When the pandemic hit, we had to cancel all touring. Sometimes a long break can be just what you need. After about a year partly spent writing, rewriting, arranging and rehearsing a new album, travel was once again possible. We were fired up and ready to go! We recorded on 8-track tape at "Ship's In" studio in Montana in August of 2021. Keith Streng (of the Fleshtones) flew in from Stockholm to play drums (Yes, drums!). Bob Brown pulled triple duty as recording engineer, producer, and bass player. Anne Tek and I played guitar on all tracks, and I sang. We sent the tapes down to Mort Bradley in Texas to mix. We are all very happy with the result and hope you will be, too.
For more info on how to hear it or get it, please visit my website: www.deniztek.com
Historic First-Ever Live Concert From Classic Rock Legends CACTUS Finally Sees An Official Release!
Los Angeles, CA - This is where it all began for the quartet dubbed “The American Led Zeppelin” - on a 1970 bill that also featured the likes of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Grateful Dead, and Steve Miller Band. Vocalist Rusty Day, guitarist Jim McCarty, bassist Tim Bogert, and drummer Carmine Appice, collectively known as Cactus, made their auspicious debut in their very first public performance that night.
Fortunately, this stunning and historic show was captured on tape and has now been unearthed from the archives and released in all formats!
The Birth Of Cactus 1970 finds the freshly minted quartet ripping through some of the key tracks from their landmark debut album including “Parchman Farm,” “Feel So Good” and “No Need To Worry” plus some smokin’ hot blues numbers.
The performances are not only supremely confident but also fluid and dynamic as each member locks into the groove and relentlessly rides it.
Drummer Carmine Appice had this to say about the concert recording, “I remember doing that first gig, hanging out with Hendrix who was a friend of Cactus. We got on stage and the energy level was off the charts! All the songs kicked major ass. We were so excited to get Cactus going and this show helped. Crowd was great and we did ROCK!!”
The Birth Of Cactus 1970 will be available on digipak CD and on PURPLE vinyl everywhere on January 21st!
Belling The Tiger, is a Detroit-area band specializing in melodic progressive rock music. Has a great debut album Lost is out now. You can listen to their new songs on Youtube or buy their lp on Band Camp
About the Band:
Guitarist/keyboardist Michael Allen Moore is a long-time stalwart of the Detroit progressive rock scene, having recorded and toured in the ‘90’s with House of Usher and leading his own band Tin Scribble. He holds a degree in music from Wayne State University where he developed his skills in a wide range of settings including theater, dance, and world music. Michael’s home studio is the center of activity for BTT for writing, rehearsals, and recording. His energy and commitment to the band have been key to BTT’s success.
Vocalist Danny Grimm has performed with countless rock bands around Detroit for decades. He is a regular member of Detroit rock staples Frijid Pink and Mob Opera, filling bass and vocal roles in those bands. Belling The Tiger was Danny’s brainstorm, and his melodic instincts are a key component in the band’s compositional process and sound.
Drummer / percussionist Duane Harvey is a veteran of the Detroit and Chicago original music scenes but has been away from the professional music world for several years. Duane holds a Bachelor of Music from Wayne State University and has deep roots in jazz, classical, and a wide range of commercial music but has relatively little background in original rock. His work with BTT draws on all his musical background and has expanded it with the addition of electronics to his drum kit. You can learn more about dh (and hear more of his music) at his personal website, duaneharvey.net
•Bassist Andrew Harvey is a veteran of the no-wave and black metal scenes around the Detroit Area, having recorded as An Angel Submerged, Wraith, Anteomedroma, and as half of the duo Gossamer. Andrew grew up in a musical household (Duane is his father) and displayed strong musical talent from an early age. He plays several instruments in other projects but is focused on the bass with BTT.
•Guitarist/keyboardist Michael Johnstone has been playing guitar since 2011, covering a wide range of music from classical to jazz and rock . A graduate of Eastern Michigan University's music program, Michael plays regularly with multiple theater groups around the Detroit area. BTT marks Mike's first foray into original rock.
Together, Belling The Tiger plays melodic progressive rock that draws from myriad forms of music, including jazz, classical, and an eclectic mix of folk traditions from around the world. The band is firmly in the "prog" tradition without sounding like any other band you've heard before.
September 10, 2021: Tangerine Records has released True Genius, a newly remastered, limited edition set featuring 90 of the greatest songs from his legendary career and all of Ray’s biggest hits, and is now available to order here.
