Author Archives: glassonyonpr

2017/12/05

Billion Dollar Babies, Feat. Original Alice Cooper Group Members, First Ever Live Show – Flint 1977 Now Available!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Billion Dollar Babies, Feat. Original Alice Cooper Group Members, First Ever Live Show – Flint 1977 Now Available!

Featuring Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway & Neal Smith!

Alice Cooper was undoubtedly one of the major rock artists of the 1970s and 80s. However, what is less well known is that originally the man now known as “Alice” was called Vince and he was the lead singer of a band called “Alice Cooper.” The band consisted of lead singer Vince Furnier, Glen Buxton (lead guitar), Michael Bruce (rhythm guitar, keyboards, main songwriter), Dennis Dunaway (bass guitar), and Neal Smith (drums). Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper and has had a solo career under that name since the band became inactive in 1975. The Alice Cooper Group played their final show on April 8, 1974 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bruce, Dunaway and Smith would go on to form the short-lived band Billion Dollar Babies, producing one album titled “Battle Axe” in 1977. While occasionally performing with one another and Glen Buxton, they would not reunite with Alice until October 23, 1999, at the second Glen Buxton Memorial Weekend for a show at CoopersTown in Phoenix (Buxton having died in 1997). This is a recording of the Billion Dollar Babies first ever live show on July 6, 1977 in Flint, Michigan, and what a show it was!

Tracks:
I Miss You
Rock n Roll Radio
Love is Rather Blind
Rock Me Slowly
Alice Cooper Medley: No More Mr Nice Guy/Neal Smith solo/Elected/Eighteen/School’s Out
Battle Axe Suite: Ego Mania
Battle Axe
Nights in Cracked Leather/Sudden Death/Winner
Too Young
Billion Dollar Babies

To purchase Billion Dollar Babies First Ever Live Show – Flint 1977 (CD): http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/16073/Billion_Dollar_Babies-First_Ever_Live_Show_-_Flint_1977.html


Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Uncategorized

2017/12/03

Wishbone Ash The Vintage Years (1970-1991) Limited Edition Deluxe 30CD Box Set Available April 2018!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Wishbone Ash The Vintage Years (1970-1991) Limited Edition Deluxe 30CD Box Set Available April 2018!

Authorised by all of the original band members!

In April 2018, Madfish celebrate Wishbone Ash, one of Britain’s most enduring and best-loved rock acts, by releasing a comprehensive deluxe 30 CD box set, The Vintage Years. Loaded with rarities, memorabilia, a new interview and a lavish 156-page hardback book, a third of this new collection features previously unheard & unreleased material.

Following decades of being starved of unreleased material from the true vintage years from Wishbone Ash, fans will soon be able to enjoy the long-awaited, remastered anthology from this esteemed and influential band in its pure quality in both musical and printed content.

This box set is strictly limited to 2,500 copies and includes all 16 studio albums between 1970-1991, all of which feature bonus material including rare album outtakes, B-sides and 12 previously unreleased studio tracks. These are presented in mini-gatefold sleeves. Three of the 16 albums are currently out of print on CD (Nouveau Calls, Here to Hear & Strange Affair). The box set will feature brand new cover artwork designed by Colin Elgie, the original designer behind the award-winning Live Dates sleeve artwork.

There are 3 original live albums (Live Dates, Live Dates Volume Two & Live in Tokyo) and 8 previously unreleased live albums (on 11 discs) recorded between 1973 & 1980.

1. Portsmouth Guildhall 1973 (2CD) from the Wishbone Four / Live Dates tour
2. Southampton University 1973 from the Wishbone Four / Live Dates tour
3. Edinburgh Usher Hall 1976 from the New England tour
4. Marquee Club 1977 from the Front Page News tour
5. Newcastle City Hall 1977 from the Front Page News tour
6. Bournemouth Winter Gardens 1978 (2CD) from the No Smoke Without Fire tour
7. Guildford Civic Hall 1980 (2CD) from the Just Testing tour
8. Chelmsford Odeon 1980 from the Blowin’ Free tour

All music has been remastered from the original multitrack and ¼ inch tapes, sourced from Martin Turner and Andy Powell’s personal collections, and from the Universal Music and Atlantic archives.

