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Montag, 12. Januar 2015
Power Theory: 2nd Update for 2015
Sonntag, 11. Januar 2015
Repost: Interview Tygers of Pan Tang 4.2011
Hello/ Dear Tygers of Pan Tang, I salute you and hope all is good with you. Thanks for taking your time doing this interview with me.
1. Please introduce your band to my readers first - when did the story of TOPT begin?
Robb: The band started back in 1978 and established itself through the NWOBHM era up to 1981 when Heavy Rock/Metal was building its foundations across the world. The band was started by me (Robb Weir) and I recruited original members Richard Laws (Rocky), Brian Dick & Jess Cox. The band was quickly signed to MCA and in 1980 released the first album `Wildcat` which charted across Europe and is synonymous with the sounds of that time (NWOBHM). In 1981 the band took a slightly different musical direction into mainstream Rock and recruited John Sykes on guitar (Later of Thin Lizzy & Whitesnake) to make us a two guitarist band and Jon Deverill on vocals who replaced Jess. This line up then recorded and released the critically acclaimed `Spellbound` and `Crazy Nights` albums before John Sykes left the band to eventually join Thin Lizzy. Fred Purser then joined the band to replace John and this line up recorded The Cage in 1982 which became our biggest selling album worldwide due to the worldwide hit of the single `Love Potion No 9`. After this success the record company wanted more cover songs which we declined as the songs we had written for the fifth album were really strong. MCA then terminated our record contract so we decided to split up in 1983.
2. What does Tygers of Pan Tang stand for? Just a question for all of the younger generation who didn`t already know you.
Robb: The Name Tygers of Pan Tang was the idea of Richard Laws (Rocky) who was a huge fan of sci-fi novels and was reading a book called `Stormbringer` by Michael Moorcroft. In the book there is reference to some Cliffs called Pan Tang which were guarded by mythical Tigers. When he suggested the name, I thought at least people would remember the band with the weird name so we went for Tygers of Pan Tang.
3. Can you describe the feeling which you had as you reunited TOPT back in 2001?
Robb: It was a fantastic feeling to be playing music again although because Jess was on vocals we were only covering the `Wildcat` songs. After we played at Wacken in 1990 I wanted to start to play songs from the other three albums so I put together a new line up that enjoyed the music and wanted to take the music to the fans. At the time we did not have any plans to record new material.
4. How would you describe TOP in 2011...? What has changed since the year 2001?
Robb: The band is hugely different in 2011; we have a real solid infrastructure in terms of management and band. The present line up as been together now for 7 years which is the longest the band has ever gone without a change. This is really showing its benefits in the music we are writing and the performances live. Our website is full of activity and the web shop has the best range of merchandise the band has ever sold. We also keep close to our fans; we listen to their comments and always respond to correspondence. There are very little ego now just an appreciation of the music we write and respect to the people who buy it.
5. Were there many singers you casted before you decided to choose Jacopo as your new singer?
Robb: We auditioned a few singers before Jacopo but as soon as he auditioned in 2004, I knew he was the man for the job. There will always be a time when you hear a musician audition and you just know that he will be playing with you in the future because there will be no-one better that walks through the door. This has now happened twice to me, once in 1980 when John Sykes auditioned and then again in 2004 with Jacopo. He was everything I wanted in a singer; he ticked every box so to speak.
6. So what are the Tygers doing at the moment? Which things keep you busy? At the moment?
We have just recorded and released a 6 track EP which is a series we are calling `The Sessions `. Last year we released `The Wildcat Sessions to celebrate 30 years since the album was originally released and in February 2011 we released `The Spellbound Sessions` to celebrate 30 years since that release. We have just been confirmed to play a few festivals including the Bang Your Head Festival in July, and some others but we have been asked not to announce these as yet. We are actively writing new material for a brand new album for later in the year before we then record the third `Sessions EP` to celebrate `Crazy Nights`. For more details on the EP or to purchase this visit the bands website shop at www.tygersofpantang.com
7. Are you looking forward to play in Germany? Are you already exited to be back in Germany and performing in front of this huge audience?
