Tag Archives: Brian May

Queen: Live Killers

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On June 22, 1979, “EMI / Parlaphone” label released “Live Killers”, the first Queen live album. It was recorded January – May 1979, and was produced by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, piano
  • Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
  • John Deacon – bass guitar, triangle, backing vocals
  • Roger Taylor – lead, co-lead and backing vocals, drums, tambourine, timpani
  • George Marino – mastering

Track listing:

  1. We Will Rock You – Brian May
  2. Let Me Entertain You – Freddie Mercury
  3. Death on Two Legs – Freddie Mercury
  4. Killer Queen – Freddie Mercury
  5. Bicycle Race – Freddie Mercury
  6. I’m in Love with My Car – Roger Taylor
  7. Get Down, Make Love – Freddie Mercury
  8. You’re My Best Friend – John Deacon
  9. Now I’m Here – Brian May
  10. Dreamer’s Ball – Brian May
  11. Love of My Life – Freddie Mercury
  12. 39 – Brian May
  13. Keep Yourself Alive – Brian May

Mo Foster

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On July 3, 2023, Michael Ralph “Mo” Foster died aged 79. He was multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, author, and public speaker. In his career spanning over half a century, Foster recorded and performed with dozens of artists, including Jeff Beck, Gil Evans, Phil Collins, Ringo Starr, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Brian May, Scott Walker, Frida (of ABBA), Cliff Richard, Van Morrison, Dr John, Hank Marvin, Heaven 17, the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Green, Micheal Schenker, Gary Moore, Sting, Cher, Olivia Newton John, Elkie Brroks, Neil Innes, Judie Tzuke, Sheena Easton, Meat Loaf, Trevor Rabin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Luka Bloom, Tim Rice, Nigel Kennedy, Affinity, Mike d’Abo, Roger Glover, Jimmy Helms. Fancy, Veronique Sanson, Mike Smith, Cerrone, Ray Russell, Andy Bown, The Walker Brothers, Chris Rainbow, Dollar, Dennis Waterman, Eric Clapton, RMS, Bob Geldof, Joe Walsh, Tony Banks, Leo Sayer, Russ Ballard, Claudio Baglioni, Kenny Rogers, Howard Jones, Tanita Tikaram, Georger Martin, Nancy Griffith and Maggie Bell. As leader, Foster released several albums, and authored a humorous book on the history of British rock guitar. In 2014, he was awarded with the “BASCA Gold Badge Award”.  

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen

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On October 6, 2020, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen died aged 65. He was a musician (guitar), songwriter, producer, and inventor, known for his work with Michael Jackson, Brian May, Sammy Hagar, and LL Cool J, but best known as a founding member, songwriter, and guitarist of band Van Halen. He was voted number one in the “Guitar World” magazine reader’s poll for “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.

Billy Squier: Signs of Life

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In July 1984, “Capitol” label released “Signs of Life”, the fourth Billy Squier studio album. It was recorded April – June 1984 and was produced by Billy Squier and Jim Steinman.

Personnel:

  • Billy Squier- lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers
  • Jeff Golub- guitars, slide guitar
  • Alan St. Jon – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Larry Fast– synthesizers
  • Doug Lubahn- bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Bobby Chouinard – drums
  • Jimmy Maelen– percussion
  • Brian May- guitar solo
  • Alfa Anderson – additional vocals
  • Eric Troyer, Rory Dodd- additional vocals
  • Tony Platt – engineer
  • Gary Rindfuss – engineer assistant
  • B. Moore – mixing
  • George Marino – mastering
  • Anjali Dutt – tape operator
  • Bill Smith – cover art design, illustration
  • John Van Hamersveld – rear cover collage, inner sleeve design
  • John Jansen – production assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Squier.

  1. All Night Long
  2. Rock Me Tonite
  3. Eye on You
  4. Take a Look Behind Ya
  5. Reach for the Sky
  6. (Another) 1984
  7. Fall for Love
  8. Can’t Get Next to You
  9. Hand-Me Downs
  10. Sweet Release

Brian May: Another World

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On June 1, 1998, “Parlaphone” label released “Another World”, the second Brian May studio album. It was recorded 1996 – 1998, at May’s home studio and “Allerton Hill Studio”, and was produced by Brian May. Drummer Cozy Powell died in a car accident before the album was completed.

Personnel:

  • Brian May- vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, programming, arrangements
  • Jamie Moses– guitar
  • Jeff Beck- guitar
  • Spike Edney- keyboards
  • Neil Murray- bass guitar
  • Ken Taylor – bass guitar
  • Cozy Powell– drums, percussion
  • Steve Ferrone– drums
  • Taylor Hawkins- drums
  • London Metropolitan Orchestra– strings
  • Michael Kamen – conductor
  • Cathy Porter- backing vocals
  • Shelley Preston- backing vocals
  • Nikki Love – backing vocals
  • Becci Glover – backing vocals
  • Ian Hunter- guest raconteur
  • Justin Shirley-Smith – engineer, co-production
  • Richard Gray – design, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Brian May, except where noted.

  1. Space
  2. Business
  3. China Belle
  4. Why Don’t We Try Again
  5. On My Way Up
  6. Cyborg
  7. The Guv’nor
  8. Wilderness
  9. Slow Down – Larry Williams
  10. One Rainy Wish – Jimi Hendrix
  11. All the Way from Memphis – Ian Hunter
  12. Another World
  • The song “Another World” ends at 4:05, then after a minute of silence, starting at 5:05, a hidden trackplays, consisting of the piano part of “Business”.

