New face/voice on 1485 Radio Today

As mentioned previously, Marc Latilla left The Rockfest on 1485 Radio Today a few weeks ago.

We're very happy to introduce you to Greg Tucker, who will be presenting his first "The Deconstruction Hour" show this coming Thursday between midnight and 01.00am. Greg has a long career in the music industry and has a very varied and interesting musical taste. This will be his first experience on radio, so please be gentle with him and treat him as you would any virgin! As is the case with all the presenters on The Rockfest, you can read up on Greg's profile and see his mug shot on the Rockfest website (www.rock.co.za/rockfest).

Upcoming Interviews

You might recall the earlier days of The RockIt Scientist (on that other radio station - you know, the one that felt that they were better off without the services of professional broadcasters such as Rafe Lavine. Their loss, 1485 Radio Today's gain!), when Rafe and I had an interview with Linda Tucker, the lovely author of the book "Mystery Of The White Lions - Children Of The Sun God". Linda, who founded The White Lion Trust, has done a fantastic job in securing the protection and survival of the white lions, one of this country's many beautiful treasures.

The long awaited interview with Gordon's Suitcase will be on Friday, 15th of September.

If you have or know of any gigs you'd like me to promote, on air or on The RockIt Scientist's website's gigs page, please email the info to me at leon@rock.co.za.

The same goes for any requests you might have.

Some new/recent (re)releases you can expect to hear on The RockIt Scientist in the near future:

The Allmans Brothers Band - Eat A Peach (Deluxe Edition)

...plus a whole bunch of other goodies.

Remember to join The Rockfest Club. You can download the application form via the Rockfest website (www.rock.co.za/rockfest). Your support in helping to keep The Rockfest on 1485 Radio Today on the airwaves is really needed and appreciated.

Check out last week's playlist (which will also be posted on the "Playlists" page)

All the best.

Leon

Playlist for Friday 18/08/2006 - 10.00pm to 01.00am

What a way to start off! Three classic tracks covered by the most unlikely bands/artists:

01. Helloween - Hocus Pocus, from ''Metal Jukebox", in 1999

Great version of the Focus classic by this famous German metal outfit. The secret to hitting the high yodelling notes is to wear really tight leder hozen! A G-string made out of barbed wire and smothered with Deep Heat could also do the trick. They also cover classics tracks by Montrose, Mahogany Rush, Babe Ruth and others.

02. Therion - Summer Night City, from "A Tribute To Abba", in 2001

Abba? I kid you not! You heard Therion last week - I've since had a few request to play something else from the powerful Swedish operatic metal outfit. This Nuclear Blast release features all the classic Abba tracks performed by some really heavy bands. Very interesting and different!

03. Pat Boone - Enter Sandman, from "In A Metal Mood - No More Mr. Nice Guy", in 1997

Unbelievable stuff from one of the real crooners! This may seem as unlikely as Demis Roussos doing a Sepultura cover, but Boone gives the famous Metallica track, and many other metal classics, the big band treatment. Highly recommended, if you can find it.

His first major band, Trapeze, which he formed with guitarist Mel Galley, drummer Dave Holland, together with vocalist/trumpet player John Jones and guitarist/flautist Terry Rowley, later became one of the UK's best hard/blues rock trios (Jones and Rowley having left after 1970's debut album). Declining an offer to join ELO, Hughes later moved to Deep Purple, and he played an important part in the release of their fantastic "Burn" album. (Many felt that he rivalled lead vocalist David Coverdale in every way. Hear, hear!). After leaving Deep Purple, he worked with Black Sabbath, Gary Moore and a host of other bands/artists, and is still very active today.

The following three tracks are a tribute to a man who certainly deserves the title "Voice of Rock":

A kind of solo album from Tony Iommi. He found a great partner in Hughes on this offering. Iommi, as the only original member of the Sabs, kept the name flying high and proud with this fantastic album. The two would collaborate in the 90's with "Eighth Star", (aka as "The 1996 Dep Sessions") and Hughes would also feature on Iommi's recent solo album, "Fused".

