NEWS: Uli Jon Roth to release 'Tokyo Tapes Revisited - Live In Japan'

One of rock ‘n’ roll’s most venerated guitar Gods, Uli Jon Roth, will be releasing a very special live performance from the Nakano Sun Plaza Hall in Tokyo, Japan on December 16th 2016 through UDR Music, titled 'Tokyo Tapes Revisited - Live In Japan'.

And, if you were lucky enough to see Roth's show at the Diamond Rock Club in 2015 (review here) you'll know how special he is in the live environment.

The performance is a celebration of Roth’s classic work with The Scorpions, and was recorded on February 20th 2015 at the same venue as the band’s classic 1978 live album Tokyo Tapes. Roth was a founding member of The Scorpions in 1973 before leaving to pursue a solo career in 1978 with his own Electric Sun.

As the recognized creative heartbeat of The Scorpions, Roth achieved worldwide fame for his unique guitar and song-writing talents, in turn causing him to influence a plethora of modern guitar giants such as Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Steve Vai.

Tokyo Tapes Revisited - Live In Japan will be released in four different formats.

Product 1 - BluRay Digipak:
Video & audio recording of Roth’s Tokyo concert in a BluRay digipak containing one BluRay video disc and two audio CDs.

Product 2 - DVD Digipak:
The same as Product 1 only in a DVD digipak.

Product 3 – Digital Download:
A digital audio copy of the Tokyo concert.

Product 4 - Super-Deluxe Boxset, limited to 800 copies:
It will be a proper, lid-off shell box containing 4 heavyweight vinyl LPs of Roth’s 2015 Scorpions Revisited release which has never been released on vinyl. There will also be an 80-page, gatefold, hardcover 12” book which will house 8 discs - 1 BluRay concert main-feature, 1 bonus BluRay disc (which will contain the original footage from the first Japanese Scorpions Tour 1978, shot personally by Uli on his Super 8 Camera), 2 audio CDs of the main Tokyo concert and 4 bonus audio CDs of Roth’s Osaka and Nagoya dates on the same Japanese tour. The set will also include an Uli Jon Roth replica guitar key-ring, and a signed certificate of authenticity, numbered and signed by Uli himself.

LIVE REVIEW: Roth rocks the Diamond revisiting Scorpions classics

IF you wanted a masterclass in how to play guitar you should have been at the Diamond Rock Club on Saturday, 30th May. If you wanted a masterclass in how to re-interpret classic songs you should have been at the Diamond Rock Club on Saturday, 30th May. If you were, you know what we're talking about.

Uli Jon Roth brought his band to County Antrim and brought a set that left many usually reserved people agog during the songs and roaring in acclaim between songs.

Sure, we were impressed when we reviewed the album that set the scene for this gig but live the songs attain an almost spiritual dimension.

It is a fine line to draw, but being tight and loose enough to allow improvisation is an art form in and of itself.

Roth may be the star, but Nathan's vocals manage to tackle the classic Scorpions songs without any attempt at slavish re-workings of Meine.

Textures of songs are worked out with Corvin Bahn's keyboards, but it is the interplay between Roth and Niklas Turmann and David Klosinski on guitars that makes the sound so lush.

Songs so familiar to Scorpions fans were given new life, new breath and the likes of 'In Trance' and 'Polar Nights' sounded fresh and dynamic.

That drummer Jamie Little and bassist Ule W. Ritgen were having so much fun belied their tightness as a unit.

But - this was billed as Uli Jon Roth show and that was entirely appropriate. Roth's talent has always been apparent and on Saturday he showcased that talent to a degree few masters of the axe could emulate.

Melody, shredding, delicate musical abandon and an ease in his playing combined in a performance which has us struggling with superlatives.

This was the second show in a lengthy Scorpions Revisited trek - and if you are a guitar fan or a classic (think Tokyo Tapes) Scorpions fan then you will not want to miss this.

Review by Jonny

Video interview courtesy of Gary Grattan

ALBUM REVIEW: Roth rises to reinvent classic Scorpions

ULI Jon Roth is something of a guitar afficianado for guitar afficianados. Back in the formative years of Scorpions Uli Jon Roth created textures before the Scorps gave way to the hair metal of the mid-80s (not that was necessarily a bad thing).

With the Scorpions set to play Ramblin' Man Fair in July interest in the band is high, and those Scorpions fans who remember the glory days of 'Tokyo Tapes' will also recall the four albums - 'Fly To The Rainbow', ' In Trance', 'Virgin Killer' and 'Taken By Force'.

Now Roth has went back to those albums with 'Scorpions Revisited'.

