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.

Don Airey took part in the recording of a classic Beatles song Help, which will be released on March 11 at the first anniversary of earthquake in Japan. The earthquake was one of the strongest in recorded history and Japanese people are still experiencing it’s impact. Population of the affected area has not been able to completely return to their everyday live and the people are still grateful for help. All income from the project will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

The EP single Help! For Japan will include the following four tracks:

1. Help!
2. Help! (Tommy Heart version)
3. Help! (guitar version)
4. Help! (extended version)

Musicians involved: Don Airey (keyboards and piano), Leo Leoni (guitar; Gotthard), Neil Murray (bass), Hena Habegger (drums; Gotthard).

The singers: Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), Bob Catley (Magnum), Andi Deris (Helloween), Torstein Flakne (Stage Dolls), Marc Storace (Krokus), David Readman (Pink Cream 69), Claus Lessmann (Bonfire), Oliver Hartmann (Hartmann), Bernhard Weiss (Axxis), Michael Kiske (Unisonic), Tony Mills (TNT), Carsten Lizard Schulz (Evidence One) and Tommy Heart (Soul Doctor, Fair Warning).

Solo guitar players: Cede Dupont (Downspirit), Kyoji Yamamoto (Bowwow), Helge Engelke (Fair Warning), Roland Grapow (Masterplan), Leo Leoni (Gotthard), Henny Wolter (Nitrogods), Robert R. Rodrigo (Airless).

All ‘Help!’ versions produced and mixed by Tommy Heart, Tommy Remm and Rene Schostak (Valicon). Vocal arrangement by Tommy Heart. Solo guitar arrangement for Help! (guitar version) by Helge Engelke. Audio mastering by TMM/Tom Müller Berlin/Germany. Cover artwork Help! For Japan designed by Kai Swillus.

Project’s website and Facebook page.

Thanks to Bravewords for the info.

Brazilian website Wikimetal has featured Ian Gillan in podcast #50, released on November 28 (the interview starts at 15:30 into the podcast). You can listen to the podcast using Blabbermouth player or directly here (69MB mp3).

Elinor Bostock has started an online petition to get Jon Lord and his music featured at the BBC Proms:

While the programme is probably set already for 2012 there is always a chance for future years. It was partly the Financial Times’ idea actually. Their review of Deep Purple’s O2 concert ended with “Go on Proms: book Deep Purple for next year”. Jon is perhaps a more likely candidate. I am sure I don’t need to convince any of you that this is a worthy cause.

The initiative has already received support from Jon’s management and JonLord.org.

Sign the petition here.

The long awaited biography of former Deep Purple and Rainbow tour manager Colin Hart finally dropped onto my doorstep the other day. Although very much looking forward to it, I was however slightly nervous as to the content.
After all, despite his many years of service, the parting of the ways between Colin and DP probably wasn’t handled all that well in the end, and it would be easy for this biography to descend into a bitter tale of regret.
My fears, thankfully, were in vain. This is an affectionate reflection on a 30 year + love affair, that despite it’s final outcome stands as frankly the best book yet written about Deep Purple and Rainbow.
As with the best of biographies it’s as if Colin is with you, just chatting away. But without the regular looks over your shoulder to check on his band of merry travellers.
Just buy it, eh?! You know it makes sense.
For those of you who use English, you can buy the book on the link to the right, Wymer UK. Head there now and you should hopefully get the book in time for Christmas. Happy reading 🙂