Leslie West New Solo Album 'Unusual Suspects' Due in September!

Legendary guitarist and Mountain founder 'Leslie West' will release the new solo album, 'Unusual Suspects', on Monday September 19th. The album follows the recent news that West underwent life-saving surgery on June 17th, when his leg was amputated above the knee. While an ordeal such as this would surely deter other artists, West insisted on honouring the 'Unusual Suspects' album release date in September.

Released by Provogue Records, 'Unusual Suspects' features West performing alongside an all-star hand-picked line-up of the world's finest guitar players, including Slash, blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Black Label Society front man and ex-Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Toto's Steve Lukather. 'Unusual Suspects' is West's first album since 2006's 'Blue Me'

"These guys don't just show up to play on everybody's albums," says West on his special guests and the album's title. "They're all stars in their own right, and fantastic players - everyone with their own sound and style, about as far from the usual suspects as it gets."

Leslie is pictured above with Joe Bonamassa
Photo © Alex Solca

Deep Purple headline Royal Albert Hall tonight (The Sunflower Charity event)

DEEP PURPLE HEADLINE THE SUNFLOWER JAM CHARITY CONCERT AT
THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL – 8TH JULY 2011

This will be a fantastic memorable night for sure and all for a good cause,we love good causes especially the rocking ones!

Deep Purple are set to play their first UK show in over two years at London’s Royal Albert Hall tonight the 8th July 2011 in aid of the Sunflower Jam Charity. This unique one-off event will also feature
an eclectic array of illustrious stars such as Joe Bonamassa, Newton Faulkner, Rick Wakeman & Danny Bowes alongside the Master of Ceremonies, Jeremy Irons and a handful of very
special guests including former Deep Purple keyboard maestro, Jon Lord, who will
be joining the band onstage for the first time in almost a decade



The Sunflower Jam Charity exists to raise money and awareness of functional medicine and alternative treatments, to offer children and young adults
with chronic illness and give them a choice.

The Sunflower Jam charity was co-founded by Jackie Paice, wife of Deep Purple’s Ian Paice. The Prince of Wales will meet musicians and guests at a reception prior to the Sunflower Jam Concert.

We at Classic Rock Radio think this event truly rocks and wish all those involved, and all attending , a fantastic night!For more information please see http://www.thesunflowerjam.com

(c)Marilyn Michaels

Love Hope Strength Foundation -rocking for a great cause

Who amongst us hasn't been touched by the dreaded 6 letter C word in some way? Be it directly or indirectly - cancer is something that affects us all in some form.


Love Hope Strength Foundation is an international, music-related cancer charity dedicated to providing support and inspiration to those affected, throughout the world. Their mission is to save lives now, with the advances that have already been made in cancer care. While they do not fund cancer research, they use funds to purchase medical equipment and supplies, raise awareness through special events, documentaries and media, build cancer centers and find bone marrow donors.

Mike Peters the charismatic lead singer of The Alarm & Big Country has himself fought the battle TWICE. He co-founded Love Hope Strength Foundation UK with the President of CSI Entertainment James Chippendale they believe that awareness, early detection and proper treatment should not be a luxury and wanted to find a way to ensure that all people have access to the same resources that saved their lives.


Music is a universal language and the Love Hope Strength Foundation has performed concerts on 6 continents. They have led musical pilgrimages to remote venues such as the base camp of Everest, the top of The Empire State Building, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, and the glacier of Kilimanjaro.

Musicians from every corner of the globe have joined in ,from high school bands and Nepalese folk singers, to legends in rock n’ roll such as members of The Cult, Squeeze and many more

Funds from worldwide events have:

•Purchased the very first mammography machine for the country of Nepal.
•Purchased the first Nucletron brachytherapy afterloader (internal radiation) machine for the country of Nepal.
•Funded a mobile cancer unit in Peru which will educate, screen and treat up to 30,000 patients per year in remote regions of Peru.
•Funded a new wing for a cancer care center in Wales.
•Supported the Valerie Fund in New Jersey, USA, a center for children with cancer and blood disorders.
•Added over 2,000 people to the national marrow database.
•Brought supplies to cancer centers in need around the world.
•Sent cd’s and dvd’s to cancer centers around the world to brighten the day of patients through music.
•Created an army of LHS volunteers who perform amazing acts of kindness and generosity in their communities.
•Released the “Everest Rocks” documentary on MTV’s HD channel Palladia.

