Highwire Daze magazine Issue #135

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Publisher Highwire Daze Magazine A General Partnership Editor Ken Morton Managing Editor Danny S. Pasley Senior Photographer Jack Lue East Coast Editor Jupiter Lee Contributors Ken Morton Jack Lue Jupiter Lee James Grover Kim Crain Joe Schaeffer Tammy Greene Cover Art by Yannick d’Assignes of Smart Works Intl Cover Photos by Jack Lue HIGHWIRE DAZE 827 N. Hollywood Way PMB419 Burbank, CA 91505-2814 www.highwiredaze.com email: ken@highwiredaze.com Copyright 2021 Highwire Daze Magazine Opinions expressed within this publication do not neccessarily reflect those of the publisher.

All rights reserved. Nothing may be produced in whole or in part without the express and written permission of the publisher.

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERVIEWS with...

Richie Kotzen of Smith/Kotzen............................14 Adrian Smith of Smith/Kotzen..............................18 Udo Dirkschneider of U.D.O...............................,22 Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate.........................26 Ronnie Atkins of Pretty Maids..............................30 Paradise Kitty.........................................................38 Sara Baldwin.........................................................40 Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr..........................42 Paul Sabu of AOR and Corporate Control............46 Yogi Lonich...........................................................50 Madysin Hatter......................................................54 Lovely World.........................................................58 RVNGE..................................................................60 SARA BALDWIN POSTER by JACK LUE........................33/36 PARADISE KITTY POSTER by JACK LUE....................,.34/35 ALBUMS REVIEWS Dave Evans, Lit Soul, Joey Amenta, Mad Symphony, Mesheen.....................................62 SKETCHES BY THE EDITOR................................................... 8 PRODUCT REVIEW BY JAMES GROVER Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Guitar Bridge Pickup.............................................10 IN MUSICAL ORBIT BY JUPITER Mandoki Soulmates, Diane & The Deductibes.......................................12

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April/May 2021

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Sketches By The Editor Signs Of Life In Hollywood As Amoeba Music Reopens

Amoeba Music made it’s grand reopening at their new location at 6200 Hollywood Blvd on April 1st - and it certainly put the adventure back into shopping for records and CD’s. I arrived to get in line at 8:30 AM (Amoeba would open at 11) and the line was already nearly down to Sunset Blvd - three blocks from the new store. As the clock was slowly making it’s way to the 11:00 AM hour, the very orderly line of masked music fans would go all the way around the Hollywood Palladium and even further.

The first people in line had arrived the night before at 10:00 PM. Even at my early arrival, because of shopping limitations, I did not receive entrance into Amoeba until 1:30 PM in the afternoon. But it was certainly worth it!

I found all kinds of very cool music and just the idea of going shopping in a massive music store brought back a sense of normalcy.

Amoeba had been closed for over a year, with the legendary Sunset Blvd location having no real send off due to the pandemic. CD Trader in Tarzana and Freakbeat Records in Sherman Oaks remained open during most of the age of Covid-19, and for that, myself and the many other music lovers in Los Angeles are very grateful. I have found some real gems at both these places, during the pandemic, so please go and support these amazing shops.

And when in Orange County, metalheads must check out Bionic Records - they may be small in size but their stock of underground metal items is well worth taking the trip to the wilds of Cypress! Fingerprints Music in Long Beach is also a wonderful place to shop, and they were open during most of the time as we all experienced life in the times of Coronavirus. And if you live in Inland Empire, Rhino Records in Claremont is the place to be for all types of music fans.

Recently Governor Newsom announced that California is set to reopen for business on June 15th, which is around the time the next issue of Highwire Daze comes out. On the back page of this very magazine, The Hard Way has announced the rescheduling of their show at The Whisky supporting Firehouse on August 28th. The Hollywood Bowl recently announced that they will be open this summer welcoming music fans to their iconic venue. So it appears that we are reopening at long last! For now, 8

we are not quite out of the worldwide pandemic. Mask wearing is absolutely essential, and if you haven’t gotten your vaccine shot yet, please do so!

It has been an interesting year, that’s for sure. I look forward to seeing everyone back at live shows as soon as it’s safe to do so. I’ve missed Amoeba Music Hollywood and continue to miss my favorite club Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. We will all meet again soon enjoying live bands and the social atmosphere that goes with it.

And speaking of social atmosphere and major events, Highwire Daze has just registered for our booth for The Namm Show at the Anaheim Convention Center in January 2022! The world is reopening - and what a wonderful thing it is!

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Product Review by

James Grover Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Guitar Bridge Pickup

As a Guitarist, Luthier and Guitar tech, I came across the Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB pick up when my good friend Dave Ratliff called me up and told me about a guitar he has and it was not able to cut through the mix of his hard rock band (Product of Mortality). As we kept our conversation going Dave was asking me if there’s anyway to improve and customize his guitar? ( At this point I could sense his frustration about how he felt about his guitar), I said “of course there is!” so I explained to him that it’s possible that the stock guitar pick-up was the problem.

After doing some research I came across the Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB bridge pick-up.

This Guitar pick-up can growl at low volumes with a bluesy / Jazz tone and when you open it up with full gain it can scream. Dave agreed for me to drop this pick up into his guitar. Now it’s his go to guitar. Now he has no trouble cutting through the mix.

I have always been a big fan of Seymour Duncan Pick-ups. Over the years the development team at Seymour Duncan Pick-ups have come a long way in their guitar pick-up technology.

If you are a guitarist who plays Jazz, Blues, Rock or Metal this is the Pick-up for your guitar.

Likes:

Likes and Dislikes

What I really like about Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB pick-up is that it’s able to make your guitar stand out when you want to cut through the mix as you play lead guitar. Also with the knowledge and the right tools installation is a breeze.

Dislikes: I couldn’t find any dislikes for this pick-up however it would be nice to see this pick-up installed in higher end guitars as stock, Reach James Grover at: https://www.facebook.com/james.grover.311 10

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In Musical Orbit by Jupiter Jupiter at Highwire Daze Online Crew East Coast Editor

Hey everyone, it’s Jupiter Lee - East Coast Editor. Check out my record reviews here and be sure to add me on Facebook!

Link is at the end of my column...

Living In The Gap / Hungarian Pictures Mandoki Soulmates Purple Pyramid Records Try to think about combining some eclectic jazz and funk, progressive rock, along with world music? Well, you may have just found the new double - album from MANDOKI SOULMATES. It’s their 11th album.

LESLIE MANDOKI has assembled this all - star lineup of musicians with Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, David Clayton -Thomas, Bobby Kimball, Tony Carey, Simon Phillips, Al DiMeola, Mike Stern, and Bill Evans just to name about half.

Opening the album with Living In The Gap, you may hear a reference to WEATHER REPORT and then on the other hand track 05 Let The Music Show You The Way is an all acoustic, tender, uplifting song about music that could be from another genre completely. Even track 06, Too Much Pride, an avant-garde, slow, funky horn-based number that conjures up vivid pictures of being in a smokey nightclub is just totally different. Fresh, new exciting arrangements . Such an amazing band. World class, lush studio production done at Red Rock Studios. A new sector of music and things to come from them. The CD’s themselves are beautiful. All gloss black with record grooves on the front and a small colorful label.

Plan to have an hour to hear the first CD. The second disc HUNGARIAN PICTURES is mostly instrumental and has unparalleled orchestrations with track 02, Utopia For Realists and track 03, Transylvanian Dances being included!! Track 06 has a one of a kind arrangement of EMERSON, LAKE and PALMER’S piece The Barbarian off their first album.

Recently signed to Inside Out Music, you can look for MANDOKI SOULMATES to be touring in late 2021. Please be sure to check out and read my interview with LESLIE MANDOKI in Issue #133.

T H R E E: 6 Feet Apart Diane & The Deductibles DRAIA Productions I had the pleasure of reviewing the new CD from California rockers, DIANE & THE DEDUCTIBLES. Formed in 2014, the band members include lead vocalist / guitarist DIANE ADAMS, guitarist ROBERT SARZO (HURRICANE, GEOFF TATE’S QUEENSRYCHE), guitarist KEITH LYNCH (BILL WARD), bassist CLIFF REHRIG (AIR SUPPLY) and drummer RONNIE CIAGO (BRAND X, RIKKI LEE JONES).

There are many songs on here beginning with Let’s Live followed by Say What You Mean and Never Say Goodbye that all seem to lend themselves to be a natural fit for FM Radio listeners. Track 03, Hold On, will reach out to you slowly with its extremely nice and mysterious sounding chord changes while DIANE ADAMS keeps it all together.

Track 05, Big Airliner, a heavy yet melodic tune features to what sounds to me like LYNCH and SARZO trading off guitar licks. Digging that! The song Darkness has a funky, melodic groove. So, the final song track 08, Winner, has the rockin’ groove I was hoping for plus some extraordinary lead guitar work. Great way to finish.

I feel DIANE & THE DEDUCTIBLES have a real gem.

https://dianeandthedeductibles.com/

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The Blues Rock World of Smith/Kotzen Part One: Richie Kotzen

Interview by Ken Morton - Richie Kotzen Photo by Joe Schaeffer - Smith/Kozten Photo by John McMurtrie Smith/Kotzen is the electrifying collaboration between guitarists and vocalists Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen.

Part-time LA neighbors, full time friends with a healthy mutual respect, Richie Kotzen is best known for his solo work as well as his participation in The Winery Dogs, while Adrian Smith is within the ranks of the heavy metal dynasty known as Iron Maiden. Their stunning Smith/Kotzen debut is now available via BMG Records, and it’s a blues rock adventure music fans will want to experience time and again. Highwire Daze had interviewed both iconic performers to discuss the creation of all things Smith/Kotzen. Part One with Richie Kotzen begins now...

How did the project of Smith/Kotzen initially come about?

Well, we’ve been friends for a while. And for years, when Adrian would come to Los Angeles, we’d get together. He’s got a second home here in California and there’s a room there where he has all these guitars set up and the amps and what have you. Usually around the holidays they’d have a get together and a bunch of people would come by – and at some point, we would all end up in that room playing and throwing ideas around. We’d get together and kind of have some fun basically. And somewhere along the line, somebody said “Hey, you guys ought to try and write a song together.”

And we had some downtime, and that was really how things started. And I think what really allowed this to develop was the idea that we didn’t need to do anything – it was just something that came out of “Hey, let’s see if we can write something.” And once we did that, it became kind of exciting, and we thought that it was something that we should pursue and try to work towards – see if we could write a couple songs and maybe down the road see what happens. So, it ended up turning into a record – and I think the fact that we had such a relaxed no pressure kind of attitude, allowed the music to develop in a pretty exciting way.

You recorded this on Turks & Caicos Island before the pandemic in February 2020. I had to look up where that was.

What was the experience like recording at that location?

Turks & Caicos – and you know, just like you, I didn’t know about it either. (Laughs) It’s Caribbean and it’s just amazing – it’s just fantastic and very peaceful – beautiful water – the ocean. And the first thing when we went down there, it was really a case of just kind of relaxing and taking it in.

Adrian’s been there a bunch of times before, so it was nothing new to him. He took me around to some of his favorite spots and got acclimated – and then pretty quickly we dove into working within a day or two. And it was a nice rhythm.

Adrian liked to fish, so he would get up in the morning and do his thing. I love the ocean, so I’d go out for a swim. And then we’d go into the studio for most of the day – go out for dinner that night – and then repeat. And it was just a real smooth relaxed environment. And before you knew it, we HIGHWIRE DAZE

April/May 2021

were all set, and the record was done. And the next phase was figuring out when we could release it. And the good thing actually is that we didn’t lose our release date. Our plan was to release it in March and then do live shows – obviously we can’t do the live shows but thankfully we were able to maintain the release date.

One of the drummers that you’ve worked with, Tal Bergman, participated on a few songs on this project. Tell me how Tal Bergman became involved.

I’ve known Tal since I was 25. We were introduced from another musician that I was already playing with, and we became friends – we hit it off. Tal’s gone on tour with me before. He was the drummer for my band when I opened for the Rolling Stones, so we go back a long, long way. So, when Adrian and I decided we wanted to try and get some other guys playing, I had just worked with Tal and I suggested “Hey, let’s bring in Tal to play on a couple of songs.” And he just came in and nailed it – he’s got a strong sense of song and composition, so it was really easy.

And of course, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain also appears on the track Solar Fire. Tell me what it was like working with him.

Well, that song, we just had a drum loop set up and we tracked the parts against the drum loop. And so, it was all spelled out – it was written – and then we sent that over to Nicko and he did his stuff at his studio – he did all the parts there and sent it back to us. And I think he just brought the song to life. It was just great having his input on there – powerful – he’s very active on the kit and he does a lot of fills that compliment the right time – so it was really great to have him on there.

Have you ever met Nicko in person before?

Briefly when they played in Los Angeles.

Would you and Adrian like to do any shows in the future in support of this project? Maybe reschedule the ones you already had?

