Here are some interesting facts about guitarist and singer John Sykes: (Photo: Pinterest) Sykes began his musical career in 1980 with the band "Streetfighter" and soon moved to the band "Tygers of Pan Tang" with which he released two full studio albums and was a guest on the third. In 1982 he successfully auditioned for "Thin Lizzy" and became its lead guitarist alongside Scott Gorham. With the band he released the studio album "Thunder And Lightning" and was a part of the band's last tour and the excellent live album "Live Life" which included guest appearances by the great guitarists who were part of the band including Gary Moore. John Sykes later moved to Phil Lynott's band in his solo career. Watch his mind blowing solos in a Guitar-Keyboard battle with Rick Wakeman: David Coverdale later discovered him and invited him to join "Whitesnake", but John was loyal to Phil Lynott and initially refused. However, after a cover-up campaign by Coverdale and having also received Phil Lynott's blessing, he joined "Whitesnake", re-recorded the album "Slide It In" and later went on tour with them. John Sykes' big break came with the most successful album "Whitesnake" released in 1987. Sykes greatly influenced the sound and style of the band which changed its face from end to end and went from hard rock and blues rock roots to heavy metal and glam metal. John Sykes co-wrote with David Coverdale nine of the 11 songs on "Whitesnake (1987)" successful album. After leaving "Whitesnake" he formed the supergroup "Blue Murder" together with drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tony Franklin. Along with this band he released two studio albums and proved that he is much more than a virtuoso guitarist, he is also a great singer !!! Sykes is singing backing vocals on "Def Leppard's" album "Adrenalize" released on 1992. In 2006 Sykes was honored by the Gibson company who released a Gibson Les Paul custom model inspired by Sykes. Sykes also has a solo career in which he has released five albums to date. On 1 January 2021, Sykes released "Dawning of a Brand New Day", his first new song in over twenty years. On January 20, 2025 Sykes had passed away following a battle with cancer. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 29, 1968 (US), and on October 4, 1968 (UK), Jeff Beck released his first solo album "Truth". "Truth" is a seminal work that showcases Beck's innovative approach to guitar-driven music. Released half a year before "Led Zeppelin" debut this album stands as a cornerstone in the development of blues rock, hard rock and even early heavy metal. This album introduced the talents of Rod Stewart on vocals, Micky Waller (Who played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers) on drums, and Ronnie Wood (who would later join "The Rolling Stones") on bass, as the members of the Jeff Beck Group. But the album features many more known musicians as future "Led Zeppelin" members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, "The Who" drummer Keith Moon, Nicky Hopkins, Aynsley Dunbar, and more, some of which had not been credited on the album's cover. After he departed from "The Yardbirds" in late 1966, Jeff Beck released three singles that achieved success in the UK charts, in two of them he was the lead singer. These singles featured pop-oriented A-sides and blues-based B-sides, the latter where hinting at the musical direction Beck would fully embrace with "Truth". Aside from "Beck's Bolero" who was composed by Jimmy Page and recorded in May 1966, the album's recording sessions, spanning just four days in May 1968, resulted in a collection of nine eclectic tracks, including both original compositions and creative covers. "Truth" opens with "Shapes of Things," a reinterpretation of a song from Beck’s "Yardbirds" tenure, setting a powerful tone for the album. If you want to draw a history line of the development of music, then this song was one of those moments when blues rock started to change its face towards hard rock. It features standout drumming by Micky Waller, heavy bass playing by Ronnie Wood and distorted guitar sound (listen to the power chord on 1:45) with a psychedelic edge driven by Beck’s innovative guitar work. This sound and vibe will continue through the whole album, in tracks like the heavy blues rocker influenced by "Cream" - "Let Me Love You", Willie Dixon’s "You Shook Me" that half a year later "Led Zeppelin" would copy to the dissatisfaction of Beck, and Howlin' Wolf’s "I Ain’t Superstitious" (that Dixon wrote) and "Megadeth" will later cover for their 1986 album "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" Even though this album is mostly based on cover songs, the interpretation and innovation of Beck were enough to make it a key album in the development of blues rock into hard rock and heavy metal. You can find only three originals credited to "Jeffrey Rod" (a pseudonym for Beck and Stewart) and even they were inspired from other artists: "Let Me Love You" (inspired by Buddy Guy), "Rock My Plimsoul" and "Blues Deluxe," (both derived from B.B. King songs, the latter features an impressive piano lead by Hopkins and overdubbed audience sounds to mimic a live performance, a production choice Beck later regretted. The album also features covers of "Ol' Man River" by Jerome Kern, the traditional "Greensleeves", Bonnie Dobson's "Morning Dew", Willie Dixon’s "You Shook Me" and Howlin' Wolf’s "I Ain’t Superstitious" (which Dixon also wrote). You can say that the only "pure" track on the album is "Beck's Bolero", an instrumental track that was recorded in different sessions 2 years before the recordings of "Truth", featuring Jimmy Page (who also wrote it), John Paul Jones, Keith Moon, and Nicky Hopkins. This track highlights Beck's experimental side and serves as a precursor to the heavy rock sound that would later define "Led Zeppelin". (Photo: Chris Walter) "Truth" remains a pivotal album in rock history, showcasing Jeff Beck's pioneering guitar work and the raw talent of his bandmates. Its innovative fusion of blues and rock set the stage for future musical explorations, solidifying Beck’s reputation as one of the genre’s foremost guitarists. This album is not only a testament to Beck's visionary artistry but also a crucial influence on the development of blues rock, hard rock and early heavy metal, shaping the future of rock music. Upon its release, "Truth" received widespread acclaim. Al Kooper of "Rolling Stone" hailed it as a "classic," comparing it to the 1966 "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" LP and praising the Jeff Beck Group's energetic performance. Classic Rock magazine ranked "Truth" eighth on its list of the 30 greatest British blues rock albums, highlighting its role in establishing the genre's sound. Tom Scholz of "Boston" cited it as his favorite album, emphasizing its lasting impact. Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa has covered several tracks from the album, further testament to its enduring influence. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 29, 1974, legendary drummer Neil Peart officially joined "Rush". (Photo: Fin Costello) Neil was born in Hagersville, Ontario Canada, southwest of downtown Toronto and the Willowdale neighborhood. He was the eldest of four brothers. He began to take an interest in music through a radio transistor that was tuned to regional stations in Toronto and Buffalo USA. At first, he began to study piano but that was not it. Neil's interest in drums came from his uncle Richard who was in a band that played R&B. He would play on his knees, with chopsticks all over the house. He was so drawn to it that he would scatter drummer's magazines on the bed and drum on them. (Photo: Rushtrader.com) His parents saw Neil's longing for drums and bought him a small, basic drum set for his 13th birthday. They also sent him to learn to play with the promise that if he persisted for a whole year they would buy him a professional drum set. Neil persevered and got it of course. His parents saw how talented Neil was and sent him to study music at the "Peninsula College of Music in British Columbia". Neil's first live show was at the age of 14 at the school where he studied. Neil of course was not content with that and would continue to practice at home for hours listening to the great drummers he admired and trying to emulate them. He financed his studies with occasional jobs. As a teenager he moved between various local bands, including "Mumblin' Sumpthin", "the Majority", and "JR Flood", but none of them managed to break through and become famous. At the age of 18, Neil boarded a plane and made his way to London following his childhood heroes in music. He hopes to succeed there musically. In London, he was exposed, among other things, to the writings of Ayn Rand, whose philosophy greatly influenced him. After 18 months without success, he returns to Canada and starts working with his dad in the family business, selling spare parts for tractors. At the same time, he joins a local band called "Hush". At the time, John Rutsey, Rush's original drummer, left the band with the excuse that he could not keep up with the pace of the band having diabetes. Geddy and Alex auditioned Neil - a skinny guy with shorts and a short haircut. They remembered he got out of a "Ford Pinto" and took out a tiny drum set from boxes in which they were stored and assembled it slowly and comfortably. Alex remembered Neil did not make a good impression on him at first and he thought he did not fit the band's rock style. But as Neil began to play, the jaws of the two musical friends opened wide, they heard in his drumming the strengths and virtuosity of Keith Moon and John Bonham. He played insanely and perfectly and of course, they immediately got him into the band. (Photo: Classic Rock In Pics Twitter) The exact date Peart joined the band was 29/7/1974. It was Geddy Lee's 21st birthday. Neil Peart was also 21 at the time. Neil had exactly two weeks before the band's tour in the US and he had to quickly learn all the material and get ready for the pre-planned tour. Peart's first appearance with the band was in Pittsburgh on August 14, 1974. It was a warm-up performance for Manfred Mann and Uriah Heep in front of 11,000 people. The rest is already history ... "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Congratulations to Geddy Lee, known as the singer, bassist, and keyboardist of the Canadian power trio "Rush", who is celebrating his birthday today !!! (Photo: Kevin Winter) Here are 50 interesting facts about the man and the legend: 1. He was born on July 29, 1953, in the Willowdale neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario Canada as Gary Lee Weinrib. 2. His parents were Holocaust survivors from Poland, who during World War II stayed in the Auschwitz concentration camps and later in Dachau and Bergen-Belsen. 3. The name Geddy is derived from his mother - Mary Weinrib, who had a heavy Polish accent. She did not know how to pronounce the letter R and in her accent, it sounded like D (Geddy instead of Gary) so the friends started calling him Geddy. 4. Geddy received an Orthodox Jewish education until the age of Bar Mitzvah. (Photo: Therushforum.com) 5. When he was 12 years old his father Morris who was a musician died, and Geddy recited Kaddish on him for a whole year, including all the mourning Jewish customs. He said he had not heard music for a whole year and it was one of the hardest things for him during the year of mourning. 6 He began studying music at school at the age of 10. The first instrument he learned to play was drums and later a trumpet and clarinet. 7. The lessons at school were not enough for him and he also took piano lessons privately. 8. At age 14 he got his first acoustic guitar. 9. The transition to the bass guitar came in the wake of Jack Bruce and John Entwistle, who played in two bands that Geddy admired - "Cream" and "The Who". 10. The love for Jack Bruce and the band "Cream" will lead him later to the power trio model of "Rush", while playing bass and singing similar to Jack Bruce. 11. Lee was also very influenced by English progressive rock and especially bands like "Yes" and "Genesis". One of the most influential bassists on Geddy from this genre was Chris Squire. 12. He was not the first singer and bassist of the band "Rush". He replaced Jeff Jones, a month after the band was formed in 1968 and two weeks before its second live show. 13. The first single the band ever released was "You Can't Fight It" and it was written by Geddy and drummer John Rutsey. 14. Lee has a wide three-octave vocal range, from baritone, through tenor, alto to mezzo-soprano. 15. Geddy's bass playing is very accentuated and includes powerful percussion on the strings. He has made the bass guitar a leading instrument that is sometimes even more dominant than Alex Lifeson's guitar. 16. Geddy's unique playing style has influenced great and good bass players, including Cliff Burton from Metallica, Steve Harris from Iron Maiden", John Myung from Dream Theater, Les Claypool from Primus, and Tim Commerford from "Rage" and "Audioslave". 