first American artists to appear on Cuban soil after the missile crisis with the United States. 40. Stills collaborated with members of "Public Enemy" on the song "He Got Game", which included quotes from "For What It's Worth" by "Buffalo Springfield". 41. He has performed at the three mythical festivals of the 1960s - in Monterey with the "Buffalo Springfield", and in Woodstock and "Altamont" with the CSN. 42. Stills is the first artist to enter the Rock Hall of Fame twice in the same evening, both as a member of "Buffalo Springfield" and as a member of "Crosby, Stills, and Nash." (Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine) 43. On his 63rd birthday, January 3, 2008, he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth in his prostate. The operation was successful. 44. His last appearance with "Crosby, Stills & Nash" was at the "White House" as part of Christmas of 2015 celebrations. 45. "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked Stills 47th on the list of greatest guitarists of all time and noted that he is one of the most underrated Rock guitarists, probably because he is perceived as a singer-songwriter. 46. ​​Stills has released over 30 studio albums during his illustrious career, including: three albums with "Buffalo Springfield", two albums with "Manassas", thirteen with "CSN", three with "CSNY", one with the band "The Stills-Young Band", one with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield and eight solo albums. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 28, 1983, "Triumph" released their sixth album, "Never Surrender". The album was first released in late 1982 in Canada only, through "Attic Records". Due to record company distribution issues, the album was released in the US and worldwide only on January 23, 1983, through "MCA Records". "Triumph" came to record this album at its peak, following four consecutive platinum albums, including the 1981 " Allied Forces ". On the other hand, the tremendous pressure of releasing albums at a dizzying pace and the tours that accompanied them, left the band exhausted, physically and creatively. There were high expectations from "Triumph" to produce another blockbuster album at the level of the last four, so the band re-entered the studio in an attempt to harness enough energy and inspiration to make sure the next album would meet the high standards of those who preceded it. In our opinion, the band accomplished it and even more! Despite the relative creative difficulty and pressure around, the band managed to produce another great album that won the gold status in the US and includes at least five rock anthems, including: " Too Much Thinking " with the wah-wah effect inspired by Jimi Hendrix , the sweeping " All the Way ", the semi-ballad " A World of Fantasy "and of course the theme song " Never Surrender ", that became the highest charting songs of "Triumph" in the" Top Rock Tracks" chart. The band's song has taken on a more political tone on this album, compared to previous albums and this can already be heard from the opening of " Too Much Thinking ", which includes a sample from one of President Ronald Reagan's speeches. Drummer Gil Moore opens strong with powerful drumming and vocals, guitarist Rik Emmett emerges from behind with a deadly riff and a "Talk Box" effect solo, while bassist Mike Levine acts as the glue that holds everything together with his beating bass. After Gil Moore's powerful opening, we're introduced to the semi-ballad "A World of Fantasy" sung by Rik Emmett . These quasi-quiet pieces are no stranger to Emmett and they sit perfectly on his incredible voice. (Photo: Chipster P.R & Consulting Inc.) Instrumental pieces are already a matter of tradition for "Triumph", which makes sure to include one or two of these in each album. In this case, we get three of them. The first of which is " A Minor Prelude " is a classical guitar piece that proves once again Rik Emmett 's monstrous talent. Rik is perhaps one of the greatest and most underrated guitarists in Hard Rock. He could smash any metal guitarist in guitar shredding, but that was not his thing. He always tried to show his diversity and versatility by playing different musical styles, as he does here as well. The A Minor Prelude " instrumental piece, serves as an introduction to the excellent " All the Way ". A simply great song with a rhythmic and catchy riff and the melodic and sweeping singing of Rik Emmett . No doubt one of the most beautiful songs on the album. "Battle Cry" sung by Gil Moore is a mesmerizing song with a slow riff and a "Zeppelin" drumming, that emphasizes the heavier side of "Triumph". Have we already said that the added value of this great band is the fact that they have two excellent singers with different tones of voice who really complement each other? So here's another proof of that. The other side of the vinyl opens up with the second instrumental section " Overture (Procession) ", which features a short guitar intro accompanied by bassist Mike Levine's synthesizer playing. This track is actually a "build-up" to the main course - the album's great theme song - " Never Surrender ". These two tracks cross the 8-minute line altogether and sound like one complex and complete work. Gil Moore's drumming may sound simple, but whoever listens to the "drum fills" and "drum rolls" he plays in between the chords and riffs, will find that he is a talented and intelligent drummer. As if the three instrumental pieces on this album are not enough, so Rik Emmett takes care to open the song " When the Lights