The Tango Clown lives to fight another day as we implode - Faye sent off, Beattie looking a shadow of last season and Colins & Huth all over the shop. But Etherington was a star again, Kitson looked good and Tuncay came on although at the expense of Fuller. Even a former player scored, yes Ollyfinjana.

Onwards and upwards…Pompey after the international break.

2009 has been another great year for albums and comebacks. There will be albums released this year I haven’t heard yet (eg Foreigner) which could have made my list. Where to start?

Melodic rock wise Places Of Power (Frontiers) was a stunning start to the year – an album to keep Foreigner fans happy that’s for sure. Lovers of Def Leppard look no further than Grand Design (Metal Heaven) who set out to create an album paying homage to the Mutt Lange era Def Leppard and they did in in style.

House Of Lords ‘Cartesian Dreams’ (Frontiers) is their best album since they reformed and harks back to ‘Demon’s Down’, hardly surprising as the co-writer on that album features on this new one.

For pure AOR try 101 South’s ‘No U Turns’ (AOR Heaven), this shows how AOR should be done. Bad Habbit (AOR Heaven) also produced a highly polished and enjoyable set of AOR/melodic rock tunes with some stunning ballads.

Covered Call came from nowhere to produce an album that is not only melodic hard rock but managed to add a couple of  moments of classy pop rock. Speaking of pop rock the masters returned with their best album since the 80’s, yes Cheap Trick ‘The Latest’ (Indie) is a delight with never a dull moment. This leads nicely into one of Cheap Trick’s biggest fans, Ginger and his band the Wildhearts released a real return to form with ‘Chutzpah!’ This has the band really firing on all six with catchy choruses, massive riffs and err some thrash metal.

Of the debut albums the Jokers really hit a chord with me and if you like 70’s Aerosmith and the Stones, in fact classic 70’s rock, this band will appeal to you. Draven also made a splash with another album steeped in classic rock influnences although they do have some more modern rock songs in their armoury. In a more melodic vein, Firenote give bands like Brother Firetribe and the Poodles a run for their money. A very accomplished debut ad looking forward to the next one already.

I do like a varied listening base and thanks to Bill Leslie over at the excellent Rock Of Ages I discovered Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy’s latest work, the Duckworth Lewis Method. It is all based around cricket and is simply wonderful – ‘Jiggery Pokery’ and ‘Test Match Special’ should be on everyone’s IPod/MP3 player.

One band whose last couple of releases I have not been that taken with are Dream Theater but their new album ‘Black Clouds And Silver Linings’ (Roadrunner) is one of their best. The musicianship is top notch as you’d expect but now the band have found their melody again rather than drift off into endless solos.  Staying prog the Sine Star Project sounds like Muse but they add their own melodic and weird spin on the music. IQ’s ‘Frequency’ (GEP) is another band back on peak form and if you have never tried an album by this band this is a recommended starting point. Lots of big production and lush musical arrangements, sheer bliss. Roswell Six ropes in a whole host of musical stars including John Payne (Ex-Asia), Erik Norlander and James LaBrie (Dream Theater) amongst others. Based on a bestselling fantasy novel series and it is great fun to listen to!

Medlodic rock legends Giant release a new album early next year and they have announced their line-up. Joining original members David Huff (drums) and Mike Brignardello (bass) are vocalist Terry Brock (Strangeways/The Sign/Seventh Key) and former Winger guitarist John Roth. Dan Huff is still involved in the writing and production side. With Terry Brock on vocals this could well be a monster album!

Stoke threw away a two goal lead in a classic case of a game of two halves. Stoke dominated the first half with two goals – an own goal aided by James Beattie and a lovely goal by Matthew Etherington. But the second half belonged to Wolves as Jody Craddock bagged two goals and it could have gone either way as Ab Faye missed a sitter late on. Wolves fan Robert Plant was spotted in the away end….

The Tango Man steps closer to the Order of the Golden Boot as Hull lost 2-0 at Burnley and who do they play next? Us

Guitarist Marty Paris is one half Paris Keeling (that’s vocalist Kelly Keeling of Baton Rogue fame)  who have just released ‘End Of The Ride’. An album well worth a listen. 

1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans)

Right now I am in the studio working on a new album with the band Permanent Reverse. The line up includes Corky McClellan (Baton Rouge) Maxx Mann (Trans Siberian Orchestra) Greg Cerenzia and Mike Arrington. The music is progressive – rock – soul. Really cool stuff. And of course I’m promoting the new Paris Keeling album!