And that term 'Revisited' is important. These aren't just covers of the originals. Roth has de-constructed the songs with Nathan James (vocals), Jamie Little (drums), Ule W. Ritgen (bass), Niklas Turmann (guitar, vocals), Corvin Bahn (keyboards, vocals) and David Klosinski (guitar).

Disc One is recorded live in Hanover this is a set of songs that real Scorpions fans should know well. Opening with 'Sails of Charon' and closing with 'Fly To The Rainbow' this a selection presented on a double CD set.

There are some fantastic interpretations on here. For example 'In Trance' has the sense of the original, but enough of a re-interpretation to make fans check out both this and the original.

'Polar Nights' is really enjoyable, while on Disc 2 'We'll Burn the Sky', 'Life's Like A River' and the 11-minute 'Fly To The River' preceded by the improvised 'Rainbow Prelude' makes it a delight.


"The material for this double CD was recorded last year in the same hall in Hanover that we used for the Scorpions rehearsals 1973-1978,” said Roth.

“Together with an amazing bunch of very talented young musicians, I revisited my personal favourites from the early Scorpions period, some of which were written in that same hall.

"It was an emotional few days and I am very pleased with the results in more ways than one. The idea was to stay truthful to the original spirit of the music, while also putting a new slant on it whenever it felt like the right thing to do.

"I feel we really succeeded in this and I’m very excited about this project. It was a intense journey into the past and I think we really managed to bring the songs back to life with a vengeance."

This is said to be the first re-engagement of Roth with his past and further announcements are expected later this year.

What it does prove is that Scorpions have always more than 'Winds of Change' or ''Rock You Like a Hurricane'.

Uli Jon Roth - Scorpions Revisited is out now on UDR

 

Review by Jonny

NEWS: Reinventing Scorps, when free album isn't free, Satyr on the opera, and Coal Chamber album

NEWS: Roth goes back to Scorpions roots

ULI Jon Roth, mystic, guitar guru, and former member of the Scorpions has taken songs from four Scorpions albums and not just re-recorded them, but reinvented them for a double CD release on UDR on March 9th.

 

"The material for this double CD was recorded last year in the same hall in Hanover that we used for the Scorpions rehearsals 1973-1978,” explained Roth.

 

“Together with an amazing bunch of very talented young musicians, I revisited my personal favourites from the early Scorpions period, some of which were written in that same hall. It was an emotional few days and I am very pleased with the results in more ways than one.

 

"The idea was to stay truthful to the original spirit of the music, while also putting a new slant on it whenever it felt like the right thing to do. I feel we really succeeded in this and I’m very excited about this project. It was a intense journey into the past and I think we really managed to bring the songs back to life with a vengeance."

NEWS: Free album...not for NI

 

BRIT 'Alt-Rockers' Never A Hero are giving away free copies of their new album to everyone attending their UK tour. But it's a UK tour that leaves out us here in Northern Ireland - which is still part of the UK...

 

If you want to get a hold of it without travelling to England or Wales you'll have to wait to March 30th to hear 'UnEvolution'.

NEWS: Satryicon go operatic

 

Norwegian Black Metal legends SATYRICON have signed a worldwide deal with Austrian metal label Napalm Records for release of their upcoming DVD 'Live At The Opera!'

 Mastermind Satyr about the story behind 'Live At The Opera'.

“The whole thing started with us doing one song, “To The Mountains” a year and a half before the actual show," said Satyr.

"We performed at a closed event in the main hall of the opera with the Royal Norwegian Opera Chorus. It was very inspirational. I then said to the conductor that I would love to do a whole show like this. He loved the idea, I was serious about it, and he was serious about it."

 

 

NEWS: Dez and Coal Chamber back with new album

 

Reactivated Los Angeles, California’s Coal Chamber have confirmed a May 19^th North America release date for their new album 'Rivals'. This is the band’s first new album in over thirteen years.

 

With producer Mark Lewis at the helm, Rivals makes it seem as if the band never took a break at all. They picked up right where they left off and have delivered what some may consider their best work to date. The artwork (pictured above) and track listing for Rivals have now been revealed.

Frontman Dez Fafara - familiar to us all as singer of Devil Driver, said:
“This record was over 13 years in the Making and I promise this record won't disappoint and will be worth the wait! 

 

"Rivals is solid through and through, there's maturity and growth in the music while still maintaining the true Coal Chamber sound and delivering track after track of killer tunes! We had a great time working together on this record and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we do!”

 

Here's the tracklist:

1. I.O.U. Nothing
2. Bad Blood Between Us
3. Light in the Shadows
4. Suffer in Silence
5. The Bridges You Burn
6. Orion
7. Another Nail in the Coffin
8. Rivals
9. Wait
10. Dumpster Dive
11. Over My Head
12. Fade Away (Karma Never Forgets)
13. Empty Handed
14. Worst Enemy