Accompanying this thorough collection of repertoire is a 156-page coffee table hardback book written by Classic Rock’s Dave Ling, which includes personal photos, rare posters and flyers and collector’s memorabilia.

Fans lucky enough to purchase this set also receive:
• 36-page poster book covering the early years through to Here to Hear.
• Four reproductions of original posters for:
Christmas at the Palace Dec 1973
Live Dates European tour – Hamburg Musikhalle 1974
Europe 1975 tour
Front Page News tour – Empire Pool Wembley 1977
• A Facsimile MCA debut album promo pack.
• A 7-inch flexi disc for the single “Blind Eye”, the first of the 11 Japanese singles series
• Individually signed photos of each band member.

Talking about the release, founder member Martin Turner explains, “I looked after most of these tape recordings for decades, wondering when they would ever see the light of day and I am very glad that they will at last be available for everyone to hear. I wanted to mix the live performances myself, but being a busy chap and not famous for my speediness, we decided to give it all to the wonderful Pete Reynolds whom I believe has done a brilliant job of mixing and remastering a massive collection of work. It’s almost like having one’s whole musical life in one box. It certainly represents the most comprehensive Wishbone collection that I know of and I hope you enjoy it.”

Andy Powell agrees, “It’s truly amazing to look back at the musically fertile 70s and 80s and wonder at the sheer amount of incredible creative output from our band. We had great roots and a really strong blue-print for success. I feel blessed to have played my part in it all and I’m truly thankful that it’s set the course for my entire life and all the music that’s followed, as the band continues to live on into the 21st century.”

Rarely is an anthology of this quality ever released… Wishbone Ash: The Vintage Years is so comprehensive and lovingly-compiled, with such beautiful and quality accompanying material … if ever there was a box set not to miss, this is it!

For more information:
www.wishboneash.com
www.martinturnermusic.com ;
www.madfishmusic.com/wa

Press inquiries (North America only): Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Wishbone Ash

2017/12/02

Andy Partridge Interview with HuffPost

By glassonyonpr

PHOTO CREDIT: KEVIN NIXON (PROG ROCK)

A Rocket Anniversary & Skyscraper Souls: Chatting With Jason Mraz and Andy Partridge, Plus Kate Crash, Soul Scratch And Xoe Wise Exclusives
Mike Ragogna, Contributor
12/01/2017 09:00 am ET

A Conversation with Andy Partridge

Mike Ragogna: Andy, you’re a featured guest on the new Downes Braide Association album, Skyscraper Souls. How did that come together?

Andy Partridge: I had worked with Chris previously, knocking up a few songs for other people, one of the projects was that Sarah Brightman album about the cosmos, where she was going to perform some of its songs from the International Space Station. Shame that project fell through. We came up with some great numbers. Maybe she’s a better singer than she is astronaut material?

Anyway, Chris and I stayed in touch. Out of the blue, he just asked would I like to contribute some things to an album he was making with ex-Yes/Buggle Geoff Downes—a bit of guitar here and there or anything I thought the tracks needed? So I said sure, just send me some tunes.

So I played a few guitar solos, sang some backing vocals parts and strummed an acoustic and a mandolin. It all came out so well that I ended-up ruining four of their songs for them…HA!!

MR: How did you submerge yourself into these tracks—by their topics, what was going on musically in the arrangement and basic tracks, or through some other method?

AP: I got into “Darker Times.” For example, when I heard Chris’ main vocal, he had a seemingly throwaway line “We are all one energy” that knocked me for six. I thought, “That’s it, that’s the keystone to the whole song.” So I sent him a three or four-part tracked-up choir of myself singing that line over and over, almost like a plainsong or mantra. We both thought it worked well, but I don’t know if he was aware of that little gem of a line that was hiding in his song. It’s my favorite on the album. I feel quite tearful when I hear it, which is a great sign.

With the specific requests for a “guitar solo,” I did my thing and sent him something like four takes to choose from…which he did.