2. Could you take us through the songs on ‘End Of Ride’ (e.g. ideas behind the songs, songwriting process etc)?

‘Life’ is a song I wrote about a time in my life where I was looking for something and I didn’t know just what. I had an affair on my wife and it’s kind of an apology to her. ‘Morning Song’ is a song that Kelly brought to the album. He told me he wrote it while spending time in a temple in San Diego. I wrote ‘Tears of Heaven’ on September 11th 2001 – I knew a lot of people that worked at the World Trade Center. I can’t understand the thought processes of terrorists – so it just kind of came out with a lot of emotion. When we got in the studio to record it Kelly and Don added the brilliant chorus that was missing.

‘Color Blind’ was written on the spot at 3:00 AM in the morning one night Kelly and I were hanging out in the studio – pure magic! ‘End of Ride’ is three songs. Kelly brought the intro that he recorded in his studio as well as the ending. We wrote and recorded ‘Middle of the Road’ and then stitched it all together with the help of Erik Norlander. We brought in Corky McClellan (from Kelly’s band Baton Rouge) on drums and finished the track shortly after. That song was A LOT of work, but came out miraculously. ‘These Days’ was a song that Kelly worked on with George Lynch while touring with George Lynch. We wrote the lyrics for that one on a Saturday afternoon while completely sober – pretty ironic huh? It’s a message about addiction and where addiction leads.

‘I Learned From The Inside’ is a song that I recorded a couple of years before we started working on the album. It took nine guitar tracks to accomplish that one and it is one of my best instrumentals. I ended up licensing that one to ESPN – but they haven’t used it yet. ‘Free’ is a song idea Kelly brought to the project. We decided that it needed strings so I got Matt Goeke (my cello guru) to score the string parts and we recorded it in New York City on May 5th 2006 – coincidently the same day Kelly auditioned for TSO. We dedicated that one to the troops, and it is probably KK’s best vocal performance on the album. ‘She Was’ is a song I wrote for a movie soundtrack completely on spec. ‘I’ve Found’ is a Kelly and Don Dokken collaboration.

‘Head Straight’ came straight from Kelly’s head – does that make sense?? ‘Feel’ was a song that we considered on the first release. It’s all Kelly – I just scored and produced the cello tracks – one of my KK faves. I wrote and recorded ‘Alive’ as a tribute to all of us who have been able to do what we love to do – at any price. Al Pitrelli played lead guitar on that one and it is a favorite of mine. It goes over really well live.
 
3. How did you first hook-up with Kelly Keeling? 

I met Kelly in 2005 shortly after he recorded Furious George with Lynch. I heard the album and reached out to his manager. It was my first exposure to his unbelievable pipes.
 
4. Who decided on the cover of ELO’s ‘Telephone Line’? Did the band record any other cover versions?

No that’s our only cover. Kelly and I were drinking Grand Marnier one night after a show and I told him that we should do a cover of an old song that we both loved. And I swear that we simultaneously said Telephone Line. We recorded the piano that night and Kelly actually played the drums that night too. I recorded the synth later and we started tracking vocals separately. That song almost killed me as a producer. It took so many tracks to get that song right. But I think it was worth it.

Full interview will appear soon on Get Ready To Rock!

Drumming legend Carmine Appice is currently touring with his own drum show Slamm! plus going on the road with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus. His Guitar Zeus Project albums have just been re-released as well.

1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans)
I’ve been doing gigs with my drum show slamm! 
http://www.slammusa.com

  2. How did the whole Guitar Zeus idea come about? How did you decide which guitarists to approach and how much freedom were they allowed in the song for their own ideas/soloing?
I GOT THE IDEA BECAUSE DRUMMERS NEVER GOT TO DO SOLO ALBUMS ..ALWAYS THE GUITAR PLAYERS AND SINGERS…SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO DO A GUITAR ALBUM BY A DRUMMER…IT WORKED..ONLY THE GUITARISTS WERE USED TO BRING ATTENTION TO GREAT SONGS, PLAYING AND EAR CANDY AS WELL AS GREAT SOLOS.
I HAD GUITARISTS I LIKED AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD DO IT. THEN AS WORD GOT AROUND ABOUT THE ALBUM. IT GOT EASIER. SOME PEOPLE CALLED ME. EACH GUITARIST PLAYED WHAT THEY WANTED TO…
 
3. The compilation is out now but will there be any future Guitar Zeus albums at some stage in the future?
DON’T KNOW AS THESE ALBUMS BOTH COST OVER $100,000  DOLLARS EACH. I WOULD NEED A BIG BUDGET FOR IT. LABELS DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY ANYMORE UNLESS YOUR A POP IDOL OR RAPPER !!
 
