Poetry, stories and strange odds and ends from the desk of a writer
Disturbed is a heavy metal band from Chicago, formed in 1994. The line-up includes David Draiman on vocals, guitarist/keyboardist Dan Donegan, John Moyer on bass, and drummer Mike Wengren. With sales over 17 million they are one of the most successful bands of the modern era alongside Slipknot and Godsmack. The band has released seven studio albums, five consecutively debuting at number one on the Billboard 200...
Gary Numan is a singer, musician, songwriter, composer, and record producer. He began his career in the music industry as the frontman for Tubeway Army. In 1979, Numan started his solo career with the album The Pleasure Principle...
‘Get the Party Started’ is the first single released from the album ‘Missundaztood’ by P!nk. An international hit, it reached the top ten in many countries, peaking at number one in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Romania, Spain, and Wallonia. In 2003, the song ranked at 185 in Q Magazines 1001 Best songs, and in 2019, number one in About.com’s The Top 100 Best Party Songs of All Time...
Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light To chase a feather in the wind Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight There moves a thread that has no end...
Five Finger Death Punch is a heavy metal band from Nevada formed in 2005. They are recipients of many awards including RadioContraband Rock Radio Award for Indie Artist of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. To date their discography consists of eight studio albums, one live album, a compilation album and 30 singles...
April come she will When streams are ripe and swelled with rain May, she will stay Resting in my arms again...
From the 1973 album ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’ ‘Us and Them’ was written by Wright and Waters and sung by Gilmour. At almost 8 minutes long the song is the longest on the album. Released as the second single from the album it reached number 72 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart and number 85 in the Canadian chart...
The Electric Light Orchestra, better known as ELO, formed in 1970 in Birmingham UK by the songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their sound is characterised by its fusion of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and iconic futuristic sounds...
Meat Loaf is a singer and actor, noted for his powerful voice and theatrical live shows. His Bat Out of Hell trilogy of albums, consisting of Bat Out of Hell, Batt Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose, has sold over 50 million worldwide. 40+ years after release, Bat Out of Hell consistently sells 200,000 copies a year. Nonetheless Meat Loaf has had trouble establishing a steady career in the USA and the key to his success if continued iconic status and popularity in Europe, especially the UK. Meat Loaf has appeared in over 50 movies and TV shows., either as himself or as characters reflecting is stage persona. Notable roles include Eddie in The Rock Horror Picture Show, and Bob Paulson in Fight Club...
Gary Numan is a singer, musician, songwriter, composer, and record producer. He began his career in the music industry as the frontman for Tubeway Army. In 1979, Numan started his solo career with the album The Pleasure Principle...
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and songwriter Steve Harris. The band’s discography to date includes 39 albums, 4 EPs, and 7 compilations. Pioneers of the resurgence of British heavy metal, Iron Maiden achieved their initial success during the early 1980s. They are considered one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history...
Metallica is a heavy metal band, formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by James Hetfield (vocalist/guitarist) and Lars Ulrich (drummer). The band’s fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the big four bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeath, Anthrax and Slayer. The current line-up consists of the founding members and primary songwriters Hetfield and Ulrich, Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist) and Robert Trujillo (bassist)...
Guns N’ Roses is a hard rock band from California, USA and formed in 1985. The current line-up consists of Axl Rose as vocalist, Slash as lead guitarist, Duff McKagan on bass, Dizzy Reed on keyboards, guitarist Steven Adler, Frank Ferrer on drums and keyboardist Melissa Reese. The band’s rebellious hedonism in their early years drew comparisons with the early Rolling Stones ...
One of the most successful bands of the 1980’s, Duran Duran are a new wave band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The group were a leading band in the Second British Invasion of the US charts in the 1980s. Along with bands Spandau Ballet and Visage, Duran Duran were part of the New Romantic scene. The introduction of 24-hour music through MTV catapulted the band into the video age...
Benson is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. At 21 he began a professional career as a jazz guitarist. Like gypsy jazz player he uses a rest-stroke picking technique on the guitar...
