Category: General News

JON GOMM ANNOUNCES REISSUE OF ‘SECRETS NOBODY KEEPS – PASSIONFLOWER 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION’ – RELEASED 24th September on Kscope

Jon Gomm, the UK based acoustic guitar virtuoso, follows the recent release of his latest album ‘The Faintest Idea’ with news on the reissue of his 2013 record ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’. The ‘Passionflower 10 year anniversary edition’ marks a decade since the release of his single ‘Passionflower’ that went on to change everything for Jon. A live video of the single racked up millions of views on YouTube and other media platforms in 2012 – with British legend Stephen Fry describing him on mainstream television as someone “playing the guitar in a way I’d never seen it played before” and “an all-round genius”. 

Follow up album ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’ arrived in 2013, further cementing his status as one of the driving forces behind an acoustic revolution. Jon comments,

“I remember recording Secrets Nobody Keeps, in my spare bedroom studio space in one of the most notorious inner city suburbs of Leeds – My home, familiar, every dog bark, every shout. The passionflower in the yard which had inspired the song, having long since won the battle with the concrete, was still tangling itself around my house. The tempest of the previous couple of years of my life, since my little zero-budget friend-made videos had gone viral (the secrets nobody kept), and sent me on tour all over the planet: It had somehow wrenched me from my home, my sense of safety, even after I went back. Everything the same, but unsteady now. Maybe it was me that had been altered.

I was clinging on to my sense of self through these songs.”

Released on 24th September via Kscope ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps  – Passionflower 10 year anniversary edition’ features the original 10 songs alongside a bonus track of the 2020 version of ‘Passionflower’.

Despite the success of the track Jon never recorded a version of Passionflower that he’d been 100% happy with. So he called up an old friend, Australia based producer Andy Sorenson, who took Jon’s raw, intimate solo acoustic performance, and placed it in an expanded landscape which went on to form the sound of last year’s album ‘The Faintest Idea’

Jon adds, “I’m proud of this album. It was difficult to make, but I don’t like music to feel easy, to be purely soft, to offer only comfort and nothing more.  I hope you enjoy it the second time around.”

‘Secrets Nobody Keeps  – Passionflower 10 year anniversary edition’ – tracklisting:

1 – Telepathy 

2 – Ain`t Nobody 

3 – There`s No Need To Be Afraid 

4 – Wukan Motorcycle Kid  

5 – Deep Cut  

6 – Orville (The Secret Of Learning To Fly Is Forgetting To Hit The Ground) 

7  – Passionflower (SNK Version) – https://youtu.be/nY7GnAq6Znw

8 – Message In A Bottle  

9  – Dance Of The Last Rhino 

10 – Everything/You To Me Are Everything/Running Up That Hill 

Bonus Track

11  – Passionflower (2020 Version) – https://youtu.be/-325M16UAFU

Pre-order now – https://jongomm.lnk.to/SecretsNobodyKeeps

Jon Gomm will be touring the UK throughout October and November. For full dates and tickets visit:

https://jongomm.com/shows

InsideOutMusic/Sony Music announce the signing of Jethro Tull

InsideOutMusic/Sony Music are extremely pleased to announce the signing of progressive rock legends Jethro Tull to the label.  The band has already completed a new album titled ‘The Zealot Gene’, which can be expected in early 2022.

Ian Anderson had this to say about the new signing – “After 54 years in the world of music recording, it is with great pleasure that I now sign Jethro Tull to a record company which reminds me, in many ways, of the old Chrysalis label – both as an independent and in its later years in partnership with EMI. Here are real music guys with a passion for the best and most creative in rock music. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship and more releases to come.” 

InsideOutMusic Label Manager Thomas Waber states, “Adding Jethro Tull to the roster is an incredible honour for us. The band are true innovators of the genre and we are looking forward to working with them on their new album. We are sure their countless fans will be as excited about it as we are!” 

With more than 30 albums to their credit and sales totaling more than 50 million, Jethro Tull are one of the most successful rock bands of all-time with a catalog that contains classics that still resonate today. Led by Ian Anderson, Tull still continue to tour throughout the world, entertaining audiences of all ages.

The band currently consists of:

Ian Anderson – Flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals

Joe Parrish-James – Guitar

Florian Opahle – Guitar (album only)

Scott Hammond – Drums.