Robb: We love playing in Germany; the fans have never forgotten the band and have always been very kind in their support. Last year we played at Keep it True X111 and Headbangers Open Air Festivals and got a fantastic response. It will be just great to play to a larger audience and hopefully get more fans back on board with the band. We are having to really raise our game now though as a band and always look at ways to improve the live performance/ set list. When we played KIT the audience did not really know what to expect from us as they had never seen this line up. If you read the reviews I think we made a lot of friends that day and we hope we can keep this momentum going. BYH gives us the chance to keep the profile of the band high through the media and expand our fan base further with the performance and we will take that opportunity, trust me.
8. Do you prefer to play big open airs or club-tours?
Robb: We love to play anywhere where there is Tygers fans, we will play to 150 people or 20,000, and it’s not a problem. We like to hang out with the fans so it is a bit easier at a club gig but if there is signing sessions at the Festivals we play. Be sure we will be there.
9. How would you describe the style of Tygers of Pan Tang in 2011? What has changed since the early days?
Robb: The musical style has not really changed, the Tygers have a signature sound and we are still writing music in that style. The lyrics of the songs may change slightly with different topics because the authors have changed but if you compare our last album `Animal Instinct` it was a similar style to the first three albums. We have a fun side to the band also and I think this is still reflected in the music.
10. Which equipment do you use?
Robb: I have a guitar endorsement with `Spear` who made me three customised models and I use Hughes and Kettner Amps & Cabs. The band has also endorsements with Dean guitars and we also use Marshall and Ampeg Amps in the backline.
11. Last but not least please leave a final message for all my readers!
Robb: I really hope that you find the time to check out the band at Bang Your Head, if you like NWOBHM or want to just hear some good time Rock n roll then we are the band for you. Also check out the website www.tygersofpantang.com and send us a message, we love to hear from you. Finally if you have not listened to the Tygers for a while either put on some old vinyl you have stored away or maybe look to purchase one of the new EP releases from the website, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. The songs have really stood the test of time.
Thanks for your support of the Tygers
Robb
Tygers of Pan Tang Web
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4.2011 by Rocket Queen Promotion
Samstag, 10. Januar 2015
Interview re-post from 2012: Tony Martin
~ Tony Martin ~
Interview - Tony Martin - 07/2012
Dear Tony, how are you doing? Welcome to the interviews with Rocket Queen. Thank you very much for taking your time answering the following questions.
Tony: Well hi Suzi.. nice to meet you, I am ... fine .. i think!!!
1. Let us turn the wheel back in time. If you think about the recordings for the album HEADLESS CROSS - What are your memories? What was on your mind while recording with the legendary Black Sabbath? I think it really must have been something very special for you.
Tony: Of course i was excitied but it was quite scary too.!! You have to take a step back and look at the situation from a distance because th eappearance of the whole thing changes when you realise that Sabbath were actually not in Great shape when i joined.... they were financially stretched and it was getting hard to get people to take them seriously, THEN they hired ME .. a completely unknown rookie!!!! It was about as down as it could get!!... For ME it was a great oportunity but for them it was a kind of survival thing... i wasnt gonna break the bank for them and i had a voice they could use.... but i was still VERY inexperienced to be fronting a major rock name like that!!! ... So it was mixed feelings of "Woop woop" with "what the fuck!!!"
2. Headless Cross was released in 1989. Some of the critics say that this record is the best Black Sabbath album ever. Which song of this album do you like most? And which one do you loved to perform on stage most?
Tony: I guess Cross Purposes holds the most passion and thought but Headless cross is the first i wrote with the band and is kinda special.
3. Your personal thought on Cozy Powell? Was he easy to work with?
Tony: Mostly yes he was a great guy, he didnt suffer fools at all though and if he thought you wasnt doin your job he WOULD let you know!!!
4. I know you surely get this asked frequently as it has become up to date right after Ronnie James Dios death. What are your thought on the Black Sabbath Reunion - more pro or more contra?
