Thursday 31 May 2012

Rick Wakeman Releases Much Anticipated Archive Live Album

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After leaving YES following a world tour in 2004, Rick concentrated on his solo career and collaborated with Jon Anderson on a number of projects including tours of the UK and US and a studio and live album.
The latest release from Rick Wakeman is an archive live album titled 'In The Nick Of Time', which was recorded in 2003. The album was recorded during the tour to promote the then current studio album 'Out There'. Rick performed with the “New English Rock Ensemble” which featured Rick alongside old hands Ashley Holt, Tony Fernandez and new boys Ant Glynne and Lee Pomeroy.
Tracks featured include: "Out There", "Catherine Parr", "No Earthly Connection", "White Rock" and "Wurm". The album has been much anticipated by the large and dedicated Rick Wakeman audience and this release will be the first time this album has been commercially released.


Tracks: 1. Catherine Parr 2. Out There 3. No Earthly Connection 4. Dance of a Thousand Lights 5. The Cathedral In The Sky 6. White Rock 7. Wurm

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Motorhead Boxed Set On The Way

Sanctuary/UMC presents six of Motörhead’s best albums all brought together in one excellent boxed set. All the original masters are housed together in gatefold replica wallets bearing the original artwork.

Motörhead’s iconoclastic frontman, Lemmy formed the group following his unceremonious sacking from Hawkwind after an unfortunate narcotics misunderstanding at the Canadian border. Naming his new group after the very last song he wrote for Hawkwind, he quickly went on to invade the UK singles and album charts with the unstoppable Motörhead and their thrilling new genre, known as “speed metal”.

1. OVERKILL
2. BOMBER
3. ACE OF SPADES
4. NO SLEEP 'TILL HAMMERSMITH
5. IRON FIST
6. ANOTHER PERFECT DAY
  

Monday 28 May 2012

Black Sabbath Release New Best Of Compilation: Iron Man In June

Album: “Iron Man: The Best of Black Sabbath”
Release Date: 4th June 2012

Download Festival Headline – 10th June 2012

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward,– four names that resonate throughout Rock’s recorded history as clear and sublime as the bell that tolls the opening to the bands eponymous debut album from 1970.

Collectively, they formed Black Sabbath and forged the most haunting and hypnotic rock sound of all time. From humble beginnings, the Birmingham quartet enslaved the minds and souls of millions of rock fans around the world and continue to do so into the new millennium. The musical genre they created inspired countless musicians and spawned countless bands. Such has been their influence; they have been inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and were included among Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

“Iron Man: The Best of Black Sabbath” is a 14 track collection of classic tracks from across the bands first eight albums – including tracks from 1970’s debut “Black Sabbath” and follow up “Paranoid”, 1971’s “Master Of Reality”, 1972’s “Volume 4”, 1973’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and 1978’s “Never Say Die”. The album brings some of the best loved and most influential rock songs of all time together on one album – including such classics as “Paranoid”, “Iron Man”, “Black Sabbath”, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, “War Pigs” and “Changes”. The release is a must have for any self respecting music fan…

Full Tracklisting (including original albums):

1 – Paranoid (Paranoid)
2 – Iron Man (Paranoid)
3 – Changes (Volume 4)
4 – Fairies Wear Boots (Paranoid)
5 – War Pigs (Paranoid)
6 – Never Say Die (Never Say Die)
7 – Children Of the Grave (Master Of Reality)
8 – The Wizard (Black Sabbath)
9 – Snowblind (Volume 4)
10 – Sweet Leaf (Master Of Reality)
11 – Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games) (Black Sabbath)
12 – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath)
13 – Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath)
14 – N.I.B. (Black Sabbath)

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler recently announced they are reuniting as Black Sabbath and recording a new album.  They are scheduled to perform a headlining slot at the Download Festival on Sunday 10th JuneFor more information and tickets please see https://connect.umusic.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=9c90e837aa1341958a841e208394e194&URL=http://www.downloadfestival.com.  The band also played  a Sold Out warm up show at the Birmingham 02 Academy on 19th May.

“Iron Man: The Best of Black Sabbath” is released through Sanctuary on the 4th June 2012

Joe Bonamassa Announces 4 London Gigs In March 2013

Following the May 21st release of Joe Bonamassa’s critically acclaimed 13th solo album Driving Towards The Daylight, which is currently #2 in the UK’s Official Album Chart, the renowned guitarist will perform a series of four significant London concerts that chronicles his rise from playing the intimate Borderline to the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Blues rock fans will be able to purchase tickets to see Joe perform at four different London venues including The Borderline (March 26), 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (March 27), HMV Hammersmith Apollo (March 28) and the Royal Albert Hall (March 30).  All concert tickets, including a very special Borderline ticket entry, go on sale on Friday June 1st from the 24 Hour Ticket Box Office: 0844 478 0898, or can be booked online from http://www.thegigcartel.com/.


