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January 30, 2004
Mel Pritchard
Barclay James Harvest drummer Mel Pritchard died during the night of
27th/28th January 2004

Melvyn Paul Pritchard was born in Oldham on January 20th, 1948, and
went to school with Les at Derker Secondary Modern. Mel took up
drumming after borrowing his father’s ukulele-banjo and deciding that
it made better sounds when he took the strings off and hit it!
Mel
and Les joined the school band and went on to form Heart And Soul And
The Wickeds, then stayed together when Barclay James Harvest was
formed in 1967.
When the band turned professional, Mel gave up his job as a central
heating engineer and went to live with them in John Crowther’s
farmhouse.
www.bjharvest.co.uk
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David Palmer (Jethro Tull)
A former member of legendary Seventies band Jethro Tull has had a
sex-change operation and became a woman called Dee. Keyboard player
David Palmer now has long blonde hair, along with make-up and black
leggings.
Palmer, 66, a former soldier in the Royal Horse Guards and Fellow of
the Royal Academy of Music, is now set to embark on a solo career. She
said: "I want to be judged on my musical ability alone, and nothing
else."

Her desire to change sex had been an "open secret" in the music
business for many years, she said, but she did not go ahead with the
operation until the death of wife Margaret nine years ago.
Palmer lives in Hove, East Sussex, but is currently in the Spanish
resort of Lanzarote, recording her first solo album before launching a
British tour next month.
Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull's frontman, stood by his former bandmate,
saying: "I found it difficult at first but I fully support his
decision." Anderson finally accepted the news when Palmer rang him to
say: "There's something I need to get off my increasingly ample
chest."
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Schwung 2004

www.schwung.be
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Marillion
Message from the band:
Some of the more observant amongst you may have noticed that the
release date of Marbles has moved, and is now scheduled for 3rd May -
seven days later than the date originally planned. The extra week
makes all the difference to our media campaigns, making sure that we
get better retail presence and that we make better use of our campaign
money. We thought we'd give you an explanation due to the fact that so
many of you will no doubt spot the date change and email us to ask
questions!
Don't worry, though - for those of you who pre-ordered before the end
of 2003, your copy will still ship a month before this new date. If
you pre-order the Deluxe Campaign Edition in 2004, this will still
ship on 3rd May 2004; and a standard Jewel-Case 2CD version will also
be available from Racket Records from this release date.

There's also another chance to own a piece of Marillion history: Steve
Rothery is selling his Roland Guitar Synth and companion Guitar. This
is the guitar that was used for all of the Fugazi and Misplaced
Childhood albums, and can be seen in the Kayleigh video. The synth
part was featured on Assassing and side one of Misplaced Childhood.
More information, photos, and details on the auction are available
directly at:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3D2374193717
And
finally... for those of you who haven't been to the website lately,
we've added LOADS more tour dates across Europe for 2004 - and more
dates world-wide are being added every week. So don't forget to check
out the TOUR section on the Marillion website to catch up on all the
latest info at:
http://www.marillion.com/tour
All
the best,
h, Steve, Ian, Mark, Pete
MARILLION eWeb Email Newsletter -
info@marillion.com
The new album MARBLES on sale NOW
www.marillion.com/marbles
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Salmon
I
found this on Salmon’s site (www.salmon.nl
)
Still, we are in the middle of the studio recording sessions of our
new CD "When The Dust Settles" in the Polytrax Studio at Zeewolde,
Holland. Due to the busy recording schedule, we can plan only one
weekend every two or three weeks and therefore the latest expectation
of finishing the recordings and the mix is around the end of February
or the beginning of March. Considering the timetable of mastering,
lay-out, printing and producing the CD copies etc., we still expect to
present our CD in March 2004.

The drumparts have been completed a while ago and the guitar- and
keyboards parts will be finished shortly. During January the rest of
the guitar parts, lead vocal and bass parts will be recorded.
Our second CD will be titled "When The Dust Settles" and will consist
of six songs. One epic song "Time To Fantasize", two ballads "Grey
Velvet" and "September Weeps" + three various songs "Three”, “Dubious
Dried Ink" and "King For A Day". Lay-out and more details will
follow...
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Day Six
“- Eternal Dignity -
Tour 2004”
2004
Sa.
14 Feb. – OJC Todo – Best
Su. 15 Feb. – 013 -Tilburg
Sa. 13 March – Plato – Helmond
Sa. 27 March – Tavenu – Waalwijk
Sa. 10
Apr. – Bibelot – Dordrecht
Sa. 24 Apr – The Frontline – Gent (B)
Su. 25
Apr – JC de Kelder - Breda
Su.
8 Aug. – All American Day - Weert
www.day-six.com
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Karnataka
Karnataka/Flick Productions are very pleased to announce that
Karnataka will be performing as special guests of STATUS QUO at the
Waterfront, Belfast on March 6th and Olympia, Dublin on March 8th.
Ticket information for both venues can be found at
www.ticketmaster.ie
and the Official Status Quo website
www.statusquo.co.uk.
Karnataka have also been confirmed for the ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
2004. Further details to follow. Headline acts confirmed so far
include The Who, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and David
Bowie. Official festival site can be found at
www.isleofwightfestival.com
Mixing of the live album commences shortly and will see the reuniting
of the successful team that brought you Delicate Flame Of Desire -
Producer Steve Evans and Engineer Joe Gibb.
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Nick D’Virgilio

NDV -
LIVE & ACOUSTIC
In
August/September of 2003, I went out on my 2nd little mini tour. I did
four gigs back east and three gigs on the West Coast. For the gigs on
the West Coast, I took my very good friend and one of my favourite
guitarists, Rick Musallam. Rick played on my solo record KARMA, plays
in the Mike Keneally Band with me, and also went with me on my first
little mini tour back in 2002. Along with the tremendous help of Gruno
and Barry Kimmel, the tour culminated with a gig at Imusicast up in
Oakland, CA. We were able to film and record that show. So, my friend
from way back, Stan Ausmus, who you may know from the last Spock's
record "Feel Euphoria" (he co-wrote a couple of songs), is a fantastic
video editor and put together this DVD.
The DVD and CD are slightly different. The main show is just about the
same as you can see from the song lists. It's the bonus stuff that
makes the difference. On my first mini tour in 2002, Rick and were
doing our "let's make a whole band out of two people" thing. The board
tape from our Bottom Line show in NYC turned out pretty darn good, so
I thought it would be cool to include some selections from that gig.
The DVD has some really fun bonus footage that's different from the
CD. There are a couple of funny bits. A drum solo from my gig in
Lowell, MA, where the drummer for the band that opened the show was
gracious enough to let me beat his drums for a minute. I played at the
Prog Day festival in Chapel Hill, NC and there was a kit on stage, so
I decided to play the song "Karma" on drums. And finally, there's a
fun version of "Long Distance Runaround" by Yes, performed by me and
Mike Keneally from Victor's By the Bay in San Diego, CA.
I
hope you enjoy what you see and hear. Just click the link and go to
the
order page
to pre-order your DVD and CD. There is a special price and offer if
you order both items at the same time. They both should be ready to
ship by the middle to end of February.
All the best, NDV

