Rock Of Ages

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Podcasts

Benjy Mudie talks to Ian Anderson (22MB)

You say it's your birthday...

November 9
Joe Bouchard - Blue Öyster Cult - 1948
Tom Fogerty - Creedence Clearwater Revival - 1941-1990
Alan Gratzer - REO Speedwagon - 1948

November 10
Greg Lake - Emerson Lake and Palmer - 1947
Ronnie Hammond - Atlanta Rhythm Section - 1950

November 11
Chris Dreja - The Yardbirds - 1945
Vince Martell - Vanilla Fudge - 1945

November 12
Neil Young - 1945
Buck Dharma - Blue Öyster Cult - 1947
November 13
Roger Steen - The Tubes - 1949

November 14
James Young - Styx - 1949

November 15
Steve Fossen - Heart - 1949

November 17
Gene Clark - Byrds - 1944 - 1991
Martin Barre - Jethro Tull - 1946

Courtesy of
About ClassicRock

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Benjy says...

Dear Rock of Ages subscribers (and rock fans at large),

My apologies for the non appearance of the newsletter over the last couple of weeks week. I had started drafting it two Saturdays ago and fully intended to finish it on Sunday morning but fate intervened in the form of one of our notorious red light jumpin' taxis who took myself and my bicycle out at a traffic light. Miraculously I survived with just cuts and brusies although my beloved Black Bomber mountain bike has gone to where all good mountain bikes go when they pass on! However the incident forced me to take a full break to recover although I managed to do the show that following week. So now I'm back again, ready to rock and fired up with the passion of all true rock lovers .... by the way we still have copies of our "Footstomping Music" compilation for sale on the website - go to www.rock.co.za/rockfages for details on how to purchase this great classic rock album.

I must admit to being excited about seeing the Jethro Tull gig this week - even though most of the band are in their latter years so to speak, they still are one of the hardest working 'touring' bands in rock today and that really does hone the performance. In my recent interview with frontman Ian Anderson he explained that he still loves to work live and that the roar of the crowd and the reaction of the fans is what he enjoys most about 'being' Jethro Tull. To hear the full interview on MP3 please go to the Rock of Ages website at www.rock.co.za/rockofages [please look under Podcasts on the right-hand side bar]. I will also shortly be posting my Foreigner and Staus Quo interviews as well.

Upcoming specials
Here's what you can expect over the next few weeks...

15th November .... It's time for the long awaited and much requested Jeff Beck Part 2 special, looking at the musical journey of arguably the world's greatest living guitarist. El Becko, as he is sometimes known, continues to produce awe inspiring music and amaze both fellow players and fans alike with his continual frontier balzing guitar work. I'll be playing some well known tunes as well as some rarities and lesser known but equally astounding songs ... tune in for this one!

22nd November .... Growing up in the East Rand during the late 60's I was exposed to so many great bands and albums, some of whom are regulars on the show and have influenced me tremendously. One of those was The Stooges fronted by the manic Iggy Pop. Their first three albums, especially the seminal "Fun House", are essential listening for any garage rock fans - it's brutal, in-your-face sexually charged rock and roll at it's finest.

29th November ... This week we will be paying tribute to one of rock's greatest labels: Vertigo Records. Formed in the late 60's this revolutionary record label was home to an eclectic artist roster that included Black Sabbath, Gentle Giant, Juicy Lucy, Beggars Opera, Manfred Mann, Patto and many others and unlike labels today saw nothing untoward in having folk, jazz, rock and experimental artists all on the same bill ..... be prepared for a cross section of 70's music like you've never heard!

Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck

Geoffrey Arnold ("Jeff") Beck (born June 24, 1944 to Arnold and Ethel Beck in Wallington, Greater London) is an English rock guitarist. He was one of three noted guitarists -- the others being Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page -- to have recorded with the band The Yardbirds. Beck has never attained the sustained commercial success of his fellow Yardbirds guitarists (he is the only one who hasn't been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame individually or with another band). In 1992 the Yardbirds, along with Jeff Beck, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jeff Beck wise-cracked at the ceremony stating: "I suppose I should say thank you, but they fired me ... so f**k 'em! (Laughs)...". Much of his output has been instrumental, and his releases have spanned genres, ranging from blues rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion and (currently) a blend of guitar-rock and electronica. Beck's commercial releases have been sporadic since 1977. Stories about his temper, erratic behavior and tour-related incidents (even from musicians who are unabashed fans) have built his persona as a somewhat mad genius. Nevertheless, Beck has gained wide critical acclaim for his work as a guitarist. He has won many Grammy awards in the category for best rock instrumental and played on some of the most influential releases in music history.

Jeff Beck

Like many rock musicians in the early 1960s, he began his career working as a session guitarist. In 1965, following a gig with the Tridents, Beck was recruited to join the Yardbirds (after Eric Clapton had left the group for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers). It was during his tenure with the Yardbirds that they recorded most of their hits. Stories about Beck's volatile temper began to circulate early. His perfectionism, coupled with the faulty equipment often in use during the 1960s, led to many stories about his willingness to take out frustrations on his equipment, though not in the form of smashing a guitar. The 1966 movie Blow-up contains a scene where the Yardbirds perform "Stroll On", and Beck becomes so enraged by equipment problems that he smashes his guitar. This scene was staged for the movie, as it was a re-creation of an actual event that director Michelangelo Antonioni witnessed at a concert of The Who. His time with The Yardbirds was short, allowing Beck only one full album, Roger the Engineer (1966); Beck left after 18 months, partly for health reasons. For a few months he shared the dual-lead guitar role with Jimmy Page. While on the surface Beck seems to have departed the group because of his health, Jimmy Page, who had been invited into the band in 1966 by Beck himself, tells a different story: It was on that Dick Clark tour — there were a few incidents. One time in the dressing room I walked in and Beck had his guitar up over his head, about to bring it down on Keith Relf's head, but instead smashed it on the floor," Jimmy Page recalled years later. "Relf looked at him with total astonishment and Beck said, 'Why did you make me do that?' Fucking hell. Everyone said, 'My goodness gracious, what a funny chap.' We went back to the hotel and Beck showed me his tonsils, said he wasn't feeling well and was going to see a doctor. He left for L.A., where we were headed anyway. When we got there, though, we realized that whatever doctor he was claiming to see must've had his office in the Whiskey. He was actually seeing his girlfriend, Mary Hughes, and had just used the doctor bit as an excuse to cut out on us.

Jeff Beck

The following year, after recording the one-off song "Beck's Bolero" (with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Nicky Hopkins and Keith Moon), Beck formed a new band called The Jeff Beck Group, which featured him on lead guitar, Rod Stewart on vocals, Ron Wood on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Micky Waller on drums. The group produced two albums, Truth (August, 1968) and Beck-Ola (June, 1969). Both albums are highly acclaimed, and considered by many critics to have inspired the heavy metal genre. Truth, released five months before the first Led Zeppelin album, features a cover of "You Shook Me", a song first recorded by Willie Dixon which was also covered on the Led Zeppelin debut. While it sold well (reaching #15 on the Billboard charts) and received great critical praise, Truth did not equal the impact of the release by Page's new band. Beck-Ola while well-received, was less successful both commercially and critically. Resentment, coupled with touring-related incidents, led the group to dissolve. After the breakup, Beck decided to continue working with Stewart, and team up with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, the rhythm section of the Vanilla Fudge. This project was sidelined when Beck suffered head injuries in a car crash, and left the music scene for over a year. Rod Stewart left to team up with Ron Wood and the Small Faces; and Bogert and Appice formed Cactus instead. When Beck regained his health, he reformed a band with entirely new members. The new ensemble -- Bob Tench on vocals and guitar, Max Middleton on piano and keyboards, Clive Chaman on bass and Cozy Powell on drums -- although still known as the "Jeff Beck Group" featured a substantially different sound from the first lineup. For the album Rough and Ready (1971), Beck wrote or co-wrote six of the album's seven tracks (the exception written by pianist Middleton). The album included elements of Soul, Rhythm and Blues and Jazz, foreshadowing the direction Beck's music would take later in the decade. The follow-up, Jeff Beck Group, (1972) was recorded in Memphis, at the studio used by Booker T. & the M.G.'s; their guitarist, Steve Cropper, produced the album. The album, unsurprisingly, displayed a strong Soul influence. Five of the nine tracks were covers of American artists; one ("I Got To Have A Song") was the first of Beck's four covers of compositions written by Stevie Wonder. Shortly after this release, Cactus broke up, leaving Bogert and Appice available. Beck dissolved the band in order to achieve his ambition to work with them, forming Beck, Bogert & Appice.

