Maps to the Hollywood Scars is a project that features former American Idol contestant James Durbin and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi. They released an EP simply entitled “Volume One” on 17th February, just a matter of weeks before it was revealed that Durbin would be taking over the lead vocalist position in Quiet Riot. I played the track “Till Death” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 24th February.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Volume 1" by MAPS TO THE HOLLYWOOD SCARS
Early on the morning of St Patrick’s Day, I found myself on Skype talking to someone in Australia who I’d previously only ever seen on a stage in Belfast over 28 years ago; when his band were supporting Kiss. Jeff Hoad, the former front-man of Kings of the Sun has returned with new music from The Rich and Famous – the band he and his brother Clifford had originally formed after the demise of the Kings of the Sun.
The interview with Jeff was originally broadcast on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 24th March and that Show can now be heard on our MixCloud site - https://www.mixcloud.com/NIRocks/interviews-with-jeff-hoad-and-james-durbin-on-the-friday-ni-rocks-show-on-24th-march/
The interview has been transcribed and posted below.
Our second guest on the Show is former American Idol contestant James Durbin who was recently revealed as the new Quiet Riot vocalist.
Read more: NI ROCKS Interview with JEFF HOAD from THE RICH AND FAMOUS
Tokyo Motor Fist brings together Ted Poley from Danger Danger and Steve Brown of Trixter. Frontiers Records are the undisputed masters of making such collaborations happen and not surprisingly, they are behind this one too. The self-titled debut album was released on 24th February. The track “Pickin Up The Pieces” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 3rd March.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Tokyo Motor Fist" by TOKYO MOTOR FIST
“Close to the Sun” is the fourth album from Place Vendome, the project fronted by former Helloween singer Michael Kiske, and it was released via Frontiers Records on 24th February. Once again it sees Kiske collaborating with a wide range of song-writers and artists and delivering some great AOR / Melodic Rock tracks. The title track was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 3rd March.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Close To the Sun" by PLACE VENDOME