17. In "Rush" he generally writes the music along with Alex Lifeson, while Neil Peart is writing the lyrics. Despite this, there are several exceptions in which Lee also wrote the lyrics. Examples: "Best I Can", "Tears", "Cinderella Man" and more. 18. In addition to singing and playing bass, Geddy Lee also plays keyboards, guitars, and pedals in the band, which allows him to produce the bass and keyboards sound simultaneously, during the band's live performances. 19. Geddy is quite responsible for the changes in the musical styles of "Rush" during their career. He constantly strived to learn and experiment and challenged himself by learning and introducing new musical instruments and equipment, which attracted the band to change its style. 20. The band insisted on playing all the roles of the musical instrument themselves during their performances. For this purpose, Geddy was also equipped with pedals that allowed him to control the keyboards while playing the bass. 21. Due in part to this virtuoso ability, he was awarded the Keyboard Magazine "Best New Talent" title in 1981. 22. Geddy is a vintage guitar collector and also a collector of baseball memorabilia. In addition, he has a collection of over 5,000 expensive wines at home. 23. Geddy came in first place on the "Music Radar" list for the best bass players of all time, and in fourth place on the same list of "Rolling Stone" magazine. 24. He is ranked 13th in the list of the 100 greatest singers of heavy metal in "Hit Parader" magazine. 25. Geddy was invited to produce Metallica's "Master Of Puppets" album. Anyone who looks at Metallica's thank you list in the album booklet will find "Special thanks to Geddy, Alex, and Neil of RUSH". 26. He has been voted the best bass player on the "Guitar Player" magazine list, six times. 27. In 1993 he was voted Best Rock Player by readers of "Bass Player" magazine. (Photo: Timothy J / Flickr) 28. In 1996 he received the honorary title of Officer of the Order of Canada. 29. In 2004 it was elected by the citizens of Canada in the 96th place on the list of the largest Canadians who ever lived. 30. In 2010 he was awarded the title of "Living Legend" by "Classic Rock" magazine. 31. In 2012 he received a Medal of Honor from Queen Elizabeth II. 32. In 2013 he entered with "Rush" into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". 33. The band members call him Dirk. 34. Together with "Rush" he released 19 studio albums, 2 EPs, and 11 live albums. 35. Together with Rush he managed to put three albums on the list of the 50 greatest albums of all time of progressive rock by the "Rolling Stones" magazine. To understand the magnitude of the achievement only 3 bands, "Genesis", "Pink Floyd", and "King Crimson", got to put 3 records on the list. The album "Moving Pictures" reached number three on this acclaimed list after Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" and King Crimson's debut album - "In The Court Of The Crimson King". 36. He co-sold with "Rush" over 40 million albums during his career. 37. Together with "Rush" he holds the third and most honorable place (after "the Beatles" and "the Stones") as a band with the most consecutive records that have won gold and platinum status. 38. In 2000 he released his solo album "My Favorite Headache". The drummer on that album is Matt Cameron from "Soundgarden" and "Pearl Jam". 39. He's a good friend of Dave Grohl, you probably know that, but did you know that Geddy's mother - Mary Weinrib, and Dave's mother were also good friends? 40. In 1980 he was hosted, along with Alex and Neil, in the song "Battle Scar" by Max Webster. This recording will be the trigger for writing the song "Tom Sawyer", one of Rush's great songs. 41. In 1981 he contributed his voice to Bob and Doug McKenzie's song "Take Off" from their album "Great White North". 42. In 1982 he produced the album of the Canadian New Wave band "Boys Brigade". 43. In 1985 he contributed his voice to the song "Tears Are Not Enough" which was included on the album "We Are the World" that was released as part of the charity project "USA for Africa" ​​(2:14 min). 44. In 1999 he co-recorded with Lifeson the national Canadian anthem - "O Canada" for the film "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut". Geddy also got to sing the anthem at the opening of the All-Star Game of the Baseball League in 1993. 45. That same year he played bass on the song "Good for Sule" by the band "I Mother Earth". 46. In 2006 he joined the one-time supergroup "Big Dirty" with Lifeson to perform the song "I Fought the Law" which was included in the soundtrack of the movie "Trailer Park Boys: The Movie". 47. In 2010 he participated in bass playing and singing on the album of the band "The Black Sea Station". 48. In 2017 he joined members of the band "Yes" as a replacement for bassist Chris Squire, performing the song “Roundabout”, during their performance at the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". 49. In 2018 he released his book “Big Beautiful Book of Bass” which explores in depth the marvelous guitar, in which he interviews the best bass players of all time. 50. In 2020 he paid tribute to musician Bill Withers in the performance of the song "Lean on Me" with the All-Star team of Canadian musicians. Bonus facts: 1. For his 21st birthday, he received Neil Peart as a gift. Yes, yes, Geddy Lee's birthday is also the official day Neil Peart joined "Rush". 2. Inspired by the story of the concentration camps where Geddy Lee's parents were staying, Neil Peart wrote the song "Red Sector A". So let's pay homage to the man who has already been crowned a "living legend" by Classic Rock Magazine - Geddy Lee. In honor of the special occasion, here is a link to his excellent solo album: Here. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about singer Cass Elliot also known as Mama Cass: (Photo: Donaldson Collection) 1. She was born on September 19, 1941 as Ellen Naomi Cohen, in Baltimore, Maryland. 2. Her parents are Philip Cohen and Bess (née Levin), children of Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. 3. Naomi had a brother named Joseph and a younger sister, Leah, known as Leah Kunkel, who also developed a career as a singer. 4. She adopted the name "Cass" in high school, inspired by the actress Peggy Cass, the last name Elliott she adopted in memory of a friend who died. 5. While in high school she became interested in acting. She dropped out of school and moved to New York to focus on that. 6. In 1962 she got her first role in the musical "The Music Man". 