Yes, that was the idea. The plan and schedule was to put this out in March and then do a run of dates. But obviously, everyone is in the same boat. Hopefully we’ll come out and tour at a later date as soon as things open up. But we absolutely intend on performing this music at some point when it’s possible to do it.

What was the first Iron Maiden concert that you ever attended and what were your memories of it?

It would be the Piece Of Mind Tour and that was in Allentown, Pennsylvania and that was just a great time for me, because I was so into the band. Prior to that, it was Number Of The Beast, and that record I just wore out – so I was just so excited to see the band and go to the show. I think back as a kid how into Iron Maiden I was – and as an adult I’ve got my name on an album cover with Adrian – it’s very surreal.

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It’s hard to believe but it’s very cool and I’m very excited about that.

And what do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for the Smith/Kotzen project and for the world in general?

Well, for the music world in general, it sure would be nice if folks could get out there and perform, because we miss it. We miss being able to go to shows. We miss being able to put shows on for people. So that’s what I’d like to see at some point this year as things get a little more under control and we can go back to a lifestyle that we’re accustomed to. And as far as it relates to the album itself, I’m very excited about it.

It’s one of my favorite things that I’ve ever done, and I’d like to see it come out and get some responses from people. And I hope people are as excited about it as we are.

And from there it ties back to the first part of the thing about 2021 – about being able to get out and perform at some point.

And final question – do you have any messages for your fans who are reading this right now?

I’ve got to say that I hope everybody is keeping it together – being locked up and disrupted from doing things that you love to do – and stay safe and keep your head together – and before you know it, we’re going to be back to playing again.

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Turn the page for our interview with the one and only Adrian Smith!!!!

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The Blues Rock World of Smith/Kotzen Part Two: Adrian Smith

Interview by Ken Morton - Photo by Jack Lue And now presenting the one and only Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden infamy to discuss the Smith/Kotzen project also featuring Richie Kotzen from the Winery Dogs.

First of all, how did the project of Smith/Kotzen come about, and how do you know Richie from?

I bought a place and spent a bit of time of the West Coast in Los Angeles and got to know Richie a bit about 6 or 7 years ago.

And what made you both decide that now was the time to do a project together?

I’ve got a studio and we did some jamming – Richie and I. And we sort of discovered that we liked the same kind of music and we jammed Stevie Ray, Bad Company and Free, Humble Pie and all that stuff. My wife, who kind of manages me, suggested that we get together and do some writing and see what happens. We did and we just hit it off.

We wrote 2-3 songs for the first time in just a few days, and it worked out well.

You recorded the album before the pandemic on the Turks & Caicos Islands – which I had to look up where that actually is. (Laughs) What was the experience like recording at the location and tell me a little about Turks & Caicos.

We had a lot of the songs prepared in digital form, and we just went there – and these days you could take the studio anywhere if you’ve got a laptop and some good microphones and some good monitors – and some guitars and amps that you could put out where you like. So, we thought it would be nice to go there with the wives, get a bit of sunshine, and finish up the album there. It’s great – I’ve been going to the Turks for the past ten years. I love it there – it’s one of my favorite places in the world. It’s the best of both worlds – get a bit of work done and get some sun too.

You recently released a new single called Scars. Tell me the inspiration behind that song.

It was probably the third song we wrote. When we would write, we would just sit in the studio – we’d both have our guitars plugged in – we’d both have vocals mics – and I think I just started noodling around with those chords and came up with those first couple of lines – “sometimes I feel like a helpless child alone in the night” – and then Richie came up with the chorus of Scars. The lyrics are just about life experience – stuff that happens to you – and Scars is typical of that – the things that happen in your life affect the way you live your life. I think that everyone can kind of relate to that.

The first single we heard from Smith/Kotzen was called Taking My Chances. Tell me a little about the inspiration for that song.

We thought we would put it out as the first song because we thought it was pretty representative of what we were doing. It HIGHWIRE DAZE

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was an up-tempo track and it’s quite catchy. We’re both singing and we’re both playing guitar in it, so it’s very representative of the album. People we curious about who was doing what, so we thought it would be a good first one to put out.

You and Richie actually brought musicians from your own bands to play on the album. Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays drums on Solar Flair. What was it like working with Nicko on an album outside of Iron Maiden?

We had the song Solar Flair and I think Richie suggested it would be nice to get Nicko on a track or two. And we thought that would be a perfect one for him. But we didn’t actually play together. In these days, we were in another part of the world, so we had to send the track to him, and he’d go into studio and put his drums on it and sent us the music back.

I’ve done stuff with Nicko outside of the band before. I love the stuff that he did before he was in Maiden – you know like the Pat Travers band. So, we wanted to get him on at least one song and he really did a great job on it.

Richie’s drummer Tal Bergman is also on the album. Were you familiar with Tal’s work prior to working with him on Smith/Kotzen?

Yeah, I knew Tal a little bit and I really liked his work. I bumped into him on the road a few times. Obviously, Richie recommended him very highly. Having said that, Richie played drums on most of the album to be honest. But Tal is amazing as well. It was great having him a couple of songs.

It was great that you both had a band member each come in and help out on the drums.

Yeah, it’s great to involve friends, but that said, we wanted to keep it sort of between the two of us and see our vision through. With the drumming – it was just the way we write – sometimes I would play guitar in the studio and Richie would be playing drums and we’d put a track down like that. It was originally intended to be a sort of demo, but the drums tracks Richie did were good, so we thought “well, we’ll keep them.”

Would you and Richie like to do any shows in support of Smith/Kotzen?

We’d love to. In fact, we planned to do some shows in America and in Europe, but of course the pandemic (ended) all that unfortunately. Although we’re still looking to do shows in the future around the record, because we’re really proud of the album and we’d like to take it out on the road and play it for people. These songs would be quite fun to play onstage.

Have you seen any of Richie’s bands live, and if so, what did you think?

Oh yeah, I love what he does. I’ve seen him a couple of times in London and I saw him at the Baked Potato in L.A. – he was playing this little club gig. He’s amazing live – he’s a great singer – a great player.

What do you hope that the rest of 2021 brings for you, for 19

Smith/Kotzen, and for the music world in general?

Well, I hope things get back to some sort of normality. With the vaccines now, hopefully gigs will be happening. A lot of technical crew are suffering – the technicians, the back line technicians, lighting – all these people associated with the bands are struggling. So, we need to get back to work like everybody else. Hopefully towards the end of 2021, things will get back to some sort of normality and we can get out there again. I think people need music and that’s why we decided to release the album now even when we can’t play, we put it out. I think we need more rock music – it’s the classic rock music which we all love and grew up listening to. It doesn’t make itself and someone has got to produce new rock music – and that’s one of my motivations for making the album. I’ve always wanted to make a hard rock album with a splash of blues in it – so hopefully people appreciate that.

And do you have any messages for Iron Maiden fans who are curious about Smith/Kotzen and what your project is all about?

Yeah, it’s influenced by the music I grew up with. When I was 15, I got the rock and roll bug. I was listening to the British band Free – later on Bad Company, Humble Pie – all that sort of stuff when I was a kid. And this is sort of a manifestation of that. I just felt the need to do that in the last few years. I like a lot of blues music and it’s something I’ve been wanting to get out of my system for a while. So, the videos are out there, and the songs are out there for people to check out. The main thing it’s done with is for the love of the music – that’s why I did it totally. And I think that Richie is

probably the same. It’s the music we grew up listening to, and I think it’s just like a tribute to that with our own twist on it.

Smith/Kotzen is now available via BMG Records!

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In These Pandemic Survival Days with

Udo Dirkschneider of U.D.O.

Interview by Ken Morton Udo Dirkschneider live full page photo by Jack Lue While the year of 2020 saw a lot of pandemonium and hardly any live shows, in the midst of it all, the almighty U.D.O. would perform an absolutely epic concert at an opulent amphitheater in Bulgaria. The show has been documented on Live in Bulgaria 2020 – Pandemic Survival Show - now available on DVD and CD via AFM Records.

Playing the very best of the U.D.O. songs along with a few Accept classics, this is an event that will be remembered long after the dark reign of Covid-19 concludes. Highwire Daze recently had the honor to interview the legendary Udo Dirkschneider to find out more about the one-off show in Bulgaria, a recent album U.D.O. did with the Music Corp Concert Band that resulted in the reunion of two other Accept members, a bit of news on an upcoming U.D.O. studio endeavor, and other raging topics...

So, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, how does a live show in Bulgaria come about?

We had this offer last year in July to the show in Bulgaria.

Don’t ask me why they wound up asking us. I know we are quite popular in Bulgaria. So, we had the offer from the government and our promoter in Bulgaria. The thing last year from July on to September, everything was possible – there was not a big lockdown – there was no problem to fly – restaurants were open – bars were open – and you HIGHWIRE DAZE

April/May 2021

could go on holiday – everything was okay. Not the full thing but beginning stuff blah blah blah. So then why said “Yeah, why not? If everything is possible, then we can do that.” But then we said “Yeah? A show? Hmmm.” And then they came up with the contact and we said “Yeah, okay no problem.” So, they came up with a location – and then when we saw the location – this old Roman amphitheater – and we were like “Wow! Is this show really happening?” I mean, we want to record it and also do a DVD of it. So, we prepared of everything, but then we were thinking let’s see if it really happens. Everyday it was changing – lockdowns and they were closing restaurants, they cancelled flights and all that stuff. And then was it possible to get together as a band – we are not living together in one country – one guy was from Russia, one guy was from Romania, I live in Spain, and two people are living in Germany. So, then we said “Okay, we want to be prepared – so we meet each other in Germany to start rehearsing.” And also, we said okay, nobody knows when we can come together again, so we were already doing the photo session for the upcoming U.D.O. album this year.

And yeah, we did the rehearsing – and then in the end it was happening that we were flying to Bulgaria. For us it was like Wow! The only show in 2020 – but we didn’t expect that much people were coming. And then when we came to Bulgaria, everyone was well prepared – the hotels, wearing masks and everything was fine. And then they said the only thing we cannot do – there will be no people 23

in front of the stage. They’re just sitting. And for us, we’re okay we will see how that feeling is. Then we went to the place, and we didn’t expect that 2,500 people were coming – it was like Wow! It was quite an evening! It was a very emotional evening – a really, really different atmosphere than what we normally have in concert. The people were really excited to see a live show and for us it was the only show we could do this year – and of course you put everything in there. It was a fantastic evening. And I think that the whole atmosphere – and you could hear it on the CD but if you see the DVD, you’ll see the whole atmosphere when we were together with the people. I think this show will remain in our heads for a long, long time. I think it was something very special.

And I noticed you had some Accept songs in the set…

Oh yeah, especially for this concert, the promoter was asking us “Oh please, can you play some Accept songs?

Some classic stuff?” And I said, “Yeah.” Normally I don’t play any Accept stuff with U.D.O. but I said “Come on, we’ll do that. It’s the only show. So, what.” And the reaction was fantastic! But compare U.D.O. with Accept – in a way the music is the same that I did with Accept. But of course, it’s not the same – my voice is on top – that’s what most of the people say anyway. I did Accept songs for a long time, and I did three years as Dirkschneider where I just played Accept songs. Of course, the people want to hear this and they want to hear the original voice.

The Dirkschneider thing we did for three year and it was really successful, but it was also not planned to do it for three years. It was just planned for a couple of shows, but it really was exploding. For me, it was a lot of time to play those songs. But on the other hand, I have 16 albums out (as U.D.O.) and the 17th is coming out this year after the summer. I think for me, I have more albums out (with U.D.O.) than I did with Accept. It’s also when I have to make the setlist for touring, it’s like a nightmare. But in America, everything was already confirmed to do the tour in 2020, but with the pandemic we have to move it hopefully in 2022 but I think I think that works. But the promoter, coming back to the Accept songs, they said “We heard you don’t play any Accept songs, but in America you cannot do the show without Balls To Wall, you know?”

And I said, “Yeah, I know.” But I said “If we do the tour, I don’t have a problem to play Balls To The Wall, Metal Heart, Princess, whatever.” Maybe three or four songs.

It’s not the end of the world for me. In the end, it’s like give the people what they want. And they definitely want to hear those songs, so why not?

Your son Sven has been in the band for a while now.

What has it been like working with your son on these later U.D.O. albums and especially on this live one?

Yeah, I mean with my son, what can I say? He’s now in the band for five years and I think he’s doing a great job, you know? He’s getting better and better and he’s really hard rehearsing and everything. And with the new album, he was involved with some writing. I do some vocal stuff 24

with him – he’s come up with some melodies. We do the lyrics together. I’m really proud of him. He’s really into that and really pushing everything and that’s a good thing. In the beginning when he joined the band, the band members were like “the son of UDO is joining to the band. It can be different. We have to be careful what we are saying.” And I said “No, come on guys. He is a band member of the band. If I have to say something, then I just do it between him and me – and not in front of the band.”

Now everything worked and I’m really proud of him. He’s doing a really, really good job.”

Another album you released last year was We Are One with the Music Corps Concert Band. What was that experience like recording that particular album?