John O’Hara – Piano, keyboards and accordion

David Goodier – Bass guitar

MOUNTAIN CALLER – CHRONICLE: PROLOGUE – NEW EP RELEASED 9TH JULY (NEW HEAVY SOUNDS)

LISTEN TO FIRST SINGLE ‘BEYOND THIS BLACK HORIZON’ NOW:

Mountain Caller: Beyond This Black Horizon by New Heavy Sounds (soundcloud.com)

Hot on the heels of their debut full length album, Mountain Caller return with a new EP, Chronicle: Prologue, the follow up and conceptual prequel to their debut

Chronicle I: The Truthseeker. That album was released to wide acclaim, as well as a passionate response from an already devoted fanbase. 

Chronicle: Prologue gives further depth and insight into the conceptual story that embodies their output, as well as their own musical journey. 

Recorded alongside the debut album, Prologue’s tracks consist of the very earliest material written by the band. Opener Something Stirred From Underneath The Rubble was the true genesis of the band’s dynamic mix of heavy, expansive and progressive metal. It’s the culmination of three distinct musical voices collaborating and letting the music lead them, without aiming for any specific genre. Beyond This Black Horizon follows, a live fan-favourite and the band’s love letter to the riff. Stripped Of All But Purpose closes, with the band exploring the widest ranges of their soundscapes and heaviness, while providing some of the most fist-pumpingly metal moments of their career. These tracks highlight the band’s fundamental make up of ambition, passion, and sheer love for creation.

Conceptually, Prologue leads right up to the events of The Truthseeker. We catch our first glimpse of The Protagonist awakening under the rubble of a great fallen city, and setting forth on an oceanic voyage. After a battle that seemingly claims her life, she regains consciousness on a beach, shipwrecked and rocked by waves of sea and trauma. The band conjure Mastodon expanses of sound melded with Sabbathian riffs, all executed with Tool-like wizardry. With the EP seamlessly leading into the debut album, the band want listeners to consume one after the other, creating one cohesive hour-plus journey. Chronicle: Prologue is a chance to more fully understand the identity of the band and to explore the world they’ve summoned.

On new single ‘Beyond This Black Horizon’, bassist El Reeve comments,

‘Our new EP ‘Chronicle: Prologue’ is a prequel story to the album. It’s about the very beginning of The Protagonist’s journey, and follows her from waking up under the ruins of a devastated city, to meeting the mysterious Mountain Caller with his equally mysterious motives, and travelling across an ocean to the desert shores where we first encounter her in the album, having survived a shipwreck.

In ‘Beyond This Black Horizon’, The Protagonist has secured passage on an old ship. Its course will take her roughly in the direction that’s pressing down on her mind – she must travel onwards, no matter what. The seas become wild and violent, and the ship is battered mercilessly. And soon, through the screaming wind and rain, she can see why. The ship is grappled by colossal tentacles – a weird creature of scales, horns and bones. It’s torn to pieces and she’s plunged into the water, losing consciousness.

‘Chronicle: Prologue’ was recorded at the same time as the album with Joe Clayton at No Studio and mastered by Magnus Lindberg at VRTKL Audio AB. The sleeve artwork is by Taylor Rose.’

Chronicle: Prologue is released on July 9th on very limited vinyl and digital formats.
Pre-order: https://cargorecordsdirect.co.uk/products/mountain-caller-chronicle-prologue

FRAGMENTS, THE NEW ALBUM FROM TRIFECTA WILL BE RELEASED BY KSCOPE ON 20TH AUGUST

FIRST TRACK & VIDEO PREMIERED “PAVLOV’S DOG KILLED SCHRODINGER’S CAT”

Trifecta, a new addition to the Kscope roster, features 3 of the contemporary music scene’s most lauded and revered musicians – bassist and songwriter Nick Beggs, keyboardist extraordinaire Adam Holzman and completing the line-up, Craig Blundell – one of the world’s most celebrated drummers.  

Having performed together as part of Steven Wilson’s band, the three would jam together after soundchecks, forming what they referred to as “jazz club” and from these sessions the fledgling ideas for Fragments were born, Nick Beggs comments “after the last tour with Steven finished, we had a handful of tracks ready to work on and as we moved through our various separate projects we agreed to work on Trifecta.”