“Glacier Girl” just pushed all my buttons to wheel out the ‘cold’ scenery. I’d been working that week on some Christmas songs for another artist and had lots of sleigh bells laying around my shed—my home studio in the garden—so I thought I’d push myself into repetitive strain injury once more and put them on this track. Christmas happens in Winter; Winter is cold, thus sleigh bells. The acoustic guitar was something that I intended would make a frosty thin, rhythm feel. It ended up still a little too warm, so I pointed it with a mandolin. That seemed to put it deep in the tundra to my ear. It’s all about painting the right scenery for me.

For the rest of the interview, please visit the HuffPost website!

Leave a comment | posted in Andy Partridge, Downes Braide Association, Interview

2017/11/29

Wishbone Ash’s Twin Barrels Burning and Raw To The Bone Given First Official and Remastered Definitive Edition Re-release!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Wishbone Ash’s Twin Barrels Burning and Raw To The Bone Given First Official and Remastered Definitive Edition Re-release!

Each album is available on 2CD and Picture Disc LP with extensive bonus materials, just in time for Christmas!

These are the FIRST OFFICIAL re-releases of Twin Barrels Burning from 1982 and Raw to the Bone from 1985 in decades and DEFINITIVE EDITIONS with all new 2017 REMASTERS.

Both albums feature new liner notes by rock journalist Dave Ling, including new interviews with all the surviving members and archive quotes from the late Trevor Bolder.

Twin Barrels Burning – This smoking hot 21 TRACK 2CD set includes the American Remixes of the album on a second disc, which have NEVER BEEN ON CD BEFORE.

Raw To The Bone – This mammoth 23 TRACK 2CD set has bonus tracks including a HOLY GRAIL for Wishbone Ash fans – ALL FOUR UNRELEASED SONGS from the post-album 1986 SESSIONS. The bonus CD also includes The Friday Rock Show BBC Sessions, which are often described as better than the album versions, plus four live tracks from Hammersmith.

These re-issues are FULLY APPROVED by Steve Upton, Laurie Wisefield, Andy Powell, Merv Spence, and the estate of Trevor Bolder.

These 2CD sets and Picture Disc LPs are IN STOCK NOW with PledgeMusic orders being sent out in time for Christmas – ahead of being released by Cherry Red on 2nd February 2018.

The second disc of bonus tracks accompanying each CD will not be available with any other product or box set.


The editions are IN STOCK NOW and can be ordered from: http://pmusic.co/lvPp2D


Twin Barrels Burning 2CD Track List

DISC ONE:
1. Engine Overheat
2. Can’t Fight Love
3. Genevieve
4. Me and My Guitar
5. Hold On
6. Streets of Shame
7. No More Lonely Nights
8. Angels Have Mercy
9. Wind Up
Bonus Tracks:
10. Cat and Dog Fight
11. Go for the Gold
12. Night Hawker

DISC TWO – The American Remixes
1. Engine Overheat
2. Can’t Fight Love
3. No More Lonely Nights
4. Wind Up
5. Streets Of Shame
6. My Guitar
7. Hold On
8. Genevieve
9. Angels Have Mercy

Raw To The Bone 2CD Track List

DISC ONE:
1. Cell of Fame
2. People in Motion
3. Don’t Cry
4. Love in Blue
5. Long live the Night
6. Rocket in my Pocket
7. It’s Only Love
8. Don’t You Mess
9. Dreams (Searching for an Answer)
10. Perfect Timing
Bonus Tracks:
11. She’s Still Alive
The 1986 Sessions
12. Apocalypso
13. Valley of Tears
14. Nkomo
15. Talk To Me

DISC 2:
The Friday Rock Show
1. Long Live the Night
2. Cell of Fame
3. Love in Blue
4. People in Motion
Live at Hammersmith on BBC local radio
5. Living Proof
6. Cell of Fame
7. The King Will Come
8. Blowin’ Free

Available for order:
Twin Barrels Burning 2 CD
Raw To The Bone 2 CD
Twin Barrels Burning Picture Disc LP
Raw To The Bone Picture Disc LP
CD Bundle
Picture Disc Bundle
All Formats Bundle

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Wishbone Ash

2017/11/27

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop To Release New Album The Secret Featuring Guitar Legend Peter Banks – December 8, 2017

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop To Release New Album The Secret Featuring Guitar Legend Peter Banks – December 8, 2017

London – Prog rock pioneers, Mabel Greer’s Toyshop (for without Mabel Greer, there would be no YES), are to release a new album The Secret on December 8th.

