Rock Music

www.youtube.comStuart Bull interviews Tommy Thayer of KISS.

Source: GeneSimmons.com Here's a "Monster" billboard advertising KISS' tour dates in Japan spotted in a Japanese train station.

www.KISSOnline.comMick Campise was part of our original road crew and they believed in us as much as we did. Mick always made sure that we did our show without compromises or interference from other bands or their crews. That dedication made the impossible possible for us and paved the way for our rise to the top. Rest in peace Mick. You aren't forgotten.

Photos by Keith Leroux for KISSONLINE Here's the KISS Crew getting ready for tonight's show in Milan earlier today.

Photo by Dean Snowden for KISSONLINE. Here's KISS with the SOLD OUT crowd at tonight's show at Mediolanum Forum in Milan.

Review by Second Life Syndrome — I really need to get my butt over to RoSfest. I mean, I live in OH, which isn't ridiculously far from Gettysburg, PA. In fact, I think it's 8 hours or so. Anyways, this festival is starting to get some seriously good line-ups every year, and this live album from IOEarth proves that.Usually, I judge a live album by whether or not the experience comes off as better than the band's albums. I know that being at the concert is a different story all together, but a live album can be exciting, too. IOEarth is known for their dynamic live shows, and I think this transfers to the album quite well. I love the song selection here: Some of their best songs are present, such as "The Creation", "Harmonix", "Moments", etc. I also love how they performed them differently than the studio album. "The Creation", for example, has whale noises as mimicked by a guitar---genius. Other times, the guitar solos might be different or altered subtlety. Although I love the song selection, I do wish that they could have chosen one or two more vocally driven songs. They have plenty to choose from: I would have loved to hear "Come to Me" or "Mountains Start to Fall". I think I know why they did not explore these options, though.One of the downers for this live album is the fact that female singer, Claire, was starting to have issues with her voice. She had some sort of throat condition, and has since stepped down as the vocalist for IOEarth. This is tragic because she has an immense voice, and it is this quality that is missing from Live in the USA. She misses high notes, sounds very masculine at times, and sounds like she is in pain. Don't get me wrong: She still sounds great and did an amazing job. However, she didn't quite have the power available to create the truly stunning moments that IOEarth usually presents. I was left thinking, "If only she'd hit that note, my legs would have turned to jelly". Or whatever.The vocals aren't my only complaint: I feel that guitarist Dave Cureton tries to rush things a bit. His studio recordings are crisp, clear, and purposeful. In this live album, his guitar work is often muddled, not by the recording quality (which is excellent), but by his own messy attention to detail. He completely misses some foundational notes in some of his solos. I can't help but wonder if he was stuck between wanting to improvise and trying to remain true to the original recording. The result is a muddy sound at times.I can't emphasize enough, though, that this album is still excellent. My issues with the album are only present at certain times, but I do feel that they reduce the overall quality. With that said, any IOEarth fan NEEDS to hear this, and hopefully I can experience this group live someday.

Photo by Hab Haddad for KISSONLINE. Here's KISS at the opening of tonight's show in Milan. The band was rocking hard and so was the incredible audience!

Review by Warthur — What if Hawkwind or Gong went folk, with Nico on lead vocals? Perhaps they would have ended up with a sound a bit like the one exhibited by Catherine Ribeiro's backing group Alpes on this release. Sputtering hazily between psychedelic space rock vistas and hippy folk chants and songs, this bizarre release combines adventurous musical experimentation with capable and diverse vocals on the part of Catherine herself, which have a resonance and a boldness to them matched by very few. There aren't many groups who can count themselves as having a truly unique sound, but Alpes might just be one of them.

Review by Warthur — Random's unique brand of avant-progressive metal on this debut album has at the heart of its sound a metalcore framework, twisted out of all recognition by the ornate musical tangents built on top of it. Ra'l Garc'a Posse on guitar and vocals is inevitably in the spotlight a lot and brings a lot of the metalcore to the table, but the tight rhythm section of Marcos Crosa and Pablo Lamela Bianchi play an essential role in shepherding the band's compositions through their labyrinthine coils. One which demands a few listens before its secrets open up for you, but I think it is worth the effort.

Fold-out frenzy: celebrating the release of 13, the Sabs’ new album The brand new edition of Classic Rock is on sale now – featuring the return of the mighty Black Sabbath. To celebrate the band’s comeback, every issue of Classic Rock comes with a free collector’s edition fold-out ‘Sabbath cross’ cover. Check out the full package on the left – and also in the never-ending video at the bottom of this post! Recorded in circumstances that would have killed off lesser bands, the Sabs have beaten the odds with new record 13. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler tell the story of the band’s triumphant comeback, which has already earned them a chart-topping album… Plus there’s a free 15-track CD, Unleashed Vol. II, featuring the world’s best new bands including The Graveltones, Valentiine, Voodoo Six, StoneRider, Orchid, The Howling, Screaming Eagles, Midnight Spin… Also in the all-new Classic Rock: Wings In our exclusive interview, Paul McCartney charts the rise of his post-Beatles band Wings, from their humble beginnings to the monster Wings Over America tour. Dan Aykroyd The Blues Brothers star, an expert on the genre in real life, talks us through his 10 (okay, 11) favourite blues tracks. Summer Previews Check out our guide to the must-hear albums, must-see mega-gigs and big-screen extravaganzas set to heat up the summer, from artists including… The Rolling Stones – Jagger and Richards have stopped bitching at each other in time for the band’s 50th anniversary. Next stop: Hyde Park. Kings Of Chaos – Four-fifths of Guns N’ Roses, the singer from Def Leppard and a passing member of Deep Purple. Say hello to the ultimate supergroup. Metallica – Lights! Camera! Action! The metal giants return to the big screen. But don’t expect Some Kind Of Monster 2. Alter Bridge – Lock up your capes! Rock‘s new superstars-in-waiting are getting in touch with their inner Yes on album four… Fleetwood Mac – They’ve had their share of highs and lows, but rock’s most dysfunctional band will be reeling back the years on their first tour in four years. Plus – Patty Griffin, Roger Waters, Pearl Jam, Judas Priest, Motörhead, ZZ Top, Black Crowes and many more… Great White The band began with a gunshot and jail time. They toured with Guns N’ Roses, hit the charts, and dissolved in a blur of betrayal and substance abuse. Then things got really bad… Monster Truck They were only ever supposed to be a side-project. But then the beast awoke and things got out of hand… The Story Behind The Songs – Genesis Lyrically obtuse, fittingly sprawling and a little bit daft, Supper’s Ready became not only a cornerstone of progressive rock but also one rock’s great epic monuments. Q&A – Carlos Santana The multi-Grammy winner on Santana the man, the band, spirituality, past glories and future plans. Buyers Guide – Bruce Springsteen One of the best songwriters of his generation, his hard-crafted catalogue is littered with unforgettable classics and anthems. Heavy Load – Don Felder The former Eagle on divorce, poverty and pudding, and how the only response he’s had from other Eagles “is from their lawyers”. All this and more in the new Classic Rock – issue No.186; summer 2013 edition – in the shops and available electronically now. Got an iPad or iPhone? Download our free app to get the digital edition of Classic Rock – plus grab your free awards issue! Simply go here http://goo.gl/z4Yhu (in the UK) or here http://goo.gl/YUnR9 (for the US) to get well and truly digitized. Buy the print edition from all good newsagents or direct from www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk. Get the Classic Rock Spotify app for must-hear mag-related playlists. Go to http://open.spotify.com/app/classicrock or find us in App Finder in Spotify.