I cannot take credit for this writing, as most of this is from http://www.lovehopestrength.co.uk but I can tell you that I recently interviewed Mike Peters twice for a 2 Part feature on The Alarm, which have already aired (see http://classicrockradio.eu/listenagain ) and we also recorded a seperate interview about the Love Hope Strength Foundation which you will be able to hear soon on Classic Rock Radio

It is REALLY vital that we all do our part in this battle against cancer - remember, cancer affects us all - either directly or indirectly - who amongst us has not lost someone to this dreadful illness or known omeone fighting it? Let's all do our part to help either by attending events, donating time or money, spreading the word, getting on the list of blood & bone marrow donors, just doing ONE of those things - is a help.

One forthcoming LHSF event is Snowdon Rocks V - Sunday, 14 August 2011 it will feature a fundraising trek to the Snowdon summit following the Llanberis/Railway Path with intimate performances along the way from Mike Peters and other renowned LHS musicians (depending on weather conditions)

We wil bring you more information on this event soon

Marilyn Michaels

PS- this is an excellent video about LHSF - please view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HzeUeGeVi4









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Aerosmith - Back To Work

It seems ages since the last Aerosmith album, in fact the last studio album was back in 2004 OK not strictly true there has been a compilation album Devil's Got a New Disguise but no bonafide new stuff. It wasn't looking too good what with the various spells in hospital for knees (Perry) throats (Tyler) cancer (Tom Hamilton) and lots of other stuff adding to the medical bills.
The continuing animosity between Joe Perry and Steven Tyler was making it look unlikely the band would be together for much longer and when Tyler fell off the stage landing back in hospital I was certain it was just a question of getting a 'fat lady to sing'.

The handbagging continued through the media with stories that Tyler was out of the band which were denied, that Perry was looking for another more responsible singer rumoured to be Lenny Kravitz ( Just checking to see if that was a pig flying by the window).Then just as it all seemed to going down the pan in 2010 off they go touring but even that did not go so well as Joe Perry got struck by Tylers microphone stand and then Tyler fell off the stage after a 'playful' nudge from Perry .

It must have been the final straw when it emerged Tyler was going to be a judge on American Idol ,Joe Perry was more annoyed that he found out rather than the band being told by Steven.

So thats it then? well not so as of this week the band is back in the studio recording with Joe Douglas as their producer what will be their fifteenth studio album. Drummer Joey Kramer commented today on Twitter "One word bout first day in studio; Inspiring" Good luck guys

Checkin out the studio w the man himself Jack Douglas on Twitpic

Yes: Fly From Here

Yes: Fly From here
Frontiers

Well if ever there was going to be an album that divided an audience then this album would be a prime candidate. Why I hear you ask? Well to some people Yes without Jon Anderson is unthinkable but let’s be honest here in all of the bands career Yes have been all about pushing the frontiers of music and in order to do that there has been a big turnover in membership.

The current line up now includes the three long time members of Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White and new vocalist Benoit David and former member Geoff Downes on keyboards. The album has also been produced by another former member Trevor Horn who sings on the extended suite of Songs We Can Fly From Here and I suspect a fair bit more of the album judging by what I can hear. So what you have is the Drama line up plus Benoit. Not a bad line up to my thinking.You might also recall that the Drama album was the first not to feature Jon Anderson so a precedent with regards an album featuring another vocalist has already been set.

Fly From here is the first yes album since Magnification in 2001 and as such the fan base has been almost chomping at the bit.