Track list CD:
01.
The Bottom Line -
mp3
(excerpt) - 02. The River Is Wide -
mp3
(excerpt) - 03. Strange World - 04. Shining Star - 05. Karma - 06. I'm
The Guy - 07. Reflection - 08. Carie - 09. Thoughts Pt 1 -
mp3
(excerpt) - 10. City Of The Sun
Bonus
tracks taken from The Bottom Line, NYC July 10th 2002:
11.
10 Years Gone - 12. The Waters Edge - 13. The Water/Time Has Come -
14. Here Comes The Flood
Track list DVD:
01.
The River Is Wide - 02. The Bottom Line - 03. Strange World - 04.
Shining Star - 05. Karma - 06. I'm The Guy - 07. Reflection - 08.
Carie - 09. Thoughts Pt 1 - 10. City Of The Sun - 11. Carry On
Bonus footage:
Funny bits - Drum solo from Lowell, MA - Karma from Progday - Long
Distance Runaround w/ Mike Keneally
www.ndvmusic.com
(renewed site)
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Blackfield
BLACKFIELD - a collaboration between Israeli singer songwriter Aviv
Geffen and British musician and producer Steven Wilson

Abbey Road Studio 16th October 2003
The
Blackfield album will be released in Israel by Helicon/Universal on
6th February. Plans are underway for it to be issued throughout the
rest of the world in the spring. Aviv and Steven will be making some
TV appearances in Israel in mid-Feb to promote the album, with a
Blackfield line-up including ex-Porcupine Tree drummer Chris Maitland.
You
can listen to "Pain", the second Blackfield single, on
http://www.porcupinetree.com/blackfield/
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Porcupine Tree
IN
ABSENTIA DVD:-A PROMO CLIP
On
the
www.porcupinetree.com
website in the news section, you can find a link to a short
promotional clip in Quicktime movie format for the forthcoming
surround sound mix of Porcupine Tree's In Absentia album (approx 19MB
in size).
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Ayreon
From the Ayreon website:
Teaser-Trailer for The Human Equation
Curious? Then check out
www.ayreon.com/thehumanequation and
see the teaser for yourself. Please be aware that the teaser-trailer
is only available in the Windows Media Player format and that you need
to have the absolute latest version (9) in order to see and hear it.
A little while from now we will premiere a full-trailer, which will
open the way for even more downloadable previews. Of course, more
information will become available as we start counting down to the
release of 'The Human Equation' in May 2004- so keep your eye on the
site!
Ayreon signs with InsideOut!
The German based label InsideOut already released Arjen Lucassen's
Star One project, but now Arjen has signed with them also for the new
Ayreon release: The Human Equation. Arjen is very excited to give his
brainchild a new and proper home and already enjoys working with the
fantastic crew at Inside Out.
Two
more guests announced!
The singing, guitar playing Hammond wizard is none other than Uriah
Heep's Ken Hensley. Ken was asked if he could give a killer Hammond
performance, and he delivered in true Uriah Heep form.
Last year Arjen met up with IQ keyboardist Martin Orford and asked him
if he would be interested to guest on the upcoming Ayreon release.
Martin had already heard a lot of good things about Ayreon and
immediately took up the invitation.
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CARAVAN
Single appearance in
France, Saturday March 20th, 2004 !
The
'Unauthorized Tour 2004' of the legendary Canterbury band CARAVAN,
promoting their latest studio album “The Unauthorized Breakfast Item”,
has only one French concert, at The Café de la Danse, Paris,
Saturday March 20th, 2004
Paris, January 2004
: For the first time in three years the legendary British band
CARAVAN plays a concert in Paris. The concert is organized by Caravan
Song Ltd, relayed in France by Prog La Vie. CARAVAN’s concerts
in the last months of 2003 to celebrate their 35th
anniversary have drawn ecstatic reviews from both fans and critics.
This Tour will see the band perform material from “The Unauthorized
Breakfast Item” and classics from their 15 albums. “The Unauthorized
Breakfast Item” is released by ECLECTIC DISCS and is available in
France from the end of January 2004.
For
further information on CARAVAN please visit:
www.caravan-info.co.uk
or
www.eclecticdiscs.com
Tickets available from the FNAC network Tel 0892 683622
www.fnac.com
OR Proglavie Tel 0033 611 016236
www.proglavie@free.fr
Tickets are 22 Euros
|
CURRENT BAND LINE UP |
Pye Hastings
- Guitar / Vocals
Jan Schelhaas - Keyboards
Richard Coughlan - Drums
Geoffrey Richardson - Viola/ flute/ mandolin
Jim Leverton - Bass/ vocals
Doug Boyle - Guitar
|
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Threshold
EXTINCT INSTINCT
Inside Out Music are about to release a Special Edition version of
Extinct Instinct. The release will include three bonus tracks -
Mansion (an acoustic track from the original Japanese release) and
radio versions of Exposed and Virtual Isolation as originally released
on the fan club album Decadent. All the tracks have been remastered,
and the packaging will include modified artwork and a 20 page booklet
including new sleeve notes by Karl Groom and Richard West.
The release
dates are Europe 23/02/2004, UK 01/03/2004 and USA
16/03/2004.

www.thresh.net
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January 18, 2004
The Tangent
The SECOND
TANGENT ALBUM.
Work for the second album by The Tangent has already begun. The album
is currently under the working title of "The World that we Drive
Through". Andy Tillison will once again be leading the project, and he
has drafted and made demos for four songs, with a fifth penned by
fellow Po90 member Sam Baine. The album will feature Andy, Sam, Roine
Stolt, Jonas Reingold and Zoltan Csorsz... all confirmed. At this
moment it is not possible to confirm David Jackson or Guy Manning's
involvement owing to scheduling and other projects. However, nothing
is ruled out as yet, and there may be other participants this time
too. The Tangent is intended to be a fluid unit....
Ed Unitsky
WILL be being asked to design the sleeve again.

This time there will be closer work between the musicians than on the
last album, and Andy will fly to Malmo, Sweden in mid February to
record the backing tracks with Jonas, Zoltan and Roine. After that,
work will continue at Cosmic Lodge in Uppsala and at MBL in Yorkshire
with a view to release towards the end of this year.
At present, the idea is to release an album that should appeal to
those who enjoyed the first album, yet develop the idea further. If
TMTDA was an album that picked up where first wave progressive music
left off, the next album is intended to step onward from there. Expect
a darker feel to some of the tracks (a la King Crimson, VDGG,
Anekdoten or Po90 perhaps!)
Read more on
www.thetangent.org
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Cirrha Niva
CIRRHA NIVA 13-01-04:
After being part of Cirrha Niva for 8 years, Liselotte Hegt (bass) has
decided to leave the band. She can no longer combine her private life
with the ambitions of the band. For the same reason Rommert van de
Meer (guitars) also left the band. The band is now searching for a
enthousiastic bassplayer / second guitar player.
If
you’re interested, mail to:
management@cirrhaniva.com

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Porcupine Tree
Warszawa
CD
The
second CD to be issued on Porcupine Tree's Transmission label is a
live in the studio recording made by Polish radio during the band's
2001 tour (the last with Chris Maitland on drums). Also in the studio
during the broadcast were an invited audience of Polish fans who
helped to make the atmosphere on the night and on this recording so
special, and the band consider this to be one of their best
performances. The CD runs over 79 minutes and features almost the
entire performance remixed from 32 track master tapes into pristine
sound quality that is far superior to the original on-air broadcast.
The
Warszawa CD comes in a beautiful digipack sleeve and is available
exclusively from this website. The first Transmission release "XM" is
now completely sold out.
Released on 2/2/2004 - Preorder now for £13.00 (including VAT)
Available from
http://www.burningshed.com/ptshop.asp

