Brothers Carmine and Vinny Appice have been amongst the most recognised, most respected and most active drummers on the rock music scene for many years. For the first time they have worked together on a studio album, and they’ve enlisted the help of many of their friends in the rock world to get it completed. The album, called “Sinister” was released on 27th October 2017 through Steamhammer/SPV. It contains a mix of new tracks and classic rock tunes from their past. I featured the Dio tribute “Monsters and Heroes” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 3rd November.
Friday 3rd November saw the release of a charity version of the Byrds’ track “Turn! Turn! Turn!” to raise awareness of and funds for prostate cancer charities. The track was recorded by a group of Australian rock artists, including members of Electric Mary, Tequila Mockingbyrd, Baby Animals, The Screaming Jets and Massive. One in Seven is a charity musical project coordinated by Josie O’Toole (drummer in Tequila Mockingbyrd), who was inspired to do something following her father’s recent battle with the disease. The rocked up version of the song features over 20 vocalists, six drummers, six guitarists and three bassists.
Read more: NEWS UPDATE - ONE IN SEVEN Charity Single for Prostate Cancer
When possible I try to check out musicians or bands that follow or contact one of the NI Rocks or Rock Radio NI social media pages – but to be honest I don’t do so as often as I should! One of those occasions when I did led me to the symphonic / gothic rock band Coburg and when I checked out their music I liked what I heard. I contacted the band and they were good enough to send me their debut album “The Enchantress” which they were self-releasing on 27th October. I played the track “A Cold Day In Hell” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 29th Sept and “Thy Dagger” is featured on the Show this week.
Hardcore Superstar are currently on a European tour alongside Fozzy and support from Madame Mayhem and The Last Band. When they played The Limelight in Belfast on 29th October I took the opportunity to do a quick interview with lead singer Jocke. The band have just released a new single, “Have Mercy On Me”, ahead of the release of a new album to be called “You Can’t Kill My Rock n Roll” in early 2018. You can find that interview on the Friday NI Rocks Show from 3rd November which is now available from the MixCloud page - https://www.mixcloud.com/NIRocks/interview-with-jocke-from-hardcore-superstar-on-the-friday-ni-rocks-show-on-3rd-nov-2017/
Read more: NI ROCKS Interview with JOCKE BERG from HARDCORE SUPERSTAR