On December 17, 1976 "Genesis" released their eighth album "Wind & Wuthering". This is the second "Genesis" album released in 1976, after " A Trick of the Tail " and it's last with Steve Hackett , who felt that he was not getting enough expression in the band. Hackett said that after releasing his excellent solo album "Voyage of the Acolyte" in 1975, he felt like a faucet had turned on and he immediately realized that he just couldn't turn it off. He wrote a lot of material at that time, some of which he kept for his next solo album, thinking that they would not suit the band's musical direction, the others he offered to his friends in "Genesis". One of these pieces was " Please Don't Touch! ", which the band started working on. But then he saw how this excellent piece was tossed aside in favor of the improvisational, instrumental " Wot Gorilla? ", Just because Phil Collins felt he couldn't connect to the song. Other songs he wrote were also rejected in favor of songs written by others, especially Tony Banks . He thought that some of the songs the band chose for the album were not as good as the material he had written and that the band was leaning in a musical direction that he was not interested in continuing with. He felt that as he wrote more and more the band wanted less of him and therefore made the painful decision to leave "Genesis" after the tour supporting the album. Under these circumstances, it is no wonder that this is the favorite Tony Banks album, as he was involved in writing 6 of the 9 drum tracks on the album. In this context, it should be noted that during the album sessions, the band recorded three additional tracks that were not included in it, but were released about a year later as part of the band's first EP "Spot the Pigeon". This album sits exactly on the "Genesis" timeline, on which the band moved starting the second half of the seventies, which includes the gradual transition from the complex Progressive of the Peter Gabriel era to the "Poppy" Phil Collins hits. This timeline of "Genesis" parallels the changes in the world music market, the rise of Disco and Punk in the second half of the seventies, and the electronic revolution of the eighties. It's still a complex album that includes some great compositions, but on the other hand, it includes songs like " Your Own Special Way ", which became the band's first single in the US and opened the band to a new audience. Compared to " A Trick of the Tail " this is a less consistent and perfect album. Don't get us wrong, there are no weak parts here, this is still "Genesis" at its best and even if there are mediocre parts compared to what the band has released in the past, they are definitely worth listening to and should not be missed. The album opens with the mini-epic " Eleventh Earl of Mar " to Steve Hackett 's guitar sounds accompanied by Tony Banks ' ARP 2600 synthesizer, which later also plays the Hammond organ for the first time in "Genesis". The dynamic and complex composition was written by Banks, Rutherford, and Hackett who wrote the music and lyrics for the song's bridge, which was originally a section from another song. The rest of the lyrics were written by Mike Rutherford , who was inspired by the character of the Scottish John Erskine - the 11th Earl of Mar. Mike Rutherford got the idea after reading a history book about a failed Scottish rebellion in 1715 and it's about medieval knights, fathers and sons, and their bravery in battle. It is followed by the magnificent " One for the Vine " written in its entirety by Phil Collins . This is one of the best tracks on the album. It is dynamic, challenging, and exciting at the same time. Undoubtedly one of the most complex tracks that Banks wrote. It stretches over 10 minutes and is composed of less than 10 different pieces of music - different musical variations, some of which repeat themselves during the song. The lyrics tell the story of a man who leaves his community because he does not believe in its spiritual leader. From here we move into the folk-pop ballad "Your Own Special Way" written by Mike Rutherford . This is the band's second "hit", after " I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) " from the album " Selling England By The Pound " from the Peter Gabriel era, released in 1973. For its release as a single, the instrumental bridge in the middle was omitted (starting at minute 3:44 ), to turn it into a pure pop song. Even the devout progressives among us must admit that thanks to such songs "Genesis" managed to survive the "progressive winter" and remain relevant throughout the years. The track that closes the first side of the album " Wot Gorilla? " is an improvisational instrumental piece written by Phil Collins and Phil Collins . It is basically a variation on the melody of the song " One for the Vine ". Banks took the first five notes of the song's melody and developed it in a completely different direction. The name of the song refers to the band's hired drummer Chester Thompson, whose nickname during his time with Frank Zappa in 1973-1974 was "Gorilla". This segment, as mentioned above, made Steve Hackett to recalculate and eventually leave the band. Just imagine "Please Don't Touch!" replacing this track on the album and you will understand the frustration of Hackett , which at the end of the day included it as the album title and opening track of his second solo album from 1978. Copyright: Lee & Leeeser photographics 1977, Dallas, Texas… 1975 to 1981 The second side of the vinyl opens up with " All In A Mouse's Night " - another piece written by keyboardist Tony Banks which, believe it or not, was influenced by the cartoon characters of "Tom and Jerry". A humorous and witty text about a mouse trying to escape from a cat, just like in the mythological cartoon series. On the other hand, the composition is excellent, very dynamic, and includes frequent rhythm changes that alternate to illustrate the storyline, with an excellent guitar solo by Steve Hackett . Make sure not to miss Phil C ollins's vocals here, who follows in the footsteps of his mentor Peter Gabriel and changes his voice according to the characters in the song. Just priceless... It is followed by " Blood on the Rooftops ", one of the most moving songs on the album, written by Steve Hackett and Phil Collins . It starts quiet and instrumental, with Steve Hackett 's classic "Baroqueish" guitar playing, and builds dynamically with a simply "melting" chorus. The words refer to the average Englishman who sits at home in front of the television and tries to ignore the harsh reality and the news. The text refers to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the words "The Arabs and Jews boy (too much for me)". This is one of "Genesis" songs that Steve Hackett tends to perform quite a bit in his shows like here. From here we move to two consecutive instrumental sections, connected with each other, complementing each other, that includes a mention of the motif that opens the album. The quieter first of the two, " Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers... " was written by Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett , while the second, more up-tempo, with the crazy Phil Collins drumming, " ...In That Quiet Earth " was written by all four members of the band. The names of the two instrumental pieces are taken from the last sentence in Emily Brontë's" novel, "Wuthering Heights". The two connected instrumental pieces connect to the album's closing song " Afterglow ". This is the third piece on the album written solely by Tony Banks . Mike Rutherford 's bass is reinforced here with a bass pedal, the guitar work here is monotonous and hypnotic and the melody is very catchy. Although this is another ballad that was apparently meant to "flirt" with mainstream, it is one of the biggest and best-known songs on the album, which was included in a large part of the band's performances. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On September 20, 1976, “AC/DC” released their third studio album “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, an album that sharpened the band’s identity and locked in the outlaw swagger that would soon make them unstoppable. If “ High Voltage ” was the spark and “ T.N.T. ” the ignition, then “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” is where the engine finally roared at full force. This is the album where “AC/DC” stopped sounding like a promising hard rock band from Australia and started sounding like a dangerous, fully formed entity. Everything here feels tighter, nastier, and more confident. The riffs hit harder, the humor is darker, and the attitude is no longer playful rebellion but something far more deliberate and confrontational. By the time the band entered Albert Studios in Sydney, the chemistry between Angus Young , Malcolm Young , Bon Scott , Phil Rudd, and Mark Evans was undeniable. Malcolm Young ’s rhythm guitar dominates the record, setting up that relentless, piston-like groove that would become the backbone of the “AC/DC” sound. Angus Young ’s leads are sharp and economical, never flashy for the sake of it, always serving the song with precision and bite. Producer Harry Vanda, alongside George Young, captured the band raw and immediate, resisting polish in favor of power. Bon Scott is the true star of the album. His voice drips with menace, humor, and charisma, turning every lyric into a character sketch. Whether he’s playing the role of a hired gun, a street-level criminal, or a leering troublemaker, Scott sounds completely believable. His lyrics on this album are witty, provocative, and unapologetically dirty, but always delivered with a grin that makes it impossible not to go along for the ride. The album opens with “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” , one of the most iconic mission statements in rock history. Built on a swaggering riff and a call-and-response chorus, the song feels like a late-night classified ad for chaos. Scott’s delivery turns criminal mischief into a business proposition, and the band backs him with a groove that is impossible to shake. “Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire)”  slows things down into a blues-soaked strut, giving Scott room to vent frustration and cynicism. The song stretches out, letting the band breathe, and shows that “AC/DC” could build atmosphere just as effectively as they could deliver blunt-force riffs. “Problem Child”  brings the pace back up with pure attitude. Short, sharp, and aggressive, it sounds like a declaration of identity. There is no attempt to soften the edges or justify the behavior. This is defiance as a lifestyle, delivered with a grin and clenched teeth. Squealer” , open the second side of the vinyl with a darker and heavier vibe that leaves the listener with a raw, unsettling edge. One of the album’s most underrated moments is “Big Balls” , a song that perfectly captures Bon Scott ’s genius for double entendre. On the surface it’s a tongue-in-cheek tale of high-society gatherings. Underneath, it’s pure filth, delivered with theatrical flair and impeccable timing. It is humorous, ridiculous, and somehow still menacing. The Australian version of the album closes with “Jailbreak” , one of the most dramatic and cinematic songs of the Bon Scott era. Its prison-break narrative, rising tension, and explosive payoff make it a natural finale, ending the album with urgency, attitude, and a sense of outlaw freedom that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”. Original Australian cover It is important to note that international versions of the album differ significantly from the original Australian release. The international edition shortened several tracks and altered the running order, removing “R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)”  and “Jailbreak” , and adding “Love at First Feel”  and the punk-like “Rocker”  instead. Despite being released in 1976, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” did not appear in the United States until 1981, after “AC/DC” had already become global superstars. By then, the album felt like a missing chapter in the band’s story, revealing the roots of their attitude and the raw hunger that fueled their rise. Over time, it has become one of the band’s most beloved records, frequently cited as a definitive Bon Scott era release. Today, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”  stands as a crucial turning point in the “AC/DC” catalog. It is the sound of a band shedding uncertainty, embracing their identity, and committing fully to a philosophy of loud guitars, hard grooves, and zero compromise. It may not have the stadium polish of later albums, but its grit, humor, and danger remain timeless. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is a singer with supreme grace whose voice led not one, but two great classic rock bands - "Free" and "Bad Company". Members of "The Doors" wanted him as a Frontman after Jim Morrison 's died, he was a candidate to replace Ian Gillan after leaving "Deep Purple", he worked with Jimmy Page and even collaborated with members of "Queen". (Photo: Celebrity Net Worth) So here are 20 interesting facts about Paul Rodgers, and there's also a playlist ... 1. He was born in the North Yorkshire area of ​​England on December 17, 1949, as Paul Bernard Rodgers. 2. He began his musical career as a bass player in the band "The Roadrunners", which also included guitarist Micky Moody, who would later become a member of "Whitesnake". 3. The band changed its name to "The Wildflowers" and Rodgers was asked by singer Colin Bradley to take on the singing role as well, as he was interested in moving on and playing rhythm guitar, thus revealing his incredible singing ability. 4. In 1968, when he was only 18, he formed the band "Free" together with guitarist Paul Kossoff, bassist, Andy Fraser, and drummer Simon Kirke. 5. The band released in 1969 their debut album "Tons of Sobs" and later that year their second album which was simply called "Free". 6. The band's big break came with the third album " Fire and Water " which included the iconic hit "All Right Now", whose performance at the 1970 "Isle of Wight" festival gave the band world fame. 7. But the great success also brought with it problems and after the release of the fourth album "Highway" in 1970, friction began between Fraser and Rodgers, and the band temporarily disbanded in 1971. Even after the band was able to settle down and return to activity, it did not last long And it finally disbanded in 1973 after releasing two more albums "Free at Last" from 1972 and "Heartbreaker" from 1973. 8. As early as 1973, Rodgers formed the supergroup "Bad Company" together with drummer Simon Kirke his bandmate from "Free", guitarist Mick Ralphs who came from "Mott the Hoople" and bassist Boz Burrell who came from "King Crimson". The quartet was led by Peter Grant, manager of "Led Zeppelin". 9. The band's debut album - "Bad Company", was released in 1974 and became "Swan Song Records" first album. As well known this label was formed by members of "Led Zeppelin". The album received rave reviews and jumped straight to number one on the US Billboard 200. 10. Although the style of the album was a combination of hard rock and blues rock, this album is ranked 40th on the list of the 100 greatest metal albums of all time, by the esteemed Kerrang magazine! And of course in the list of "1001 albums, you need to hear before you die". 