Category Archives: Interview

2013/12/15

Front Row Features Interview with Joey Molland

By glassonyonpr

Joey Molland Return To Memphis

By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

HOLLYWOOD—Joey Molland, best known for his work with the legendary English band Badfinger, has released his fourth solo album “Return To Memphis” on UK’s Gonzo Multimedia! The CD features 10 new tracks the singer-songwriter recorded at the world famous Royal Studios in Memphis.

Signed to the Beatles’ Apple label in the late ’60s, Badfinger went on to score four consecutive worldwide hits from 1970 to 1972: “Come And Get It” (written and produced by Paul McCartney), “No Matter What,” “Day After Day” and “Baby Blue,” which recently became top downloaded song when it was used in the final scene of the finale of AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” The song’s resurgence has put Molland, the last surviving member of the Badfinger, back in the spotlight.

Other acts have scored success with Badfinger songs over the years. In 1971, a cover of the Badfinger song “Without You” by Harry Nilsson, became a number one hit on the Billboard charts. Molland, now 66, widowed and living in Minnesota, has continued to keep the Badfinger flame alight through concerts and recordings over the past 30 years. “Return To Memphis,” a mix of rock, blues, country and progressive rock was produced by Carl “Blue” Wise.

For the rest of the article and the interview, please visit the Front Row Features website!

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2013/12/09

Washington Post Carlos Santana Article Featuring Interviews with Narada Michael Walden and Bill Ortiz

By glassonyonpr

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Carlos Santana finds Kennedy Center Honors after a lifelong search for the ‘universal tone’

By David Montgomery, Friday, December 6, 2:05 PM

LAS VEGAS — Carlos Santana frowns. The look is so uncharacteristic, because this whole afternoon his expression runs consistently from beatific to boyish and back. He riffs amiably about receiving inspiration from angels and discloses secrets about his quest for the “universal tone,” about how he learned to distill longing and joy in a single note — that pristine, piercing Santana sound that’s instantly recognizable from San Francisco to Singapore.

But now he’s standing on a hotel balcony 43 stories up, where a photographer has just asked him to climb onto a table, the better to pose against the neon skyline.

The guitar player balks: “Why do I have to be put on a pedestal?”

Awkward pause.

Santana winks. He’ll do it, on the promise that the effect will not be pedestal-like.

At 66, he has an uneasy relationship with the pedestal — the one that he at once covets, disdains and sometimes doubts he deserves. The one that people want to place him upon — except when they don’t, during those dispiriting droughts when the music-buying public all but forgets him.

For the rest of the article and the interviews, please visit the Washington Post website!

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2013/12/06

Washington Post Article and Interview with Jon Anderson

By glassonyonpr

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Political strategists form bipartisan campaign to get Yes into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

By David Rowell, Published: December 5

As a GOP political strategist, John Brabender had been on countless conference calls in countless conference rooms like this one. Late Halloween afternoon, he was at the National Republican Club occupying a room the color of oatmeal. He had a dozen political heavyweights on the line, and was pacing with the steady rhythm of a sloth bear in captivity.

Brabender is best known as the top strategist on Rick Santorum’s 2012 presidential bid, though he has helped run campaigns in almost every state. Clients have included senators Tom Coburn and David Vitter and former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge.

For 18 years the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has said ‘no’ to the progressive rock band Yes. Now, two major political operatives on opposite sides of the aisle have come together to throw their weight behind the band. The Fold’s Gabe Silverman introduces you to the group and Washington’s most unlikely bipartisan push.
For 18 years the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has said ‘no’ to the progressive rock band Yes. Now, two major political operatives on opposite sides of the aisle have come together to throw their weight behind the band. The Fold’s Gabe Silverman introduces you to the group and Washington’s most unlikely bipartisan push.
But this time the client wasn’t a politician. The cause wouldn’t affect the economy, campaign financing or the environment: Brabender was leading the charge to get Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The British progressive rock group has been eligible since 1994 but has been shut out every time.

For the rest of the article and the interview, please visit the Washington Post website!

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2013/11/14

Sound & Vision Interview with Jon Anderson

By glassonyonpr

JON ANDERSON photo by Deborah Anderson.EDIT_

Original Yes Vocalist Jon Anderson
By Mike Mettler • Posted: Nov 13, 2013

“You always think your voice will never end, of course,” observes Jon Anderson, the unmistakable alto tenor fronting indelible Yes classics like “Roundabout,” “And You And I,” “Going for the One,” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” to name but a scant few of their progressive gems. About 5 years ago, Anderson’s golden voice was threatened with a health scare, but after a necessary recovery period, his singing voice is back, and stronger than ever. I can attest to that fact, having seen Anderson perform an exhilarating set accompanied only by keyboardist Rick Wakeman at New York City’s Concert Hall on October 24, 2011.
While he no longer fronts Yes, Anderson, 69, remains an undeterred spirit, forging ahead with many of his own projects, including solo tours on both land and sea, as well as putting the finishing touches on 60 minutes of new music he’s considering releasing in app form. A longtime fan of surround sound — to date, his favorite surround mix is one of the live versions of “Awaken” — Anderson says he’s especially looking forward to hearing the high-resolution 5.1 mix Steven Wilson recently did on Blu-ray for Yes’ 1972 far-reaching classic, Close to the Edge (spoiler alert: it’s mind-expandingly amazing).