On this album, Peter Banks (former YES & Flash guitarist) can be heard playing a guitar duo with Mabel Greer’s founder, guitarist and vocalist, Clive Bayley for the first time in 50 years. Clive has written a new song around guitar parts recorded by Peter Banks, who passed away in 2013. This song is a tribute to Banks and Chris Squire who both joined the band in September 1967.

Bayley explains, “I was inspired to do this because Peter’s passing in 2013 was the catalyst for meeting Bob Hagger (drummer with Mabel Greer’s Toyshop) again and coming up with the crazy idea of re-forming Mabel Greer. The result is that we have produced two new albums since then, and released re-mastered BBC tapes from 1967 on the EP Images”.

The Secret is an album of 9 new songs, with Max Hunt on keyboards and Hugo Barré on bass joining Bayley and Hagger. With roots back to an era when music evolved like never before and now combined with musical maturity, this album is must have for all Prog fans everywhere.

Track Listing:

1. Big Brother, Little Brother
2. Love’s Fire
3. Turning To The Light
4. Angel Sent
5. More & More
6. Swan
7. Image of Existence
8. You
9. The Secret (ft. Peter Banks)

Clive and Bob first met in 1966 – a time when the London underground music scene was an impressive force for future development of a different kind of rock music. Clive was only 16 years old but had already been playing in a band since the age of 13. He was writing his own compositions and knew what kind of music he wanted to perform. Bob had previously been for an audition with THE SYN whose bassist was Chris Squire and guitarist Peter Banks. Not long after, both Squire and Banks joined Bob and Clive in Mabel Greer’s Toyshop and the seeds of YES were planted. In early 1968, Jon Anderson also joined the group, followed by Bill Bruford, who replaced Bob and Tony Kaye joined on keyboards. When Clive left the band in August that year they changed name to “YES”.

Fast forward to 2013, Clive met Bob again for the first time in 45 years! Both now in their sixties. The first thing Clive said to Bob was “let’s get into the studio, see if we still have the old magic”. The result became the album New Way Of Life featuring Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye, released in 2015.

Watch the new video for the song “The Secret”: https://youtu.be/Fxqaq1T2Oro  ;

The Secret will be available on 8th December on CD and digital download from: https://mabelgreerstoyshop.bandcamp.com ;

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop official website: www.mabelgreerstoyshop.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Mabel Greer's Toyshop, Peter Banks, Press Release

2017/11/24

King Crimson Uncertain Times European Tour 2018

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

King Crimson Uncertain Times European Tour 2018

King Crimson has announced the “Uncertain Times” European tour for 2018. The ensemble will visit Poland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Italy, France and UK.

Pre-sale VIP tickets will go on sale on 23rd November from the band’s website http://www.dgmlive.com, where fans can also find recordings and photographs of recent shows. General tickets will go on sale on 1st December.

King Crimson 2018 European tour dates:

13th June Poznan, Poland Earth Hall
14th June Poznan, Poland Earth Hall
16th June Krakow, Poland ICE Congress Hall
17th June Krakow, Poland ICE Congress Hall
18th June Krakow, Poland ICE Congress Hall
20th June Essen, Germany Lichtburg
23rd June Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
24th June Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
26th June Prague, Czech Republic Forum Karlin
27th June Prague, Czech Republic Forum Karlin
1st July Berlin, Germany Admiralspalast
5th July Stockholm, Sweden Cirkus
6th July Stockholm, Sweden Cirkus
8th July Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
9th July Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
10th July Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
13th July Amsterdam, The Netherlands Concertgebouw
16th July Munich, Germany Philharmonie
19th July Pompeii, Italy Teatro Grande
20th July Pompeii, Italy Teatro Grande
22nd July Rome, Italy Auditorium Cavea
23rd July Rome, Italy Auditorium Cavea
25th July Lucca, Italy Piazza Napoleone
27th July Venice, Italy Teatro La Fenice
28th July Venice, Italy Teatro La Fenice
29th Oct Bournemouth, UK Pavilion Theatre
31st Oct Cardiff, UK St Davids
2nd Nov London, UK Palladium
6th Nov Birmingham, UK Symphony Hall
9th Nov Manchester, UK Bridgewater Hall
12th Nov Glasgow, UK Royal Concert Hall
15th Nov Paris, France L’Olympia
16th Nov Paris, France L’Olympia