For those fans that purchase a special VIP ticket, this will enable them to attend all four concerts, including admission to see Bonamassa perform at the Borderline in London on Tuesday 26th March 2013.  The Borderline concert is restricted to a limited run of 200 tickets, and will showcase Joe’s atmospheric rise to the top of the guitar world, in an intimate and a reduced capacity setting of this famous London West End venue where it all began for the critically acclaimed blues rock guitarist.
Now’s your chance to get up close and personal in London with Joe Bonamassa at what is being hailed as “The Guitar Event of the Year.” 

Thursday 24 May 2012

Interview with Biff Byford of Saxon and Competition. Win Live Album!

There is an interview with Saxon's Biff Byford tonight on Classic Rock radio. The interview goes out at 8pm GMT
Biff is talking about the new Live Saxon album Heavy Metal Thinder Eagles Over Wacken. There is also a competition to win a copies of the album and all you have to do is enter a simple competition
To stand a chance of winning a copy of the album just answer this simple question

Who Is The Drummer in Saxon at the Present Time

Send your entries to

studio@classicrockradio.eu

Competition closes at Midnight GMT on Sunday 27th May

Wilko Johnson Book Signing and Concert!

Wilko Johnson will be signing copies of his official autobiography “Looking Back At Me” at an exclusive book signing at Rough Trade  East at 7pm on Wednesday May 30th.  The signing will be followed by a Q&A and a 30-minute live set featuring Wilko and his band. 

Hailed as a unique, vibrant and hotly anticipated autobiography of the former Dr Feelgood guitarist, British R&B legend and proto-punk pioneer,  the autobiography is written and collated with acclaimed music writer Zoë Howe.  Funny, deeply personal and visually compelling, Looking Back At Me is a fascinating rock ‘n’ roll scrapbook and oral history, and genuine treasure trove, marking the first time Wilko has told his story, no holds barred. 

The book can be pre-ordered online from Cadiz Music Here:
http://www.cadizmusic.com/2007/index.php?location=/web/Labels/Cadiz%20Music%20Publishing


The Canvey Island raised guitarist shares his recollections on everything from his Essex childhood and his Indian odyssey as a hippy, to the wild, turbulent days of Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury and The Blockheads, to his current band featuring Norman Watt-Roy (bass) and Dylan Howe (drums). Wilko also expands on his love for astronomy, art, literature, clouds, poetry, sci-fi, and Shakespeare; making him the ultimate Renaissance man of rock.  The book features previously unseen images of Wilko, plus ephemera and anecdotes from Wilko fans including Robert Plant, Alison Moyet, JJ Burnel, Keith Levene, Gavin Martin and Whispering Bob Harris. The book features a foreword by Mick Farren

Wilko will also perform a concert at the Half Moon Putney in London on Thursday May 31st.  Prior to the concert, Wilko and Zoe Howe will participate in talk/Q&A/signing at 7pm followed by a full concert at 8:15. The two events are separately ticketed at www.halfmoon.co.uk/event/288.

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Rock Music Memorabilia SHOP NOW OPEN!

Remember those far off days  when going to a Festival in England meant Bad weather, queueing for Bad Food and Bad Toilets; but you got to see some of the world’s BIGGEST bands? Well So do I and I am talking about the real Festivals like the Bath Festivals of 1969and 1970 where you could see bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane and The Byrds. Or the Knebworth Festivals of the 1970′s where you could see the likes of the Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Frank Zappa, Genesis and Led Zeppelin. All that and artists like Van Morrison, Roy Harper, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Peter Gabriel, Devo, the list goes on and on.
Well now thanks to Freddy Bannister the promoter of all those great one day Festivals you can re live those halcyon days.
Freddy has a website  dedicated to bringing you “Official” merchandise and memorabilia from all those fantastic events from T Shirts to posters of the events and beautiful limited edition boxed sets representing the various festivals including the Rolling Stones 1976 Commemorative set above  and the Pink Floyd Set Below



The Bath Festival Commemorative Set Below





The Frank Zappa Set Below

The Todd Rundgren Set Below

The Allman Brothers Set below

The Genesis Set Below


The website is an absolute Aladdin’s Cave of memorabilia  that will have both  collectors and casual fans drooling
Another plus is that you can only buy all the items directly from the websiteso no third parties adding their own percentage on top.
Classic Rock radio highly recommends all of the packages available on the website and also rather highly rates the range of Vintage  T Shirts  available which will look just great now the Summer has decided to kick in.