Yes, I did already two shows with the orchestra, but we did some songs that already exist like Metal Heart and Princess and all that stuff and U.D.O. songs. And then the idea came up why are we not doing an album together and writing new songs for it. Then we said, yeah, okay we can try that. And then the whole thing took nearly one year to get all the ideas and then start working together with the orchestra. It was very interesting to see how they wanted to change things and they were like “Can we change things?” And I was like, “Yeah. Hello. We are working together.” And the result of this album – I’m really, really happy with it. It’s a shame that we couldn’t play the show in Wacken last year. But what can we do? Nothing!

You also released a stand alone single with the orchestra called Where The Angels Fly. Tell me a little about that single and the inspiration behind it.

Also, on the We Are One album, Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes were involved. Peter was really funny. I didn’t see Peter for nearly 15 years. And then I came into the studio with Stefan Kaufmann - he said you have to come to the studio and do some demo stuff for some April /May 2021

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songs. I said yeah okay. And the I came to the studio and Peter Baltes was there. And I said, “Hello, what you are doing here?” He said, “Yeah, you know. I’m working some stuff. I have some projects going on in America. I do some songs together with Stefan…” Of course, you can imagine we were talking about a lot of thing. And then he said “Yeah, I was listening to some stuff for the orchestra. Very, very interesting. If you don’t mind, I have some ideas – if you like.” And I was like “Peter, go ahead.

Every good idea is welcomed!” And that was the story of working withStefan Kaufmann and Peter again for this album. And the song Where The Angels Fly was left from the whole session. And this was something that was for people that was helping like doctors and hospital staff and so on and on and on. Then we did a video and we put out the single and the reaction was very good. So why not.

I recently talked with one of your former U.D.O. bands mates Andy Susemihl who was on the album Mean Machine – who recently released a solo album called Alienation. Andy told me in the interview that one of the tours that you did was with Guns ‘N Roses back in the day. What was that experience like touring with Guns ‘N Roses when they were so young?

Yeah, that was very interesting for us. We did the tour just when they were nearly to explode. Yeah, that was really like rock and roll, let’s say. Almost every night we

were going out to a rock club and did some jam sessions together with Slash and the bass player. That was really like a good friendship. And that was really a nice tour – I remember that very well. And it was also interesting to do this with U.D.O. It’s really good remembering on that tour.

Now tell me a little bit about the new studio album coming up later on this year and can you reveal the title yet?

Noooooooo, not really at the moment. (Much laughter) But let’s say there will be a lot of songs on this album. If you get the limited edition, there will be 16 songs on this album. I mean of course we have time enough to do a lot of stuff. Let’s say this album, there will be a lot of different things on there – also a little bit left with what we were learning from the orchestra album. There will be some interesting arrangements and stuff like that. Yeah, you will hear that – but I don’t want to talk too much about this.

Do you have any messages for your fans in the States who are reading this right now?

Hopefully, we can make it next year – come to the States and doing a tour. There were already a lot of shows confirmed. So yeah, I’ll cross my fingers. In the meanwhile, stay heavy and stay healthy.

www.udo-online.de The Third Classic Album From One Of The World’s Great Blues/Rock Guitarists...

Available On The 13TH May From MR Records Also Available Joey’s First Two Amazing Albums

Extend bleed/artwork into this cut out area

INSIDE FRONT

Reverse spine printing is available on request (surcharge applies)

TRAY

Cover Design – Dave Ashman

Joey would like to thank the following people: To My Special Lady Kari for the inspiration you always give me.

Michael De Luca from DELM Guitars for making guitars that take you where you wanna go. AMAZING!!.

A Big Thanks to my Brother Felice & Sister In Law Odile. Love You Guys...

My Brothers from TASTE, Ken & Michael, could not have done this without you guys.

Peter (Hoff) & Pete (Nayls) thank you for realising my passion & dreams.

To My Family, Friends & Fans thank you for all your support xxx

Produced & Engineered By: Michael Gonthier @ Shredd Studios (2016)

125.5 mm

All songs written & composed by: Joey Amenta Cover Design (1993) – Laneway Music Cover Re Design (2020) – Dave Ashman

Bill Riley 4.46

Who Are You 125.5 mm

3.34

All By Myself 5.49

Speechless 4.42

ALL BY MYSELF

Tide Rolls In 7.03

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SPINE 6.2 mm THIS WAY UP

140.8 mm

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(C) 2016 & 2020 JOEY AMENTA. All rights reserved.

Unauthorised Copying, Public Performance, Broadcasting or Rental of this Recording is Prohibited.

A MR Records Production 2020

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AVAIABLE ON MR RECORDS FRONT www.melodicrockrecords.com

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The Unbreakable

Escape The Fate

Interview by Ken Morton Craig Mabbitt photo by Jack Lue

Escape The Fate has been on the forefront of the post hardcore movement since their inception in 2004, presenting their very own brand of inspiring anthemic rock. Chemical Warfare is their seventh album to date, jam-packed with memorable tunes displaying the true sounds of perseverance. Selections such as Unbreakable, Not My Fault, and Lightning Strikes should be all over the worldwide radio airwaves and are destined to become ETF fan favorites.

Highwire Daze recently interviewed lead vocalist Craig Mabbitt to discuss the making of Chemical Warfare during the pandemic, collaborations with Travis Barker and Lindsey Stirling, his new Twitch Channel, and a whole lot more!

Let’s talk about the new album Chemical Warfare. Is there any overall story or concept behind that album title?

The overall arch of the entire album when we went into the studio was kind of like our “make it or break it” sort of album. Like we were all getting torn in different directions. We all had just been through so much and had gotten through it. We all found ourselves back with John Feldman working on another album, and it’s just one of those things where you can get in your own head and feel the negativity – but when you stop and sit down and think about it, you count your blessing instead of thinking about what you don’t have. And that’s kind of like what we started doing.

We were like “Dude! We’re still here. We’re still able to tour – I mean not now because there’s Covid. We’re still able to get into the studio and make an album.” And it’s just like this sense of gratitude that overcame all of us. We all worked on some demos and sent some demos in – and when we all got into the studio on the first day, it was “Scratch all the demos and let’s start fresh.” And the very first song that we wrote that first day ended up being Invincible – which is the track that is currently going to radio – and we got Lindsey Stirling to feature on the song.

It just kind of embodied how we were feeling – the lyrical content of that song. So, it really kicked it off in a positive direction.

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How did Lindsey Stirling become involved with that track?

So, Robert is a big Lindsey Stirling fan and got us into her. And we had hit up her people during our I Am Human album to see if she wanted to get down on a track.

She was into it, but the planets just weren’t getting aligned and there wasn’t enough time. She was on tour – we were on tour – and we just couldn’t make it happen. And then when we started to work on Chemical Warfare, we had the thought again. And like I said earlier, Covid happened, so nobody could go on the road – and we had to go back to the studio to wrap up the album after we finished the tour we were doing which was The Drug In Me Is Gold Tour.

And that tour ended – our last show was March 4th on that tour – and that’s pretty much when the entire world started shutting down. So, we went back to finish the album and decided to reach out, and she was like “Yeah, I’m into it.

I got nothing going on right now. Let’s get it!” And she came down to the studio and smashed on the track – so April /May 2021

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silver lining to the whole pandemic, I guess.

Another guest on the album was Travis Barker from Blink 182. Tell me about that song Not My Problem and how Travis became involved.

So Not My Problem – the inspiration behind that was actually somebody’s roommate – like hey, do you ever have somebody in your life or a roommate or what have you that’s just kind of like a Debbie Downer – just always in the dumps? And that was inspiration behind that track.

And Feldy works with Travis a lot with the new Blink stuff and same thing – he was just hanging around the studio and working on a bunch of stuff – and everybody’s trying to figure out what’s going on with the Covid thing.

And Feldy’s like “I’ve got Escape The Fate in here if you want to listen to a few of the tracks.” And he’s like, “Yeah, let me hear it.” And he’s like “I love that one. I’d love to drum on it.” And everybody’s that’s asked about Travis, I just tell ‘em “If Travis Barker tells you he’s down to play drums on your song, you let Travis Barker play drums on your song!” And that’s what you do.

The opening song Lightning Strikes is a big burst of energy and definitely a great way to kick off the album. Tell me a little about that song.

So that one is kind of like when I envision what I want for rock anthemic songs to sound like – I didn’t really know how to explain it until we finished Lightning Strikes and I heard it front to back. And I was like “This is what’s up!

This is what some of the older songs should have sounded like.” It really embodied what I thought where a lot of the past songs should have gone. So, this has got to be the track that kicks off the record 100 percent!

What has it been like to record and release new music in the middle of a pandemic?

I kind of like it more than I liked before. It’s weird – I don’t know. I feel like I can get more involved in it – I can focus on it a little more – your head’s not getting through the show day and what city are we going to tomorrow and how many tickets were sold tonight and what are we doing in merch and how long is the drive. None of that. It’s just in the comfort of your home really getting involved in the music – working on it – talking to each other because you’re not like spending every second of the day around each other. So, it’s like “Hey man, how are you doing?

How is your work going? I’m really pumped to release this song.” I don’t know man – I kind of like it more…

Of course, you mentioned John Feldman of Goldfinger produced this new album. What was it like working with John this time around and what does he contribute to the overall recording process?

You know, I would say that John IS a member of Escape The Fate – or he always should have been. Not playing with us live, but in the studio for sure. He was a huge helping hand in helping us find our new sound which was when I joined the band in 2007 and when we worked on This War Is Ours. So back in the studio with him – it felt like I was getting back to my roots – I felt comfortable, and I was back at home. Feldy is literally family to me HIGHWIRE DAZE

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now. So, it just felt really good, and I felt like I could open up and really get involved.

In addition to the new Escape The Fate album, you released a solo song called Never Be. Tell me about that song and will there be any other solo material?

Yeah, so that’s something I worked on just randomly. I had someone hit me up wanting me to do some guest vocals – and so they got me a plane ticket and I flew out to Staten Island and kind of did the guest vocals for him.

And the guy who put the song together – he wanted to show me some other things that he had. And I’m like, “Oh that’s sick! I’ll sing on that!” And I put that song together and it just got kind of put on the backburner. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it. I’ve always wanted to do solo music, but I never really knew what I wanted it to sound like. And when the pandemic happened and when I started streaming on Twitch literally every day, I’m like “You know, this might be cool to drop. I’ll just put it up on Soundcloud and put like a download link.” It’s not like it had an official release or anything, but I just put it out there and people seemed to like it – so now I’m even more interested in getting involved with some solo stuff and really working on it and releasing an album. I got all the free time in the world right now and nobody’s talking about getting back on the road for at least another year – so that year is going to see Chemical Warfare drop and it’s probably going to see another ETF album at least being promoted – we’re probably going to track another album.

I’ve got new Dead Rabbitts stuff coming out – and probably a solo album as well.

And what is going on with Dead Rabbitts right now?

So right now, I have the ability to work on more music.

I write with Eric who plays guitar in that band – and he also plays bass with us in ETF. He’s got a studio that he’s built in this house and he lives like 20 minutes down the 27

street from me. But he’s been on a Twitch grind as well, so whenever we have time, and he shows me some demos he’s working on – and I just pop in the vocal booth and lay some stuff down. We’ve got almost an album’s worth of songs put together. The other cool thing is that so many musicians are just wanting to be creative right now – so not only do we have a bunch of Dead Rabbitts tracks, but Mikey from Islander got down and sang on one of the songs. Ronnie from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus just sent me some vocals – he’s guesting on a Dead Rabbitts track.

I sing some vocals for a Red Jumpsuit song. Me and him also did a cover of Let It Go – the James Bay song – and we dropped that on Twitch for Valentine’s Day. I’ve had the ability to go on with Eric and do some other cover songs for my Twitch streams. People are like “You should cover this” and I’ll be like “Screw it! I’ll cover it!” And then I just drop it and release it. I2I (Eye To Eye) from the Goofy Movie was one of the songs I covered. It’s just being creative and it’s a lot of fun – and you even have a closer connection with the fans pretty much. They’re not just seeing you for an hour on a stage – they’re kind of hanging out with you there on that platform every day. So, I get to do cool things and release new songs that they only get to hear – and I don’t know man – it’s fun! It’s a good time.

What do you think has kept you so passionate and creative about Escape The Fate since 2007?

The thing that’s kept me involved with the band is it’s kind of like it’s my baby – it’s all I had. I gave it all up at one point and just didn’t know where my life was going to go.

Escape The Fate kind of came along and I’ve been with them ever since. It’s almost ironic – I feel like I cannot escape the fate of Escape The Fate.

What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for you, for Escape The Fate, and your other projects?

I hope it brings the fans we’ve had over the course of all these years some enjoyment – some new music. I hope it brings in some new fans who might not have heard of us or who have just discovered us. I’ve noticed a bunch of people that I’ve talking to every day in my chat room who are just like “Oh, I just got into you guys!” That’s always really cool and shocking – like “Damn we’ve been around forever! Late to the party, huh?” But you kind of get into your own little world when you’re out there on the road 24/7 – and you kind of forget that there’s more out there.