Jeff Beck

The long-awaited lineup worked together for less than two years and released only one US album Beck, Bogert & Appice. While critics acknowledged the band's instrumental prowess, the album was not well received, except for its cover of Wonder's Superstition. Beck left the group during recording sessions for the second album. (A double-album (Beck, Bogert & Appice Live in Japan) was eventually released in Japan.) Beck, Bogert & Appice were, to some degree, victims of forces beyond their control. The lineup (a power trio featuring a superstar guitarist) prompted critics to compare the band to the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Clapton's Cream and Page's Led Zeppelin (essentially a power trio since vocalist Robert Plant played no instrument). Since Beck and his bandmates were less gifted singers and composers than their counterparts, comparisons were unflattering.Beck's auto accident -- and resulting delay in forming the group -- also shaped critical response. Had Beck, Bogert & Appice been released in 1970, its similarity in style and content to Beck-Ola would have been expected. Coming in 1973 -- after Beck had released two albums covering more diverse territory -- led many critics to believe the guitarist had taken a step backward.However, Beck's dismissive public comments about the album, coupled with his next career move, suggest that he also had grown bored with the band's limitations and the blues-rock genre. In October 1974, Beck began recording instrumentals at AIR studios with pianist Max Middleton (from the second Jeff Beck Group), bassist Phil Chen and drummer Richard Bailey and George Martin producing and providing string arrangements.The resulting album, Blow by Blow (1975), displayed Beck's technical prowess in a jazz-rock format. The album reached #4 on the charts (Beck's most successful release) and most critics also regard it as his best work.Arguably the world's most famous record producer, if only for his achievements with The Beatles, is George Martin, who was knighted in 1996. But even a man of his great wisdom was thrown into confusion when, in 1975, he produced Jeff Beck's powerfully adventurous, jazz-tinged album Blow by Blow at AIR Studios in London's Oxford Street. Jeff was fastidious about over-dubs but never seemed to be happy with his solos.A few days after a recording, when he'd had time to digest his own performance, he would telephone George and say "I think I could do a better one on this track", and they would return to AIR to try again. Jeff would play over and over until he was satisfied that he had performed his best. A couple of months went by and George received another phone call from Jeff: "I want to do this solo again." Bemused, George said: "I'm sorry, Jeff, but the record is in the shops!" Wired, which followed a year later, paired Beck with drummer-composer Narada Michael Walden and keyboardist Jan Hammer. A more straightforward work jazz-rock fusion (sounding similar to the work of his two collaborators), Wired sold slightly less well, and also received less ecstatic reviews. A live album with Hammer was even less successful, with critics complaining that Hammer had eradicated the subtleties of Blow By Blow1980s There and Back, featuring three compositions from Hammer and five with keyboadist Tony Hymas, sold less, but received better reviews. Hymas's compositions, which sounded to some like space-age jazz, gave the guitarist a more open framework for his pyrotechnics.