The record primarily leans toward a fusion of jazz rock, imaginatively described by Beggs as “Fission! It’s like Fusion but less efficient and more dangerous ..with fall out.” andbeing mainly instrumental with the exception of one track, the wonderfully titled and first single “Pavlov’s Dog Killed Schrodinger’s Cat”. The lyrics of which, Beggs states “are written from the perspective of a layman trying to understand quantum mechanics…and failing”.  The track also features drum programming from Russell Holzman. 

The brilliantly animated video was devised and created by Beggs himself – he comments “The film clip is a new take on the lyric video concept I guess? I made it one afternoon in my home studio using my i-phone and a writing pad!.”

Each band member completed the recording and engineering of their own contributions in their various home studios which helped in bringing their individual production ideas to each track. Adam Holzman mixed the record at his New York home studio and the mastering was handled by Andy VanDette (Rush, David Bowie, Deep Purple, Porcupine Tree, Beastie Boys) in New York.

The title for the debut came about as Nick Beggs explains “We discussed early on, the idea of each piece having a Fragment number and track title, for example – ‘Fragment 10– Pavlov’s Dog Killed Schrodinger’s Cat’.  As all the compositions were written as jams or in our home studios this idea seemed even more prescient. So, we titled the album ‘Fragments’”.

Fragments will be released on 20th August via Kscope on CD, black vinyl LP, ltd edition neon orange vinyl LP (exclusive to www.kscopemusic.com/store ) and digitally. Pre-orders are available now HERE(https://TrifectaKscope.lnk.to/Fragments)

1. Clean Up On Aisle Five [03:07] 

2. Check Engine Light [02:55] 

3. Proto Molecule [02:20] 

4. Auntie [02:57] 

5. Venn Diagram [02:42] 

6. The Enigma Of Mr. Fripp [02:44] 

7. Sally Doo-Dally [02:54] 

8. Have You Seen What The Neighbours Are Doing? [02:58] 

9. The Mute Gospel [03:16] 

10. Pavlov`s Dog Killed Schrodinger`s Cat [04:12] 

11. Voyage Of Discovery [03:02] 

12. Nightmare In Shining Armor [02:00] 

13. Dry Martini [03:13] 

14. Lie 2 Me And Take My Money [03:13] 

15. Hold It Like That[03:28]

Can’t wait until 20th August? Curious to know more now?

Fans can check out an album teaser HERE(https://youtu.be/IU0ojwQ2YtU)

Yes Issue 2019 Boxset ‘From A Page'(Featuring ‘Live In Lyon’) Digitally

YES has issued the 2019 boxset From a Page featuring Live in Lyon on digital platforms. The 4 tracks created as new content for the miniature five-piece box set of recordings from that era, are joined by a single edit of To The Moment complete with original Roger Dean Artwork.

Watch the video of the single edit for To The Moment here: 

All tracks were recorded by the line-up of Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman:
1. To The Moment (6:09)

2. Words on a Page (6:18)

3. From the Turn of a Card (3:24)

4. The Gift of Love (9:52)

5. To the Moment (single edit)

Oliver Wakeman has personally overseen the preparation of the previously unreleased recordings which were mixed by Karl Groom and mastered by Mike Pietrini.

Buy the digital version of From A Page here: https://lnk.to/FAPLFL

The double CD album Live From Lyon was first released in 2010 and this edition restored “Second Initial” which was previously a Japanese only bonus track.  This is the first time this has been made available on digital platforms.

Oliver Wakeman says: “Following Chris Squire’s passing, I felt that the new music we’d created, but not released, should be heard and not sit unfinished on a shelf. And with Steve, Alan and Benoit’s enthusiasm for the project, I am proud to know that this music will get to see the light of day and, hopefully, be enjoyed by YES fans as a piece of previously hidden Yes history.” 

Alan White added: “I’m pleased to see a gem of YES history coming to fruition in the form of this mini box set. New songs from the past and I’m hoping we can find even more music in the archives for future releases.”

About Oliver Wakeman
Eldest son of prog legend Rick, Wakeman filled the keyboard role, once held by his father, with YES from 2008 to 2011. His work with YES includes the triple live album In The Present – Live From Lyon, Fly From Here and the From A Page box set featuring recordings from his time in the band and released in 2019. During his tenure with YES, Wakeman also toured and recorded as a member of The Strawbs.