11. Just three months after the release of their debut album, "Bad Company" went on to record the album "Straight Shooter" which includes songs like "Good Lovin 'Gone Bad" and the immortal "Feel Like Makin' Love", a song that Paul Rodgers wrote back in 68 during his tour with "Free". 12. Rodgers released with the band four more successful albums before leaving it, the last being "Rough Diamonds" from 1982. 13. In 1983 Rodgers released his first solo album "Cut Loose". He wrote all the songs on the album and played all the instruments in it. 14. In 1985 he joined Jimmy Page and they formed the band "The Firm" which includes bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Chris Slade. The band released their debut album named "The Firm" that year, and later the album " Mean Business " in 1986. 15. In 1990 he formed the band "The Law" together with the drummer Kenney Jones who is known, among other things, for his work with "the Faces". The band's debut album from 1991 featured Chris Rea, Bryan Adams, and David Gilmour , among others. (Photo: https://kenneyjones.com) 16. In 1993, Rodgers released a tribute album to Muddy Waters, called "Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters". The album featured many good artists such as Brian May , Buddy Guy , David Gilmour , Jeff Beck , Neal Schon , Gary Moore , Richie Sambora , Slash , Steve Miller, Jason Bonham , and more. 17. Rodgers later focused on his solo career and released his third studio album "Now" in 1997 and his fourth album "Electric" in 2000. 18. In 2006, Rogers began collaborating with Brian May and Roger Taylor , members of the band "Queen". They went on tour together under the name Queen + Paul Rodgers, releasing two live albums and one studio album called The Cosmos "Rocks" in 2008. (Photo: Junko Kimura) 19. In 2014, Rodgers released an album of blues cover versions called "The Royal Sessions". 20. In 2023, Rodgers stated that during the last 7 years he suffered no less than 13 strokes, two of them substantial (one in 2016 and another in 2019) and the rest minor. The events caused his speech to be impaired. Rodgers underwent a long recovery procedure which allowed him to return to singing. 21. That same year Rodgers released his first solo album of new material in almost 25 years called "Midnight Rose". 22. Except hid mighty voice and him being a bass player, Rodgers also plays guitar, keyboards, accordion, and drums. 23. He appears in the 55th place in "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. And now for the playlist, we have prepared especially for you: C lick Here "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 17, 1971, David Bowie released his fourth studio album "Hunky Dory". Similar to the name of the opening track " Changes ", this album reflected the "changes" that David Bowie went through at the time. It began with the death of his father in August 1969, continued with a deterioration in the mental state of his half-brother, who exposed him to music and was diagnosed as a schizophrenic, the marriage to his wife Angie and her pregnancy with their eldest son Duncan. Beyond the changes in his personal life, Bowie replaced his manager, his record company, and bassist Tony Visconti with Trevor Bolder. These changes were also reflected in the themes the album deals with, in the musical style and the form of Bowie's writing. If the previous album "The Man Who Sold the World" was dark and gloomy and dealt with heavy issues like schizophrenia and paranoia, influenced by his brother's mental state, then this album is much lighter. It is a kind of tribute to the sixties and artists who inspired Bowie, like Bob Dylan , Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and is full of artistic, social, and cultural references, with words reminiscent of Friedrich Nietzsche, John Lennon , Aleister Crowley, Winston Churchill and more. If the previous album marked Bowie's transition from the acoustic sound of the previous two albums to a heavier and more electric sound, then in this album Bowie abandons folk origins and solid rock and concentrates on writing lighter and more accessible songs, even a little "popish". He also leaves the guitar and starts writing the songs on piano and this opens up new possibilities for him. The real magic of this album lies in the music and the melodies. On the one hand, they are surprising, and dynamic and include quite a few changes, and on the other hand, they are incredibly receptive and accessible. There is no doubt that one of the highlights of the album is Rick Wakeman's wonderful piano playing, which reaches the forefront of the arrangement of most of the songs on the album. This is the album where everything started to connect for Bowie, the album where his unique sound was formed, and the wonderful band that will accompany him in the years to come, especially during the "Ziggy Stardust" era. The album opens up with " Changes ", the song that summarizes the changes that took place in Bowie's life at the time, but in a sense also predicts the future of "The Man with a Thousand Faces", who over the following decades knew how to reinvent himself. The song is a clear antithesis to the previous album and the choice to place it at the beginning of the album is not coincidental. An entertaining mix of jazz, blues, pure pop, melodic, commercial, cheerful, and yet incredibly soft. Right after that comes " Oh! You Pretty Things " the first song Bowie wrote for the album. Also based on Wakeman's piano, it's much softer, but power up during the chorus. The words speak of dissatisfaction with humanity and technology in the Cold War environment. They refer to Aleister Crowley and Friedrich Nietzsche. The " Eight Line Poem " track was intended to sound like a sequel to the previous one. This is a short track of "Eight Lines" which this time too is led by Wakeman's surrealistic piano and Mick Ronson's blues guitar playin On this pastoral poem, Bowie almost recites the story about the room, the cat and the cactus ... From here we move on to the true masterpiece of the album " Life on Mars? " Bowie's moving vocals, recorded in one take, lead Wakeman's delicate piano to a sweeping chorus accompanied by strings, which add so much to the song's charm. They blend wonderfully with Ronson's guitar line which connects us to the next verse, where the sounds of the flute await us and undoubtedly adds depth to the song. The track addresses the media frenzy coverage of the Russian-American race to reach Mars. The melody of the song is a kind of parody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way". It includes the same sequence of chords in its opening part, when even the back cover of the album reads: "Inspired by Frankie". " Kooks " showcases the amazing abilities of bassist Trevor Bolder who also plays the trumpet. It also illustrates the band's versatility, combining melodic and groovy pop with a scent of "ballroom dance music". The song was written several days after the birth of Bowie's eldest son and is dedicated to him, with the "Kooks" being Bowie and his wife Angie. " Quicksand " sums up the fantastic first side with steady, dark folk, featuring acoustic guitars and Ronson string arrangements. A melancholy and sad melodic song that enjoys the power of strings. The lyrics were influenced by Bowie's first visit to the US and include references to Alistair Crowley, Winston Churchill, Heinrich Himmler, Friedrich Nietzsche and more. The only cover version of the album is the track " Fill Your Heart " which was written by Biff Rose and Paul Williams. A jazz-based bouncy piece, featuring a saxophone solo played by Bowie. The piece connects through a psychedelic