Interview with ex-Iron Maiden vocalist

Read interview with Paul Di'Anno



More news about Iron Maiden's concert in India, "We are musicians, not politicians: Iron Maiden"

Secret Jimmy Page riff to revive real kick-ass rock

Unreleased Jimmy Page Guitar Riff To Be Retrieved From Secret Vault To Save Rock And Roll

GWYNEDD, WALES—Recent developments in the music world, such as the popularity of the Dixie Chicks and Sufjan Stevens, have created a "perfect storm of lameness."

My favourite power ballads

These are my favourite power ballads from the golden 80s. Do you think you can listen to tracks like these again? Share your thoughts with me.

The list is hastily made. It can keep on growing.

Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Cinderella - Nobody's fool

Skid Row - I Remember You

Kix - Don't Close your Eyes

Steelheart - Angel Eyes

Winger - Miles Away

Winger - Headed For A Heartbreak

L.A. Guns - The Ballad of Jane

Whitesnake- Love Aint No Stranger

Whitesnake--Now You're Gone

Europe - Carrie

Firehouse-I Live My Life For You

Motley Crue - Without You

Note: Some of the YouTube links may not work. All efforts are made to ensure that all are working.

I don't know how many people really remember Exciter, Canadian thrash metal pioneers. I still like listening to their 'Violence and Force' (1984) album that has great speed metal stuff all over it. The line-up then was Dan Beehler (Drums and vocals), John Ricci (lead guitar) and Allan James Johnson (bass).



The forthcoming album from Exciter is titled "Thrash Speed Burn".. Blabbermouth says the band has added "Kenny "Metal Mouth" Winter" to the band and was blown away by the "...three-and-a-half-octave range, delivered with tremendous intensity and conviction."

To watch a video clip of their new song, click here.

Exciter currently is Kenny Winter (vocals) John Ricci (guitars), Rob Cohen (bass),
Rick Charron (drums).

Watch Rain of Terror

Watch out for the next Dream Theater album

Mike Portnoy says Dream Theater's new album "...very dramatic and aggressive." Read the full interview where he also speaks about the upcoming G3 tour.

Watch the chart hit 'Another Day'

Boston lead singer is dead

It's really sad to know that Boston's lead singer Brad Delp is no more.

Delp remembered as generous, unassuming star,. writes the Boston Globe.

Please watch my Boston favourite, More Than a Feeling

Plans to break Rock record goes up in smoke

Rock guitarists fans missed an opportunity to break a rock record;performing Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" with 2,000 guitar players.

Event organisers Harrods says,"...We regret to inform you, that due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to take the unavoidable decision to cancel the World Record Breaking Attempt on Sunday 18th February." So sad.

The record is currently held by 1,322 people who got together in 1994 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to rock out on Ritchie Blackmore's classic riff.

Watch my Deep Purple favourites, Perfect Strangers and

Scrap Metal super group to revive 80s magic

According to glam-metal.com "...80's music fans have long been looking for a new super group to bring back the magic to rock music again. Lately, their has been some buzz with the new super group -Scrap Metal, which features Gunnar and Matthew Nelson of Nelson, Kelly Keagy, Mark Slaughter, and special guests Eric Martin of Mr. Big. Read more.

Check out Nelson, solo artist and drummer/singer for Night Ranger Kelly Keagy , Mark Slaughter of Slaughter .

Diamond Head gives finishing touches to new album

British heavy metallers and pioneers of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) Diamond Head 'has completed their forthcoming album 'What's in your head', writes lead guitarist and founder-member Brian Tatler on the site blog. "It is still a work in progress and as soon as we are sure that every other aspect of the project is up to the standard of the songs we will release it on you lot!."

The band debuted with the album 'Lightning To The Nations'(The White Album) in 1980

Dizzy Dean rocks with new album
Dizzy Dean Davidson, former vocalist of Philadelphia hair-metal rockers Britny Fox, has released a new album called 'Drive my Karma'.

Check out this fan page at MySpace.

Kamelot's 'Nights of Arabia'

I simply like this song from Kamelot, a prog metal band hailing from Tampa, Florida. This is a live video, but I did not like the live version. But their songs are good.

Kamelot is Roy Khan - vocals, Thomas Youngblood - guitar, Glenn Barry - bass, Casey Grillo - drums and Oliver Palotai - keyboards.

Saxon releases new album
Saxon has relased their new album titled 'The Inner Sanctum'.

I've written about Saxon. I was thrilled to watch Saxon's new DVD 'Live Innocence', a collection of their live shows and some exquisite music videos that includes hits like 'Broken Heroes', 'Northern Lady' and 'Ride Like The Wind'.

Saxon is Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Doug Scarratt, Nibbs Carter and Nigel Glockler.

