NEW DELUXE EDITIONS OF SANDY DENNY'S CLASSIC ISLAND RECORDINGS  

On May 21st 2012, Universal is set to release the last three solo albums which Sandy Denny recorded for Island Records during her lifetime. The release coincides with a special tribute tour - "The Lady: A Homage to Sandy Denny" - which commences on May 19th.  

Each of the three albums is now presented as a deluxe two-disc edition:

SANDY , was released in September 1972 and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year; LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ, from June 1974 and RENDEZVOUS which was released in May 1977, less than a year before her death in April 1978. In the intervening years Sandy Denny's reputation has escalated and it is largely down to this sequence of solo albums (which are built mostly around her own compositions), that she is now widely regarded by musicians and critics alike as Britain's finest female singer songwriter.  

 The expansive bonus material includes home and studio demos, alternate takes and live recordings pertaining to each release. Of special note is an radio broadcast on Disc Two of SANDY, containing eight unadorned songs recorded live on a tour of the US at Ebbets Field, featuring tracks from the SANDY, and THE NORTH STAR GRASSMAN AND THE RAVENS albums, as well as the only live performance of "At the End of The Day" from LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ. There is also a previously unreleased band version of "The Lady" and a live version of "Whispering Grass" from Dutch Television and an alternate take of the R n' B tinged "Take Me Away" from the RENDEZVOUS sessions among many other rare or deleted extra tracks.  

All three albums contain a wealth of well-known guest musicians including the likes of Richard Thompson, Jerry Donahue, Allen Toussaint, Steve Winwood, Diz Disley, 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow and John Kirkpatrick to name a few.  

SANDY, widely regarded as Sandy's finest solo album, features such memorable Denny compositions as "The Lady", "It'll Take A Long Time" and "Listen, Listen" plus "The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood", the last traditional tune she recorded, underpinning an astonishing multi-tracked vocal arrangement of a Richard Farina lyric.  

LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ is Sandy's most romantic sounding record; built around her own compositions it includes the exceptional "Solo", and "No End", "Carnival" and "At The End Of The Day" as well as two sumptuous jazz standards, "Whispering Grass" and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along".  

RENDEZVOUS shows a departure in style for Sandy , with several more up-tempo recordings, like "Take Me Away" and a cover of Richard Thompson's "For Shame of Doing Wrong". The album also includes an unusual session cut live with the band and strings which yielded gems like "I'm A Dreamer" and "No More Sad Refrains", the haunting, orchestral "All Our Days", and "One Way Donkey Ride".   

These new editions coincide with a UK tour entitled "The lady: A homage to Sandy Denny" which will present an evening of classic songs by Sandy featuring Joan Wasser (aka Joan As Policewoman), Maddy Prior, Jerry Donahue, Dave Swarbrick, Green Gartside, PP Arnold and Thea Gilmore, who last year succeeded in bringing to life a selection of Sandy Denny's unrecorded songs on the album DON'T STOP SINGING.  

www.sandydennyofficial.com 

House Of Shakira Update

House of Shakira’s current album ‘HoS’ has been winning the band considerable worldwide praise from press and fans both old and new alike with many calling it their best yet and a serious contender for melodic rock album of 2012.

Now the band is pleased to introduce the first of three promotional videos to be released over the next 3 months.

The first track to get the video treatment is ‘Zodiac Maniac’, a buoyant rocker which does a good job of representing the bands new tougher sound whilst still retaining their classic rich vocal harmonies and eastern tinged riffs which became the bands trademark on albums like ‘Lint’ and ‘First Class’.

View the video for Zodiac Maniac now at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-EXprourg 

Full information on the album ‘HoS’ can be found at http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/hos.htm 

or the bands official website – www.houseofshakira.com 

PENTAGRAM announce first ever UK tour

PENTAGRAM have announce their first ever UK tour in the forty years they’ve been together in October and November 2012.