Bert Weedon

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On April 20, 2012, Herbert Maurice William ‘Bert’ Weedon died aged 91. He was musician (guitar), whose style of playing was popular and influential during the 50s and 60s. Weedon was the first British guitarist to have a hit record in the “UK Singles Chart”, in 1959. His “Play in a Day” guitar guide influenced some of the biggest names in rock and roll such as Eric Clapton, Brian May, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Dave Davies, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Tony Iommi and Jimmy Page. For his “services to music”, in 2001, Weedon was awarded an OBE.

Foo Fighters: One By One

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On October 22, 2002, “Roswell” and “RCA” labels released “One by One”, the fourth Foo Fighters studio album. It was recorded April – May 2002, at “Studio 606” in Alexandria, Virginia, and was produced by Adam Kasper, Nick Raskulinecz, Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiflett.

Personnel:

  • Dave Grohl– lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, piano
  • Chris Shiflett– lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
  • Nate Mendel– bass
  • Taylor Hawkins– lead vocal, drums, percussion
  • Brian May– guitar
  • Gregg Bissonette– drums
  • Krist Novoselic– backing vocals
  • Nick Raskulinecz – engineer
  • Jim Scott– mixing
  • J. Lara – mastering
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering, mixing
  • Bob Michaels – mastering
  • J. Lara – digital editing
  • Rupesh Pattni – design
  • Raymond Pettibon– artwork, illustrations
  • Anton Corbijn– photography
  • Joshua White – photography, illustrations
  • Hiro Arishima – liner notes
  • Eddie Escalante – authoring
  • Kehni Davis – quality control
  • Melinda Pepler – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett, except where noted.

  1. All My Life
  2. Low
  3. Have It All
  4. Times Like These
  5. Disenchanted Lullaby
  6. Tired of You
  7. Halo
  8. Lonely As You
  9. Overdrive
  10. Burn Away
  11. Come Back

The Yardbirds: Birdland

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On April 22, 2003, “Favored Nations” label released “Birdland”, the sixth Yardbirds (The) studio album. Band’s first album in over 35 years was recorded 2002 – 2003, and was produced by Ken Allardyce.

Personnel:

  • Jim McCarty– vocals, drums, percussion
  • Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar
  • Alan Glen– harmonica, percussion
  • John Idan– lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Gypie Mayo– lead guitar
  • Jeff Baxter– guitar
  • Jeff Beck– guitar
  • Steve Lukather– guitar
  • Brian May– guitar
  • Joe Satriani– guitar
  • Slash– guitar
  • Steve Vai– guitar

Track listing:

  1. I’m Not Talking – Mose Allison
  2. Crying Out for Love – Jim McCarty
  3. The Nazz Are Blue – Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  4. For Your Love – Graham Gouldman
  5. Please Don’t Tell Me ‘Bout the News – Jim McCarty
  6. Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Howie Kay, Lois Mann, Tiny Bradshaw
  7. Saboteur – Jim McCarty
  8. Shapes of Things – Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  9. My Blind Life – Chris Dreja
  10. Over Under Sideways Down – Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  11. You’re a Better Man Than I – Brian Hugg, Mike Hugg
  12. Mystery of Being – Jim McCarty
  13. Dream Within a Dream – Jim McCarty
  14. Happenings Ten Years Time Ago – Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
  15. An Original Man (A Song for Keith) – Chris Dreja, Gypie Mayo, Jim McCarty, John Idan

David Richards

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On December 20, 2013, David Richards died aged 57. He was musician (keyboards), engineer and record producer, who engineered and co-produced albums for many artists, including David Bowie, Queen, Roger Taylor, Chris Rea, Jimmy Nail, Feargal Sharkey, Iggy Pop, Magnum, Virginia Wolf, The Cross, Freddie Mercury, Montserrat Caballé, Yes, Brian May and Duran Duran.

Tony Iommi: Iommi

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On October 17, 2000, “Divine” and “Priority” labels released “Iommi”, the debut Tony Iommi solo album. It was recorded 1996 – 2000, at “A&M Studios”, “Chipping Norton”, “Long View Farm”, “Sunset Marquis Hotel” and “Olympic Studios”, and was produced by Bob Marlette.

Personnel:

  • Tony Iommi– lead and rhythm guitar
  • Martin “Ace” Kent – rhythm guitar
  • Brian May– lead guitar
  • Billy Corgan– rhythm guitar
  • Bob Marlette– keyboard, programming, engineer, mixing
  • Billy Corgan– vocals, bass
  • Peter Steele– vocals, bass
  • Ben Shepherd– bass
  • Laurence Cottle– bass
  • Terry Phillips – bass
  • Laurence Cottle – bass
  • Dave Grohl– vocals, drums
  • Bill Ward– drums
  • Matt Cameron– drums
  • Jimmy Copley – drums
  • Kenny Aronoff– drums
  • Jimmy Copley– drums
  • John Tempesta– drums
  • Philip Anselmo– vocals
  • Henry Rollins– vocals
  • Skin – vocals
  • Serj Tankian– vocals
  • Ian Astbury– vocals
  • Ozzy Osbourne– vocals
  • Billy Idol– vocals
  • Art Shoji – art direction
  • Maggie Magarian – art direction, design
  • William Hames, Ross Halfin, Mike Clement, Gene Kirkland – photography
  • JMO Design – logo
  • Ralph Baker – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Laughing Man (In the Devil Mask) – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Henry Rollins
  2. Meat – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Skin
  3. Goodbye Lament – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Dave Grohl
  4. Time is Mine – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Philip Anselmo
  5. Patterns – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Serj Tankian
  6. Black Oblivion – Tony Iommi, Billy Corgan
  7. Flame On – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Ian Astbury
  8. Just Say No To Love – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Peter Steele
  9. Who’s Fooling Who – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Ozzy Osbourne
  10. Into the Night – Tony Iommi, Bob Marlette, Billy Idol