Track list
-
Even Less
(7.36)
-
Slave Called
Shiver (5.08)
-
Shesmovedon
(5.21)
-
Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth.... (5.01)
-
Lightbulb Sun
(5.59)
-
Russia On Ice
(12.26)
-
Where We Would
Be (3.40)
-
Hatesong
(8.36)
-
Stop Swimming
(7.08)
-
Voyage 34
(12.37)
-
Signify (5.40)
In Absentia DVD-A
A
new surround sound mix of Porcupine Tree's In Absentia will be issued
in February by DTS. Steven spent time in the USA in October and
December to oversee the new version, which was mixed by multi-grammy
award winning producer and surround specialist Elliot Scheiner.
The disc contains three versions of the album : (1) A high resolution
audio surround version for playing on dedicated DVD-A players, (2) A
standard resolution surround version which can be played on any DVD
player with surround speakers connected, (3) A new master of the
original stereo mix at higher resolution than is available on the
existing CD.
The DVD-A also contains a wealth of bonus material, including video,
photo galleries and three additional tracks mixed for surround : Drown
With Me, Chloroform and Futile. This is the first time that Futile
(recorded in January 2003 after the original album's completion) has
been issued commercially in any form.
www.porcupinetree.com
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Steve Hackett
Live
Archive 03 (2CD)
This release is the most recent in the Hackett Live Archive series and
is exclusive to
www.stevehackett.com
It
‘s double CD compiled from Hackett's 2003 To Watch The Storms European
tour, and features tracks from High Wycombe, Stockholm, Braunschweig,
Croydon, Mannheim, Rotherham & Limbourg.
A
perfect souvenir for anyone who made the tour, and an ideal catch up
for those of you who missed it!
Pre order now for release on 26th January 2004.
Steve Hackett - Guitar & vocals
Roger King - Keyboards
Rob Townsend - Sax, Flute & vocals
Terry Gregory - Bass & vocals
Gary O’Toole - Drums & vocals
John Hackett - Flute on “Kim”

Track List
Mechanical Bride - Serpentine Song - Watcher Of The Skies - Hairless
Heart – Darktown - Camino Royale - Pollution B - The Steppes -
Acoustic Medley – Kim - Walking Away From Rainbows – Slogans - Every
Day - Please Don’t Touch - Firth Of Fifth - The Wall Of Knives -
Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite - Spectral Mornings - Brand New - Los
Endos – Clocks - In That Quiet Earth
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Magellan
Last Magellan effort "Impossible Figures" is now available also
in Korea (through Sail Music -
http://www.sailmusic.co.kr
) in a limited, rare edition with 5 Bonus Tracks. These bonus tracks
(Hallucination, Jab for Jab, Mozambique, A Drummer's Prayer, Football
Soul) are unfinished demos recorded in the studio session of
Impossible Figures. You can download audio files of these songs at http://www.magellanweb.com/magrarities3.htm
.
In
the same page you could find some links of websites where the album
can be purchased!!
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Karmakanic
Message
from Jonas
You
can find them in the news section of
www.theflowerkings.com
Just thought I would share with you a few samples from the forthcoming
Karmakanic CD 'Wheel Of Life'
Wheel of life
It's an uplifting song that reflects upon how everything is related to
each other. It's basically in 5/8 meter with a really symphonic middle
section, where Roine goes off in a cosmic solo and ends up with big
Taurus basses and fat layers on the keys.
Do
u tango?
A
funny Mahavishnu meets Monty Python type of song. With a data voice
holding down the groove. Furious keys and basses and a sparkling
guitar solo typical Mahavishnu. The middle and ending section is in
27/16 which makes it hard to take the tango steps correctly.
Masterplan pt: 1
The
intro of the cd, working my way through the different themes on the
disc. A good 'compressed' version of the overall cd contents.
I don't have a fixed release date yet but we are talking early summer.
Musicians:
-
Jonas
Reingold:
Bass, Keys, Vocals
-
Goran Edman:
Vocals
-
Roine Stolt:
Guitar
-
Krister
Jonzon:
Guitar
-
Tomas Bodin:
Hammond Organ
-
Richard
Andersson:
Keys
-
Zoltan Czorsz:
Drums
-
Jakob Carlzon:
Piano
-
Ola Hedén:
Piano
-
Sal Dibba:
Percussion
-
Helené Melin:
Percussion
-
Inger Ohlén:
Vocals
-
Alex Reingold:
Speech
-
Helge Albin:
Flute
Keep on proggin in a free world.....
Enjoy!
Jonas
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January 08, 2004
Pain Of Salvation
12:5
(release on 23.02.2004)
Swedish Prog Metallers, Pain of Salvation bring forth their fifth
album 12:5. Lead by Daniel Gildenlow, who is also a guest musician for
Prog legends Transatlantic and The Flower Kings, 12:5 is a live
acoustic album conceptually separated into three books. Book I:
Genesis, Book II: Genesister and Book III: Genesinister captivate the
listener with vivid acoustic guitar arrangements and piano.
With 12:5, Pain of Salvation show their acoustic and emotional, but
also very intensive side. And they add another highlight to their
already impressive œuvre.
This CD was recorded during a very special unplugged show on May 12,
2003 in Eskilstuna, Sweden

Tracklist:
Book I: Genesis: Brickwork part 1 (I – V)
Book II: Genesister
Book III: Genesinister: Brickwork part 2 (VI – X)
Musicians:
Daniel Gildenlöw - guitars, vocals
Johan Hallgren - guitars
Kristoffer Gildenlöw - bass
Fredrik Hermansson - keyboards
Johan Langell – drums
www.insideout.de
www.painofsalvation.com
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Jordan Rudess in Germany
THE
MIRROR (official German DREAM THEATER fanclub) and SKYLINE EVENT
present:

On
the 30th of January JORDAN RUDESS, the genius behind DREAM THEATER's
keys and performing artist on David Bowie's Heathen Album, shows us
his abilities in the CAPITOL Musiktheater, Paderborn (Germany).
In
his approx. two-hour appearance this great artist will improvise,
explain compositions and give us an idea of his and DREAM THEATER's
music.
A real highlight not only for the keyboarders among us.
'Cause DREAM THEATER will rock the "Westfalenhalle Dortmund" the same
day, JORDAN already starts at 1 O'CLOCK p.m.. This way, there will be
enough time left to experience the best progmetal band on the planet
in the evening and additionally this perfect introduction.
Tickets for this exclusive Event are available at
www.skyline-event.de,
at your usual ticket reseller (CTS, Germany only) or by Phone under
++49(0)1805 - 11 9 11 0 (12cent/minute)
Michael Bitter (mailto:Michael@themirror.de)
THE
MIRROR - offizieller deutscher Dream Theater Fanclub
http://www.themirror.de
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After The Silence
The
CD "Final Fantasy" is almost a fact. The CD contains 4 tracks; "Final
Fantasy", "Weary Angels Heart", "C'est La Vie" and "Resurrection".
The cd is recorded in Plug Unit Studio and is recorded, produced and
mixed by John Radersma and René Speksnijder. Co-producing by After The
Silence and Edwin den Haag (bassplayer from Highway Chile, Code Willem
etc.) The cd will be mastered by Peter Brussee at Q-point. (he also
works for Wisseloord Studio among others. He also mastered cd's from
"Henk Westbroek" , "Kane" and "Ayreon / Arjen Lukassen" for example)

