A little lull in the news is interrupted by an interview we’ve missed when it came out in September issue of the Goldmine magazine. Ian & Ian talk to Martin Popoff. The freshly released Whoosh was obviously discussed at lengths, as well as this bit on In Rock:

GM: To take you back 50 years with a historical question, over the years I’ve asked everybody this except for you: why is In Rock such a heavy record? It’s essentially music that previously hadn’t existed.

IP: By the time we had done the third record, with (vocalist) Rod Evans and (bassist) Nick Simper, there was an unconscious realization from definitely Ritchie and I, and somewhat Jon (Lord), that our music was actually getting harder. And because we were playing live so often, and we were getting better at it, the ideas were becoming slightly more aggressive. And we needed a different sound at the top. Rod Evans’ voice was lovely, but he wasn’t what I would call a rock and roll voice; it really wasn’t. So when that change came and we got Ian and Roger (Glover) in, not only did we get that voice, we got a couple of songwriters in. And so the shift was sort of inevitable. The amalgamation of those five musical influences, and the way that the musical dynamic was shifting, we had to make a statement and say let’s make sure everybody realizes this is a big shift from the first Deep Purple. I wouldn’t say it was a conscious thought, but there was a deliberate effort. In Rock was very, very hard. And then we heard Mountain’s first record, and we went back and said, “We’ve got to do some work.” (laughs)

…And the symbiotic songwriting relationship that Big Ian and Roger enjoyed for so many years:

GM: What would Roger’s preoccupations be in terms of lyrical subjects versus you? I mean, if an outsider was to try to pick apart what a Roger lyric is verses an Ian lyric, what does Roger concern himself with more than you?

IG: Well, Roger and I have worked together since ’65. And it’s like the odd couple, I suppose (laughs), in that sense. Roger did virtually all the lyrics on the last album. And here, the gates just flung open. I just started scribbling one night and I didn’t stop and there it was, all finished. The first one I wrote was “Drop the Weapon,” which is because I was very moved about kids dying on the street, shooting each other, stabbing each other in London. It’s getting worse and worse. And it was a kind of metaphorical arm around the shoulder: “Hey kid, you know, your pride can take a hit. Let’s drop the weapon. There’s other things we can do.” That came out, and it was just stream of consciousness, and before I knew it, it was all finished.

But to answer your question, I think Roger’s style is more romantic. He’s a much nicer person than I am. In fact I complain about it all the time: “I hate you Roger, ‘cos you’re just too nice.” And, well, he’s the nearest thing I ever had to a brother. He’s more poetic. And he’s very good at narratives. I’m probably more aggressive than Roger, and probably more cryptic. Roger is much more straightforward when he’s telling a story. I tend to bury meanings in two or three layers. Of the songs we’ve written, over the years… I mean, I’ve written 500 or more songs now, and probably half of them are with Roger. Of the songs we’ve written, you know, he’s probably written 30% and I’ve written 30% on my own and the rest we’ve written together. We don’t actually count. If somebody has a good idea, we go with that.

Read the whole thing in Goldmine.

Speaking of fresh releases, The Dead Daisies will take the cover of the March issue of the magazine:

Thanks to Yvonne for the info.

Here is a Ronnie James Dio interview from 1981, where he talks about his current band (Black Sabbath) and the previous one (you might have heard about them — Rainbow). The recording is from the collection of Sabbath keyboard player Geoff Nicholls, who passed away in 2017. It was posted by someone dealing with his estate:

I found a cassette with not much information on the label and found a great interview with Ronnie on Radio Trent Nottingham by Graham Neale.
Recorded on the last leg of the Heaven & Hell tour at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England, 25th January 1981.

Thanks to BraveWords for the info.

The recent Dead Daisies release — and their first with Glenn Hughes — charted quite respectably around the globe. Continue Reading »

Steve Morse spoke to The Sessions. His enthusiasm when he talks about playing the guitar is truly infectious, and that’s probably the best thing you can get infected these days.

The chat is rather long, nearly 50 minutes, so pour yourself your favourite drink, kick back and enjoy! Continue Reading »

Glenn Hughes was the guest on That Jamieson Show (on the air January 19), promoting the latest Dead Daisies release. For reasons better known to himself, the host decided to ask a question the answer to which seems plainly obvious to everybody who’s been following the matter.

DJ: [Suppose] you get a phone call, and it’s the Deep Purple camp, and they’re saying “Hey, you know! Not for nothing, maybe just for one time around the world we get Mark 2 and the Mark 3 singers together.” So, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, and David Coverdale all out on the road. Do you consider it?

GH: I would not consider it.

DJ: Wow, breaking news! Would you like to elaborate on that at all?

GH: Because I’m way past that now. It was such a long time ago. Let’s just say that there are some unresolved problems from the past. And for me, the time I have left to do my work on this planet, I need to keep making new music and plowing on forward. Yes, I have done some shows in respect to Deep Purple music, but as far as re-engaging with them chaps again in the live form, I can’t see it happening.

Here is the complete chat:

Thanks to Blabbermouth and Gary Poronovich for the heads up.

Glenn Hughes spoke to the Neil Jones Rock Show and said that another Dead Daisies album is in the works:

I’ve just been given the go-ahead to tell media — so you’re getting kind of an exclusive today — I have written a whole new Daisies album, a new one, between May and August. And we are going to get into that in the next three or four months. So the good news is for people that are enjoying ‘Holy Ground’ — the old Dead Daisies fans and the new ones, and the Glenn fans — there’s gonna be a follow-up. And if I can say this to you, it’s fucking mega — I’m so happy with it.