The highly anticipated set, which has been featured in Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, includes a special bonus disc of eight previously unreleased tracks recorded live in Stockholm in 1972. True Genius is available today on all digital platforms, making dozens of Ray classics available at streaming services for the first time. Also available to stream are a series of new lyric videos for some of Charles most beloved songs, which span the breadth of genres he both mastered and transformed:
“We’re extremely proud to present this collection, which maps the breadth and depth of Ray Charles’ music, presented in chronological order so the listener can join Ray on his journey through the most expansive and creative period of his legendary career. I’m also thrilled that this music will be widely available on all streaming services for the very first time, so that new and future audiences will continue to discover the True Genius of Ray Charles.” - Valerie Ervin, President Ray Charles Foundation
The digital release of True Genius marks the first time this incredible collection of Ray Charles most important works will be widely available on streaming platforms, bringing classic hits such as “Hit The Road Jack,” “Crying Time,” “Busted,” “America The Beautiful,” “A Song for You,” “Unchain My Heart,” and many, many more back to streaming after more than a decade.
The box set also includes a beautifully designed coffee table style book with rare, unseen photos, and detailed liner notes by Ray Charles Foundation President Valerie Ervin, legendary writer and music journalist A. Scott Galloway, and featuring a special message from Quincy Jones.
Tangerine Records will also release True Genius: Sides of Ray on November 19th, a double-disc vinyl collection that illustrates Charles’ many musical “sides” by focusing each album side on the genre categories he visited most: soul, jazz & blues, country, and pop, available for pre-order here.
On August 16th, The Country Music Hall of Fame announced that Ray Charles has been inducted as an official member. Charles, who revolutionized the country genre and brought it to new audiences with albums like 1962’s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, was inducted in the "Veterans Era Artist" category.
Ray Charles’s recordings are major landmarks in American culture. By blending country and roots with other popular sounds, this visionary singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer brought his expansive musical vision to a worldwide audience. Charles’ albums, released during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, broke down both racial and genre barriers. The incredible crossover success of Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2 led Willie Nelson to remark, “Ray Charles did more for country music than any other artist.” Ray continued to do something no other artist had done before or since, conquering all genres of music, from gospel and R&B to soul, country, jazz, blues, and pop, which led Frank Sinatra to dub Ray Charles, the only “True Genius” in music.
Ray further helped bring Americans together with his rendition of “America the Beautiful,” and he remains the only artist in history to create and define a national anthem. Charles was also one of the first recording artists to have ownership of his masters as well as complete creative freedom.
Charles’ staggering achievements over a 58-year career include 17 GRAMMY Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement and the President’s Merit Award, the Presidential Medal for the Arts, France’s Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, the NAACP Image Awards’ “Hall of Fame Award,” and numerous other music Halls of Fame, including those for Jazz and Rhythm & Blues, all testament to his enormous influence. In 2019, he was honored by the Grand Ole Opry with An Opry Salute to Ray Charles, which was broadcast across PBS stations.
One of the greatest artists of all time, Charles successfully mastered and forever changed the blues, jazz, gospel, rock, pop, and country music landscapes. He teamed up with the best of the best in each stylistic genre, including B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Hank Williams Jr, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, and countless others. As he described himself. “I’m not a country singer. I’m a singer who sings country songs. I’m not a blues singer, but I can sing the blues. I’m not really a crooner, but I can sing love songs. I’m not a specialist, but I’m a pretty good utility man. I can play first base, second base, shortstop. I can catch and maybe even pitch a little.”
Ray Charles was more than just the Genius of Soul;
he was the Genius of Music.
About The Ray Charles Foundation Ray Charles was equipped with a keen sensibility to the needs of others. It was this selfless generosity that motivated him when he founded, The Robinson Foundation for Hearing Disorders, Inc in 1986. The mission and purpose of the foundation was to provide financial support in the area of hearing disorders and support institutions and make donations to organizations for educational purposes. Charles thought “the inability to hear was a handicap, not the inability to see.” In 2006 the official name of the foundation became The Ray Charles Foundation, in order to bring awareness to his name but the mission remained the same. Ray Charles often made contributions anonymously to help fund cochlear implants for those who could not afford the operation and shortly thereafter started supporting educational institutions for those who could not afford an education.