Black Sabbath were a rock band formed in Birmingham, UK, in 1968 by Tony Iommi (guitarist), Bill Ward (drummer), Geezer Butler (bassist) and Ozzy Osbourne (vocalist). Cited as pioneers of the heavy metal the band helped define the genre
To raise money for the Live Aid Famine Relief in 1985, Bowie and Jagger recorded a hit cover version of ‘Dancing in the Street.’ Initially the plan was to perform the track live, Bowie at Wembley Stadium and Jagger as John F. Kennedy Stadium, however, neither artist was willing to mime and the time delay of the satellite link-up made it impossible...
Celtic Frost were an extreme metal bad from Zurich. Formed as Hellhammer in 1981, the band became Celtic Frost in 1984 and were a strong influence on the development of extreme metal...
Formed in London in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, the Kinks are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. Emerging from the height of British rhythm and blues and Merseybeat, they were briefly part of the British Invasion of the United States. Influenced by a wide range of genres they gained a reputation for reflecting the English culture and lifestyle...
You Could Be Mine featured on Guns N’ Roses’ fourth album Use Your Illusion II. It was released as the bands seventh single in June 1991...
From Kitee, Finland, Nightwish are a symphonic metal band formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. Drummer Jukka Nevallainen and bassist Sami Vänskä joined after the release of their debut album, Angel Fall First. Marco Hietala replaced Vänskä in 2001 and took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest artists. Turunen left the ban in 2005 and in 2007 Anette Olzon joined as female vocalist...
Sweet are a British glam rock band that reached worldwide fame in the 1970s. Originally called Sweetshop the band consisted of Brian Connolly on lead vocals, guitarist Andy Scott, Steve Priest on bass and drummer Mick Tucker. Formed in London in 1968 their first hit was ‘Funny Funny’ in 1971. The group’s last international success was ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’ in 1978. Connolly left the group to pursue a solo career in 1979 and the remaining members disbanded in 1981. Connolly died in 1997 and Tucker in 2002, Scott and Priest are still active in the UK and US respectively...
Blondie is a rock band founded by vocalist Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein and were pioneers of the American punk scene and the following new wave scene of the mid-1970s in New York. Their first two albums reflected strong elements of the genres...
Adam and the Ants were a rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1880s. The group lasted from 1977 to 1982 and existed in two incarnations both fronted by Adam Ant. The first incarnation, May 1977 to November 1977, achieved a cult following during the transition from punk rock to new wave...
The Beatles were a rock band formed in 1960 in Liverpool. The band’s best-know line-up comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr and are regarded as one of the most influential groups of all time and an integral part of the 1960’ s counterculture. The Beatles were pioneers in recording, song writing, and artistic presentation revolutionising the music industry...
Formed in London in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, the Kinks are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. Emerging from the height of British rhythm and blues and Merseybeat, they were briefly part of the British Invasion of the United States. Influenced by a wide range of genres they gained a reputation for reflecting the English culture and lifestyle....
Pantera was a heavy metal band from Texas, formed in 1981. The best-known line-up was the Abbot brothers – drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell – vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown...
One of the most successful bands of the 1980’s, Duran Duran are a new wave band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The group were a leading band in the Second British Invasion of the US charts...
AC/DC are a rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by the Scottish brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. The band went through several line-up changes before releasing their debut album ‘High Voltage’ in 1975. Lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died in 1980 and the group considered disbanding. Instead, Brian Johnson was brought in and the band released the album ‘Back in Black’ in Scott’s memory...
An American rock band, The Knack were based in Los Angeles and rose to fame with their first single ‘My Sharona in 1979. The band consisted of Doug Fieger (lead vocalist), Berton Averre (lead guitar, backing vocals and keyboards), Bruce Gary (drums), and Prescott Niles (bass guitar)...
Manfred Mann were a rock band formed in London, UK in 1962. Named after their keyboard player, who later led the successful 1970’s group Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, the band had two lead vocalists, Paul Jones 1962-66 and Mike d’Abo 1966-69...
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and songwriter Steve Harris...
AC/DC are a rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by the Scottish brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. The band went through several line-up changes before releasing their debut album ‘High Voltage’ in 1975...
Randy Wieland, better known as Ran-D, is a Dutch DJ and music producer...
The Electric Light Orchestra, better known as ELO, formed in 1970 in Birmingham UK by the songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood ...
