Happy Birthday GAVIN ROSSDALE (video)

 #gavinrossdale #bush #rockfileradio

Gavin McGregor Rossdale (born 30 October 1965) is an English musician and actor, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush. Following Bush's separation in 2002, which lasted for eight years, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Institute, and later began a solo career. When performing solo, Gavin plays songs from his extensive musical libraries. Rossdale has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader (#75).

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday DAVE WYNDORF (video)

#davewyndorf #monstermagnet #rockfileradio

David "Dave" Albert Wyndorf (born: October 28, 1956) is the songwriter, lead vocalist, and a guitarist for the American rock group Monster Magnet. He is the frontman and only remaining original member of the band. He is also an occasional guest on the podcast "Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!".

During most part of the 1990s, Wyndorf and his band struggled for commercial success which they couldn't obtain because of their highly unfashionable retro-rock style. This changed in 1998, when Wyndorf took a 21 day trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, from which he drew inspiration to write the songs for Powertrip, which would be Monster Magnet's breakthrough album. His life following the release of Powertrip was his inspiration for God Says No.

Wyndorf travelled to Los Angeles, California to work for the soundtrack of the movie Torque, which was entirely composed by him. During his stay in LA, he found inspiration for Monolithic Baby!, Monster Magnet's 2004 album.

source: wikipedia

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Remembering SCOTT WEILAND on his birthday (video)

 #scottweiland #stonetemplepilots #velvetrevolver #rockfileradio

Scott Weiland (born Scott Richard Kline, October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015) is an American musician, lyricist and vocalist. During a career spanning three decades, Weiland is best known as the former frontman for the successful rock band Stone Temple Pilots, as well as the supergroup Velvet Revolver from 2003 to 2008. He has also established himself as a solo artist, releasing three studio albums, a cover album, and collaborations with several other musicians since 1995.

Weiland's onstage persona is known as being flamboyant and chaotic; he is also known for constantly changing his appearance and vocal style, as well as his use of a megaphone in concert for vocal effect. Widely viewed as a talented and versatile vocalist, Weiland has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader (No. 57).

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday K. K. DOWNING (video)

#kkdowning #judaspriest #rockfileradio

Kenneth "K. K." Downing, Jr. (born 27 October 1951) is an English semi-retired Grammy Award winning guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the British heavy metal band Judas Priest.

Downing was born in West Bromwich. He was kicked out of his home at 15 and dropped out of school soon afterward. In the late 1960s, Kenneth discovered rock music and the guitar. He is a mostly self-taught guitarist. "He was heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, after whom he modelled his playing style.". Records by popular artists which have influenced Downing as a musician include, "Are You Experienced", "Axis Bold As Love", "Electric Ladyland" by Jimi Hendrix, "A Hard Road" by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and "Fresh Cream" by Cream. Downing played on every Judas Priest album from Rocka Rolla to A Touch of Evil: Live.

Downing started his first band between the age of 17 and 18 with his second cousin Brian Badhams on bass guitar (now with The Elkie Brooks Band) and drummer Martin Philips. The trio "mainly jammed a few Cream songs and a few 12-bar blues". Downing played guitar with the band after winning a coin toss with his cousin Brian "in his bedroom to see who would play guitar or bass".

Prior to joining Judas Priest, Downing went to catering college and worked as trainee chef at the Lyttelton Arms in Hagley.

Downing has been noted for his aggressive, rock influenced guitar solos and dual leads with fellow Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton. His solos remained of this style for most of his career, but he incorporated various techniques into his playing over the years. As opposed to Tipton, his solos tended to incorporate a more raw, rough-edged sound, making use of techniques like pinch harmonics, dive bombs, and tremolo picking, and often focus on speed, technical accuracy and melody. Although the two would switch roles, Downing's usual job on Judas Priest songs was as the rhythm guitarist with Tipton playing solos (the band's signature song "You Got Another Thing Comin'" is an example of such). From Stained Class onward, Tipton came to increasingly dominate Judas Priest's songwriting, particular on the more commercial tracks and Downing's role in the band started to diminish, especially as the former's songs comprised the vast majority of live setlists after 1980. In 1978, Tipton began to incorporate tapping into his playing, which Downing began to use as well. By 1990, both guitarists started to use the complex technique of sweep-picking, which can be notably heard on the title track of their 1990 album Painkiller. Both have continuously used these techniques ever since.