bridge (a kind of tribute to the subject of the next song) to “Andy Warhol”. Contrary to the psychedelic introduction the song itself is based on a Spanish rhythm guitar playing, with Spanish percussion. This is a tribute song to American artist, producer and director Andy Warhol, who has been an inspiration to bowie since the mid-1960s. When Bowie met Warhol in September 1971 and played him the song, Warhol hated it and left the room. We continue with another tribute to another admired character of Bowie. " A Song for Bob Dylan " refers to Dylan as a separate mythological character from Robert Zimmerman, as if his legend grew beyond his name and eventually led to his famous fall at the Newport Folk Festival. There is no doubt that the song is a kind of mirror Bowie puts in front of him and reflects on everything that has changed, starting his name from David Jones to David Bowie , as well as the musical style. We're nearing the end with another tribute called " Queen Bitch " which is heavily influenced by The "Velvet Underground" and especially Lou Reed , when on the back cover of the album it even reads: "some V.U. White Light returned with thanks". Unlike the other songs on the album, this song is led by a rough guitar and it gives us a glimpse into the sound that will characterize Bowie on the next album " The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ", even the way "Rebel Rebel" from "Diamond Dogs" will sound, Since both songs are the anthems for strong women. The closing track " The Bewlay Brothers " begins as an acoustic, quiet section, but later intensifies and takes on a psychedelic tone with strange singing voices. "Hunky Dory" was not an instant "hit" with its release, but it was boosted in sales about a year later, following the major breakthrough and the commercial success of " The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ". Today it is already clear to everyone that this is a true "classic" in which Bowie's unique sound began to take shape. In 1988, readers of British music Q magazine ranked the album 43rd among the greatest albums of all time. In 2000 another magazine ranking was held and the album reached number 16 on the list of the 100 greatest British albums of all time. VH1 TV channel ranked the album that year at number 47, on the list of all-time great albums, and even "Time Magazine" included it on the 100 greatest albums of all time list. And if that's not enough, the album is on the "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die," list, and in 2020 Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album 88th on the renewed list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In case you did not understand, the album "Hunky Dory" is a must-have album for music lovers of all kinds. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about a drummer that some of you may not know, that had a huge impact on the world of drumming. We are talking about Carmine Appice. (Photo: Mark Horton) 1. He was born on December 15, 1946 in New York, USA. 2. He is the older brother of Vinny Appice who is known among others as the drummer of "Black Sabbath" and "Dio". 3. As a drummer Appice received training in classical music, and was greatly influenced by the playing of legendary jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. 4. Already at the beginning of his career, he rose to fame as the drummer of "Vanilla Fudge" which he founded together with bassist Tim Bogert . 5. Why did he rise to prominence you wonder? Because his drumming in "Vanilla Fudge" had a great influence on great drummers such as John Bonham who noted that he was inspired by Carmine in playing his "Triplet Bass-Drum". Other great drummers like Ian Paice , Roger Taylor and even Neil Peart mentioned him as a source of inspiration. 6. "Vanilla Fudge" was the connecting factor between psychedelia and metal and it greatly influenced bands such as "The Nice", "Deep Purple", "Yes", "Styx", "Led Zeppelin", and "Uriah Heep". 7. After 5 albums with "Vanilla Fudge" in a two-year period between 1967 and 1969, Carmine left the band along with bassist Tim Bogert and the two formed the band "Cactus" in 1970. 8. Together with "Cactus" Carmine released four albums in two years, among them the excellent debut album and the album "'Ot 'n' Sweaty" from 1972. 9. In 1972 he teamed up with the legendary guitarist Jeff Beck to form the power trio "Beck, Bogert & Appice", where he also played a role as a singer. 10. That same year he published an instructional book for drummers called "The Realistic Rock Drum Method". 11. In 1974 he played on the album "Tabernakel" - the solo album of guitarist Jan Akkerman , known from the band "Focus". 12. In 1976, Appice joined Rod Stewart 's band with whom he released 4 albums and co-wrote songs such as "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". 13. At the same time he was a member of the band "KGB", which released two albums in the same year. 14. In 1978 he participated in the recording of Paul Stanley 's solo album, which was released at the same time as the solo albums of his three friends of "Kiss". 15. On May 23, 1981, Tom Bradley, then mayor of Los Angeles, declared that day Carmine Appice Day in the city, in recognition of the drummer's charitable and educational work. 16. In 1982 he played on Ted Nugent's album called "Nugent". 17. At the end of 1983 Carmine Appice went on tour with Ozzy Osbourne in support of the album " Bark At The Moon ". 18. In 1985 he founded the American heavy metal band "King Kobra" and was a part of five albums that the band recorded. 19. In 1986 he was part of the " Hear 'n Aid " tribute project which included a collaboration of 40 hard rock and metal artists. 20. In 1987 he played drums on the song "Dogs of War" by "Pink Floyd", taken from the album " A Momentary Lapse of Reason ". 21. In 1989 he joined the supergroup "Blue Murder" together with guitarist John Sykes . He released two albums with the band (the second as a session musician). 22. In 1993 he was part of the supergroup "Mother's Army" and released two studio albums. 23. In 1995 he recorded the album "Caso Cerrado" together with the Argentinian guitarist Pappo, who was also joined by his bassist friend Tim Bogert on four songs. 24. In 1996 he played on two song on guitarist Marty Friedman 's "True Obsessions" album. 25. In 2005, he became an official supporter of "Little Kids Rock", a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in public schools. 26. In 2006, founded the drum ensemble "SLAMM" in which Appice participated alongside four young drummers. "SLAMM" was chosen as the runner-up in the "Drum" magazine survey for the percussion ensemble for the year 2008. The ensemble also appeared on the DVD of the "Modern Drummer" festival for the same year. 27. In 2011 he played on Michael Schenker 's "Temple of Rock" album. 28. In 2011-2012 Carmine came up with a series of shows called "Drum Wars", together with his brother Vinny Appice. 29. In 2016 Appice published his book "Stick It!: My Life of Sex, Drums & Rock'n' Roll". 30. In 2017 he released the album "Sinister" together with his brother Vinny Appice. 31. He has quite a few solo albums, some of them in the "Guitar Zeus" series. 32. In 2021 he released "Energy Overload" under the name "Appice Perdomo Project". In the album he collaborates with the multi-instrumentalist Fernando Perdomo. Give him a lot of respect!!! Carmine Appice influenced generations of drummers including: Nicko McBrain , Joey Kramer , Roger Taylor , Phil Collins , Neil Peart , Tommy Lee , Dave Lombardo , John Bonham , Ian Paice , Robb Reiner, Eric Singer and more. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