7. She founded the folk band "The Triumvirate" in 1963 with banjo player and singer Tim Rose and singer John Brown. Later James Hendricks replaced Brown and the band changed its name to "The Big 3" and released the album "Winken, Blinken, and Nod" in 1963. 8. Tim Rose left the band in 1964, then Elliott and Hendricks formed "The Mugwumps" in 1964, with Zal Yanovsky and Denny Doherty. 9. Later Yanovsky and John Sebastian founded the band "The Lovin' Spoonful", and Doherty joined "The New Journeymen", which also included John Phillips and his wife Michelle. In 1965, members of "The New Journeymen" came to Elliott's concert in Washington, D.C., after which Doherty tried to convince Phillips that Elliott should join the group. 10. Indeed, Elliott accepted and in 1965 she joined the band that became as quartet renamed its name to "The Mamas & the Papas". (Photo: Fanart.TV) 11. Elliott was known for her sense of humor and optimism, and was considered by many to be the most charismatic member of the band. Her unique and powerful voice was a major factor in their success. 12. Elliott created immortal hits with this line-up such as "Words of Love", "California Dreamin'", "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "Monday, Monday". 13. Cass is known for her powerful voice, and among other things, she performed the song "Dream a Little Dream of Me", which the band recorded in 1968. 14. A popular legend says that her vocal range was improved by three notes after she was hit in the head by copper tubing that fell on her as she walked through a construction site behind the bar where the band was performing in the Virgin Islands. Cass confirmed it. 15. She won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance for "Monday, Monday" in 1967. 16. The personal relationships and romantic ups and downs between the band members caused great tensions, as well as drug and alcohol consumption. 17. In 1971 "The Mamas & the Papas" officially disbanded after the release of their fifth and final album and Cass embarked on a solo career. 18. She released five solo albums, starting with "Dream a Little Dream" in 1968. 19. She also released a live album and appeared on three soundtracks, two as a solo artist and one with "The Mamas & the Papas". 20. Cass first appeared as a solo artist in Las Vegas at "Caesars Palace" as early as October 1968. 21. The show in Vegas was the first in a contract for two shows every night, for three weeks, but six months before, Elliott started a severe diet in order to lose weight before the scheduled shows. She lost about 40 kg, which is about a third of her body weight, but the rapid weight loss led to a stomach ulcer and throat problems. 22. The reviews of the show were harsh. Some called the show a "disaster" and it was canceled after the first night. 23. Broken by the public failure, Elliott became depressed and began using drugs such as heroin. David Crosby recounted their shared use of the drug in his 1988 memoir. 24. Cass starred in two television specials and was a regular guest on various television shows in the early 1970s. 25. In 1973 she hired Allan Carr, who was also the manager of Tony Curtis, Ann-Margaret, and Peter Sellers, as manager. Carr pushed Elliott to leave the world of pop and rock, and put together a cabaret show for her that was later also broadcast on television called "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore". 26. The city of Baltimore dedicated August 15, 1973 as "Cass Elliott Day" in her honor for her return home. 27. On April 22, 1974, Elliott collapsed in the television studio before her scheduled appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." 28. She died in her sleep on July 29, 1974, in the rented apartment of the singer Harry Nilsson. It was in this apartment that Keith Moon would find his death 4 years later, also 32 years old. 29. The false rumors were that her death was due to choking on a ham sandwich. 30. The pathologist stated that the cause of death: was heart failure due to fatty myocardial atrophy as a result of obesity. 31. Cass left a daughter named Owen Vanessa Elliot, who was born on April 26, 1967. The father was Chuck Day, who was revealed after her death. 32. Her sister Leah Kunkel won custody of Owen after Cass's death. 33. The body of "Mama Cass" was cremated and her ashes were buried in the Jewish cemetery "Mount Sinai" in Los Angeles. 34. Frank Zappa's song "We're Turning Again" references the incorrect urban legend that Cass choked to death. "We can visit Big Mama, we can whap her on the back, while she eats her sandwich!" 35. She is mentioned in the song "Zipper" by "Nosei Hamigbaat" ("Hat Bearers"): "I thoroughly folded between my girlfriend and Mama Cass." 36. Crosby, Stills & Nash's music video for the song "Daylight Again" released in 1982 was dedicated to Cass Elliott 37. Their album, "Greatest Hits", was also dedicated to her memory. 38. Elliott's recording of the song "Make Your Own Kind of Music" was included in several episodes of the television series "Lost", as well as in season 8 of "Dexter". 39. Cass was posthumously inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in 1998 for her work with "The Mamas & the Papas". 40. Elliott received the 2,735th star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" on October 3, 2022. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

The endearing and talented guitarist Steve Morse was born on July 28, 1958. He began his musical career in 1970 with the "Dixie Dregs" who was also one of its founders. The band's musical style is very special and it has combined jazz, southern rock, and progressive, with Morse being its main writer. Together with "Dixie Dregs" he released nine studio albums, until 1994. From 1994 until 2002 he served as a full member of "Deep Purple" in place of Ritchie Blackmore. In this case, too, Morse was a full partner in writing the material for the band and has released eight studio albums with the band. Morse was also a brief member of "Kansas" whom he joined in 1986. On the two albums, he was a member of, "Power" and "In the Spirit of Things" he also contributed extensively to writing. Morse also had an extensive solo career in which he released fourteen albums, most of them with the amazing trio "Steve Morse Band", which Morse formed in 1983. Steve Morse is also a part of quite a few musical projects, the most notable of which are: A. "Living Loud" - The band was formed in 2003 and also