IOMMI TO RELEASE SOLO RECORDINGS ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME

IOMMI TO RELEASE SOLO RECORDINGS ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME

TONY IOMMI TO RELEASE SOLO RECORDINGS WITH GLENN HUGHES ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME

‘THE 1996 DEP SESSIONS’ AND THE 2005 ‘FUSED’ ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON LIMITED COLOURED VINYL, DIGISLEEVE CD AND DIGITAL ON OCTOBER 4TH VIA BMG.

LISTEN TO THE NEW DOUBLE A SIDE SINGLE ‘GONE’ / ‘SAVIOUR OF THE REAL’

 AND PRE-ORDER HERE https://tonyiommi.lnk.to/depfusedPR

Photo JOHN McMURTRIE

The relationship between iconic Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and English musician Glenn Hughes stretches far back into the mid-eighties. Best known for playing bass and performing vocals in the hard rock band Trapeze and in the Mk. III and IV line-ups of Deep Purple, Hughes sang on the 1986 Black Sabbath album ‘Seventh Star’. It was the twelth album from the fabled heavy metal originators and was initially intended to be the first solo release from Iommi, but record company and management pressures led to the album being billed as ‘Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi’. Despite these demands, the album was a commerical success and reached the Top 30 of the English charts. Glenn’s powerful, soulful voice complimented Iommi’s unique guitar style perfectly and even though the eighties was a turbulant time for Black Sabbath, it was clear that Iommi and Hughes would work together again in the future.

That time came in 1996 when Iommi once again collaborated with Hughes for a release that would become known as ‘The 1996 Dep Sessions’, recorded at DEP International Studios in Digbeth, Birmingham. The recordings were demos and were left unfinished due to the original line up of Black Sabbath reforming at the time. However, a bootleg recording known as ‘Eighth Star’ was circulated among fans so in 2004, to combat this, the session was eventually offically released.

After Black Sabbath’s 1995 album Forbidden, the band would go on hiatus. So when Tony and Glenn reunited in 1996 to record together, it was with a renewed creative vigour and ambition to take a step away from the signature Sabbath sound and forge a new direction. The results were a formidable, contemporary take on a classic rock sound with Glenn’s soaring vocals combined effortlessly with Iommi’s monolithic riffs. These eight songs sound as vital as the day they were recorded and are now being pressed on vinyl for the first time in limited Translucent Black Ice colour.

The official release of ‘1996 The Dep Sessions’ in 2004 proved to be a catalyst for Tony and Glenn, who rekindled their collaboration and within a year, released what would be Iommi’s third solo album in 2005. Titled ‘Fused’, the album was recorded at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales and saw Iommi sounding heavier than ever. The album is chock full of stomping, grinding riffs that saw Iommi tipping his hat to the metal genre he had helped spawn decades before. ‘Fused’ sounded completely modern for what was happening in heavy music at the time and still stands the test of time today. Once again, Glenn’s vocals glided effortlessly over Iommi’s earth-shattering six string attack. Produced, engineered and mixed by American record producer Bob Marlette (whose credits include everyone from Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper to Sheryl Crow), the album was a success and reached number 34 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers Chart. ‘Fused’ is now reissued for the first time on Translucent Cobalt Blue vinyl and includes three bonus tracks.

In addition to being an active session musician, Hughes also maintains a notable solo career. He currently fronts the supergroup Black Country Communion, and fronted California Breed from 2013 to 2015 and The Dead Daisies from 2019 to 2023. In 2016, Hughes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple. Tony Iommi’s legendary status is assured and he continues to record new music to this day, always pushing the bounderies and staying ahead of the pack. It’s only right that these fantastic recordings from his solo years are being cut to wax for the first time for new and old fans to enjoy as well as new digisleeve CD and digital editions.

Pre-order ‘The 1996 Dep Sessions’ and ‘Fused’ HERE: https://tonyiommi.lnk.to/depfusedPR

Glenn Hughes – Cardiff Tramshed – 6th October 2018

Glenn Hughes – Cardiff Tramshed – 6th October 2018

Leigh Fuge.

Glenn Hughes announces he is going on the road to play a set of classic Deep Purple, my ears pricked up. Mk3 Deep Purple is quite possibly my favourite incarnation and Glenn Hughes is one of my top rock vocalists, so this was surely going to be a treat!

Is there a better way to kick off a Deep Purple classic set than Stormbringer? We’re straight in at the deep end here. While I’ve never been a fan of David Coverdale as a vocalist, I always loved him with Deep Purple, but for me, these songs really come alive when Hughes steps up to the mic. The band is tight, though the guitar was a little lost in the mix from where I was standing. Hughes delivers every word like his life depends on it.