The
definitive After The Silence "Final Fantasy" CD Launch Party will be
at
LOOSE
END
in Reeuwijk. Date and time: Friday January 16th 2004 at 21.30 hrs.
Admission is going to cost
€ 5,00.
BE THERE and have a magnificent evening with (special guest) TIMELOCK
and AFTER THE SILENCE!!
www.afterthesilence.nl
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Symphony X
New Fanclub

The Official International Symphony X Fan Club
Read more on
http://www.churchofthemachine.com/
Re-issues
The first four CD´s by Symphony X are now available as Special Edition
re-issues. The CD`s are housed in a stylish digipak with extended
booklet and each CD will also features an enhanced element with band
interview filmed in October 2003 and a screensaver.
Symphony X Special Edition (2003)
IOMCD 146
SPV 084-24430 CD
The
Damnation Game Special Edition (2003)
IOMCD 147
SPV 084-24400 CD
The
Divine Wings Of Tragedy Special Edition (2003)
IOMCD 148
SPV 085-28330 CD
Twilight In Olympus Special Edition (2003)
IOMCD 149
SPV 085-28680 CD

www.symphonyx.com
(where you can buy a special edition
bundle with the 4 CD’s for a special prize)
www.insideout.de
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Plackband
Message from Plackband:
It's our pleasure to inform you that Plackband will play again for the
Classic Rock Society in Rotherham on the 14th of February 2004.
Yes that's on Valentine's Day; indeed we LOVE to come to England
again!
Some people will remember that strange but excellent gig Plackband did
the first time we came last year: the passport of our lead singer Kees
Bik was stolen on the airport of Amsterdam and could not come over. So
the band decided to play with the 4 of them and did very well!
But this time we will come WITH a lead singer, in fact with a new lead
singer: Karel Messemaker. We knew Karel from an earlier period: Michel
and Ronald played with him in the band NOVEMBER in 1994 and 1995. We
released the album The First of November and it sold very well
(drummer Edwin Wernke of FAF was also part of this project)

On Saturday the 14th February Plackband will play some old- and new
songs, and some songs of the First of November album. Even some
Genesis- and Gabriel songs will be on the set list.
So we really hope that the fans that came the first time to Rotherham
to see us, will come again and bring some friends as well. We won't
let them down, we promise!
www.plackband.nl
See CRS
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Stratovarius
KOTIPELTO AND MICHAEL OUT OF STRATOVARIUS
After several emergency meetings, this move finds acceptance within
the band. “Due to irrevocable and massive difficulties between the
band leader Timo Tolkki and me, it has been agreed that this is the
best thing to do to preserve at least some of the integrity the band
used to have", says singer Kotipelto. "I will now fully concentrate on
my solo album and I am convinced that this is the best way for me."
Jörg Michael says that his priorities lie elsewhere at the moment, but
that the suddenly escalating trouble in the band is one of the main
reasons he doesn't want to play in Stratovarius anymore.

"I think this is the beginning of new era for Stratovarius and that
the future looks bright and promising. I have composed some of my best
songs during the last month", Timo Tolkki says from his writing
mansion next to the Gulf of Finland. He promises that Stratovarius
fans will be both surprised and amazed by the next album. "If anything
good comes out of this, then I guess it will be the emotions I have
managed to channel into new songs about this situation, which has been
very heavy for all of us." he continued. "I have been having quite bad
mental problems lately, but I feel better now due to anti-depressive
medication my therapist has prescribed me."
Also, according to the booking agent Continental Concerts, the current
line-up is "100% certain" to fulfil all its obligations regarding
festival dates next year even though there is a lot of simmering hate
still, waiting to boil over.
Timo Tolkki: I have received lot of interest from lots of different
singers and drummers, some of them have been quite surprising and some
of them are even singing/playing in quite big groups at this writing.
Thank you for your interest.
Also 3 female vocalists have sent me their tapes and I must say that 1
of them sounds unbelievably talented and she has the looks that kill
as well. I hope I can give you some news about the replacements as
soon as possible.
www.stratovarius.com
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December 26,
2003
The Flower Kings
From an interview with Roine in the fanclub magazine “World Of
Adventures”:
Is
Daniel Gildenlow now an official member of the band?
There are no such things as official members, really. Anyone who plays
with the band on a regular basis sort of becomes a member until he
stops. But we intend to include him when making the next CD too and
hopefully on coming tours too. I just know that he has his own band
and I do respect the fact that he needs to set aside time for his own
projects as well.

I’m just happy for every moment that Hasse, Daniel and I can do our 3
part harmonies. It really makes a difference to have 3 singers in a
band. I just hope and wish to explore new territory on the new album.
I will probably downscale my own lead singing a bit.

Any
mood settings about the new album?
I
think, or hope for a melodic strong album, perhaps to a more symphonic
or “Stardust” type of CD. With UTF we showed that we can deliver from
all different aspects, now I think we need to do an album with only
extremely strong melodies.
From an interview with Jonas Reingold in the fanclub magazine “World
Of Adventures”:
How
about Karmakanic 2?
I
think that the songwriting is more focused on songs this time. I
think, it’s both more complex and more naïve. It’s more of a
traditional progressive rock album then the first one. I’m flirting
more with the seventies this time. I’m almost at the end of the
recording and I think the singer (Göran Edman) did a very great job on
this one. I’ve also got a new guitar player (Krister Jonsson) who’s
dynamite. I’m quite curious what people will think of this CD.