Wakeman’s debut album (1997) Heaven’s Isle was inspired by the island of Lundy, and he has since released a number of solo and Oliver Wakeman Band albums.  He has also released several collaborations with renowned musicians, including Steve Howe, band mate to both Oliver and his father in YES for The Three Ages of Magick album, as well as uniting with another guitar legend Gordon Giltrap for the award-winning Ravens & Lullabies album, both of which are set to be part of an upcoming box set. Most recently Wakeman has been working on The Tales by Gaslight box set which contains classic albums Hound of the Baskervilles and Jabberwocky, plus a previously unreleased disc of recording from the never made third album from the trilogy made in collaboration with Clive Nolan. Each album is accompanied 16-page booklets including lyrics, previously unseen artwork and many stories behind the creativity from both Wakeman and Nolan. Tales by Gaslight will be released by Burning Shed on 23rd April available from www.burningshed.com/oliverwakeman

Buy the digital version of From A Page here: https://lnk.to/FAPLFL

Glass Hammer Unveil New Vocalist And Become First Prog Act To Announce NFT Drop

Fred Schendel (Left,) Steve Babb (right) Glass Hammer co-founders

Veteran US prog band Glass Hammer  have announced their new vocalist and their debut NFT drop.

The band are working on the follow-up to 2020’s well received ‘Dreaming City’  which will follow on from the previous release’s concept. Steve Babb and Fred Schendel have divulged that singer Hannah Pyror, who first featured on last December’s digital release, ‘Matter of Time’, will feature on the new album.

“Production of Glass Hammer’s follow-up to Dreaming City is underway,” bassist and vocalist Steve Babb tells us. “This will be Part II of a trilogy. Songs are still being written and rewritten, tracks are being recorded, demos obsessed over—you get the picture. The album is tentatively titled Skallagrim – At The Gates Of Deception.”

Concurrently the band are teasing the new album by joining the world of NFTs. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique files that live on a digital ledger called a blockchain and are able to verify ownership of a work of digital art (although not full ownership). Buyers can display the digital artwork they represent and may be able to resell later.

Ten Glass Hammer NFT’s will be minted of a pre-release mix of the track Anthem To Andorath, Hannah Pryor featuring as lead vocalist.

“Only ten of these will ever be released,” explains Babb. “The song will show up on the album, of course, but not in this form. The purchasers will find their names listed in the credits of our new album, and there may be other goodies attached as well. We’re really just learning about NFTs, but they’re very interesting as a new way to sell music, not only to crypto-collectors who may have never heard of Glass Hammer but to prog-rock collectors and superfans who’d like to own something truly exclusive,” Babb goes on to add. “I believe that Glass Hammer are the first prog act to use NFTs.”

Glass Hammer is not new to the idea of limited collectibles. Babb adds, “Our very first album (1993’s Journey Of The Dunadan) was first sold as a collectible—a limited edition art print and a gold foil CD on QVC, giving us a massive amount of exposure early on. Though I think it’s too early to say whether or not NFTs will change the music business, it still makes sense for Glass Hammer to make our music available wherever it can be sold.”

You can find the Glass Hammer NFTs at this link:

Glass Hammer Marketplace on OpenSea: Buy, sell, and explore digital assets

THE PINEAPPLE THIEF ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THEIR ON DEMAND STREAMING EVENT NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW

The Pineapple Thief have announced they will be releasing an “on-demand” live performance event, entitled Nothing But The Truth

The show will be broadcast on 22nd April from 6pm UK time and available on demand until 6pm UK time on Monday 26th April and tickets are on sale now – full details below. 

Having released their latest studio album Versions Of The Truth in September 2020, the band’s worldwide touring plans to support the release of the album had to be put on hold, but the band were eager to be able to still perform for and connect with their fans across the globe and so the idea for a full band performance event was hatched. The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord explains “I’ve always said that The Pineapple Thief is equally about the studio and the stage so it was obviously disappointing that we haven’t been able go out on tour especially as we were excited to be able to perform the new album “Versions Of The Truth” live for everyone.  So being able to do this film, especially under the circumstances, was invaluable.

