Tag Archives: paul raymond

Features, In Memoriam

Reflecting On The 2019 Deaths In Music

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As 2019 heads towards the sunset, I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon the numerous losses that music faced this past year. Though PiercingMetal has long posted extended memorials in our “In Memoriam” Features, it’s almost impossible to speak about them all. Instead, I’m again using this comprehensive rundown that was culled from other online research sources so we can say “Hail and Farewell” a little bit better to more of them. Those who’ve already been toasted will have their entry highlighted in the list should you care to examine that post. Let’s say “goodbye” once more to these talented folks.

January 1, 2019: Shane Bisnett (31), American metalcore bassist (Ice Nine Kills)
January 2, 2019: Daryl Dragon (76), American pop keyboardist and songwriter (Captain & Tennille, The Beach Boys)
January 16, 2019: Lorna Doom (61), American punk rock bassist (Germs)
January 25, 2019: Bruce Corbitt (56), American thrash metal singer (Rigor Mortis, Warbeast)

February 1, 2019: Alex Brown (52), American punk rock guitarist (Gorilla Biscuits, Project X, Side by Side)
February 15, 2019: Kofi Burbridge (57), American jam band keyboardist and flautist (Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Derek Trucks Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit)
February 21, 2019: Peter Tork (77), American rock bassist and singer (The Monkees)
February 25, 2019: Mark Hollis (64), British new wave and post-rock singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Talk Talk)
February 26, 2019: Andy Anderson (68), British new wave drummer (The Cure, The Glove, Hawkwind),
February 27, 2019: Doug Sandom (89), British rock drummer (The Who)
February 28, 2019: Stephan Ellis (69), American rock bassist (Survivor)
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Features, Tours and Festivals

UFO & Saxon Announce Spring US Tour – The British Invasion 2017!

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I’m slowly coming back to Earth after the four-day massive event spectacle that was the NY Comic Con and while I do that it’s great to find some new concert tours being announced. Check this one out from the teams working the great British bands UFO and Saxon who will be heading our way in Spring 2017.

tour-ufo-and-saxon-spring-2017

The Press Release:
Rock legends UFO have announced a US tour with very special guests SAXON, beginning March 9 in Houston, TX and continuing into early April.

UFO, with their long standing line up of Phil Mogg (Vocals), Paul Raymond (Keyboards / Guitar), Andy Parker (Drums), Vinnie Moore (Guitar) and Rob De Luca (Bass), are back in the US after a phenomenally successful sold out tour in early 2016. They are currently working on their 22nd studio album after the last studio release A Conspiracy of Stars in 2015.

SAXON are touring on their latest release Battering Ram together with the new double live album set Let Me Feel Your Power (out October 28 in North America), both on the UDR Music label. After great success with both US headline shows and dates with Judas Priest over last few years, the band are back as part of this great package. SAXON are Biff Byford (Vocals), Paul Quinn (Guitar), Nigel Glockler (Drums), Doug Scarrett (Guitar) and Tim “Nibbs” Carter (Bass).
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Reviews, Videos

“Showtime” [HD DVD] by UFO

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Artist: UFO
Title: “Showtime”
Label: SPV Records
Release Date: 4/8/2008
Genre: Hard Rock
Rating: 4/5

In today’s music world we are finding a number of upgrades and enhancements to the available formats as the industry desperately tries to keep the sales coming in and their artists on our mind. Long gone are the days of eight-track tapes (what are those you might be saying) and pre-recorded audio cassettes and it seems that the once dominant vinyl is now something only the strictest of collectors purchase. The CD became the be all and end all and for years was pretty much only the album put to digital disc without much improvement. Then came high end remastered CD’s and while this format was continuing on we saw the DVD take place of peoples hallowed VHS tapes and slowly show signs of development and growth on their own. Over the last couple of years we have seen the introduction of High Definition DVD’s and Blu-Ray DVD’s taking over from the standard release and each of the formats offers the buyer upgraded features and impeccable audio and video clarity. Another practice of the day is taking recent blockbuster films and concerts and re-releasing them under one of these formats. That being said we can move on to the release being discussed below.

The UFO concert film “Showtime” was a great release and I enjoyed it from beginning to end when I first saw it. Given our thoughts have remained the same on it, I am re-visiting my own commentary for you to remind you of them and then we can absorb more about the new High Definition release.
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Reviews, Videos

“Too Hot To Handle (1969-1993)” by UFO

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Artist: U-F-O
Title: “Too Hot To Handle (1969-1993)”
Label: Music Video Distributors
Release Date: 12/6/2005
Genre: Hard Rock
Rating: 8/10

There are not many people who would argue with you when you discuss the legendary status of the British band U-F-O. For many years the group has been cited as being very much the inspiration to the careers of groups like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard and as you look upon their back catalog this reason comes to you very clearly. The early lineup of the group that featured Phil Mogg, Pete Way, Andy Parker and Michael Schenker is revered to this very day as being forefathers in Hard Rock music. Songs like “Lights Out”, “Too Hot To Handle” and “Rock Bottom” still sound as fresh today as they did when they were first introduced. When you look at how many bands have fallen by the wayside while U-F-O still carries on you understand better when you listen to the quality of these particular tracks. Today in 2005 we find a different lineup in the band which is still helmed by Mogg and Way for the most part but this DVD focuses on the earlier years and features the one and only Axeman Michael Schenker. That alone will appeal to the staunch supporter of this group. The DVD is a direct transfer of the video film originally on VHS that was released in 2001.
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Reviews, Videos

“Showtime” (DVD) by UFO

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Artist: UFO
Title: Showtime
Label: SPV Records
Release Date: 11/8/2005
Genre: Hard Rock
Rating: 8/10

The music of UFO has long been a reference point in many of the popular Hard Rock and Metal band histories and you read about this in interview after interview. This might be the case because the band is perhaps one of the best Hard Rock acts to have ever come around and the fact that they still perform today is a statement on its own. For many years legendary guitarist Michael Schenker was a part of the band but through it all the signature bluesy voice of Phil Mogg gave this band the consistency that it still holds strong to this day. After years of lineup changes the band now finds three core original members (Phil Mogg, Pete Way and Paul Raymond) and the addition of dynamic players to round out the lineup. On guitar is Vinnie Moore who is a legend in his own right and admits an inspiration from Schenker as do most guitarists. The drumming is adeptly handled by Jason Bonham, son of the one and only John Bonham. Many will state that this is the strongest lineup that the band has had since the days that Schenker a member. The double DVD Set brings you to the front row for a performance the band did in Wilhelmshaven Germany at the club “Pumpverk”. All around 2004 the group was supporting their SPV Records release “You Are Here”. There is a lot to enjoy on this straight live shoot and USA fans who got to see the band will appreciate the fact that they finally are able to see Pete Way perform. The reason for Pete’s absence in the States was due to some VISA problems and as a result he had to remain in England. In his place for those shows was bassist Barry Sparks who seemed to fit right in very well.
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