Drum Legend CARMINE APPICE & FERNANDO PERDOMO Form New Music Duo & Release the All-Instrumental Powerhouse Album ENERGY OVERLOAD on Cleopatra Records
Drummer extraordinaire, composer and producer Carmine Appice has joined forces with multi-instrumentalist and rising studio star Fernando Perdomo to form The Appice Perdomo Project, whose debut album ENERGY OVERLOAD will be released September 24, 2021. The first single, “Rocket To The Sun,” dropped this week on August 31st.
“I had a ball writing and recording with Fernando,” says Carmine Appice. “What a great talent he is. He is awesome on every level; as are the songs on Energy Overload! Adds co-musician Fernando Perdomo: “Carmine and I were introduced to each other roughly one year ago by Tom Dowd’s daughter Dana. We instantly hit it off musically, sending files to each other and co-writing. Within the first six months, we had more than an albums worth of material written, arranged and recorded. We had a blast making the music on Energy Overload. It is our hope that the energy that was created for this record is contagious to those that listen to it.”
Carmine Appice is best known for co-founding Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and King Kobra. As a drummer and composer, he has worked extensively with Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart and Ted Nugent, and remains on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Greatest Drummers of All-Time list. Fernando Perdomo, the son of Cuban immigrants, quickly launched a successful career as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and session musician upon moving to Los Angeles in 2012. He was recently featured in the film ECHO IN THE CANYON, where he recorded and performed with Eric Clapton, Brian Wilson, Jakob Dylan and many others.
Guitar Legend Steve Hunter’s Cafe la Rouge Presents “Covered with Love”
“A beautiful, soul-lifting labor of love! Check it out!” Bob Ezrin
Out of the extraordinary circumstances of Covid19 that kept him in lockdown at his home in Spain for three months, renowned guitar player Steve (the Deacon) Hunter came up with an idea to pick half a dozen classic songs and give them a whole new coat of paint.
Steve used skills learned over the last 45 years in recording studios around the World, working with artists like Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper and Tracy Chapman, to come up with these musical gems.
A cocktail of influences and styles, glued together by his outstanding gifts as a musician, arranger and Producer. Steve’s old compadre, bass player Tony Levin, stepped in as a special guest and added a bottom end to die for. So, along with Steve’s wife Karen Hunter’s smokey vocals, he had a recipe for six tracks of delicious ear candy.
Between them they have conjured up a little slice of Blue/Jazz Heaven that Steve calls his “Cafe la Rouge” Project.
Tracks:
1) “Centerpiece” (written by written by Harry Edison and Jon Hendricks, was covered by Joni Mitchel on her album “The Hissing Of Summer Lawns”)
2) “Spooky” (written by Mike Sharp and Harry Middlebrooks Jr. Recorded by Classics 1V and Atlanta Rhythm Section, it has been covered by many but most notably Dusty Springfield)
3) “Beginning to See the Light” (written by Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges and Harry James)
4) “And I Love Her” (written by Lennon and McCartney)
5) “Majesty of Life” (written by Phoebe Snow)
6) “S'Wonderful” (written by George and Ira Gershwin)
ELLIOT EASTON (THE CARS), CLEM BURKE (BLONDIE), WALLY PALMAR (THE ROMANTICS) & ANDY BABIUK (THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS)
The Empty Hearts—four rock and roll lifers—are proud to announce The Second Album, out August 28 on Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records. Hear their new song “The Best That I Can” and watch the video for “The World’s Gone Insane,” recorded before the world had gone even more insane. The Second Album will be available on vinyl, CD, and all streaming services, and available for preorder here.
“We wanted to make an album like the ones that really captured our imaginations when we were coming up,” says Elliot Easton, guitarist and founding member of The Cars. “The sort of record that, when it came out, you'd get together with a few friends, maybe get a buzz on, turn the lights down and listen from beginning to end—like those classic late '60s records that took you on a little trip.”
Easton is joined by Blondie drummer and fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Clem Burke, along with hitmaker Wally Palmar of The Romantics on lead vocals and bassist Andy Babiuk of The Chesterfield Kings. One of their heroes, Ringo Starr, plays drums on “Remember Days Like These.” “In a way, it’s given us The Beatles’ seal of approval!” adds Clem, who backed Ringo on tambourine.