What’s the line up this time?
It’s Zoltan on drums and myself on bass and some keyboards. And the
two mentioned before. And then I have a couple of guest players.
Would that be any members of the Flower Kings?
We
just have to wait and see, don’t we?
I’ve written all the music and arrangements. I’m also producing it. I
even get to sing a verse or two. Not just backing vocals, but lead
vocals.
The release date is going to be the end of March 2004.
A
More Recent Message from Jonas:
Wish you all a merry christmas. I hope you all will grab the
opportunity to relax and find peace among your loved ones. I will take
a couple of days off now but will have the next Karmakanic cd ready in
a 1-2 weeks. I have done a mix of one song already and I will add some
small things to the other songs and mix of course. I will provide you
with a sample shortly. The Name of the disc will be “Wheel of Life”
with titles like: Masterplan, Do you tango? I would like to dance.
Wheel of life, Sum of substance, Alex in paradise, etc.
There will be 9 songs on the disc with a couple of long ones...I´m
very pleased with the result so far and I feel that the material is
more mature then the previous one. More complex and more naive, the
lyrics are written by my second half in life, Inger Ohlèn. She´s a
very talented writer and she will leave some thoughts for you to
contemplate over, plus it´s nice for me to work with someone that
close to me.
From The Flower Kings website:
The
new album.
I
have recorded guitar on 2 tracks and Mr. Bodin will add some hammond
organ on a
few
tracks once he get his studio set up in his new house in Wappeby Gard.
I have been writing for a few months now....kind of aimlessly, or
rather writing for whatever may come. This time around I've based my
writing on a simple acoustic guitar and a portable MP3 recorder.
Back to basics sort of, with 3 minute songs......not meaning the music
is simple, however I'm sure there is more of a 60 Beatle vibe in
there, at least at this stage. I've penned a few more textured things
too. Leaning towards the epics of UTF.
Daniel Gildenlow will be on the new record taking a few of the leads
as I plan to scale down my singing just a bit so Hasse and Daniel will
take most of the leads.
New album will explore less of the fusion and jazz and be more of a
rock and symphonic CD.
For what it is worth I'll give you a few of the working titles:
Starlight Man, Bomb Inside Her Heart, Notorious, Bad Wire, House Has
Lost It's King, Minor Giant Steps, Cosmic Circus, Head Above Water,
Tobacco Road, Cinnamon & Gold, Zombie Report, Pandoras Box Set, Her
Selfconsuming Fire, Sunday Skies plus a few instrumental pieces like
:Dark Companion,Telecaster Waltz, Irish Five, Sacralamente, Regal
Pipes, Graal and on and on.......
The others have been writing too and we will get together in Jonas
Studio to rehearse and record basics on January 19th.
Swedish tour.
Further there will be a short Swedish tour (as promised) in May 2004.
Cities will be: Gothenburg, Osby, Uppsala, Nyköping, Sundsvall (or
Umeå) and possibly Oslo or Trondheim in Norway.
Ticket prices will be around 25 Euros.
At least 2 dates we will have "Flying Food Circus" as support act.
Need I say that ALL Flower Kings gigs will include the flamboyant Mr.
Bruniusson on this tour as well as our new golden boy Daniel
Gildenlow.
European Tour
A
European Tour will follow in September 2004 covering most of Europe.
At that time we will have the new CD out (no working title yet)
New
DVD
We'll look into doing another DVD complementary to "Meet The FK's".
This one will focus on "shorter songs" and include interviews with ALL
bandmembers (in English) and show a bit behind the scenes focusing on
every instrumentalist and their instruments, background, musical taste
etc.
Projects
Other projects for 2004 is recording of the next Tangent, starting in
late february, a new Tomas Bodin Piano record, recording of the
"Thread" CD that includes myself and Doane Perry, the drummer from
Jethro Tull, keyboardist Vince DiCola and Bass player and lead singer
Ellis Hall(former Tower Of Power keyboard and vocalist) we will start
recordings in April 2004 for a possible October release.
Flying Food Circus will record the new album during the year so there
is plenty of FK goodies to wait for.
www.theflowerkings.com
Back
Djam Karet
DJAM KARET’s 20th
Anniversary in 2004, and New Releases info!
NEW RELEASES
The first quarter of 2004 will see 2 new Djam Karet releases!
NEARfest Records will be releasing Djam Karet's performance at the
2001 NEARfest! This digitally recorded release has been assembled and
mixed by the band over the last 6 months of 2003 at their own studios
and is a great portrait of Djam Karet live as it captures both the
energy and improvisational moments of the band's infrequent live
shows. For more details, please head on over to NearFest Record’s
website (http://www.nearfestrecords.com)

Djam Karet will also be self-releasing a specially priced 2 CD set in
honor of their 20 Year Anniversary that will be available direct from
the band as well as a few independent specialty web based retailers.
“No Commercial Potential & ... And Still Getting The Ladies” ties
together the band's roots in improvisational rock as it presents the
band's first cassette-only release of live direct to analog 8 track
improvisations from 1985 (digitally mastered and transferred to CD)
along with live in-the-studio improvisations recorded during the Night
For Baku sessions in 2002. Heady energetic stuff that both shows their
roots and breaks new ground! Both releases will be available through
their website and for a limited time as fully autographed at no extra
cost versions. Best way to stay on top of it is to join their mailing
list on the Djam Karet website.
The
rest of 2004 will be spent writing and recording a (as yet untitled)
studio CD and companion DVD for release on Cuneiform in May of 2005.
There will be no live Djam Karet performances during 2004. 2005 is
another story...
Go visit them at:
www.djamkaret.com
Back
Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep
In Holland

www.uriahheepholland.com
http://www.uriah-heep.com
Classic Uriah Heep DVD


From the Byron era on
DVD
2 DVD set and 48 page
book featuring David Byron and Gary Thain
STRICTLY
LIMITED EDITION
OF JUST 3000 COPIES
Released January 30th
2004.
This special limited edition will not be available in the stores.
SUBSCRIBE FOR
YOUR COPY NOW !

DISC 1
URIAH HEEP LIVE FROM 1974 AND 1975
Features the only known footage of the Byron
/Box/Hensley/Kerslake/Wetton line up performing Return To Fantasy ,
Easy Livin' , Stealin' ', Prima Donna and Shady Lady .
FULL TRACK LISTING DISC 1
Return To Fantasy '75 - Easy Livin' '75 - Stealin' '75 - Prima Donna
'75 - Shady Lady '75 - So Tired '74 - I Won't Mind '74 - The Easy Road
'74 - Love Machine '74 - Something or Nothing '74 - Love Machine '74 -
Rock'n'Roll Medley '74
Bonus tracks: Easy livin'74
- Stealin' 74
DISC 2
COLLECTORS RARITIES FEATURING URIAH HEEP AND DAVID BYRON'S ROUGH
DIAMOND
FULL TRACK LISTING DISC 2 *
COLLECTORS RARITIES
High and Mighty Intro '76 - Midnight '76 - Guitar improvisation '76 -
Sweet Lorraine '76 - Band TV Interview USA '72 -
July Morning '72 (USA) - Look at Yourself '73 (Japan) - Sunrise '73
(Japan ) - Traveller in time '73 (Japan) - Tears in my Eyes '73 (Japan
) - Australian Box /Byron Interview '73 - Easy Livin' '72(USA) -
Rock'n'Roll Medley '72 (Japan)
BONUS
TRACKS
July
Morning Montage (Europe / Japan/ '73/76) - Rough
Diamond -
Rock N Roll '77
-
Rough Diamond - Looking For You '77
-
Rough Diamond - Seasong '77
-
Rough Diamond - Scared '77
-
Rough Diamond - Lock 'n' Key '77
*
Actual track listing may vary.
If we get
a few gems we're still searching for ....
THE
BOOK
A
specially written full colour 48 page book by Heep's current Executive
Producer Bob Carruthers featuring previously unseen photographs, new
interviews,...
http://www.uriah-heep.com
www.uriahheepholland.com
Back
Sun Caged
NEW
DRUMMER FOR SUN CAGED !!
After several auditions Sun Caged have found a new drummer. His name
is Roel Van Helden, age 23, student at the academy of music in
Tilburg, Netherlands.
He
surprised us with the fact that he managed to play the whole album
within a week. Besides that, there is a very good chemistry between us
and Roel, musically as well as on a personal level. We never played
our songs that well before !
What's funny is the fact that Roel is already a member of Marcel's
soloband and he is also the drummer our bassist Rob played with, at
age 14, in his first band. We welcome Roel in the Cage, and we are
sure that this has brought Sun Caged to a higher level.
We
also would like to thank all other drummers who showed interest, and
we also hope that the true Sun Caged fans will welcome Roel with open
arms, possibly at one of our upcoming gigs.
Rob, Joost, Marcel, Andre and Roel !!
Sun
Caged
http://www.suncaged.com
Back
Christmas and New Year wishes from the bands.
Rick Wakeman
On
www.rwcc.com
you can watch a little movie of Rick Wakeman who’s telling a Christmas
Story



Atempo is the new
band with Nexus singer Mariela Gonzalez

Karnataka
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
Thank you for all your support in 2003 - it's been a fantastic year !
Looking forward to an even bigger and better 2004 !
Rachel, Ian, Jonathan, Anne, Paul and Gavin
Karnataka
Official website
www.karnataka.org.uk


Isildurs Bane
Isildurs Bane would like to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new
year. We are grateful for your support and your interest in the band.
Hopefully, we will see you on tour during 2004.
Banco Del Mutuo
Soccorso