The man and the beard Billy Gibbons is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and even an actor. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy) Let's read some interesting facts about him: 1. He was born William Frederick Gibbons, in Houston Texas USA, on December 16, 1949. 2. His father was a pianist and orchestra conductor who worked at MGM Studios. 3. At the age of 5 his mother took him to an Elvis Presley show and already then he knew he wanted to be a musician. 4. At age 7 his father took advantage of his connections in the music business and took him to a recording studio here B.B. King was working on an album. 5. He got his first guitar when he was 13 years old. 6. As a teenager he was heavily influenced by the guitar playing Jimmy Reed. 7. During high school he was involved in a number of bands, including "The Saints", "Billy G & the Blueflames" and "The Coachmen". 8. At the age of 18 he formed his first serious band - "Moving Sidewalks", who played garage, psychedelic and blues rock. They released their debut album "Flash" in 1969. The band has also released a number of singles including "99th Floor". 9. One of the band's highlights was when it served as Jimi Hendrix 's warm-up band, during his first US tour. Since they did not have enough material to fill an entire show, they played the song "Foxy Lady" as part of the set. Jimi Hendrix liked their version and even taught him to play his songs. 10. In 1969 he formed "ZZ Top", together with bassist and keyboardist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard the band. 11. The band's first album was released in 1971 and since then the band has released 15 studio albums. 12. The trio of Gibbons, Beard and Hill of "ZZ Top", is the most stable trio in the history of music, when during its more than 50 years of existence it has never changed its lineup. 13. The image of the band includes Gibbons and Hill with long beards when the drummer Beard appears shaved. Band members usually show up with cowboy hats and sunglasses and play a Gibson "Flying V" guitars. 14. The band's albums "Tres Hombres" from 1973 and "Eliminator" from 1983 are included in the list of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. 15. What's more, the album "Eliminator" was ranked 39th on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Best Albums of the 80s, with sales earning it "Diamond" status, that is, over 10 million copies. 16. In 2005, Gibbons was featured on on the song "Willin 'For Satisfaction" of guitarist Vivian Campbell 's solo album "Two Sides Of If". He also participated in the writing and taught the musicians how to play as Campbell recounts here: 17. In 2003 Gibbons was a guest on the song "Hillbilly Stomp" by "Kid Rock". 18. That same year he was also featured in singing and background vocals on the song "Burn the Witch" from the album "Lullabies to Paralyze" by "Queens of the Stone Age". Gibbons also recorded a cover version of the song "Precious and Grace" by "ZZ Top" with the band, which was included as a bonus track on the album. He also plays guitar on another bonus track called "Like a Drug". 19. Gibbons was also invited to participate in the band's next album "Era Vulgaris" from 2007, but was unavailable due to previous commitments. 20. 2005 was a year full of activity for Gibbons, he was also featured on three songs from Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" album released that year. 21. In 2008 he sang background vocals on the song "Switch on the Light" from Sammy Hagar 's "Cosmic Universal Fashion" album. 22. In 2015 he released his first solo album "Perfectamundo" and three years later the album "The Big Bad Blues". In 2021 Gibbons released his third solo album "Hardware". 23. In 2018 he started collaborating with John Fogerty , they recorded the song "Holy Grail" and went on a joint tour. 24. Gibbons has played and dubbed several TV series including "Bones", where he plays the father of the imaginary character Angela Pearly Gates Montenegro, named after his famous 1959 Gibson "Les Paul" guitar "Pearly Gates", which he purchased from the sale of his pickup truck In the same name. 25. Gibbons is ranked 32nd on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Cliff Williams, best known as the bassist of "AC/DC": (Photo: Gary Miller) = He was born on December 14, 1949, in Romford, Essex, England, and raised in Liverpool. = He moved with his family to Hoylake, Merseyside, in 1961, where he was influenced by the local Merseybeat scene. = He started playing bass as a teenager, by listening to records and picking out notes. = At a young age he was influenced by bands like "The Shadows" and "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones", "The Who", "The Kinks", and Bo Diddley. = He formed a band at the age of 13 with friends. = In 1966, Williams moved to London where he worked at a demolition site and in supermarkets while playing in various short-lived bands. = He met guitarist Laurie Wisefield (later "Wishbone Ash") and the formed the short lived band "Sugar". = In 1970, Williams and Wisefield joined with singer Mick Stubbs, keyboardist Clive John, and drummer Mick Cook to form the progressive rock group "Home", which supported artists like Jeff Beck, "Mott the Hoople", "The Faces" and "Led Zeppelin". = "Home", issued their debut LP, "Pause for a Hoarse Horse", in 1971. = In 1972 "Home" released a self-titled album, featuring their only hit single, "Dreamer". = "Home" next album, "The Alchemist", followed in 1973. = In 1974 the band became the Al Stewart Band on his first American tour, but split up after the tour. = Williams briefly played with the American band "Stars" before forming "Bandit" in 1974. = The band recorded one self-titled album which was released in 1977. = "Bandit" also performed as Alexis Korner's backing band on 1977's The Lost Album before disbanding. = Williams auditioned for "AC/DC" in 1977, replacing bassist Mark Evans after the " Let There Be Rock " album. = His debut "AC/DC" album was " Powerage " released in 1978. = His first "AC/DC" tour was the 1978 "Powerage tour", establishing his role as a live performer. = Williams played on the iconic album " Highway To Hell " from 1979, which became a breakthrough for "AC/DC". = In 1980 he contributed to " Back In Black ", "AC/DC’s" best-selling album, following Bon Scott ’s death. = He became known for his tight, minimalist bass playing, perfectly complementing "AC/DC’s" sound. = In addition to his bass playing Williams sings backing vocals for the band. = In 1982, Williams was chosen as "Bassist of the Year" in a vote conducted by "Kerrang!" magazine. = Williams continued recording with "AC/DC" on albums like " For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) " from 1981 and " Flick Of The Switch " released 1983 " Fly On The Wall " from 1985, "Blow Up Your Video" from 1988, " The Razors Edge " from 1990, "Ballbreaker" released in 1995 and " Stiff Upper Lip " from 2000, maintaining the band’s signature sound. = He was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" with "AC/DC" in 2003. = Williams contributed to "AC/DC’s "album "Black Ice" released in 2008, but announced retirement after the completion of the "Rock or Bust" tour in 2016. = Williams returned to "AC/DC" in 2020 to record " Power Up ", marking a reunion of the classic lineup (minus Malcolm Young ) , rejoined the band for live performances following the release of the album. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 14.12.1979 As someone living in a country where the news moves at a frantic pace, from one negative report to the next, and then another, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of thinking “this is the end of the world as we know it”. And yet the country keeps going, and at the end of the day each person has to decide what kind of content they choose to expose themselves to, and what they are better off keeping their distance from. A powerful embodiment of this mindset appears in Joe Strummer from "The Clash", whose third album "London Calling" was released on December 14, 1979. Strummer, born in August 1952 in Ankara, Turkey, under the name John Graham Mellor, came from a wealthy upper-class family. His father served as a secretary to the British Foreign Secretary. Despite this background, he despised the wealthy and openly challenged them. That same Joe Strummer was obsessively addicted to news consumption. The result was the album’s title track "London Calling" , an apocalyptic song that deals in various ways with the end of the world, hunger, war, and the protest of ordinary people against the British establishment. Strummer developed his love for rock music through records by Little Richard, "The Beach Boys", and Woody Guthrie, which he listened to obsessively. In his early days he played the ukulele, and at the age of twenty one he became the lead singer of "The 101ers". A year later the band broke up, and Strummer moved to London, where he formed "The 101ers" with his flatmates, playing covers of American rhythm and blues and blues songs. At the end of May 1976, shortly after a performance by "The 101ers", Strummer was approached by musician Mick Jones and manager Bernie Rhodes, who were searching for a new singer following the breakup of "London SS", Jones’s former band. A month earlier, bassist Paul Simonon had already joined the emerging group. Simonon grew up in Brixton, a deprived neighborhood shaped by waves of new immigrants. Rhodes gave Strummer 48 hours to decide whether he wanted to join a band intended to compete with "The Sex Pistols". That was all the time Strummer needed to say he was in. Drummer Terry Chimes became the band’s regular drummer, at least in the early stages. The name "The Clash" was suggested by Paul Simonon, inspired by newspaper headlines in which the word clash appeared again and again in connection with riots driven by economic hardship and unemployment in Britain at the time. Strummer and Jones shared the responsibilities of writing and composing most of the band’s songs. After their debut studio album, "The Clash" replaced drummer Terry Chimes with Nicholas "Topper" Headon, who remained part of the band until its eventual breakup. Following their second album "Give 'Em Enough Rope", released in 1978, the members realized they wanted to be more than just a punk band. During their United States tour in 1979, they chose opening acts from the rhythm and blues world, including Bo Diddley, Sam and Dave, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and the punk rockabilly band "The Cramps". This shift away from strict punk and toward broader musical directions led "The Clash" to split from their manager Bernard Rhodes, and forced them to leave their rehearsal space in Camden Town and relocate to a studio known as "Vanilla Studios". In May 1979, the members of "The Clash" arrived at "Vanilla Studios" with no new original material. Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, the band’s primary songwriters, were suffering from a severe creative block. For nearly a year they had been unable to write new songs. Out of this drought, the band imposed a strict routine on themselves. They gathered at the studio every afternoon for rehearsals, took breaks to play football in order to release tension, fueled themselves with a few pints of beer, and then returned to the studio to continue recording late into the night. This approach proved effective. The discipline and high-intensity playing helped the band solidify as a unit and regain the confidence they so desperately needed. From that point on, everything began to flow more easily. The recording sessions lasted only about six weeks, with most songs captured in one or two takes at most. The result was the first double post-punk album, a bold and diverse statement that blended punk, reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans rhythm and blues, pop, lounge, jazz, and hard rock. “We were full of bullshit, and now we’re going back to the drawing board,” Joe Strummer told NME. “We were screwed, but not screwed enough to stop.” The album’s songs are largely rooted in London, built around narratives that combine fictional characters with real life inspiration. Figures such as the underground criminal "Jimmy Jazz" , and "The Guns of Brixton" , which captures the growing sense of frustration in the neighborhood over heavy police presence, economic recession, and social tension, reflect the atmosphere of the time. Across the album, these urban narratives explore themes of sex, depression, and identity crisis. Some tracks extend beyond the city itself, touching on broader political and historical contexts, including references to “evil presidents”, the lingering impact of the Spanish Civil War in "Spanish Bombs" , and the way constant consumerism led to political apathy in "Lost in the Supermarket" . The album cover captures bassist Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar on the stage of the Palladium in New York during a performance in September 1979. The pink and green lettering of the album title serves as a direct homage to the cover of Elvis Presley’s debut album. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 14, 1992, "Nirvana" released "Incesticide" - a collection album of rare pieces, consisting of B-sides, demos, unreleased tracks and cover versions that the band recorded in different periods from 1988 to 1991. In 1991 "Nirvana" was one of the biggest bands in the world of music. Their " Nevermind " album brought them worldwide fame and the fans is was thirsty for new material. The "DGC" record company with which the band was signed, realized that "Nirvana" would not be able to enter the studio in the near future, for the purpose of recording new material, since it was in the middle of an intensive concert tour. So, in order keep the band in the audience mind, they looked for another way to release a collection album. The opportunity came at the beginning of 1992, when "Sub Pop" label approached Nirvana's record company - "DGC Records" and informed them that they were in possession of a number of the band's recordings that had not yet been released yet. Originally, "Nirvana" intended to publish the songs through "Sub Pop" as a mini-album called "Cash Cow", however "Sub Pop" realized that if they sold the rights to "DGC" they would be able to make more money from it, also due to the distribution network industry and the economic back of the "Geffen" company. These recordings that "Sub Pop" sold to "DGC" led to the decision to release a compilation album that would give the fans a taste of "Nirvana's" roots. The band members "flowed" with the idea, especially Kurt Cobain whose record company agreed to his condition that he would design the album cover. The album also allowed them to fight all those "bootlegs" with low audio quality in which some of the album's songs were included, since now they were given the opportunity to release all those songs in reasonable audio quality. "Incesticide" includes 15 tracks recorded during 3 years, in which the band performed 7 different recording sessions, with five different producers. Not only that, but due to the fact that the "Nirvana's" line-up was not stable in its early years, the recordings of these 15 songs were performed by 4 different drummers: Dale Crover, Chad Channing, Dan Peters ("Mudhoney") and of course Dave Grohl l. In this compilation album you can find 3 songs that have never been released: " Hairspray Queen ", " Aero Zeppelin ", " Big Long ". Five other songs are alternative versions of familiar songs recorded for the BBC: " Been a Son ", " Turnaround " ("Devo"), " Molly's Lips ", " Son of a Gun " (both originally by "The Vaselines") and " (New Wave) Polly ". The rest of the songs came out on mini-albums, collections or as b-sides. "Incesticide" has, without a doubt, achieved the purpose for which it was born. It gave the band's fans an idea of the origins of one of the biggest bands in the world at the time and the musical roots that Krist Novoselic , Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain grew up on. Starting with Sludge Metal, through Punk-Rock, Garage-rRock and Indie, this album gives the listener a snapshot tracing the band's musical development and especially its growing pains before becoming a Grunge monster. For listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Although he did not like the title, he is with no doubt "The Godfather of death metal"! here are some interesting facts about Chuck Schuldiner: (Photo: Catherine McGann) 1. Chuck Schuldiner was born Charles Schuldine on May 13, 1967, in Long Island, New York. 2. His father Mal Schuldiner was the son of Austrian Jewish immigrants. His mother Jane Schuldiner was from the American South and had converted to Judaism. 3. When he was 1 year old his family moved to Florida. 4. Schuldiner started playing guitar at the age of 9. 5. He was originally inspired by "Black Sabbath", "Judas Priest", "Iron Maiden", "Kiss" Billy Idol and classical jazz. 6. Later he was influenced by "Slayer", "Celtic Frost", "Possessed", "Mercyful Fate", King Diamond and "Metallica". 7. He also cited French band "Sortilège" and Prog-Metal bands such as "Watchtower", "Coroner" and "Queensrÿche" as an influence. 8. In the early 1980s, when he was just 16, Chuck formed his first band, called "Mantas", which later became "Death". 9. In January 1986, he moved to Toronto for a short time and joined "Slaughter". 10. Schuldiner soon came back to Florida and reformed "Death", which released it's debut album - "Scream Bloody Gore," in 1987. It is considered one of the first Death Metal albums. (Photo: Catherine McGann) 11. Chuck was known for his innovative guitar playing and songwriting, which blended technical and progressive elements with brutal death metal. He was also a skilled vocalist, often switching between growled and clean singing. 12. "Death" continued to release highly influential albums, such as "Leprosy" (1988) and "Spiritual Healing (1990), which was the first "Death's" album to show Schuldiner's lyrics moving away from the gore and horror themes to themes of society and real life horror, serial killers, drug addiction, genetic reconstruction and faith healers. 13. After "Spiritual Healing", Schuldiner stopped working with full-time band members, preferring to work with sessions musicians. This earned him the "perfectionist" reputation in the metal community. 14. in 1991 "Death" released its breakthrough album "Human" which saw Schuldiner evolving to a more technical and progressive style, displaying his guitar skills more than ever. 15. This progression continued in the next albums "Individual Thought Patterns" (1993) and "Symbolic" (1995) which was another breakthrough since Chuck managed to sign a record contract with "Roadrunner" releasing the latter album. 16. In 1993 Chuck formed "Voodoocult" - a Supergroup side project including Dave Lombardo of "Slayer" and Mille Petrozza of "Kreator". The band released one album, "Jesus Killing Machine," in 1994. 17. In 1996 Schuldiner signed a contract with "Nuclear Blast" to produce two albums as a side project, named "Control Denied". 18. "Control Denied" was based on the band members of "Death", but the band went more towards Progressive materials after Schulinder wanted to create more melodic music as well. To achieve this Schuldiner added Tim Aymar to sing more softly. 19. But then, Chuck decided to shift back to "Death" and worked on their seventh and last album "The Sound of Perseverance" (1998), where Some of the songs on the album where intended for "Control Denied". 20. "The Sound of Perseverance" becomes one of "Death's" greatest albums and one of the greatest Metal albums of all time. Schuldiner took all he did in the previous albums one step further, in a more melodic more progressive, but still very powerful direction. 21. After "The Sound of Perseverance" Chuck returned to "Control Denied" and released its only album "The Fragile Art of Existence" in 1999. (Photo: Spotify) 22. Schuldiner started working on a second "Control Denied" album, but then in 1999 a cancerous tumor was diagnosed in Shuldiner's brain. 23. Concerts and fundraising evenings were organized to help Shuldiner pay for medical treatment expenses, since he did not have medical insurance. He continued to work on music while undergoing treatment. 24. Schuldiner was even asked to be one of the guest vocalists on Dave Grohl 's 2001 "Probot" project. Grohl, "Napalm Death", Ozzy Osbourne , and "Anthrax" were making efforts to raise funds for Schuldiner's medical bills, while Grohl trying to involve Schuldiner on an album. 25. Kid Rock, "Korn", "Red Hot Chili Peppers" and more, got together during the summer of 2001 to auction off personal items with the funds assisting Schuldiner's medical expenses. 26. Matt Heafy of "Trivium" also stated that the band had played a benefit show for Schuldiner while he was in the hospital. 27. Chuck passed away on December 13, 2001, at the age of 34, due to complications from pneumonia, leaving behind a big void. 28. Chuck's dedication to his craft and his perseverance in the face of illness have also inspired many fans and fellow musicians. 29. In 2019, a Chuck Schuldiner documentary titled "Death by Metal" was released, which chronicles his life and career. 30. Chuck's influence on the metal genre is still felt today, and he has been cited as an inspiration by many bands and musicians. 31. Since then Schuldiner's mother has been involved in perpetuating his memory and legacy to the metal world. 32. After Schuldiner's death a legal battle began on the rights to the material completed for the second "Control Denied" album, "When Man and Machine Collide". Demos of these unreleased "Control Denied" songs, as well as early "Death" demos and live recordings, were released in the "Zero Tolerance" two-part compilation bootlegs. 33. In 2002 "Kerrang!" magazine stated that "Chuck Schuldiner was one of the most significant figures in the history of metal". 34. In 2004 Chuck was ranked No.20 in "Guitar World's" "Greatest Metal Guitarists" list. 35. In 2009 Schuldiner was ranked No. 10 in Joel Mclver's book "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

