Stuff by Woody
Extreme’s Birmingham show which was happening at The Institute has been moved to the O2 Academy after quickly selling out and needing a larger capacity venue. So it’s the 7th July at the O2 Academy now – make a note or turn up at the wrong venue. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
So Sebastian Bach has a new album coming soon – how’s about some live show’s in the UK? What about The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton on 8th July! BOOM!
Mike Tramp has a new album scheduled for June and he’s going to hit the road on an extensive solo acoustic UK tour including a show at The Robin in Bilston on September 10th which makes me very happy!
Finnish melodic rock heroes Brother Firetribe return with their third album Diamond in The Firepit on May 5th via Spinefarm Records. I can’t wait for this one to be released – I absolutely adore these guys – and there is talk of tour dates this time around! So keep everything crossed!
Stan Bush has just released his new album The Ultimate and he has issued a video for the track ‘Unstoppable’ to promote it! Enjoy, everyone loves some Bush right?!
Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham are back working together, alongside a new guitar talent in youngster Andrew Watt. The power trio are known as California Breed and their debut album will see the light of day in May on Frontiers Records. Hughes has described it as ‘a very sexual’ album… nice…
And here’s the video for ‘Sweet Tea’…
Black Country guitarist Vince O’Regan is working on another project for Z Records. The solo album under the name OREGAN will be released late summer 2014 and will feature guest vocalists on all the tracks. The first to be recorded was ‘Something To Believe In’ which featured the vocals of AOR legend Paul Sabu!
21 Octayne which feature members of Axxis, Rhapsody and the Joe Perry Project have signed to AFM records to release their debut album Into The Open. You can check out their first video for the track ‘The Heart (Save Me)’ below.
UK rockers Serpentine have announced the departure of bassist Gareth Vanstone. He has decided to leave feeling he can’t commit to the band due to serious health issues. The Serp’s will soon search for a new bassist in preparation for the release and promotion of their third album this autumn. Along with their new vocalist (who is still to be revealed!) and a promised evolution of their sound, it really will be a new era for the Serp’s.
Winger’s new album Better Days Comin’ hits the streets in April but first here’s a first taste of what to expect with their new video ‘Rat Race’.
And the second new one for ‘Midnight Driver of a Love Machine’
New super group L.R.S. (see our review of their album Down To The Core here) have released a new video for the song ‘Livin 4 A Dream’ which has also been released as a digital single. Enjoy!
Alien’s new album Eternity will be released via AOR Heaven on April 25th. It will feature tracks like ‘Unbroken’, ‘Summer Of Love’, ‘I’m A Fighter’ and ‘Wildheart’.
Another release on AOR Heaven this April 25th is Sunstrike with their self titled debut. It’s mixed and mastered by Eclipse main man Erik Martensson and features the following songs, ‘Fireball’, ‘Roll The Dice’, ‘Never Let You Go’ and ‘Scream and Shout’.
Legendary American melodic hard rockers Tesla have announced their new album due out on Frontiers will be called Simplicity.
Pretty Maids have released another promo video from their latest album Louder Than Ever. Which was released at the end of March on Frontiers Records, check out ‘My Soul To Take’ below.
The new Unruly Child album will be an independent release and it will be in two parts via CD Baby and iTunes. Songs set for inclusion on Down The Rabbit Hole are ‘She Can’t See Me’, ‘Breaking Hearts’, ‘For All We Know’ and ‘Say I Love You’.
The long awaited Tyketto DVD is on its way very soon, check out the teaser below.
http://youtu.be/jHbY7-nkj84
Timmo Tolkki’s second Avalon album Angels Of The Apocalypse will be released on Frontiers this coming May. The album features various guest vocalists including Floor Jansen (Nightwish) and the awesome Simone Simons (Epica). Tracks to be included are, ‘Song For Eden’, ‘Stargate Atlantis’, ‘You’ll Bleed Forever’ and ‘High Above of Me’.
The Hard Rock Hell 8 Festival has announced its first batch of bands that will play at Hafan Y Mor, North Wales in November. The list includes W.A.S.P, Blue Oyster Cult, MSG, Y&T and Krokus.
Maxx Explosion which features members of House of Lords have release a promo video from their debut album ‘Forever’ which was released late last year. Check out ‘Can’t Stop Falling In Love’ below.
Popular Swiss rockers Shakra will release their Best of album on 9th May – 33 – The Best Of – is a double album and will feature thirty classic Shakra tracks coupled with three brand new songs.
Classic Melodic Hard Rockers Y&T hit the road for their annual UK pilgrimage this November surrounding their appearance at HRH 8. They play The Robin in Bilston on Saturday November 15th the last date on their tour! Nice…
Midlands melodic rockers Dante Fox have been back in the studio and are releasing two shiny new songs via iTunes which were recorded by the latest line-up of the band which features Pete Lakin on keyboards, Alan Mills on bass and Andy Perfect on drums. The song’s ‘How Will You Know? (Where To Find Me)’ and the ballad ‘A Love Affair’ are available to download now! The Fox continue to write and record over the coming months with a brand spanking new album promised for the end of 2014!
Popular Scandinavian glam rockers Wig Wam have officially announced they have split up. Rumours have been abound about the split but now it’s official. The band first emerged when their song ‘In My Dreams’ saw them feature on the Eurovision Song Contest and shortly after this exposure they were quickly embraced by the melodic rock community and even played some successful shows in the UK.
New melodic rock band Skyscraper which features Black Country vocalist Lee Small, bass man David Boyce and Scandinavian guitarist Tor Talle will release their debut album soon and have release this teaser video to wet our appetites.
Journey guitarist Neal Schon’s forthcoming solo album So U will feature guest musicians Marco Mendoza and Deen Castronovo. The album has been described as jazz and blues inspired Hard Rock. I can’t say that is exciting me personally but it does promise to be an interesting album. Tracks to be included are ‘Take A Ride’, ‘What You Want’, ‘Love Finds A Way’ and ‘Shelter’.
US rockers Loveblast have released a new video for their song ‘Wild Forever’, it’s lifted from their latest EP Hard Liquor In Big Glasses.
UK melodic rockers Three Lions have released a video for the song ‘Trouble In A Red Dress’ ahead of their debut album release in April on Frontiers Records.
Swiss legends Krokus will release a new live album Long Stick Goes Boom in the UK on May 26th – songs included in the live set are ‘Go Baby Go’, ‘Screaming In The Night’, ‘Hellraiser’ and ‘Hoodoo Woman’.
Here’s a new video from Jake E Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel for ‘Shout It Out’. Remember these guys hit up Wolverhampton Slade Rooms on 8th June as well as a Sunday main stage slot at Download.
Eighties rockers China Sky have just released a documentary and return to the studio for an all new album 25 years later. Check out the documentary here
Diesel the new UK rock group fronted by Robert Hart release their new album via Escape Music on May 23rd. This is one for all lovers of blues driven melodic rock to get their hands on!
Free Spirit have released another new video to promote their album All The Shades Of Darkened Light (reviewed here) for the track ‘Fever’ which is out right now! I absolutely love this album and I think it’s an essential purchase for any self respecting melodic rock fan!
Classic Rockers Uriah Heep will release their brand new album Outsider this coming June on Frontiers Records.
Brummie David Saylor follows up the success of his last solo EP by preparing for the release of a new full album Strength Of One in May on AOR Boulevard records. In related news Greek melodic rockers Wild Rose who are fronted by Saylor will be releasing their next album via AOR Boulevard records too.
Well that’s all the juicy bits of news from the past month; I’ll be back in a month’s time with even more news and gossip from the world of AOR and melodic rock.