Back
December 16,
2003
Classic Rock Society Awards:
BEST BAND - Karnataka
BEST NEW BAND - Strangefish
BEST MALE VOCALS - Steve Taylor (Strangefish)
BEST FEMALE VOCALS - Rachel Jones (Karnataka)
BEST KEYS - Rick Wakeman
BEST GUITAR - Steve Hackett
BEST BASS - John Jowitt (IQ/Jadis/ex JYB)
BEST DRUMS - Dave Whittaker (Strangefish)
BEST MULTI INSTRUMENTALIST - Troy Donockley (Iona)
BEST ALBUM - Karnataka/Delicate Flame of Desire
BEST CRS GIG - Steve Hackett
http://www.classicrocksociety.com/
Back
Rick Wakeman
"OUT THERE: THE MOVIE"
Ben
Williams from Classic Pictures has sent a press release announcing a
new DVD starring Rick Wakeman and The New English Rock Ensemble:
'Out There' - The Movie
Release Dates:
UK
& EUROPE: 23rd Feb 2004
AUSTRALIA: 8th June 2004
CANADA: 23rd March 2004
USA: 09th March 2004
Ben
writes:
Rick Wakeman's return to YES in June of 2002 coincided with the
completion of the recording of "Out There," his first progressive rock
album with his own band for 26 years. In true Wakeman tradition, "Out
There" is a musical concept continued from where he left off in 1976
with his quest for the origins of all music with "No Earthly
Connection" which sold in excess of five million copies worldwide. The
highly anticipated concept movie "Out There" has been crafted together
with high-end computer graphics, studio recordings and outstanding
footage from the vaults of the NASA archives to create this, the very
first, "Progressive Rock DVD Album," presented in crisp
three-dimensional sound.
Line Up:
Choir:- The English Chamber choir conducted by Guy Protheroe
Rick Wakeman - Keyboards
Tony Fernandez - Electronic & Acoustic Drums & Percussion
Ant Glynne - Electric Guitars
Damian Wilson - Vocals
Lee Pomeroy - Basses
(Additional solor guitar on "The Mission" and acoustic guitar on "Out
There" by Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith)

Track List Includes
Out
There, The Mission, To Be With You, Universe Of Sound, Music Of Love,
The Cathedral Of Sound
Special Features Include
5.1
Dolby Digital/D.T.S Sound Options
"Out There Tour" Feature - capturing Rick and the band on stage and
off stage
"Audio Only" Feature
Further Information
http://www.classicpictures.co.uk
http://www.rwcc.com
Back
Guy Manning
The
newest album from Guy Manning, "The View From My Window", is now
available via the
Enclave Online Store.
For
more information (news, clips, reviews) on the album visit
"The View From My Window"
section of
www.guymanning.com.
The Official World Wide Release date is now 15th December 2003
The players
Guy
Manning:
Vocals, Keyboards/Samples, 6/12 String Acoustic & Electric Guitars,
Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Drums & Percussion
Rick Ashton: bass guitar
Laura Fowles: Saxophones, Vocals
Gareth Harwood: Electric Guitar
Guests
Andy Tillison:
Organ on 1, Piano on 4, 6A, 6B, Synthesizer Solo 6E, Drums 1, 5
(Courtesy of 'Parallel Or 90 Degrees' & 'The Tangent')
Pav Chana:
Percussion on 2, 3
Hugh Whitaker: Drums on 5,6 & Percussion on 2,3
Tim Moon: Whistle on 2, Cello on 4, Flute on 6E & Fiddle on 6E
Produced/Engineered
By: Guy Manning / Andy Tillison at Burnside Studios, Leeds in 2003

Artwork Dan Lyons / Guy Manning / Andy Tillison
Track listing
1.
Phase
(The Open & The Widening Sky)
2. The View From My Window
3. The Rut
4. After The (Tears In The) Rain
5. Blue Girl
6. Suite:Dreams
a) Dreamian Rhapsody
b) On The Carousel
c) In Slumbers...
d) A Visit To The Sandman
e) R.E.M
f) ...From Slumbers
www.guymanning.com
Back
Sun Caged
Sun
Caged parts ways with drummer Dennis Leeflang.
Dennis' statement:
"After almost five years, three demo-cd's, one album and 61 shows, I
am no longer part of Sun Caged. This was a mutual agreement between
myself and the rest of the band. When you realize that you've grown
apart as friends, as well as musicians, and you just don't seem to be
able to grow back together, the only fair decision to make is to part
ways. I've had some great times in Sun Caged, especially doing the
awesome live shows I did with the band, for which I'm very grateful.
I've learned a lot in these years, musically as well as on a personal
level.
For
now, I'm focusing on my work for the Headway festival, which takes
place in April 2004. It promises to become quite a party once again. I
will be back with a new band next year, which I've already formed with
a
couple of friends. This will be something completely different. Keep
an eye on
www.thesaturnine.com.
I
would like to thank Lasse Mattson at Lion Music and the fans for their
support. I also wish the guys in Sun Caged all the best for the
future. Hope to see you all again, sometime, somewhere!
Cheers,
Dennis Leeflang
December
15th 2003
Sun Caged:
We would like to thank Dennis for the past years for all the work he
has put into the band, and we wish him the best for the future. More
news, which will have the announcement for the new drummer, will be
posted soon.
Rob, Andre, Joost and Marcel, on behalf of Sun Caged.
http://www.suncaged.com
Back
Ayreon
All
vocalist names are announced for 'Ayreon: The Human Equation',
scheduled for release May 2004. Devon Graves, Mike Baker, Eric
Clayton, Magnus Ekwall, Heather Findlay, James LaBrie, Marcela
Bovio, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Devin Townsend, Irene Jansen and Arjen
Lucassen. There’s a studio report on them on
www.arjenlucassen.com.
As
always Arjen Lucassen invites various guest-instrumentalists to play
on his projects. For The Human
Equation Arjen continued the theme of working with artists
that had not yet appeared on an Ayreon projects. At this moment we
can confirm three guests!
Oliver Wakeman on keyboards.
Arjen has played guitar on some of Oliver's work, and they've been
good friends ever since.
Joost van den Broek on keyboards and spinet .
Most of you know Joost as the 'caped crusader' and magnificent
keyboard-wizard on the Star One tour (and DVD). Joost
is from the band Sun Caged.
John McManus on flutes.
John should be no stranger to fans of Arjen's work, as he is the
flutist who previously performed on
Ambeon. He plays
various flutes on The Human
Equation, among them the renowned low-flute.
The
Art of The Human Equation
Two
artists have been hard at work during the past few months creating the
artwork for the new Ayreon release. For the cover, Arjen has once
again enlisted visionary Belgian painter
Jef Bertels
to
shape the world of The Human
Equation. Jef was also responsible for the beautiful
cover-art for Into the Electric
Castle and The
Dream Sequencer. For the lay-out and the booklet Arjen has
asked Swedish graphics artist
Mattias Norén.
Mattias was responsible for the impressive artwork for the Star One
releases.
www.arjenlucassen.com
Back
IQ
New album
Work on Mark Hughes IQ biography, the IQ 20 DVD and material for the
forthcoming IQ album continues. Martin Orford about the progress on
the new album: "The
writing of the new CD is a very slow process and there is still a lot
to do, but the album is gradually taking shape. In fact I think the
material that we have so far could be up there with our strongest
ever, and I have a really good feeling about this record. We are
looking to start recording the drums for three of the tracks
(including one of the long ones) in the second week of January, and
then we'll add the other instruments to those whilst we finish off the
writing of other tracks which we will then start recording in
February. The aim is to have everything recorded and mixed by the end
of March for a release at the start of May."
Baja Prog
IQ
will be playing live at the legendary Baja Prog festival in Mexico.
For more information,
click here.
European tour dates are expected to follow when the next album will be
released.
John joins IQ Tribute
Band on Stage in Japan
At
the end of October, John Jowitt visited Tokyo with Mark Westwood (bass
tech and long time collaborator) Laurence Dyer (IQ lights) and Martin
Ogden (Guitar and lighting tech) to see IQ-J the Japanese IQ tribute
band play at the Silver Elephant in Tokyo.