05. Glenn Hughes - Too High, from his brand new solo album, ''Music For The Divine"

06. Jim Peterik & World Stage - Eye Of The Tiger, from "Rock America - Smash Hits Live", in 2004

07. House Of Lords - These Are The Times, from "World Upside Down", in 2006

09. Gordon's Suitcase - Lilly's Peach, from "Good Girls Like Good Music", in 2006

One of the better South African jazz fusion outfits. A very popular live act, and on listening to their album, you can understand why. The band will be interviewed on The RockIt Scientist on Friday, 15th September.

10. Tony Cox - Karoosin', from "China", in 2002

A really classy and respected South African musician. Cox plays a great steel string acoustic guitar. The album features contributions from Joe Arthur, Neil Etteridge, McCoy Mrubata and Bones Brettell (check out his fantastic B3 on the featured track!)

11. Rik Emmett - Swizzle Stick, from "Swing Shift", in 1997

Difficult to believe that someone can master his instrument as well as the ex-Triumph guitarist/vocalist does. Emmett, who is highly regarded by rock, blues, classical and jazz lovers, is the closest you'll get to "the perfect guitarist". This track is from one of his many solo albums.

12. Malo - Momotombo, from ''En Vivo/Live", in 2005

Led by charismatic founding member and vocalist, Arcelio Garcia, who co-founded this famous Latin Rock outfit in the early 70's, together with guitarist Jorge Santana, the modern Malo are sounding absolutely amazing. This live album also features a few new tracks. Check out www.malomusic.com

13. Mandrill - Fencewalk, from ''Live at Montreux 2002", released in 2004

Maybe not as well known as Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & The Family Stone, Santana and others, this jazz/blues/funk/Latin/rock outfit, formed and led by the Panamanian-born Wilson brothers, is equally as good, if not better than their more illustrious contemporaries! The band had been dormant for a while, so you can imagine the utter joy at discovering that they're back, and with a bang! The CD is also available as a fantastic CD/DVD combo. Seeing Mandrill live in concert, even if it's just on DVD, is a dream come true! Awesome stuff, although so far only available via their website (www.mandrillis.com)

14. El Chicano - El Ojo Rojo (The Red Eye), from "Latin Legends Live", in 1997

This hard-to-find double CD features the reformed Malo, Tierra and El Chicano, three of Latin Rock's heavyweights. Oddly enough, both Malo and Tierra occupy the lion's share of the tracks on the album. Although El Chicano are not as well represented as one would have liked, the tracks they perform are out of this world. Guitarist Mickey Lespron is still ridiculously good, and founder member/keyboard player Bobby Espinosa still knows how to get the best out of his B3! (www.elchicanomusic.com)

When Cream split in 1968, Baker joined Clapton, Steve Winwood and Rick Grech in the short-lived Blind Faith. Baker later featured with his own band, Airforce, Atomic Rooster and many others. He's released a number of solo albums, and he also appeared with the reformed Cream in 2005.

The following three tracks are a tribute to one of the truly great drummers.

Baker's trademark drumming give this track by the Masters of the Universe a seriously beefy feel. He replaced Simon King and remained with Hawkwind for a short while, appearing on the band's 1980 tour.

18. Judas Priest - Beyond The Realms Of Death, from "Stained Class", in 1978

Classic Priest at their finest, with some fantastic vocal work from Rob Halford. This is the track that apparently "encouraged" a few spaced out kids to take their own lives. Fortunately the law prevailed (even though Priest were "breaking it!") and the case was thrown out. Sanity prevailed!

Next to Demon, Maiden, Saxon and Diamond Head, the Tygers were one of the best bands of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) scene. The band featured a young John Sykes, later to join Thin Lizzy and form Blue Murder. Guitarist Robb Weir went on to own Neat Records.

Great German metal outfit fronted by vocalist D.C. Cooper. Fantastic musicianship from a band that unfortunately don't appear to be that well known.