Previous members included Jörg Michael (Drums), Fritz Randow (Drums), Graham Oliver (Guitar), Paul Johnson (Bass), Steve Dawson (Bass), Nigel Durham (Drums), Pete Gill (Drums).

Mastodon makes metal loud enough

Mastodon's metal is described as progressive rock with wall-punching rhythms, blasting riffs and shrieking guitar leads. They belong to the pre-Hair Metal era of fantasy-ridden lyrics and cult themes. Mastodon hail from Atlanta.

The Grammy-nominated "Blood Mountain" 'Blood Mountain' is about a quest to climb a mountain made of blood to capture a crystal skull (The nomination was for the single "Colony Of Birchmen" in the "Best Metal Performance" category).



The previous 'Leviathan' album was inspired by Herman Melville's classic 'Moby Dick'.

Watch The Wolf Is Loose

Note: Mastodons are elephant-like animals with large teeth and tusks. They became extinct more than 13,000 years ago.

Digital Downloads from Halford
For all things related to Rob Halford, check his Metal God Entertainment label.

Legendary power metal band ANNIHILATOR to release new album

Annihilator's new album 'Metal' will be out on april 16th, 2007. I quote from the band's official site,"...In April 2007, after a full year of writing and production, Annihilator will release Metal..."

"Metal’s ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song), drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (long-time vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). Metal also features sensational performances by some of metal’s finest players and Annihilator’s good friends, like Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom), Danko Jones (Danko Jones), Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Corey Beaulieu (Trivium), William Adler (Lamb Of God), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Jesper Strømblad (In Flames), Steve ´Lips` Kudlow (Anvil), Anders Bjørler (The Haunted), Mike Mangini (Steve Vai, Extreme, Annihilator), Jacob Lynam (Lynam) and more."


(Pic source: www.annihilatormetal.com)

FAITH NO MORE really was an 'Epic'

Fellow rockers Metallica and Guns N Roses named Faith No More as one of their favorite rock groups. I heard 'The Real Thing' first, followed by 'Angel Dust'. To me 'The Real Thing' was the most outstanding album from FNM. Nothing matched its versatility, punk and soul influences mixed with some deft death metal riffs.


(Source: www.fnm.com)

FNM was 'weird' along with Temple of the Dog and Danzig and we realised that our good old metal is now charting new territories. The Real Thing line-up was Michael Patton - Vocals, Jim Martin - Guitars, Mike Bordin - Drums, Roddy Bottum - Keyboards, Bill Gould - Bass.

FNM really rocked in the early 90s and those who believe that Limp Bizkitt was the best rap-metal should bend their ears to 'Epic', the song that rocketed FNM to chart success. This band did open for GNR and Metallica and videos of later albums were ignored by MTV. But FNM continues to rock on forever. Here is what I like:

Digging The Grave was simply a great song from King for A Day...Fool for a Lifetime (1995). Line-up was Mike Patton - Vocals, Guitars by Trey Spruance, Mike Bordin - Drums, Roddy Bottum - Keyboards, Billy Gould - Bass Guitar.

In April 1998 the band officially announced its end.

Radiohead's 'Just' is whacky
Just for a change I am jumping to 90s rock. There were several good bands, but none of them was as electric as heavy metal of the 80s. Rock was drowned in the noise of Nirvana's creativity. I did not like 90s alternative rock bands as such, but there were some really good singles. Towards mid-90s, most of the Grunge bands turned sober and softer with the result that very few bands sticked on my mind.

An example is Radiohead. I like the song 'Just' from Radiohead's The Bends (1995) album. But I've not yet bought a single Radiohead CD and add it to my collection.

Keel was a good band

Just listen to this soft rock number. Keel was more wild and heavier than this.

Keel was formed when Malmsteen left Steeler. Original line-up was vocalist Ron Keel , guitarists Marc Ferrari and Bryan Jay, bassist Kenny Chaisson, and drummer Dwain Miller. Ron Keel's site has rare pics of the Steeler and Keel. I've pasted one of them here.

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Also watch a catchy single 'Tears of Fire' from the 1986 'The Final Frontier' album produced by none other than Gene Simmons.

Watch Tears of Fire

Interviews

1.Jason Becker



2.Vinnie Moore. Vinnie has a My Space page also.

Sepultura might tour India

It's great time for Indian metal fans. Brazilian thrash metallers Sepultura is set to rock India on April 2. The concert is still unconfirmed, but I request metal fans to message the band so that they don't press the cancel button in the end.



Dante XXI released on March has the followinf line-up
Andreas Kisser - Guitars
Derrick Green - Vocals
Igor Cavalera - Drums
Paulo Jr. - Bass

Buy your tickets before it's too late.