4. Turning to Blue Murder…is there any chance this band will get back together especially now John Sykes has left Thin Lizzy? Why did the band call it a day?
WE CALLED IT A DAY BECAUSE THE FIRST ALBUM  DIDN’T SELL THROUGH IN THE USA AS IT SHOULD HAVE AND IT TOOK AWHILE TO RECOVER EVEN THOUGH IT BECAME A METAL CLASSIC…SO WE WEREN’T PREPARED FOR THAT..BY THE TIME WE FIGURED IT OUT, GRUNGE WAS IN AND ALL METAL WAS OUT…YES WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING IT AGAIN BUT NOTHING CONCRETE. IT WOULD BE AWESOME THOUGH…

5. What have been the most memorable live shows form you and why?
ACTUALLY THERE ARE TOO MANY..6 NIGHTS AT THE FORUM WITH ROD,  CENTRAL PARK WITH VANILLA FUDGE, BBA IN NYC FELT FORUM..EACH ONE IS SPECIAL…BUT LUCKILY I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO STILL HAVE MEMORATIVE SHOWS EVEN WITH SLAMM !!!

6. Could you tell us a little more about your work with Little Kids Rock?
WELL, I ENJOY WORKING WITH THESE KIDS BECAUSE THEY GET SO LIT UP AT MY SESSIONS WITH THEM..THEY REALLY HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR NIEGHBORHOOD..IT IS A GREAT FEELING GIVING THEM DRUM SETS AND ENTERTAINING THEM AND WATCHING THEM LIGHT UP..I REALLY ENJOY IT AND THEY ARE LEARNING THE ARTFORM OF ROCK MUSIC..
LKR  GIVES THEM INSTRUMENTS AND TEACHERS AFTER SCHOOL IN THE INNER CITY SCHOOLS TO KEEP THE KIDS OFF THE STREET..IT IS GREAT!!
 
7.  How did you get your first break into the music business? What piece of advice would you pass onto budding musicians?
TIMES ARE DIFFERENT NOW..MY USUAL ADVICE WOULD BE GET A BAND, CREATE A FOLLOWING, RECORD A RECORD..SELL THOUSANDS  OF RECORDS, THEN A MAJOR WOULD PICK YOU UP..THAT’S WHAT VANILLA FUDGE DID…AND MANY BANDS AFTER THAT…BUT TODAY I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THE LABELS ARE SO DIFFERENT..INTERNET HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING..I DON’T KNOW HOW BANDS TODAY MAKE IT WITHOUT RADIO…IT USE TO BE RADIO SOLD YOUR RECORDS. TODAY IT’S NOT THAT WAY..

8. Cactus – how was the ‘V’ album received given the last studio album was released back in the 70’s? Has the band attracted a younger set of fans to the shows now?
WELL  UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN V CAME OUT, THE LABEL WENT OUT OF BUSINESS…WE GOT GREAT REVIEWS ..BUT DON’T KNOW HOW MANY CDS WE SOLD. I DO KNOW THE YOUNGER FANS HAVE EMBRACED CACTUS. THE RHINO DOUBLE CDS HAVE SOLD OUT. AND THE CACTUS LIVE DVD SOLD THOUSANDS. I THINK IF WE HAD A BETTER LABEL, IT WOULD HAVE SOLD WELL. BUT WE ARE REMIXING IT AND RELEASING A 2 DISC PACKAGE CACTUS V PLUS BONUS TRACKS WITH A LIVE DVD COAST TO COAST …TOGETHER THE PACKAGE WILL BE CALLED  “CACTUS MUSIC”  RELEASED ON FUEL 2000 RECORDS ALSO [LIKE GUITAR ZEUS]

9. Who have been the biggest musical influences on you and do you hear your influence on any modern drummers?
MY INFLUENCES WERE BUDDY RICH,GENE KRUPA,JOE MORELLO AND MAX ROACH..THESE WERE JAZZ DRUMMERS. YES, I SEE MY INFLUENCE AROUND IN ROCK DRUMMING AND KNOW FAMOUS GUYS LIKE JOEY FROM SLIPNOT SAND OTHER LIKE THAT WHO WENT THROUGH MY DRUM BOOK REALISTIC ROCK !!