After the Doom pioneers first ever UK show in London last year Bobby Leibling and the boys return for four shows with Gentlemans Pistols as support:

PENTAGRAM + Gentlemans Pistols

October 2012 

31^st         BRISTOL – The Fleece

November 2012

1^st         LONDON – Garage

2^nd         MANCHESTER – Academy 3

4^th         GLASGOW – Ivory Black

Tickets are £15 and on sale now via www.ticketweb.co.uk

Follow PENTAGRAM at the following location: (Official Pentagram Facebook & Twitter pages coming soon!)

http://www.myspace.com/thepentagramarchives
http://www.myspace.com/thedeathrowarchives

 ‘LAST RITES’ is out now on Metal Blade

Buy it now for £8.79: http://www.play.com,  ‘WHEN THE SCREAMS COME’ DVD is out now on Metal Blade, Buy it now for £8.99: http://www.play.com/

Micki Free Releases Tattoo Burn

Originally discovered by Gene Simmons of KISS, Grammy Award Winner & Multi-Native American Music award winning artist Micki Free is no stranger to success. His rich musical history includes his career in Shalamar, his collaboration with Jean Beauvoir in cult AOR legends Crown of Thorns and embracing his Cherokee & Comanche descent - creating Native American flute music.  As a rock & blues solo artist Micki has also enjoyed international acclaim, regularly playing the Hard Rock Calling festival in London’s Hyde Park & working with some of rock & pops greatest luminaries (including Prince, Janet Jackson, Wendy O Williams, Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley of KISS, Billy Gibbons & Bill Wyman) to name a few.

Chances are you will have heard Micki Free play guitar before.  A major player on the music scene, he is rightly known as a guitarist extraordinaire. A guitar hero in the genuine and most traditional sense of the word, Free is bleeding on six strings rather than propped-up by technical wizardry.  His life is his music & craft, with many stories to share.

Micki’s sound is about feeling the groove, soaking up musical influences & channelling them with the deft touch of his own unique flare.

Tattoo Burn, Micki’s latest blues-rock release on Cargo Records, has all the swagger you would expect; from the hard rocking, riff laden ‘Hole in the Heart of the Blues’ to the traditional ‘Greens & Barbecue’.

Gene Simmons once told this six string prodigy, “You’re a star” – and Micki continues to prove it, as he returns to tread the boards once again and play the music that he loves. His passion for the blues is etched across his heart and all over Tattoo Burn.  

“Micki Free, is a multi-talented maker of mad machinations in a most mesmerizing manner”  -The Rev. Billy F. Gibbons, ZZ Top

 “Jimi Hendrix rides again!” – Bill Wyman

"Micki Free is not a Jimi Hendrix impersonator, but a Jimi Hendrix innovator,"  - Gene Simmons

“I’m not into guitar technique and/or speed. I am a simple "blues-rock inspired guitarist", influenced by the greats that came before me; Muddy Waters, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Billy Gibbons and Jimi Hendrix to name a few.  I am only interested in the outcome of my guitar playing in connection with my songwriting or a good "free form jam"....did it move my audience and listeners, did we connect on the level of music” -Micki Free

TATTOO BURN TRACKLISTING

1. Tattoo Burn
2. Greens & Barbecue
3. Six Feet Down in The Blues
4. Mojo Black Coffee
5. Co-Co Gin
6. Voodoo Chile Blues
7. Theres a Hole In The Heart of The Blues
8. Red House LIVE
9. Angels In The Room
10. Five Minutes Till Christmas

4. 3 X VINYL LP 12” Gatefold (cat no. UDR 0103 LP)

 • W:O:A 2009 - Fan‘s Choice Set list

 5. D2C (Limited Edition 1000 copies – 4 DVDs SOLD OUT) (cat no. UDR 0104 BOX)

 6.  • also available as digital downloads in various versions 

UK DATES 

26.05.2012 London - Hammersmith - Apollo (with Judas Priest)

09.06 2012 Donington – Download Festival 

www.saxon747.com or saxon.udr-music.com http://www.saxon.udr-music.com

Z ROCK 2012 ADVANCE TICKET SALES UPDATE  

Sales of tickets for Z Rock 2012 at the Z website have now ended, you can however if you wish to avoid any booking fee’s call 01695 455885 until 7pm on May 1^st .