THE SECOND ALBUM OUT AUGUST 28 (WICKED COOL RECORDS)
“THE BEST THAT I CAN” LISTEN
“THE WORLD’S GONE INSANE” WATCH
Produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones, The Talking Heads) and The Empty Hearts, The Second Album was made in the spirit of 50s and 60's rock and roll, the music that first inspired all four members. The album was recorded with the intent to tour worldwide, including dates with Blondie.
“The Empty Hearts have done it again!” says label head Little Steven, who named the band from his secret list of unused names. “Could this album be timelier? I’m thinking NOT!
“Sudden Signs of Grace” is the fourth solo album from songwriter/guitarist Tom Guerra, following the success of “American Garden” (2018), “Trampling out the Vintage” (2016) and “All of the Above” (2014). After a recent experience crafting music for The Yardbirds, Guerra got back to writing songs for himself.
According to Pete Prown, music editor for Vintage Guitar magazine, “With his previous albums, Tom established himself as a fine rock and roll guitarist… ‘Sudden Signs of Grace’ shows his growth and new direction as a songwriter steeped in the Laurel Canyon school of songwriting.“
“Sudden Signs of Grace” contains nine new original tunes including the single "Lover's Time," and two covers: “Streets of Baltimore” as popularized by Gram Parsons, and “Gimme Some Water,” an early Eddie Money composition.
Said Guerra about his late friend Money “When I heard Eddie was sick, I recorded one of my favorite tunes of his and sent him a copy.” Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn, Money's longtime friend, also gave Tom's version a thumbs up.
Longtime collaborator Kenny Aaronson (bassist for Bob Dylan, George Harrison, etc.) said "Tom is a great songwriter. He has great pop sensibilities, and I really like his way of crafting a melody. He is a sensitive and keen observer of the human condition as one will hear in his lyrics."
Several tracks on the new album are tight, 3-minute songs recalling the lyrical and melodic creativity of Tom Petty, one of Guerra’s favorite songwriters. “I always loved Tom Petty’s economical approach to writing and try to live by his mantra of ‘Don’t bore us, get to the chorus’ on these songs.”
Other tracks, including “It’s All in the Skies” and “Just Like the Sun” were inspired by Guerra’s love of nature. “Just Like the Sun” (featuring former Queen/Mott the Hoople pianist Morgan Fisher) begins as a ballad then blasts off into a powerful rocker. The title track, a compact stunner, was written after Guerra heard a preacher proclaiming, “we’re all looking for sudden signs of grace.” They may just find it in this song and in this album.
Recorded prior to the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic, Guerra felt compelled to release it now because “people need music, especially during times like these.” - Peter Gerstenzang, Writer, NY Times
Johnny Bee Badanjek did some hot drumming on Alice Cooper's new EP "Bread Crumbs" and gave us a Bee review tonight! Thanks John! xoK
Johnny Bee: Someone told me that producer Bob Ezrin was trying to get in touch with me. When I came home there was a message from Bob saying to give him a call. I called him back. He was sitting in LA in a Hotel Room with Alice Cooper. He asked me If I knew of any good drummers in town, I said, I knew hundreds. But, there's only one who has that Detroit sound...that would be me.
They both cheered. He spoke of an upcoming project with Alice that dealt with his roots in Detroit that would include Mark Farner. I said, cool! He wanted to mix things up with players and add a little soul with Rock & Roll.
He said he wanted a solid soulful funky Bass player. I answered, Paul Randolph. Next, he wanted a young hot lead guitar player, I told him his name was Garrett Bielaniec. The final piece was Amp Fiddler, unfortunately, Amp was stranded in England. We also had Nolan Young on Saxophone and Allen Dennard Jr. on Trumpet.
The session was rounded out with Bobby Emmet (Sturgill Simpson) and Bob Ezrin on Keyboards. The fun began with the song selections.
Up first was a song I recorded when I was fifteen years old in Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels. Bob took Shorty Long's version of "Devil With A Blue Dress On" back to the original version (which we adored). and mashed it up The Dirt Bombs version of J.J. Barnes "Chains Of Love.'
Next, a song from a prolific teenager named Bob Seger, the classic "East Side Story," Some of the surprises was the re-working of Alice's "Detroit City" and the collaboration of Alice and Brother Wayne on "Go Man Go."