So, I hope the fans just enjoy the new music and new fans find us and enjoy the music – and I hope 2021 brings some more opportunities to maybe do some live streams and get in the studio and do some new music…

www.escapethefate.com www.twitch.tv/craigmabbitt

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Ronnie Atkins of Pretty Maids Goes Solo with One Shot

Interview by Ken Morton Live Photo by Tammy Greene of Sound Lens Photography Ronnie Atkins is best known as the acclaimed vocalist for Pretty Maids and Nordic Union - and in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and a personal health scare, Ronnie Atkins took the time to record One Shot, his very first solo album now available via Frontiers Music Srl. Diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer over a year ago, this devasting news would be the catalyst for Ronnie to write and record One Shot with the help of his many friends in the music industry. Highwire Daze recently interviewed Ronnie Atkins to discuss the vibrantly inspiring One Shot solo endeavor, 40 years within the ranks of Pretty Maids, his total admiration for his fans, and other topics. It is a real honor to present to you the one and only Ronnie Atkins.

Read on...

First of all, how are you feeling and could you give us an update on your health?

I’m feeling good at the moment. Just been through a lot of scans a few weeks ago – and actually another cancer scare – but to make a long story short, it was all good and I was cleared. I’m feeling good. I’ve got some pain issues from the surgery and radiation that I’ll have till the day I die. But I can deal with that with pain killers and stuff like that. But right now the cancer is at ease. I’m feeling good and I’m positive. The diagnosis is what it is, and I can’t change that – and I just want to get the best out of every day – get the best out of life and cross my fingers that I have many years still. I still feel I have a lot to give.

I’m crossing my fingers for you too – absolutely. And thank you for the news. So how exciting or daunting was it to record an album not only during your health scare, but in the middle of a worldwide pandemic?

Well, it was pretty surreal. Basically I wasn’t able to meet anybody. One of the musicians on this album was Swedish – comes from Stockholm – literally we couldn’t hook up. I couldn’t even hook up with Chris Laney (rhythm guitars, keyboards) who was also the producer.

There was a lot of files forth and back and talk on the phone. I’d never done anything like this before, because normally when we write songs, we meet up in the rehearsal room and do some pre-production – then normally we just go back into the studio to do the basic recordings and go from there. This time is was totally different. I never played these songs in a rehearsal room or anything like that, so that was the way it was done. Actually, 30

because of my situation, it was done the way where I send up my ideas on an iPhone to Chris Laney in Stockholm.

He did like a quick demo on it and sent it back to me and I did the vocals – and then I sent it back to him – and then later on we did the instrumentation. The last thing we did for this album more less were the drums – which is totally upside down from how it used to be. But I mean I did it.

And I’m talking to you a year on – it sounds a little like a drama queen or something like that. But that’s how I felt at the time, being that I had just gotten the diagnosis from the doctor. There was no guarantee – they couldn’t say whether I would live three months, three years or whatever. So I felt I was racing with time and that I had a gun against my head – which in principle I had. So I just wanted to get my stuff done in the case I would get very sick again or eventually die. So it was pretty surreal.

Very surreal indeed.

Is there any overall story or concept behind the title One Shot? There could be a number of things…

There could be and there is. To begin with – One Shot the title track – of course it could be like my One Shot for doing a solo album you know. And of course that thought crossed my mind a couple of times. Now I don’t hope it is. But basically and generally, the message is that obviously we’ve got one shot with life – “one shot, one life, one chance to throw the dice.” It’s actually a positive April /May 2021

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message in all this. But that’s not something you think about when you’re young – or younger – and healthy – you don’t think about death and that life can suddenly change like a flash in the sky. But I learned that by experience, and that of course inspired me to do those lyrics. And not just for that song – a couple of the songs on the album are directly linked to my situation.

Some of your Pretty Maids band mates appear on One Shot. What was it like working with them on your solo album this time around when you probably didn’t get to see them in person?

Well it as great! I hadn’t played with Morten Sandager the keyboard player – I’ve always loved this guy and we always had so much fun together when he was in the band – and then suddenly he left for personal reasons.

So it was good to have him on board again – he’s a great keyboard player and a great piano player – I’ve missed him since the day he left. I love Chris who now plays keyboards but that’s a different story. I always miss Morten and I always had a good relationship with Allan Sørensen as well – he’s a fucking awesome drummer and he did a great job on this album. So it was all cool. I felt it was like they knew me and I knew them – and Chris is still in the band. And he’s just a joyful guy – a happy guy – and he’s been there with me all the time through the illness and encouraged me. He said, “Go ahead man. Hit me! Send me your ideas and we’ll work it out.” It was a match made in heaven for me to work with some familiar faces anyways.

Let’s talk about your and Pretty Maids’ previous album Undress Your Madness. Tell me how you Undress Your Madness?

That’s a good question. That happens on the tour bus...

(Much laughter) But I can’t go too much into detail about these stories. I’m sure there are other people that are better at telling them. Undress Your Madness – I guess I always did – when I leave home, I’ve got my family here – I’ve got a good wife whose taking care of things when I’m on the road – when I’ve been touring in the past. And then you go on the tour bus – you put on a different cap – and I guess that’s where I Undress My Madness – so to speak. Cuz that’s where all the fun is – that’s where all that I dream about since I was 10 years old is – that’s where all my dreams come true – and that’s where it hapHIGHWIRE DAZE

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pens if you catch my point – all the craziness!

You and Ken Hammer have been working together in Pretty Maids since 1981. What do you think makes you both work so well together after all of this time?

From day one, we shared the same dream. We shared the same goal. We wanted to do the same thing and I think we very quickly discovered that we could use each other – like two equally big egos. In fact, it’s quite crazy that our relationship would last for all these years. I mean, just look at it like these two alpha makes in the same gang for 38-39 years – that’s pretty crazy! We wanted to do the same thing and we shared the same sense of humor – besides that, we’re very different persons, you know.

But I’m very happy for all the stuff we’ve accomplished together – in particularly of course stuff in the 80’s and what we did in the last 10-11 years I think has been on a very high level. We’ve been able to still write good songs and show that we had some sort of relevance to the scene still. And I’m very, very proud about that – since we did the Pandemonium album all the way to the last album.

2021 actually marks Pretty Maids 40th Anniversary as a band. What goes through your mind that you’ve actually done anything for 40 years?

Well I see myself first of all as an old fart. (Much laughter.) Nah, I can’t believe it’s 40 years seriously, because for me – they say time flies when you’re having fun and fun we indeed had. It’s totally surreal to me that it’s 40 years ago. It doesn’t feel like it’s been 40 years. I can’t understand. But 40 fantastic years – we might have done some bad record deals and stuff like that, but I think we made our impact on the scene. And I know that a lot of younger bands were inspired by us and stuff like that.

And I think that’s the ultimate gratitude you can get for 31

that. I’m very grateful to hear that when I hear about young bands being inspired by some of our songs or cover some of our old songs. Then there’s been a purpose.

But it’s been fantastic absolutely!

At this time of your life, what do your fans mean to you?

Everything. Everything. Because if it wasn’t for the fans, we wouldn’t be here still after all of these years. I always like to connect with the fans and take time off after the concerts to chat with the fans and sign autographs and stuff like that. For the fans, I am very grateful toward the fans, because they mean everything for me – everything to me – and everything to every band really. And you should treat them with respect of course. And particularly, I’m very thankful and grateful to all the fans – in particular in the last year and a half when I’ve been going through all this shit with the cancer and everything. I had so many heart warm messages, greetings, stuff like that on the social medias – and that actually did lift me up at times because it means a lot to me in my situation when you’re in the pit, if you know what I’m saying. So the fans means everything.

And do you any messages for the fans out here in the United States?

Absolutely! I seriously hope that one day we will make it to the States. I know that my situation is difficult now

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with everything that goes on, but my wish is to go back onstage again in some constellation. And if that was in America, I wouldn’t mind. But basically I have to seek for permission from the insurance company because I’m in the situation I’m in just to travel. I can’t predict my future, but all I can say is I hope I’ll be able to play on American soil again and I hope to all our American fans that you’ll dig this new album One Shot – and hopefully I’ll be able to play live in front of you at some point.

That’s my dream…

And I hope that comes true. I’m crossing my fingers for you…

Thank you. Thank you, Ken. And remember to cross your toes as well, right? (Laughter) You got it! I hope to see you back here in the States one day.

I’ll do my best, man. I hope to see you too Ken. Nice talking to you and God bless you over there – and everything with the Corona situation – I hope it gets better over there as well as soon as possible so we can get back to normal and go see some live shows! That would be nice…

www.facebook.com/RonnieAtkinsOfficial

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Paradise Kitty and Jack Lue Recreate Iconic Guns N’ Roses Photo Shoot at Canter’s Deli

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue Paradise Kitty - All Girls - All Guns N’ Roses! That is their mantra, and this Los Angeles-based tribute band deliver the goods in nothing short of an epic way! The party arrives big time when Paradise Kitty take to the stage, performing the world famous GnR classics with a massive amount of skill and conviction. Recently, famed photographer Jack Lue and Paradise Kitty recreated the iconic Guns N’ Roses photo from Canter’s Deli taken at the conclusion of the GnR Hell Tour. In this interview with Highwire Daze, founding Kittys Rachael Rine and Jenna Syde discuss the photo shoot with Jack Lue, the creation of Paradise Kitty, our local Los Angeles music scene, and other hard rockin’ topics. Read on...

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Paradise Kitty, and how long the band has been together.

Rachael Rine (Drums) and Jenna Syde (on Vocals) both here. The two of us have kept this ship sailing for about 5 years now.

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What do you think about our local Los Angeles music scene (pre-pandemic) and how does Paradise Kitty and tribute bands in general fit into the scheme of things?

Rachael: Los Angeles has always been a bedrock for what hits the rest of the world musically. Sometimes though we all get so busy touring and actually working that we don’t spend much time hanging in the scene. Although Paradise Kitty tributes Guns n’Roses, we’ve never really considered ourselves a tribute band or aligned with that scene. We just happen to play Gn’R songs but we bring our own flair live.

You recently did a photo shoot recreating the iconic Guns ‘N Roses / Canters photo shoot with photographer Jack Lue. What was that experience like working with Jack Lue and recreating that photo?

Jenna: Jack has been a longtime supporter of Paradise Kitty and when he asked us to do this shoot we were delighted to partake. It was fun to embody the Gn’R spirit and get the feel of Los Angeles in it’s heyday. Jack is a sweetheart and a true professional and we adore him.

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Guns N’ Roses 1985 at Canter’s Deli Photo by Jack Lue

Paradise Kitty 2021 at Canter’s Deli Photo by Jack Lue

How do you relate to your counterpart in Guns ‘N Roses and have you ever met him or any other G’nR member? And do they know about Paradise Kitty?

Rachael: I’ve known them all for a really long time. I’ve toured with Adler in the past, worked on Gn’R albums for my day job etc. We also have the pleasure of doing shows frequently with Dizzy. They all are really supportive of Paradise Kitty and love it. Before our second show they were tweeting telling fans to check us out. We didn’t want to move forward with this project without their seal of approval, so that meant a lot.

What other bands or projects are you in outside of Paradise Kitty? Any new releases coming up from your other bands?

Jenna: We all have many projects we are working on always but most recently our lead guitarist Ariel Bellvalaire just released her new single “Elastic” you can find it on Spotify and wherever you stream your music. You should also check out her killer new video for it on YouTube.

You’ve had Courtney Cox from rival band The Iron Maidens play in Paradise Kitty before. What’s it like working with Courtney and have you done any shows with The Iron Maidens before?

Rachael: Courtney and I played in Femme Fatale together before PK. The Iron Maidens are our comrades not our competition. We all love and support each other. They have been added to the roster at our booking agency so now we get to do shows together from time to time which is always a lot of fun for all of us.

What could one expect from a live Paradise Kitty show?

Jenna: You can expect the unexpected. We don’t do the normal tribute band schtick. We are our own characters slaying Gn’R songs with fun banter, slamming beats, and back bending guitar solos. You’ll come in looking for a good time but you’ll leave knowing it was a night to remember.

What was the last show you played prior to the pandemic and how did the show go?

Rachael: Right before lock down we closed out the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Those shows are always off the hook and so much fun!! We definitely went out with a bang!!!

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How has the pandemic affected Paradise Kitty? Have you performed any shows during the pandemic or have any on the schedule now?

Rachael: We all really did our parts to honor quarantine and help the world self correct from this tough time. Until our recent photo shoots, we hadn’t even seen each other. Now that things are shifting we have shows in the works from summer out. We are also really looking forward to the Chris Jericho Rock & Wrestling Rager that sets sail in October.

What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for you, for Paradise Kitty, and for the music scene in general?

Jenna: Prosperity, healing, and bring back the live music…. safely.

Any final words of wisdom?