includes Jimmy Barnes, Bob Daisley, Lee Kerslake, and Don Airey. B. "Angelfire" - Morse's collaboration with singer Sarah Spencer that began in 2007. C. "Flying Colors" - a supergroup formed in 2011 and includes, among others, Mike Portnoy on drums and Neil Morse on keyboards. Morse has released three excellent studio albums with "Flying Colors". Morse also guest appeared in so many artists albums, such as: Steve Walsh, Liza Minnelli, "Triumph" (In the album "Surveillance"), "Lynyrd Skynyrd", Carmine Appice, Jordan Rudess, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord and many more. In addition to his incredible guitar control, Morse also sings and plays on instruments such as piano, violin, banjo, clarinet, and more. On 23 July 2022, it was announced that he will be leaving "Deep Purple" due to the illness of his wife Janine "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 28, 1979, Rainbow's "Down to Earth" album was released. This is the band's fourth studio album and its first without Ronnie James Dio, which was replaced by Graham Bonnet, at the time a fairly anonymous singer who would later also be part of the bands "Michael Schenker Group" and "Alcatrazz". The story of the album actually begins after the release of the previous album, "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll". After the release of the album, the band went on a tour and during it, Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio began to discuss the band's future and musical direction. Blackmore wanted to take the band in a more commercial direction, but Dio disagreed with the new line Blackmore was trying to impose on the band. The professional disputes between Blackmore and Dio over the band's musical direction eventually led to the departure of Ronnie James Dio from the band. In December 1978, Ritchie Blackmore begins to write the material for the album in his home. By this time he was already fired bassist Bob Daisley and keyboardist David Stone, so the only player left from the band from the previous album was legendary drummer Cozy Powell. Blackmore recruited Roger Glover, his longtime friend from "Deep Purple", to the position of producer and at the same time began auditioning to fill the positions of the rest of the band members. The first to join the band was keyboardist Don Airey, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and later with Deep Purple. As for the role of the singer, several auditions were held but Blackmore did not like any of them. At one point Ritchie Blackmore even considered Ian Gillan as the lead singer, but he ended up following Roger Glover's recommendation of Graham Bonnet that immediately was called to audition. This audition is well engraved in Glover's memory. He remembers that Graham Bonnet was supposed to sing the masterpiece "Mistreated." Bonnet did not know the song and when the band started playing the intro Bonnet was at the other end of the room away from the microphone. Glover feared that Bonnet did not know when he should enter and that he was going to miss it, but as soon as it was time to start singing Bonnet jumped from the edge of the room and roared into the microphone. Everyone was shocked by his voice, especially Don Airey who immediately stopped playing from the shock. Of course, Bonnet was immediately selected by Ritchie Blackmore to fill the role of "Rainbow's" Lead vocalist. The bass role was harder to fill to. The band played during rehearsals with studio session player Clive Chaman and later was joined by Jack Green, but he did not last long, until eventually Roger Glover was forced to perform the bass role during the recordings. He was later added to the band as a full member. It can be said that Ritchie Blackmore was right in choosing the more commercial musical direction, since the album sold very well. It included the band's first successful single, "Since You Been Gone" written by former Argent guitarist Russ Ballard, a song that indeed best illustrates the band's new musical direction and the reason for Dio's departure. Another hit from the album is the famous "All Night Long" whose opening riff is very reminiscent of the classic riff of "Man On the Silver Mountain" from the band's first album - "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow". Despite the commercial direction this album has taken, there are still sparks of the old and beloved Rainbow, as in the song "Eyes of the World" which is very reminiscent of Dio's "Rising" period. Other notable songs are "Love's No Friend", "Danger Zone", and "Lost in Hollywood", all on the other side of the vinyl which turns out to be the better side of the two. Although this is a good album with a crazy lineup of musicians, and although Graham Bonnet's voice is noteworthy, in our opinion it still pales in comparison to the Ronnie James Dio albums. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Today we'll tell you about musician Rick Wright. Wright is the secret weapon of "Pink Floyd", a quiet, humble, and humble man, who is responsible for quite a bit of the band's so unique sound, and who co-wrote and performed some of its most beautiful melodies and compositions. It's very hard to imagine what albums like "Meddle", "The Dark Side Of The Moon" or "Wish You Were Here" would have sounded without Rick Wright's divine touch, if at all! (Photo: Gingerreject.tumblr.com) So let's tell you 40 interesting facts about him: 1. He was born on July 28, 1943, as Richard William Wright. 2. He is an autodidact who already at the age of 12 while recovering from a severe fracture in his leg, taught himself to play the trumpet, guitar, and piano. 3. Wright later took piano lessons at a music school, where he also learned to play the trombone and saxophone. 4. Wright is a multi-instrumentalist of the toughest kind, because in addition to all the instruments listed above, later in his career he also played other instruments: violin, flute, bass guitar, cello, and even drums. 5. The main musical influence on Wright was jazz, and especially Miles Davis and John Coltrane. 6. In 1964, Wright began studying architecture at the college - "Regent Street Polytechnic" (now the University of the West Ministers), where he met Roger Waters, Bob Klose, and Nick Mason, with whom he formed the band "Sigma 6". 7. In "Sigma 6" he played mostly guitar, since the band's songs hardly included keyboards. 8. After the dissolution of "Sigma 6" in 1965, Mason, Waters, and Wright joined Syd Barrett and co-founded "Pink Floyd". 