Jeff Beck

In 1981 he made a series of historic, joint live appearances with his Yardbirds predecessor Eric Clapton at the Amnesty International The Secret Policeman's Other Ball benefit shows. He appeared with Clapton on Crossroads, Further On Up The Road and his own arrangement of Stevie Wonder's Cause We've Ended As Lovers. Beck also featured prominently in the all-star band finale performance of I Shall Be Released with Clapton, Sting, Phil Collins, Donovan and Bob Geldof. Beck's contributions were seen and heard in the resulting album and film, both of which achieved worldwide success in 1982. Another benefit show called the ARMS Concert for Multiple Sclerosis featured a jam with Jeff, Eric and Jimmy Page performing "Living on Tulsa Time" and "Layla". This is the only time all of the 1963-1968 Yardbirds lead guitarists appeared on stage together.During the 1980s and 1990s, Jeff Beck recorded sporadically (due largely to a long battle with noise-induced tinnitus): There and Back (1980, featuring Simon Phillips, Tony Hymas, Jan Hammer and Mo Foster), Flash (1985, including performances with Rod Stewart and Jan Hammer), Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop (1989, with Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas), Crazy Legs (1993), Who Else! (1999), and You Had It Coming (2001). He also accompanied Paul Rodgers of Bad Company on the album Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters in 1993. Jeff Beck won his third Grammy Award, this one for 'Best Rock Instrumental Performance' for the track "Dirty Mind" from You Had It Coming. The 2003 release of Jeff showed that the new electro-guitar style he used for the two earlier albums would continue to dominate. This style has been lauded by critics; Beck has skillfully fused an electronica influence with his blues/jazz past, with a sound mix which seems heavily influenced by the "brown" tone of subsequent guitarists like Van Halen and Joe Satriani. The song "Plan B" from this release earned him his fourth Grammy Award, again, for 'Best Rock Instrumental Performance'.In the past few years, Jeff Beck has performed on new albums by Les Paul, Cyndi Lauper, and Roger Waters. Beck also is featured on one track on Queen guitarist Brian May's last solo album, Another World. He also appears on ZZ Top's album XXX. Beck made a cameo appearance in the movie Twins starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. Beck's most recent tours in 2005 and 2006 have included Jason Rebello on keyboards, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Pino Palladino on bass (replaced by Randy Hope-Taylor due to Palladino's prior commitment to The Who). An Official Bootleg USA'06 from the tour has been released through Beck's site.

Jeff Beck

Jeff's gear .... Unlike some guitarists, Jeff Beck does not rely heavily on electronic effects. Beck does not use a pick (plectrum) but relies on his fingernails and thumbnail for his attack. He produces a wide variety of sounds by using his fingers and the vibrato bar on his signature Fender Stratocaster, although he frequently uses a wah-wah pedal both live and in the studio. Along with Fender Stratocasters, Beck occasionally plays Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul models as well. His amplifiers are primarily Fenders and Marshalls. In his earlier days with the Yardbirds, Beck also used a Fender Esquire guitar through Vox AC30's. On the "Truth" and "Beck-Ola" albums there is also extensive use of the wah pedal, of which Beck is often cited as being a pioneer. He has also played through a variety of fuzz pedals and echo-units along with this set-up. He most famously used the Pro Co RAT Distortion Pedal. Recently, Fender created a Custom Shop Tribute series version of his beat-up Esquire as well as his Artist Signature series Stratocaster, which emerged in 1991 with features such as a massive neck shape (deep '50s) and Fender Gold Lace Sensor pickups. This guitar was based on the Strat Plus, except for the addition of a Gold Lace Sensor Dually pickup, which looked like a humbucker in the bridge position with a coil-split push button. Other features included an LSR Roller Nut, locking tuners and a 2-point pivot tremolo bridge. This guitar was available in Surf Green, Vintage White and Midnight Purple. 2001 saw major changes to the guitar, reflecting Beck's requirements. The Lace Sensors were replaced with Fender's dual-coil ceramic Vintage Noiseless pickups while a thinner neck with a smooth contoured heel took the place of the previous deep U-shaped neck. Custom Shop versions of the artist's personal instrument debuted in 2004. The guitar features a rosewood fingerboard and is available in Olympic White and Surf Green. Although most people are not aware of it, he had an ox blood (dark red) Gibson Les Paul/Custom he used for about 10 years ie 1968-1978.

