IMPRESSIVE L.A. NEWCOMERS X-DRIVE TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM GET YOUR ROCK ON ON FRONTIERS:
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of X-Drive’s debut album entitled “Get Your Rock On” on August 22 in Europe and August 26 in North America.
X-Drive is a new band centered around guitar player Jeremy Brunner, an Oregon transplant, who – on the heels of his songwriting skills managed to put together an impressive debut with an affinity for catchy riffs, insightful lyrics and huge choruses.
Some of the best in Los Angeles have joined the ranks of X-DRIVE, including bassist James Lomenzo (White Lion, Megadeth, Black Label Society), singer Keith St. John (Burning Rain, Lynch Mob, Montrose) and to round out the project hard-hitting drummer Fred Fischerfrom Midline. Then legendary producer Andy Johns, the former Led Zeppelin engineer, was able to finish the X-DRIVE tracks just before his tragic death in 2013.
“It was such a pleasure to contribute to Jeremy’s effort! He has written and crafted an incredible homage to the style of 80’s rock, a style that I cut my teeth on back in the day,” Lomenzo said. “His love for the era and style really comes through in a surprisingly satisfying way.”
“Writing with Brunner was an absolute pleasure,” St. John said. “On the whole, the vehicle for his musical canvasses has been a breath of fresh air in directness and simplicity. I found myself patently inspired to fashion my parts for this collection of songs that was Jeremy’s own refreshing take on the ’80s.”
“Get Your Rock On” was mixed by Wyn Davis (Black Sabbath, Dio, Whitesnake, Dokken), and it took more than a year in the studio to make things just the way Brunner wanted, as the guitarist is a bit of a mastermind perfectionist. But it was definitely worth the wait! The X-DRIVE debut positively rocks from beginning to end.
Check out the official EPK here: youtu.be/LGavI-erOeI
“Get Your Rock On” will include the following tracklisting: Love’s A Bitch; Get Your Rock On; Steppin’ On The Rock; Baby Bye Bye; California; Lay Me Down; Turn The Noize Down; Beyond the Angels; Rattlesnake Eyes; Just Can’t Stay; Change of Heart; Love Breaks the Fool.
Weblinks: www.x-drivemusic.com / www.facebook.com/XDriveMusic.
xx
NIGHT RANGER – KNOCK KNOCK – VIDEO:
From the new abum HighRoad comes the new video Knock Knock (Never Stop).
MR. BIG ARE COMING BACK:
Mr. Big are powering the machine back up and are returning to the studio for a brand new album due before the end of the year! And the first tour dats are in – Japan in November:
11/7 Iwate
11/8 Miyagi
11/10 Tokyo Budokan
11/12 Osaka
11/15 Hiroshima
11/17 Nagoya
11/19 Fukuoka
ACE FREHLEY DEBUTS “GIMME A FEELIN'”:
Founding Kiss guitarist and 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ace Frehley has debuted an all new single titled Gimme a Feelin’. You can listen to the song here: soundcloud.com/steamhammer-spv/ace-frehley-gimme-a-feelin
“Gimme a Feelin'” is now available for purchase on all digital platforms in Europe.
The new effort serves as the first single from his all new LP Space Invader slated for a late summer release via Steamhammer/SPV in Europe as Digipak, 2LP, standard version and download.
WebLinks: www.acefrehley.com / www.spv.de.
RUSH’S LEGENDARY ‘PRESTO’ ALBUM TO BE RELEASED AS HYBRID SACD:
Camarillo, CA – Rush fans rejoice! Marshall Blonstein’s Audio Fidelity will be reissuing Rush’s legendary ‘Presto’ album on limited numbered edition Hybrid SACD! Rush were never a band known to play the same sort of thing for any extended period, they often pushed the boundaries of rock and their formidable list of albums helped to bring prog to a wider audience. By 1989 a change was inevitable and with their 13th studio album, ‘Presto’, it was a change for the good. ‘Presto’ marked the beginning of a transition period, moving away from a sound dominated by synthesizers and toward more traditional rock instrumentation. The synths were toned back while the guitars were brought up to a reasonable level allowing the emphasis to return to the rhythm instruments, resurrecting the groove that Rush maintains so very well.
“A creative rebirth – producing a groove that’s positively infectious.”
Geddy Lee and Neal Peart are in good form, but Alex Lifeson is the real story, he can be heard in grand force and even pulls out the acoustic guitar. Lifeson’s leads in “Superconductor” are brilliant, Geddy Lee does great solo work on “Show Don’t Tell” and Peart’s percussion on “Scars” features a complex tribal rhythm drum pattern in which both acoustic and electronic drums are utilized – a synthesis of the two that’s accessible without compromising. Each of these tracks, along with? “The Pass,”? reached the top of the Album Rock Tracks charts with “Show Don’t Tell” hitting #1. ‘Presto’ climbed to #16 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.