So what do we have here? Well first off in my opinion this is the album Yes had to make and I think they have pulled it off in spades. Fly From Here is a pretty good Yes album and as you will all now it features the Drama line up on a large portion of it. The big draw here is the opening track We Can Fly From here which is divided up into various parts or suites if you like six to be precise. This was the track that Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes originally presented to Yes in late 1979 when the Drama line up first came together although I think that this particular version has been fleshed out somewhat and extended rather then the shorter demo version that is readily available on thye bootleg circuit. Here it is lengthened to provide an epic track very much in the style of Yes and if some of the fan base can have an open mind there is much to enjoy with this extended suite of songs. My favourite part is the fourth piece Madman At The Screens but there really is a cohesive feel to the whole of the song and Trevor does sing well throughout aided and abetted by Benoit David and Chris Squire

Another highlight for me and possibly the highlight of the album is the final track Into The Storm which is a fantastic track and whilst breaking new ground in terms of sound it does retain that “Yes” sound and feel. For ong time fans and perhaps those who aren't sure the track Hour of Need definitely has that “Classic Yes” feel with Benoit sounding incredibly like Jon Anderson and if there were such things as singles these days then this track could be the ideal choice.

Of course any new album after such a long break from the studio is bound to arouse much interest and Fly From Here is no exception. What I would suggest to those who perhaps are wary is play this album a few times and let it sink in. I remember that Drama had a similar effect on the Yes Fan base all those years ago and now the album is quite rightly regarded as a classic the same went for 90125.

The reason Yes has managed to continue for so long is because they have never been afraid to embrace change. After all one of the bands early songs was called Perpetual Change. So let Yes move on and who knows maybe Fly From here can attract some new fans which really can’t be a bad thing. Fly From here may well divide the fan base but it is an excellent album nevertheless!

Fly From here in my opinion is far more likely to please than upset and over forty two years on into their career Yes can be confident that once again they have delivered the right album at the right time.

Jon Anderson To Play Select Summer Concerts In Support Of New CD Release

Music legend and original YES vocalist Jon Anderson
will be playing select concert dates this summer in support of his critically
acclaimed new CD release 'Survival & Other Stories'.

Jon Anderson, who has one of the most recognisable voices in music, and is best known for his work with YES, Vangelis and Kitaro, as well as his innovative solo efforts, recently completed a successful tour of the East Coast in the US.

The new leg of the tour will concentrate on the North West US and several dates in Canada (listed below), and promises to deliver an exciting mixture of material from Jon Anderson's prolific solo career, collaborations with Vangelis and classic YES songs, along with new compositions from his new CD 'Survival & Other Stories'.


Jon Anderson North American Summer Tour Dates:


July 9 - Courtenay, BC Vancouver, Canada - Island Musicfest at Exhibition Grounds
July 10 - Courtenay, BC Vancouver, Canada - Island MusicFest at Exhibition Grounds
July 12 - Seattle, WA - The Triple Door
July 14 - Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
July 31 – Vernon, BC, Canada – Komasket Music Festival Komasket Park
Aug 3 - Lincolnshire, IL - Viper Alley
Aug 5 - Saint Charles, IL -Arcada Theatre
Aug 7 - Jerseyville, ON - Festival Of Friends Ancaster Fairgrounds (with America)
Aug 11 - Shirley, MA - Bull Run Restaurant


Jon's recently released CD 'Survival & Other Stories' has been garnering rave
reviews worldwide Reviews and is available to buy directly from the Gonzo Multimedia Website Here:

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15285/Jon_Anderson-Survival_And_Other_Stories.html

For tour dates please visit

www.jonanderson.com/tour.html

Publicity Inquiries: Billy James, Glass Onyon PR, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Gary Wright :The Dreamweaver In Conversation With Jon Kirkman on Classic Rock Radio

Gary Wright has been a mainstay on the music scene for more than forty years both with the band Spooky Tooth and Wonderwheel and as a solo perfromer. In 1975 he released an album that would become the biggest of his career; Dream Weaver.

In 2011 Gary is on tour in Europe with the Ringo Starr All Starr Band.
Classic Rock radio's Jon Kirkman spoke to Gary Wright Backstage at the Liverpool Empire on the All Starr Band's current tour. gary talked about Spooky Tooth his time working with both George Harrison and Ringo Starr and of course Dream Weaver and his new album Connected

You can hear Gary in converstaion with Jon Kirkman on Classic Rock radio

http://www.classicrockradio.eu/

The feature goes out at
11am,8pm and 4am UK time Wednesday 29th June Thursday 30th June and Friday and Friday 1st July.

Gary Wright's latest album is Connected and available to buy directly from his website

http://www.thedreamweaver.com/