With three drummers, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison and Jeremy Stacey, as well as the return of multi-instrumentalist Bill Rieflin on keyboards, guitarist and original founding member, Robert Fripp states that this “double quartet formation” is likely to make more noise than ever before. Rounding out the eight piece line-up are guitarist and vocalist Jakko Jakszyk, long-time bassist Tony Levin, and saxophonist and flautist Mel Collins, who was a mainstay of Crim from 1970-1972. The band’s packed three-hour shows draw on material from all periods of their history, including six historic tracks that Crimson have never played live before, as well as new arrangements of Crimson classics – “the music is new whenever it was written” – and, of course, a healthy dose of new material, including the compositions for three drummers, which are a regular highlight.

Here’s what the press have raved about King Crimson’s summer 2017 North American tour:

“Jimi Hendrix saw them at the Marquee in 1969 and declared them to be the best band in the world. In many ways, almost half a century later, they still are.” – ERIC THIESSEN, All About Jazz.

“Fripp and his band offered an impeccable performance in two stages. No melodies, no flapping, only musicians at the top of their art.” – IAN BUSSIÈRES La Presse, Quebec

“The band finally reaps all that it has sown in its many transformations…the king is not dead, far from it, and they still rejoice.” – REJEAN BEAUCAGE, Voir.ca

“Crimson has never sounded more complete, or more joyous, on stage than it does now.” – JORDAN ZIVITZ, Montreal Gazette

“The uniqueness of seeing each of these seasoned musicians working is near indescribable and has to be experienced live to fully embrace their vision – think of eight master painters working in their own style, but on a common canvas, and you begin to get the idea of things.” – WE HEART MUSIC, Minneapolis

“On our final evening at the festival, we were witness to the concert that inevitably proved to be its highlight…The blend of mood, melody, ambiance and atmosphere dazzled the audience, which responded with frequent standing ovations.” – LEE ZIMMERMAN, Goldmine Magazine

For more information: http://www.dgmlive.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com
paintings by Francesca Sundsten
photographs by Dean Stocking and David Singleton

Leave a comment | posted in King Crimson, Press Release

2017/11/21

Bill Nelson’s “Dreamy Screens: Soundtracks From Echo Observatory” 3-Disc Boxed Set Available December 1, 2017!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Bill Nelson’s “Dreamy Screens: Soundtracks From Echo Observatory” 3-Disc Boxed Set Available December 1, 2017!

Now available for pre-order

London – Esoteric Recordings’ imprint Cocteau Discs, dedicated to the work of BILL NELSON, are proud to announce the release of a deluxe 3 disc clamshell boxed set limited edition collection titled “Dreamy Screens: Soundtracks from the Echo Observatory.” The set features three albums, all recorded at Bill Nelson’s Yorkshire home studio, the Echo Observatory, in 1981 and 1982 – “Sounding the Ritual Echo” (originally issued as a limited edition bonus LP with Bill’s 1981 album “Quit Dreaming and Get On the Beam”), “Das Kabinet” (a soundtrack to a production of “The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari” by The Yorkshire Actors Company issued as an LP on Bill’s Cocteau label in 1981) and “La Belle et La Bete” (a soundtrack to a stage production of Jean Cocteau’s classic 1946 film “Beauty & the Beast,” first issued as a limited edition bonus LP with Bill’s 1982 album “The Love That Whirls”).

All of the recordings featured in this set demonstrate Bill’s creativity utilising primitive recording equipment by today’s standards. As Bill has stated, “The music was recorded on a domestic four track machine. A high degree of self-discipline was in order.”

