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Hughes on Get Ready To Rock

Glenn Hughes; © Georgina Cates, image courtesy of Noble PRGlenn Hughes will appear on Get Ready To Rock radio today, October 30, at 22:00 GMT. The show in question is called Assume The Position and will be repeated on Monday, October 31, and Friday, November 4, at the same time. Get Ready To Rock is broadcasting live worldwide over the internet, just follow ‘LISTEN LIVE!’ link on their website (flash plugin required). Later on the show might also be available on mixcloud.

Thanks to Yvonne for the info.

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow “Memories in Rock – Live In Germany” CD review

Rainbow Memories in Rock cover artEver since Ritchie Blackmore speculated about doing a couple of RAINBOW shows in 2016, hopes and expectations have lead to very emotional disucssions between fans. To the disappointment of those hoping for one of the former lineups to reunite for the gig, Blackmore didn’t go the easy way and – as often – assembled a new team of musicians to accompany him on this adventure.

The band finally announced consisted of current BLACKMORE’S NIGHT drummer David Keith, former BLACKMORE’S NIGHT bass player Bob Nouveau, BLACKMORE’S NIGHT contributor Jens Johansson and LORDS OF BLACK singer Ronnie Romero, which lead to even more discussions between fans and even former RAINBOW members with Joe Lynn Turner claiming the planned lineup will be “a Ritchie Blackmore band, but certainly not Rainbow” overlooking the fact that RAINBOW has always been what Ritchie Blackmore wanted it to be.

Three shows took place, two open air shows in Germany at Loreley and Bietigheim while the third show was staged at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, UK. While the two German shows were recorded on audio and video for a later (November 18, 2016) release, the UK show wasn’t recorded, which is unfortunate as it did not only feature the most consistent band performance of all three evenings but also was the only show featuring “Soldier Of Fortune” and “Burn”.

Sadly, the CD booklet doesn’t explain which song has been taken from from Loreley and which song has been taken from Bietigheim which is odd as the second CD contains some bonus tracks from the “alternative night” (which one?) and introductions like “You wanna sing with me, Loreley?” are still included.

Despite all the discussions about the musicians on stage, the setlist had been the major point of criticism, including way too many DEEP PURPLE songs while leaving out a bunch of RAINBOW classics. I won’t repeat details about the performance which have been already covered in my review of the Loreley show, but one of the major surprises on the CD is Jens Johansson which – now being clearly audible – does a far better job than my memories of the show suggested. For a current release, the CD offers an enjoyable sound with clear dynamics and a well-balanced mix between each instrument.

Is “Memories in Rock – Live In Germany” an album worth buying? That’s a question hard to answer. It’s a good live album, but for a band as RAINBOW, good just isn’t good enough. There are more impressive live versions of almost every song out there which leaves the group of potential buyers to completists, people being curious how RAINBOW sound in 2016 and those who attended at one of the shows now being offered a perfect souvenir.

Review: Gillan – The Vinyl Collection 1979-1982

Gillan LP box vinyl logo

Five Gillan band albums reissued on vinyl, and the clarity and dynamics of these 180 gram vinyls knock spots off the original pressings.

Hear the sound of firing, it’s politics expiring.

Are you God, are you man, do you live in fear
Are we trash in your can, a bubble in your beer

As we slipped through Spokane you said something profane
And I shifted up into Nirvana

Whoa said the judge to the hooker with a nudge
I’m gonna fine you all your pleasure
But with the pervs and the kinks and the queer rinky dinks
Are you sure you only do it for the treasure?

A few choice examples of Ian Gillan’s lyrical output between 1978 and 1982. What he and his mad band of rock’n’rollers accomplished in those four hectic years was recklessly frantic even then, never mind when viewed by today’s standards. Five strong studio albums, a plethora of hit singles (always featuring unreleased b-sides) and endless amounts of touring.

Gillan’s level of creativity and energy has rarely been rivaled since, and now the core of their musical legacy is being reissued by Demon Records.
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From the family

After the furious discussion of the latest Blackers’ offering, let us check upon the rest of the big family.

Glenn Hughes keeps churning out previews from Resonate. This time it’s a track called Long Time Gone:
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Second Memories in Rock preview

The record company posted another preview track for Rainbow Memories in Rock. And despite the consensus among fans being that playing Purple numbers was not, ahem, the band’s strongest point, the powers to be, in their infinite wisdom, chose Perfect Strangers:
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Metallica covers Blindman

Metallica did a cover of When a Blind Man Cries while performing yesterday, October 22, at the Bridge School Benefit in Mountain View, California.
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Let It Shine

Another preview track from Glenn Hughes new album ResonateLet It Shine
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Here I Go Again ‘spotting

Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again, as so ever expertly crafted by Messrs Coverdale and Marsden, could be recently seen on TV on both sides of the Atlantic.
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For One Night Only EPK

Jerry Bloom, For One Nigh Only

Wymer has sent us a formal press release and some promo pictures for upcoming Jerry Bloom’s book For One Night Only. Since our first mention the book has obtained a more or less firm publication date — December 9.
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It won’t be much longer

Roger Glover visited Hamburg for a very much closed doors preview of the now ‘nearly there’, but still unnamed new Deep Purple album at the Chameleon Studios in Dulsberg. Bild.de carried a short report, and Roger also recorded a video message for the fans.
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