Neil Jones Rock Show is on the air on TotalRock radio Wednesdays at 6 p.m. U.K. time. The quoted bit is from the interview teaser aired on January 27, 2021. The interview in full is scheduled for the February 3 slot. TotalRock broadcasts online worldwide. Past interviews (eventually) find their way to the online archive.

In other Daisies related news, here is a behind-the-scenes video from sessions for their recently released Holy Ground album:

[Update Jan 29] The whole Holy Ground album is now streaming:

Thanks to Blabbermouth and BraveWords for the info.

Another Purple cover from the 11 year old Japanese drum prodigy Yoyoka Continue Reading »

As we told you last year there’s a new Blackmore’s Night release on the horizon — and you can hear the first single now.

From the press release:

RELEASE BRAND NEW SINGLE
“FOUR WINDS”
taken from their forthcoming studio album “Nature’s Light”

New York, NY (January 22, 2021)–Today, January 22nd, internationally renowned Renaissance folk rock band Blackmore’s Night release their new single “Four Winds”. It is the second song taken from their highly anticipated new studio album Nature’s Light, the first in six years, and eleventh studio album overall.

Blackmore’s Night have crafted a 20+ year legacy of merging medieval melodies with rock elements. Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Candice Night seamlessly blends her ethereal vocals and lyrics, along with a command of numerous classic woodwinds. With Ritchie Blackmore traversing all matter of six-string instruments, from acoustic and electric guitar to mandola, hurdy-gurdy and nyckelharpa and their wonderful band of minstrels, the result is a truly unique listening experience.

Their new single is another remarkable song and foretaste of their forthcoming album.

Says Candice Night,

“‘Four Winds’ is the story of two girls, actually inspired by two of my oldest friendships. One who left Long Island and moved to California and one who left to move to Virginia. Going to across the country to California and living on the water was where the first girl felt the call to her soul, being able to watch the dolphins in the water and living the life by the ocean, while the other one took a very different path and felt the call to the woods inspired by wolves and other woodland creatures. They both have equal importance in this storyline and are ultimately a part of me and perhaps of everyone, being pulled away from the stress of their current surroundings and looking for escape. If you feel stagnant or repressed in your surroundings, it’s important to take a break from the mundane and go where your heart leads you. It allows you to recharge and begin again with fresh and renewed energy. For some it is the ocean, for some the woods, for some feeling the sun on your face, others need to immerse in moonlight. Ultimately, we are all a part of the same story, the same picture and as the song says, “we’re all part of the trees and part of the seas and ready to start again…”

‘Four Winds’ is available for immediate Streaming and Download: https://blackmoresnight.lnk.to/FourWinds

The corresponding official lyric video will be released on Blackmore’s Night Official YouTube channel on January 29th, 2021.

Nature’s Light will become available on multiple formats and can be pre-ordered here:
https://blackmoresnight.lnk.to/NaturesLight

That to Carole Kane for the information

A collection of demos, outtakes, and alternate versions from the recording sessions that produced Tommy Bolin’s album Private Eyes will be released on February 12, 2021, via Cleopatra Records. It will be available on CD and as a gatefold album pressed on coloured vinyl (purple, white, and red to chose from). Both editions will feature the same tracklist:

Shake the Devil – The Lost Sessions

1. Shake The Devil (Alternate Mix)
2. Bustin’ Out For Rosey (Alternate Version)
3. Hello Again (Outtake, No Strings)
4. Gypsy Soul (Outtake)
5. Sweet Burgundy (Alternate Version)
6. Someday We’ll Bring Our Love Home (Instrumental Demo)
7. You Told Me That You Loved Me (Instrumental Demo)
8. Post Toastee (Acoustic Demo)
9. Tommy’s Instrumental (Outtake)
10. Gypsy Soul (Acoustic Demo)
11. Gypsy Soul (Rehearsal Demo)
12. Someday We’ll Bring Our Love Home (Instrumental Demo)

Preview clip for Bustin’ Out For Rosey:

The album can be preordered from the label or other sources.

Thanks to BraveWords for the heads up.

Another TMZ moment involving another two Rainbow vocalists. For a number of years, Joe Lynn Turner was the singer in the Sunstorm project, a brainchild of Frontier Records president Serafino Perugino. Since 2006 they have released five albums with JLT on vocals, however in December he announced on Facebook that he is leaving the project, and a few days ago Frontiers announced that the new album will feature another Rainbow man Ronnie Romero, and is due out in March 2021. For whatever reasons, JLT is not happy about it and let the world know about it with a carefully worded rant:

Dear Fans,

Thank you for your attention and concern, as I felt it is necessary to release this second statement to further clarify and explain my position… I believe, the true facts of my personal decisions must be stated more directly.

I made an original statement in December where I kindly and respectfully to all parties involved, tried to explain the reasons for my departure from the Sunstorm Project. My statement was very clear, however, with the Frontiers official media release of the new Sunstorm and the accompanying statements, in my opinion, I see a definite attempt to twist my words to justify the effort to promote this new release of Sunstorm, show their autonomous power for any and all creative and business endeavours and prove the fact that no moral or ethical considerations exist as long as the corporation holds the legal trademark…

Etc, etc.

So there you have it, another little tempest in a teapot.

Oh, yeah, and there’s a clip from the new Sunstorm album with Ronnie Romero:

Thanks to BraveWords for the info.