All of the recordings forming “Dreamy Screens” have now become highly regarded in the prolific discography of Bill Nelson.

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. Annunciation
2. Sounding the Ritual Echo
3. Sleep
4. Near East
5. Emak Bakia
6. My Intricate Image
7. Endless Orchids
8. The Heat in the Room
9. Another Willingly Opened Window
10. Vanishing Parades
11. Glass Fish (For the Final Aquarium)
12. Cubical Domes
13. Ashes of Roses
14. The Shadow Garden
15. Opium

Disc: 2
1. The Asylum
2. Waltz
3. The Fairground
4. Doctor Caligari
5. Cesare the Somnambulist
6. Murder
7. The Funeral
8. The Somnambulist and the Children
9. Caligari Disciplines Cesare
10. Caligari Feeds Cesare
11. Caligari Opens the Cabinet
12. Jane Discovers Cesare
13. The Attempted Murder of Jane
14. The Dream Dance of Jane and the Somnambulist
15. Escape Over the Rooftops
16. The Unmasking
17. The Shot
18. The Cabinet Closes

Disc: 3
1. Overture
2. The Family
3. Sisters and Sedan Chairs
4. In the Forest of Storms
5. The Castle
6. The Gates
7. The Corridor
8. The Great Hall
9. Dreams (The Merchant Sleeps)
10. Fear (The Merchant Wakes)
11. The Rose and the Beast
12. Magnificent (The White Horse)
13. Beauty Enters the Castle
14. The Door
15. The Mirror
16. Candelabra and Gargoyles
17. Beauty and the Beast
18. Transition No. 1
19. Transition No. 2
20. The Hunt
21. The Gift
22. The Garden
23. Transition No. 3
24. Transition No. 4
25. The Tragedy
26. Transition No. 5
27. The Enchanted Glove
28. Tears As Diamonds (The Gift Reverses)
29. The Beast in Solitude
30. The Return of the Magnificent
31. Transition No. 6 (The Journey)
32. The Pavilion of Diana
33. Transformation No.1
34. Transformation No. 2
35. The Final Curtain

To pre-order Bill Nelson’s “Dreamy Screens: Soundtracks From Echo Observatory” 3-Disc Boxed: 
Cherry Red webstore: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/dreamy-screens-soundtracks-from-the-echo-observatory/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dreamy-Screens-Soundtracks-Echo-Observatory/dp/B075TQS3F4

Bill Nelson’s official website: www.billnelson.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Bill Nelson, Press Release

2017/11/20

EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS – OUT NOW!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX
THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS – OUT NOW!

Featuring original YES & Flash Guitar Legend Peter Banks!

London – EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX – THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS is the first release by The Peter Banks Musical Estate (via Cherry Red) and is also fully endorsed by Sydney Jordan (Foxx). The set includes the songs from all three EMPIRE studio albums and The Mars Tapes together in one place. The 40 page booklet features six different sets of liner notes and extensive pictures from the personal archives of band members. The audio has received a 2017 remaster.

“Thank you to Daniel Earnshaw, QEDG Management, Cherry Red Records, Carl Glover and Mike Pietrini for the remastering, design and release of this wonderful, definitive collection of ‘Empire’ recordings. Peter has always said that ‘Empire’ and the music we created was where his heart was and that it was the closest he had come to his dream of creating another band like ‘YES’.  With ‘Empire’ we achieved 90% of what we set out to. 10% was lost to pressure from the industry and the misfortune of being in L.A. during the ‘Disco Era’. But the 90% that remains in this complete collection of ‘Empire’ recordings is timeless, magical and yet another valuable musical testament to one of the most innovative and greatest guitar players ever, who co-created one of the greatest bands ever!” – Sydney Foxx

Peter Banks passed away in 2013 but his musical legacy will live on with a series of official definitive album releases throughout 2018 and 2019. The Peter Banks Musical Estate is represented by Daniel Earnshaw.