You can also purchase Reproduction Posters from some of the Iconic Rock Festivals of all time





Check out the site here and tell them Classic Rock radio sent you, You won’t be disappointed
 http://www.rockmusicmemorabilia.com/

Slash Concert Streamed Live

NEW SOLO ALBUM ‘APOCALYPTIC LOVE’ FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS DROPS TUESDAY, MAY 22nd.LISTEN TO ‘APOCALYPTIC LOVE’ IN ITS ENTIRETY TODAY ON ROLLING STONE.COM VIDEO PREMIERE FOR “YOU’RE A LIE” SINGLE LAUNCHES TODAY ON VEVO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NPR “WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY TO AIR SUNDAY, MAY 20 SLASH–the iconic Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductee–is gearing up for the May 22 release of his second solo studio album APOCALYPTIC LOVE featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. SLASH and his bandmates–Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass)–are set to broadcast their live sold-out concert from Irving Plaza in New York City exclusively on the new Livestream. The full concert will air Live on Tuesday, May 22 at 10:15 PM EDT at http://new.livestream.com/slash/livefromNYC. Follow the page to be notified when the concert is about to go live. Starting Tuesday May 15, listen to SLASH’s new album APOCALYPTIC LOVE for the first time in its entirety on RollingStone.com. Click here to listen: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/album-premiere-slash-apocalyptic-love-deluxe-20120515. Also today, VEVO will world premiere of the video for “You’re A Lie” the red-hot first single off APOCALYPTIC LOVE. Watch the clip here: http://vevo.ly/JeMPGf. www.slashonline.com

Friday 18 May 2012

Cool Rock Mugs For Hot drinks

A thought for you to ponder: When you roll oput of bed in the morning all bleary eyed and semi conscious what do you pour your tea or cofee into. Is it some tatty old mug or even plastic cup. well Rock fans fear no more there is something way more cool than that in which to imbibe your favourite first drink of the day. In fact you can imbibe any time of the day and your friends will always be impressed.They have a great selection including mugs featuring bands like Genesis (Seen Above)
Check out the wonderful array of Rock Mugs here at Rockpots Ceramics. We here at CRR fully intend to acquire some of their fabulous products knowing that when we do enjoy our morning beverage we are incredibly cool whilst enjoying our hot drink :)

http://www.rockpotsonline.co.uk/6.html

Thursday 17 May 2012

New Asia Single Face On The Bridge Released This Week

New Asia Single Released This Week:
Legendary British prog rock supergroup ASIA are pleased to announce “Face On The Bridge” as the first single to be taken from their new studio album “XXX”. The single is released digitally on iTunes this week.

ASIA’s new album “XXX” is rele...ased in the UK by Frontiers Records on Monday July 2nd. The album dovetail’s the band’s 30th Anniversary and features the original line-up of Geoff Downes (keyboards), Steve Howe (guitar), Carl Palme...r (drums) and John Wetton (bass, lead vocals).

ASIA’s eponymous debut album, originally released in 1982, sold 10 million copies worldwide and spawned 6 hit singles including the global smash “Heat Of The Moment” – making it the biggest selling album in 1982. In October, the band will release the 30th Anniversary edition of their debut album as a box set with a previously unreleased bonus track and special features.

ASIA will embark on the UK leg of their 30th Anniversary Tour in December, with concerts in Tavistock, Holmfirth, Edinburgh, Salisbury, Birmingham, Manchester and London.

Monday 14 May 2012

Rick Wakeman Biography ‘Caped Crusader, Rick Wakeman In The 1970s’ with Foreword by Elton John Now Available!

Rick Wakeman Biography ‘Caped Crusader, Rick Wakeman In The 1970s’
with Foreword by Elton John Now Available!

Gonzo Media Group has just released ‘Caped Crusader, Rick Wakeman In The 1970s’ by veteran author, broadcaster and journalist, Dan Wooding, with a foreword by Elton John.
The book, the authorized biography of Rick Wakeman, who is arguably the world’s greatest rock keyboardist, is lavishly illustrated with dozens of photos from Wakeman’s extraordinary career which includes the time his career took off when he joined the folk group, Strawbs, in 1969, and played on three of their albums.