Rachael: The last year has been really tough for a lot of people. Try to be patient with each other, love each other, accept the changes this has forced on everyone, and let’s all be better from this.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!

Rachael & Jenna: Thank you for always supporting us!!

Paradise Kitty is: Jenna Syde (Lead Vox), Rachael Rine (Drums) Ariel Bellvalaire (Lead Guitar), Hisako Ozawa (Rhythm Guitar), Terrii Kiing (Bass).

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Sara Baldwin To Release No Turning Back Interview by Ken Morton Photos by Jack Lue Sara Baldwin, singer, songwriter and guitarist formed her band in 2019, which includes Mic Dangerously De La Torre (lead guitarist and producer), Scott Wittenberg (drums), and Dylan Wilson (bass). Based out of the Los Angeles music scene, Sara Baldwin is about to unveil her solo album! Entitled No Turning Back, featured within are guest appearances from the likes of Nita Strauss, Nikki Stringfield, Katt Scarlett, and Emily V. Recently Sara, her band and most of the guests on the album participated in a photo shoot with legendary photographer Jack Lue, some of the results being the pix in this article and on one side of the double poster in the center of this very magazine! Highwire Daze recently interviewed Sara Baldwin to find out more about this amazing talent on the rise. Read on...

What was the name of the very first song you wrote, how old were you, and what was that song about?

The very first song I wrote is called She’s Gone. It’s actually the first track on my upcoming album. I wrote it about people who talk about a person right when they leave the room and judge them. I’m happy I waited to release it til now because it has new meaning as well.

Prior to your upcoming album No Turning Back, what bands or projects have you been involved with?

In February 2020 I released my first solo EP Reach for the Sky. I wanted to put out an album that had acoustic rock guitars and that was inspired by my love for exploring the mountains and rivers and finding peace, alone.

Is there any overall story or concept behind the album title No Turning Back?

No Turning Back represents (for me) going after something (all the way) without fear or doubt. And letting go of 40

the things that hold you back from being the best version of yourself.

Who produced No Turning Back and what was it like working with them?

Mic Dangerously De La Torre is my producer, engineer and guitarist. Working with him has been an honor and he’s the reason I’m able to put out the music I do today.

One of your special guests on the album is Nita Strauss from the Alice Cooper Band on the song Animal. How did Nita become involved with the project and what was she like to work with?

Animal featuring Katt Scarlett and Nita Strauss is about survival. Coming back from the pits of hell and becoming the light, inspiring others to do the same. Nita, Katt and I used to be in an all girl metal band called Kill Slowly. We’ve remained friends throughout the years and I asked them if they would play on this track.

Katt is on 3 of my songs on this record. I’m super honored and excited to show the world what we’ve been up to.

Another guest was Nikki Stringfield from Heaven Below and The Iron Maidens. How did Nikki become involved with the song Trigger?

I really wanted to do a ballad and I sent Nikki the song and she described it as “painfully beautiful.” Her haunting guitars really captured the emotion of the song immediately.

We put out a video last week that we all shot remotely.

What was it like to write and record new music in the middle of a pandemic and so much social unrest in the world?

The last year during the pandemic gave me so much time to be productive with music. Recording a 12 song full length album that’s out next month. Shooting 3 music videos, releasing a 5 song EP, 3 singles and one TOOL cover featuring Emily V who is also on my track TRIGGER April /May 2021

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on my upcoming album along with Nikki Stringfield and Katt Scarlett.

What was it like doing a photo shoot with legendary photographer Jack Lue? Shooting with Jack Lue has been an absolute honor as has opened many doors for me. I’m super proud to be part of his mega talented roster of musicians.

What could one expect from a live Sara Baldwin show once the pandemic comes to an end?

If you catch us live expect high energy and badass drums and possibly special guests.

If you could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?

It would be a dream come true to open for TOOL. What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for you and for the music world in general?

Either way I’m enjoying this moment and I’m so grateful to have such a beautiful and blessed life that I get to create

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music and work with such amazingly talented people.

Any final words of wisdom?

Dreams come true when you are sober.

www.sarabaldwinmusic.com

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Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. present Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons

Interview by Ken Morton Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., are the co-founders and lead singers of the original 5th Dimension, where they launched pop/soul classics such as Up, Up and Away, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, Stoned Soul Picnic, Wedding Bell Blues, and One Less Bell to Answer. After leaving the original 5th Dimension, Marilyn and Billy recorded You Don’t Have to be a Star (to Be in My Show), a chart topping number 1 record, which won them their 7th Grammy Award! And now in this pandemic age and through the social unrest of a nation, the legendary duo present to the world their passion project entitled Blackbird: LennonMcCartney Icons. Produced by the up and coming Nic Mendoza, Blackbird is destined to leave an impact on all types of music fans. Highwire Daze was honored to inteview Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. to discuss the creation of Blackbird during these turbulent times, a very ironic fact regarding the original version of Blackbird’s first single Silly Loves Songs and their own hit song You Don’t Have To Be A Star, working with the very talented Nic Mendoza, and other topics of interest and inspiration.

First of all, how did the project of Blackbird: Lennon McCartney Icons come about?

Marilyn: Well, you know, we were working with a young producer…

Billy: …what we would call a millennial producer…

Marilyn: …by the name of Nic Mendoza. He had been brought to us by our management company. And we started talking together about concepts – and we just felt like the Beatles project idea was an interesting way to go for a number of reasons. One of which was we felt that the Beatles music has always been an interesting approach and we felt like that music would work well for us. Along with what is happening in our country – all of the struggles that we’re 42

going through – it’s not really a civil rights thing – it’s human rights. And we started talking about Blackbird, and Nic was saying he felt that this concept was really, really powerful for his age group. Because they’re very much concerned with what’s happening in our country and the struggles that we’re going through. You notice how the younger people have been marching together with all of these different protests. So, we felt like this was an area where we are really connected together.

Billy: Nic also said his generation wanted to know where we stood with what was going on.

Marilyn: And we felt like this was a good way to say it because we have strong feelings about it. And after having gone through this back in the late 60’s – and we thought that we were coming through to a new level. People were starting to understand one another – and it’s like here we go again!

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What made you decide to release Silly Love Songs as one of the first singles, and what does that song signify to you today?

Billy: One of the things – we didn’t want the first song to reveal everything about the project. It’s a civil rights matter and it’s a little bit on the heavier side – so we thought we would start with Silly Love Songs as a tribute to the wonderful vibes of life. We wanted to bring up something that was a part of life that we all go through – even when we’re in the middle of protests and those things, we never lose the other part of our lives – we still have to have birthdays and weddings and celebrations – that’s all a part of love…

Marilyn: And silliness and the joy that we feel in our lives.

And this song is a wonderful reminder of those times in our lives and the memories that cannot be destroyed.

Billy: And not only that, but one of the great things about Silly Love Songs – especially during this particular time – is that a lot of people are calling us now and saying “Oh how refreshing! We needed that!” Since we’re in the middle of a pandemic, protest and all the struggles that are going on – and here you come with Silly Love Songs to remind people that there’s something else to life besides all that. We’re all lovers. We are all loved.

Marilyn: And it made us feel like, “Okay, maybe that was a good idea!”

Have you ever met any of the Beatles, and if so, what were they like?

Marilyn: We met Ringo at a social event one time, but we really didn’t spend much time with him – so we really couldn’t tell you personally what the Beatles were like because we really hadn’t spent any time with them.

Tell me about the album cover for Blackbird and the inspiration behind it.

Billy: I tell you, that cover, which I think is beautiful, was really between the record company and the rest of our management team. It was the subject matter that we were singing about, and it felt like it would be the perfect time to honor these people.

Marilyn: The cover gives an overall picture of what the project is trying to say. We cover a lot of issues with that cover and mention the important people who have been involved with the struggle of the Human Rights movement in our country.

This is going to be your first studio album together in 3 decades. Does it feel like it’s been that long since you’ve both released new music together?

Billy: It feels that it’s been that long since we’ve had this HIGHWIRE DAZE

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kind of energy. We’re released some music before, but it was just during a period where everyone was releasing their own albums. But we’ve never had a major company like this to get behind us and want us to record for them in three decades.

Marilyn: But you know, what really has been interesting is to see how much the recording process has changed over the years and the new technology that’s being used. We’re impressed with the knowledge that the young people that we’re working with come in with. They have so much understanding of the new technology, and it’s wonderful to get certain effects accomplished that used to take many hours to do in the studio way back when. So, it’s refreshing – it’s a wonderful experience, but it doesn’t feel like it’s been 30 years – no.

Let’s talk about the producer Nic Mendoza. What was it like working with him in the studio and what did he bring to the overall project?

Marilyn: He brought a freshness and an understanding of the new technology. We worked with Bones Howe for many years with the 5th Dimension, and that was a wonderful experience – and Bones was at the top of his game when we were working with him back in the 5th Dimension days – which we’re talking like the late 60’s going into the early 70’s. So, the whole experience was new.

Billy: But not only that, Nic wanted the project to fall into an up-to-date sound. Which had that feel, changing the other beats and things like that – which made us sing the songs a little different. The things that he had to offer were just fantastic. Just working with him and being a producer myself, and just to see him doing what he was doing – I learned a lot – and it was beautiful to work with him.

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Looking back on your hit song You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show), what do you think of that song in retrospect? Actually, I think it came out the same year as Silly Love Songs…

Marilyn: Isn’t that amazing? As a matter fact, I think they bumped us out of the number one position on the charts.

(Much laughter) So we did Silly Love Songs as a tribute.

Billy: It kind of gives is a personal connection with Linda and Paul. They did bump us out of the number one spot. We feel kind of close to them because they were married – we were married. They left the Beatles, and we left the 5th Dimension. And they answered a very beautiful question about life and hope – that’s what love is all about – Silly Love Songs. That’s why our marriage has lasted so long. We still sing love songs to one another – we’re silly – we laugh! If you lose that, we lose everything!

Marilyn: You know what I love about it is that we’re still singing about love songs. And You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) was the way we were saying it back then.

But we’re still singing about love

Marilyn: This is about all of us really connecting and understanding one another – and knowing that the experiences that we have in life are the same. When we lose our loved ones, like so many people have been lost during this pandemic – and I mean everybody hurts when you lose your loved ones – whether it’s through the pandemic – whether it’s through violence or whatever way we lose them, we all hurt.

So, we need to know that we’re all so much alike – we’re not different…

Billy: We’re more alike than we are different.

Marilyn: Absolutely. We have missed being out on the road and working. We are looking forward to getting out there and seeing our friends and seeing the people who have been coming to see us for so many years – and we’re excited for them to hear our new music, because we feel so strongly about it.

We think it’s come off very well, and we’re very excited about it.

http://mccoodavis.com/

Billy: And I like the last statement (Paul McCartney) put on the end – “And what’s wrong with that?”

What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for you, for music in general, and maybe for the rest of the world?

Billy: I hope that ’21 will open up the places for all of us to gather and be able to perform – and put some of our music people and all these people back to work. Ever since the pandemic, all of the people that do entertainment have been basically out of work and they’ve lost a lot. And I’m praying ‘21 will start to bring that back.

Marilyn: Yes, I think we’re all ready for a change. I think people have been really struggling to try and figure out “how do we live our lives with all of this going on?” This is something of course we’ve never experienced before. So, it’s like “Okay, we’ve had enough of that. Let’s get back to the way it used to be.” So, we’re really looking forward to it and we think that people are ready for it. We’re very excited about the vaccines, and we’re really hoping that it’s going to make a positive change in our lives – because we are in sore need of it – all of us. We’re just really hoping and expecting that it’s going to make a big change.

Do you have any messages for your fans who are reading this right now?

Billy: We would like to tell them that this project is something that we’re very fond of. We hope that they like it – we hope that they enjoy the music. We hope most of all that they understand the message that we’re trying to put out there.

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Rock Legend Paul Sabu Discusses

AOR and Corporate Control Interview by Ken Morton Paul Sabu is a legend in the hard rock/AOR genre, whose albums with Kidd Glove and Only Child, as well as his solo endeavors, has set the gold standard with music fans all over the world and within the recording industry. He’s worked with iconic artists such as David Bowie and Alice Cooper, who are among his many production credits. At the commencement of 2021, Paul Sabu finds two of his projects being released almost simultaneously through Perris Records. The Best Of Paul Sabu by AOR features his amazing work with the prolific Frédéric Slama throughout the years. Corporate Control is a new project founded by Marcus Boletz featuring Paul Sabu on lead vocals. In this interview, Paul Sabu discusses his participation within the ranks of AOR and Corporate Control, his classic Only Child and Kidd Glove albums, working with the likes of David Bowie, and more!

How did you become involved with Corporate Control and what made you decide to take on this project?

Hey Ken, A pleasure!

I was to eventually meet Marcus Boeltz through the Voices of Rock II CD that was co-produced by Chris Lausman. Chris was working on another project with Marcus around the same time period and played him the VOR II project. As fate would have it, I was one of his favorite singers from the album. Marcus originally contacted me to do some songs he had put together using various “crem de la crem” players. The songs I was to work on were some unique cover songs and when finished, sounded amazing.

