The Official Hard Rock / Classic Metal Music Discussion and Memorabilia Thread!

[jjrock88]

With that being said I think I would take a covers album over when a band re-records an older album or their classic songs. I can’t say I’ve ever heard a new version of a song that sounds better or even as close to as good as the original. Saxon did that about 20 years ago and the new versions were heavier, but I would take the originals any day.

[jingle.boy]

I like a cover here and there, especially if there's a new interpretation to the original. But a whole record of covers isn't cool. Always makes me think that the band is running out of ideas. And when they cover artists they are influenced by, it's always the same old songs, so boring.

This totally.  I often do enjoy them, when done sparingly.  Tribute albums are ok too, but when a band puts out a whole album of them??  Seems like they're doing it more for themselves than for the fans.  You don't need to milk money from fans for your own fan-service.

[Kwyjibo]

With that being said I think I would take a covers album over when a band re-records an older album or their classic songs. I can’t say I’ve ever heard a new version of a song that sounds better or even as close to as good as the original. Saxon did that about 20 years ago and the new versions were heavier, but I would take the originals any day.

Yeah, re-recording old stuff is even more lame than a covers album. If you don't like how the song sounds, try a remix.

That said, I think Wihtesnake's Here I Go Again actually sounds better than the original, but then Crying In The Rain is a lot worse, imo.

[jjrock88]

Yeah I think Whitesnake made a good decision re-recording Here I Go Again  .

But that was only a few years apart. But when bands redo albums or songs 20-30 years later, for me, it will always be subpar. Did anyone listen to that Lynch Mob re-record of Wicked Sensation?

But I think a lot of bands do that so they can get rights to certain songs. So in that regard, I can understand; it might be more spite to record companies. I remember Geoff Tate doing that a few years ago for spite to QR.

[Kwyjibo]

Never knew that Wicked Sensation was rerecorded and now that I know I have no desire to ever listen to it.  That original is fine as it is and can't possibly be made better.

That Tate thing was just shit, he didn't even try to make it sound decent.

Journey's Eclipse (?) has a second cd with rerecordings of their greatest hits, it had something to do with gaining the rights again or something like that. I listened to it once and thought: Why would anyone listen to it?

[wolfking]

But I think a lot of bands do that so they can get rights to certain songs. So in that regard, I can understand; it might be more spite to record companies. I remember Geoff Tate doing that a few years ago for spite to QR.

This is indeed the main reason for a lot of re-records.

[wolfking]

One really excellent re-record album is Gamma Rays Blast from the Past.  It's a greatest hits 2CD with all the Ralf songs re-recorded and the newer songs getting some touch ups.  Wonderful package.

[wolfking]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/michael-schenker-group-lyric-video-for-drilled-to-kill-feat-ralf-scheepers/

New album.  Will check the song later.

[jjrock88]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/michael-schenker-group-lyric-video-for-drilled-to-kill-feat-ralf-scheepers/

New album.  Will check the song later.

 

[Kwyjibo]

Just thought of Anthrax's The Greater Of Two Evils. Belladonna songs rerecorded with John Bush on vocals. That actually isn't that bad. So I may rephrase my opinion that not all, only most of rerecorded albums are lame.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

One really excellent re-record album is Gamma Rays Blast from the Past.  It's a greatest hits 2CD with all the Ralf songs re-recorded and the newer songs getting some touch ups.  Wonderful package.

That brought me back, that was my first GR album I bought and yea it's a solid one. 

[jjrock88]

Just thought of Anthrax's The Greater Of Two Evils. Belladonna songs rerecorded with John Bush on vocals. That actually isn't that bad. So I may rephrase my opinion that not all, only most of rerecorded albums are lame.

Good call on that one

[jingle.boy]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/michael-schenker-group-lyric-video-for-drilled-to-kill-feat-ralf-scheepers/

New album.  Will check the song later.

Tim’s gonna be a combination of giddy and apoplectic

This was at the top of my Release Radar playlist. Very nice way to start my day today.

[Lowdz]

https://youtu.be/7ojvtjwZYgM

This sounds promising. James Durban from American Idol, apparently.

[wolfking]

https://youtu.be/7ojvtjwZYgM

This sounds promising. James Durban from American Idol, apparently.

Never heard him before but this was decent.

[jjrock88]

Yeah that was pretty darn good. I didn’t think James was the best fit for Quiet Riot, at least with the studio songs.  It was a much better match with the older songs live. But this song and style suits him well.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

EUROPE - The Final Countdown 30th Anniversary Show - Live At The Roundhouse (Full Concert)

They sound so good!

[ozzy554]

2020 keeps finding ways to surprise me.  Graham Bonnet out of alcatrazz.