9. Wright was the most educated in the band, musically, and as such was responsible for, among other things, the equipment and tuning of the instruments at the beginning of the band's career. 10. In the years 1965-1966 the band performed in pubs and clubs in England and slowly gained an audience and recognition. 11. In 1967 "Pink Floyd" signed a recording contract with EMI and after releasing 2 singles, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play" in March and June 1967, the band entered the studio to record their debut album - "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", Which was released in August 1967. 12. At this point Syd Barrett was the dominant member of the band, but nonetheless Wright co-wrote two of the album's songs and sang solo on: "Astronomy Domine", and "Matilda Mother" while singing backing vocals on "Pow R. Toc H". 13. With Barrett's decline Wright's dominance in the band grew. When on the second album "A Saucerful of Secrets" released in June 1968, Wright participated in singing on 4 of the 7 album's songs, making this album the only one Wright sang more than any other member In a band. 14. In addition, Wright co-wrote 3 of the album's 7 songs, including "Remember a Day" and "See-Saw". 15. This trend has also continued in the albums "More" and "Ummagumma". 16. In the 1970 album "Atom Heart Mother", Wright co-wrote the album's theme song and also wrote and sang the charming song "Summer '68". 17. That same year Wright participated in Syd Barrett's second solo album - "Barrett" and also helped produce it. 18. Wright's big break as a musician came on the three albums: "Meddle", "The Dark Side Of The Moon", "And wish You Were Here", with Wright contributing greatly to the band's unique sound and compositions, while co-writing some of the band's iconic works Such as: "Echoes", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", "The Great Gig in the Sky", "Us and Them" and more. 19. After the album "Wish You Were Here" Waters began to become more and more dominant in the band, pushing Wright aside, among other things. 20. As a result Wright and Nick Mason were not co-writers of the album "Animals" at all, and they serve there as studio session players. 21. Despite that, even on an album that apparently Wright did not make an official contribution to in writing, one can still hear his genius and influence on the band's sound, for example in a song like "Sheep". 22. Wright released his frustration with his own solo album, which he released a year later the album "Animals" in 1978. The album "Wet Dream" featured guitarist Snowy White and saxophonist Mel Collins, among others. 23. While working on the album "The Wall" Rick Wright experienced a difficult period, he went through a divorce proceeding from his wife Juliette and suffered from heavy cocaine addiction. Under these circumstances, he was not exactly available to work on the album. This eventually led to his dismissal by Roger Waters, even before the album was released. 24. As a result, Wright became the only band member to receive "employee" status in the band. It paid off for him because he became the only gainer among the band members from the grandiose tour that accompanied the album, since he received a fixed salary that was not dependent on the losses of that tour. 25. The line "I've got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains" from the song "Nobody Home" refers to Rick Wright and his condition during the recording of the album. 26. Pink Floyd's only album in which Wright was not a band member was "The Final Cut" from 1983. 27. In 1984, Wright formed a band called "Zee" with Dave Harris of the New Wave band "Fashion". They released their only album named "Identity" that year. 28. In 1987, Wright participated in the work on the album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" although he was not yet officially a member of the band. 29. He appeared after Gilmour and Mason in the credits of the album, in a smaller script and without his picture being included on the cover. 30. He returned to the band as a full member during the tour and ahead of the release of the 1988 live album "Delicate Sound of Thunder". 31. On the 1994 album "The Division Bell" he has already co-written five of the 11 songs. 32. In one of them, "Wearing the Inside Out", he sang solo alongside Gilmour. It was the first time since "Time" from the album "The Dark Side Of The Moon". It's an exciting song about Wright's drug addiction, the crash and loneliness that followed, and the deep depression he experienced after his divorce from his wife and his dismissal from the band by Waters. 33. In 1996 he releases his second solo album "Broken China". This is a concept album based on the story of his wife's struggle with depression. The album features singer Sinéad O'Connor in two songs. 34. David Gilmour played in an earlier version of the song that sealed the album "Breakthrough", but Wright changed his attitude towards the song, and Gilmour's contribution was abandoned. Despite this Gilmour performed the song with Wright during his 2001 "David Gilmour in Concert" performance. 35. In 2005 he reunited with other "Pink Floyd" members, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters for a one-time reunion show as part of a "Live 8" charity show. 36. In 2006, Wright participated in Gilmour's solo album "On an Island". That same year he became a regular member of Gilmour's backing band. 37. That same year he wrote the song "Hazel Eyes" for singer Helen Boulding. 38. It is interesting to note that Wright's daughter Gala is married to bassist Guy Pratt who played with Pink Floyd" and with David Gilmour in live shows. 39. On September 15, 2008, Wright passed away after years of battling cancer, he was 65 at the time of his death. 40. After his death, in 2014, "Pink Floyd" released the album "The Endless River" which included recordings in which he participated from the period of "The Division Bell" album. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 28, 1975, "Black Sabbath" released their sixth album, "Sabotage". The name of the album (Sabotage) was not chosen by chance, it symbolized the difficult period in which the band members were at that time. Tony Iommi explained this in his book "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath", as follows: It felt like we were "sabotaged all the way along the line and getting punched from all sides". Indeed this was more or less the case. The album was recorded at the height of the band's legal battle with former manager Patrick Meehan. There is no doubt that the pressure the band was under during the legal procedures affected the recording process, the content, its heaviness, and also the album title. Iommi attributed the legal issues to the heavy and angry sound of the album. The song "The Writ", which seals the album and was written by Ozzy Osbourne, also refers to the relationship with the band's manager, and includes the following lyrics: "All of the promises that never came true, You're gonna get what is coming to you "Are you Satan, are you man? You've changed in life since it began" Drummer Bill Ward noted in an interview from 1976 that this is probably the only album recorded with lawyers in the studio. Bassist Geezer Butler said that after the release of the album "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" the band found out that its manager and record company were just stealing them. So, most of the time, when the band was not on stage or in the studio, they were in law firms' offices trying to break out from all the contracts they had signed. He noted that the band tried to record and right in the studio they signed all sorts of documents and affidavits to handle the lawsuit. However, as a result of the legal battle with the band manager, the four "Black Sabbath" members moved on to manage themselves. The album's musical style differs from the band's rooted sound on their first albums, and it ranges from the band's familiar heavy metal to experimental, psychedelic, and even progressive, to softer, quieter songs. The instruments used by the band during the recordings included piano, synthesizers, organ, and even harp, and it is enough to teach about the distance the band has made from their first albums and their root sound. What best illustrates the band's experience of new styles on this album, is the track "Supertzar" - a special and beautiful instrumental section in which the London Philharmonic Choir participates. However, this album still has the old and familiar "Black Sabbath" and the heavy metal roots, in songs like: "Hole in the Sky" and "Symptom of the Universe" - which in our humble opinion one of the greatest songs in metal, yes, ah and it also happens to be one of the band's favorites, who is also considered one of the influencers in the development of the thrash metal genre. Other notable songs are "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" and "Megalomania" which is the longest song on the album and one of its most complex and surprising. Upon release, the album received positive reviews. Particularly noteworthy is "Rolling Stone" magazine's review of a September 25, 1975 issue that read: "Not only is it Black Sabbath's best album since Paranoid but it's perhaps the band's best album." Ozzy by the way thought the album could have been perfect had it not been for "Supertzar" and "Am I Going Insane (Radio)", which are his least favorite excerpts from the album. By the way, if you were wondering what is the word "Radio" in the song "I Am Going Insane (Radio)", then it is not the version of the song that was intended for radio as we also thought, but a slang for "mental", according to Bill Ward. In our opinion, this is the last good album the band released in its classic era. What will happen next, is a slow decline until the departure of Ozzy Osbourne and the resurgence of the band with singer Ronnie James Dio. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 27, 1987, "Triumph" released their ninth studio album "Surveillance". By 1987, the musical landscape had changed dramatically. Traditional hard rock bands were adapting to the increasingly polished production of the decade, while keyboards and radio-friendly songwriting had become almost unavoidable. After the commercial gamble of "The Sport of Kings", many expected "Triumph" to continue chasing mainstream success. Instead, "Surveillance" found a more convincing balance between accessibility and the band's trademark musicianship. Produced by "Triumph" and Thom Trumbo, the album benefits from a crisp, modern production that captures the sound of late eighties arena rock while still allowing Rik Emmett's guitar work to remain the focal point. Keyboards are more prominent than ever, yet they rarely overwhelm the arrangements. Instead, they add atmosphere and texture, giving the record a cinematic quality that complements its lyrical themes of technology, uncertainty and the changing world around us. The brief instrumental "Prologue: Into The Forever" opens the album with an atmospheric introduction before "Never Say Never" bursts out of the speakers with infectious energy. Built around one of the band's strongest choruses, the song perfectly blends melodic hooks with Emmett's expressive guitar playing, proving that "Triumph" could write radio-friendly rock without sacrificing musicianship. The album reaches its creative peak with "Headed For Nowhere." Stretching beyond six minutes, it recalls the progressive instincts that had always separated "Triumph" from many of their contemporaries. Steve Morse's guest lead guitar contribution adds another layer of excitement, while Emmett delivers one of his finest solos on the record. The dynamic arrangement moves effortlessly between melodic passages and muscular riffs, making it one of the album's defining moments. If "Headed For Nowhere" showcases Triumph at their most ambitious, "All The King's Horses" reveals the band's melodic sophistication. Emmett's heartfelt vocal sits atop elegant guitar textures and Medieval flavor arrangement, featuring Steve Morse's songwriting contribution and acoustic guitar playing. "Carry On The Flame" continues the album's ambitious approach by combining polished production with an underlying sense of urgency. The inclusion of a simulated news broadcast reinforces the song's darker atmosphere, while "Let The Light (Shine On Me)" restores the band's trademark optimism through soaring melodies and heartfelt vocals. These songs demonstrate "Triumph's" ability to balance thoughtful themes with memorable songwriting. Not every experiment is equally successful. "Rock You Down" and "All Over Again" lean more heavily towards contemporary AOR, occasionally feeling less distinctive than the album's stronger material. They are enjoyable performances, but they lack the identity and adventurous spirit found elsewhere on the record. Following the instrumental bridge "Prelude: The Waking Dream," the album enters its final act with "On And On," another polished melodic rocker that showcases the chemistry between