The Detroit train kept rolling with Suzy Quarto's song "Your Mama Won't Like Me," and finished off with Badass Fred Sonic Smith's song "Sister Anne" (MC5). And this is how Breadcrumbs came to be. It's great having Alice back home!...you can never leave Detroit! 😈
MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING ARTISTS INSANE CLOWN POSSE (ICP) TO RELEASE THEIR LATEST FULL-LENGTH ALBUM,
FEARLESS FRED FURY, ON FEBRUARY 15
FANS WILL GET AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS LP, FLIP THE RAT, WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE OF FEARLESS FRED FURY
Los Angeles, CA (January 22, 2019): Insane Clown Posse, one of the best-selling independent groups of all time, proudly announce the release of their brand new full-length album, Fearless Fred Fury (aka “FFF”), on February 15, via their own label, Psychopathic Records.
FFF is the fourth Joker’s Card to be released from the second deck. Fans can pre-order the album now HERE.
There will be FFF listening parties held on release day (see list below). Local performers will play at these events, and a Psychopathic Records artist or host will be at each event.
The admission cost is simply to purchase a FFF album. Fans can buy tickets in advance, then they’ll exchange the ticket for a copy of the record at the event.
Additionally, fans can get an exclusive bonus album, Flip the Rat, with their purchase of FFF. When fans buy a physical copy of FFF, there will be a one-time-use promo code located on a card inside. Flip the Rat is not available anywhere else.
Fearless Fred Fury took over two years to create, and the end result is well worth the wait. ICP hasn’t released an album since 2015’s The Marvelous Missing Link (Lost/Found). Raw, terrifying, and uncompromising, FFF is a testament to the creativity and musical prowess that have made Insane Clown Posse true pop-culture icons.
According to ICP’s Shaggy 2 Dope, “I'm so proud of FFF! We were able to sit back and take our time on this record. Because we took our time, we came out with one of the best records in the deck of Joker Cards we've ever produced. FFF varies from all the different records we have done.
Instead of being any type of inspirational or trying to help the little man out by doing the right thing, this time we're like, ‘It's time to fight back and take what the f*ck is ours!’”
Violent J continues, “Yes, FFF’s album's theme or message is to fight back! Are you unhappy with something about your life? Fight Back! Too skinny? Too fat? Fight Back! Hate your job? Fight Back! You’re the only one who's ever going to take command of that vessel that is you and steer it to wherever you want to be in life. Every Joker’s Card album has a message to it, and the whole FFF flavor is a definite favorite of mine.”
FFF's final track, “I Like It Ruff," is the most disturbing work of ICP's entire career. Because of the sadistic sexual nature and the extreme violent content that follows, the band wishes to advise a warning: "Continue listening at your own risk."
Stay tuned for news of the upcoming 7th Juggalo Weekend in New Orleans. ICP’s FFF world tour will begin in spring!
About Insane Clown Posse (ICP):
Celebrating over 20 years together, Insane Clown Posse has released 25 albums and sold nearly 12 million copies worldwide. ICP emerged from Detroit’s underground music scene in the early ‘90s, with a hardcore hip-hop style comprised of musical stories and a unique mix of controversial and cartoonish lyrics.
The face-painted duo of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope have smashed through the ceiling of the music industry’s expectations, amassing their own dedicated legion of millions of fans. ICP has consistently released a steady stream of albums, compilations, music videos, wrestling promotions, films, outrageous events, and signature merchandise. Insane Clown Posse's annual Gathering of the Juggalos has grown to become one of America's most eclectic and celebrated summer music festivals.
Austin, TX Come and Take It Live
Cleveland, OH The Foundry
Corning, NY Lando’s
Dayton, OH Hank’s
Denver, CO Roxy
Des Moines, IA Lefty’s
Duluth, MN Red Herring Lounge
Grand Junction, CO Mesa Theatre
Greeley, CO Moxie Theatre
Greensboro, NC Bling Tiger
Indianapolis, IN Emerson
Joliet, IL Red Room @ Forge
Kansas City, MO Riot Room
Las Vegas, NV The Boxx East Side
Louisville, KY Tiger Room
Minneapolis, MN Whisky Junction
New Orleans, LA House of Blues
Omaha, NE Dr. Jack’s
Philadelphia, PA Raven Lounge Pontiac, MI Pike Room
Sauget, IL Pop’s
Seattle, WA Funhouse
Sioux Falls, SD Icon Lounge
Spokane, WA The Pin
Tucson, AZ The Rock
Legendary drummer Carmine Appice is scheduled to re-release his GUITAR ZEUS project, a compilation album featuring a who’s who list of the best and world-renowned guitarists on the planet backed by his core band featuring Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder) on bass, Kelly Keeling (T.S.O., M.S.G) on vocals/keys/rhythm guitar, and Appice on drums. Written and playing some well crafted timeless songs.
