Tim "Ripper" Owens Solo Album

Powerhouse American heavy metal vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) will release his first solo album, "Play My Game", in May via SPV/Steamhammer. The offering consists of around a dozen brand-new tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Mike Callahan (ex-EARSHOT) and John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).

The list of guest musicians featured on Owens' solo debut is even more spectacular:

Guitar:

Bob Kulick
Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA)
Mike Callahan (ex-EARSHOT)
John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).
Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE)
Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE)
Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE)
Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL)

Bass:

Marco Mendoza (ex-WHITESNAKE)
Billy Sheehan (MR BIG, ex-DAVID LEE ROTH)
Dave Ellefson (ex-MEGADETH)
Rudy Sarzo (DIO, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT)
James Lomenzo (MEGADETH)
Tony Franklin (ex-BLUE MURDER)
Dennis Hayes (BEYOND FEAR)

Drums:

Simon Wright (DIO, ex-AC/DC)
Vinny Appice (HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO)
Ray Luzier (KORN, DAVID LEE ROTH)
Bobby Jarzombek (SEBASTIAN BACH, RIOT, ex-HALFORD)
Brett Chassen

Fans and experts alike will love this sensational all-star lineup and may rest assured that the haunting songs will effortlessly live up to this illustrious cast of musicians: Tim "Ripper" Owens has never sounded more impressive, melodic and multi-faceted!

"I've gotten better as a songwriter," Owens explains. "And I also write songs that the fans can really get into and get their fist pounding in the air. I've always been a great fan of the BLACK SABBATH lineup featuring Ronnie James Dio, and I love JUDAS PRIEST. Both bands delivered records that are straightforward and go directly to the bloodstream — which also happens to be my compositional approach."

"Play My Game" will be released on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: May 15
Rest of Europe: May 18
USA, Canada: May 19


Samples of "American Soldier"

Audio samples of all 12 tracks that appear on QUEENSRŸCHE's upcoming album, "American Soldier", are available for streaming at Rhino.com.


Delux 3-Disc Edition of Paranoid to be Released

On April 6, Universal Music in the U.K. will release the deluxe expanded edition of BLACK SABBATH's classic "Paranoid album.

"Paranoid" is the first release in a set of BLACK SABBATH deluxe expanded editions. Each remastered album includes an additional disc of previously unheard outtakes, demos and instrumental tracks taken from the original studio sessions.

"Paranoid" is expanded to a triple-disc containing the extremely rare 1974 Quadraphonic mix of the album. The album also includes deluxe digipak gatefold packaging with expanded booklets containing rare and previously unseen photographs, comprehensive sleeve-notes telling the story behind each album and include images of rare single covers and memorabilia from the period.

"Paranoid" is the second album by the British heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH. It was released in the United Kingdom during September 1970, and contains some of their most famous work, including the songs "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track. The album is regarded as a classic of the heavy metal genre and one of the most influental heavy metal albums. It has been certified four-times-platinum, having sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone, making it BLACK SABBATH's best-selling album.

The "Paranoid" single, released before the album, reached No. 4 in the U.K. Pushed by its success, the album hit number one in the U.K., and is the only BLACK SABBATH album to have done so. The U.S. release was held until January 1971, as the "Black Sabbath" album was still on the charts at the time of "Paranoid"'s U.K. release. The album broke into the top ten in the U.S. in March 1971, and would go on to sell four million copies in the U.S. alone, with virtually no radio airplay.

"Paranoid" deluxe expanded edition track listing:

Disc 1 (Original Album):

01. War Pigs
02. Paranoid
03. Planet Caravan
04. Iron Man
05. Electric Funeral
06. Hand Of Doom
07. Rat Salad
08. Fairies Wear Boots

Disc 2 (1974 Quadrophonic Mix):

01. War Pigs
02. Paranoid
03. Planet Caravan
04. Iron Man
05. Electric Funeral
06. Hand Of Doom
07. Rat Salad
08. Fairies Wear Boots

Disc 3 (Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks):

Tracks 1-8 recorded at Regent Sound Studios, June 16-17, 1970:

01. War Pigs (instrumental)
02. Paranoid (alternative lyrical version)
03. Planet Caravan (alternative lyrical version)
04. Iron Man (instrumental)
05. Electric Funeral (instrumental)
06. Hand Of Doom (instrumental)
07. Rat Salad (instrumental)
08. Fairies Wear Boots (instrumental)


New Oldschool Live Testament Album to Be Released

Prosthetic Records has set an April 14 release date for "Live at Eindhoven '87", a complete recording of TESTAMENT's performance at the 1987 edition of the Dynamo Open Air festival. A metal history lesson of the highest order, "Live at Eindhoven '87" sees the group's original lineup — vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Louie Clemente — at their absolute hungriest.

"Live at Eindhoven '87" track listing:

01. Disciples of the Watch
02. The Haunting
03. Apocalyptic City
04. First Strike Is Deadly
05. Burnt Offerings
06. Alex Skolnick Guitar Solo
07. Over The Wall
08. Do Or Die
09. Curse of the Legion of Death (C.O.T.L.O.D.)
10. Reign of Terror

Before Wacken, there was Dynamo.

For 20 years, the Dynamo Open Air festival — originally held in 1986 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, Holland — was one of metal's most important annual events, peaking in 1995 when 118,000 fans packed the grounds of an abandoned Dutch military airport to see four dozen acts play on three different stages over three June days.

In 1987, though, Dynamo was still in its infancy. For that matter, so was the performer who would leave the biggest mark on the event that year — Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT. After their debut album, "The Legacy", made instant waves worldwide, the group was invited to make their European debut at the second Dynamo festival.

After a "warm-up" show at the 300-capacity Dynamo club the night before, TESTAMENT took the stage on a rainy June 8, 1987 and floored the 14,000 fans in attendance with an aggressive, fiery 45-minute set that showcased much of the material on "The Legacy". Five songs from their performance were captured on the EP "Live at Eindhoven", which was issued as a cassette and a 12" LP. However, the band's full set was never released officially — until now.

Featuring a stunning remastered sound, new artwork by Carson Slovak (CENTURY, ALL THAT REMAINS, ANTAGONIST) and liner notes by Skolnick, "Live at Eindhoven '87" is a must-have for TESTAMENT fans both old and new. Excerpts from the album's liner notes can currently be viewed on Skolnick's Skolnotes blog, while the above-mentioned version of "Disciples of the Watch" can be heard at this location. The Prosthetic Webshop is offering $12 pre-orders.

In addition to recently re-releasing TESTAMENT's 1997 album "Demonic" — hailed as "the most evil-sounding album of their career" (AMG) — and 1999's "The Gathering" (praised by Metal Hammer as the most important metal album of the late '90s), as well as the 2001 re-recordings collection "First Strike Still Deadly", Prosthetic has also just reissued "Demonic" and "The Gathering" on gatefold, etched double-vinyl. Strictly limited to 1,000 copies each, each pressing also includes 100 colored LPs (gold for "The Gathering", red for "Demonic"). 




Duff McKagan Interview