Rush made a stab at greatness with ‘Presto’ and Rupert Hine’s deft production had much to do with its success.
Tracks: 1. Show Don’t Tell 2. Chain Lightning 3. The Pass 4. War Paint 5. Scars 6. Presto 7. Superconductor 8. Anagram (for Mongo) 9. Red Tide 10. Hand Over Fist 11. Available Light.
Produced by Rupert Hine Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
For more information: www.audiofidelity.net/content/rush-presto.
LOST WEEKEND TO SUPPORT RAGE OF ANGELS:
Lost Weekend have been confirmed as support to UK’s Rage Of Angels on 2 of their UK shows in July. The dates confirmed are:
Wednesday 9th July @ The River Rooms, Stourbridge [www.theriverrooms.com]
Thursday 10th July @ The Railway, Bolton [www.railwayvenue.com]
These shows are part of Lost Weekend’s latest live shows in support of their critically acclaimed new record, Evermore. The new record has gained the band new fans and highlights their diverse writing & playing on tracks such as Reach For The Sky, Perfect Day & Angel Sublime to name a few. As well as enjoying the promotion on the road, the band have produced an excellent video for Reach For The Sky (See their You Tube channel for details) and are in talks about doing another video (details tbc).
The band are looking for further shows for the remainder of the year, but have been gaining rave reviews in magazines like Classic Rock for their recently played shows.
For further information on the band please check out: www.lostweekend.net / www.facebook.com/lostweekenduk
INTERVIEWS WITH CHRIS VON ROHR (KROKUS) AND GEORGE LYNCH:
Rich Davenport’s Rock Show this week features in-depth interviews with Chris Von Rohr of Krokus, and guitar hero George Lynch (KXM, Lynch Mob, ex-Dokken), and is available now for streaming at this link: www.mixcloud.com/richdav1/rich-davenports-rock-show-krokus-george-lynch-kxm-lynch-mob-ex-dokken-interviews/
In the first hour of the show, Chris Von Rohr, bassist, producer, songwriter and founding member of Krokus talks about the band’s explosive new live album, “Long Stick Goes Boom (Live From Da House Of Rust)”, which sees the band tearing through a set list containing a wealth of vintage Krokus favourites and fine new songs in their classic style from their recent studio records. You’ll hear Chris’s choice of songs from the new live album and all the latest news on the band and their plans.
In part two, guitar legend George Lynch talks about the European release of the debut album from KXM (featuring George alongside Dug Pinnick (Kings X) and Ray Luzier (Korn)), the remastered re-reissue of the classic first Lynch Mob record “Wicked Sensation” (out now on http://www.rockcandyrecords.com) and his range of hand-built (by George himself!), custom-made guitars (www.mrscaryguitars.com)
The show also features classic tracks and killer new cuts from Thin Lizzy, Gamma Ray, Alice Cooper, Motorhead and Tragedy.
You can also listen on Sunday 8th June 15:00-17:00 GMT and Wednesday 11th June 22:00-00.00 GMT on www.totalrock.com, and on demand on hot new Texas rock and metal station KXZR Radio at http://www.kxzr.fm
RICHIE ZITO INTERVIEWED:
This week Double Stop chats with producer/writer/musician Richie Zito. “We cover him being signed to Atlantic Records at the age of 15, playing with Elton John, Rick James, Beach Boys, and Ringo, and Producing Heart, The Cult, Poison and Richie Kotzen. And that’s just scratching the surface. We Hear Riche Zito talk about his entire career, and why he is still obsessed with the guitar.
WebLink: thedoublestop.com/ep-18-richie-zito-elton-john-mr-big-richie-kotzen/
MELODIC BRIEFS:
Jason Roche’s newest article for LA Weekly is a profile on the trials and tribulations of vocalist Jack Russell of Great White fame. For our interview with him about his battles with addiction and the legal battle over the Great White band name, Russell invited us onto the houseboat in which he currently resides in Redondo Beach, California. We also obtained additional comments from Mark Kendall, his partner in founding Great White thirty years ago. Here is the link if you want to check it out: www.laweekly.com/2014-06-05/music/great-whites-jack-russell-is-a-hair-metal-survivor/
WebArt Records proudly announce the release of John Jeff Touch New Video Clip “Hey U”. It is the first video of “Warnings” album. “Hey U” is included in “Warnings” album, released by WebArt Records on January 2014. youtu.be/WArYBpxOeIU. iTunes Link:itunes.apple.com/us/album/warnings/id787240169 / www.johnjefftouch.net.
Here is the complete video for the first single, “Whispers of the Soul” from VHF: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihVBUuPO9S0
CD “Very High Frequency” will be released in 3 weeks on iTunes, CD Baby.
Hard Rock Heaven 