Discography

As the Jeff Beck Group:

Truth – 1968 *
Beck-Ola – 1969 *
Rough and Ready – 1971 *
Jeff Beck Group - 1972 *

As Beck, Bogert & Appice

Beck, Bogert & Appice - 1973 *
Beck, Bogert & Appice Live in Japan - 1973

Solo:

Love Is Blue / I've Been Drinking - 1967 single
Tallyman / Rock My Plimsoul - 1967 single
Hi Ho Silver Lining / Beck's Bolero - 1967 single
Blow by Blow – 1975 *
Wired – 1976 *
Jeff Beck With the Jan Hammer Group Live – 1977
There and Back – 1980
Flash – 1985 (Winner 1986 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance)
Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop – 1989 (Winner 1990 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance)
Who Else! – 1999 *
You Had It Coming – 2001 *
Jeff – 2003
Live At BB King Blues Club - 2006 (recorded 09/10/2003; originally sold only through Sony's online store in 2004)
Official Bootleg USA '06 (originally sold through Beck's site)

With Big Town Playboys:

Crazy Legs - 1993

Compilation:

Beckology - 1991

* Recommended listening
For more Jeff Beck info please visit www.jeffbeck.com

Rock Of Ages Recommends

Coheed & Cambria

Although I am somewhat 'late to the party' (so to speak) I have been championing American rock outfit Coheed & Cambria on the show for the last year and a half. They are the bridge between hard rock/metal, what's loosely called 'alternative' and classic prog and their new album "No world for tomorrow" (Sony BMG) **** is one of my highlights of the year. Less thematic and complex as 1995's, "Good Apollo I'm burning Star IV, Vol.1 - From fear through the eyes of madness" (fit that on an album sleeve!), the album cooks from start to finish with songs like "The Reaping", the bone rattling "The Hound (of blood and rank)" and the first single "The running free". Vocalist/guitarist and conceptualiser Claudio Sanchez has an amazing voice, not dissimilar to Rush's Geddy Lee and in places I guess you could close your eyes and hear traces of that band plus elements of Zep, Queen and the other pioneers of rock ....

Joni Mitchell

At the dawn of the 70's the Californian singer songwriter/band genre found its place in the sun, artists like Jackson Browne, JD Souther, The Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, etc were delivering fine country tinged folk rock albums. Although she was part of the Topanga Canyon brigade Canadian Joni Mitchell was always a little left of centre - her early albums like the classic "Court and Spark" masterpiece, "Hejira" and "Hissing of summer lawns" ,featured off beat time signatures and chords, complex vocal arrangements and elements of other musical genres like jazz and classical. Lyrically as well she was razor sharp, never scared to tackle difficult social issues in her songs. I lost touch with her somewhere in the 80's and the past decade or so she has spent more time painting than recording and releasing music. When I was given her new album "Shine" (Universal Music) **** I thought it would be just another Joni record - what a surprise! Not only has she penned a collection of songs that stand proudly next to her best work, she has created an aural landscape filled with languid smoky songs like the achingly beautiful "Hana" the beguiling "Night of the Iguana". The title track is a graceful seven and a half minute reverie to the wonders and the horrors of the world with it's loping groove, flanged guitars and atmospheric samples - the highlight for me. She's even reclaimed "Big yellow taxi" from the clutches of the pop whores and turned it into a joyous, trippy anthem .......