John and Mark got up to play three songs - Understand by Jadis, where
we were joined by Tetsuo Inoue (the Japanese Gary Chandler/Charlie
Danger), Capital Letters (in Surgical Spirit Land), a very old IQ
instrumental featured on Seven Stories into (Ninety) Eight, and the
Gateway Middlebit, joined by all of IQ-J. The band are all great
musicians, all having their own musical projects, including Cinderella
Search and Azoth. All of the IQ boys enjoyed watching IQ-J's set which
included Intelligence Quotient, It All Stops Here,
Overture-Subterranea excerpt from Sub, and Seventh House, where again
John joined the band on bass.
IQ -J and friends met up with IQ at this years Progeny show, where
everyone flew over. Junko Minobe joined IQ on stage in London with her
violin to repeat her rendition of the sax solo from Subterrannea which
she plays on 5 string violin - doing a great job in the process. Great
time had by all, and some new friends.
Giant Electric Pea homepage
Official IQ Internet site
The Lush Attic
Back
The Dust Connection
We
want to present a new band from Holland THE DUST CONNECTION to you.
This brand new progressive metalband arose from the ashes of FOREVER
TIMES.
The
band:
Jeroen Voogd - lead vocals
Robert Spaninks - drums (ex-Forever Times, Up The Irons)
Sander Heerings - keyboards (ex-Forever Times)
Niels van Dongen - bass guitars (ex-Forever Times)
Martijn Balsters - guitars & vocals (ex-Forever Times, Up The Irons)
They just released their self-recorded demo-CD which contains four
tracks (about 30 minutes of music).

On
their recently opened website
http://www.thedustconnection.com
you can read everything about the band, see a movie of the
recordings and buy the demo-cd. Besides that, you can download two
complete songs FOR FREE.
They'd love to know what you think of their music, so feel free to
sign the guestbook on their site or drop them an email at
info@thedustconnection.com
Back
Sanity
Dutch
Progressive rock band Sanity have signed a contract with the French
Musea Records for a worldwide distribution of their latest cd. The cd
– already distributed in the Netherlands by Coast to Coast – will be
brought to the market by Musea Records through 200 distributors and
warehouses in more than 50 countries.
The record label
Musea Records is already 15 years in business, and mainly specialised
in promotion of progressive rock, but also other genres. Musea’s
catalogue currently includes about 2000 titles, of which 500 are
self-released productions.
Sanity plays plain symphonic, melodic rock with a metal touch. Emotion
is an important part of the music, which is characterised by fierce
up-tempo pieces, gentle parts and atmospheric, sensitive excesses that
seamlessly follow up one another.
The
band receive very positive reviews from all over the globe and have
already had airplay all around the world. Reviewers compare Sanity’s
music to bands like IQ, Threshold, Marillion, Queensrÿche and
Savatage, while they are hearing, amongst others, David Bowie, Bono
(U2) and Rod Evens (Deep Purple) in singer Kees van Keulen’s tone.

Extensive reviews (and more) can be found at
www.sanity.nl
.
Back
Nearfest 2004
Venue:
Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, 420 East Packer Avenue,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Date:
July 10-11, 2004
Strawbs
Strawbs date back to the late Sixities when they emerged from the
British folk scene with their unique hybrid of folk and rock. Their
now legendary form of progressive folk developed over the course of
their first few albums, some of which included long-time Yesman, Rick
Wakeman. The band is responsible for classic albums like "Hero and
Heroine" and "Ghosts". Strawbs will headline Day Two of NEARfest 2004
as a full electric band; a configuration that has not been presented
live in America in nearly 10 years.

http://www.strawbpage.ndirect.co.uk
Univers Zero
Founded by drummer/keyboardist/master composer Daniel Denis in 1974,
Univers Zero has garnered a significant worldwide cult fan base with
their dark and challenging yet melodic and emotionally stirring
compositions. Cuneiform Records' reissues of such classics as "Ceux du
Dehours" and "Uzed" have brought this phenomenal "chamber prog"
ensemble's extensive output into wider notoriety. With a sound
spectrum ranging from bleak Bartok-influenced acoustic pieces to
angular rock-in-opposition, Univers Zero certainly holds a unique
place in the pantheon of progressive music.

http://www.totalzoo.com/universzero/
Mike Keneally Band
Mike Keneally is known as one of the most creative and innovative
guitarists in the business and his live shows are legendary for their
unpredictability and high energy. He first became known as a member of
Frank Zappa's touring ensemble. He has gone on to release nine solo
albums, including the mind-blowing instrumental "Nonkertompf" and
highly dynamic and wildly adventurous "Boil that Dust Speck." Mike
also shows his more melodic (but still quirky) side on excellent newer
releasess like "Dancing" and "Wooden Smoke", the latter featuring some
of his more acoustic moments.

http://www.keneally.com
Planet X
Planet X features three virtuoso instrumentalists: keyboardist Derek
Sherinian (Dream Theater, Kiss, Alice Cooper), drummer Virgil Donati
(Tribal Tech, Steve Vai, Freakhouse), and guitarist Tony MacAlpine
(G3, CAB). The band mixes progressive, metal, and jazz influences into
a powerful and dazzling musical blend, loaded with strong riffing,
majestic melodies, and mind-searing solos. Their most recent CD
"Moonbabies" is absolutely essential for prog, fusion, and metal fans
alike. Be forwarned, their ambition is to become "the sickest
instrumental group in the world"!

http://www.xplanetx.com
Pallas
With a history dating back to the late 1970s, Pallas was among the
first of the new wave of neo-progressive rock bands from England,
along with IQ and Marillion. Pallas' second album "The Sentinel",
containing the epic "Atlantis" suite, is widely regarded as one of the
best progressive rock albums of the early 1980s. A few albums emerged
thereafter, but in 2001, Pallas released "The Cross and the Crucible",
a sweeping concept album revolving around the conflict between
religion and science through the ages. It is perhaps the band's
defining artistic statement to date.

http://www.dprp.vuurwerk.nl/bands/pallas/
Metamorfosi
Recently reunited after over 25 years apart, this Italian symphonic
prog band is led by the stunning analog keyboards of Enrico Olivieri
and the powerful baritone of virtuoso vocalist Jimmy Spitaleri. The
band is best known for the dark but beautiful prog classic "Inferno",
influenced by Dante, and recorded in 1973. They have just completed
recording the companion piece "Paradiso". Their set will consist of
these two albums in their entirety. Keyboard fans will sure to be in
paradise at Metamorfosi's U.S. debut at NEARfest 2004.

http://www.mclink.it/personal/MD6130/e-index.htm
And also:
Yezda Urfa, Hidria Spacefolk
Friday Evening:
The Musical box
See
www.nearfest.com
Back
December 05,
2003
Ange
ANGE undoubtedly was the most famous French band of the seventies, and
« Tome VI” (1977), the major live album concerning this period. Nearly
26 years later, the eagerly awaited "En Concert - Par les Fils De
Mandrin Millésimé 1977" is finally released! This live show is fully
dedicated to the album “Par les fils de Mandrin” (1976). It’s the
climax of the band’s success and creativity. By a strange coincidence,
ANGE’s new tour will also be devoted to this album, the fifth by the
band. If some fans thought that “Tome 87” wasn’t the best testimony of
ANGE’s devastating power in concert, here we are! This excellent
progressive manifesto is a perfect companion to the studio version and
the English version.