She possesses an extraordinary vocal talent and established her musical group using her own efforts. There's an irresistible quality to the unique blend of her singing and musical compositions. Amy Lee came into the world on December 13, 1981. (Photo: Amy Lee) = California is her birthplace, and she presently has two sisters, Carrie and Lori. Tragically, she lost a younger sister to an unknown illness at the age of 3, and her brother Robby succumbed to severe epilepsy in 2018. = Her life journey took her to various locations across the United States. She completed her education at a private high school and initially pursued music studies at a university in Tennessee. However, she eventually stepped back from academics to concentrate on her emerging band. = In 1995, she co-founded the pivotal band of her career, "Evanescence," alongside guitarist and musician Ben Moody. Their paths crossed at a summer camp a year prior to the band's formation. (Photo: last.fm.com) = For those curious, the band's name, "Evanescence," holds the meaning of "disappearance" or "faded." = The duo embarked on their musical journey by performing and releasing three EPs: "Evanescence EP," "Sound Asleep EP," and "Mystery EP." Their initial complete demo album, "Origin," saw the light of day in 2000. = Following the attention drawn by their song "My Immortal," representatives from the record company "Wind Up" decided to sign the band. Amy and Ben secured an apartment in Los Angeles, equipped with a rehearsal space, a gym membership, acting lessons, and sound development facilities. = About two years into the process, the record company enlisted producer Dave Fortman for the debut album. However, prior to this, Amy was pressured to include a full-time "male" singer, a proposal she strongly opposed. Eventually, she reluctantly agreed to share vocals on the first single, "Bring Me to Life." = The band's inaugural album, "Fallen," made its debut in 2003. Alongside Amy and Ben were their longstanding musical companions from the outset: John LeCompt, Rocky Gray, and Will Boyd. This album marked a significant breakthrough for the band, achieving international acclaim by maintaining a presence on the Billboard charts for 48 weeks and earning them two Grammy Awards. = Following extensive touring to support the album, Ben opted to part ways with the band. The decision stemmed from a divergence in musical vision between him and Amy. While Amy leaned towards a more creative and experimental direction, Ben's inclination was more towards a poppy and commercial sound. = In 2004, Amy engaged in one of her initial notable collaborations with Shaun Morgan, the lead vocalist of "Seether," recording the song "Broken." = The composition of the song "Call Me When You're Sober" emerged from Amy's personal experience, reflecting on her breakup with Shaun due to his struggles with drug addiction. = Following various lineup changes, the band unveiled their second album, "The Open Door," in 2006. Notably, the album claimed the top spot on the "Billboard 200" chart, sustaining the momentum of their debut success. = Accompanying the album's release was a global tour, featuring appearances at major festivals such as the renowned "Family Values Tour" alongside "Korn." The tour concluded on June 26, 2007, in Raanana, Israel. = Concurrently, in the same year, Amy assumed the role of American chairwoman for the international organization "Out of the Shadows," focusing on epilepsy education. = Amy delivered another remarkable performance in 2007, collaborating with the band "Korn" on "MTV Unplugged." During the show, they performed the song "Freak on a Leash" together. = After further changes within the band and numerous delays in recording and production, the third eponymous album was released in October 2011. This album achieved significant success, clinching the top spot on the "Billboard 200" chart and dominating charts in 20 additional countries. (Photo: Paul Brown) = In 2014, Amy filed a lawsuit against The Wind Up, alleging non-payment of $1.5 million in royalties. = 2016 saw Amy's release of a cover versions EP, featuring four songs spanning tracks by "U2," "Led Zeppelin," "Portishead," and Chris Isaac. = During the same year, Amy also ventured into children's music with the album "Dream Too Much." Comprising 12 songs, including three covers, the album initially intended to feature 4-3 songs inspired by Amy's experiences as a mother. However, "Amazon" embraced the concept and encouraged her to create a full album. = After a three-year hiatus in 2017, the band returned with their fourth album, "Synthesis." This unique release incorporated orchestral renditions of songs from previous albums, along with two new compositions. Amy aimed to strip down and reimagine her songs, adorning them with strings, piano, and various other instruments. = The band's fifth album, "The Bitter Truth," made its debut in March 2021. Three singles have been released to date: "Wasted on You," "The Game Is Over," and "Use My Voice." = Amy has contributed to the soundtracks of various films, crafting the album "Aftermath" specifically for the movie "War Story" in 2014. Additionally, she worked on the soundtrack for "Indigo Gray: The Passage" in 2015, "I Am Her" in 2016, and "Blind" in 2017. = In 2020, a notable collaboration emerged when Amy joined forces with Lzzy Hale for the "EP Reimagined" by the band "Halestorm." Their joint effort produced the song "Break In," adding another beautiful piece to their creative repertoire. = Another noteworthy collaboration that garnered acclaim this year was with BMTH on the song "One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death." = In December 2022, the debut album "Fallen" achieved the prestigious "diamond" title. Bestowed by the RIAA, this accolade is reserved for albums surpassing 10 million units in sales in the USA. Such recognition is a rare distinction, particularly in today's music landscape dominated by streaming platforms, underscoring the remarkable achievement in an era where physical album purchases are less prevalent. In September 2025, Amy teamed up with two remarkable vocalists and musicians, Poppy and Courtney LaPlante, the lead singer of the band "Spiritbox". The trio of talented women released the song “End Of You”, produced by Jordan Fish. Courtney's partner, the guitarist from "Spiritbox", also contributed to writing the track alongside the three. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 12, 1970, "The Doors" made its final show with Jim Morrison . (Photo: vueltaygiro.tumblr.com) The show took place at a time when the band was recording their latest studio album with Morrison - "L.A. Woman." In parallel with the recordings, the band held warm-up shows in which they introduced the audience to some of the new songs from the upcoming album. As is well known, the band largely lost its popularity following the infamous 1969 performance in Miami, where Morrison insulted the audience and undressed in public, until his arrest on stage. With the release of the critically acclaimed "Morrison Hotel" album in the early 1970's, the band's popularity seemed to be on the rise again. However, five days after Jim Morrison 's 27th birthday, the band shows up at "The Warehouse," the most important showroom in New Orleans and the entire southern United States, unaware that this is going to be their last show in the four-part classic lineup. (Photo: The Doors In Pictures on Facebook) At the end of that evening, Jim Morrison seemed completely off. Towards the end of the show, which featured several new songs including "Riders On The Storm", the legendary singer sat down on stage and slammed the microphone on the floor to the sound of huge feedback, until the wooden floor began to crackle. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek later said he could actually see Morrison's energy leaving his body. After that, the band returned to finish recording the album "L.A. Woman" and Morrison left the US to live in Paris where he also died at the age of 27. The setlist played in the last show : 1 – Roadhouse Blues 2 – Back Door Man 3 – Love Her Madly 4 – When the Music’s Over 5 – Riders on the Storm (Aborted) 6 – Ship of Fools 7 – Crawling King Snake 8 -L.A. Woman 9 – Hyacinth House 10 – Maggie M’Gill 11 – Been Down So Long / “Maggie M’Gill” continued 12 – I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man 13 – Who Do You Love? 14 – There’s a Palace in the Canyon 15 – Light My Fire 16 – Summertime / Instrumental/”Light My Fire” continued) 17 – Love Me Two Times 18 – Riders on the Storm 19 -Soul Kitchen 20 – The End Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast