Alice Cooper released a new album called Road on August 25. Bob Ezrin produced the album (him and Alice go waaay back) and our own Roger Glover was a guest musician on the album, playing bass on one track Baby Please Don’t Go.

This is not the first time Roger guests on Alices’s album.

Thanks to Karl-Heinz “Kalle” Baier for the heads-up and to Gregster for release date correction.

Glenn Hughes will embark on another US tour in February 2024. He will again be preforming his Classic Deep Purple set, comprising mostly Mk3 & Mk4 numbers. Gilby Clarke of Guns N’Roses fame will be a special guest on the opening night at the Whisky A Go Go in LA. Enuff Z’nuff and Bad Marriage will be supporting on most dates of the rest of the tour.

Full details and ticket links in our calendar.

Child in Time and Flight of the Rat are featured in the new action flick The Creator, released to theatres on September 29. Both can be heard on the car stereo while the protagonist (played by John David Washington) is driving the sufficiently retro pickup truck, escaping from the bad guys. Both tunes can only be heard for a few seconds, though. Blink, and you’ve missed it. Nevertheless, both tunes got the credit.

Thanks to dpv for the trainspotting report.

Some time before the start of the US tour that wrapped up in late September, Glenn Hughes spoke to the Rockin’ Metal Revival podcast. He mentions at one point that he’s heading to Copenhagen next, and that gig was on August 11, 2023. Continue Reading »

Louder Sound profiles Warhorse’s self-titled debut album for their Album Of The Week series.

In the summer of 1969, Deep Purple’s incoming vocalist Ian Gillan had a devastating caveat. “He made it very clear that he wasn’t joining without Roger [Glover],” then bassist Nick Simper said. “I was definitely peeved.”

Reeling from this de facto sacking, Simper took up with soul belter Marsha Hunt’s backing band, White Trash, and gradually began replacing its sub-par members. When a pregnant Hunt herself stepped away, Warhorse emerged in its own right, with Simper giving vocalist Ashley Holt the run-out he’d almost had with Purple in 1968.

“He was far better than any of the various vocalists who fronted Deep Purple,” Simper told Let It Rock in 2008. Rick Wakeman, too, was briefly in the frame, before the line-up was completed by guitarist Ged Peck, drummer Mac Poole and keyboard player Frank Wilson.

Read more in Louder Sound

On the 10th anniversary of reopening, Ian Gillan sends a message to the teachers and students of the music school in Armenia that he helped to rebuild:

To the staff and students at ‘Our School in Gyumri’

Dear All,

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy 10th anniversary.

It was a joy and a privilege to play a small part in the building of your lovely school of music.

I remember when the cold wind was blowing through the broken walls and your hands were cold, and yet you all persevered under such difficult conditions and gave everything to your music. I was deeply touched by the dedication of the staff and the application of the students in that broken place.

There is a special place in my heart for you all, so I am sending love and encouragement with the simple message that ‘Music can be a friend for life’ so please continue to fill the world with melody, harmony and rhythm, textured skill and expression. It really does mean so much to us all.

Thank you for your wonderful efforts, I hope to see you again before too long.

All my love,
Ian Gillan

Thanks to Mediamax for the info.

Bernie Marsden’s posthumous album Working Man will be released on November 24, 2023, on independent label Conquest Music. Recording of the album was finished in June. Throughout the summer, Bernie was involved in mixing, artwork, and planning for the release of the album. He approved the final audio masters and artwork before his death in August.

His widow Fran Marsden says:

Bernie was really excited about his new album, Working Man, and proud of the tracks featured on it. After the last three albums of covers he was keen for his fans to hear some new, original songs. He loved working on them in the studio during lockdown and he couldn’t wait to get the album out into the world.

Alan Bambrough speaks on behalf of the label:

Bernie Marsden was far more than an artist to Conquest Music. He has been a great friend and mentor for many years and was a huge part of our decision to form the label. His Kings album was our first release and we are proud to work with his company, Little House Music in releasing some of his finest ever work. We are heartbroken at Bernie’s passing and thought the right and respectful thing to do would be to postpone the release until next year. Fran Marsden convinced us that Bernie would want the Working Man album to come out as planned.

The album contains 12 brand new tracks written by Bernie, produced by him, and mixed by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, The Who). There’s no word at this point on what other musicians took part in the recordings. The limited first pressing in 3LP and 2CD formats will come with 10 bonus tracks, including new interpretations of Whitesnake classics.

Track listing:

CD1

1. Being Famous
2. Midtown
3. Longtime
4. Invisible
5. Son I’ve Never Known
6. Steelhouse Mountain
7. Working Man
8. Valentine’s Day
9. Savannah
10. Bad Reputation
11. You Know
12. The Pearl

CD2 (bonus)

1. Look At Me Now
2. Midnight Believer
3. Who’s Fooling Who
4. Just Don’t Have The Time
5. Foolish Day
6. Here I Go Again
7. Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City
8. Til The Day I Die
9. Time Is Right For Love
10. Come On In My Kitchen

Opening track Being Famous is available for streaming now:

The album can be pre-ordered from the Bernie Marsden webstore, where there’s a chance to win one of five special lithographic prints hand signed by Bernie.

Thanks to BraveWords for the info.

Joe Lynn Turner has announced the arrival of his newborn son:

On this very special day, of our 12th wedding anniversary, there is nothing more sacred and bonding between my Wife and I, as this beautiful Angel that we named Matteo (which means gift from God)… Our sacred union is complete and our hearts are filled with joy… Love and blessings!

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A post shared by Joe Lynn Turner (@joelynnturnerofficial)

Thanks to BraveWords for the heads-up.

Geir Myklebust reprints in his blog a heartfelt eulogy to Tommy Bolin penned by Geoff Barton for the December 11, 1976, issue of Sounds.

HEARD ABOUT Tommy’s death last Sunday morning. The news hit hard and low.
I hadn’t known him particularly well, but there was always — shall always be — a place for his music in my heart. In fact, I had received a copy of his latest album, his finest work to date, ‘Private Eyes’, in mid-week and had been playing it more or less continually for several days.
First met Tommy in the Swiss Cottage Holiday Inn in September 1975. He’d just joined Deep Purple and at the time his enthusiasm for his new-found gig was running hand-in-hand with his keenness to complete a solo project, eventually to emerge as the LP ‘Teaser’ on Nemperor records.
Endearingly laid back, intelligent and softly spoken, my interview with him went well and I count it amongst my most enjoyable.

Read more in My Things — Music history for those who are able to read.

Some time in August, Glenn Hughes spoke to the 107.1 The Boss radio station, broadcasting out from New Jersey. Nothing groundbreaking was revealed, but he touched upon the making rounds story of him allegedly nearly joining Van Halen, and upon prospects of collaborating with David Coverdale. Continue Reading »