This week Ian Anderson reached the number one position again in the Billboard Classical Album charts with his new collaboration with the Carducci String Quartet, JETHRO TULL: THE STRING QUARTETS. Previously, his album DIVINITIES topped the Billboard Classical charts in 1995. In 1973 A Passion Play and, before that, 1972’s THICK AS A BRICK both hit number one in the Billboard Album charts. Those are number one hits every 22 years.
In addition to classical charts, JETHRO TULL: THE STRING QUARTETS debuted at #16 on the Independent charts, and #80 on Billboard’s album chart.
In the UK, JETHRO TULL: THE STRING QUARTETS entered at #2 on Classical, #56 on Album, and #6 for Independent.
THE STRING QUARTETS (track listing below) features 12 re-imagined Tull classics, allowing Tull fans and classical music connoisseurs to enjoy the band's vast catalog in a new way.
Prog-rockers, YES will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the Class of 2017, it was announced this morning. The induction, following two previous nominations, will occur just one year shy of the legendary progressive rock band’s 50th anniversary.
“What an honor this is for us and all involved with the history of this band,” shares guitarist Steve Howe. “We thank all the Yes fans who have been so passionate over the decades, and helped us to keep the flag flying. It is the fans who have constantly demanded our inclusion. They have been heard.”
“We look forward to accepting this esteemed award next spring in honor of our fallen brother, Chris Squire, who would have been delighted to see his musical vision finally receive such recognition,” adds drummer Alan White. “We thank everyone who voted for Yes. We’ll see you soon, Cleveland!”
The members of YES who will officially be inducted into the Rock Hall are the “Union” tour line-up: current members White and Howe, the band’s late bassist and founding member Chris Squire, and former members Jon Anderson (vocals), Bill Bruford (drums), Tony Kaye (keyboards), Rick Wakeman (keyboards) and Trevor Rabin (guitar).
“Yes was like my first girlfriend, to whom I was hopelessly committed,” said Bruford. “Despite a couple of wrinkles, I’m glad to hear the old girl is in fine shape.”
Kaye confirms, “I am honored to be included in Yes’ induction. I am delighted for my friends in the band, and I salute Chris, without whom it would never have happened. Chris would have been so very proud.”
Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed new album “Prog Noir”, Stick Men have released a new Stick Men features Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Markus Reuter.
video of the same name.
Says Tony Levin, “We're thrilled at the video Ofrin has made for our song 'Prog Noir'. She's an excellent artist in her own right, musical and visual, and made the video on her own, then presented it to us. It's pretty special when you find that your music has inspired others to create
something new and special.”
*Watch Stick Men's new video “Prog Noir” below-
Stick Men is a progressive rock band created by musicians with extensive experience playing together. Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin are the rhythm section of the legendary band King Crimson. Mastelotto is in demand all over the world as the premier drummer for progressive rock. Levin plays in Crimson, with Peter Gabriel, and has recorded with John Lennon, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and others. Markus Reuter is a renowned composer/guitarist who designed and plays his own unique touch style guitar.
Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, the powerhouse bass and drums of the group King Crimson for more than 2 decades, bring that tradition to all their playing. Levin plays the Chapman Stick, from which the band takes it’s name. Having bass and guitar strings, the Chapman Stick functions at times
like two instruments. Markus Reuter plays his 8-string touch guitar – again covering much more ground than a guitar or a bass. And Mastelotto’s drumming encompasses not just the acoustic kit, but a unique electronic setup too, allowing him to add loops, samples, percussion, and more.
The result; audiences are fascinated by watching just three musicians onstage perform their unique compositions as well as wild improvisations and some cover versions of songs by King Crimson, Mike Oldfield, etc.
Before “Prog Noir”, Stick Men have released 4 studio CDs (Soup, Absalom,
DEEP, Open) as well as two live albums.
*Here's what the press have said about “Prog Noir”:*
*“ 'Prog Noir' is easily the best album of Stick Men and perhaps best album in this particular sub-genre in recent years.” - Erik Groeneweg, Progwereld*
*“ 'Prog Noir' would not sound out of place heard next to any number of post-1980 Fripp-Crimson LPs with its oddly angled tuneful melodies and slightly askew yet utterly coherent rhythms.” - David Luhrssen, Shepherd Express*
*“In short, if you buy this album you will have in hand something very original, satisfying and great sound quality. A must for fans of King Crimson and minutes of pleasure for others.” - Profil Prog*
Strawbs have sold more records in the USA and Canada than anywhere. In the USA the band had seven consecutive albums in the Billboard Top 200. Their album, Hero & Heroine, was listed last year by Rolling Stone magazine as “one of the 50 greatest prog rock albums of all time".
