In the history of the modern age, there were quite a few examples of building and tearing down walls, and we do not mean that only in the literal sense. Today we would like to tell you about one "wall", which was established on November 30, 1979, and still stand strong, despite the internal controversies that accompanied its creation process and despite some of the criticism it has received over the years. If you still do not understand, then Pink Floyd's masterful album "The Wall" is celebrating its birthday today and we want to tell you 42 interesting facts about it: . On July 1978 Roger Waters offered the band two ideas for the band's next album: the concept of "The Wall" and the concept of "The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking". The band chose "The Wall". Eventually, the concept of "The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking" was used for Waters' first solo album, released in 1984. 2. Waters got the idea for "The Wall" during a performance held as part of the "In The Flesh" tour, to promote the "Animals" album. Amid the show held in Montreal in 1977, Waters spat in the face of a rioting fan. Shocked by his reaction, Waters spoke later that evening with producer Bob Ezrin about the idea of ​​isolating himself from the audience using a wall to be placed along the stage. This idea was later implemented, both as part of the concept of the album and during the performances that accompanied it, when a huge wall was built between the band and the audience. 3. The main character in the story - Pink, is based on Syd Barrett and on the story of Waters, an orphan child whose father was killed in World War II. 4. Waters wrote all the songs on the album, lyrics, and melody, except for four: " Comfortably Numb ," " Run Like Hell ," and " Young Lust ," co-written with David Gilmour , and " The Trial ", co-written with producer Bob Ezrin. 5. Although the band's albums over the years, including " The Dark Side Of The Moon " and " Wish You Were Here " were hugely successful, the only "Pink Floyd" song to reach the top of the Billboard charts was " Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 ". 6. During the recording of the album, keyboardist Richard Wright went through a difficult period. He went through divorce proceedings from his wife Juliette and suffered from a heavy cocaine addiction, which prevented him from concentrating on the album. This eventually led to Roger Waters firing him, even before the album was released. 7. As a result, Wright became the only member of "Pink Floyd" to receive employee status in the band. It paid off for him later on. He became the only gainer among the band members from the grandiose tour that accompanied the album, as he received a steady salary that did not depend on the losses of that ambitious tour. 8. The title of the album's opening song, " In the Flesh? ", Was taken from the name of the " Animals " tour. The song goes down to the concept root of the album, which was created following the same incident in which Waters spat on a fan. Waters said he tried to write a parody of stadium-rock songs as an opening song to the album, something that would sound noisy and silly. 9. The song that plays at the opening of " In The Flesh? " Is "The Little Boy that Santa Forgot," by singer Vera Lynn. The song is about a child without a father. The song " Vera " from the album was also influenced by the same Vera Lynn and her song "We'll meet again", where the words "We'll meet again, Some Sunny Day" appear. 10. The children's choir that accompanies the song " Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 ", consists of 23 children aged 15-13 from a school in "Islington" in London. The school was chosen because of its proximity to the studio where the album was recorded. 11. The children's voices have undergone 12 doublings, so they will sound like they include many more children. 12. The idea for the choir was brought by Bob Ezrin. He used a similar chorus as part of the song "School's Out" which he produced for Alice Cooper . 13. Bob Ezrin is also responsible for the "disco" beat in this song. He got the idea after listening to a disco song by Nile Rodgers, known among others from the band "Chic". 14. The children's choir did not receive any payment. In 2004 the children's parents filed a lawsuit against "Pink Floyd" demanding payment of benefits, claiming that the recording was made without their knowledge, but despite this, the lawsuit yielded only small sums. 15. The nu-metal band "Korn" recorded a cover version of the three parts of the song " Another Brick in the Wall ". The song was released on their "Greatest Hits Volume 1" album. 16. Another interesting cover version of the song is off the one-off supergroup "Class of '99", which included Layne Staley from "Alice in Chains", Tom Morello from "Rage Against the Machine", Stephen Perkins from "Jane's Addiction" and Martyn LeNoble from" Prono For Pyros". The song was released as part of the soundtrack to the movie "The Faculty" in 1998. This is one of the last recordings of singer Layne Staley who died in 2002. 17. The drummer in the song " Mother " is Jeff Porcaro who was a session player, known from the band "Toto". According to Waters, Nick Mason was unable to perform the drum roles in the song, because it included several rhythmic changes and an unusual time signature of 5/4, which Waters said did not fit the mind of Mason, who works a little differently. 18. The kid who says the phrase "Look mummy, there's an airplane up in the sky" in the song " Goodbye Blue Sky " is Harry, the son of Roger Waters, who was two years old at the time. Here, we were able to write a fact about this song without mentioning the legendary animator Gerald Scarfe, who is responsible for the amazing animation that accompanied, among other things, the band's performances and is also included in the film "The Wall". So if we did not write, let us at least watch his phenomenal work: 19. The song " One of My Turns " was influenced by an incident in which singer and songwriter Roy Harper vandalized his caravan at the "Knebworth Festival" in 1975. Remember, Harper is a friend of "Pink Floyd" members and the one who sang "Have A Cigar" from " Wish You Were Here ". 20. The song " Hey You " was written by Waters inspired by the ending of his first marriage. The song was not included in the film because Waters thought his lyrics did not fit the chronology of the plot. The one who plays bass in this song is David Gilmour . 21. The melody of the guitar and bass after the words "Open Your heart, I'm coming home" is the same as the melody in the song" Another Brick In The Wall, Part 1 ". 22. The sound effects of seagulls that are heard during the song " Is There Anybody Out There " are the same sounds that are heard in "Echoes" from the album " Meddle ". 23. Waters noted that the song " Nobody Home " was written about all sorts of people he knew. 24. The line "I've got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains" refers to Richard Wright and his condition during the recording of the album. 25. The line "Wild, Staring Eyes" refers to Syd Barrett , of course. 26. The lyrics to the song " Comfortably Numb " were written by Waters and were inspired by a shot of pain he received from a doctor before a show that took place on June 29, 1977, in Philadelphia as part of the "In the Flesh" tour. The shot caused anesthesia in his hands and he found it difficult to concentrate on playing, just as described in the song, including the words: "That'll keep you going through the show" and "My hands felt just like two balloons". 27. Gilmour composed the song during his work on his first solo album, from 1978. Waters heard the melody and wrote the lyrics to Gilmour's melody. It was the last song that Waters and Gilmour wrote together. 28. The bass line in the song's film version is different from that of the album version. 29. This was Gilmour's favorite piece during the tour designed to promote the album. By the time the song was played the wall was already built along the stage, when at the moment of Gilmour's mighty solo, a hydraulic lever lifted Gilmour above it. 30. Waters wanted the song " The Show Must Go On " to sound like "The Beach Boys," so he enlisted Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston to perform background vocals in it. Johnston also performs background vocals on the song " Waiting for the Worms ". 31. Similar to the song " Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 ", also in the song "Run Like Hell" Bob Ezrin persuaded the band to perform the song with a disco beat. The original version of the song is longer, but the band had to cut it short in the mix so the album will not exceed the appropriate times for a full vinyl record. The full recording still exists in the masters. 32. The chord passage of the song " The Trial " is the same as that of the song " Run Like Hell " which includes the chords Em, F, Em, C, B. 33. Roger Waters played the clarinet in the song " Outside the Wall " during the performances that accompanied the album. 34. The song " When the Tigers Broke Free ", which was not included on the album, was written by Waters during the sessions for the album and tells of the death of his father Eric Fletcher Waters. 