Here, Anderson and I discuss why Yes music endures, the thought of Yes getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a possible new surround venture (or two). “There’s a constant flow of musical energy, and I’ve got to keep on keeping on,” he says. Who are we to say No?

Mike Mettler: You always put forth a positive vibe, no matter what’s been going on with you and around you. What do you attribute that to?

Jon Anderson: Well, there’s no point in slowing down. [chuckles] I’m very thankful for the success of my career and the potential of doing more of what I’ve done with the great musicians in Yes, as well as with artists like Vangelis and Kitaro. I worked for so many years with very, very talented people in Yes, and we were able to create music I couldn’t even dream of doing on my own. Because I was working with such talented musicians, I looked at creating longer forms of music with Steve [Howe], Richard [Rick Wakeman], Bill [Bruford], Chris [Squire], and Alan [White]. I pushed them along to do those longform pieces. Because I just felt, “Hey, the mountain is there; let’s climb it.”

For the full interview, please visit the Sound & Vision Website!

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2013/11/04

Progressive Rock Central Interview with Steve Hillage

By glassonyonpr

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Interview with Visionary Guitarist Steve Hillage
BY ANGEL ROMERO – NOVEMBER 3, 2013
POSTED IN: INTERVIEWS

British guitarist and electronic music trailblazer Steve Hillage has been at the forefront of various music trends in the past decades. He was one of the pioneers of psychedelic progressive rock and later became involved in various forms of cutting edge electronic music.
Currently, Steve Hillage continues to surprise with his new projects. The most recent is a collaboration with Japanese band Rovo. Hillage’s System 7 and Rovo have released the superbPhoenix Rising (G-Wave Records, 2013). For those interested in taking at Steve Hillage’s earlier material, Gonzo Multimedia recently released two live albums: Live at the Gong Family Unconvention 2006 at the Melkweg Amsterdam, and Steve Hillage Live In England 1979.

Steve Hillage discusses the Rovo collaboration and his other projects with Progressive Rock Central’s Angel Romero.

How did you connect with Japanese band Rovo?

We first saw Rovo at a Japanese festival in 2002 and subsequently became friends with them, partly through one of the team that do our System 7 animation videos who was also working with Rovo as a VJ. Yuji Katsui, the Rovo main man, who plays electric violin has guested on some our records in including Gong’s 2032album and our System 7 album Up. Back in 2010 we were discussing with Rovo what we could do in exchange for Yuji’s recording work, thinking they would like a remix from us or something like that. But they said “let’s do a collaborative tour together – that can be the exchange”. And we said “OK”. The eventual tour in Japan in 2011 went really well, and we found the way we managed to shift between dance rhythms and completely live stuff to be really innovative. So after the tour we decided to make an album together.

For the full interview, please visit the Progressive Rock Central website!

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2013/10/04

ABC News Radio Interview with Joey Molland

By glassonyonpr

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Badfinger’s Joey Molland Says He Was “Astounded” by “Baby Blue” Appearing in “Breaking Bad” Finale

Badfinger is enjoying a sudden resurgence in popularity thanks to the final episode of the massively popular TV series Breaking Bad, which featured the veteran power-pop group’s 1972 hit “Baby Blue” in its very last scene. The song reportedly sold close to 5,000 digital copies on Sunday, when the Breaking Bad finale aired, catapulting the tune to the top of the iTunes Store’s Top Rock Songs chart.

All this came as a big surprise to the sole surviving member of Badfinger’s classic lineup, guitarist Joey Molland, who tells ABC News Radio he had no idea that “Baby Blue” was going to appear in the now historic episode.

“One of my friends got in touch with me and told me about it,” the Liverpool native reveals. “As it happened, I was taping the show for my son Shaun…I went back and watched it afterwards. I’ve only seen bits of the show. I don’t watch a lot of telly, [to] tell you the truth, but I was astounded when I found out.”

For the rest of the article, please visit the ABC News Radio website!