We all knew we did not want to shoot a film of us standing on stage staring at an empty room.  We wanted something special, something ‘cinematic’. So, together with George Laycock (from Blacktide Phonic/Visual who has filmed all our recent music videos) we hatched a plan. It was a lot of work for one show. But it was worth it. And it was great to be playing in the same room with the band again. We ended up making something unique and something very, very special that I am proud to have been a part of. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

Watch the trailer here:

Drummer, Gavin Harrison adds “Nothing But The Truth” is a highlight for this band in terms of captured performance. 

After many months of planning and rehearsal we went to a top sound stage studio and recorded the show that we were meant to do in Covid times (but had to cancel).

Filmed and recorded in the highest quality under controlled circumstances it does represent the band and the songs in a way that is so different to a ‘live gig’ or ‘live album’. We thoroughly enjoyed the process of making it and hope you enjoy this one-off very special event.”

Fans can expect to see The Pineapple Thief at their very best performing songs from across their illustrious catalogue including for the first time live, the new album Versions Of The Truth.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH SHOW & TICKET DETAILS

WHERE: https://www.pineapplethief.com/thetruth 

EARLY BIRD TICKETS:  $14.25 (that’s 25% off ) for Early bird tickets purchasers available now until Monday 12th April at 11pm UK time – available here https://www.pineapplethief.com/thetruth

GENERAL TICKET PRICE: Ticket Price $19 (or the equivalent in the local currency, the streaming platform supports every currency). Tickets will remain on sale until 4pm UK Thursday 22nd April  – available here https://www.pineapplethief.com/thetruth

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I WATCH THE FILM? Ticket holders can log in and watch the concert as many times they wish within the on demand period.

The Pineapple Thief, one of the leading lights of Europe’s experimental rock domain, led by post-progressive mastermind Bruce Soord and reinforced by Gavin Harrison (King Crimson) on drums, released their latest studio album Versions Of The Truth on September 4th through Kscope.

Their 2018 anthemic release Dissolution garnered worldwide acclaim from both media and fans, earning them their highest UK album chart entry to date (#36), #1 UK Rock and Metal, #22 German album chart, #4 Netherlands Platomania album chart and #14 Finland album chart. It took them on two extensive European headline tours (including many sold-out nights), and their biggest headline show to date at London’s prestigious O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, plus a first ever and hugely successful tour of North America.

With the release of their new opus, The Pineapple Thief have raised the standard yet again by delivering, quite possibly, one of the most important albums of 2020. Versions Of The Truth created a conceptual progression from Dissolution – a contemplation on our ‘post truth’ world. Lyrically the album tackled a more personal reflection on how there can be more than one ‘version of the truth’, the impact it can have on our lives and the people we love.

Versions Of The Truth is Gavin Harrison’s second album as a full creative member of The Pineapple Thief alongside Soord, bassist Jon Sykes and keyboard player Steve Kitch. His presence has again helped bring writing and recording into sharp focus – a fresh dynamic added to the band’s previous creative process.

OLIVER WAKEMAN & CLIVE NOLAN Launch Lyric Video for Coming to Town from Jabberwocky Tales by Gaslight 3CD Box Set Out 23 April

Oliver Wakeman and Clive Nolan release a lyric video for Coming to Town taken from their box set, Tales by Gaslight – out on 23rd April. The track is taken from the first album in the box set Jabberwocky and features Bob Catley (Magnum) on vocals and the late Peter Banks on guitar. Oliver says: “This is a fun upbeat track which I have always enjoyed playing live and it became an ever-present song in my bands live set. Revisiting the original for this box set reminded me of what a great job Bob Catley did with his vocal performance, and it is always lovely to listen to Peter playing a wonderful guitar solo.”

Watch the video here:

Jabberwocky, released in 1999, was based on the famous Lewis Carroll poem. It was followed by The Hound of The Baskervilles (2002), inspired by the Sherlock Holmes novel penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The project was always intended to be a trilogy of musical interpretations of literary classics, but an album inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was shelved because of a lack of record company funding.

Oliver Wakeman reunites with Clive Nolan after 20 years to issue a 3CD Box Set – Tales by Gaslight featuring remastered versions of their ‘future prog classics’ Jabberwocky and The Hound Of The Baskervilles along with a new disc Dark Fables.