35. The title of the song during the recordings was "Anzio, 1944", the place and time Waters' father died during World War II. 36. The other three band members rejected the idea of ​​putting the song on the album, claiming it was too personal, but eventually the song found its way into the film. 37. At the same time, the song was released as a single on July 26, 1982. The cover read "Taken from the album " The Final Cut ", which indicates an initial intention to include it on the album " The Final Cut ". This, as is well known, was not carried out, but was corrected in the remastered version. 38. The song " What Shall We Do Now? " Written and recorded during the sessions for the album but eventually stayed out in favor of the song " Alice Cooper ". 39. Lyrics of the song " What Shall We Do Now? " Appear in the album because the decision to give it up was made only in the final stages of editing. 40. Those who sang some of the songs on the tour that accompanied the album, were an alternate band, called "The Surrogate Band". The alternate band, which included guitarist Snowy White among others, played on stage, sometimes alongside members of "Pink Floyd" and sometimes alone, while wearing masks. The idea was to present Waters' opinion that the audience does not really care who is on stage as long as they "deliver the goods." 41. Beyond the fact that the album is on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 greatest albums of all time list and the "1001 albums you should hear before you die", this album also ranks third on the list of all-time best-selling albums in the United States. 42. The Israeli band " Echoes - Pink Floyd Tribute Show " performs the entire album in their performances, from beginning to end, accompanied by video art and a scenery that matches the original show. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

כתב: Moti Kupfer תאריך הוצאה - UK 29.11.80 / US 19.11.25 Let's begin with a quote: "Fab Five Freddie told me everybody's fly, DJ's spinnin' are savin' my mind, Flash is fast Flash is cool, Francois sais pas, flashé no do" The early eighties positioned "Blondie" as one of the hottest groups around. This came after two albums, "Parallel Lines" and "Eat To the Beat", which produced hits and earned countless praises. Yet the great success only heightened the excitement and the stakes. The band decided on an even more radical change with the release of their fifth album, "Autoamerican", which came out on November 26, 1980. It was an album that blended elements of jazz, blues, disco, rap, and avant-garde, and still achieved significant commercial success, reaching platinum status on both sides of the Atlantic. At the same time, it somewhat confused critics. Debbie Harry , the all time revolutionary, aimed high without hesitation. She became the first woman to perform rap vocals and embedded them in a pop song that also mixed disco and funk elements. It could be said that "Rapture"  encapsulates the album’s entire eclectic spirit in five minutes. Similar to the ambitious "Sandinista!" by "The Clash", "Autoamerican" was criticized for daring to embrace such a diverse sound. A critique that was, in truth, surprising only to those unfamiliar with the DNA of "Blondie" from day one. "Blondie was probably the most modern band I’ve ever worked with in that they soaked up influences from innumerable sources," said Craig Leon, producer of "No Exit", in a 2019 interview with "Record Collector "magazine. Leon praised the band for their endless curiosity. "As songs like 'Heart Of Glass'  show, "they were like human samplers when it came to incorporating ideas and concepts and genres, often in just one song. They are probably the most eclectic band I’ve ever worked with." "Eclectic" remained the key word when it came to "Autoamerican". The recordings marked a rare event, as it was the first time "Blondie" left New York, their hometown, to record an album. The sessions were held at "United Western Recorders" in Hollywood, where "The Beach Boys" recorded segments of "Good Vibrations". During their time in California, Debbie Harry was joined again by "Parallel Lines" producer Mike Chapman and studio engineer Lenise Bent. Bent recalls that the band and the producer were extremely meticulous in their preparation. "They'd done a lot of pre-production," she said in a 1999 interview. "Everybody was pretty prepared by the time they got into the studio. Magical things did happen, there was room for those spontaneous things, but the preparation helped because you didn’t have to think about the basics." "Blondie" brought a wealth of new songs into the sessions, including "T-Birds" , the cinematic "Angels On The Balcony" , and the aggressive "Walk Like Me" , with its heavy drums. In addition, Burke notes that Blondie brought in a lot of outside musicians for the album. Tom Scott, who played soprano saxophone on the "Wings" track "Listen to What the Man Said" , added a jazzy groove to the rough disco-funk track "Rapture" , a song inspired by New York’s emerging rap scene. The cover version of the rocksteady single by "The Paragons", "The Tide Is High" , also reached number one on the charts. Bent recalls that impressive session musicians appeared on this track. "The horn section was like the A team of L.A." "If I remember right, there were six of them and we doubled it. On strings, I think there were at least two violins, two violas and possibly a cello. The percussion was pretty much the last thing we did, because that was more like sweetening-fine-tuning and making it something uncommon or a little more interesting." With its "European" (" Europa ") opening track and the detached vocals that follow, "Autoamerican" feels like a New Wave soundtrack to a film no one has seen yet. By contrast, the band fearlessly tackled everything from the jazzy cabaret of " Here’s Looking At You ", to the shimmering disco funk of " Live It Up ", and the smooth noir styled blues of " Faces ", the latter featuring smoky, majestic vocals from Debbie Harry . The band released two singles from this album, " The Tide Is High ", which offered a refreshing remake of a rocksteady song originally belonging to the Jamaican ska group "The Paragons", and " Rapture ", the revolutionary single. Both reached number one in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. " Rapture " became the first rap song in history to reach number one on the American singles chart. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein supported rap and were involved in the community, often attending street parties. They even took Nile Rodgers of "Chic" to one of those parties, where he first realized that his song "Good Times" was the favorite choice of many DJs. "Blondie" brought rap to a much wider audience with this song. Debbie Harry says that many rappers, including members of Mobb Deep and Wu Tang Clan, told her it was the first rap song they had ever heard, since the genre was not welcome on radio at the time, and it also became the first rap song to reach the top of the American chart. The album opens with "Europa" , a modernist and reflective instrumental piece that flows into a free spoken word section by Harry, praising the virtues of automobiles. In general, it seems the album was influenced by the long drives to the studio and the shift in atmosphere from New York to the Hollywood tribal fire, a transition that did not sit easily with all band members. Another song that blends the difficulties of a romantic relationship with driving on the road is "Go Through It" . Another interesting track is "T Birds" , clearly influenced by "Third Stone From The Sun" by Jimi Hendrix , although musically it functions as a bright and ecstatic pop song, worlds apart from Hendrix. Lyrically, the song is surprising, since based on the album title one might think it refers to a car or perhaps a street gang, yet in reality it deals with a Native American totem. In the middle of the track there is a rapid spoken word section by Debbie Harry , and the tribal percussion throughout serves as an additional nod to the spiritual meaning of the bird that carries the title on its back. Despite the successful singles, the record label initially hesitated about the album’s chances of selling well. Burke recalls, "When the album was delivered to the record company, they didn’t know what to make of it. They said there were no hits. And of course “The Tide Is High” and “ Rapture ” are on that record. " In a 2020 interview marking the album’s fortieth anniversary, Stein revealed that the intended title had been "Coca Cola", because it sounded "very American", but the "Coca Cola" company unsurprisingly rejected the idea. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On November 28, 1974 “Yes” released their seventh studio album “Relayer”. The year 1974 found “Yes” in a moment of profound transformation. After the vast and challenging “Tales from Topographic Oceans”, “Yes” were under pressure both internally and externally. Rick Wakeman’s departure left a creative gap, and the band faced the question of what direction to take next. Yet the musical paths they carved on albums like “The Yes Album”  and “Fragile”  proved they were capable of rebuilding themselves through reinvention. Into this moment stepped the Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz, whose jazz-fusion instincts sparked a radical shift in the band’s sound. Recording took place in the home of Chris Squire , where his living room was transformed into a workshop of ideas. The new chemistry was immediate. Steve Howe  embraced more angular, adventurous guitar lines, using a 1955 Fender Telecaster instead of his regular Gibson guitars. Moraz brought an urgent melodic energy, and Squire’s thunderous bass merged with the inventive drumming of Alan White  to push the music into bolder territory. The centerpiece of the album is the twenty two minute epic “The Gates of Delirium” , a sweeping narrative inspired by themes of war, chaos and spiritual release. The opening movements glide between tension and anticipation before the music erupts into one of the most intense battlefield sequences ever captured in progressive rock. Metallic accents, frantic rhythms and swirling instrumental interplay create a sense of turbulence and emotional upheaval. When the storm finally subsides, the music dissolves into the beautiful closing section “Soon” , where Jon Anderson’s voice floats gently above warm, hopeful textures. It remains one of the most moving passages in the band’s entire catalogue. The second track, “Sound Chaser” , is a blazing fusion-driven piece that showcases the new lineup’s virtuosity. Moraz fires off rapid keyboard phrases, Howe responds with fierce guitar runs, and Squire and White navigate complex rhythmic shifts with astonishing coordination. The result is a wild, energetic and unpredictable piece that captures the band stretching themselves into new musical territory. The album closes with “To Be Over” , a softer, more introspective work that balances the earlier intensity with calm resolution. Howe’s guitar lines unfold delicately, Moraz shapes luminous textures around them, and the band creates an atmosphere of reflection and serenity. It is a gentle ending to one of the most emotionally turbulent albums in the band’s history. Upon its release, “Relayer” reached the top five in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Critics were divided at first, but over the years the album’s standing grew immensely. Today it is considered one of the boldest and most imaginative works in the history of progressive rock, a testament to a band willing to reinvent itself in the face of uncertainty. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

One of the great drummers of the Grunge scene who played in the two biggest bands that came out of Seattle and one more formidable supergroup, drummer Matt Cameron was born on November 28, 1962. (Photo: pearljam.com) = He grew up in San Diego and started playing at a very young age. Already at the age of 13, he was part of a cover band for KISS songs. This period ended very quickly after the original band threatened a lawsuit by those young guys. = In 1983 he moved to Seattle, began working on a branch of the shipping company Fed-Ex and at the same time began playing in various groups in the city at a time when the seeds of the grunge scene began to flourish. = Two years later he joined a band called "Skin Yard", one of the first and most important grunge bands, it was at a time when music in the city was already starting to bubble. The band contributed two songs to the legendary album "Deep Six", which was the first collection from the creator of the record company Sub-Pop and was dedicated to Seattle bands. = In 1986 the band released its debut album bearing its name, Matt wrote the song "Reptile" for the album, but shortly after the release of the album Matt left the band. = Another band that contributed their songs to the legendary record "Deep Six" was the band "Soundgarden". = It was formed in 1984 by Chris Cornell , Kim Thayil, and Hiro Yamamoto with Chris as the band's drummer and singer. A year later they added drummer Scott Sundquist to allow Chris to concentrate on singing. = Two years later Scott left the band to concentrate on his family and he was replaced by Cameron. After several performances, they signed a contract with the Sub-Pop label and went into the recording studio. (Photo: Soundgarden) = They released their first EP "Screaming Life" in 1987 and their second EP "Fopp" in 1988 when an album uniting the two was released in 1990. = At the same time they signed a contract with an independent record company called SST Records and released their debut album "Ultramega OK" . The album earned them their first Grammy nomination and ignited the rise of one of the top five bands of the Grunge scene. = Before we mention the band's albums let's stop for a moment to tell that in 1990 the one-time supergroup Temple of the Dog released one of the most moving albums in the history of music. The lineup included Chris, Cameron, and three members of the band "Pearl Jam"! Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready , and also included a guest appearance by Eddie Vedder . = Together with "Soundgarden" he released four more albums: "Louder Than Love" in 1989, "Badmotorfinger" in 1991, "Superunknown" in 1994, and "Down on the Upside" , each of which is an exciting and sweeping world of crazy music !! = The album "Superunknown" which is considered the band's global breakthrough album reveals Cameron's special talent. He uses an off-beat technique with a complex time signature that matches Kim's seemingly out-of-sync riffs. This album has a performance that makes you wonder if he holds another pair of drumsticks in his hands and feet. = Like the rest of the band, Cameron was also a partner in creating some of the songs both musically and in terms of lyrics. = In 1997 the band disbanded after a disagreement over its future musical direction, especially between Chris and Kim, however, Cameron said in one of the interviews that the commercial side was the one who destroyed the band. = In 2010, after a lot of rumor milling, one of the biggest comebacks of the decade took place, and "Soundgarden" returned to perform when it released its sixth album "King Animal" two years later. The comeback ended faster than expected and was stopped at once in 2017 with the tragic death of Chris Cornell. = A year after the dissolution of "Soundgarden", in 1998, Cameron was invited to take part in "Peral Jam's" tour to promote the album "Yield" , (their fifth album) after their latest drummer Jack Irons decided to leave the band. We will not open here the subject of "Pearl Jam" drummers for discussion, but what is important is that from this point on they have found a permanent drummer. (Photo: Danny Clinch) = Cameron accepted the unexpected invitation, he called it an "ambush" by members of "Pearl Jam", and he had to learn more than 80 songs in just two weeks. = Of course after the tour Cameron became a permanent drummer of the band and with him, "Pearl Jam" released six more albums: "Binaural" in 2000, "Riot Act" in 2002, "Pearl Jam" in 2006, "Backspacer" in 2009, "Lightning Bolt" in 2013, the album " Gigaton " that was issued in 2020 and made us fall in love again with the band, and the album "Dark Matter" that was issued in 2024 and continued our love story with the band. = In addition to his work and the significant part he took in the two huge bands from the Grunge scene, Cameron also played with a great many artists and groups from different and varied genres. = For example, he recorded the debut album of the jazz band "Tone Dogs" which was released in 1990 and was called "Ankety Low Day". = He formed two psychedelic rock bands, one called "Hater" together with "Soundgarden" bassist Ben Shepherd, with whom they released two albums, and the other called "Wellwater Conspiracy" also with Ben and guitarist John McBain with whom they released three albums. = He worked with the band "The Prodigy" on their third album "The Fat Of The Land", from which came out the hits "Breath" and "Firestarter" among others. = He took a small part in the recordings of "The Smashing Pumpkins'" fourth album called "Adore" . = In 2017 he released his first solo album “Cavedweller” in which he plays almost all the instruments and also performs the vocals. = He performed the drum roles on the debut album "My Favorite Headache" by Geddy Lee (from the band RUSH). = He performed the drum roles on Japanese singer AYA's debut album "Senjou no Hana". = In 2020 Cameron co-founded with Taylor Hawkins , Buzz Osborne (The Melvins), and Steven McDonald the "Nighttime Boogie Association" project. To date, they have released two singles but have not yet released an album or additional material. = He has collaborated with many other artists such as: "Queens Of The Stone Age", Tony Iommi , The Walkabouts, Peter Frampton , The Pretty Reckless, and many more. = To the drummers among us, and even to the ones who are not we truly recommend to watch the interview Matt gave to the Music celeb and YouTuber Rick Beato . Listen to Cameron's only solo album to date on: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On November 27, 1981, Shalom Hanoch did it for the third time !!! He sparked a musical revolution when he released one of the most influential albums in Israeli music, his second album in Hebrew "White Wedding". Why for the third time? Because Shalom Hanoch is the only Israeli artist whose name is associated with not one, not two but no less than three musical revolutions. He did this for the first time together with Arik Einstein with the masterful trilogy of "Pozzi", "Shablool" and "Pastelina", which are considered the first Hebrew rock albums. He did it again with Tamouz's " End of the Orange Season ", which is considered one of the most important and influential albums in Israeli music, and he did it the third time when he reinvented himself with the revolutionary and groundbreaking album "White Wedding". Why the second one in Hebrew? Because after the success with Arik Einstein , Shalom flew to England and tried to start an international career. He was signed by producer Dick James, who at the time also managed Elton John . He even recorded