We Will Rock You

     This podcast episode is Part Two of my recent interview with Kansas/Native Window violinist David Ragsdale.  In this segment we discuss Native Window as a fun diversion to Kansas; Star City Recordings and Jeff Glixman’s longtime involvement with Kansas; the pros and cons of releasing a project through the Internet vs. physical media; rehearsing for the Native Window tour and what songs the band is playing live; why Steve Walsh is not involved in Native Window; looking back on the Freaks of Nature record; the role of drugs in that record; and the role of drugs in the creative process of making music.

     Stay tuned for Part Three, which I will post on Tuesday.

Click to Download

Melodicrock.com has posted singer Jeff Scott Soto’s fond memories of bassist Marcel Jacob, who took his own life on Tuesday, July 21st after battling a long illness. Jacob was a mainstay of Talisman, Humanimal, Yngwie Malmsteen Band, and Last Autumn’s Dream.

“Marcel was battling many years of health matters, most of which puzzled doctors as well as all of us,” Soto states. ”It started a few years ago with major back pains that led to unbearable torture in doing the simplest things like sitting & walking, forget about picking up his bass or touring. He seemed to overcome it little by little but other things set in such as feeling lethargic, sensing he could faint out of nowhere from simply standing still to losing complete equilibrium. He was never one to moan & groan, play the sympathy card for his personal grievances so most had no idea he was going through this. But much in how dogs who are suffering in pain or are on the verge of passing will go find a corner to hide in & be on their own until they get through their ailment or pass, Marcel lived his last years this way. He became sheltered, passive & somewhat of a hermit to most of his friends. Only his family were his strength as they always were, but I know he just didn’t want to burden others with his plight.”

Read more of Soto’s recollections of Marcel Jacob at www.melodicrock.com.

From Blabbermouth.net:

The management for legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO) has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

“It has come to [our] attention that a band calling themselves DIO are advertised in Pollstar under Ronnie James Dio as playing Zomerpop festival in Netherlands on Sept 5/6. This is not Ronnie James Dio or anything to do with DIO. This is a trademark name. This is very misleading for the DIO fans.”

The Zomerpop date has since been removed from Ronnie James Dio’s concert listing on Pollstar. However, “DIO” is still being advertised as taking part in the event on the festival’s official web site.

“Dio” is the alias of the 21-year-old Dutch rapper Diorno Braaf. Born in Amsterdam in 1988, he grew up without a father and mainly lived on the streets. Influenced by Notorious BIG, Jay-Z and Eminem, he started to write songs and rap in 2004.

For more information on the rapper who calls himself “Dio,” visit www.diomusic.nl.

From Classicrockmagazine.com:

His claim of self-defence fell on deaf ears. It’s the craziest story of the week, that’s for sure.

Andrew Miller, a 46 year-old Alice Cooper fan, was asked by fellow gig-goer John Lynch to calm down after removing his prosthetic leg and waving it in the air at an Alice show in the UK.

Miller responded by punching Lynch in the head multiple times and leaving the victim with a multitude of bruises and cuts. Unsuprisingly Miller’s claims of self-defence fell on deaf ears and he was given a six month sentence, suspended for 18 months at Southampton Crown Court yesterday.

The moral of this story? Never under-estimate the power of a one-legged man.

   This is Part Three of my recent in-depth interview with guitarist Howard Leese. In this segment we discuss why it’s unlikely he’ll tour behind his new solo album Secret Weapon; why he’s wound up with such a long career on the live stage when he set out to become a studio musician; playing with Paul Rodgers; the high standards of a Paul Rodgers show; the Bad Company DVD that’s coming out in the fall; playing with Bad Company; the personalities in Bad Company; and how musicians’ egos mellow over time and make reunions possible.

     Stay tuned for Part Four, which I will post Tuessday.

Click to Download