Go Down " with a steel guitar intro, which leads us to the explosion at 0:30 min. with the rock'n'roll riff and powerful vocals of Gil Moore. We have also written our opinions in the past about drummers who are also singers and noted that for us they are "Supermen". It's perhaps the hardest thing to do, sing and play drums at the same time and anyone who watches this band's performances will find out that Gil Moore just does it perfectly! See here: We're getting near the end with Rik Emmett 's most brilliant melodic writing in the song " Writing's On the Wall ". A catchy song with Emmett's amazing singing that sounds like a stadium anthem. The album is sealed with another instrumental track called " Epilogue (Resolution) ". This beautiful piece illustrates where Rik will go next in his future solo career, decades down the road, with hints of jazz and classical music. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 1, 1986, the album "Hear 'n Aid", which included a collaboration of 40 Hard Rock and Metal artists, was released. It is a charity album designed to be a response from Metal artists to gestures made by British and later US artists, to help victims of the famine in Africa. It all started with the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Written by "Boomtown Rats" lead singer Bob Geldof and composed by "Ultravox" lead singer Midge Ure in 1984, to raise funds to help victims of famine in Ethiopia. Geldof and Ure, composed the song after Geldof saw a documentary on the BBC channel, about the severe famine that befell Ethiopia. Geldof called on more British artists to join the charity initiative and managed to put together the "Band "Aid" whose members numbered the best British and Irish artists, who performed the song which was released on December 3, 1984, and also served as the theme song for the 1985 " Live Aid " shows. The American response was not long in coming. Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the song "We Are the World", which was recorded by the band "USA for Africa", composed of the best artists from the USA and Canada, for the victims of the famine in " Ethiopia ". The song was released in March 1985, sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and became the seventh best-selling song of all time, as well as the third best-selling song of all time in the "United States". The Metal artists could not remain indifferent in the face of the two gestures mentioned above. Singer Ronnie James Dio co-wrote the song "Stars" with bassist Jimmy Bain and guitarist Vivian Campbell, who were then part of "Dio", aiming to raise money to help famine victims in Africa. The song was recorded on May 20-21, 1985 by 40 famous Hard Rock and Metal artists, including: Vinny Appice , Neal Schon , Blackie Lawless , Ted Nugent, Yngwie Malmsteen , Tommy Aldridge , Rob Halford , Kevin DuBrow, Eric Bloom, Geoff Tate , Don Dokken, Vivian Campbell , Buck Dharma, Neal Schon , Dave Murray , Adrian Smith and more. Other artists who failed to reach the recordings, contributed songs to the tribute album including: "Accept", "Motörhead", "Rush", "Kiss" and more. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Is this one of the best live albums of all time? If you ask us, without a shadow of a doubt !!! But it's not just us. Ask Slash who said it was his favorite live album. Ask Steve Harris who wrote a few paragraphs about it in the extended version booklet of the 2008 album reissue, ask Tom Morello who rated it among his ten favorite metal albums, and even ask critics of "Kerrang!" magazine, Which ranked it as one of the 100 greatest metal albums of all times, even though it is live album! No wonder that founding "UFO" bassist Pete Way and drummer Andy Parker say it is their favorite "UFO" record. "Strangers in the Night" which was released on January 2, 1979, is also probably the best "UFO" album. It captures the band at its peak, both in terms of composition and in terms of performance. Each member of the band gives 100% of himself here. But there is one young and talented band member who gives even 110%. His name is Michael Schenker and his guitar spits flames of fire !! Yes, yes, it's real. Listen to his amazing solo in the song " Rock Bottom " for example and understand what we are talking about. We have written about it more than once, but we will repeat it. One of the criteria by which we consider a great live album, is the ability to make the listener prefer the live version of a particular song over its studio version. "Strangers in the Night" is definitely one of the live albums that just do that, at least in our opinion. It makes us choose the live version of the songs over the band's studio versions and include them in our playlists. The album was recorded in the fall of 1978 during performances held at "Louisville" in Kentucky and Chicago Illinois. This is the band's last recording with guitarist Michael Schenker , who left "UFO" on October 29, 1978, immediately after the band performed in California, as part of the same tour. It's amazing to think that this album was originally meant to be a standalone album. The record company "Chrysalis" gave the band the "green light" to expand it into two albums, after seeing the success of "Thin Lizzy"'s double live album "Live and Dangerous", which was released several months earlier. Since the approval was given after the album was already recorded and since the band did not have enough material to fill two albums, the album included two songs in their studio version, "Mother Mary" and "This Kid's", when a recording