In Judas Priest's early years, Downing made common use of the wah-wah pedal (for instance, on Victim of Changes and Sinner), but began to limit his use of it in the late '70s, and had abandoned use of it by the mid-'80s, save for during live performances of the songs that originally featured it. The only time since then that he renewed use of it was in 1996, when vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens joined the band, and they began to experiment with their music more than before. One of these experimentations was the renewal of wah-wah in Downing's playing, which can be heard on their 1997 album Jugulator. This experimentation was taken further on their next album with Owens, 2001's Demolition, but was once more abandoned when the band's former vocalist, Rob Halford, returned to the band. However, Downing used a wah-wah pedal on his last few tours with the band.

Downing officially left Judas Priest on 20 April 2011. An official press release was issued by the band. In an interview with online music publication, Guitarhoo!, Downing spoke on his leaving the band, "There had been an on-going breakdown in working relationships between myself, elements of the band and management for some time". Downing stated that there were at least "21 reasons" why he decided to quit but refused to go into specific detail about them.

The band continued with Richie Faulkner as Downing's replacement.

source: wikipedia

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JUDAS PRIEST New Album and Tour 2018

JUDAS PRIEST SET TO LAUNCH ‘FIREPOWER 2018’ NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

One of heavy metal’s most legendary acts will be hitting the road in 2018 in support of their new studio album, ‘Firepower.’ The ‘Judas Priest: Firepower 2018 Tour’ will kick off on March 13th in Pennsylvania, and wrap up on May 1st in Texas.

The new album (which was produced by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom) is due in early 2018 and the tour will feature the line-up of singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. 

All dates will be running a “Judas Priest Fan Presale” starting Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 at 10:00 A.M local time with the password: FIREPOWER that fans can use to purchase tickets in advance. Check the local venue for additional information.

There are few heavy metal bands that have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest have during their 40 year career - originally formed during the early '70s in Birmingham, England, Judas Priest is responsible for some of the genre's most influential and landmark albums (1980's 'British Steel,' 1982's 'Screaming for Vengeance,' 1990's 'Painkiller,' etc.) and for decades have been one of the greatest live bands in the entire heavy metal genre including an iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985 - they also brought metal to the masses by their appearance on American Idol in 2011 - plus Judas Priest were one of the first metal bands to exclusively wear leather and studs -  a look that began during this era and was eventually embraced by metal fans throughout the world! And in 2017, the band was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

And come 2018, North American headbangers will get the opportunity to experience the mighty Priest on a nearby concert stage!

Confirmed tour dates:

                                  3/13/2018 Wilkes Barre, PA  Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza 

3/15/2018 Youngstown, OH  Covelli Centre 

   3/17/2018 Uniondale, NY  Nassau Coliseum 

3/18/2018 Washington, DC  The Anthem 

         3/20/2018 Newark, NJ  Prudential Center 

       3/22/2018 Uncasville, CT  Mohegan Sun Arena 

   3/25/2018 Ottawa, ON  The Arena at TD Place 

3/27/2018 London, ON  Budweiser Gardens 

3/28/0208 Oshawa, ON  Tribute Communities Centre 

3/30/2018 Orillia, ON  Casino Rama

3/31/2018 Detroit, MI  Detroit Masonic Temple 

  4/3/2018 Milwaukee, WI  Riverside Theater 

  4/5/2018 Green Bay, WI  Resch Center 

  4/8/2018 Bloomington, IL  Grossinger Motors Arena 

4/10/2018 Casper, WY  Casper Events Center 

4/11/2018 Loveland, CO  Budweiser Events Center 

4/15/2018 Kent, WA  ShoWare Center 

4/17/2018 Portland, OR  Veterans Memorial Coliseum 

4/19/2018 San Francisco  The Warfield 

4/22/2018 Los Angeles, CA  Microsoft Theater 

4/24/2018 Phoenix, AZ  Comerica Theatre

4/26/2018 Tulsa, OK  BOK Center 

4/28/2018 Dallas, TX  The Bomb Factory 

4/29/2018 Sugarland, TX  Smart Financial Centre

  5/1/2018 San Antonio, TX  Freeman Coliseum

source: www.chipsterpr.com

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Happy Birthday ROBERT TRUJILLO (video)