Argentinian blues rock guitarist Norberto "Pappo" Napolitano became one of the country's most famous blues guitarists. He's released quite a few albums. Oddly enough, not that easy to find outside Peron's homeland.

Great blues/prog outfit from Norway, drawing influences from Jethro Tull, Traffic and Zeppelin. They released three albums between 1971 and 1973 before folding. They reformed in the late 70's and again in the 90's.

Powerful stuff from guitarist Vic Vergeat, drummer Cosimo Lampis and bassist Werner Froehlich. This Swiss blues/hard rock outfit's debut album is one of the rarest records of all time. Starting out as a quartet, they slimmed down to a trio and released a further five albums before splitting. They reformed in the 90's. This great cover of the Hendrix classic was taken from this recently unearthed live album, recorded in April 1974, and released on Akarma Records.

Jeff Beck, together with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice (both ex-Cactus), formed this impressive trio in the early 70's. This double live album aside, they only released one studio album before splitting. The circle has turned: Bogert and Appice are back together in the reformed Cactus! Jeff Beck recently stated that he would play with Motorhead, if asked!

One of Holland's best ever groups. Formed in the mid 60's, they were internationally regarded as one of the great blues/rock outfits of the era. Golden Earring's drummer, Cesar Zuiderwijk, was one of the early members of the band. All of their albums are great, but their "Blue Breeze" album is a classic!

Nothing like starting the show off on a relaxed, calm note.......

Ain't it just, unless you're the one being chased! Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister formed Motorhead when he was fired from Hawkwind ("Motohead" was in fact the title of the last song he wrote for Hawkwind). Recruiting ex-Pink Fairies guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox, they formed this legendary metal outfit in 1975. The featured album had "Fast" Eddie Clark on guitars and "Philthy" Phil Taylor on drums. The band are still very much around today.

Second last studio album from the Welsh hard rockers. The album featured new guitarist John Thomas (ex-George Hatcher Band), together with bassist/vocalist Burke Shelley and drummer Steve Williams. Budgie went on to feature at the 1982 Reading Festival, alongside Whitesnake, UFO, Stampede, Twisted Sister and others. The band then folded, but Shelley revived Budgie in the late 90's.

Formed in Gibraltar and based in the UK, this fantastic band have released three awesome albums to date. Their Flamenco-inspired metal style is pretty unique and very pleasing on the ear. They're one of the really great "new era" metal bands that are destined to take the genre well into the future.

The album is due to be released and distributed in South Africa shortly. Give it a listen - you'll be mucho impressed-o.

Very different Latin Metal band from Puerto Rico. They can be quite confusing at times, and their music has an intensity and sensuality that'll soothe you and get you all glassy-eyed on the one hand and then rattle your cage and give you heart palpitations on the other, all within the confines of the same song. If you're trying to get laid to Puya's music, be careful - their sudden chord changes and mood swings from romantic Latin interludes to full on headbanging is liable to put your family jewels in a precarious position! They're tremendously good, though.

The undoubted kings of Latin Metal! You (hopefully) know them quite well, if you listen to The RockIt Scientist regularly. Featuring guitarist/producer Roy Z (of Bruce Dickinson fame), together with a bit of help from Warrior's Joe Floyd. If you're a fan of hard rock, metal and Latin rock, you need to check out this extremely talented US outfit. They have a brand new album, "Dweller On The Threshold", which should be available shortly.

This UK hard rock/metal outfit were formed in Yorkshire in the early-to-mid 70's by guitarist Graham Oliver and bass player Steve Dawson. Recruiting vocalist Peter "Biff" Byford from a band called "Coast", SOB eventually evolved into the band we know and love as Saxon. Saxon's history has been well documented elsewhere on The RockIt Scientist, so we'll leave them alone for now. Oliver and Dawson reformed SOB, without Byford, in the mid 90's. Featuring a tremendously good hard rock/metal vocalist in the form of Ted Bullet (ex-Thunderhead), together with Saxon/Motorhead drummer Pete Gill and Saracen guitarist Hayden Conway, they released this great album on Angel Air Records.