10. Message for your fans…
ALWAYS MAKE A GOAL FOR YOURSELF  AND STRIVE TO REACH THAT GOAL. THAT IS ABOUT ANYTHING IN LIFE YOU TRY TO DO……. AND PRACTICE YOUR INSTRUMENT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN…PRACTICE DOES MAKE PERFECT…

THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW, JASON

CA

GMT – Bernie Torme, John McCoy and Robin Guy:

FRI 6 NOV 2009: THE GAFF CLUB, Holloway, London
382 Holloway Rd London, N7 6PN, Venue 020 76071555, thegaffclub@hotmail.co.uk,
Support: ACHILLA, CATFIGHT, BANGTOY
Info and Tickets from Venue, (text 07869249706 for personal delivery)
Online Tickets www.ticketweb.co.uk

SAT 7 NOV 2009: MUSIC LIVE, NEC, Birmingham
National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, B40 Venue 0121 780 4141
GMT Onstage @ 2 pm.
Info and Tickets www.musiclive.co.uk

SAT 14 NOV 2009: YARDBIRDS Grimsby,
Yardbirds Rock Club, Church Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 7DD Venue: 07771520374
Support: The Virgin Marys,
Info and Tickets www.myspace.com/yardbirdsrockclub

SUN 15 NOV 2009: The Tut N Shive Yeadon, Leeds,
The Tut N Shive, 11 Kirk Lane Yeadon Leeds, LS19 7 EP
Venue: 0113 250116052
Info www.myspace.com/thetutnshive

SAT 28 NOV 2009: THE DIAMOND, Ballymena, N.I.
Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill, Ballymena, Antrim, Northern Ireland BT42 1JZ Venue 07989588931
Info and Tickets www.myspace.com/thediamondbar

THURS 3 DEC 2009: HARD ROCK HELL III, Prestatyn, North Wales
HRH III, Pontins, Prestatyn, North Wales, LL19 7LA
GMT headline HRHIII VIP Party Thursday 3 Dec 2009
Info and Tickets www.hardrockhell.com

Looking back at the best of the first decade of the 21st century and first up are GRTR! reviewer & photographer Ian Pollard plus a few album selections from singer/songwriter Chris Singleton…

Best of the decade in… Albums – I’ve thought about this one for ages, with many fine albums invading the thoughts, but I always somehow managed to come back to one album which is absolutely 100% awesome from start to finish, so the winner is… Uriah Heep’s “Wake The Sleeper“

Gigs – So, album was hard, this was nearly impossible! I am going to go for a festival performance that is unlikely to be repeated, never came to the UK, and was an absolute privilege to see… Tobias Sammett’s Avantasia at SRF 2008

Films/DVD’s – going to keep this one simple, Magnum’s “Livin’ The Dream“. Easy choice

Books – Anything not written by Dan Brown

Comebacks – The Boston Red Sox in ‘that’ ALCS vs the Yankees. Simply amazing!

Sadly missed – All the British service personnel who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sporting events – England beating Australia in the 2003 RWC final. Never expended so much nervous energy in my life.

Person of the decade – Clare, my wife… at least that is what she told me to say!

Chris Singleton’s album choices (check out his ‘Twisted City’ album, a definate highlight of the past decade music wise)…

Soulwax ‘Much Against Everyone’s Advice’

Aimee Mann ‘Magnolia’

Supergrass S/T

German prog rockers Eloy return with their first new album in ten years. ‘Visionary’ is released via Laser’s Edge Records on January 12th. A band worthy of a place in any prog rock fans collection.

Rod Stewart has said he wants to reunite with the Faces next year as this on/off reunion rumbles on…

Peter Gabriel finally releases a new album due early next year. Looking forward to this one!

Oh well back to the league…

Ten changes to Saturday’s line-up and we were by all accounts pants. Tuncay started as did Dave Kitson with Big Mama Sidibie back after a long injury for a second half appearance. Lets hope we get back to winning ways against the Dingles….sorry Wolves on Saturday.