Track List:

DISC ONE: THE BEST OF EMPIRE
1. OUT OF OUR HANDS
2. DESTINY
3. FARAWAY
4. FOUNDATION
5. SKY AT NIGHT (Featuring Phil Collins)
6. WHERE YES MEANS NO
7. OFF WITH THE KING’S HEAD
8. MORE THAN WORDS
9. SHOOTING STAR
PART 1 – FROM THE TOP
PART 2 – COMMON GROUND
PART 3 – ICELAND ON THE ROCKS
PART 4 – SHOOTING STAR
10. FOR A LIFETIME
11. DO WHAT YOU WANT

DISC TWO: THE MARS TAPES
1. OUT OF OUR HANDS
2. FOUNDATION/DESTINY/FARAWAY
3. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW BAR AND GRILL
4. DO WHAT YOU WANT
5. DANCING MAN
6. SOMETHING’S COMING
7. THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
8. WHEN THE BANKS OVERFLOW
9. ASCENDING TO THE PLANET MARS
10. AS SILENCE PREVAILS

DISC THREE: THE REST OF EMPIRE
1. EVERYTHING CHANGES
2. SKY AT NIGHT (MARK II VERSION)
3. STILL OUT OF OUR HANDS
4. GOODBYE
5. DESTINY (MARK II VERSION)
6. SOMEONE WHO CARES
7. AIN’T THAT PECULIAR
8. DANCING MAN
9. HEAR MY VOICE ON THE RADIO
10. WHO (Featuring Ray Bennett)

To purchase EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX – THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS:
AMAZON CD: http://geni.us/PBME1
iTUNES: http://geni.us/PBME1dig

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/Remembering-Peter-Banks-165355266955155/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Peter Banks, Press Release

2017/11/19

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION Release New Album Skyscraper Souls Feat. Guest Appearances By Andy Partridge (XTC), Marc Almond and Kate Pierson (B52s)! OUT NOW!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION Release New Album Skyscraper Souls Feat. Guest Appearances By Andy Partridge (XTC), Marc Almond and Kate Pierson (B52s)! OUT NOW!

Front cover artwork is by Roger Dean!

London – Super-duo Geoff Downes & Chris Braide, known as the Downes Braide Association (DBA), release their new album Skyscraper Souls on 17th November through their own label X2X Records via Cherry Red. This is their 3rd collaboration and follows their two previous critically-acclaimed releases Pictures of You (2012) and Suburban Ghosts (2015).

Both members have an immense body of work. Chris Braide is a British singer, songwriter and producer, now based in LA, who has written and produced songs for Beyonce, Lana del Rey, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta, Sia, Afrojack & Marc Almond… to name a few. Geoff Downes is the prog legend who has played keyboards in The Buggles, Asia & Yes… he co-wrote the hits “Heat of the Moment” and “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

Skyscraper Souls is a more traditional progressive/classic rock/band album than their previous material, but retains a strong pop aesthetic and features many great guest contributions, including Marc Almond, Andy Partridge from XTC and Kate Pierson from the B52s. The front cover artwork is by Roger Dean.

Watch the new DBA video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9tNHEvBquE

The idea for the album started as a series of sketches Geoff had been working on after a break from touring last year. By the time he returned from the road he directed the subsequent pent-up energy into composition and the ideas literally poured out. As a kid, Chris had always loved expansive pieces like “Close To The Edge” and “Tubular Bells.” While he is a huge pop fan and has written multitudes of pop hits for pop stars, his heart has a special place for those big studio epic productions.

On this album, Downes & Braide were joined by drummer Ash Soan (Trevor Horn, Squeeze, Faithless, Del Amitri, Adele, Cee Lo Green, Will Young, Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow and many more) and bassist Andy Hodge. Chris says, “Having such an amazing rhythm section really brought the songs to life. With previous albums we always used drum machines and samples. There is so much warmth and movement in these recordings. They breathe!”

The fact that their ‘association’ has always had to fit around their extensive commitments has never dulled their remarkable musical creativity. This album went a step further and was co-written remotely – at no time were the pair ever in the same room! Chris explains, “Geoff would send me folders full of stuff such as the magnificent piano pieces which turned into ‘Glacier Girl’ and ‘Prelude.’ As soon as I heard the chords I was writing lyrics like a mad man and before long the album started to materialize.” Geoff adds, “The ideas themselves were in a very rough format, but with the melodies & basic harmonies. Chris started playing around with these, and often, they came back with some radical changes, but Chris was always very conscious to retain my original idea.”