Tony: Well they are one of the few older bands that still have all the original members still ALIVE!!!!!! .... so in that respect i would have thought it is quite apropriate for them to be trying to do something.... not sure about the SAME thing over and over and i'm not sure that leaving BILL WARD out of it is a bit of a publicity stunt... In the 10 years that i spanned with Sabbath they never once spoke badly of Bill .. they always spoke highly of him ... so i dont get why they wouldnt go the extra effort to get him settled in the band... UNLESS they are thinking... lets leave Bill out for now and then LATER when we need MORE money and publicity we will get him in then..... i am not privy to the conversations at all or the contracts so its just speculation but i dont get it cause they love him! .... or they DID!!
5. On 27th July you and your band Headless Cross will appear at The Asylum Venue in the UK. You will be supported by Blaze Bayley. What are your expectations of the concert and what could people expect from this show?
Tony: Tony Martin things!!!!! Every thing to do with my career as a rock singer... You wouldn't expect me to tell you what the set list is but there is 17 songs from 10 albums..... cool.
6. You also are the singer for Rolf Munkes band called EMPIRE. Is there any chance that the world will have another Empire record in the near future or aren’t there any plans on this?
Tony: I WAS... but it was a great session and i loved working with Rolf.... i have a lot of time for him ... great guy ... cool player... he was in the old Tony Martin band for a while about 5 years ago but i had to stop touring because promoters werent interested in that line up and they started flying me out to work with local musicians instead of using my own band.... I have done more work with Dario Mollo in a project called the CAGE .. and the 3rd cage has just recently been released. He is in the current new line up fo Tony Martins Headless Cross.
7. What are your musical plans for 2012/2013. Is there anything you can reveal to us yet?
Tony: I have just finished recording a blues/zepplin type album with a new band called Silver Horses in Italy... that should be out in September... and there are lots of other Tony Martin related things to watch out for....
8. Well, if people nowadays ask you if it is worth making a living out of the music what would your advice be?
Tony: NO!
9. What do you do to keep your voice in shape?
Tony: Oh relelntless excersises and trying to keep it working.
10. Soon the Olympics in England start. From what I read you already saw the olympic flame in your town also. So will your town will be overcrowded from all the athletics too? And are you watching some of the games yourself?
Tony: I would have loved to go to London to see it but th etickets were a nightmare to obtain so the best i got was to see the olympic flame go past my street.!!! that was cool.!!
11. Talking about sports - is there any sports you do?
Tony: Noooooo.... i have been a single parent for many years... that keeps you on your toes!!!
12. Now the floor is yours... please leave a final message for my readers and for me.
Tony: I have too many things in my head !!!!!! .... obviously the purpous of this is to highlight the show on th 27th July and thank you for helping to raise attention of that... if the readers are in anyway interested in the Tony Martin thing there is lots to look out for in these next few years.... i hope to meet you all at some point ... keep rockin and thanks for the support.
Tony Martin official facebook page
Tony, I thank you so much for the interview. It was a pleasure talking to you. I wish you all the best for all your upcoming events and projects. All best wishes from Germany, Susi
© 7/2012 by Rocket Queen Promotion SM www.rocketqueenpromotion.blogspot.de
REST IN PEACE
Rest in peace dear Torsten Thassilo Herbert you will be missed. Torsten was singer and bassist for german metal band named Dragonsfire!
Statement der Band:
Statement der Band:
Liebe Freunde, liebe Fans,
wir sind in tiefer Trauer!
Am 08.01.2015 verstarb unser Freund, Sänger und Bassist Torsten Thassilo Herbert.
Wir können es selbst nicht fassen, aber es ist die traurige Wahrheit.
Unser Beileid gilt in erster Linie der Familie.
Die Trauerfeier findet am Mittwoch, den 14.01.2015 um 11:00 Uhr auf dem Friedhof in Stockstadt am Rhein statt.
THASSILO- WIR VERMISSEN DICH!!!
In tiefer Trauer,
Deine Band
Dragonsfire
REST IN PEACE
wir sind in tiefer Trauer!
Am 08.01.2015 verstarb unser Freund, Sänger und Bassist Torsten Thassilo Herbert.