a solo album in English, called "Shalom", in 1971, accompanied by Elton John 's musicians at the time. But then came the failure. In 1973 he returned to Israel, the broken country after the "Yom Kippur War". He starts writing new material, returns to perform with Arik Einstein , and at the same time looks to start his own band. He receives an offer to form a group in the style of "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young", which started with Mati Caspi, Shalom Hanoch, Ariel Zilber, and Danny Litani, but finally, it evolved into the band "Tamouz", which released its only album " End of the Orange Season " in 1976, and immediately disbanded. Thus, it turned out that Shalom Hanoch's first solo album in Hebrew was "Man within himself", which was released in 1977. Why a musical revolution? Because the difference between "Man within himself" and "white wedding" is simply amazing. Because even though both albums were affected by Shalom's personal life, especially the fall of his international career, the commercial failure of "Tamouz" and his divorce, even though both albums were produced by super producer Louie Lahav, still "White Wedding" is a different, revolutionary, influential album. It is different from anything else that had been heard in Israel up to that time. If "Man within himself" was based on quiet, acoustic, melancholic, and melodic songs, with a minimalistic production, then with "White Wedding" we get an electric, angry, and kicking album with a rich and full sound and with a production that is not was heard before in Israel. An album that shocked the fans and the industry and not always in a positive way. People didn't really know how to react to it at first. You can even say that it was ahead of its time, at least in Israeli terms. Just like the audience in the US reacted incorrectly to Bob Dylan 's second concert at the Newport Folk Festival in July 1965, when he decided to go on stage for the first time with an electric guitar, so did the Israeli audience did not understand what the hell was the connection between Shalom Hanoch, "white wedding" and the heavy and electric sound. It was even done really defiantly, when Shalom appeared on the album cover next to his Fender Telecaster electric guitar. Heavy and electric sound? We are talking about a " milestone " in the development of Hebrew music. "Wall Of Sound" made in Israel. Not Phil Spector 's, but Louis Lahav's, who worked with none other than Bruce Springsteen , and that of Jaroslav Yakovovich, who just returned to Israel after working with artists like Paul Simon and Ray Charles. Shalom himself asked the two to produce an album with a heavier sound. He asked and they fulfilled. The sound was so rich and full that recording Shalom's vocals were not easy at all. Rumor has it that Louie Lahav asked Shalom to scream for a long time, to get a hoarse and rough voice in the recording. So that's it, it wasn't really needed, because the sound was so full that Shalom had to really make an effort to stand out above the music layers. "Milestone"? Yes indeed. The album may have failed commercially, it may have received harsh reviews at the time of its release, but it is undoubtedly an Israeli "milestone". One that gave a tremendous boost to music in Israel, an injection of entropy to Israeli rock, one that influenced generations of artists, that broadened the horizons of producers, that convinced the studios to invest in recording and sound equipment. One that taught the artists an important lesson in openness, authenticity, personal and moving writing, and above all in the courage of an artist who sometimes has to follow his truth to the end. Commercial failure? So you must be wondering how such an important and influential album failed commercially. Shalom always sought to renew and change. When he started writing the materials for the album, he saw before his eyes a personal concept album, one that would tell a story with a beginning, middle and end. A story about his life, about the kibbutz, about the move to the big city, the adventure abroad, and his divorce from Lihi. He wanted to wrap the songs in a bombastic and heavy production that was not heard like it in Israel and went with his truth to the end. Beyond the two international producers, Loui Lahav and Yaroslav Yakovovich, The best artists and musicians of Israel participated in the recording of this album. Meir Israel, Jean-Paul Zimbris, and Araleh Kaminsky as drummers, Miki Shabib on bass, Gil Dor on guitar, Moshe Levy on keyboards, Dafna Armoni and Mazi Cohen on vocals, and more. To this, we must add many Studios hours, in Israel and abroad, recordings and mixing, and here you have a project in which over a hundred thousand dollars were invested, a fantastic number in terms of Israeli production in the 1980s. If you add to that the grandiose production that the audience in Israel was not yet ready for and the fact that the musical material was difficult to digest, you have a commercial failure. How hard is it to digest? Although the album includes some of the greatest songs in Shalom's career, such as " White Wedding ", " The Known Roads ", " Real Affair ", " Comin to Me or Going Away ", " Money ", " Accident ", " Snapshot " and more, the only song to be released to the radio was " Shir Derech " which seals the album and thus it must be testified that it was clear to all involved that the rest of the songs would not be received with great sympathy. It seems that even Shalom foresaw the result, as he chose to open the album with the immortal song " The Known Roads " which includes the following words: "I came up on stage to sing looking for an audience No worries - a new page opens... Standing on stage naked ready to burn No worries - a new page opens..." This was not the only prophecy of Shalom, which fulfilled itself. One of the most beautiful songs on the album " Accident " was written about the breakup of a relationship, an "accident" between him and her, but this one also happened in reality. In 1982, several months after the release of the album, Arik Einstein and Shalom Hanoch went to the "Shablool" club to celebrate the end of the tour. When Arik returned home, he was involved in a serious accident in which he was seriously injured. Success? Yes Yes. "White Wedding" is one of those albums where the stakes are huge. A Win or Lose album. So that's it, in this case, we got both. The album and the show that accompanied it may have failed commercially, but "White Wedding" was the foundation on which Shalom built his solo career. It was the one who turned him from an artist who was perceived as a "singer-songwriter" with an acoustic, to a rebellious rocker with an electric guitar. The failure of "White Wedding" will indeed bring Shalom "to go to safe grounds", with lighter and more catchy songs on the album "On the face of the Earth", but just beyond the horizon was waiting "Waiting for the Messiah", the album that will make Shalom the biggest Israeli rocker ever. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And this time, "Light Grenades" - Incubus' sixth album released on November 28, 2006 Let's start with a quote: "Sounds like 13 different bands playing 13 different songs..." The above quote is how the incredible guitarist of "Incubus" Mike Einziger describes this band's album. We do not want to ruin and say too much other than the quote that explains how special and diverse this album is, but this album is one of the standouts and great albums of this talented band. This is its first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200, selling 165,000 copies in its first week of release. Each member of the band was at his best, experimenting, challenging, and dynamically evolving to produce a collection of moving, exciting, exploding, bouncy, and crazy songs. Just a look at the cover of the album, it says a lot... 4 successful singles were released from the album: The title of the first single "Anna Molly" is deliberately ringing like an "Anomaly" to highlight the gap between the perfect girl the song is about, and the fact that she is unattainable. The song features a rare use of the Marxophone instrument on which keyboardist & DJ Chris Kilmore plays. The second single "Dig" was written by singer Brandon Boyd on the importance of forgiveness and compassion. "Oil and Water" and " Love Hurts" were later released as a single over two years after the album was released and jumped straight to number one on the charts. So leave everything behind, click on the link, and embark on an amazing adventure on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

