DREAM THEATER
Controlled Chaos
With "Systematic Chaos", the first album by the new label Roadrunner, the New York Prog-King Dream Theater has once again hit the bull's eye. The sterile hardness of "Train Of Thought" has been forgotten, the "Auf Nummer sicher"-Prog of "Octavarium" has been swept away. "Systematic Chaos" finally creates the optimal bridge between aggressive metal sounds and atmospheric-progressive elements. Reason enough for an exclusive conversation with the triumvirate Portnoy/Petrucci/LaBrie in Cologne.
THE BEATLES
40 Years "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
No other album has shaped modern music as much as "Sgt. Pepper's" from June 1967: a 13-song course that turns the laws of 60s pop upside down several times. The one with the most modern studio technology, breathtaking instruments, crazy variety and last but not least with memorable lyrics.
BJÖRK
Painting by Numbers in the Art Universe
The Icelandic jack-of-all-trades has somewhat maneuvered himself into avant-garde isolation with his latest works. It's time to make a fuss with their new producer Timbaland. The result: "Volta".
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
In the Age of the Housewife
When Kyuss disbanded in 1996, it was seen as a betrayal of the creative spirit of rock. Especially as guitarist Josh Homme with Queens Of The Stone Age continued exactly where he left off with Kyuss. Compact stoner skirt. With that it is over at the latest on the new CD "Era Vulgaris".
GROBSCHNITT
Full Molle into the new millennium!
Is there a goodbye to goodbye? In the case of the Hagen art/herb rock legend Grobschnitt, this is not a question, but a challenge - the motto of the ingeniously crazy collective has always been: "Allow what pleases"! After the last concert of the "Last Party Tour" on December 4, 1989, the exceptional group surprisingly wants to get out into public again and prove once more where their cult status comes from. Even if - for the time being - exclusively live. eclipsed author Michael Fuchs-Gamböck met on a sunny afternoon on the terrace of the Hagener Haus for an exciting and relaxed conversation with drummer Rolf "Admiral Top Sahne" Möller (ATS) and the host as well as with singer Stefan "Willi Wildschwein" Danielak (WW) and bassist Michael "Milla" Kapolke (MK).
KRISTEEN YOUNG
In enemy territory
In the business for 15 years, singer/keyboarder Kristeen Young now has a real chance to leave the insider tip status behind with her involvement in the ongoing Morrissey tour. Provided she gives up her "hostile attitude."
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
Cool like Marlon Brando, melancholic like James Dean
Now it's crashing and rumbling again at the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Just like the fans of the trio from San Francisco are used to and wished for with bleeding hearts. "Baby 81" is the current, fourth album of the Velvet underground epigones. And compared to the rather introspective, Americana-heavy predecessor "Howl", it is almost the musical squaring of the circle
PAVLOV'S DOG
Reflex rejection
Pavlov's Dog were and are one of the most unusual US bands of the seventies. Hot loved, abysmally hated. But above all, the group, which in the time of its existence only released two albums, is one thing: unique. And its history is entwined with numerous legends. Since a few years this phantom is back again, in summer also live in Germany again. We talked to singer David Surkamp in advance
ROGER CHAPMAN
Still crazy after all these years
"65 and not a bit quiet" - that's the best way to describe the status quo of the owner of one of the most distinctive voices in the Rock'n'Roll circus. Roger Chapman, ex-family and ex-streetwalkers frontman, has released a new solo album "One More Time For Peace" after eight years of withdrawal from the public. And Chappo sounds as explosive as ever
JOHN MAYALL
Talentsmith of Generations
43 years have passed since the release of his first record. With the new album "In The Palace Of The King" John Mayall, meanwhile 73, is back in the best mood. He dedicated it to another blues hero - Freddie King
KNIGHT AREA
Knight of the Prog Order
Several younger prog musicians agree with hard-boiled neoproggies: classical progressive rock is a sharp sword that separates fast food music from sophisticated, innovative rock. With a drawn sword the Dutch Neoprog band Knight Area also goes into battle with their second album "Under A New Sign"
INGA RUMPF
Only those who have the blues can sing it
The little singer with the larger-than-life voice celebrates her 40th stage anniversary. This event is flanked by the release of a CD and a DVD documenting one of the explosive performances of the incomparable Inga Rumpf
Keep the text up! Cult songs and their meaning
BOBBY MARLEY - REDEMPTION SONG
THE LONGING FOR IMMORTALITY HAS ALREADY ANIMATED MANY A SONG WRITER TO CREATIVE TOP PERFORMANCES. BUT RARELY HAS THIS DEMAND BEEN FORMULATED MORE IMPRESSIVELY THAN IN THE IMMEDIATE FACE OF DEATH. BOB MARLEY'S "REDEMPTION SONG" IS EQUALLY PRAYER, POSITIONING AND AESTHETICS OF RESISTANCE
eclipsed Shopping List
BEACH BOYS - Pioneering Surfers
No other band in the sixties musically embodied the American dream as much as the Beach Boys. At that time the Americans were bubbling with optimism and paid homage to their fetishes of locomotion: Cars and surfboards. The Beach Boys served the matching pop songs for this "American Way of Life". Influenced by Rhythm & Blues and Rock'n'Roll as well as the jazz quartet The Four Freshmen, Spiritus Rector Brian Wilson composed with a light hand surfing super hits on the assembly line. The euphoric melodies and the perfect harmony singing reflected the attitude towards life of an entire generation. But Brian Wilson soon wanted to be more than just a musically gifted wave splash. His creative search for meaning, love, acceptance and a "divine spirit" revolutionized the pop world, but also brought the beach boys temporarily into dangerous waters. But it was the excesses of band boss Brian in particular that turned the US boys, who always seemed a little over-adjusted, into an immortal myth. The Beach Boys were pioneers in many ways and with their unmistakable style they provided ideas for such different bands as Kraftwerk, Animal Collective or Muse. Their musical output comprises over 30 studio and live albums, of which we present only a selection due to lack of space
Tori Amos (Hamburg, Laeiszhalle, 04.06.2007)
The Laeiszhalle is on Johannes-Brahms-Platz, of course with house number one. Normally classical concerts take place here. But it may also be a rock performance if the musician concerned has a reputation for earning the title "artistically valuable". The latter certainly applies to the now 44-year-old American Tori Amos, but she is actually neither a rock nor a classical musician, but simply Tori Amos. And she proves this impressively this evening - once again
Rockhistory/Discography of U2