Wir können es selbst nicht fassen, aber es ist die traurige Wahrheit.
Unser Beileid gilt in erster Linie der Familie.
Die Trauerfeier findet am Mittwoch, den 14.01.2015 um 11:00 Uhr auf dem Friedhof in Stockstadt am Rhein statt.
THASSILO- WIR VERMISSEN DICH!!!
In tiefer Trauer,
Deine Band
Dragonsfire
REST IN PEACE
Freitag, 9. Januar 2015
Interview repost from 7.2011 - SIMON WRIGHT (DIO DISCIPLES, Dio, Hallion)
Pic source: Simon Wright facebookpage... copyright by photographer!
SIMON WRIGHT
(DIO DISCIPLES, Hallion)
***Simon Wright***
Hello Simon, very happy and honored to have you talking to me and the fans. First I want to tell you that I am totally proud of you and the guys for doing what you are doing! I really have no words for it. For i know it must be a hard journey without your good friend Ronnie. But be sure me and all the fans are 100 percent behind you.
1. Simon, you were in AC/DC before you joined the DIO band. Why did you leave the band back then?
Simon: Well, I had been in the band about eight years,quite a long time and I was becoming complacent, I guess it happens, I also felt I needed to expand on my playing a bit more.Were still friends and they are a brilliant band and I mean no disrespect but I had to move on.Now Phil is back they sound better than ever.
2. And what was different between playing in AC/DC and playing in DIO?
Simon: I think DIO music is more fill orientated and I got to create a bit more,don`t get me wrong both bands are bloody amazing to play with obviously and there are some killer songs as we know, ACDC is a bit more straight forward four on the floor kinda thing,which can be as difficult as playing complex fills, it`s just 2 different styles of playing and attitude I think.
3. Well AC/DC were much bigger than the DIO band. But from what I think it was more challenging to play drums in Dio than to play in AC/DC. But surely it was a huger audience to play for. But did you have a ball to play the straight stuff more than more variable Dio sounds?
Simon: Well, they were both as challenging just in different ways, I try to approach every gig in the same way though, that is to be consistent every night, anchor the band and play tight regardless of the size of the crowd, there could be 8 or 80000, it doesn`t matter I try and play great every night, it`s my job to do that and I owe it to the musicians around me.
4. You are also playing in Tim Owens solo band are you still playing for Tim?
And will you keep up working with Tims Solo Band? Is there any news bout
this?
Simon: Nothing planned at the moment for solo stuff with Tim,we are concentrating on the DIO DISCIPLES project,but at some point maybe.
5. What are you doing besides the Dio Disciples? I read that you aren`t playingmwith Rhino Bucket anymore. So are there any other projects you are involved with?
Simon: Well I sort of jump in and out of Rhino Bucket,were good friends and it seems to work that way, if they get stuck and need a drummer and I am available I`ll help them out, thats kind of our agreement, they are a great band. DIO DISCIPLES is my main project at the moment, so no other projects at the moment.
6. Whats your opinion about the Dio Disciples. Do you think that most of the fans like the idea that you guys keeping Ronnies legacy alive or do you have negative feedback about it too?
Simon: Well we expected some negativity and there was, but it`s getting less and less.We are very passionate about DIO DISCIPLES and I think the fans at the shows see this, were there to celebrate and honor Ronnie and his amazing legacy of music with the best fans in the world. Ronnie always said fans come first and we totally agree.
7. The Dio Disciples concert in Bochum, Germany was amazing. And it was very emotional and overwhelming for all of us. From what I read there were about 300 people who attended. So what do you suspect for the USA dates... surely more people to come?
Simon: Thank you Susi I`m glad you enjoyed the show, it gets emotional for us too, there are always things ,besides obviously the songs, that remind us of Ronnie, whether it be stories from fans, our stories on long bus rides, I`m always thinking about what he would have done there or what he would think about a certain situation, he was such a wise man. Were are hoping for bigger crowds, were kind of a new band and I think with any new band there is a growing process, the fans that saw the shows in Europe seemed to really enjoy what we are doing and hopefully word will get around about how we are honoring and celebrating Ronnie in a respectful and sincere way, I`ve said before I wish we didn`t have to do DIO DISCIPLES, instead we were doing a new DIO album and touring, now we have to honor him by keeping his music alive.