I think it was then Marcus decided it was time for him to write and produce a new CD to be released. He asked me if we could do some of his original songs he had written. Yes of course...I thought I’d be listening to some demos but they were in fact some great sounding pop songs with a killer female singer… Sandra Belloguet.

I picked out one to see how it would sound in a more aggressive rock genre. It actually translated seamlessly and Marcus and I were both taken aback with the outcome. I mentioned to him that it would be very cool if we could get my buddy Barry Sparks in on this as well… make it more band like.

They took to each other right off so the album began.

Is there any overall story or concept behind the CD title Whatever It Takes?

I chimed in Marcus for these next couple: 46

Marcus: No, Whatever It Takes is not a concept album, rather every song stands for itself and has its own little story to tell.

Select two songs from Whatever It Takes and what inspired the lyrics.

Marcus: Corporate Control is not a political or religious band and we’re not taking ourselves all too seriously.

Rock´n´Roll should be about escaping everyday life for a bit rather than dwelling in it. For example, Can’t Kill A Dead Man is inspired by Breaking Bad´s Walter White and the cool badass vibe that comes with it. And come on folks!

Does Walter White deserve a fn Rock Song or what? And also Waiting For The Roar are similar fictional “thru the eyes of a badass gunslinger” lyrics. With Leaving It Behind we tried to bring in rather poem-like lyrics into the world of Rock´n´Roll.

(And now back to Paul) You have another album with AOR that has just been released called The Best of Paul Sabu. How did you initially become involved with AOR and Frédéric Slama?

Frédéric Slama was royalty as a rockstar journalist in the 80’s. He reviewed many of my albums like Kidd Glove or April /May 2021

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Only Child. Our first encounter was in 2012 when he recorded and produced the 1st Chasing Violets album. I think his heart is really in LA. You could always find him around the LA Hollywood scene when anything musical was happening.

After a couple of albums in the 80’s, he left journalism and started his AOR all-star project in 2000. Of course, he was always a guitar player but now he’s in charge of recording and producing his albums along with so many great players and friends he made when he was writing about them as a journalist. When AOR started in 2000, he became unstoppable, churning out album after album and creating a huge fan base.

To you, what are some of the highlights on the AOR - The Best of Paul Sabu album?

Many others artists along with myself have been singing Frederic’s songs for several years now, but I honestly hadn’t realized we recorded so many great songs together. After his 20th AOR album, The Ghost Of L.A., he surprised me with this compilation. I had my first listen and couldn’t believe how much I loved it. It triggered so many great memories together as I listened to it. I always had great respect for his work but have to say some of his later songs he wrote during the time (when the world was falling apart) are among my favorites… 18 And Available, Wisdom of Eve, and Girl in the News to name a few.

What was it like working on the Kidd Glove project with Motown Records?

Well let me ask you… Who would have ever imaged Motown Records adding a rock division… It was just down right strange.

I’ll give you some highlights but it happens that Rock Candy Records UK has just reissued 4 of my albums. I was blown away when I heard them because they were not remastered but mastered from the original tapes that I had in storage. But the Kidd Glove in particular has about a 1000 word essay on all the goings on. Lots of stories and pretty cool details.

In a few words that kinda sets the mood: It was the first time anyone at the studio ever saw a Marshall Amp and why was this white guy singing at Motown.

No one was unfriendly… just in shock. I don’t think anyone got the memo that a rock division “Morrocco Records” had been added to the label.

Only Child is considered one of the most underrated AOR albums of all time. What do you think of that album in retrospect and why was there no second Only Child album?

I think our ratings were OK… Only Child still is the highest rated album in Kerrang and a top 20 albums of all time.

Not saying I believe my own press but it really boils down to the luck of the draw. Who knew we would get signed and the president of the label would leave a month later? In the late 80’s the fall of the music industry began. The teams that aided in promotion, touring, etc. were so important and your assigned representative at the label was the lifeline between you and everything involving the success of your album via HIGHWIRE DAZE

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the label just disappeared. And it wasn’t just us!

There was never an OC II because the chaos of the music industry along with steaming truckloads of drama made it way too hard to keep the band together. Your whole mindset had to change from this point on if you loved music enough to stay in it.

In addition to your solo work, Kidd Glove and Only Child, you have had some amazing production credits. Tell me about the Dance project you did with the legendary David Bowie and what was it like working with him?

He was a soft spoken highly educated polite class act. Not anything like you might expect. There were several discussions with him on the phone explaining the process and how we would go about it. It wasn’t common knowledge that 12 inch singles were highly influential for sales and radio play with DJ’s.

I began the project and was knee deep in it… But there was one time when the day started out normal. Began redoing some keys and guitars parts completely oblivious to my surroundings… reached over to grab my coffee and almost yelped… no idea Mr. Bowie had come in and was sitting behind me for the last hour. When I turned around, he just said “this is fascinating…I had no idea…is it OK that I’m here?”.

I laughed and stopped everything so I could get some face time in especially since it was the first time actually meeting him. I introduced myself and had an amazing story telling experience. It was a double shocker since I was told that he rarely visits mixing sessions. Actually, he came down on 2 other occasions… No entourage and never any criticism.

I was not use to that at all. Many artists would stop in with so many ridiculous questions and answers before I even got started. It got to the point where I actually started charging $1000 more if the artist was present… The worst part about that was, the labels started paying it… But these particular 47

sessions with David definitely got etched in my brain!

One of my favorite albums of last year was Damon’s Rage

by Jesse Damon (who has also worked within the ranks of AOR). How did your collaboration with Jesse Damon come about?

Oh cool! Our relationship started in the band Silent Rage.

It was interesting because things could have gone either way with the band. Silent Rage contacted me several times to work with them and I always found it best to work with bands at their rehearsals. After 5 seconds of working with them, it was obvious that Jesse would make a much better front man and singer than their original multi vocal band concept they had. I simply said we need to change some things.

So we had a serious sit down and I told the guys that Jesse needs to be the singer. I didn’t know how they would respond but it was the only option if I was to be involved. Amazingly, the band all agreed.

Jesse and I have become good friends over the years, and have made many of his solo albums together along with the recordings for any AOR songs for Frédéric Slama as well…

Would you like to do some live shows with Corporate Control or AOR when it is safe to do so?

AOR is really Frédéric’s baby and he has taken it on the road before. He has a definite way of keeping a variety of singers in his show. As far as Corporate Control… Again this is a Marcus Boeltz project which also brings up the fact the we’re starting the next album in July. So if timing permits, I’m sure he would as that’s pretty much what we do.

What do you hope 2021 brings for you and for the world of music in general?

Just from my point of view, I wish that people would stop being afraid of their own shadows, stop trying to change history and get some balls so everything didn’t offend them…all these PC laws are killing creativity. Have you any idea how hard it is to write lyrics that are politically correct. It’s impossible. I could go on for another 20 issues but that would be a good start.

What’s up next for you? Any new recordings or projects we haven’t discussed?

Yes, lots actually. LOL One in particular I’m really working hard on but of course I’m not supposed to mention anything, but should be announced very soon and several others that will immediately follow.

Do you have any messages for long time Paul Sabu fans who are reading this now?

I could not even begin to thank all of you for all the love and support you’ve shown me. I’m just a guy who loves music with the hope that the albums I do in the future will be as loved as the ones I’ve done in the past…God bless you all!

paulsabu.com 48

perrisrecords.com April /May 2021

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Original AC/DC - Singer With Two Thunderous Badass Live Performances Now On CD & DVD

Available: Now

7/1/21 5:03 pm

DVD Available: 29th April ”Lightning & Thunder” & “Fox Sports Live” Both AVAIL LABLE ON

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www.melodicrockrecords.com

A Personal Insight into Yogi Lonich:

Guitar player of Chris Cornell

Interview by Kim Crain Photos Courtesy of Yogi Lonich

Yogi Lonich, guitarist, performing artist, producer and songwriter. Also known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Chris Cornell since 2006. Yogi has performed with many legend musicians such as The Wallflowers, Melissa Etheridge, Alanis Morissette, Buckcherry and Fuel to name a few.

At what age did you start your musical career and who were your influences?

I started playing guitar around 10 or 11. My dad had a beat up acoustic guitar in the house, but he didn’t know how to play.

At first I took group guitar lessons, which I wasn’t super into.

We played Tom Dooley and other folk songs. It was the early eighties and MTV came along. I started watching video’s. I was inspired by the Stray Cats and Van Halen. A seed of jazz blues began growing in me through the Stray Cats.

I got into playing guitar. Then my dad bought a $50.00 Encore electric guitar. I had a private teacher that inspired me.

Of course I wanted a Kramer like Eddie Van Halen’s guitar.

Like everybody wanted it right?

Yes, it was the guitar. The shredding metal guitar. My dad said “If you can learn these two Johnny Cash songs, ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and ‘Walk the Line’, I’ll take you this weekend to buy the guitar.” So it took me all but one day to learn those songs. I came to him and said ‘Here you go dad.’ LOL! By the weekend we were at Guitar Center buying my dream guitar. Funny, I don’t play it anymore! My mom kept the lessons going and that was great of her to be so supportive, and my dad as well!

Yogi with Chris Cornell

Who was the first band you played with?

I had a cover band with my older sister Plavka. When I was 15 we played at the Santa Clara County Fair under the name British Blues. We played the Stones, classic rock and pop. Plavka was always my driving force and influence pretty much all the time! She was always telling me what was cool and hip. We had an eight year old Philippine drummer and no bassist. It was pretty funny, Our oldest sister even sang backup on a couple songs. But, it was like, wow, we had a gig!

The next band we had band was a new wave duo called Modern Breed. Then we moved to L.A. and I got into Led Zeppelin and psychedelic music . We formed a quartet called Fear and Loathing, which was fun. We played the Sunset Strip and played Gazzarri’s, The Whisky, and that was cool!

I was around 17 at this point.

Plavka went abroad to college and became a dance pop star! Jam ‘n Spoon was the project she was in. They had 50

Yogi with Jakob Dylan April /May 2021

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gold records in Europe. I went to music college at Cal State Northridge. Then I got my first record deal with my acid jazz band Sound Assembly. It was 1995 when our album In the Pocket came out. Then all my hired gun guitar gigs started happening.

I remember many years ago being backstage at a Buckcherry concert with Iggy Pop in Detroit. I was invited by your sister Plavka. In my memory that was one of the most fun rock shows I have ever been to. The crowd went absolutely crazy when Buckcherry and Iggy performed. What was it like on stage that night?

Wow, well that’s a long time ago ‘jeeze’. I remember it being exciting ‘cause Iggy Pop is such an Icon. Our show was rockin’ as usual. We had crazy, sort of punk rock alternative fans in the audience which was kind of the normal thing for us. Iggy Pop’s fan base was really high energy and he was on fire! He was doing his usual stuff where he was climbing on monitors and sub woofer cabinets and apparently fell down and cracked his head open. He had a bandage on his head for the remainder of the show.

We were hanging out with him backstage after. He was a really spontaneous, crazy kind of cat. That was super cool, that whole thing was wild. After the concert, we ended up at Kid Rock’s house with Pamela Anderson in tow.

How did you start playing with the Wallflowers?

An agent named Barry Squire was the ‘go to guy’ in the 90’s and 2000’s for putting bands and musicians together. He called me to audition for them. I and 50 or so other guitarists auditioned. They give you handful of songs to perform One Headlight, Three Marlenas, among other of the band’s hits.

Yogi with Jimmy Page

I auditioned for Guns n’ Roses and had to learn 17 songs! I pretty much spent a whole hour playing all of them. Auditions are all different.

But to actually get the audition is a whole other story.

You have played with one of the biggest Rock Stars of our time, Chris Cornell, from Soundgarden, and Audioslave.

What were your experiences performing with him?

I had amazing experiences. He treated his band members like brothers, not like hired guns. We learned the music he wanted us to play, but we were friends. Even though he was rock royalty, he never put himself above us. It was great. He was a super cool person.

I remember hanging out with Peter Thorn… the other guitar player that was playing with Chris at the time. I had super long hair and a beard for a few years, and I never had a shaved head. I wanted to do the short, Punk Rock hair thing. You know when you are in a band full of long haired rockers? Its like, ‘who does that’, right? I just had a bug up my ass to do that and Pete suggested; “Why don’t you have Cornell shave it on stage?”. And I thought, ‘What a brilliant idea!’

So we were at sound check, and check is usually around 4 or 5 o’clock before the concert, and I said, ‘Hey Chris, what do you think about shaving my head onstage tonight?’ And he said, ‘Sure!’ And walked away. That was it. Chris was supercool and spontaneous.

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Yogi with Buckcherry That night we were in New York playing Webster Hall. So right before the gig we meet up again backstage. I said, ‘Ok, we are going shave my head,’ and Cornell goes, ‘Lets do it at the encore of the song?’ I think it was a Temple of the Dog song called Reach Down.

