The project with Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Dave LaRue and Casey McPherson that went into the studio a year ago has come to bear fruit. The band now has a name — Flying Colors — and will release an eponymous album on March 26 in the UK, followed by a US release on March 27th, via Music Theories Recordings.

Thanks to Noble PR for the info.

The pan-European tribute band Purpendicular later this month will embark on a tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of Machine Head album. In March Ian Paice will be joining them for two dates: Patteln, Switzerland, on March 21 and Aschaffenburg, Germany, on the 23rd.

Purpendicular are:

• Robby Thomas Walsh (Ireland) -Vocals (Ian Paice, Joe Lynn Turner)
• Simon Radner (Austria) – Bass (Ian Paice, Joe Lynn Turner)
• Ernesto Ghezzi (Italy) – Keyboards (Gotthard, Eros Rammazotti)
• Michele Cusato (Italy) – Guitars
• Bernhard Welz (Austria) – Drums (Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Don Airey, Steve Lukather, Mark King)

Thanks to Seher Cosgun for the info.

The Broken Heart Invitation contest has concluded and the winner was announced earlier this week:

Of the several million entrants to the competition (surely that’s wrong – Ed), the exhausted judges have spent many a long winter’s black night pouring over the images drifting past their bloodshot eyes like endless rain into a paper cup (no more stealing lyrics, and less of the hyperbole! – Ed) and have narrowed them down to the final seven. As heartbreaking as it was, a winner had to emerge.

The winner is Evi Ivan for The Dream I Had. Congratulations.

Read more on RogerGlover.com.

Our warmest congratulations to Evi Ivan, who once again has shown her talent.

The Jon Lord for BBC Proms petition that Elinor started about a month ago is still open. As of this writing, it has collected 1,582 signatures with a goal of 5,000.

C’mon! We know that more people on THS alone have read that message. With Jon now struggling with cancer (and even if he didn’t), you know it’s the right thing to do. Go and sign it now.

In an interview with Artisan News Service, Glenn Hughes says Black Country Communion is heading into the studio in June 2012 to record the group’s third album. Hughes says he already has some new material ready for the album.

The Blairing Out show has conducted an interview with Glenn Hughes during the Dimebash 2011 held on December 14 in L.A. Glenn spoke about the late Ronnie James Dio, his solo and BCC plans, the failed Mk3 reunion idea, Dimebag Darrell, and other things.

Thanks to BraveWords for the info.

Roger Glover takes his time reflecting on the meaning of music and how it’s shaping our lives:

I was recently reading the blogger Bob Lefsetz’s eloquent words extolling his love of music, particularly songs he heard when he was younger. The songs that hit you the first time you heard them have become ingrained, standard, classic – as familiar as old gloves. However, put them in context. At the time, didn’t they seem exciting and dangerous? Subversive, even. When you listen to music, do you have it on in the background, when people are talking or doing the washing up? That’s just hearing it. For me, listening to music is focussing on it, drinking it in, relishing all the details. It can be a solitary thing but, being the frustrated DJ that I am, I love turning people on to things they have not heard before. If it’s good company, there’s a shared wonder of it, how those mysterious songs came into being – the groove, the production, the voice(s), the words, the surprises, and the arrangement. The drummer! No one interrupts.

…finishing with the Christmas greetings:

But I digress; this is supposed to be a Christmas greeting. Personally and professionally it has been a momentous and rewarding year. We finished the tour on a high note. The musicians of the orchestra were an absolute joy to work with and I hope we can perform together again one day. I raise a glass to our crew, the best there is. Thank you to all who came to the concerts, I hope you enjoyed as much as I did. 2012 here we come.

A peaceful and Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Whatever, to all.

Read more on RogerGlover.com.

Bona Saturnalia to everybody!

Joe Lynn Turner’s Sunstorm, an AOR side project with German/American producer Dennis Ward, will release the third album entitled Emotional Fire on February 24th in Europe (February 28th in North America) on Frontiers Records.

The Sunstorm project was born after Turner met with Frontiers Records’ President Serafino Perugino, as a way to dig up some old gems, written by JLT during the mid 80’s. The task was to create an ultimate Joe Lynn Turner Melodic Rock ‘dream collection’. This brought on the release of the first Sunstorm album in 2006 and the follow up House of Dreams three years later.

While the first two albums basic inspiration came from the Melodic Rock catalogue of songs that Turner penned for himself or other artists of the genre, for this third album, Frontiers and JLT decided to look at Turner’s numerous vocal sessions he did in the 80’s as a background vocalist for other artists. This brought on a resurrection of some of Michael Bolton’s tracks such as Gina (originally included on The Hunger album, where Turner contributed background vocals), You Wouldn’t Know Love and Emotional Fire, which Bolton penned for the Heart of Stone album by Cher. “I sang background on the original Gina” — says Joe — “Michael and I did all of the parts but I tried to rock it up a bit more than the original… not so pop! Good song though! It’s funny…I heard Emotional Fire from Desmond Child during a writing session and then he asked me to sing background vocals on it! Crazy! It’s like one big circle!”

Track list:
(links point to songs preview on Frontiers Records)

1. Never Give Up
2. Emotional Fire
3. Lay Down Your Arms
4. You Wouldn’t Know Love
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Torn In Half
7. Gina
8. The Higher You Rise
9. Emily
10. Follow Your Heart
11. All I Am

Sunstorm
Lead Vocals: Joe Lynn Turner
Drums: Chris (Schmidtic) Schmidt
Bass, partial guitars and backing vocals: Dennis Ward
Guitars: Uwe Reitenauer
Keys: Justin Dakey

Produced by Dennis Ward

Genre: Hard Rock
Format: CD
Catalogue Number : FR CD 532
Barcode: 8024391053225
Label: Frontiers Records
Euro Release date: 24.02.2012
USA Release date: 28.02.2012

Thanks to BraveWords and Lisa Walker for the info.

The Classic Rock Roll of Honour ceremony that was held early November in London will be shown on Sky Arts TV channel in the UK. The broadcast is scheduled on Boxing Day, December 26 at 1:00 pm with repeat on January 28 at 11:30 pm. Deep Purple have won the Innovator Award with Gillan, Glover and Paice at the red carpet to accept it.

Classic Rock’s own footage of the event:

Update (Dec 18): Saxon’s official site now reports that

Don Airey is unfortunately not able to appear at Saxon’s last show in London because his gear is not returning in time.

Saxon have announced that Don Airey will join them as special guest at their London show at Koko on 20th December. He will perform on the two tracks that he played keyboards on Saxon’s current album Call To Arms: Mists of Avalon and When Doomsday Comes, as well as one or two other songs.

Thanks to AltSounds.com for the info.