Susi: I exactly know and understand what you mean about your wish! I truely understand. Me and all the Dio-Fan Family feel the same way. And we think about it every single second and still couldn`t believe it... Simon, we are with you and forever will!
8. Which is your fave drumset and which one do you usually play when you tour?
Simon: The drums I use when we tour the US are mine, I have two DW kits one chrome finish, which has slightly shorter depth toms and sounds great and my other has a burnt toast finish, kinda like a les paul sunburst finish, looks cool I think, and slightly longer depth toms, they both sound amazing. DW make superb drums, always consistent and great quality,they also provide me with a kit when we do shows outside the US, which is something I was looking for in a drum company, the cost of shipping drums around the world can get a little expensive.
9. So you also toured with ANVIL. And you are now a member of the
Anvil Pounders too. So when did you join and since when are you
friends with ANVIL?
Simon: Yeah we did four Spanish shows with them, great guys, Robb decided I should be an honory member of Anvil Metal Pounders Union in Barcelona, still waitin for the T-Shirt Robb, haha.We first met at a festival, I think in Finland, memories not what it was, there good guys ya know, very commited to the metal cause and a great band.
10. Some last words you would like to share with my readers?
Simon: Just to thank you all for reading this. DIO DISCIPLES will hopefully be back in Europe next year, we look forward to seeing you all at the shows, to help us celebrate and honor the greatest singer in rock, Ronnie James Dio.
All the best.We Rock!.
Simon Wright.{ Drums.DIO-1998/2010}
Thank you so much for taking your time talking to me and my readers. Wishing you all the best - keep up the good work, and thank you again for the amazing concert in Bochum. Hope to see you again in Germany soon would like to stop by to say hi again, I DEFINATELY WILL BE THERE! - Susi
DIO DISCIPLES @ FACEBOOK please give THEM a "LIKE" by clicking here and joining their FB PAGE. THANK YOU ALL!
© 07 2011 by Rocket Queen *Promotion*
Donnerstag, 8. Januar 2015
-It`s DO IT YOURSELF friday
~ It`s DIY friday.... so letz do it ~
You need:
- Jeans
- Ironing paper
- Nail cissors
- Thick piece of paper
- Electric iron
- Phantom pencil
- Glitter pen (here silver, brilliant red and glitter black
- Printer
- Paper
- Logo
You don`t need much and it is really not expensive so anyone of you can DIY. First of all I made a pattern for the Dio logo, then printed it. With a nail cissors I cutted out the inside of the Logo and then I put the Logo on the jeans at the place where I wanted the logo to be... so in my case its right under the trouser pocket. Just place it wherever you want too and how many logos you want to put on your trouser - this is up to you. But please make sure you put a thick piece of paper into the jeans where you are going to draw the logo at so that no color can hit the inside of your trouser.
After placing the logo you need a phantom pencil to draw the logo on your trouser. The lines of this pencil disappear after 5-14 days or immediately in ontact with water. When you have drawn the logo on your trouser you then take a glitter pen which is for textiles and which is for fine applications a fabric paint with glitter effect, water-based. While painting on your jeans press the pen point effortless into the fabric. The drying time is approximately 6 hours! After the 6 hours are gone you take a special ironing paper and iron the jeans from the left side... means you turn the jeans inside out and iron it from the other side using the ironing paper. Then you iron the left side for about 5 minutes and then it`s done!
Congrats! Now you are finished! Be creative and create your own look. Finished too? What does your jeans like like now? Tell us!
Washing your jeans. You can wash the jeans at 30 degrees Celsicus. You can iron it but ONLY from the left side and do not iron the logo it self!!!! And please save your jeans from extreme heat or extreme frost! So you have fun with your jeans-logo for a long time!
09.01.2015 by Rocket Queen *Promotion* SM
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