Basically we play the whole show, we come back for the encore and start the song, When we get to my guitar solo, my guitar tech comes out with a barstool and an extension chord plugged into the razor and puts it in the middle, downstage center. I sit and Chris goes to work on my head while I’m in the middle of a guitar solo! LOL! I didn’t expect it be like ZZZ. Zzz Zz. He took like eight minutes to cut my hair! He was just taking his time. It was hilarious! The whole thing is on Youtube! Chris Cornell 51

Yogi Lonich.

How did you feel when Chris Cornell left us?

It was shocking! I really miss him a lot! I just could not believe it was suicide. I think it was some accidental thing, but of course I don’t know. I didn’t see Chris as being suicidal. I understand he dealt with some depression here and there like any artist. I heard he was having some personal issues the night he died. I was not on tour with him at that point. He was doing solo acoustic shows the last years of his life, He was excited about life. He had custom instruments being built, you know, things to look forward to, so it just seems illogical that he would take all that away on purpose. Needless to say, it was shocking and very sad.

Is there anything you want your fans to know about you?

On a broad level and spiritual level, I’m involved in raising consciousness and aligning myself with higher vibrations.. I have been a Vipassana Meditator for fifteen years. I practice yoga among other thiings. My main thing is just spreading love and trying to do onto others as you would like them to do onto you, kind of vibe. Everybody needs to aspire towards higher consciousness and not dwell on fear and media. Be good and spread love.

I agree. I think that is a very good positive message.

If there was any artist you would like to perform with, who would that be?

Wow, jeeze! I really like these acoustic folk artists like Ray LaMontagne or maybe Chris Stapleton. These kind of rootsy, soulful, throwback, folk rock type artists. I’m also a huge Radiohead fan as you know, but that would be too challenging! LOL! I don’t think anyone could replace Johnny Greenwood. He is such an innovator.

I can totally see you playing with Radiohead. You naturally have that sound.

What was the most memorable and exciting moment in your career?

There were some big shows that happened when I was in Buckcherry. We played the turning from 1999 to 2000 New Years concert at the Osaka Dome in Japan. It was Aerosmith headlining with Mr. Big and us, and that was huge and exciting! Also playing Woodstock 99 with Buckcherry. Those were big shows.

With Chris Cornell, we mostly did headlining shows. There was a very special show in in Argentina which is on Youtube.

It’s a full concert. The band was in top form. We had already been touring a couple years at that point. That was pre head shave LOL! Buckcherry won a Kerrang! Award and we got to hang with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Early in my career I was in Buenos Aires with Meredith Brooks opening for the Rolling Stones, and I had a lady friend, who was friends with Mick Jagger. We ended up hanging with Mick Jagger for a week!

It was unreal for a kid in his 20’s I got to play with Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox (Jimi Hen52

Yogi with Angus Young drix) at the Rock & Roll Hall in Cleveland. At the end there was a jam and they were the rhythm section. It was amazing to play with them! Some of my bucket list items have been checked off!

Your guitar playing is very soulful and prestigious. What is your vision for your upcoming music? And how can we hear it?

I have a new album that just came out called Rebirth under my name Yogi. It’s Blues rock with groove and soul sprinkled in. I have two other solo albums Metta and Hesitant Poet and a band project called Run Through The Desert featuring the drummer and bassist from Chris Cornell’s touring band.

For more info on Yogi Lonich, visit Yogimusic.com.

Thank you Yogi Lonich ..I truly admire you as a person, you are humble, kind and one of the most talented guitar players out there!

Thank you for making the time to do this interview.

Reach Kim Crain at kimcrain.com www.facebook.com/kim. crain.9231 www.instagram.com/kimcrainmusic April /May 2021

HIGHWIRE DAZE

THE WORLD EXPLODES ON 29TH APRIL

“ROCK IS GOD”

”ROCK IS GOD” IS Available ON MR RECORDS www.melodicrockrecords.com

The Wild World of

Madysin Hatter

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue

Madysin Hatter is back with her all new single “Wild & Strange,” a raging banger of a tunes whose all-star lineup includes the likes of Tyler Bryant (frontman of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown), Frank Ferrer (of Guns N’ Roses), Rob Bailey (David Johansen), and Brett Bass (Gregg Allman)! There is some mighty ferocity unleashed within the new single, and Madysin promises a whole lot more madness and intruigue in the future.

In this interview for Highwire Daze, Madysin Hatter discusses the making of the wickedly wonderful Wild & Strange, performing at the world famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip, her recent photoshoot with the legendary Jack Lue, and a whole lot more! Read on...

Where are you based out of and what is your local music scene like there?

I live in Jersey and have found an awesome music scene right on my doorstep. Both New Jersey and NYC are bursting with talented, dynamic rock artists with that east coast hustle.

You’ve played a few times on the opposite coast at the world-famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip.

What was that experience like and who are some of the bands you have opened for?

I’m never shy in professing my love and adoration for Whisky A Go Go. I love performing there, and have always had the best experiences, on stage and off. The people who work at The Whisky are amazing and always have my back— love them! And I love seeing the familiar faces in the audience as well. It’s great to catch up with everyone after a show, and stay connected on social media until the next time. My most recent show at The Whisky was opening up for Lita Ford to a sold out crowd. In the past, I’ve also opened for Buckcherry (for Whisky A Go Go’s 50th Anniversary Celebration), Faster Pussycat, Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Bulletboys, Jack Russell’s Great White, Uli Jon Roth of Scorpions, Winger, and more. Also Vh1’s “That Metal Show”’s Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, & Jim Florentine — fellow Jerseyians!

You have a new song out entitled Wild & Strange. Is there any story behind the lyrics to the song?

Yes! Since having my son, I’ve gotten really into Muay Thai. I practice it a few times a week (shout out to Amped Mixed Martial Arts in East Hanover, NJ)! Muay HIGHWIRE DAZE

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Thai helps me feel strong, confident, capable, and clear-headed, which spills over into all aspects of my life.

We practice to some great “hype” music during classes— something like AC/DC — which just gets my adrenaline jolting. A lot of that empowering, angsty snarl smack talk vibe spilled over into my new song Wild & Strange. The song captures that fighter energy for sure. It’s been a few years since I released original music, and I wanted to kick the door down on my way back in for Round Two. How did Tyler Bryant become involved with Wild & Strange? He is such an amazing talent! What was it like working with Tyler?

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I’ve been a fan of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown for a while— they’re awesome! Most everything had been recorded for Wild & Strange, when I was struck with the crazy idea that Tyler’s crunchy, bluesy, dirty guitar would be a perfect addition on lead. I reached out to him over social media and asked him if he would please consider being a part of the song. I got lucky! He said yes! He was awesome to work with— wildly talented, thorough, and professional. Everyone involved in the song— Tyler, Frank, Rob, and Brett — helped me create the best, most ferocious version of Wild & Strange we possibly could. It’s angsty and aggressive, with some slither. I’m proud of the end result, and excited to unleash it!

Another surprise appearance on Wild & Strange is Frank Ferrer from Guns ‘N Roses and The Psychedelic Furs. How did he become involved and what was it like working with him?

Frank is a good friend of mine. He’s not only an amazing musician, but a great human as well. It was actually Frank who introduced me to Rob Bailey and Brett Bass a few years back.

Frank, Rob, and Brett play under the name “Mulekick” in NYC (along with Rob Clores, who is featured on my next release, Treasure). They’ve had me up to perform with them a bunch of times, and it’s always been a blast! The guys are all masters at what they do, and being in their presence has helped me become a better musician. I’ve learned a lot from them. So when it came time to record new music, having them be a part of it felt like a no-brainer. It’s a pleasure to work with them.

Frank is the sickest drummer. He’s got a killer work ethic; he’s welcoming, supportive, and a great role model of what a true “rock star” should be, on stage and off.

A new song coming out in May is called Treasure. What is the story behind that song and lyrics?

Treasure is a ballad with teeth. It’s one of those songs that will have different meanings for different people, so I hesitate to thrust my own interpretation of it out there just now before it’s released.

What has it been like to write and release new music in the middle of a pandemic and so much social unrest in the world?

We’ve been working on this material for a while now. A lot of the work had been done pre-pandemic, which made recording logistics easier. Working on these songs during the pandemic helped bring a small sense of normalcy back to my day to day. It gave me something positive to fixate on and look forward to. Thankful for it. Thankful for all music, in that regard.

The photos in this article were taken by legendary photographer Jack Lue. What was it like working with Jack Lue and where did the photo shoot take place?

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Jack is amazing!! I had been dying to do a shoot with him, and I’m so happy we were able to set something up when I was out in LA playing a gig! We shot at the beautiful Ragdoll Pink Palace. Working with Jack, it’s easy to see why he’s a legend— he’s got a great eye, laser focus, detail-oriented, calming presence. We had a great shoot and he captured some incredible shots. I hope I can work with him again one of these days!

Has any member of Aerosmith heard or commented on your cover of Nobody’s Fault?

Not to my knowledge. I wish, man!! I love Aerosmith!

What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for you and for music in general?

Health and peace. I hope this pandemic ends soon and we can all safely re-enter the world again. I can’t wait to go to a concert! Can’t wait to travel. There’s so much I’m looking forward to experiencing again.

Any final words of wisdom?

Check out Wild & Strange, out now on all digital and streaming platforms! And be sure to check out the official music video, on my Youtube page. It’s insane!! You can tell I had fun making it. Also, connect with me on social media, subscribe to my YouTube page, and follow me on whatever platform you get your music from— it’s the best way to stay up to date on my future releases.

Visit https://linktr.ee/MadysinHatter or www.MadysinHatter.com for links to all of the above.

Thanks so much! Stay safe out there!

April /May 2021

HIGHWIRE DAZE

www.perrisrecords.com

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Lovely World

Interview by Ken Morton Photo by Maddie Baldinelli Formed in 2015, Lovely World (Landon Rojas, Cade Rojas, Cameron Smith and Michael Gilbert, who are all in their early 20s) built their musical foundation on their love of 70s music and new school rock. “You Know Darlin’” is their latest single, continuing their journey into the big leagues.

Produced by Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Dandy Warhols), the song is sure leave an impact on all who give a good listen. Highwire Daze recently caught up with Lovely World’s charasmatic vocalist Landon Rojas to discuss the making of You Know Darlin’, working with legendary manager Vicky Hamilton (Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Poison), their previous visit to Los Angeles, life for the band in this age of Covid, and more..

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Lovely World, and 58

how long the band has been together.

Hey Highwire Daze! I’m Landon Rojas, singer of Lovely World, the band has been together since high school. I’d say roughly about 4 years now.

Where is the band based out of and what is your local music scene like there?

We’re based of Clemson/Spartanburg in South Carolina.

There’s like zero music scene here honestly, so we are creating our own. There’s bits and pieces of small indie venues opening everywhere but we don’t even have a real music venue in Clemson or Spartanburg. Not to sound pessimistic lol. It’s just the truth….

So we are widening our scope on the way to world domination. Get your tickets now for May 7 at the The Orange Peel in Asheville and welcome back live music!

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Tell me about your new song You Know Darlin’ and what inspired the lyrics.

Kind of wrote the song after listening to a ton of Jeff Buckley. I was sitting on my chair in my room and it all just fell together.

we really traveled anywhere. Seeing LA and playing at the wonderful venues we did was a trip. Can’t wait to come back.

The basic idea was in appreciation of all the strong women of the world.

What do you hope 2021 brings for you, for Lovely World, and for the music world overall?

The end of Covid and the beginning of a new era. Hopefully we will all be able to hang out, tour and appreciate live music again. We have been taking the downtime to write and record on our own and truly get the sound we want.

Another recent single is Soul Of A Saint. What is the inspiration behind that song?

No idea honestly. I was in our rehearsal space and just started playing around with the chord progression and riff. Ten minutes later it was finished.

Sometimes songs just come, like they were channeled from somewhere.

What was it like working with producer Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Dandy Warhols) and what did he contribute to the overall recording process?

We love working with Rick, but on these tracks we tracked and did most of the vocals at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, North Carolina, I did the vocals of You Know Darlin’ with Rick in Los Angeles and he mixed the record there as well. Covid stopped Rick from flying in and it’s difficult to produce a track long distance wise, at least for Lovely World it is. But Rick is fantastic, an amazing producer.

Hopefully very soon we will be returning to LA and on tour… many things in the works!

Any final words of wisdom?

Man I’m only 23 so I’m not sure my words have enough experience to be considered wisdom but I’d say to ground yourself and treat social media/the digital world as it is. I see so many people getting sucked in by it. Some completely lose track of themselves. But hey, if that is your thing, follow Lovely World, we love to hear from you!

www.lovelyworldmusic.com

You are now signed to Dark Spark Music, owned by famed rock manager Vicky Hamilton. How did you wind up meeting and working with Vicky?

We aren’t signed to Dark Spark, but Vicky Hamilton is our manager. Vicky owns the label and we have distributed our last few records through Dark Spark/ The Orchard. We met her at Springboard Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee. We were kind of fiddling around outside the conference building and she ran into us and we started talking. She’s amazing.