Originally released as two separate albums in 1995 & 1997, this new re-mastered album (by Stephen DeAcutis - Vanilla Fudge, Corey Glover, Overkill, Cyndi Lauper) combines both releases as one complete version on January 18, 2018 for the first time ever across all digital platforms, as well as feature 5 brand new songs with Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Pat Travers, John Norum, and top Japanese guitarists RaiZi and Char. Select songs will also be available on a special limited-edition vinyl and CD.
Carmine Appice’s Guitar Zeus showcases the complete and prolific talents of many world-renown rock guitarists including Brian May, Slash, Neil Schon, Yngwie Malmsteen, Bruce Kulick, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Paul Gilbert, Mick Mars, Richie Sambora, Zakk Wylde, Bob Daisley, Dweezil Zappa, Vivian Campbell, Leslie West, Warren DeMartini, Steve Morse, Ty Tabor (Kings X), Ted Nugent, Dug Pinnick, John Norum and others…
“The Guitar Zeus project, for me, was an amazing experience that has never been done before by a drummer, especially with so much talent on one album! You get your money’s worth! Writing all the songs with my band (Tony & Kelly) and then picking out songs for each guitarist was fun and a time-consuming process, especially coordinating everybody’s schedules and recording sessions.
Carmine Appice’s Guitar Zeus – Tracklisting:
“Mothers Space” (feat. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal) + **
“Gonna Rain” (feat. Richie Sambora) + **
“4 Miles High” (feat. Steve Morse) +
“Nobody Knew” (feat. Brian May) + **
“Where You Belong (feat. Slash) +
“Out of Mind” (feat. Neal Schon) + **
“This Time Around (feat. Yngwie Malmsteen & Dug Pinnick) + **
“Nothing” (feat. John Norum) +
“Doin’ Fine” (feat Vivian Campbell) +
“Under the Moon and Sun” (feat. Mick Mars / Edgar Winter) + **
“Code 19” (feat. Zakk Wylde) + **
“Days Are Nights” (feat. Ted Nugent) + **
“Do Ya think I'm Sexy” (Sung by Carmine, feat. Pat Travers)
“Angels” (feat. Char)
“Guitar Zeus, Pt. 1” (feat Jennifer Batten)
“Safe” (feat. Neal Schon)
“Dead Wrong” (feat. Dweezil Zappa)
“Trippin’ Again” (feat. Ty Tabor)
“Even Up the Score” (feat. Ted Nugent)
“Dislocated” (feat. Paul Gilbert)
“Stash” (feat. Stevie Salas / John McEnroe)
“Perfect Day” (feat. Warren DeMartini)
“Killing Time” (feat. Ty Tabor)
“So Long” (feat. Doug Aldrich)
“My Own Advice” (feat Kenji Kitajima)
“Time to Set Alarms” (feat Elliot Easton / Bob Daisley)
“GZ Blues” (feat. Seymour Duncan / Steven Seagal)
“Guitar Zeus, Pt. 2” (feat. Leslie West / Jennifer Batten)
“Where you Belong” (feat Paul Gilbert)
“Cruzin” (feat. Denny Laine)
“Couldn’t Be Better” (Feat. RaiZi)
“Score” (Feat. Ted Nugent)
“Snake” (feat. Bruce Kulick)
+ CD Release
** Vinyl Release
From the opening note, one can tell this is going to be something special. I consider these drum tracks to be some of the best performances in my career, topped off with working with so many great guitarists and singers. The combination of players and song selection is something special with some of the tunes is out of the ordinary and ahead of their time!” – Carmine Appice
About Carmine Appice:
As drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice set the grooves for the groundbreaking band's 1967 psychedelic debut, inadvertently inventing Stoner Rock in the process.
The Fudge had no precedent. The band was totally unique. No rock group, up until that point, had ever so lugubriously s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out well-known pop tunes. Vanilla Fudge went on to tour with Jimi Hendrix, Cream and even had Led Zeppelin as an opening act.
Post-Fudge, Bogert, and Appice formed Cactus (seen as an influence on Van Halen & King's X). Post-Cactus, the rhythm section found Grammy-winning Guitar Hero Jeff Beck to form the first supergroup: Beck, Bogert & Appice.