Riverside

I'm a huge fan of Poland's foremost musical export, nu-prog rockers, Riverside. Their last album, 2005's "Second Life Syndrome" was one of my albums of that year and with constant exposure on the show they have gained a whole new South African fanbase, judging by the reaction from many listeners. The long awaited new album "Rapid Eye Movement" (SPV/Inside Out) **** is a real thundering piece of work, there are quiet acoustic passages offset by some Floydish guitarwork and crunching chords on the opening stanza "Beyond the eyelids". On both "Panic room" and "Schizophrenic prayer" the band get all trippy, reminiscent of a more chilled Opeth or Tool. However don't be mistaken, Riverside are not derivative in anyway whatsoever. The highlight is the 14 minute opus, "Ultimate trip", which as the title suggests is where the band really shine brightly and there is a huge bow to the Floyd's "Shine on you crazy diamond" .... If you are a fan of Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Spock's Beard and the like then this one is for you .....

Scorpions

The Scorpions have been around for what's seems to have been a lifetime! Although it's arguable that their best work lies in the mid to late 80's you have to take your hat off to them for continuing to tour incessantly and release new albums. Although the title track of their new album "Humanity Hour 1" *** doffs its cap to the new rock movement it's pretty much that identifiable Scorpions sound for the rest of the album ... nothing new but solid workmanlike rock, well played and sung and a boon for fans of one of the longest running bands around.

Ratings:
***** Volcanic....not to be missed.
**** Seismic....highly recommended...buy it!
*** Aftershock....solid effort.
** Damp squib really!
* Do I need to explain this?

Rock Of Ages News

Zeppelin Postpone Show
Led Zeppelin have postponed their re-union show at the 02 Arena in London until December 10. This is because guitarist Jimmy Page has fractured a finger. Meanwhile Led Zeppelin's entire back catalogue will be available for download from November 13. This will be through Verizon Wireless, and fans will be able to purchase whole albums or individual tracks.
The whole of the Led Zeppelin catalogue is to be made available as a download box set by iTunes. It's to be called 'The Complete Led Zeppelin', and feature 165 tracks in all.

Page Honoured
Jimmy Page was presented with the Living Legend Award at the annual 'Classic Rock Magazine Roll Of Honour'. The third such event was held at the Landmark Hotel in London. Here's a full list of the winners: Best New Band: Black Stone Cherry Re-issue Of The Year: Kiss - 'Alive! 1975-2000' DVD Of The Year: Frank Zappa - 'Classic Albums' Album Of The Year: Porcupine Tree - 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' Band Of The Year: Rush Event Of The Year: Aerosmith at Hyde Park Calling Classic Songwriters: Status Quo Metal Guru: Tony Iommi Showman Award: Jeff Wayne The Classic Rock/Childline: Ian and Jacky Paice Tommy Vance Inspiration: Mick Ronson Outstanding Contribution: Storm Thorgerson Classic Album: Meat Loaf - 'Bat Out Of Hell' Comeback Of The Year: Heaven And Hell Living Legend: Jimmy Page.

Maiden's Mad Game & New Dvd
A new Iron Maiden game, based on Norwegian mythology and Eddie, is currently being developed. It has the tentative name of 'Play With Madness'.
The band are to release a double disc DVD called 'Live After Death' in February. The first disc wil feature footage shot during the band's legendary four-night stint at Long Beach Arena in California during 1984, while the second continues telling the history of the band, taking on the story from 'The Early Years' DVD, plus bonus footage.

Cobain Movie
A film based on the Kurt Cobain biography 'Heavier Than Heaven' will shortly go into production. The Nirvana man's widow Courtney Love is to be executive producer, but the role of the late grunge icon has yet to be cast.

Dimebag Figure
A Dimebag Darrel Rock Iconz figure is to be made available by Knucklebonez in December. This limited edition figure will stand nine inches tall, and captures the late guitarist during Pantera's 'Far Beyond Driven' era.

Gruesome Cattle
Cattle Decapitation have the most gruesome band name around. That's according to readers of 'Rolling Stone' magazine, who voted this ahead of Cannibal Corpse, Revolting Cocks and...Black Sabbath.

Ozzy Sells Bike
Ozzy is to auction the quad bike on which he had a serious accident a couple of years ago. Proceeds from the sale will go to charity.

Santana split
In addition to being husband and wife for 34 years, Carlos Santana and his wife, Deborah, have also owned businesses and started a children's charity, the Milagro Foundation, together. Now, Deborah has filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." Santana's publicist says this is "a private matter and there is no comment, there will be no further comment from me either since (a) it's their business, not mine and (b) the focus here is the music. If you want all the latest rumors and speculation, you'll have to go to a celebrity gossip site".

Raven Found Dead
Legendary bassist Paul Raven has died at the age of 46, from a heart attack. He was associated with Killing Joke, Ministry Prong and Godlesh, and had been working with French industrial band Treponem Pal on their comeback album.

Kid's Waffle Ruck
Kid Rock was arrested after a scuffle in a waffle house. The singer got into a fight with another customer at the restaurant after a gig at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. He was charged with simple battery, but has been bailed. It looks as if no charges will be proferred against Kid Rock, following his recent altercation with Tommy Lee at the Video Music Awards. And it seems this is all down to Lee, who asked for the matter to be dropped.

Natalia wins
Cape Town folk rock artist Natalia has won the 11th annual Barleycorn Songwriting Competition, and the first prize of a recording contract with My Music Matrix valued at R18,000. The Competition was held for the 11th time this year on Monday 22 October at The Rygersdal Sports Club. Participants were asked to submit and perform an original song which had never been performed in public before. Among the previous winners of this competition are the SA pop group Flat Stanley.

New SA guitar forum
Norio de Sousa has started a forum for Guitarists at www.GuitarForum.co.za and there's a competition to win a Joe Satriani strap here. Visit www.guitarforum.co.za

Short Cuts…… Veteran Welsh rockers Budgie have a new guitarist. He's Andy James…. Scorpions are to issue a DVD called 'Live At Wacken Open Air 2006: A Night To Remember - A Journey Through Time'. This is due in November. Meanwhile they have released a brand new studio album titled "Humanity"… Rage Against The Machine are to continue their comeback in '08. They've just confirmed three shows in Japan during February…. The Steve Miller Band release their first ever live DVD in February. It will have two DVD discs and one CD, and is called 'Live In Chicago'. This was filmed this Summer … Joe Satriani has just started recording a new album. He's co-producing it with John Cuniberti. Also on the album are drummer Jeff Campitelli, bassist Matt Bissonette, multi-instrumentalist Eric Caudieux, 'Zen Master' Mike Manning and 'Mysterious' Mike Boden…. Don't rule out a White Zombie box set next year. Rob Zombie is working on the idea and, he says, it will include everything the band ever recorded… Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley is to release a new solo album in January. It's currently being mixed…

Live Gigs

FOREIGNER ALIVE & ROCKIN' DATES

Foreigner ALIVE & ROCKIN'

20th & 21st November - Big Top Arena @ Carnival City
23rd November - Arena at Grand West Casino, Cape Town
Book at Computicket www.computicket.com.