of the audience from the Chicago show was added to them. Even more amazing is that except for these two songs, everything we hear on the recording is almost identical to what the audience was hearing during the show. Guitarist Michael Schenker opposed any kind of editing and/or "overdubbing" designed to correct his glitches and small mistakes, and it's just inconceivable that the tremendous performance on this album captured exactly what happened on stage, without any correction or improvement. What's more, it further strengthens the aura that hovers over the album and proves that it definitely deserves to be included in the list of the greatest live albums of all time. By the way, After his departure, Schenker claimed that he is amazed at the choices the band made choosing the songs in the album, since he had a much better-recorded performance from this tour. Really ??? As if the versions included in the album are not just perfect !! In 1999, an expanded version of the album was released and it included two more songs: "Hot 'n' Ready" and "Cherry", which opens the album in its extended version. Although the announcer who invites the band to the stage at the beginning of the show indicates that it was allegedly performed in Chicago, the two songs were recorded in Youngstone and Cleveland, Ohio on October 15-16, 1978. This is the same recording of the announcer that opens the original version of the album with " Natural Thing ". This performance is an atomic bomb of metallic energy, from beginning to end. From the moment Michael Schenker 's guitar sounds play the opening riff to the song " Natural Thing " to the final solo sounds of " Shoot Shoot ", there is not even one unnecessary moment here. " Doctor Doctor ", " Only You Can Rock Me ", " Lights Out ", " Too Hot to Handle " and " Let It Roll " had a heavier and rougher performance than the album versions, and even the quieter tracks like " Love to Love " and " I'm a Loser ", sounds much tighter and more convincing with amazing singing by Phil Mogg . But there is one performance on this album that undoubtedly transcends all the rest. We are of course talking about the phenomenal 11-minute version of the song " Rock Bottom ", with the insane solo of Michael Schenker , which disserves a place in the Pantheon. In conclusion, this album gives us "UFO" in a more sweeping and improved version than we knew in their studio albums. The band that opened the 70s with heavy and progressive space rock, ends them with a heavy, full, and updated sound, which will significantly affect the metal bands of the early 80s. It is interesting to note that in 2020 a deluxe version of the mythological show was released. It includes 8 CDs. In the box, you can find the show in its original version and another 6 full shows from the tour, held in Chicago, Wisconsin, Youngstone, Cleveland, Columbus, and Louisville on October 13-18, 1978. For Listening to the album in its Extended Version : Spotify For Listening to the album in its Deluxe Edition: Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 31, 1984, Rick Allen, drummer of “Def Leppard”, was involved in a devastating car accident that would permanently change his life, redefined "Def Leppard" reshape one of rock music’s most powerful comeback stories. Late on New Year’s Eve, Allen was driving his Corvette along the A57 road near Sheffield, England. While attempting to overtake another vehicle at high speed, he lost control of the car, which slammed into a stone wall and overturned. Allen, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle. The impact severed his left arm, which could not be reattached despite immediate medical treatment. He was just 21 years old. At the time, “Def Leppard” were riding the massive success of their third studio album " Pyromania ", and were widely considered one of the most promising rock bands of the decade. In the wake of the accident, the music industry largely assumed the band would replace their drummer and move on. Instead, the band made a defining decision. They proven their friendship and loyalty and chose to wait. Publicly and privately, “Def Leppard” stated that Rick Allen was still their drummer, and that the band’s future depended on his recovery, not replacement. The months that followed were among the most difficult of Allen’s life. Beyond the physical trauma, he faced deep psychological challenges, questioning whether he could ever play drums again, let alone at a professional level. Rather than walking away, Allen chose to rebuild his identity from the ground up. Working closely with engineers and electronic drum manufacturers, Allen helped develop a custom hybrid drum kit that combined acoustic drums with electronic triggers. The redesigned setup relied heavily on foot pedals and reprogrammed pads, allowing him to perform complex rhythms using his right arm and both feet. He effectively relearned drumming from scratch, developing a new technique rather than simplifying his style. Rick Allen made his full live return in August 1986 at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington. It was his first major performance since the accident. Any lingering doubts disappeared almost instantly as Allen delivered a confident, controlled, and powerful performance, proving that “Def Leppard” could continue intact. His comeback directly intersected with the creation of " Hysteria ", released in 1987. The album’s meticulously layered production and polished sound aligned perfectly with Allen’s adapted drumming approach. Electronic triggers, precise timing, and controlled dynamics became a defining part of the album’s sonic identity, helping turn “Hysteria” into one of the most successful rock albums of all time. From that point forward, Rick Allen remained a permanent and active member of “Def Leppard”, recording and touring continuously with the band. What initially appeared to be a career-ending tragedy ultimately reshaped both his playing and the band’s sound. Rick Allen’s story stands as one of rock history’s most powerful examples of resilience. Faced with a moment that could have ended everything, he chose adaptation over surrender, redefining what was possible behind the drum kit and securing his place in music history. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 31, 1973, "Journey" made its first-ever stage appearance. (Photo: Journey's Debut Album inlay 1975) The original lineup of "Journey" was a kind of "supergroup" that gathered in San Francisco during the year 1973, under the supervision of former "Santana" manager, Herbie Herbert. Originally the band was called "Golden Gate Rhythm Section", and was intended to be a backup group of professional musicians to accompany established artists in the Bay Area of San Francisco. The band consisted of Neal Schon , on lead guitar and Greg Rollie on keyboards and lead vocals, both formerly of "Santana". They were joined by bassist Ross Valory and rhythm guitarist George Tickner, both from the band "Frumious Bandersnatch", and drummer Prairie Prince from the band "The Tubes". The band quickly abandoned the "backing band" concept and developed a rock style spiced with progressive and unique jazz fusion. After an unsuccessful radio contest to name the band, roadie John Villanueva suggested the name "Journey" The band's first public performance was held at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, on New Year's Eve 1973, in front of 10,000 spectators. The next day, the band flew to Hawaii to perform at Diamond Head Crater to an audience of over 100,000 people. As mentioned, "Journey's" line-up presented at this San Francisco show was very different from the "mainstream" version of the band that rose to prominence in the '80s. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain who joined in 1980 and singer Steve Perry who joined in 1977 was not there. Instead, we got a progressive supergroup that focused mostly on the instrumental abilities of the band members, which they displayed during a nine-song set on that historical evening Believe it or not, there is a recording of that historic performance held on New Year's Eve of 1973. Whoever listens to it will be convinced of the incredible abilities of the band members. About a month after the show, on February 1, 1974, drummer Prairie Prince will return to his former band "The Tubes". After auditioning 28 drummers, the band hired British drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who had just finished working with David Bowie and was a member of Frank Zappa 's "Mothers of Invention". The set played on that historic evening: 1. Topaz 2. It's All Too Much (The Beatles cover) 3. In My Lonely Feeling, / Conversations 4. Mystery Mountain 5. Sing a Song For You (Can You Hear Me) 6. Kohoutek 7. Charge of the Light Brigade 9. In the Morning Day "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 31, 1974, "Fleetwood Mac" made a decision that would alter the trajectory of their career and forever change the landscape of rock music. On that New Year’s Eve, Mick Fleetwood extended an invitation to Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to join the band after hearing their unique chemistry on the album "Buckingham Nicks". What followed was nothing short of a musical revolution. (Photo: Far Out Magazine) "Fleetwood Mac" was already an established band with a history rooted in blues and rock of the days of Peter Green , but by the mid-1970s, they faced a crossroads. Following Bob Welch’s (Guitars and Lead vocals) departure, Mick Fleetwood began scouting for fresh talent to reinvigorate the group. While visiting "Sound City Studios" in California, Fleetwood happened to hear the song “ Frozen Love ” from "Buckingham Nicks", an album that the duo had released in 1973. Impressed by Buckingham’s intricate guitar work, Fleetwood approached him to join "Fleetwood Mac" as the band’s new guitarist. However, Buckingham, fiercely loyal to his musical partner and then-girlfriend, made it clear that he and Nicks were a package deal. Fleetwood agreed, and the rest is history. From the moment they joined, the chemistry was palpable. Their first album with "Fleetwood Mac", " Fleetwood Mac " (1975), showcased their distinct contributions, including Nicks’ enchanting “ Rhiannon ” and Buckingham’s buoyant “ Monday Morning .” But it was 1977’s " Rumours " that elevated the band to legendary status. Buckingham and Nicks brought a balance of vulnerability and strength to "Fleetwood Mac’s" music. Nicks’ mystical lyricism and captivating stage presence perfectly complemented Buckingham’s perfectionist production style and fiery guitar work. Songs like “ Landslide ” captured raw emotion, while tracks such as “ Go Your Own Way ” showcased Buckingham’s knack for creating dynamic, radio-ready hits. The decision on December 31, 1974, to bring Nicks and Buckingham into "Fleetwood Mac" was more than just a lineup change—it was the start of a new chapter that propelled the band to global stardom. Their addition transformed "Fleetwood Mac" from a respected blues band into a folk-pop-rock juggernaut. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website