All ticket sales will then be available via the following methods until 5pm on May 4^th.

 Box Office +44 (0) 1902 401211

Book online www.therobin.co.uk                  www.seetickets.com                     www.ticketweb.co.

 It is envisaged that entry on the door will be available at £50 day 1 and £40 day 2.  

Updates will be made re availability at www.zrecords.net and www.facebook.com/ZRECORDS.OFFICIAL 

FRIDAY MEET & GREET ARRANGED NOT ONE BUT POSSIBLY 2!!!!

 Ahead of Z Rock 2012 there will be a special meet and greet on Friday May 4th from 8pm starting at Woody’s Bar attached to the Robin 2 then progressing to the venue itself if numbers swamp the bar.  Members of Prophet, Sabu, Legion, Arabia , M Bormann and Hush will all be present at some point during the night to mingle with fans. We wanted to make this a totally brilliant weekend for everyone after such a massive show of support for the event.  

In addition some band members are planning on visiting the Friday rock night in Cannock later that evening whom are supported by Z Records. So all in all it’s a great Friday if you’re staying local the night before Z Rock 2012.

Angel King – World Of Pain

         
Angel King is a Stockholm based quartet playing Sleaze/Glam Rock and was formed in late 2010.

Before the band even had existed, guitar player Jack Vegas had worked with some song ideas for a couple of years, for which he hadn't found the right musicians. In fall of 2010 Jack presented these songs to his good friends Rock Boston and Snake Denver and they started to jam together. For the first time Jack felt that he had found the right musicians for the project and everything started to fall into place: the song writing felt natural and the chemistry was right.

To take the sound of the music to the next level, the band needed a singer with an exceptional voice.  So after recording a few backgrounds they decided to invite Lazzy G, a friend of Jack Vegas, to the studio to try to sing a track called “World of Pain”. After laying down the track it was settled - Lazzy G was the singer they had been looking for. Just a few months later, Angel King was formed and the band got signed by the German record label meantime music, a subdivision of Yesterrock. The band started to record the debut album "World of Pain" in fall of 2011. The release date was set for 18.05.2012.

Getting the music out there, taking over the rock scene and tour until everyone knows who Angel King is, that is what will follow!

Angel King is: Lazzy G – Vocals, Rock Boston - Bass/Vocals, Jack Vegas – Guitars, Snake Denver – Drums

Tracklist:

01. Dangerous (5:02)

02. World Of Pain (3:31)

03. She Wants To Be Loved (3:11)

04. Living The Wild Life (3:46)

05. Enemy (3:39)

06. Fahrenheit 541 (2:55)

07. Rock And Roll Doctor (4:16)

08. Get Up (3:44)

09. Wasteland (3:41)

10. Last Generation (5:26)

www.angelking.se (under construction)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angel-King/140574672725131

Herman Frank – Right In The Guts

Without any doubt Herman Frank is one of the most prestigious German metal guitarists of the past 30 years. His dynamic compositions with their raging riffs, hooks and intelligent virtuoso solos have graced not only the works of the German cult band Victory, which he founded in the mid-eighties, and its successor group Moon'Doc, but also as a member of the legendary Accept in the early eighties, appearing on a number of important songs on their classic Restless and Wild and Balls To the Wall albums before returning to the band permanently in 2005.

After his solo debut, Loyal To None (2009) the Hanover resident Herman is coming back relentlessly with Right In The Guts,  his second solo album, a total metal brochure full of energy, determination and pure adrenaline. The disc is being released on 22 June 2012, via the label 'AOR / Metal Heaven', be sure to mark this date in your calendar now! Take notice - if you are looking for some relaxation, then look elsewhere: uncompromising determination rules on Right In The Guts!