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2013/09/23

Herald de Paris Interview with William Shatner

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William Shatner Ponder THe Mystery med

The William Shatner, Ponder the Mystery…

BY AL CARLOS HERNANDEZ ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

HOLLYWOOD (Herald de Paris) – Actor, director, author, singer William Shatner is best known for his roles on Boston Legal and Star Trek. He is one of the most recognizable stars working today. His distinctive voice and cadence has been the subject of many imitations, spoofs, and parodies—all contributing to his status as a pop icon and endearing him to his fans. In addition to being an Emmy Award-winning actor, he has also written numerous books, directed several projects, and even recorded a few albums.
In 1956, Shatner made his Broadway debut in Tamburlaine the Great, which was directed by Guthrie. He also found work in the emerging medium of television, appearing on such shows as the Goodyear Television Playhouse, Studio One, and Playhouse 90. Playing one of the title characters, he made his film debut in 1958′s The Brothers Karamazov with Yul Brynner.
In 1961, William had a small part in the Holocaust drama Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), playing an army captain. He had a lead part in The Intruder (1962) as a racist who fought against school integration.

For the rest of the bio and the interview, please visit the Herald de Paris website!

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2013/09/12

Rolling Stone Interview with William Shatner

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Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Q&A: William Shatner on His New Prog Rock Album and ‘Star Trek’
‘Prog rock is the science fiction of music’

By ANDY GREENE
September 11, 2013 10:00 AM ET

No matter how crazy it sounds, William Shatner’s new album Ponder the Mystery – a collection of prog rock songs paired with Shatner’s original spoken word poetry – is not a joke. It’s actually his fifth album, going all the way back to 1968’s infamous The Transformed Man. Created with former Yes guitarist Billy Sherwood, the LP (in stores on October 8th) features guest spots by Rick Wakeman, Vince Gill, Steve Vai, Robby Krieger, Mick Jones and others.

We spoke with Shatner about Ponder the Mystery as well as his thoughts on the future of Star Trek and even the upcoming Star Wars movies.

For the interview, please visit the Rolling Stone website!

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2013/09/01

Examiner.com Interview with Corky Laing

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‘Playing God’ Rock Opera CD by Corky Laing and the Perfect Child
Rating:5/5
August 30, 2013
Corky Laing Interview:

Canadian powerhouse drummer Corky Laing is essentially associated with rock and roll folklore and as one of the elite drummers in the world. Laing is a longtime member for hard rock/heavy metal giant’s Mountain and the blues-rock power trio of West, Bruce & Laing. But Laing’s musical collaborations are seemingly endless. A list that includes alliances with John Lennon, Jack Bruce, Meat Loaf, Noel Redding, Mahogany Rush, Ten Years After, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Bo Diddley and Gov’t Mule …to name a few. Laing is also a producer and composer.

Corky Laing has recently added a brand new chapter to his illustrious musical career. Laing’s most recent project is a fascinating collaboration with two internationally acclaimed professors (Prof. Matti Häyry and Dr. Tuija Takala) intermingling the decree of genetic engineering with a rock opera music scheme. The concept album entitled … Playing God is performed by the Perfect Child, an incredible ensemble of musicians and singers. At the core of the rock opera is Corky Laing who astounds instrumentally, lyrically and vocally. The album concept is brilliant and the music is colossal. It’s an awe-inspiring rock musical production and a cross between … Welcome to my Nightmare, The Wall and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

For the rest of the bio and the interview, please visit the Examiner.com website!

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2013/08/28

Herald de Paris Interview with Steve Hunter

By glassonyonpr

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HOLLYWOOD (Herald de Paris) — Stephen John Hunter, stage name Steve “The Deacon” Hunter, is an American guitarist best known for his collaborations with Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. He first played with Mitch Ryder’s Detroit, beginning a long association with record producer Bob Ezrin. Hunter suffers from pigmentary glaucoma, which has rendered him legally blind.
In the 1970′s, he appeared on five Alice Cooper albums, all of which were produced by Ezrin. His first recording with Alice Cooper was in 1973 as a session musician on the second, last, and most successful album recorded by the Alice Cooper group, Billion Dollar Babies. When Alice Cooper became a solo artist, Hunter followed and appeared on the 1975 groundbreaking album and live show Welcome to My Nightmare alongside guitarist Dick Wagner. Hunter and Wagner had already formed a formidable guitar team, as can be heard on the Lou Reed live album Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal and further demonstrated on the film Welcome To My Nightmare. Nightmare was released on home video in 1976 and featured the celebrated guitar battle between Hunter and Wagner that formed part of the Alice Cooper 1975 live show. He and Wagner also played on Peter Gabriel’s self-titled first solo album, which was likewise produced by Ezrin, in 1977. His first solo album, 1977′s critically acclaimed Swept Away, was also produced by Ezrin.

For the rest of the biography and interview, please visit the Herald de Paris website!

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