The pair feel Skyscraper Souls is their strongest album to date, which is no mean feat! This album contains constant motifs and themes that recur and flow throughout. Keeping strong melodies to the fore they have created a wonderfully interesting soundscape.

Track list as follows: 

1. Prelude (ft Andy Partridge – XTC)
2. Skyscraper Souls (ft Kate Pierson – B52s)
3. Glacier Girl (ft Andy Partridge)
4. Angel On Your Shoulder (ft Matthew Koma)
5. Tomorrow (ft David Longdon – Big Big Train)
6. Lighthouse (ft Tim Bowness)
7. Skin Deep (ft Marc Almond)
8. Darker Times (ft Andy Partridge)

Outside of DBA Downes and Braide remain in high demand.

Geoff has been pretty much flat out touring the world with Yes and Asia for the last few years. Any breaks have been filled up with other projects, including putting together some new Buggles ideas with Trevor (Horn). He is also writing film and library music.

Chris has been writing music for movies in LA, the most recent being a new animation called LEAP. He wrote “UNSTOPPABLE” for the Olympics with the artist SIA and has co-written and produced the new single for DJ Robin Schulz. He also wrote and produced a new Marc Almond album, due out next year as well as Marc’s next single “Embers.” He produced a single for Elle King for a big ad campaign featuring Kendal Jenner, and is currently scoring a movie soundtrack at his studio in LA. He has written a song for Trevor Horn called “Sky Show” for an animation he was working on. With more new ventures, Chris has had no break this year, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

To purchase:
CD: http://geni.us/DBA3
Digital:   http://geni.us/DBA3dig
LP: http://tinyurl.com/DBA3vinyl

For more information:
Official website: http://www.downesbraide.com/
Twitter: @TheRealDBAMusic

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Downes Braide Association, Press Release

2017/11/17

John Wetton & Geoff Downes’ iCon Zero Now Available on CD and Download!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

John Wetton & Geoff Downes’ iCon Zero Now Available on CD and Download!

iCon Zero is a revised presentation of the Wetton/Downes album and is a precursor to their iCon series of albums. It is essentially a collection of tracks mostly recorded in the late 1980s through the time of their brief reformation in 1990.

The original version of the album was released in 2002 and in retrospect seemed like an iCon album from a previous era, so both John and Geoff readily agreed to it being brought into the iCon family. John came up with the name Zero, and both John and Geoff approved the new front cover artwork.

The album has received a 2017 remaster and includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Geoff Downes reminisced about this time period in their joint career with these comments: Icon Zero brings back many fond memories of working with John back in the early-mid 80s. Despite being the principal writers for Asia, we both felt there was at least one other string to our bow. This manifested itself in later years as the Icon project, and this album is an insight into the inner workings of our early relationship, not just as members of Asia, but also as songwriters. These recordings were made largely at weekends when we rented demo studios to try out our ‘other’ ideas and simply – have some fun time away from the pressures of the music business. Most of these songs were put together in a few hours, and written on the fly. Then, they were recorded straight down that same day. One great aspect of this was, we always seemed came up with something new, and as the inspiration flowed it was captured there and then even in its embryonic form. 

Sadly John Wetton passed away in January 2017, but this release was already on the cards, with his Estate and Geoff Downes approving it going ahead as originally planned.

Geoff Downes had these further comments about his late bandmate: “John was a genius in every sense of the word, and I am most privileged to have been a big part of his career. The Icon project in itself stands alone as a complete cycle of our work together, and this album (Icon Zero) displays an important part of that development. The great John Wetton’s unique presence can be felt on every note and lyric of these songs. Please enjoy.”

iCon Zero will be followed by definitive edition re-releases of the subsequent three iCon albums, with bonus tracks, during 2018 with Geoff Downes’ personal approval.

To purchase John Wetton & Geoff Downes iCon Zero:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/icon0
iTunes: http://geni.us/icon0dig

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Press Release, Wetton-Downes iCon