It happened on November 27, 1970. George Harrison 's musical volcano erupted .... The masterpiece "All Things Must Pass" has been released to the world. Few months after"the Beatles" disbanded, Harrison released not one album, not even two but three !!! A triangular album that has no other way of defining it than an erupting musical volcano. George was always the shy of the four members. He sheltered in the shadow of Paul McCartney and John Lennon The two dominated the musical material brought to the recordings, when George was privileged to one song, sometimes two, in each album the band released and many times the decisions to leave his songs out of the albums were unjustified. One of the classic and well-known examples of such a case has to do with the recording of the song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" that Harrison wanted " The White Album ". Lennon and McCartney did not want the song and refused to put it on the album, but George Harrison brought his friend Eric Clapton to the studio, he played the solo and suddenly Paul and John changed their minds. It's not clear if John and Paul's "U-turn" was due to a Clapton presence, or from an understanding that this was really a great song, but it does not really matter, because this example strikingly illustrates the tremendous talent of George who has not always been able to express it on the Beatles albums. George's frustration with the dominance and attitude of his two friends, reached another climax during the recording of the song "Two of Us", during the band's sessions for what would later become " Let it Be ". During an argument between Paul and George over his playing, George hissed the following words: "I'll play what you want me to play. Or I will not play at all if you do not want me to Whatever it is that I'll please you, I'll do it". This was documented in the Beatles' " Let it Be " film and they highlight the feelings of George, who felt that the "glass ceiling" that his two friends put over his head prevented his musical development And did not allow him to express himself. It is no wonder then that George was the first of the band members to release a solo album and it is also no surprise that this album included a wealth of musical material, as some of the songs on this album were written during his time with the Beatles, songs that John and Paul rejected and did not get To the mother band albums, or ones that George did not even bother to present to his friends for fear of their reaction. Examples of this can be found in "the Beatles" anthology albums, released during the 90's and include some George Harrison songs played during the Beatles' sessions and will appear a few years later on our reviewed album, such as the theme song "All Things Must Pass" whose earlier version appears on the anthology's third album. No matter how you look at it, we won big time, because in the end these amazing materials got to see the light of day and better later than never! It should be noted that this is not George Harrison 's first solo album. He put out two more albums while in his days with the Beatles. These are two experimental albums "Wonderwall Music", and "Electronic Sound" which used synthesizers in their earlier version. After the release of "the White Album" in 1968, George Harrison flew to the United States and spent time at Bob Dylan 's home in Woodstock, where "The Band" worked on their debut album. He wrote for himself, as well as for others, such as Billy Preston and "Cream" to whom he contributed the song "Badge", which was released on the band's fourth and final album - "Goodbye" from 1968. Later Harrison joined Clapton's tour with his band "Delaney & Bonnie and Friend" He already seems to be ready for independence and a solo career, but this did not materialize until the official dissolution of the Beatles. As is well known, the material George Harrison collected was enough for a triple album, but what some do not know is that Harrison had about 20 more demos for songs that did not get to enter the triple album, some released later in his career, proving that it really was a musical volcano waiting to erupt. . But this volcano was not only reflected in the musical materials, but also in the list of musicians who participated in this project. Some received credit and some did not. The list of musicians and talents is simply inconceivable and we will only list some of them: Eric Clapton , Ringo Starr , Ginger Baker, Billy Preston, Dave Mason, Peter Frampton , Gary Wright, Klaus Voormann, Alan White , all members of "Badfinger" and even Phil Collins that Harrison was not Aware of his participation in the sessions until the release of the extended edition to mark the 30th anniversary of the album, then he was thanked by Harrison (well you can understand Harrison because it was before Phil's days in "Genesis"). The producer was the esteemed producer Phil Spector , who shortly before that produced the Beatles' last album " Let it Be " and would later produce a significant portion of John Lennon 's solo albums and other George Harrison albums. Phil Spector applied his "Wall Of Sound" technique that he developed during the sixties which includes the loading, of sound, layers, channels, and instruments that create a kind of "musical wall" and a rich and full sound. The sessions for the album took place between the months of May and October 1970 and spawned material for a double album. The third album included jam sessions by George Harrison and his friends, which were recorded during the sessions and were titled "Apple Jam". By the large, this album revolves around the Rock genre as a whole, with influences from Folk, Motown (there are quite a few brass instruments on the album), gospel (which probably was producer Phil Spector idea), and Indian music. If you can put your finger on one sound that runs like a thread between almost all of the album's songs, it will probably be George Harrison 's slide guitar. Lyrically, it seems that the thread that connects most of the songs will be the spiritual and emotional themes that was always a part of Harrison's life, until the day he died. The album opens up with " I'd Have You Anytime ", a song co-written with Bob Dylan during George Harrison 's stay at his home in Woodstock. A melodic, quiet, calm and moving opening and a very interesting choice for opening an album, which is probably meant to mark the common denominator of most of the songs on the album. The song features Clapton's solo even though he did not receive credit for his playing due to contractual matters, as was in the Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". In the second track, we already get Harrison's biggest hit - " My Sweet Lord ", which conquered the top of the British charts and stayed there for four weeks. It is a song of spiritual praise that combines the beliefs and religions of East and West, with the recurring mantra "Krishna" alongside "Hallelujah". This song was the basis for a copyright lawsuit related to "The Chiffons"' song "He's So Fine" from 1963. George Harrison claimed all along that he did not know "the chiffon" song, but the resemblance in the melody was great. He was eventually forced to pay a fantastic sum for those times in the amount of $ 1.5 million to settle the lawsuit. This made Harrison write a song called "This Song" which was released as part of his 1976 album "33 and 1/3". " Wah-Wah " was written by Harrison during the sessions for the album " Let it Be " and immediately after the same argument between him and McCarthy that we mentioned earlier. George said that right after the famous scene in the film when he left the studio, he went home and wrote this song. He claimed that this argument with Paul caused him a big headache like "Wah-Wah" and that was the trigger for writing the song. It was the first song recorded for the album and played by all the members of "Badfinger". " Isn't It a Pity " is among the oldest on the album, it was written during the sessions for the album "Rubber Soul" in 1966. The album includes two different versions of the melancholic ballad with the version that closes the first side of the album being the more popular of the two. " What Is Life " Opens the other side of the vinyl. This is a rocky, rhythmic, and melodic song led by George Harrison 's catchy guitar riff, wrapped in the Motown trumpets. " If Not for You " was written by Bob Dylan and recorded for his "New Morning" album, which was released in August 1970. A folk-pop song that Olivia Newton-John also performed and became her first big hit. " Behind That Locked Door " is a charming country-waltz song that Harrison wrote in 1969, as a tribute to Bob Dylan who had just returned to the stage with his backing band "The Band". Harrison wrote the song " Let It Down " in 1968 and tried to offer it to "the Beatles" as part of the sessions for the album " Let it Be ", but this time too it was rejected by Paul and John. Harrison defined it as an erotic love song. Those who accompany Harrison in this song are a large group of musicians including "Derek and Domino's" members, Gary Wright and members of "Badfinger". The song that seals the other side of the first vinyl is " Run of the Mill " A song written by George Harrison in early 1969 as part of the "Get Back" sessions, the song includes the words "Another day for you to realize me or send me down again", which express in the best way, Harrison's feelings following his bandmates behavior. The second vinyl opens with the amazing and moving song and without a doubt one of the most beautiful on the album " Beware of Darkness ". This is another one of George Harrison 's spiritual songs that began to explore this field back in the days of "the Beatles". The song illustrates Radha Krishna Temple's philosophy that one should "beware of darkness", negative and materialistic thoughts that can corrupt the mind. " Apple Scruffs " is led by the harmonica playing and acoustic and rhythmic guitar playing. It's a song written as a tribute to the devout Beatles fans who were waiting in locations where the band was supposed to perform, just to meet the Four Fab. " The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) " is a melodic track written by George Harrison as a tribute to a 19th century lawyer who owned the Victorian Friar Park estate that Harrison purchased in January 1970. " Awaiting on You All " is another spiritual prayer song by George Harrison , this