Emmett, bassist Mike Levine and drummer Gil Moore. The closing track, "Running In The Night," provides an energetic finish, and its story did not end with "Triumph". A reworked version later appeared on Signal's 1989 album "Loud & Clear" under the title "Go," credited solely to Mark Baker and Erik Scott, giving the composition a second life beyond its original recording. One of the more interesting aspects of "Surveillance" is its collaborative approach to songwriting. While "Triumph" had traditionally relied almost exclusively on the talents of Emmett, Levine and Moore, this album welcomed contributions from Steve Morse, Rick Santers, Sil Simone, Dave Tkaczuk, Mark Baker, Erik Scott, Roger Freeland and Joe Pizzulo. History has given "Surveillance" an importance that extends beyond its music. It became the final "Triumph" studio album to feature Rik Emmett before his departure from the band in 1988. Although Emmett returned for the band's reunion in 2008 and later 2026, this remains the last studio recording from "Triumph's" classic lineup, bringing an end to one of Canada's finest hard rock partnerships. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about longtime bassist for "Pantera" - Rex Brown: (Photo: Christian Petersen) = He was was born on July 27, 1964 in Graham, Texas, USA as Rex Robert Brown. = Brown was first introduced to music by his grandmother, who taught him to play the piano when he was a child. = Brown started playing Bass guitar when he was 12. = His first influences where "Van Halen", "ZZ Top", "Def Leppard", "Black Sabbath", "Led Zeppelin", "Sex Pistols" and "Ramones". = Brown said that when he first heard "ZZ Top" he was driving his bicycle, about 8-years-old, and he heard "La Grange" and something just happened. He said lost my mind. = He said that There’s nothing like their album "Tres Hombres" and there never will be. = Brown was a classmate of drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. He played in the high school jazz band with them. = In 1982 He joined "Pantera", then a heavy metal band founded by brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott. (Photo: Revolver Magazine) = He replaced Tommy D. Bradford and adopted the alias "Rex Rocker". = In 1983 "Pantera" released their first album, "Metal Magic", which featured Brown (Rex Rocker) on bass. = In 1988 "Pantera" released their fourth album "Power Metal", shifting towards a heavier sound. This album marked a turning point for "Pantera" as it introduced Phil Anselmo as their lead vocalist. = In 1990 "Pantera" released "Cowboys from Hell", their breakthrough album, which became a cornerstone of groove metal, showcased their new sound and direction. = It was the first album where Brown started to be credited by his birth name. Rex Brown’s bass lines on tracks like “Cemetery Gates” and the title track cemented his status as a prominent bassist in the metal community. = Brown was notable for often contributing walking basslines underneath Dimebag Darrell's guitar solos, like on "Floods", "Walk", "5 Minutes Alone", "Cowboys from Hell", "This Love", "I'm Broken" and more. = Rex Brown incorporates elements of funk, blues, and metal into his playing. His unique approach to the instrument has influenced countless bass players. = In 1992 "Pantera" released "Vulgar Display of Power", which solidified their place in metal history. = In 1994 "Pantera" released "Far Beyond Driven", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. = In 1996 "Pantera" released "The Great Southern Trendkill", showcasing a darker, more aggressive sound. = In 2000 "Pantera" released "Reinventing the Steel", their final studio album. = Pantera disbanded in 2003 following internal conflicts and Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott's decision to form "Damageplan". = In 1998 Brown was featured on five tracks on Jerry Cantrell's album "Boggy Depot". = In 1998 Rex Brown was invited by Phil Anselmo for a jam session that included all the members of "Down" except their bass player Todd Strange. = Brown became a member of the band releasing two albums with them - "Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow" from 2002 and "Down III: Over the Under" from 2007. = In 2011 Brown left "Down" to focus on other musical projects. = In 1999, Brown, Dimebag Darrell, and Vinnie Paul Abbott teamed up with country artist David Allan Coe in a project called "Rebel Meets Rebel". This group released an album on 2006. = He played on eleven tracks on the "Crowbar's" album "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden" from 2005. = He has also provided bass work for "Cavalera Conspiracy" in 2008. = In 2011 Brown formed "Kill Devil Hill" with former Dio drummer Vinny Appice. The band released their self-titled debut album on 2012, and their second album, "Revolution Rise" in 2013. = In 2013, Brown released an autobiography, titled "Official Truth: 101 Proof". = In 2017 Brown released his first solo album, "Smoke on This...", showcasing his skills as a vocalist and guitarist. = In 2023, he played bass on the debut album of the the metal supergroup "Elegant Weapons". = In July 2022, it was announced that Brown would be joining Anselmo, along with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, for Pantera's first world tour in 22 years starting in 2023. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... Only three years have passed since this album came out and for us it still feels like it has been here ever since !! Halestorm's fourth album "Vicious" was released on July 27, 2018. In this album the theme is working together, an album of togetherness, an album of a band that has reached its maturity stage. If on the previous three albums, the work was done mostly by Lzzy Hale and her brother, this time the whole band worked together, wrote, arranged and produced together with producer Nick Raskulinecz who worked with "Rush", "AIC" and "Deftones". Lzzy said it felt to her like it was Halestorm's debut album as a band. We mentioned in our show that she really likes to write and create the songs as if she is on live stage, that is what inspires her. This time when all the band members were partners, it took the songs one step further. Not only powerful, kicking and bouncy songs built for stadiums but also touching and dynamic thrills. This is an amazing band and one of the greatest singers of our generation and yes, we are not objective because we are groupies, now you can listen to the album at: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website