Step aside Living Colour, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lock Out, Extreme and all the other funk/rock outfits, because Baby Jean Kennedy and her band are back! There is/are none better than Mother's Finest. They've been around since the early 70's and they know their stuff so well it's scary! If the idea of a really tight band rocks your boat, you need to get this fantastic double live album (which also features four new tracks, one of them being the featured number). Recorded live in Germany, the band still features Moses "Mo" Moore on guitars, Wyzard on bass and Glen Murdock on vocals. And Baby Jean? Knockout stuff!

This was the first album to feature new vocalist Rhett Forrester, who replaced founding member Guy Speranza. (Forrester was tragically killed in an argument in his car in 1994). Formed in the US in 1976, Riot's debut album was released in 1977. Their follow up, "Narita"(1979), earned them accolades in the UK and they appeared at the 1980 Donnington Festival. The band went on to release albums well into the late 90's and they're still around today.

Popular US outfit Quiet Riot are sometimes best known for their cover of Slade's "Cum On Feel The Noize" in 1983. Formed in the mid 70's by guitarist Randy Rhoads (yes, he of Ozzy fame, tragically killed in that aircraft accident), vocalist Kevin DuBrow, bassist Kelly Garni and drummer Drew Forsyth. The band, incidentally, took their name from a suggestion made by Staus Quo's guitarist, Rick Parfitt! Later members included Rudy Sarzo (bass), Frankie Banali (drums) and Carlos Cavazo (guitars). The band folded in the late 80's and reformed in the early 90's.

Unashamedly inspired and influenced by AC/DC, this US boogie rock band are back with this great new album. Formed in California, they released three albums between 1990 and 1994 and then disappeared. The new album features original members Georg Dolivo (vocals) and Reeve Downes (bass), together with hot lady drummer Jackie Enx and ex-Kix guitarist Brian Forsythe. Good old fashioned balls to the wall rock and roll!

The Answer is one of the hottest new young blues/rock bands in the world today. Drawing influences from Led Zep, Free, Bad Company and others, The Answer are doing today what Cry Of Love and Thunder were doing all those years ago when blues rock was making a big comeback. These young Brits, together with bands such as Tokyo Dragons, Glyder, Wolfmother and others, are keeping the genre alive and popular. Bands like The Answer are proof that rock music, irrespective of what some radio stations would have you believe, is well, thriving and gaining many fans, worldwide.

The Answer, like Breed 77, are now being distributed in South Africa.

Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Alphonse Mouzon, who'd also featured with Weather Report, recorded a number of great albums for the famed Blue Note label. The pick of the bunch was this awesome album which featured a very young Lee Ritenour, together with another sensational guitarist, Tommy Bolin. Bolin had previously worked with Zephyr, The James Gang and Energy (with flautist Jeremy Steig). It was a busy year for Bolin, who had just completed work on Billy Cobham's acclaimed "Spectrum" album. His contributions to this much sought after album are legendary. Bolin later went on to feature with Deep Purple before tragically dying of substance abuse. Alphonse Mouzon later worked in the disco field before becoming CEO/chairman of Tenacious Records. More of Mouzon to follow below.

Another jazz/fusion outfit that featured Alphonse Mouzon. Larry Coryell was, and still is, one of the most respected jazz guitarists around. Also featuring Mike Mandel (keyboards), Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Danny Trifan (bass). They released a number of good albums during the 70's. Rumour has it that Mouzon and Coryell are collaborating and touring again under the Eleventh House name.