Musea FGBG 4542.AR - 2003 - France
True leader of the French Rock scene in the middle of the Seventies,
ANGE could not be satisfied to have success only in his home land.
Admittedly, the foreign public appreciated the group enormously, but
much more for its "exotic" use of the French language than for its
real talents of composition. That is the context which led the
formation to produce "By The Sons Of Mandrin", literal translation of
"Par Les Fils De Mandrin" (1976), one of the major opus of its
discography. This is a true event in the career of ANGE, as this
record remains its one and only with English lyrics. For reasons long
lost and on which only perhaps charismatic Christian DECAMPS could
raise a corner of the veil, this album was never released. It remained
well at the bottom of the drawers of Universal, until the day Musea
had the good idea to invest its time and its energy, to finally drag
this jewel from the shadow. With the studio album and the recent "En
Concert - Par Les Fils De Mandrin Millésimé 1977", you have here a
trilogy which any amateur must have in his collection!

Musea
FGBG 4541.AR - 1977- France
www.musearecords.com
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King Crimson
How
do you capture the essence of live King Crimson on DVD? One answer is
the new released
Eyes Wide Open
double disc-set, containing nearly five hours of live footage and
featuring a pioneering way to enjoy the improvisational nature of King
Crimson.
Disc One
captures a night in Tokyo, from King Crimson’s 2003 World Tour, the
first live performances following the album ‘The Power To Believe’.
Disc Two
features extensive footage from the European Tour of Spring 2000 - the
music from the album "The Construkction of Light". This revolutionary
disc simulates a different concert experience every time - by randomly
drawing on a library of different improvisations with each viewing.
King Crimson has always been a band to be judged on live performance.
This DVD is the closest you can come to the concert experience without
buying a ticket.

DVD1:
Live in Japan - Tokyo, Kouseinenkin Kaikan, April 16, 2003
01 Introductory Soundscape
02 The Power To Believe I: A Cappella
03 Level Five
04 ProzaKc Blues
05 The ConstruKction Of Light
06 Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With
07 Elektrik
08 One Time
09 Facts Of Life
10 The Power To Believe II (Power Circle)
11 Dangerous Curves
12 Larks' Tongues In Aspic: Part IV
13 The Deception Of The Thrush
14 The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum
Extra Feature
Tokyo Sound & Camera Check
Indiscretion I Indiscretion II Indiscretion III
DVD2:
Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire - London, July 3, 2000
01 Into The Frying Pan
02 The ConstruKction Of Light
03 VROOOM
04 One Time
02 London Improv 1: Blasticus SS Blastica
05 Dinosaur
06 The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum
07 London Improv 2: C Blasticum Cage
08 ProzaKc Blues
09 Larks' Tongues In Aspic: Part IV
10 Three Of A Perfect Pair
11 The Deception Of The Thrush
12 Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream
13 Heroes
Extra Feature
Improvising Crimson
www.king-crimson.com
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Tony Levin
Trey Gunn leaves King
Crimson-Tony Levin returns
Not
only is Tony Levin available, he is now officially back in King
Crimson. The news came a couple of days ago, that Tony was returning
to fill Trey's spot. Actually, he never really left. Robert Fripp
himself has called Tony the 5th member of Crim ever since the Double
Duo formed. New creative work and touring will resume next spring.
Long live the Crim....

King Crimson ColleKctive
http://www.fraKctured.net
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Fish

'Field of Crows' is ready. Fish his new CD has arrived. The master is
at the plant and CD's are being made right now. Time to preorder - or
order this new gemm (about 20 euro) on the site. Because only fans can
hear it now. Retail has to wait till May 2004.
It also might be a good idea to stop by this place very often
...touring is going to happen and there has been talk about a gig in
Belgium.
'Field of Crows' will be a single CD. Fish said "There will be no
bonus disc as I am not planning to sell the album until I have
finished copies on their way back from production plants. I don't see
the benefit of putting out a bonus disc of material that was not good
enough for the album and would rather just concentrate on making a
great album.". He also said "Tour looks like starting in the UK on Feb
17th"
Soundbytes and Lyrics can be found on the Field Of Crows site.
www.fieldofcrows.com
http://the-company.com/belgium/
The
Company Belgium - The Official Belgian Fish Fanclub Pages
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Uriah Heep
MAGIC NIGHT (The Magician's Birthday 2003)
DVD and CD Limited Edition set
STARTS SHIPPING JANUARY 15th
Featuring Uriah Heep and friends in concert.
Can
Uriah Heep keep on getting better? ... Well judge for yourself...
The
Magician's Birthday Party is the annual Gala concert held in London
every year to celebrate the music of a legendary band. Every year is a
guaranteed sell out eagerly awaited by Heep fans worldwide.
Every year we wonder if Heep can pull it off again. Well this year the
boys did us proud with an awesome performance at the Astoria which has
been rated as the best ever Magician's Birthday party.
Each concert features a different take on the extensive Heep back
catalogue. The stunning film of this year's party entitled
MAGIC NIGHT
is now complete.
Captured live before the capacity audience at the Astoria Theatre,
London on November 8th 2003.
The DVD/CD set features a glittering array of hits and special guest
appearances by former Heep vocalist
John Lawton and Heather
Findlay of Mostly Autumn. Here is the definitive proof that
in the 21st Century Heep keeps on rocking stronger than ever.
It's being made available as
DVD/CD set in a
limited edition deluxe package complete with a 24 page booklet
featuring previously unseen images.
You
won't have to wait too long either... subscriber copies will be mailed
out on January 16th a
full two months before the official release date so order your copy
today!
http://www.classicrockproductions.com/storen/uriahheep/mbp2003.html

Track list
-
Cry Freedom
-
Shadows of Grief
-
Pilgrim
-
Bad Bad Man
-
Devil's daughter
-
Wise Man
-
The Other Side of Midnight
-
Fire Fly
-
Heartless Land
-
Free Me
-
The Wizard
-
Been Away too Long
-
Stealin'
-
Too Scared to Run
-
Love in Silence
-
Easy Livin'
-
July Morning
-
Lady in Black
http://www.uriah-heep.com
http://www.uriahheepholland.com/
http://www.moreheep.com/heepnieuws.htm
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Opeth
DVD
- Lamentations - Live at Shepards Bush empire
The DVD contains both the mellow and heavy set with a running time of
approximately an hour each, as well as a unique 65 minute documentary
about the band with in depth focus on the recording of Deliverance and
Damnation. It also includes excusive interviews with the band and
producer.
Cover art: Travis
Smith
Release date: 28th November 2003 (Europe), End of February 2004
(America).

Track list
Windowpane
In My Time Of Need
Death Whispered A Lullaby
Closure
Hope Leaves
To Rid The Disease
Ending Credits
Harvest
Weakness
Intermission
Master's Apprentices
The Drapery Falls
Deliverance
Leper Affinity
A Fair Judgment
www.opeth.com
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