Woodstock 9
29th November - 2nd December Harrismith
Go to www.woodstock.co.za for artist lineup and times

Brett Garsed (Ace Aussie guitarist from prog rockers PLANET X)
GUITAR CLINIC
12th November Fly Foundry, PTA
13th Blues Room, JHB
14th BMW Pavilion Cape Town
15th Kwasuka Theatre Durban
(011) 466-9510

Boulevard Blues Band
11th Justwine Montague Gardens The Dubbil Nil Bill with the Mighty Thunderbirds
16th Nameless in Somerset West ....Fri Night
18th Berties Mooring Sunday Blues/Rock.
25th Guzzlers Tableview
28th Boulevard Blues Acoustic Berties Mooring

Chromium
23 November - Red Door, Pietermaritzburg
24 November - Burn, Durban
29 February 2008 - RAM Festival

Hannepoot & the Biggish Band
11 November: Nitida Wine Estate, Durbanville
24 November: Cape Farmhouse Rocks, Scarborough
2 December: Obs Festival, Observatory
9 December: Somerset West Botanical Gardens

Josie Field
17 November The Radium Beer Hall, 282 Louis Botha Ave, Orange Grove
24 November Trotters Pub, 22 Dakota Avenue, Impala Park, Boksburg

More rock (and reggae) on your radio...

Tune in to the many other great music shows on RADIO 2000 ..... Wake up every morning with Ray White and Nichole de Silva on the funky, vibey Breakfast Show (6-9am) - news, weather, 2010 updates, comedy, competitions and tons of cool tunes - no 'superstar dj ego bull..' just fabulously entertaining radio ..... Women on the Move with Carol (9-noon) features interesting issues, guest interviews and more of the music that you like to hear ..... From 12 to 3pm it's the Empress of Cool Radio - Michelle Constant and The Lucky Packet - a daily dose of unmissable radio, a virtual melting pot of entertainment, interviews, documentary stuff, news, cultural issues, addictive music and much more ... lots of fun, fun, fun ... Tuesday nights 8 to midnight get ready to crank it up with the mighty Barney Simon on the SA Rock Show - wall to wall music, news, demos, gear reviews and some straight talking from the rock radio legend ... Join Doug Anderson on Saturdays for the Request show 1-3pm where you can request your fave rock records.... Sundays it's skanking time on Bongolution between 1-3pm with da man Bongani who spins the finest in roots reggae. Later you can chill with host Eric Allan's Jazz Rendezvous between 5 and 8pm where he spins the cream of classic and smooth jazz as well as some interesting fusion music.....

Rock of Ages presents "Footstomping Music"

Order this album directly from the Rock of Ages website.
Click on www.rock.co.za/rockofages for details.

click to buy this CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages Presents Footstomping Music

Track List

Grand Funk Railroad - Footstomping Music
Deep Purple - Burn
Uriah Heep - Look at yourself
Black Sabbath - Sweat Leaf
Thin Lizzy - Chinatown
Robin Trower - Too rolling stoned
Mountain - Never in my life
Wishbone Ash - Blowin' free
Foghat - I just wanna make love to you
Budgie - Baby, please don't go
Santana - Toussaint l'Overture
Alice Cooper - Muscle of love
Nazareth - Go down fighting
Blue Oyster Cult - The Red & the Black
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme back my bullets
Free - The Hunter
Taste - What's goin' on

Buy this 'Footstomping Music' CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Keep the rock real...

Benjy

Contact Rock of Ages

Email:
Website: www.rock.co.za/rockofages
Snail mail:
PO Box 782022, Sandton 2146
Studio phone: 089-1102003

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The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.

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Benjy Mudie

Then	Now

Benjy Mudie is a self confessed 'rockaholic' with little chance of recovery ... a music obsessive whose entire life has been spent in search of the lost chord ... from discovering Jimi's "Are you experienced" at 13, he has constantly devoured music through lp's, singles, tapes, cds, dvds, books, magazines, film, concerts, radio, tv and the internet. His entire working life has also been music related: from running a record store and later joining WEA Records in the mid 70's through to his 21 year A&R/Marketing stint at Tusk Music where he signed some of the biggest names in South African rock and pop. The last 8 years have been spent nurturing new talent at his indie label Fresh Music and reissuing classic albums as part of it's ongoing Retro series.... To say that 'music is his first love' (to paraphrase John Miles's classic song) is somewhat understated.

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