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/alcatrazz-parts-ways-with-founding-singer-graham-bonnet-welcomes-doogie-white/

White is more than a capable singer but Bonnet IS alcatrazz.

UPDATE: apparently Graham will be going forward with his own alcatrazz project and will announce the new lineup later. So I guess they'll be 2 of them because that's always fun

[wolfking]

That's good, because I didn't think one Alcatrazz was enough truthfully.

[jjrock88]

That's good, because I didn't think one Alcatrazz was enough truthfully.

I was thinking the same thing a few weeks ago

[wolfking]

That's good, because I didn't think one Alcatrazz was enough truthfully.

I was thinking the same thing a few weeks ago

I mean, it makes perfect sense and two is better than one of course.

[jjrock88]

4 Ratts, 3 LA Guns, 2 Alcatrazz, a Winger and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

[wolfking]

 

[TAC]

 

[ozzy554]

How does this happen so easily nowadays? It seems like every few years we have something like this happen. Yet poor Rod Evans had his "Deep Purple" for about 3 months before being sued into oblivion losing all royalties to hush.....and that's with the other band not even being active at the time lol

[TAC]

Cementing the fact that Doogie's brief but incredible run with Michael Schenker is over. Very sad.

[bl5150]

White is more than a capable singer but Bonnet IS alcatrazz.

Exactly..............seems there is an out of control manager running riot here but in the end there is no Alcatrazz without Bonnet.  It's not like the millions versions of Ratt/La Guns where there is generally at least one prominent member involved - and even they are a joke.

I'm all for multiple versions of Winger though - can't get enuff versions.

[wolfking]

The more Kip, the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

[wolfking]

Cementing the fact that Doogie's brief but incredible run with Michael Schenker is over. Very sad.

Even though I've only been a fan of this combo a month, it's very disappointing.

[TAC]

Jimmy Kay's The Metal Voice had a livestream today with Jimmy Waldo and Giles Lavery (Alcatrazz's manager). It's an hour long, but really insightful into the break up with Graham Bonnet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCtVkDp_-zk


Some highlights..

* Even though Graham signed on to do the last album and promote it, he constantly complained about the direction of the album
* He doesn't like heavy shreddy music
* Bonnet basically disappeared for and would not contact anyone for weeks even though there were promo obligations
* The band's mamanger, also was Bonnet's manager resigned from representing Bonnet after being unable to communicate with him
* When Bonnet did do press, he started pimping the new Graham Bonnet Band while supposed to be promoting Alcatrazz
* The band was pissed off, as they have 2021 obligations
* All that is announced is that Doogie will be fulfilling the live obligations, but reading between the lines, he will be on their next album

also..
* When the band was being formed by Bonnet, Waldo, and Shea, their drummer search included spending three days with Clive Burr, but unfortunately he wasn't in great shape during this time.

[ozzy554]

I listened to that too and was about to post about it here. I know it's only one side of the story but now I'm rooting for the other guys. Whether you like the musical direction or not if you signed a contract you do the work you've agreed to. Also it seems that over the years Graham has been taking a bit too much credit even though the songwriting was more of a collaborative effort. They guy's have mentioned that Graham has been in a dark place recently with unnamed personal problems so at the end of the day I just hope he's ok.

Giles sounded heartbroken during parts of the interview because managing graham was a passion project for him. He openly said that he knew it wasn't going to be a lucrative gig but he just really wanted to work with him. It seems like he still worked his ass off for him as Graham has a bit of a career resurgence under his management.

Still going to be weird hearing Alcatrazz with someone else but I'm more open minded to it after the interview than I was before.

[TAC]

I hated how Jimmy Kay kept interrupting Jimmy Waldo with nonsense.

Still going to be weird hearing Alcatrazz with someone else but I'm more open minded to it after the interview than I was before.

Oh definitely, and Doogie's excellent work with Michael Schenker over most of the past decade has me very accepting of whatever he's doing.

But honestly, a keyboard player and a bassist carrying on the band's name? I do think that's kind of lame even though they are original members.

[ozzy554]

Yeah I can agree on that but they have commitments and they need to get them done and it sounded like graham didn't give them many options.

Though if they do make an album with Doogie they have to knock it out of the park. The songwriting for it I think will either make or break that band. 

[TAC]

Though if they do make an album with Doogie they have to knock it out of the park. The songwriting for it I think will either make or break that band.

Well, Born Innocent fucking blows chunks so it won't be hard to top that.

[wolfking]

Though if they do make an album with Doogie they have to knock it out of the park. The songwriting for it I think will either make or break that band.

Well, Born Innocent fucking blows chunks so it won't be hard to top that.

I didn't check the album but I liked the Polar Bear song.  Based on knowing you and what blows chunks, I won't bother.