This box set package also includes a third disc, featuring previously unreleased pieces that were intended to complete the trilogy. This third disc, Dark Fables, contains over 30 minutes of music conceived for the abandoned Frankenstein album.

Unusually for the time, the first two albums featured a host of guest performances, including narration by Wakeman’s father Rick and actor Robert Powell. Former YES guitarist, the late Peter Banks, Magnum vocalist Bob Catley and singer Tracy Hitchings appeared on both albums. Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen lent his talent to The Hound of the Baskervilles along with members from the bands IQ and Threshold. The unique artwork was created by Rodney Matthews for the original Jabberwocky release. Peter Pracownik was the creativity behind The Hound of The Baskervilles artwork 20 years ago and has returned to this trilogy by lending his talents to the new Dark Fables artwork.

In keeping with the spirit of the two previous albums, the new recordings feature the talents of, amongst others, Gordon Giltrap, Paul Manzi (Arena, Oliver Wakeman Band, Sweet) Andy Sears (Twelfth Night) and David Mark Pearce (Oliver Wakeman Band). Also included is an original reading of the Jabberwocky poem by Rick Wakeman.

The Tales by Gaslight box set contains 3 CDs each with 16-page booklets including lyrics, previously unseen artwork and many stories behind the creativity from both Wakeman and Nolan. The first 250 box sets will also include a 4th limited edition numbered art print of the box set cover signed by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman. 

Tales by Gaslight will be released by Burning Shed on 23rd April. Pre-order it here: https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman

About Oliver Wakeman
Eldest son of prog legend Rick, Wakeman filled the keyboard role, once held by his father, with YES from 2008 to 2011. His work with YES includes the triple live album In The Present – Live From Lyon, Fly From Here and the From A Page box set featuring recordings from his time in the band and released in 2019. During his tenure with YES, Wakeman also toured and recorded as a member of The Strawbs.

Wakeman’s debut album (1997) Heaven’s Isle was inspired by the island of Lundy, and he has since released a number of solo and Oliver Wakeman Band albums. He has also released several collaborations with renowned musicians, including Steve Howe, band mate to both Oliver and his father in YES for The Three Ages of Magick album, as well as uniting with another guitar legend Gordon Giltrap for the award-winning Ravens & Lullabies album, both of which are set to be part of an upcoming box set. 

About Clive Nolan
Aged just sixteen, multi-instrumentalist Nolan became the youngest musician (at that time) to gain an A.L.C.M. composition diploma from the London College of Music. At university he studied composition, orchestration, musical arrangement and conducting, gaining a BMus and MMus. He has played a prominent role in the development of progressive music, as a member of Pendragon since 1986 and as a member of Shadowland (1992 – present), Strangers on A Train (1993 – 1994) and by forming his own band Arena in 1995.

Nolan’s interest in rock opera extends beyond his collaborations with Wakeman. In 2008 he wrote She, based upon the novel by Sir H Rider Haggard, and two musicals Alchemy and King’s Ransom. This year will also see the release of a new ‘Viking Inspired’ album Song of the Wildlands, as well as the new Arena album The Theory of Molecular Inheritance.

Tales by Gaslight – Release 23rd AprilPre-order the boxset here: https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman

QUEEN! THE ROLLING STONES! PINK FLOYD! US Promoter Extraordinaire DANNY ZELISKO Recalls Incredible Stories of The Stars In: ALL EXCE$$ Occupation: Concert Promoter

From Alice Cooper to Sir Paul McCartney,from Van Morrison to Led Zeppelin:an A-Z of the great and the good of rock!

t became a dream-come-true for the teenage rock music fan. As a major US concert promoter Danny Zelisko has had a charmed life and, over the last 40 years, he’s promoted over 10,000 major concerts for the biggest artists in the world from Chuck Berry to Bruce Springsteen and everyone in-between! I mean EVERYONE! His book ALL EXCE$$ Occupation: Concert Promoter tells his fascinating story…. It’s an absolute must-read for anyone who loves rock!