#roberttrujillo #metallica #rockfileradio

Robert Trujillo (born October 23, 1964) is an American bassist known for his role as the current bassist of American heavy metal band Metallica. He also was a member of crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, funk metal supergroup Infectious Grooves, heavy metal band Black Label Society (formed by Zakk Wylde), and he has worked with Jerry Cantrell from the rock band Alice in Chains, and Ozzy Osbourne.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday BOBBY BLOTZER (video)

#bobbyblotzer #ratt #rockfileradio

Robert John "Bobby" Blotzer (born October 22, 1958 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American musician best known for playing drums for glam metal band Ratt. He attended Torrance High School in Torrance California along with his Ratt bandmate Juan Croucier.

Blotzer began his career as Ratt's drummer in 1982 after he was recruited by Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy in place of Khurt Maier (Max Havoc, Salty Dog). Blotzer, along with bassist Tom Croucier, older brother of Juan Croucier, had previously played with noted Italian/Swiss guitarist Vic Vergeat, including a tour of the U.S. behind Vergeat's 1981 solo album Down to the Bone. Blotzer helped Ratt achieve multi-platinum success by selling five consecutive platinum albums during the 1980s. Ratt is most famous for their classic glam metal album Out of the Cellar and song "Round and Round".

At the beginning of the 1990s Ratt's popularity waned as grunge bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam came into the mainstream and pop metal bands were no longer in vogue. Ratt called it quits in 1992, and Blotzer started a more normal life outside the public eye.

Five years later Ratt reformed and toured once again. In 2000 Stephen Pearcy apparently quit the group, and shortly thereafter Bobby had exhibited an extreme dislike for Pearcy, who had sued the band for continuing under the "Ratt" name and claimed the band ruined their worldwide deal with Sony. Blotzer heavily denied the claims and said they were a bunch of "pathologic lies", adding that Pearcy was a "sick person". Blotzer and Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini subsequently won the court case to use the "Ratt" name.

In 2002 former Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby lost his battle with AIDS, which marked one of the most painful parts of Blotzer's life. Blotzer posted a message to his late bandmate affectionately referred to as "The King" by fans on the group's official web site and called Crosby "one of the most kind hearted, the most compassionate, intelligent, talented" people he had ever known. In 2007 Stephen Pearcy reunited with the group, thus putting an end to the tensions between the two. 

In 2010 Blotzer released an auto-biographical book called Tales of A Ratt - Things You Shouldn't Know.

On September 2, 2012 it was announced Bobby would be joining Geoff Tate's lineup formed after his dismissal from Queensrÿche, but he left on January 25, 2013 to return playing with Ratt.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday LESLIE WEST (video)

#lesliewest #mountain #rockfileradio

Leslie West (born Leslie Weinstein, October 22, 1945) is an American rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is best known as a founding member of the hard rock band Mountain.

West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, New York, Forest Hills, New York and Lawrence, New York. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West. His musical career began with The Vagrants, an R&B/Blue-eyed soul-rock band influenced by the likes of The Rascals that was one of the few teenage garage rock acts to come out of the New York metropolitan area itself (as opposed to the Bohemian Greenwich Village scene of artists, poets and affiliates of the Beat Generation, which produced bands like The Fugs and The Velvet Underground). The Vagrants had two minor hits in the Eastern US: 1966's "I Can't Make a Friend" and a cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" the following year.

Some of the Vagrants' recordings were produced by Felix Pappalardi, who was also working with Cream on their album Disraeli Gears. In 1969, West and Pappalardi formed the pioneering hard rock act Mountain, which was also the title of West's debut solo album. Rolling Stone identified the band as a "louder version of Cream". With Steve Knight on keyboards and original drummer N. D. Smart, the band appeared on the second day of the Woodstock Festival on Saturday, August 16, 1969 starting an 11-song set at 9PM.

The band's original incarnation saw West and Pappalardi sharing vocal duties and playing guitar and bass, respectively. New drummer Corky Laing joined the band shortly after Woodstock. They had success with "Mississippi Queen", which reached No. 21 on the Billboard charts and No. 4 in Canada. It was followed by the Jack Bruce-penned "Theme For an Imaginary Western". Mountain is one of the bands considered to be forerunners of heavy metal music.

After Pappalardi left Mountain to concentrate on various production projects, West and Laing produced two studio albums and a live release with Cream bassist Jack Bruce under the name West, Bruce and Laing. Mountain reformed in 1973 only to break up again in late 1974. But since 1981 it has continued to reform, tour and record on a regular basis.

West, along with keyboard player Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat & Tears, recorded with The Who during the March 1971 Who's Next New York sessions. Tracks included a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Baby Don't You Do It," and early versions of "Love Ain't For Keepin'" and The Who's signature track "Won't Get Fooled Again". Though the tracks were not originally included on the album (recording restarted in England a few months later without West or Kooper), they appear as bonus tracks on the 1995 and 2003 reissues of Who's Next and on the 1998 reissue of Odds & Sods.

Leslie West teamed up with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame, to co-write and play guitar on the song "Hang Me Out To Dry" from the Gillan album "ToolBox," released in Europe in 1991.

West contributed the music and co-wrote the lyrics to the song "Immortal" on Clutch's 2001 album Pure Rock Fury, which was a reworked cover of the song "Baby I'm Down" on Leslie West's first album.

In 2005 he contributed to Ozzy Osbourne's Under Cover album, performing guitar on a remake of "Mississippi Queen"

In addition to fronting Mountain, West continues to record and perform on his own. His latest solo album, entitled Blue Me, was released in 2006 on the Blues Bureau International label. In 2007 Mountain released Masters of War on Big Rack Records, an album featuring 12 Bob Dylan covers that sees Ozzy Osbourne providing guest vocals on a rendition of the title track.

West was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006.

Johnny Ramone, a fan of West, has called him, "one of the top five guitar players of his era".

West was affectionately nicknamed "The King of Tone" by his legions of fans, referring to his influential and world-renowned guitar tone. West was also nicknamed "The Fattest Fingers in Rock N' Roll", due to his large build.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday JOHN CONNOLLY (video)

#johnconnolly #sevendust #rockfileradio

John Connolly was born on October 21, 1968 in New Jersey. Connolly was drummer for the band Piece Dogs. He then joined Sevendust for rhythm guitar and has recorded with the band on all their releases to date. Connolly is also one of the primary songwriters for Sevendust. He is known for his fire designed custom made Les Paul guitar designed by Epiphone, but has since switched to Dean Guitars. 

In 1988, John Connolly with vocalist Greg Anderson, guitarist Mike Grimmett, bassist Kyle Sanders start a new band called Piece Dogs in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1992 Connolly with the band released a LP album titled "Exes for Eyes" through Energy Records. He was in the band as an original drummer. The band genre was power and thrash metal. Piece Dogs disbanded several months after releasing the album.

After Piece Dogs, Connolly joined the American heavy metal band Sevendust as a rhythm guitarist. His new band released the self-titled Sevendust in 1997. Two years later they released the album Home. Their third studio album was titled Animosity, and their fourth was titled Seasons. In 2004, for the first time in the band's career, they released a live album on a CD–DVD double-disk package titled Southside Double-Wide: Acoustic Live. Since guitarist Clint Lowery left in 2004 and returned in 2008 (Sonny Mayo was Clint Lowery's replacement), John Connolly had been the lead guitarist. In 2005, the band released their fifth studio album Next which included the single "Ugly." Alpha was the sixth album released by the band. Their seventh studio release was Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow, which was released on April 1, 2008. The bands eighth album titled Cold Day Memory was released on April 20, 2010. Cold Day Memory is the band's eighth studio album, and is the highest charted album for the band in their career. The latest album, Black Out the Sun was released on March 26, 2013.

Human is the debut album by American hard rock band Projected. It was released on September 18, 2012. Initially envisioned as a solo project by founder John Connolly, the project eventually grew into a full-fledged band involving a number of musicians that he had intentions of working with, namely Scott Phillips of Creed and Alter Bridge, and Eric Friedman of Submersed. The album received generally positive reception but limited public exposure, as little promotion of the album in the way of touring was possible due to members' commitments to their respective bands.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday JON CARIN (video)

#joncarin #pinkfloyd #rogerwaters #rockfileradio

Jon Carin (born October 21, 1964, in New York City, New York) is a producer, artist and musician best known for his association with Pink Floyd, and more specifically its guitarist David Gilmour and former member Roger Waters over the last twenty eight years. In the early 1980s, he gained fame as the front-man for the band Industry. During his time with Industry, the band had a breakthrough single "State of the Nation" in 1983 and was followed by the successful album Stranger to Stranger.

As a teenager, Jon Carin started his professional musical career for the band Industry as their lead singer, keyboardist, and writer. In 1983, he was asked by Industry's producer Rhett Davies to work with Bryan Ferry for his Boys and Girls album. Later in 1985, he joined Bryan Ferry at Live Aid to perform and met Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour.

That year, Jon Carin would collaborate as musician and writer for Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason album as a keyboardist and programmer. He is a writer for hit song "Learning to Fly" from that album, their first hit song since the departure of Roger Waters. He participated in the support tour for the album and appeared on the 1988 Pink Floyd double live album, Delicate Sound of Thunder. In 1992, Carin participated for the recording of the soundtrack for La Carrera Panamericana. In 1994, Jon Carin played keyboards, synthesizers, arranged and programmed for Pink Floyd's The Division Bell album. He also participated on The Division Bell support tour and was featured on the Pulse CD and DVD.

Carin performed with The Who, playing Quadrophenia in its entirety in the summer of 1996, at London's Hyde Park; this led on to an extensive tour throughout much of 1996/97. On August 16, 1998 he produced and played keyboards and drums for Pete Townshend for a concert to raise money for the Maryville Academy. In 1999, a CD of this concert was released that Carin produced.

Throughout the summers of the late 1990s and early 2000s (decade), he was on tour with former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters for his In the Flesh tour. This makes him one of few musicians who has played with both Roger Waters and Pink Floyd after Waters' departure from the band. In October 2001, he performed with The Who at The Concert for New York City, a tribute concert to the lives lost on September 11. In January 2002, a recording of the tribute was released on CD and DVD.

He performed with Pink Floyd at their reunion with Roger Waters on July 2, 2005 for Live 8 at Hyde Park. In 2005, A 3-disc DVD recording of The Who's 1996 performance of Quadrophenia was released. He played with David Gilmour in the 2006 tour in support of On an Island. From June 2006, he played on Roger Waters The Dark Side of the Moon Live tour, with dates in 2007 and 2008.

Carin has worked with Amnesty International, Greenpeace, 4 Seasons of Hope for fundraising events playing with Seal, Elvis Costello, The Chieftains, Spinal Tap, and many others.

He produced, wrote and arranged The Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler's 2006 solo album called Richard Butler on Koch Records that was dedicated to his father, Dr. Arthur A. Carin. Carin played all of the instruments on the album, and produced and engineered the album as well.

Carin performed on keyboards, guitar and lead vocals with Roger Waters at the "Live Earth: The Concert for a Climate in Crisis" event on July 7, 2007 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. He was also one of the performers on the Syd Barrett Tribute at the Barbican in London, performing with Roger Waters, the members of Pink Floyd (billed as Rick Wright, David Gilmour and Nick Mason) and Captain Sensible.

He last toured with Roger Waters performing The Wall Live on keyboards, guitars and Lap Steel.

He has also programmed the sounds for The Rascals reunion shows in Port Chester, NY at the Capitol Theatre in December, 2012.

Carin performed with Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder for the 12 12 12 : Hurricane Sandy benefit concert.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday FRED COURY (video)

#fredcoury #cinderella #rockfileradio

Fred Coury (born October 20, 1967, in Johnson City, New York) is best known as the drummer for the glam metal band Cinderella.

Coury has played in other bands including London. In 1991 Coury left Cinderella and joined Stephen Pearcy of Ratt to form Arcade. He also briefly substituted for Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler in December 1987 when health issues forced Adler off the road. Coury re-joined Cinderella after Arcade folded. In the summer of 2006, Coury and Cinderella joined Poison on a joint 20th anniversary tour. Coury also filled in for Rikki Rockett during Poison slot on the Songs from the Sparkle Lounge Tour on July 15, 2009 due to the fact that Rikki had a newborn baby the day before. Coury spends his time in Los Angeles in his recording studio Double Forte Music composing and performing music for television. He also composes music, including the goal song, for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. Fred is the primary composer for NBC's hit series Night Shift.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday PETE LOEFFLER (video)

#peteloeffler #chevelle #rockfileradio

Pete Loeffler (born October 19, 1976 in Grayslake, Illinois) is a musician, known for his work with the Chicago-area alternative metal band Chevelle, for which he is the lead vocalist and sole guitar player.

From the start of his career to mid 2014, Loeffler used PRS, two of which were custom-built for him. He also uses two PRS Custom 22s, one red (which can be seen in the music video for "Send The Pain Below") and one white custom 24 (his main live guitar) and 2 Custom 24 baritones (one of which is a baritone with red "X's" on the neck as inlays, the other is gold-top). Pete also owns Fender Stratocaster Sub-Sonic Baritones (two were stolen along with the rest of the band's gear on May 9, 2007). In earlier live sets (prior to the band's EP) Pete had played a blue Ibanez RG among other guitars. Pete also reportedly used a Gibson Les Paul for some parts on the 2011 album Hats Off to the Bull. As of recently, Loeffler has switched and favored Fender guitars, taking on the road one of his Sub-sonic Stratocasters, as well as a modified Jim Root Stratocaster.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday MARTIN BARRE (video)

#martinbarre #rockfileradio

Martin Lancelot Barre (born 17 November 1946) is an English rock musician best known for his work with progressive rock band Jethro Tull, with whom he recorded and toured from their second album in 1969 to the band's dissolution in 2014. In early 1990's he initiated a solo career that now spawned four studio albums plus several guest appearances.

He has also played the flute and other instruments such as the mandolin, both on-stage for Jethro Tull and in his own solo work.

Barre once said that he tried not to listen to other guitarists so that he would not be influenced by them. He said he never took guitar lessons so that he would not sound like other players. However, one guitarist he has praised and recognized as being an influence is Leslie West, from the American band Mountain.

Reviewers have sometimes described Martin Barre's sound as "tricky" and "complicated", highlighting his ability to compose melodies instead of simply soloing.

source: wikipedia

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Happy Birthday CHAD GRAY (video)

 #chadgray #mudvayne #hellyeah #rockfileradio

Chad Gray (born October 16, 1971 in Decatur, Illinois, US), is the lead vocalist for the American rock bands Mudvayne and Hellyeah.

Gray is the son of Dan and Mitzi Davis of Edgewater, Florida. In Hellyeah's DVD, Below the Belt, he talks of how his grandmother, Betty Rau, raised him and would bring him to perform in choir.

He quit his factory job that paid $40,000 a year to move to Peoria, Illinois and formed Mudvayne.

In 2005, Gray's grandmother Betty Rau died after battling cancer for several years.
Gray dedicated the Hellyeah song "Thank You" to his grandmother and also wrote Mudvayne's "Death Blooms" about her illness.

Gray is known both for his clean singing and trademark screams and growls.

Gray has made several guest appearances with other bands, including on the songs "Monsters" by V Shape Mind, "Falling Backwards" by Bloodsimple and "Miracle" by Nonpoint.

source: wikipedia

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