But the ultimate accolade – the biggest break of Rick’s career at that time – came shortly afterwards when a giant picture of Wakeman filled the front page of the Melody Maker in London, England, with the headline, “Tomorrow’s Superstar?”

The article said: “This is the man Keith Emerson hired a box at London’s Lyceum to hear. Since the twenty-one-year-old keyboard virtuoso joined the group [Strawbs], along with Ford and Hudson, [and] they’ve evolved into one of the most exciting bands of the folk-rock scene.”
Wooding’s book also includes fascinating descriptions of his several excursions with the British super group, Yes, and his many themed solo albums, including The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975).

Richard Christopher Wakeman (born May 18, 1949), was trained at the Royal College of Music in London, where he also went on to feature on songs by artists including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens.

Wakeman has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies.
Elton John, in his foreword for the book, said, “Rick’s mastery of electronic instruments only adds to his abilities, and I think it is fair to say he was one of the reasons I stuck to the piano. I also admire his attitude to stage shows – always willing to take a gamble, but never sacrificing his musical ideals. Just as important, never losing his sense of humour and his sense of the ridiculous. Anyone who can put on an ice show at Wembley must be all right. I must add that Rick loves cars and is a fanatic when it comes to soccer. Therefore, he and I have an unbreakable bond.

“It has become fashionable to knock musicians who have been around a while, and who are still determined to persevere in what they believe in. It is very easy to be misunderstood along the way, but it is vital to ignore trends and get on with what you want to do. Rick will always do this because, quite simply, he’s that much better than everyone else.”

Wooding, 71, founder of ASSIST and the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and the author of 45 books, was the first journalist to ever write a story about Rick Wakeman. It occurred more than 40 years ago while he was working on a local newspaper in Ealing, West London.

“I was looking for stories for the paper and had just called in on a shop called the Musical Bargain Centre in South Ealing Road, and it was then that I heard someone playing amazing keyboards at the back of the store,” said Wooding. “I waited until he had finished and then talked with him. That person was Rick Wakeman and he told me that he was then a student at the Royal College of Music in London and was also doing sessions with different musicians. He told me had had just played piano on and arranged Morning Has Broken for Cat Stevens and also played Mellotron on Space Oddity for David Bowie. Both went on to become number 1 hits both in the UK and the USA.

“Rick told me that he had never been interviewed before, so I wrote up the story for the paper and we became best friends. He invited me to his home in Northolt and I sat there spellbound as he played for me on his home piano. I had never heard anything like it.

“I shared with him a little about my background, explaining to him that I was born of missionary parents in Nigeria, and it was then that Rick told me that he was also a Christian and had been baptized at South Harrow Baptist Church and, at that time, was also a Sunday School teacher there.
“As his career blossomed, I went on to write his authorized biography, and this latest one, which contains some updates, has been reissued along with Elton John’s foreword, and the three of us even had our picture taken together at Brentford F.C. for the back cover of the book.”

Wooding, who now lives in Southern California, added, “Rick and I have remained close friends for all these years and he has also performed several concerts for ASSIST in the United States.
“I am delighted that his incredible story, or at least the earlier part of it, can be told again for those in this new generation, who possibly don’t know too much about the ‘Grumpy Old Man’ that they see on British TV, will be able to learn about his incredible talents as a keyboard player, composer and songwriter.”
Why the title?

Wooding says it comes from the fact that the blond figure of Wakeman would wrap his glittering shimmering cape around his giant frame and head on stage at arenas around the world to start another incredible performance on his battery of electronic keyboards.

And, even today, the “Caped Crusader” continues to push back the limits of music with his extraordinary talents.

Heart: Career Spanning Boxed Set Due For Release In June

Epic Records and Legacy Recordings proudly announce the release of Strange Euphoria, the first definitive career-spanning, multi-label boxed set retrospective chronicling the seminal American rock band Heart, personally curated by Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson.

A carefully-considered anthology of biggest hits and best-loved songs set alongside deep catalog treasures, rarities, demos and live performances, Strange Euphoria, three compact discs and one DVD in a deluxe box, will be available everywhere Tuesday, June 5.

"In all the years we have been making music we have seen trends come and go," said Ann Wilson. "We have always felt that to try and chase the latest 'it' sound is pointless, and we have tried to remain true to ourselves as songwriters and musicians. Sometimes we have had amazing success and heard ourselves on the radio...other times not so much, but the music is always playing in our house. In this box we have included many things that until now have never seen the light of day. Also here are our favorite deep tracks and live moments that really speak to who we are on the stage and the connection between us and the people who show up to rock. Enjoy this collection. It has many facets just like we do, but the spirit running through it is all Heart."

Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson, first showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the 1970s with hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," "Barracuda," 'Straight On," "Even It Up," "Kick It Out," and many more.  Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments, making them the first women in rock to do so.  Heart continued topping the charts through the '80s and into the '90s with huge hits like "These Dreams," "Alone," "Never," and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters' enormous talents as both musicians and singers.

Along the way, Heart sold more than 35 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and profoundly influenced the sound and direction of American rock music while inspiring women (and guys too!) around the world to rock out in bands of their own.

Heart were 2008 recipients of VH1 Rock Honors, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northwest Grammy Foundation, and received ASCAP's award for Excellence in Songwriting in 2009.


In August 2010, Red Velvet Car, the first new studio album in six years from Heart, entered the Billboard 200 best-selling album charts at #10, becoming the seventh Top 10 album of the group's career. The group's first album for Legacy Recordings, Red Velvet Car marked the return of the group to the Sony Music Entertainment family, reaching #1 in sales on Amazon.com in September.

What's made Heart endure across four decades and 13 studio albums, from Dreamboat Annie (1976) through Red Velvet Car (2010), is simply the quality of the music and the Wilsons' ability to connect to the emotions and experiences of their audience.

Strange Euphoria represents the first time Ann and Nancy have personally curated a collection of their work and is the only time they've opened up their vaults for demos and rarities never heard by the public. The set includes song-by-song annotations, anecdotes, and commentary by the Wilson sisters.

Saxon New Live CD/DVD Plus Live Gigs!

Freshly released, the Limited Edition (1000 copies only) format of the Saxon box set Heavy Metal Thunder – Live – Eagles Over Wacken has already SOLD OUT.  Hot on the heels of the release’ success, the band is now looking forward to a Main Stage slot at this year’s Download.

Heavy Metal Thunder – Live – Eagles over Wacken is available in several other formats, including vinyl.  The release features DVD highlights from Saxon‘s Wacken shows in 2004, 2007 and 2009 comprising 30 songs, plus a live CD from Glasgow in 2011. The British heavy metal legends perform all their unforgettable classics, from Denim & Leather and Metalhead to Heavy Metal Thunder and from Princess Of The Night to Crusader, for the 75,000 strong audience of the traditional German gathering

“When we first played Wacken, it was a small festival with a small stage in a small field, driven by nothing more than raw enthusiasm, which appealed very much to us!“ says Biff Byford, Saxon‘s venerable frontman, “it started as fans putting on a festival for fans, and now it‘s fair to say that it is to Heavy Metal what the Donington Festival used to be. That was the iconic heavy metal festival of the 80s, and Wacken is the iconic heavy metal festival of ‘now‘. And when the eagle comes down at Wacken, when it opens up over the audience, it is always an electric moment for those there” comments frontman Biff Byford referring to the famous Saxon metal eagle, now a symbol of both Wacken and Saxon’s history.

One of the best ever live metal bands and one of the best ever live metal Festivals come together, in a package sure to satisfy the most demanding fan and the youngest heavy metal follower wanting to get his hands on a piece of the genre’s glorious past.

The Band are also playing two high profile concerts in the coming weeks

UK DATES

26.05.2012 London - Hammersmith - Apollo (with Judas Priest)
09.06 2012 Donington – Download Festival

For more details about the band releases and tour dates visit the websites below


RUSH ANNOUNCE UK ARENA TOUR – MAY 2013

 Rush Announce UK Arena Tour in May 2013
Legendary Canadian band Rush have announced details of a UK Arena tour to take place in May 2013.The dates are listed below

2013
Wed May 22nd       Manchester Arena
Fri May 24th           London O2 Arena
Sun May 26th         Birmingham LG Arena
Tues May 28th       Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Thurs May 30th      Glasgow3 SECC

Tickets go on sale for the shows at 9AM on Friday 18th May priced at £60/£70 (Su7bject to Booking Fee) and will be available from the following outlets :



These dates will be the first dates from the band in the UK since the hugely successful Time Machine Tour in May 2011.
The tour dates come hot on the heels of the announcement of the latest Rush album Clockwork Angels which will be released through Roadrunner Records on June 11th
The album will be released via a "Fanpack" which will come as part of a specially commissioned magazine with contributions from the Classic Rock Magazine team of journalists. The fanpack can be pre ordered here

All earlybird orders will receive a personalised Rush Poster!

You can read More about the album Here:
http://classicrockradioeu.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rush-returns-with-clockwork-angels.html