Danny Zelisko’s first paid music job was as security for Alice Cooper. He then shared an office with Cooper’s manager Shep Gordon, who became Zelisko’s mentor and remains a good friend to this day.ALL EXCE$$ Occupation: Concert Promoter tells Zelisko’s story: sometimes scary, sometimes emotional and sometimes unbelievable. But always interesting! He takes you both on stage and backstage with rock’s greatest stars, on the roller-caster ride of being a major concert promoter, giving you an insight into the music business like never before: the good and bad and the ugly; the deep friendships he’s made and the stories of working and dealing with rock’s biggest icons!.

Here’s short clip of Danny telling a story from the book:

This book is a must read for every music fan – it will make you laugh; make you cry and make you gasp in disbelief at some of the things that happen – ‘in the daily life of a concert promoter.’ Danny Zelisko brings you the stories you’ve never heard before about the artists and music you love. It’s a great read and a fabulous journey that he’s been on – and it’s still going!

Zelisko tells how Bob Seger cancelled the first major show he ever arranged just hours before the concert was due to take place and of the shenanigans of touring with Van Morrison, over the years, how he can leave you shaking your head. Zelisko also squares up to World Champion Mike Tyson after Whitney Houston asks him to get Tyson off the stage. 

Along the way, Zelisko gets to promote his idols including Paul McCartney and keeps the stars happy by providing $10,000 worth of flowers in Prince’s dressing room and a cheese tray fit for Queen!

This book is a lesson in how to make your dreams come true, ALL EXCE$$ will take you on a journey like no other – don’t miss it!

“I say that the book took me four years to write, but it’s really 60 years in the making,” says Zelisko. “Since all this stuff actually happened, the story wrote itself. I just had to be there to decipher it – which was the hard part!

Roger Waters: “I particularly like the photo of you with the big box of cash after the Pseudo Floyd gig…”

ALL EXCE$$ Occupation: Concert Promoter can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.co.uk

Rob Halford (Judas Priest): “This book is one hell of a ride from a guy who’s had one hell of a life!” 

Larry LeBlanc (Celebrity Access): ‘Maybe the best single book ever written about America’s concert business; it’s a damn fun first read, and a fascinating second read.’

It Bites – announce reissues of ‘The Tall Ships’ & ‘Map Of The Past’

It Bites are pleased to announce reissues of their albums ‘The Tall Ships’ and ‘Map Of The Past’ for release on the 7th May 2021. Both albums have been newly remastered by John Mitchell, and will be available on CD, LP & Digital formats, with it being first time that ‘The Tall Ships’ has ever been available on vinyl. The physical formats also include extensive liner notes from John Mitchell reflecting back on the making of these albums.

Listen to the remastered version of ‘Ghosts’ from ‘The Tall Ships’ & pre-order now here: https://itbites.lnk.to/TheTallShips-ReIssue2021

Listen to the remastered version of ‘Cartoon Graveyard’ from ‘Map Of The Past’ & pre-order now here: https://itbites.lnk.to/MapOfThePast-ReIssue2021

Both albums will be released as Limited CD Digipaks that include an additional booklet containing the liner notes, Gatefold 180g 2LP + CD & LP-booklet (with liner notes) & as Digital Albums. 

The track-listing for the reissues is as follows:

The Tall Ships

1.     Oh My God

2.     Ghosts

3.     Playground

4.     Memory Of Water

5.     The Tall Ships

6.     The Wind That Shakes The Barley

7.     Great Disasters

8.     Fahrenheit

9.     For Safekeeping

10.  Lights

11.  This Is England

12.  These Words (Bonus Track)

13.  When I Fall (Bonus Track) 

Map Of The Past

1.     Man In The Photograph

2.     Wallflower

3.     Map Of The Past

4.     Clocks

5.     Flag

6.     The Big Machine

7.     Cartoon Graveyard

8.     Send No Flowers

9.     Meadow And The Stream

10.  The Last Escape

11.  Exit Song

12.  Lighthouse (Bonus Track)

13.  Come On (Bonus Track)

Please note bonus tracks are not included on the vinyl LP’s, but are included on the CD’s in the package. 

It Bites fourth studio album ‘The Tall Ships’, originally released in 2008 was the first It Bites album to feature singer & guitarist John Mitchell, and the bands first new music in nineteen years.

It Bites fifth studio album ‘Map Of The Past’, originally released in 2012, was the first concept album of the bands twenty-five year career. It explores the theme of the past, as seen through old family photographs.