A drive by the way, which was not only achieved by Herman Frank's entire career, but in every note played and by his unmistakable presence. His compositions are impressive for the boiling mixture of rock, metal and blues influences, while his playing combines taste, technique and profound ideas. The same holds true for the musicians who joined him in the studio: Born in Sweden, singer Rick Altzi, with his distinguished rock voice, contacted Herman Frank after learning of his search for a front man. Bassist Peter Pichl was already involved in Frank’s solo debut Loyal To None and is one of the most sought after bass players on the scene. Mamalitsidis Cristos has already appeared onstage with Herman Frank as a second guitarist and plays top quality metal guitar. Drummer Michael Wolpers’ keen sense for grooves and precision can be heard clearly and he has belonged to Frank's group of friends for years.

Together with this line-up of experts Herman Frank has recorded 13 gripping metal tracks. The recordings took place in his own 'Arena 20' studio located in Hanover, Germany. Frank himself acted as composer and producer, as well as taking care of the mixing and album mastering. Frank has succeeded by implementing an astonishing variety of different tempos, levels of heaviness and forms of expression within a traditional metal frame. With the furious opener 'Roaring Thunder' and the pulsating title track 'Right In The Guts' Frank immediately shows his typical side. This is where instruments and vocals get directly to the point and leave no questions unanswered. This contrasts nicely with the rather unusual number 'Vengeance', a track full of challenging finesse. All in all an album that his fans will love.

…and a work that belongs on the stage as quickly as possible. As Herman Frank personally promises: "I will use every free minute that Accept gives me to play in each and every club in the world that has enough power outlets for my ENGL wall of amp." With such a compelling disc, this is a welcome announcement !

www.hermanfrank.com

Track list: 1. Roaring Thunder, 2. Right In Your Guts, 3. Ivory Gate, 4. Vengeance, 5. Starlight, 6. Falling To Pieces, 7. Raise Your Hand, 8. Waiting, 9. Hell Isn’t Far, 10. Kings Call, 11. Lights Are Out, 12. Black Star, 13. So They Run

Line-Up: Guitars: Herman Frank, Vocals: Rick Altzi, Bass: Peter Pichl, Drums: Michael Wolpers, Guitars: Mamalitsidis Cristos

 Soundfiles in advance:

HERMAN FRANK - Raise Your Hand (Edit)

HERMAN FRANK - Right In Your Guts (Edit)

HERMAN FRANK - Roaring Thunder (Edit)

www.hermanfrank.com

Death By Orchestra 

Beginning the next chapter on progressive rock by ditching the plot entirely, Death By Orchestra have emerged from the Midlands to pen one of the most innovative and visionary soundscapes to surface in recent memory. Their debut EP 'The Stars Aligned And Created A Monster', released on Vivarepublik, has already gained high commendations from industry stalwart Classic Rock presents: Prog and has added to their already huge underground local following. It's evocative in its moodiness, striking a delicate balance while unearthing the darker aspects of the human psyche, of love and loss. It's emotional without being whiny, foreboding without being bleak, poetic without being pretentious. Unwilling and unable to tow the status quo, they've shied away from the traditional laborious progressive approach choosing instead to harness their top-notch musicianship and melodies in catchy, accessible songs. 

Having previously worked with Pitchshifter alumni Johnny Carter, the band decided to take on the massive task of recording this album themselves, only enlisting Stu Vallans of Death of Thieves during the mixing process. From the almost industrial and entirely forward thinking stand-out single 'For You No Tomorrow' to the emotionally powered and pained classic rock of 'She Dances with Fire' and the other-worldly and inspired croon of 'Delirium Tremens', listeners will be captured by their originality and song-writing prowess. 'The Stars Aligned And Created A Monster' is a self-made triumph showcasing a band who have already broken the mould and are now ready to break the ranks of the progressive rock elite.

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