Todays Hardcore Flashback Ensign
Todays Classic Flashback Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits was an internationally successful 60s British rock band, from Manchester, England, formed in 1963. Part of the British Invasion, their trademark simple, non-threatening, clean-cut "boys next door" image made them easier to listen to and more accessible than other British Invasion bands.
Their first hit, "I'm Into Something Good", was produced by Mickie Most, reaching #1 in the UK (1963) and #13 in the US (1964). Other hits followed such as "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (1965) and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am". The last was said at the time to be "the fastest-selling song in history". The band played on these singles but many of their subsequent singles employed session musicians, including Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, with contributions from the band. The band's singles were written by top songwriters of the day. Regardless of how the records were made, the guitar player, Lek Leckenby, was a gifted guitarist. Indeed, all the other members were capable players and Peter Noone was a charismatic front man. The band was nominated for two Grammy awards in 1965, both for "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter". Noone and the band deliberately emphasized their Manchester accents on the record, which was never intended to be a single.
Born in Manchester, England, Noone was a child TV star in Coronation Street and in other TV work. He was still only 15 when he achieved international fame as teenage heart-throb as leader of the Hermits.
Herman's Hermits, whilst hugely successful in the mid-1960s, never topped the British charts again after their first hit, "I'm Into Something Good". However, they had two US No. 1's with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am". The band disliked both songs, and never released them as singles in Britain. They appeared in several movies, including When The Boys Meet The Girls (1965) and Hold On! (1966). They also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Jackie Gleason Show.
They enjoyed consistent success in Britain throughout the rest of the decade but they were even more popular in America for a while. Their hits continued until 1967's "No Milk Today". Soon, however, the Monkees had replaced Herman's Hermits as the simple pop rock act, and the Hermits' career declined. "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)" engendered a revival, but the Hermits never again cracked the top 10 in the U.S. This song was, however, successfully covered by The Carpenters in their album "A Kind of Hush", released in 1976. The band continued releasing records throughout the 1970s with little success. In the end, Herman's Hermits were a band which were both blessed and cursed by the 'niche' in which originally they found success.
Happy Birthday East Bay Ray
Happy Birthday Paul Allender
Happy Birthday Randy Black
Today in 2015 Buckethead released the album Pike 212 - Hornet
Los Angeles, California Various Metal
Status:Active
Years active:1988-present
Buckethead (Brian Carroll) is an American musician, songwriter and guitar virtuoso, famed for his distinctive stage outfit and elaborate stage shows. He has released over 180 solo studio albums and performed on over 70 more since 1992. He has also made guest appearances on more than 40 different albums by various artists. His music spans such diverse areas as heavy metal, funk, ambient, jazz, electronic, and avant-garde music.
When performing in his theatrical persona, Buckethead used to wear a KFC bucket (emblazoned with an orange bumper sticker that read “FUNERAL” in black block letters) on his head and a plain white costume mask (commonly found in costume shops and used primarily for dramatic theater productions). More recently, he has switched to a plain white bucket no longer bearing the KFC logo. He also incorporates nunchaku, robot dancing, and toy trading into his stage performances. Buckethead’s persona represents a character who was “raised by chickens” and has made it his “mission in life to alert the world to the ongoing chicken holocaust in fast-food joints around the globe.”
Although a multi-instrumentalist, Buckethead is best known for his electric guitar playing. He has been voted number 8 on a list in GuitarOne magazine of the “Top 20 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time.”
Buckethead performs primarily as a solo artist. He has collaborated with a wide variety of high profile artists such as Les Claypool, Tony Williams, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Iggy Pop, Serj Tankian, Guns N’ Roses, Saul Williams, Mike Patton, Viggo Mortensen, and with Bill Laswell in Praxis. Buckethead has also written and performed music for major motion pictures, including: Saw II, Ghosts of Mars, Beverly Hills Ninja, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and Last Action Hero.