time in a rock and gospel style. In this song you can easily hear the bombastic production of Phil Spector and the application of his "Wall Of Sound" method. From here we move on to the icing on the cake, the theme song " All Things Must Pass " which was written and offered to the Beatles, and whose earlier version can be found on the mother band's third anthology album. This song was first released on Billy Preston's album "Encouraging Words" on September of that year. The title of the song shows that it was influenced by Harrison's relationship with his bandmates and actually predicted what would later be "the Beatles" breakup and the fact that life goes on, meaning the release of Harrison's first album during his post-Beatles era. Half of the fourth side of the album is rhythmic and groovy as illustrated in the songs " I Dig Love " and " Art of Dying " which Harrison wrote immediately after the Beatles' breakup and features Clapton's stunning guitar work and Motown-style brass instruments. This side of the album also includes the second and less popular version of the song " Isn't It a Pity " and it is perfectly sealed with " Hear Me Lord ", another Harrison prayer song and a request from God to help him be a better person. The song is led by Billy Preston's piano and features charming harmonies and vocals, especially in the chorus. The third and final record is a collection of jam sessions recordings that took place during the recording of the album and is called " Apple Jam ", with four of the five tracks being really instrumental improvisational tracks, the best of which are " Out of the Blue " and " I Remember Jeep ". It is interesting to note that the track " It's Johnny's Birthday " was recorded as a joke in honor of John Lennon 's 30th birthday. "All Things Must Pass", is without a doubt a masterpiece. The album is part of the Rolling Stone magazine's500 best albums of all time and the list of "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". In conclusion. If we refer to John and Paul's almost complete control over the materials brought to the Beatles 'albums as a complete dominance by the two, then Harrison undoubtedly surpassed his two friends with the best solo album released by one of the Beatles' members after the band disbanded. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On November 27, 1970, the debut album "Gentle Giant" was released. What does "Gentle Giant" have to do with the hit song "Kites" from the debut album of " The Tractor's Revenge ", to "Bon Jovi", "Panthera", Elton John , and Shlomo Gronich? Stay tuned and you will find out: "Gentle Giant" was formed in 1970 by three brothers born to the Jewish Schulman family from Glasgow, Scotland. The eldest. Phil Shulman, was born in 1937, Derek Shulman was born in 1947 and the younger Ray Shulman was born in 1949. The brothers grew up in a musical environment. Their father was a trumpet player and gave music lessons and performed in clubs so the house was regularly full of musicians. The influence of the environment led the three boys to learn to play different instruments as self-taught, with the parents pushing and encouraging them to practice playing regularly. It turned out that the three brothers came out as multi-instrumentalists singing and playing on a wide variety of musical instruments, brass instruments, such as trumpet and clarinet saxophone (Phil, Ray and Derek), through strings such as violin, guitar and bass (Ray and Derek), keyboards (Derek) and even Percussion and drums (Ray and Derek). The first band in which brothers Derek and Ray were involved in, was "Vox Shadow". They formed it when Ray was 14-year-old and Derek was 16-year-old. The band went through several incarnations through the "Howling Wolves", the "Road Runners" and later after the joining of brother Phil "Simon Dupree and the Big Sound". The three brothers in the band "Simon Dupree and the Big Sound" were briefly joined in 1967 by a young keyboardist named Reginald Dwight who would later adopt the stage name Elton John . He even offered them his original material, even the song "Your Song" but they politely declined it. The band released one album and managed to produce a hit called "Kites", which more than three decades later will receive a Hebrew version and will appear on the debut album " The Tractor's Revenge ". But despite the successful single, the brothers, whose music flowed through their veins, were looking for something more challenging, so the band disbanded in 1969, when the other three began planning the next project in their fevered minds. The "Gentle Giant" band formed in 1970. You must have noticed that the band's name is a kind of an oxymoron, which shows a certain contrast that exists in the music that this very special ensemble produces. On the one hand melodic, soft, delicate, and caressing, and on the other hand dynamic, tough and frenetic. To realize their vision, the three brothers added other musicians who were carefully examined and matched in their level to their perfectionism. Gary Green on guitars, Kerry Minnear on keyboards, cello, bass, vibraphone, and xylophone, and Martin Smith who played with the band also in the previous lineup on drums. In addition to the various instruments played by the Shulmans, all three brothers served as lead singers/background vocalists, as well as keyboardist Kerry Minnear. This shows the importance of vocals in this band, which sometimes serves as an additional instrument adding to the variety of instruments the band plays. This is a completely different band from the previous pop-rock-psychedelic line-up of "Simon Dupree". It combined progressive rock, jazz, psychedelia, and experimental rock that included complex compositions. The music created by the band was not always easy to digest, but was certainly highly regarded by critics and fans of the Progressive Rock genre, influencing many artists such as "Dream Theater", "Spock's Beard" and even Israeli artists such as Shlomo Gronich, Yoni Rechter, Shem Tov Levy and more. The band's debut album was recorded in August 1970 at "Trident" Studios in London's Soho district. The position of producer was given to Tony Visconti, who is known, among other things, from the productions he made for David Bowie , "T Rex", Iggy Pop , and others. Tony also played flute on the album and also wrote the story that appears on the inside cover about the "giant" whose character is painted on the front cover. Visconti ended the giant's story with the words: "This is the story ... maybe you think it's a fantasy, but the music is like that too" ... Indeed, the music on this album is a kind of "fantasy". From the first sound of the Hammond organ that opens the song " Giant ", to the last note in the instrumental section " The Queen ", which is an adaptation of the British anthem that precedes that of "Queen" from the album " A Night At The Opera ", we are in a kind of magical and imaginative musical journey. A variety of instruments and styles that blend into a legendary creation. The genius and perfectionism of the Shulman brothers and their friends cry out between the notes, sounds, and voices of this magnificent album. The complexity and contrast between the soft and caressing and the tough and powerful of "The Gentle Giant" are already evident in the opening song "Giant" which is an example of the band's sound signature. This musical "roller coaster" continues throughout the album, with the magical and melodic " Funny Ways ", through the psychedelic and experimental " Alucard " (inverted Dracula) which is full of brass instruments that remind us at times of "VDGG" and scary and creepy singing, The Waltzy "Isn't It Quiet and Cold?" with its string instruments, the amazing " Nothing at All " whose vocal harmonies initially correspond with those of "CSN" and " Why Not? " The rocker in which Derek and Minnear share vocals. This album is the first shot of this so unique band. An album that set a very high standard in terms of the level of playing, complexity, and composition of the band members, a standard that will continue to rise in future albums. Unfortunately, this band has not survived more than a decade but it has released 12 albums, most of which are really great. After the disbandment of the band, Derek Schulman will move to the organizational and managerial side of music and will be responsible for signing artists like "Bon Jovi" and "Panthera" and more on recording contracts. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He was born on November 27, 1969, he is a fan favorite and a phenomenal talent not only as a vocalist, so say congratulations to Myles Kennedy (Photo: Will Ireland) Here are some facts about one of our favorite musicians: = His full name is Myles Richard Bass = He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in northern Idaho. = At the age of 10, he learned to play the trumpet but very quickly he switched to the guitar. He was heavily influenced by bands like Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder and he would even imitate Jimmy Page 's playing style (a surprise awaits him later). = At the age of 15, Myles worked cleaning horse stables for 9 months to save money and purchase the Ibanez DT250 guitar he so longed for. The story took a painful but also exciting turn when three years later when he was in David Lee Roth show the guitar was stolen from his car. The painful blow was softened by the amazing experience of the show in which Myles managed to catch the pick-up of Steve Vai 's guitar which he threw to the audience. (Photo: Myles Kennedy) = He attended Spokane Falls Community College and specialized in music theory. = He began his musical career in 1990 as a lead guitarist in the jazz band Cosmic Dust which released their first (and only with Myles) album "Journey" in 1991. During this time he acquired very high musical skills when he combined complex techniques from jazz and rock, thanks to which he acquired a reputation as a talented guitarist in the local scene. = Myles left the band right after the release of the album and went on to become a singer and guitarist in the fusion jazz band Citizen Swing. They released two albums, "Cure Me With the Groove" which came out in 1993, and "Deep Down" which came out in 1996 (when on this album Myles wrote, composed, and produced the entire album), that same year they broke up. = In the same year, the childhood friends, Myles and guitarist Craig Johnson (who played with him on Citizen Swing) decided to form a band with their other childhood friends to fulfill their rock 'n' roll dream. They teamed up with bassist Marty Meisner and drummer Zia Uddin and formed their dream band "The Mayfield Four". (Photo: ultimate-guitar.com) = "The Mayfield Four" signed a contract with Epic Records and in May 1998 they released their debut album "Fallout". They went on a tour to promote the album (among others with a band called Creed) and although the reviews praised the album it did not succeed at all at the box office and charts. = A year later, in June 2001 they released their second album "Second Skin". This album gained greater popularity and also revived the first album but the band failed to rise to the great success it was expecting and it discontinued in 2002. = In 2001 Myles won a starring role in the movie "Rock Star" with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. = After the failure of his dream band, Myles felt he could no longer deal with music and decided he was leaving the industry and no longer creating. He went back to teaching guitar lessons in order to sustain himself and began to sink into depression. He said it was a very difficult time in his life, he could not create anything and did not want to engage in music anymore. But in 2002 he received an offer from Matt Sorum to be the singer of the supergroup crystallizing into "Velvet Revolver", even though he refused the supergroup's seductive offer, it was probably what released his "lockdown" and desire to create music got back into his life. (Photo: Javier Bragado) = In 2003 Mark Tremonti invited Myles to record vocals for several songs he had written and immediately an electric spark was initiated which together with the other members of the band Creed (less singer Scott Stapp ) formed together the band Alter Bridge. The band released their seventh album "Pawns & Kings" in 2022. = Remember point number 3? So it turns out that in 2008 Led Zepplin band member, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones along with Jason Bonham (the son of...) entered a rehearsal room and began writing new material. Since Robert Plant was not interested, they looked for a singer and after being at an Alter Bridge show they invited Myles to a rehearsal session. A new band did not come out of this session but Myles said it was a very exciting and special experience and that they wrote and played new material together. So there is a chance that maybe in the future we will discover all sorts of hidden recordings. = In 2009 Myles also began to develop a solo career, he released one album in 2017 called "Year of the Tiger" created under the influence of country music, and in 2021 he released his second album "The Ides of March" which was more influenced by hard rock. = Concurrently that year Myles also began collaborating with Slash . Initially, he recorded a number of songs with him but in 2012 the first album was released with the permanent lineup that will accompany Slash later and it is "Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators". = Slash, Myles, and The Conspirators have released three albums together, "Apocalyptic Love" released in 2012, "World on Fire" released in 2014 and "Living the Dream" released in 2018. In 2022 they release the fourth album bearing the number "4". We can't describe these two talents on one stage, we experienced this in our flesh and it was wonderful !! Myles is a phenomenal talent, he is a talented guitarist, a talented writer, and a great singer !! He is involved in many other musical projects and he works almost non-stop. = In October 2024, Myles released his third solo album, "The Art of Letting Go." An album that is a bit rougher and heavier than the previous two, but an album that of course wonderfully expresses Myles' great talent on guitar and his great vocal talent. Listen to Myles's latest album "The Art of Letting Go" on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is a talented musician and a great drummer, he has a tremendous hit and a special sound, some call him "Papi". Drummer Mike Bordin was born on November 27, 1962, so we brought you some interesting facts... (Photo: faithnomorefollowers.com) = Bordin is a descendant of a wide variety of cultures including: Russia, Poland, Wales, Italy, and, Hungary, and even has a Jewish side. = We have no idea when and how he started playing but Bordin has a very special style in terms of sound (especially of the snare) and in terms of technique. Bordin is one of the "beaters" and not the hovering drummers, he beats the drums powerfully with his hands flying high in the air. He usually holds the stick upside down to create a stronger punch and he likes his tam-tams wide and deep. Although he is left-handed, his drum set consists of a right-handed setup, apart from the ride cymbal that is located with the Hi-Hat. = In the late '70s, when he was still in high school, he formed the band "EZ-Street" with a bassist named Cliff Burton (yes, yes, Metallica's first bassist) and a guitarist named Jim Martin. = In 1981 he left the band and joined another band called "Sharp Young Men". The band included Mike Morris on guitar, Billy Gould on bass, and Wade Worthington on keyboards. = At the end of 1982 and after a large number of performances, the band members decided to change their name to "Faith No Man" because they did not like the image the previous name had created for them. They started recording a number of demos when Wade was replaced by Roddy Bottum and shortly after the recordings they decided to break up. = Immediately after the dissolution, Bordin, Bottom, and Gold decided to form a new band called "Faith No More". They went through several singers including Courtney Love and finally decide on Chuck Mosley. In October 1983 they made their first appearance, when shortly after they were joined by guitarist Jim Martin and complete the lineup. = Without the support of a record company they started recording their first album with full self-funding. During the recordings, a girl named Ruth Schwartz recognized their potential and turned them into the first sign of her independent label Mordam Records. = In 1985 they released their first album "We Care A Lot" and two years later, after signing with a bigger label called Slash Records they released their second album "Introduce Yourself" . = Both albums were not a dizzying success and additionally clashes broke out within the band between Mosley and the rest of the members. In 1988 the band members decided not to continue with Mosley and instead they recruited Mike Patton . (Photo: Mick Hutson) = As soon as Patton joined the band he wrote all the lyrics for the band's next album which was already musically ready. In 1989, the band's debut album with Patton, "The Real Thing" was released. The album was a resounding success and launched the band to stardom, with Grammy nominations, performance at the MTV Awards, and the music video for the song "Epic" which dominated the MTV schedule. = The crazy and so beloved band released three more albums of each is a world in itself, amazing, special, and different from its previous: "Angel Dust" in 1992, "King for a Day ... Fool for a Lifetime" on 1995 and "Album of the Year" in 1997 until their temporary dissolution in 1998. = In 2009 the band members reunited and went on tour in Europe and Australia in a series of festivals, finishing the tour in several cities in the US. Six years later the band released their latest album as of today called "Sol Invictus" and immediately after it went on a world tour. = Beyond "Faith No More" which was his main band, Bordin has a fascinating and insane collaboration. = Bordin was Ozzy Osbourne 's drummer on the 1996 tour and he also played with "Black Sabbath's" band when drummer Bill Ward suffered from an illness. In addition, he also took full part in the recordings of Ozzy's solo albums, "Down to Earth" which was released in 2001, "Under Cover" which was released in 2005, and "Black Rain" which was released in 2007. He also re-recorded the drumming roles on the two albums, "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman" on the 2002 reissue. = In 2000 Bordin was called to replace "Korn's" drummer David Silveria for the band's tour after the release of their fourth album "Issues" . He filled Silveria's place for 7 months as he participated in over 100 shows !! (Photo: Jerry Cantrell) = In 2002, Bordin took a full part in recording Jerry Cantrell' s second solo album called "Degradation Trip" with bassist Robert Trujillo. = In 2005 Bordin returned to collaborate with the Prince Of Darkness when he recorded with him the covers album (the only one that Ozzy released) called "Under Cover". An album consisting of 13 songs that are covers of songs by bands that Ozzy loves from the 60's and 70's. = The two worked again and in 2007 Bordin participated in the recording of Ozzy's 10th album, "Black Rain". This is the last album Bordin worked with Ozzy. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about one of the greatest guitarists Jimi Hendrix: (Photo: David Redfern) Here are facts about the guitar legend: 1. He was born on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, while his father fought in Europe during World War II. The name given to him at birth was John Allen Hendrix. 2. His mother was a Cherokee Indian. When his father returned from the war in 1945, Hendrix changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix. 4. The first instrument Hendrix learned to play on was the ukulele. 5. Jimi started playing the guitar at age 15, when his father bought him his first guitar (acoustic) for only 5 $. 6. Hendrix was self-taught. He taught himself to play and could not read notes. 7. Jimi admitted that the artist who influenced him the most in guitar playing was Muddy Waters. 8. He was left-handed, but instead of buying a special left-handed guitar he just turned the guitar upside down. 9. After being caught stealing cars he was brought in front of a judge that let him choose between two options: go to jail or enlist in the army. Hendrix chose the latter option and in 1961 he was enlisted in a parachuted unit in the U.S. Army. (Photo: US Army) 10. He broke his ankle in his 26th parachute. 11. Rumor has it that he was dropped out from his unit after being caught masturbating while he was supposed to be on guard. 12. Before becoming famous he was performing under the name Jimmy James. He was a studio session player and contributed his talent to many artists, including Ike And Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, "The Isley Brothers", Little Richard, and more. 13. The stage name Jimi Hendrix was given to him by bassist Chas Chandler from "The Animals" in 1966, after he brought him to England with him. Chas also later became Jimi's first manager and was the one who helped him form "The Jimi Hendrix Experience". 14. His band's first album " Are You Experienced " was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry as one of the pioneer albums in US history. 15. Jimi forgot half of the master recordings of his second album "Axis: Bold As Love", in a taxi cab. This forced the band to re-record them. 16. Jimi admired the members of "Cream" and agreed to come with Chas Chandler to England, only after he promised him that he would meet Eric Clapton . Chas kept his promise and Hendrix got to take the stage with members of the band "Cream" during a performance that took place on October 1, 1966, just a week after he arrived in England. This one-time meeting left the band members, especially Eric Clapton, in utter shock from the performance of the young 24-year-old guitarist. 17. Jimi used unconventional playing techniques, such as playing with his teeth, behind his back, without touching the strings, etc., and could play with both the right and left hands. (Photo: Public Domain) 18. Hendrix was mostly identified with his "Fender Stratocaster" guitar, but he also played "Gibson SG", "Les Paul" and "Gibson Flying V." 19. He defined his music as an "electric church." He wanted it to be like a religion that would bring people together and be a refuge for them. 20. Jimi was abducted once after a show he gave. The one that was responsible for the abduction was his manager Michael Jeffrey who did so to maintain his place as Hendrix's manager. He made sure a New York gang kidnapped him and released him after two days. 21. In his famous performance at the Monterey International Pop Music Festival in 1967, he took the stage after "The Who". Pete Townshend guitarist smashed his guitar and threw it to the audience at the end of the show and in response, Hendrix set his guitar on fire. He repeated the prank 3 more times during his short career. 22. His playing of the American national anthem "Star Spangled Banner" at the Woodstock Festival, was not a patriotic tribute but an act of protest against the Vietnam War. 23. He was the highest-paid artist at the Woodstock Festival and was paid $ 18,000. 24. On December 2011 "Guitar World" magazine chose his "Star Spangled Banner" performance, at the top of the list of the 100 best guitar performances of all time. 25. During his years of activity from 1966 until he died in 1970, he played in over 600 performances, many of them at festivals. 26. During Hendrix's brief musical career, he released 4 studio albums. 27. However after his death a large number of other albums bearing his name were released, including 13 studio albums, 28 live albums, and 19 compilation albums. 28. Hendrix died in London - on September 18, 1970, from an overdose of sleeping pills that caused suffocation from his vomit. He was among the first to enter the dubious 27th club. 29. His body was flown to the United States and he was buried in Washington near his mother's grave. 30. The tombstone on his grave includes, among other things, an engraving of the Fender Stratocaster guitar with which he was so identified, but the guitar is in engraved upside down from the way Hendrix played it. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On November 27, 1982 Ozzy Osbourne released the live double-album “Speak of the Devil”. It arrived during one of the most intense and chaotic periods in Ozzy’s life. Earlier that year, a plan was formed to record an album made entirely of 1970s “Black Sabbath” songs, a business decision driven by publishing rights, label profits, and a desire to beat "Sabbath’s "own upcoming live record to shelves. Randy Rhoads and Tommy Aldridge hated the idea, tensions rose, and Ozzy spiraled into one of the darkest stretches of his career. Rhoads’s tragic death in March shattered the original recording plans, the band rapidly reshuffled, and guitarist Brad Gillis joined in April to rebuild the lineup. With grief still fresh and pressure rising, the band was given only five days of rehearsals in a gloomy Manhattan studio. The album was recorded during two intense nights at “The Ritz” in New York City, September 26–27, 1982. With barely any preparation time, the new lineup - Brad Gillis on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass, and Tommy Aldridge on drums - was thrown straight into the fire. They learned the entire "Sabbath" catalog at breakneck speed, reshaping riffs, tightening grooves, and injecting a sharper, more metallic edge into the old material. The shows themselves were raw, loud, imperfect, and unmistakably alive. Some songs were later polished in the studio, and a few were secretly taken from an empty-room recording session with added crowd noise, but the beating heart of those nights remains intact. Ozzy was fighting for his life, and you can hear it in every scream, every breath, and every desperate push forward. The album erupts with “Symptom of the Universe” , Gillis attacking the riff with fresh aggression as Ozzy delivers it with defiant power. “Snowblind”  follows, steeped in its narcotic haze and pushed by a dangerous, jagged swing. “Black Sabbath”  descends nextת slow, ominous, ritualistic' with Ozzy facing the very mythology he helped create. Side B begins with “Fairies Wear Boots” , start soft and slow later bursting forward with raw urgency and punk-like velocity. “War Pigs”  comes after, one of the album’s most commanding performances, stretched and hammered with live fury. “The Wizard”  shifts the atmosphere again, bluesy and gritty, a smoky mid-set breather before the next wave hits. Side C opens with “N.I.B.” , where Gillis’s modern, fiery approach replaces Tony Iommi ’s original blues-driven edge. “Sweet Leaf”  follows, thick, grinding, and swaggering, a highlight made for the intimate chaos of "The Ritz". “Never Say Die”  gets a heavier, more muscular edge than its studio version ever carried, lifted by Tommy Aldridge ’s sharp and relentless drumming. Side D starts with “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” , one of the album’s heaviest and most dramatic moments, believed to have been recorded during the no-audience afternoon session. Then comes the final three-part strike: “Iron Man / Children of the Grave” , delivered as a snarling medley, and the closing blow, “Paranoid” , short, frantic, and triumphant. These final tracks were originally rehearsed loosely because the band had been told they wouldn’t appear on the recordת a decision later reversedת resulting in performances that feel reckless, imperfect, and alive. Upon release, critics pointed to the rushed production, the rough edges, and the studio edits, but fans embraced the rawness, honesty, and sheer emotional force. In the UK, where it appeared as “Talk of the Devil”, it quickly reached Silver certification. Over the years, the album became a cult favorite - not polished, not perfect, but truthful. A live snapshot of a band holding together through grief, pressure, and exhaustion. “Speak of the Devil” is more than a live album. It is a survival document - a portrait of Ozzy Osbourne standing in the wreckage of his past, performing the songs that defined him, and proving that even at his lowest, he still owned them. For Listening: YouTube Full Album Playlist "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website