Straight away we’re kicking into Might Just Take Your Life and Sail Way. This era of Purple is often overlooked. Many people forget that they had some stellar material after Gillan. The Mk3 and Mk4 Purple band really tapped into an earthy, raw blues-rock sound compared to the bands much heavier preceding albums. Sail Away is just an instant head mover. You cannot hear that infectious riff without the head bobbing along.

Time to get funky as the band kick into Gettin’ Tighter. The original clocks in at 3 and a half minutes but live, the band turns this into a mammoth 13-minute jamathon with Hughes taking the lead in the middle of the track and showing his bass playing skills as he lets rip with some lead breaks.

Glenn pays tribute to fallen friend Tommy Bolin before the band fire into You Keep On Moving to raucous applause from the Cardiff crowd. Glenn told the room that Tommy is still with him every day and perhaps he’s right, the band delivers the song with the same energy you’d expect them to have as young men in 1975.

The great thing about playing with a guy like Glenn is that you know you’ll get your spot to show the world what you can do, keyboard player Jesper Bo Hansen makes his Hammond scream and shouts in ways you could never imagine before the band jumps into the cowbell-heavy gallop of You Fool No One.

Next up, fleet-fingered guitarist Soren Anderson get’s his moment. I’ve been a fan of Soren for a long time but had yet to catch him perform live as last time I saw Glenn perform, he had a stand-in due to Soren having other commitments. For the next few minutes, the room watches in awe as Soren sets the fretboard on fire and then launches into the bluesy stomp of High Ball Shooter.

Next up, for me, the highlight of the show, Mistreated. This song is my all-time favourite Deep Purple song and if I had to pick a single track from Glenn Hughes lineage that for me would be the stand out track, this would be it. I honestly think, no one in the world sings it as well as Glenn. He delivers every single word with the passion and conviction of a man who truly has been mistreated. It never fails to blow me away.

Having not checked out the setlist ahead of the show, I assumed that it would be purely focused on tracks from the Mk3 and 4 eras, but much to my surprise the band rounded off the set with a storming rendition of Gillan era mega-hit Smoke on the Water coupled with a stripped down version of the Ray Charles song Georgia on my Mind. Hughes shows off his huge vocal range many times over the night but really lets it fly during Georgia as he tickles the upper echelons of what the human ear can perceive.

Encore time and Hughes professes to the crowd that they know what’s coming next, and we sure do. The band launch into Burn and the room goes nuts. This is what it’s all about. High energy, high octane rock and roll.

As all great nights, unfortunately, this one also comes to a close as Glenn passes his bass to his tech and assumes the vocalist role as the band play yet another Gillan era track, Highway Star. Having witnessed Gillan sing this track with Deep Purple just a year ago, I can honestly say I think Hughes delivers it better. His range is untouched, and he still has the conviction and energy of a 20-year-old rock star with the world at his feet.

Proving night after night that age does not diminish your ability to rock. Glenn Hughes is the real deal. He’s a fantastic singer, incredible bass player and all-around artist. My mind is blown yet again.

Buy Glenn Hughes Here

 

That’s the week that was

That’s the week that was

That week went quickly.  No sooner did we bring you the finest alternative album reviews but we also ushered in some welcome reviews from the best live bands breezing through the United Kingdom.

You had Canadian rockers The Dirty Nil turning up their master volume last weekend and we also went loco over power-pop royalty Paul Collins and his new album Out Of My Head.  If those two didn’t tickle your fancy then you should try out some UK hardcore in the shape of Welsh upstarts Social Experiment and their stunning debut ‘Rumours of Our Demise Are Not Greatly Exaggerated’.

We brought you Commies who played with Tommy, Some Italians who just rock like fuck in the shape of some Peawees, German sleazy rock n rollers in the shape of Hell Nation Army. and as the week drew to a close we took on board The Virginmarys new record that is a must hear any day of the week.

We also got to have a chat with Alvin Gibbs and get the low down on his soon to be released debut solo album and the UK Subs bass player also had some amusing tales about his band and what he spends his time doing when not on stage.

All that was last week when we also announced details of some great tours and shows and new records being released.

 

To prove that we should be the bookmark site for all the best reviews, news and interviews over the coming seven days we’ve got exclusive reviews and interviews that you won’t find anywhere on the internet beginning today when we have Tyla spilling the beans about his new record and over the next seven days. Reviews from Deathtraps, Nicotene Pretty, King Brothers, and Bottle Rockets but we also go balls deep into some fantastic live show reviews from the likes of Glenn Hughes and Jesse Malin to name two so you know where to go and click when you’re skiving in work – Oh and Nev just gave you his tips on the shakers and movers in the 2018 ska/punk scene with a few just about to head out around the UK if you’re quick there might still be tickets left for The Interrupters / Bar Stool Preachers Tour.  So skive a bit more with us and keep up to date with what’s what.  As Lux used to say – Stay Sick! Luv

RPM Online

Turbocharged Rock and Roll writing.