Bucketheadland Records
Buckethead Everything
1. Hornet Part 1 05:28 instrumental
2. Hornet Part 2 04:48 instrumental
3. Hornet Part 3 02:55 instrumental
4. Hornet Part 4 10:51 instrumental
5. Hornet Part 5 04:11 instrumental
28:13
Today in 2014 Thanatos released the album Global Purification
Rotterdam, South Holland,Netherlands Death/Thrash Metal
Status:Active
Years active: 1984-1992, 1999-present
Global Purification’ is the name of the sixth full length album of THANATOS…an illustrious name that has been haunting the Underground Metal scene since 1984…
After several demo tapes and line-up changes, Thanatos released two classic Thrash/Death Metal albums in the early 1990's via the notorious Shark Records: 'Emerging From The Netherworlds' and 'Realm Of Ecstasy'. The band shared the stage with the likes of Kreator, Sepultura, Death, Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Autopsy and Death Angel to name but a few.
In 1992 Thanatos split up due to a variety of reasons but was revived in 1999 by founding member Stephan Gebédi featuring a new line-up. The third Thanatos album, 'Angelic Encounters', was released in 2000 via Hammerheart Records. Despite great reviews the band was not really satisfied with this album. Two more personnel changes followed.
In 2002 the band recorded four new songs and two cover songs in a small 8-track studio to attract some interest from record companies. Baphomet Records/Red Stream released these recordings as the 'Beyond Terror' Mini CD.
In 2003 Thanatos signed a recording deal with Greek label Black Lotus Records, resulting in the release of 'Undead.Unholy.Divine.' in 2004. This album was mastered by Attie Bauw, the man responsible for mixing Judas Priest’s classic ‘Painkiller’ album amongst others. While recording their fifth full-length album ‘Justified Genocide’ in 2006, the band was informed of Black Lotus Records’ bankruptcy. The recording sessions for the album were put on hold and once again the future for Thanatos looked very bleak.
At the end of 2006 Stephan formed Hail of Bullets which grew into the monster we all know now.
Guitarist Paul also joined the reformed Asphyx and drummer Yuri and bass player Marco joined Melechesh. In the years that followed, all band members were extremely busy with their other bands/projects, but in 2009, a quarter of a century after the band's first incarnation, ‘Justified Genocide' was finally released by Dutch label Deity Down Records.
In 2012 Thanatos signed a deal with the mighty Century Media Records to re-release their complete back catalogue and in April 2013 Century Media offered the band a multiple album deal!
To coincide with the band’s 30th (!) anniversary in 2014, Thanatos now unleash their 6th full length studio album upon mankind. Produced by the band themselves and mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö, ‘Global Purification’ contains 10 brand new songs which see the band outdoing themselves in terms of power and sheer aggression. Despite the speed and aggression there are enough hooks, memorable riffs and melodies to have these songs cemented in your brain after a few listens.
The digipack version of the album contains a re-recording of ,,Dawn of the Dead” which of course was the opening track of the band’s debut album.
‘Global Purification’ combines elements of aggressive Thrash Metal and old school Death Metal and takes you back to the days when Metal was about breaking rules and boundaries instead of creating them…
Century Media Records
Stephan Gebédi Vocals, Guitars
Paul Baayens Guitars
Marco de Bruin Bass
Yuri Rinkel Drums
Guest/Session
Balgradon Xul Vocals (backing) (track 3), Vocals (additional) (track 8)
Thierry de Keizer Vocals (backing) (track 3)
1. Global Purification 03:32
2. The Murder of Innocence 03:23
3. Infestation of the Soul 05:13
4. Queen of Gore 03:16
5. Nothing Left 05:13
6. World Jihad 03:14
7. The Demonized Minority 04:09
8. Feeding the War Machine 03:31
9. Blood Will Be Spilled 03:16
10. Bastion of Blasphemy 03:57
38:44
Guitars and bass recorded at Coniex Cole-Studio in Elst, Gelderland, Netherlands.
Vocals recorded at Dynamo Studio in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands.
Drums recorded at Spacelab Studios in Oedt, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
