Judas Priest: "Rock Landmarks: Judas Priest's British Steel"; Book Out In September

Wymer Publishing has set a September 12th release date for "Rock Landmarks: Judas Priest's British Steel". This book is the second in Wymer's CD-sized series on "landmark" rock albums and documents Judas Priest's seminal 1981 release "British Steel", a pivotal album in the band's career.

Judas Priest's sixth studio album has rightly earned its place as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. It comfortably - perhaps too comfortably for some fans' tastes - sits between Priest's harder-edged heavy metal of the Seventies with their far more commercial albums of the Eighties. Sure, it is a world away from the likes of "Killing Machine" and it's not as pop-orientated as, say, "Defenders Of The Faith" and certainly not "Turbo", but it set the benchmark for the kind of metal that was to become popular in the decade of its birth.


From the furious opening track "Rapid Fire" (had the twin-guitar attack of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton sounded better?) to the blistering closing song "Steeler", "British Steel" is a monster of an album; adrenalin fuelled and endlessly listenable. While not every track is the perfect Priest song, it is a hugely infectious piece of work that represents the mighty Priest in near-perfect style. But despite its impact, it is not their best album yet it is undoubtedly their most popular.

For more information, go to this location.

Journey: On CBS Sunday Morning (Videos)

CBS Sunday Morning this weekend featured the story on Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". You can now watch the clip below. 


This month one of rock's classic songs turns 30: Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". Jim Axelrod sat down with the band to talk about the enduring power of this beloved American song for this weekend's Sunday Morning

KISS: New Eric Singer Interview; Talks New Album

BW&BK scribe Mitch Lafon recently caught up with KISS drummer Eric Singer, discussing a variety of subjects in anticipation of the band's July 24th appearance at Heavy MTL. 

Singer: "KISS has always been somewhat of a unifying and polarizing band. Just like buying a car buying a car or eating at a restaurant – you go by participation. If I don’t like something I don’t buy it. I don’t support it. You vote with your wallet, but KISS is about the show and about having a good time. Being in KISS is a lot of hard work. It’s not easy like everybody thinks. I’ve been in a lot of bands and nothing takes the amount of energy, effort and work as it does to play in KISS. I’ve seen Paul almost yawning before he goes on stage, but when the lights go down – BAM. He’s running around, jumping…What’s important is when you are on that stage. That’s when you have to give 100%..”


 -- On the KISS audience: "We’ve seen how the audience has changed over the past few years. It’s now more of an all-ages show. I liken KISS to Disneyworld or Universal Studios  – it’s one of these spectacle things that you’ve got to go see." 

-- On Heavy MTL: "We love Montreal. It’s a beautiful city. I’m glad that we’re going back there to play the Heavy MTLfestival . And we have a day off there, which is very cool." 

-- On the new album: "We’ve done eight songs so far. Doing this summer run keeps it fresh, but mainly it gets you playing at a more intense level and that helps you bring that intensity back into the studio. Right now, the album doesn’t have a title because we’re not done, but this isn’t The Elder where we have a theme for the whole record. It’s a straight-ahead rock KISS record and I think this stuff so far is stronger better material (than Sonic Boom). It’s more riffy which makes it more interesting." 

"This album will have more production (than Sonic Boom), so in that sense it might be leaning more towards a Destroyer type approach. I’ve asked to have my drums put in a bigger room because I want to get a big sound… a more bombastic drum sound. We’ve taken more time to get better sounds on this recording." 

-- On doing a vocal on the new album: "There’s been talk about it, but until we do it… The plan is to have me sing a song and to have Tommy do one, but we’ve never asked to sing a song. Paul is the producer and that was his choice and decision. It was him encouraging me to sing. He knows that I’m actually shy when it comes to that. I’m not a shy person for the most part, but I am when it comes to singing." 

"A lot of people say, ‘I can play circles around that guy,’ but I realized a long time ago that you can’t let it be about you. You have to be smart enough to know your place in the band. You have to play for the song, play for the music and keep your own personal shit out of it. You have to have that attitude if you’re going to work for people. I’ve got to do the job that I’m hired to do." 

-- On Vinnie Vincent: "I won’t make any comments about Vinnie, but I do think actions speak louder than words and his actions have spoken very loudly. There’s a saying, 'the whole world can’t be wrong.' It’s one thing to sit there and point the finger in a particular situation, but when that situation keeps happening again and again after a while you have to go, 'Well, wait a minute, maybe it’s not everybody else,' but that’s all I’ll say about Vinnie. I believe that in life you are supposed to pave the road smoother for those that travel the road after you, not make it harder… and some people have made the road harder (that were there before me)."

Remaining dates on KISS' North American summer tour are as follows: 

July 
24 - Heavy MTL Festival - Montreal , QC 
26 - Casino Rama - Orillia, ON 
27 - Colosseum at Caesars Windsor - Windsor, ON 
28 - Turning Stone - Verona, NY 



KISSOnline previously posted footage of KISS performing "Shock Me", during the soundcheck for their Springfield, Illinois show on July 18th. Tommy Thayer (guitar) was already dressed for a photo shoot that was scheduled before the concert. Check out the footage below: 

W.A.S.P.: Biography "Sting In The Tale" To Be Released On Monday

Author Darren P. Upton's new W.A.S.P. biography, "Sting In The Tale", will be released on Monday, July 25th. He will post purchase links on his Facebook page, found here on the day. 


"Sting In The Tale" features new interviews with Randy Piper (guitar), Chris Holmes (guitar) and Stet Howland (drums). According to a book description, "W.A.S.P. were one of the primary heavy metal bands to crawl from the gutter of the Los Angeles scene of the early '80's. Led by the charismatic, dark and intense Blackie Lawless, W.A.S.P. went on to cement their status as rock legends. From their early shows full of blood and gore, to Blackie's eventual return to his Christian roots, this book brings you bang up to date in revealing detail. Riveting and controversial, Sting In The Tale dramatically lifts the lid on the many skeletons stashed in the W.A.S.P. closet." 

Michael Schenker: Joined By Herman Rarebell, Pete Way, Doogie White At Bilston Concert (Video)

Fan-filmed video footage of Michael Schenker performing the UFO classics"Doctor Doctor" and "Rock Bottom" during last night's (Friday, July 22) concert at The Robin in Bilston, England can be seen below.

The lineup for the "Doctor Doctor" performance:

* Michael Schenker: Lead Guitar
* Herman Rarebell (Scorpions): Drums
* Pete Way (UFO): Bass
* Michael Voss: Vocals
* Elliott "Dean" Rubinson: Bass
* Wayne Findlay: Keyboards/Guitar
* Doogie White (Rainbow): Guest Vocals

"Temple Of Rock", the new album from Michael Schenker, will be released on September 7 in Japan. The CD will arrive in the U.K. on September 26

The CD will reportedly feature guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Rudolf Schenker (SCORPIONS) - Guitar
* Pete Way (UFO) - Bass
* Neil Murray (BLACK SABBATH, WHITESNAKE) - Bass
* Chris Glen (MSG) - Bass
* Simon Phillips (TOTO, THE WHO, JUDAS PRIEST) - Drums
* Carmine Appice (KING KOBRA, VANILLA FUDGE, ROD STEWART, JEFF BECK, OZZY OSBOURNE, BLUE MURDER) - Drums
* Chris Slade (AC/DC) - Drums
* Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW) - Keyboards
* Michael Voss - Vocals
* Myles Kennedy (ALTER BRIDGE, SLASH) - Vocals