Another highly respected jazz guitarist. UK born John McLaughlin cut his teeth playing with the likes of blues greats Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, Georgie Fame and others. He then moved in a more free-form jazz direction, working with Tony Williams, John Surman and Dave Holland. McLaughlin's main claim to fame, apart from the fact that he's released many solo albums and he also worked with Carlos Santana, (in the days when they both looked like respectable, clean cut cricket players and used words like "Om" regularly), was his collaboration with Billy Cobham, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird and Jan Hammer in the groundbreaking Mahavishnu Orchestra. "Devotion" featured Billy Rich on bass, Buddy Miles on drums and Larry Young on keyboards.

Thanks very much to Martin Simpson for reminding me about this fantastic UK jazz/funk/rock outfit, who I used to feature regularly in various clubs I used to play in during the mid to late 70's! Formed by members of the obscure Clark-Hutchinson and Spreadeagle outfits, the band featured Stephen Amazing on bass, Jim Copley on drums and Andy Clark on keyboards. Jeff Beck was involved in production and he also played some his best guitar pieces with this band. Unfortunately, after two great albums, the band folded in the mid to late 70's. Jim Copely later appeared with Tears For Fears and Go West.

The studio version of this classic Al Di Meola track was featured on The RockIt Scientist a few months ago. I've since had many requests to play it again. This time, though, you can hear how good he is performing the track live!

It's easy to run out of supertlatives when it comes to describing this unbelievably talented guitarist. Born in New Jersey in the USA in July 1954, Al Di Meola was inspired to take up the guitar at the age of nine, after listening to the Beatles. He later attended the Berklee College of Music (in 1971) and he joined keyboard player Barry Miles' fusion group. Chick Corea invited him to join his increasingly popular Return To Forever, where he remained for a few years. He elected to embark on a solo career in 1976, which has proved to be very successful. He's worked with the likes of Paco Da Lucia, Jean Luc Ponty, John McLaughlin and a host of others. Electric or acoustic, slow or fast, it doesn't matter - there aren't many guitarists in the world today who can hold a candle to Al Di Meola.

French born violinist Jean Luc Ponty was brought up in a musical home environment, his mother being a piano teacher and his father a violin teacher. He visited the UK and USA in the early 70's and he met up and recorded with Frank Zappa (on Zappa's "Hot Rats" album). Zappa produced Ponty's "King Kong" album in 1970. Ponty then joined George Duke's band and he had a short stint with John McLaughlin and The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Ponty's solo albums are always of a very high standard, and he's always surrounded himself with some of the best musicians in the business.

He became one of the most respected bluesmen in the world, even impressing Jackson Browne and David Bowie, who spotted him at The Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1982. Bowie asked Stevie Ray to play on his "Let's Dance" album in 1983. He earned nine Grammy nominations during his lifetime.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin on August 27th, 1990.

This stunning version of Kenny Burrell's classic is given the full Stevie Ray treatment, giving him the opportunity to also showcase his jazzier side. This posthumously released ten track outtakes collection has proved to be one of the legendary blues guitarist's best selling albums. The songs were recorded in various sessions from 1984 to 1989. There are also a number of Stevie Ray Vaughan dvds available.

Next to Leaf Hound's "Growers Of Mushroom" and Mellow Candle's "Swaddling Songs", this is one of the rarest albums ever released on the Deram label. The album features vocals by Nicky Moore (Hackensack, Samson, Mammoth, From Behind etc). It's basically guitar-orientated hard rock with Moore showing touches of the brilliant vocalist he would later become.

Considered to be one of the best heavy progressive recordings from Europe during the early 70's, this album by Spain's Tapiman is extremely rare. The band featured guitarist Max Sunyer, who was undoubtedly influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Leslie West. Tapiman released three albums between 1971 and 1979. Sunyer later featured with Spanish jazz/rock outfit Iceberg.

You should know them pretty well by now - I've been featuring both of this legendary British prog/hard rock outfit's albums on radio since day one, back in the early 80's. This fantastic debut album featured Ashley Holt on guitar, Mac Poole on drums, Ged Peck on guitar (later replaced by Peter Parks), Frank Wilson on keyboards and founder Nick Simper on bass. Refer to previous write-ups on this legendary band on the RockIt Scientist website.