How has the worldwide pandemic affected your music and live shows, and have you been able to play and shows during this time?

Touring wise, it blows man. We’ve not been able to play some shows regionally. But the isolation hasn’t been that bad. I think it’s helped us all grow as people and songwriters..

What could one expect from a live Lovely World show?

A damn good time... If I had to put it into words I say intense and dynamic. You’ll jut have to catch a show and tell me what you think!

What was the experience like playing out in the Los Angeles area (especially at the notorious Viper Room) and do you plan to return after the pandemic comes to an end?

It was amazing. Honestly that was probably the first time HIGHWIRE DAZE

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A Band Called

RVNGE Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jose Juarez Full of charisma and chaos, RVNGE is a demon in the city of angels. The band is composed of Matty Singh on vocals, Brandon Lee Syme on guitar, and Mark De La O on drums.

On the verge of unleashing their debut album entitled System Failure, RVNGE is ready to break out above and beyond the Los Angeles music scene they call home. Highwire Daze recently interviewed RVNGE frontman Matty Singh to find out more about this amazing band on the rise...

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in RVNGE and how long the band has been together.

My name is Matty Singh, I am the vocalist of RVNGE. We have been together for only two years now.

What do you think about our local Los Angeles music scene (pre-pandemic) and how does RVNGE fit in to the scheme of things?

I think the local Los Angeles music scene is such a strong force. All the bands are so tight knit and from my experiences they all seem to be there for each other and I find that beautiful. When we entered the scene in 2019, I believe we gave a fresh revival of a hardcore sound that we missed greatly.

Along with that we deliver a very energetic performance that is always unique.

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Is there any overall story or concept behind the System Failure album title coming out on May 3rd?

The title System Failure came up when we were thinking about the concept of the record. It’s all about going into a VR video game not knowing it’s actually an MK Ultra like experiment that is reprogramming you but it fails when you become aware. Working alongside a film composer we brought the story to life in a cinematic experience.

Tell me about the recent single Breaking Through and what inspired the lyrics on that song?

Breaking Through is a song about hope and perseverance. On the record it’s the song about controlling your own mind and breaking free from the virtual world. The song is actually very personal to me because I have a lot of friends that I care about that need encouragement and this song is truly for them.

Select any other RVNGE song and what inspired the lyrics.

My favorite song from System Failure has to be Hellfire. It’s the part of the record that gets into the war simulation. When I was writing it all I could think of at the time was how mankind has created its own destruction. I felt like it was fitting for the story line of the record so we decided to add the song last minute.

What could one expect from a live RVNGE show?

You know, I like to surprise people a lot. I want people to April /May 2021

HIGHWIRE DAZE

expect something different each time from our live shows. One day we might be playing live with the film composer that produced the record or one day we might just play the songs with no backing tracks at all. No matter what, everyone can always expect us to be crazy.

Did you get to play the Green Jelly Jam Fest at the Royal Vista Club right before the pandemic, and if so, how did the show go, and did you get to meet the band?

The Green Jelly Jam Fest was the last show we played before everything shut down! The show was very fun, I had a great time with everyone that played that day. I did get to meet the guys actually!

Our guitar player Brandon was in touch with Nathan in Green Jelly and he was the one that ultimately booked us for that show.

What has it been like to play the legendary venues on the Sunset Strip such as The Whisky and The Rainbow?

Playing shows on the Sunset Strip has been amazing, it’s truly a surreal experience. Playing The Whisky and The Rainbow have been my favorite because of how at home we feel over at those venues. I love the sound crew so much at The Whisky, they always make sure our sound is correct and I can’t thank them enough for that.

unitedmasters.com/rvnge

If RVNGE could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?

I would want us to open up for Bring Me The Horizon because I feel like our sound would be great with theirs. Without a doubt that would be a killer show for everyone.

If the music of RVNGE was a donut, what kind would it be and why?

If our music was a donut I think it would be a classic Krispy Kreme. Delicious and fluffy, but deadly if you don’t control yourself.

What do you hope the rest of 2021 bring for you, for RVNGE, and for the music world in general?

I hope the rest of this year brings new opportunities to the table for both me and the band, and I truly hope the rest of 2021 brings revenue to small venues that are struggling.

Any final words of wisdom?

Things will always get hard, but you have to keep going, even when you’re at your lowest point. If you really want success, then don’t back down. The world is yours.

HIGHWIRE DAZE

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ALBUM REVIEWS Lightning & Thunder Dave Evans MR Records Review by Ken Morton

Way before the legacies of Bon Scott and Brian Johnson, the legendary AC/DC started their hard rocking dynasty in 1973 with lead vocalist Dave Evans at the helm. And while the collaboration was relatively short-lived, Evans would go on to have his own brilliant career as a solo artist within various other bands such as Rabbit and Nitzinger. In 2019, right before the Covid-19 pandemic changed the lives of an entire world, Dave Evans and his band went on the Lightning & Thunder Tour, raging across the wilds of South America enrapturing their hard rocking fan base. And now thanks to the folks at the MR Records compound in Australia, this live documentation is now available worldwide. With Dave Evan’s wickedly wonderful performance, his tight as hell band, and the rapturous reaction of the live audience, Lightning & Thunder presents a dazzling display of hard rocking talent. Heavy on the AC/DC, this live recording is a testament that is not to be missed.

Opening the show with the landmark Can I Sit Next To You Girl, the AC/DC single that featured Dave Evans on lead vocals that was released in 1973, the historical significance and sheer brilliance of the song presented in this live setting is beyond compare. Next up is a live rendition of a never recorded AC/DC tune called Sunset Strip from their early days, reworked by Dave Evans with an infectious bluesy spirit. Rock and Roll Singer from AC/DC’s High Voltage is another jamming highlight, a song Evans’ introduced saying he sang it years ago with the band and that it was written about him.

In addition to all of the wonderful AC/DC mayhem, other songs featured on Lightning & Thunder include a rousing rendition of the Animals’ classic House Of The Rising Sun and Revenge from his days fronting the John Nitzinger Band. But AC/DC treats also keep on arriving, from the obscure Rocking On The Parlor that was the B-side of the Evan’s era Can I Sit Next To You Girl – as well as a supremely kickass rendition of the classic Highway To Hell.

“I’ve been rocking a long time and I’ve been loving every minute of it. And I’m gonna live for a thousand years because…” Evans says in the intro of the final track Only The Good Die Young – an original from his Sinner album and a glorious conclusion to the Lightning & Thunder live 62

experience. Dave Evans played at the Whisky on the Sunset Strip in 2019 – here’s hoping we see the former AC/ DC vocalist back on the road again when these pandemic days come to an end.

www.melodicrockrecords.com

LIT SOUL LIT SOUL MBM Music LLC Review by Ken Morton

Rob Chevelle and his melodic hard rocking LIT SOUL has been captivating the Los Angeles music scene with their thought-provoking studio recordings and raging live shows since 2009. And now with the unveiling of a Self-Titled album, Chevelle and company are ready to absolutely explode into the stratosphere. With legendary producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer/Armored Saint/Sacred Reich/Fates Warning) at the helm, LIT SOUL has unleashed their most ambitious and fully realized work to date. From the haunting refrains of the instrumental Andromeda merging into the raging You’re Not Well, Chevelle and LIT SOUL mean some serious business here, and the results are absolutely inspirational.

Straight Into The Sun is a groove psychedelic rocker that completely scorches the senses. Dark Crucifix is dynamic and intensive, demonstrating just how imaginative Rob Chevelle is as a songwriter and performer. When I Die presents LIT SOUL very alive and compelling within the realm of an acoustic selection featuring Jewel Steele of Stereo Love on guest vocals as well as Juan Cardenas on flute. Feast On The Fire (American Metal) penetrates the mind and soul with an intriguing darkness. Something From Nothing is wickedly sludgy and lyrical pungent while Wish Upon A Grape is acoustic blues that once again shows how wonderfully sublime the LIT SOUL experience is.

And as an added bonus, Rob Chevelle closes the album with a message to the “rockers, ravers, lovers, sinners, and freedom fighters” of the LIT SOUL family, an eight minute spoken word Credits, where he documents the making of the sixth official LIT SOUL album from Skull Seven Studios in the heart of North Hollywood, California.

Advocating liberty in a modern age, LIT SOUL remains one of the most exciting bands flying under the radar today and their Self-Titled album is a truly impassioned endeavor well worth seeking out!

www.mbmmusicllc.com

April/May 2021

HIGHWIRE DAZE

On The Blue’s Side Joey Amenta MR Records Review by Ken Morton

Being part of the innovative Australian rock music scene, Joey Amenta has quite an epic career, best known for his participation in bands such as Taste, Moving Pictures, Redhouse and more. His solo output on MR Records is especially impressive, the latest being On The Blue’s Side, and what a vibrant adventure Amenta has in store for his fans around the world. 5 songs in all with Joey Amenta singing and strumming the blues, and it’s destined to leave the listener wanting to hear a whole lot more.

From the wondrous balladry of opening selection All Sold Out to the big bad inflections of Freight Train, Joey Amenta performs the blues with a massive amount of conviction and flair. And the glorious atmosphere rages on, with the impassioned Lonely Boy followed by the wistful refrains of Save Some Lovin’. And even within the realm of an acoustic song, closing selection

HIGHWIRE DAZE

April/May 2021

Hidin’ Our Love exudes a powerhouse performance that is absolutely rapturous.

With On The Blue’s Side, Joey Amenta presents his take on a much-revered genre, and the results are spectacular! Definitely good company whether you are in the Australian outback, the swamps of New Orleans, or anywhere in the great big world, On The Blue’s Side is a work of sheer artistry that is well worth seeking out.

www.melodicrockrecords.com

Mad Symphony Mad Symphony MR Records Review by Ken Morton

Raging out from the wilds of Vancouver, B.C., the mighty Mad Symphony has unleashed their Self-Titled debut EP through MR Records of Australia – and what a thrilling sonic adventure these massively resourceful Canadian musicians have in store for the world at large. Fans of arena acts such as AC/DC and The Who will discover a brand-

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new favorite with encountering the five glorious hard rocking sonnets found within Mad Symphony’s absolutely exhilarating debut.

Opening track Do It All Over will instantly hook the listener in with its driving hard rock refrains. Next Door is supremely infectious and should be all over the worldwide radio airwaves. Sell Me Out presents Mad Symphony at their most impassioned and creative while Nothin’ once again demonstrates the band’s obvious knack for writing a potential all-out hit song. And then way too soon, Mad Symphony issue us all a Bittersweet Bye Bye that will send each and every listener into the hard rock stratosphere.

The amalgamation of hard rock, progressive and even grunge render Mad Symphony quite a find for all types of music fans looking to be enraptured by a brand-new band on the rise. Performances are all top notch, featuring Kevin Wright on lead vocals, Dave Groves on lead guitar, Ted Tosoff on rhythm guitar, Mike Russell on keyboards, Amrit Prasad on bass, and Wes Hallam on drums.

It’s still very early in the year, but I fully expect this amazing recording to be on my Top 10 EP list when 2021 spins to its wild and unpredictable conclusion. Stay tuned as we will hear a lot more from this band as future days rage on.

A Matter Of Time kicks off with vibrant refrains of Fight For A Peace, a captivating commencement inviting each and every listener to enjoy “a dark night on the far side.”

Big Bad City is up next, a towering hit single that should have been. And the timeless reveries keep on arriving, from the dynamic A Matter Of Time title cut, the scorching I’m Going To Get You, the pulsating anthem-like refrains of The Next Generation and more! Be sure to stay tuned all the way to the rock-solid grand finale of Youth-Enasia ending the album on a supremely powerful note.

The music of Mesheen clearly speaks volumes, and years later in this pandemic age, A Matter Of Time is quite a thrilling discovery. Here’s hoping for a full-on reunion of the mighty Mesheen complete with new music and live shows! Mesheen is on fire and ready to rage – whether it’s 1994 or 2021!

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A Matter Of Time Mesheen Sonic Age Records Review by Ken Morton

Formed in 1989 in the midst of the legendary yet ever changing Los Angeles music scene, Mesheen was one of the bands who were lost within the arrival of an onslaught of grunge tumult.

Their album A Matter Of Time was recording in 1994, jammed packed with hard rocking tracks that would have shot them into the stratosphere and were never released to the public – UNTIL NOW! Presented at long last through a cooperation with Sonic Age Records, the phrase “better late than never” is very well applied when listening to the absolutely absorbing tracks found with A Matter Of Time. Having a lot more in common with hard rock and heavy metal than with anything associated to the massive hair metal explosion on the Sunset Strip, Mesheen’s impressive lineage includes the likes of former Enigma Records recording artists drummer Bobby Tait and guitarist Joey Scott from Tyton, singer Ted Heath of Fortress, bassist Nick Aqleh of Flowers For Faith, and guitarist Demir Demirkan from Pentagram a.k.a. Mezarkabul.

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April/May 2021

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