And, founding member Dave Cousins has been described by All Music Guide as: “the most talented Dylan influenced songwriter to come out of England”. He previously released, in December of 2014, his long awaited, and critically acclaimed, autobiography Exorcising Ghosts: Strawbs and Other Lives (out via Omnibus Pr & Schirmer Trade Books). It was listed by influential critic Richie Unterberger in his “Top 10 of 2014 rock books”.
Strawbs are often mentioned in the same breath as progressive rock bands like Yes, King Crimson, and The Moody Blues. It is well known that keyboardist Rick Wakeman left Strawbs for Yes. Rick was followed by Blue Weaver; who left Strawbs to join the Bee Gees, John Hawken; from the original
Renaissance, Don Airey; now with Deep Purple, Adam Wakeman, and Oliver Wakeman, who, like their dad, left Strawbs to join Yes!
The Strawbs emerged out of the British Folk Movement of the mid-1960s, starting their musical life as the Strawberry Hill Boys, playing bluegrass. They moved into the mainstream in 1967 by making the first Strawbs album, All
On April 15th Purple Pyramid records via Cleopatra Records released an out of this world collection of extraordinary performances by legendary YES keyboardist Rick Wakeman! For more than four decades Rick Wakeman has established himself as a visionary showman without peer, the creator of some of the most extravagant performances, breathtaking soloing and imaginative passages ever preserved on record, or executed on stage.
Aptly titled “Starship Trooper”, this amazing collection contains 2 previously unreleased tracks including a powerful rendition of Tool’s “Sober” plus several more brilliant cover songs of The Who, Pink Floyd, and The Doors including 5 never before heard versions! The compilation also includes performances by Gong’s Steve Hillage, Yes’s Billy Sherwood, Steve Howe and Tony Kaye, William Shatner, Colin Moulding, Jerry Goodman, Nik Turner, Carmine Appice and more!
“Over the last few years I have performed on many tracks as a ‘guest’ but never before has anybody put some of the best of those I played on into a compilation. It’s always challenging to be involved in tracks of other people’s music and other people’s arrangements as it often makes you think and play differently and certainly on many of these tracks I play in quite an unexpected way, but there again, much of my life has been pretty unexpected anyway!” Rick Wakeman said recently.
The story of Genesis is a rock legend of how a humble schoolboy band grew into a group of global rock superstars. And founding member, guitarist Mike Rutherford tells his story in "The Living Years. At its center stood Mike Rutherford, driving the music from pioneering progressive rock to chart-topping hits. Now for the first time, he tells the remarkable inside story of Genesis and his own band Mike + The Mechanics.
Against the rhythm of drink, drugs, and lineup changes, Mike’s father, a World War II naval officer, always stood in the background. He would watch Genesis grow, supporting them from the very beginning when they toured Britain in the back of a bread van. Through extreme highs and lows, loyal Captain Rutherford was always there, earplugs at the ready.
But when his father suddenly died, Mike was forced to reexamine their relationship and only then began to understand how much their lives had overlapped. The Living Years (out February 2015 via Thomas Dunne Presss) is a revealing memoir of the relationship between father and son and the story of how music, families, and friendship combine. Rutherford was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. He lives with his family in West Sussex, England. And, Mike + The Mechanics are about to embark on a USA concert tour to promote the release of the deluxe edition of the classic Living Years album. Scheduled for release on February 10, to coincide with Mike + The Mechanics 2015 tour dates, the 25th Anniversary 2xCD set includes the original studio album, along with a bonus disc of live recordings from 1989 Living Years UK tour and including the song The Living Years 2014 which has been re-recorded with the South African Isango Choir and Andrew Roachford on lead vocals.
This week Ian Anderson reached the number one position again in the Billboard Classical Album charts with his new collaboration with the Carducci String Quartet, JETHRO TULL: THE STRING QUARTETS. Previously, his album DIVINITIES topped the Billboard Classical charts in 1995. In 1973 A Passion Play and, before that, 1972’s THICK AS A BRICK both hit number one in the Billboard Album charts. Those are number one hits every 22 years.