One of the premier showmen in rock, Appice became known worldwide for his astonishing live performances and a highly sought-after session drummer, recording with countless artists throughout his career.
In 1976, he joined Rod Stewart’s band, touring, recording and writing two of Stewart’s biggest hits, "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Young Turks.”
He left Stewart to record his first solo album, Rockers, and tour Japan and North America with an all-star band. In 1978, Appice played drums on Paul Stanley’s first solo album.
In the early 1980s, he toured with Ozzy Osborne, Ted Nugent. In the mid '80s, he formed King Kobra for two Capitol albums and international touring. In the late ‘80s, Carmine played on Pink Floyd’s "Momentary Lapse of Reason and formed Blue Murder with Whitesnake's John Sykes and The Firm's Tony Franklin. In the early '90s, he pounded away soul-style for The Edgar Winter Group.
Carmine with Edgar Winter
As an educator, Carmine was the first to legitimize rock drumming with his landmark book, The Realistic Rock Drum Method, selling over 400,000 copies (now in dvd and ebook format).
He was the first Rock Drummer and Rock Musician to conduct instructional clinics and symposiums around the world, a tradition he continues.
In appreciation for his universal appeal, Los Angeles was one of four cities that have had "Carmine Appice Day.” In 1991, he was forever immortalized via his induction in cement to the Hollywood's Rock Walk (next to his idols, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich).
In 2016 Carmine wrote an autobiography titled “Stick It” which appeared on Amazon’s “Best Sellers” list.
As a true artist, Carmine stretches the limits of his talents, always pursuing new experiences with a broad spectrum of musicians. His high standards have earned him the respect of the world's most admired performers as well as captivating the loyalty of legions of fans. He has reshaped the path of music education, redesigned the very instrument he plays, and recreates excitement with every performance.
LOST FOR WORDS
Deniz Tek - guitarist, chief songwriter and founding member of legendary Australian band Radio Birdman - delivers Lost For Words, his third solo album for Career Records in five years.
Music for the imagined film. Action, Western, Surf, and Spy. Ten guitars led instrumentals with the studio band heard on his previous two albums, Detroit and Mean Old Twister.
Ric Parnell – drums (Spinal Tap, Atomic Rooster, The Deviants - many more)
Bob Brown – bass, production
Ron Sanchez - keyboards
The Fleshtones’ guitarist Keith Streng and Radio Birdman’s keyboardist Pip Hoyle joined them for the album sessions.
Produced by Bob Brown Recorded at GLEA Bozeman and Ships In Billings
Mixed by Andy "Mort" Bradley with Bob Brown and Deniz Tek at Wire Road, Houston, TX
The best time to record is after a tour - the playing is as good as it is going to get, everything is working, and the studio is a nice change from the road.
I had toured hard with my live band in the spring of 2017 - skateboard stars Art and Steve Godoy, and guitarist Keith Streng from The Fleshtones. We played 30 concerts in 29 days across the Northeast USA and Europe. After a short rest, my wife Anne and I headed to Montana and I put the studio band together.
They were the same veteran players I had on my last two albums - Detroit and Mean Old Twister - Ric Parnell on drums, Bob Brown on bass, and Ron Sanchez on keyboards. Joining us was Keith Streng, from the touring band.
Keith, Bob and I rehearsed for a couple of days at Bob Brown’s “Ship’s In” studio in Billings, to get the guys familiar with the songs. On a sunny morning in August, we all climbed into Bob’s Volvo station wagon and headed for Bozeman - a drive west on I-90 over the mountains.
Bob Brown (photo: Anne Tek)
Ric took the bus east from his home in Missoula and met us at GLEA, the recording studio, which stands for “Gods Little Ear Acre”: the home of Ron Sanchez’ label, Career Records. We checked into an Air B&B and went over to the studio to sort out amps, get things miked up and get sounds happening. We had dinner and drinks at Ron’s and got ready to start recording early the next day.
Deniz, Keith Streng, Bob Brown (photo: Anne Tek)
Ric Parnell is the son of Jack Parnell, the legendary British jazz drummer - the only other drummer Buddy Rich is ever known to have praised, in an interview. Ric grew up in London, and played in the 70’s progressive rock band Atomic Rooster, before going on to work with many dozens of greats, including Jeff Beck, Ravi Shankar, The Deviants, Toni Basil, Bette Midler, Cher, etc ...
But Ric is best known for being in Spinal Tap, as the unfortunate drummer Mick Shrimpton who spontaneously combusted... and later as Mick’s twin, Rick.
Bob Brown played bass on my first solo tour in 1992, along with drummer Scott Asheton and Chris Masuak. I’ve been close friends with Bob and worked with him ever since.
Keith Streng (photo: Anne Tek)
Ron Sanchez, longtime friend, and label boss is the brain behind Donovan’s Brain. He engineered the sessions and played keyboards.
Keith Streng, guitarist and founding member of NYC’s Fleshtones, is a recent addition to my touring lineup.
He currently splits his time between Stockholm and NYC when he’s not on the road. He flew in for the sessions with a narrow window of time between other commitments.
The rest of us had worked long and hard rehearsing the songs, but not Ric. He doesn’t need to. It works like this. We are sitting in the studio. I say “OK, here’s how this next song goes.” I play it to him on guitar. He listens, thinks about it, and comes up with a beat.
Then we run through it a couple of times and he is ready to go. After a successful take, Ric goes outside for some “fresh air” meaning to smoke, and then in 15 minutes, we are down in the studio getting the next track together.
I played an 80’s Japanese Stratocaster, plugged directly into a Fender Blues Junior. I used no pedals or effects. We all sat in the room together and played all the songs live. One song, “It Shall Be Life”, has a fade - we even faded the song out live. “It Shall Be Life” is named after the famous line, spoken by Ten Bears at the end of the film “The Outlaw Josey Wales”.
Ric Parnell (Photo: Anne Tek)
During breaks, we loved listening to Ric’s stories. Aside from recounting his adventures with Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and others, he enjoys talking about the making of Spinal Tap. I had always wondered how it could have been so accurate. Even though it’s meant to be a satire, the band situations depicted in the movie are astonishingly real.
I always figured that it couldn’t have been done without the actors being actual rock musicians, who had been through all of that stuff in real life. Ric says that the band improvised a lot of the script - I believe it.
All the basic tracks were recorded in two days.
Keith flew back to New York to play a gig at Yankee Stadium, and I spent an extra half day with Ric and Ron getting a few percussion parts done before Ric went home to Missoula. The following week, I recorded some guitar solos and added some acoustic and 12-string parts at Ship’s In with Bob.
One of the tunes is an instrumental version of Pip Hoyle’s song “Zeno Beach” from the 2006 Birdman album of the same name. I asked Pip to overdub keyboards on that, as well as on another tune “Vanished” which I had written for Radio Birdman, but never used. He generously recorded his parts in Sydney and sent them over.
Deniz Tek and Ron Sanchez (Photo: Anne Tek)
Erik Olson, the young genius multi-instrumentalist from Powell, Wyoming came to Ship’s In and played the fabulous sax solo on “Eddie Would Go”, a song about the fabled Hawaiian big wave surfer Eddie Aikau; and channeled Booker T. on Hammond B3 for the simple but killer groove in “Boneyard”.
Bob and I got together about six months later. I arrived in Billings in 15 below zero temperatures and blowing snow so deep that cars parked on the streets were half buried. Of course, we barbecued outside that night. We did some prep work and then went down to Houston to mix the album with Andy “Mort” Bradley.
Andy is a multiple Grammy nominee, having engineered or produced over 1000 albums in his career. He started out as a Radio Birdman roadie and sound man in 1977, and eventually became chief engineer and owner of Sugar Hill Recording Studio in Houston, where he and I worked on many albums together. (Sugar Hill is the oldest operating studio in America. Worldwide, only Abbey Road is older.)
Mort left Sugar Hill a couple of years ago and now freelances at Wire Road. That’s where we mixed Lost For Words. During the mixing sessions, an intern happened to be in the room at one point. She was probably 18 or 19 years old.
She asked, “Oh my God - is that surf music??” We confirmed that it was. These three old guys sitting around mixing a surf album, and this
kid is super enthusiastic about it. That was a good sign.
As a youngster at age 12, the first song I learned how to play on the guitar was “Walk Don’t Run”. Growing up I listened to and loved the Ventures, Ennio Morricone, The Shadows, Booker T and the MG’s and still do. I always wanted to make my own all-instrumental album. With the help of my friends, here it is. We’re all very happy with it.