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| THE DINOSAUR DAYS -
5 DECEMBER 1999 |
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| BLACK SABBATH |
 Black
Sabbath - Spiral Architect, taken off "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath",
their 5th and, according to many die hard fans, best ever album, released in
1973, although Volume 4 certainly gave it a run for its money. Management
problems caused a halt in Sabbath recording and touring schedules that year,
and it took nearly two years before the next album, "Sabotage", was
released. After a very tumultuous history, the Sabbath line up of Ozzy
Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward,� reformed in 1998 and
they released the amazing "Reunion" album. On December 21st and
22nd, they'll be playing their last ever gigs together at the Birmingham NEC.
According to Classic Rock magazine, Ozzy and Bill Ward will start work on new
solo albums, while Geezer Butler plans a third album with his band G//Z/R.
Tony Iommi has already started work on his first solo album, due for release
in March 2000. Their latest video, "The Last Supper", has now been
released, and it's absolutely awesome. The final demise of one of rock's
greatest ever bands will indeed be a sad day for music. Go well, guys - a
legend never dies. |
| SAXON |
Saxon - Crusader, the
title track
from their� seventh album, released in 1984. ( Saxon are one of the
subjects of tonight's Dino Quiz, number 138. The question is: Name at least
three New Wave of British Heavy Metal Scene bands. Answers: Demon, Saxon, Iron
Maiden, Samson, Witchfynde, Xero, Praying Mantis, Def Leppard, etc, etc.).
Saxon are, next to Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, one of the few surviving bands
of the NWOBHM scene. They were formed in Barnsley in the late seventies as
"Son of a Bitch". They changed their name and released their first
album on the French " Carrere " label ( better known for its Disco
acts! ) in 1979.They became one of the UK's most popular metal acts and had a
number of Top 20 hits. Vocalist Biff Byford and guitarist Paul Quinn are the
only two remaining original members, and they've ensured that Saxon have few
equals in the metal scene. They released one of the year's best metal albums,
"Metalhead", a few months ago. Long may they continue! |
| DEMON |
 Demon
- Father of Time, from "Night of the Demon", their debut album,
released in 1981. Demon were one of the NWOBHM scene's most underrated bands.
They were formed by vocalist Dave Hill, the possessor of the most remarkable
voice, and guitarist Mal Spooner, in the early eighties. Their first two
albums were basic, straight ahead hard rock, well written and well played. For
subsequent albums, the band adopted a more conceptual and mature stance,
releasing classic albums such as "The Plague" and "Taking the
World by Storm ". Demon built up a loyal following in the UK and Germany
during their ten or so years in existence, releasing ten albums and a great
compilation. Mal Spooner died tragically of a repiratory condition in the mid
eighties. Dave Hill released a solo album in the early nineties when the band
split. Demon were truly one of the best bands of the eighties. The great news is that the band is still very much alive today and a new compilation has been released and a new studio album is planned for 2000. |
| PRAYING MANTIS |
Praying Mantis
- Lovers to the Grave,
one of their first singles, and also released on their debut album, "Time
Tells no Lies" in 1981, with its stunning Rodney Matthews cover. Praying
Mantis evolved out of "Junction" in the early seventies. They were
formed by the Troy brothers, Tino on guitars and Chris on bass. Their debut
album, released on Arista Records, is widely regarded as one of the best
albums of the NWOBHM scene, and quite rightly so. In 1984, they changed their
name to "Stratus" and released one album, which unfortunately wasn't
too well received. Praying Mantis was rekindled in 1990 and they're still a
going concern today, having released seven or so albums. As far as we are
aware, their latest album was "Forever in Time", released in 1998.
If you see a copy of "Time Tells no Lies" in your favourite CD
store, give it a spin - you'll be blown away! |
| GARY MOORE |
 Gary
Moore - Don't take me for a loser, from "Corridors of Power" in
1982, his second album, featuring Ian Paice on drums, Tommy Eyre on keyboards
and Neil Murray on bass, with Moore doing most of the vocals, and, of course,
playing the guitar! Irish guitarist Moore started out in the blues / rock
outfit Skid Row in the late sixties. He later featured with Colosseum 2,
G.Force and Thin Lizzy. His first solo album, "Grinding Stone", was
released in 1973, and was a good show of things to come. Moore has
consistently delivered the goods, whether he's playing the blues, fusion or
hard rock, and his reputation as one of the world's best guitarists is
certainly well deserved. He's recently released a new album called
"Different Beat". |
| RONNIE MONTROSE |
Ronnie Montrose -
Primary Function,
off "Taken from Here" in 1994, his sixth solo album. Now here's
another exceptionally talented guitarist who's been around� for a number
of years. Ronnie Montrose formed his first band, Montrose, in 1973, with a
young Sammy Hagar on vocals. Their debut album is, alongside Van Halen's first
album, considered to be the best debut rock album ever released. Montrose the
band released five albums before Montrose the man formed "Gamma" in
the late seventies, just after he released his first solo album, "�pen
Fire". Gamma lasted for three studio albums, disolving in 1982. Since
then, he's released quite a few amazing albums in the jazz and rock fields.
Two new albums, "Roll Over and Play Live" and "Bearings",
have recently surfaced. |
| TOMMY BOLIN |
 Tommy
Bolin - Homeward Strut, from his first solo album, "Teaser",
released in 1975. Tommy Bolin is a legend, and this track is a tribute to him:
he died on 04/12/1976, a devastating loss to rock and jazz/fusion. Bolin
started out with Zephyr and Energy in the late sixties/early seventies. He
replaced Domenic Troiano in the James Gang. A seriously talented guitarist, he
also featured with Alphonse Mouzon and with Billy Cobham, as well as being
Ritchie Blackmore's replacement in Deep Purple. He released two official
albums and, recently, a whole bunch of Archive material and unreleased tracks
have surfaced, including a recent Glenn Hughes and� friends tribute
album. |
| SAVATAGE |
Savatage - Edge of
Thorns, the title track of
their eighth album, released in 1993. US prog metal band Savatage were
previously known as "Metropolis" and then "Avatar", being
formed by the Oliva brothers, Criss on guitar and Jon on vocals, in 1983.
Early albums showed a distinct Iron Maiden / Judas Priest influence, but they
soon developed their own unique style, releasing a number of excellent
conceptual albums. They've grown to become one of prog metal's best ever
bands, drawing big crowds, especially in Germany and Japan. Tragedy struck in
1993 when Criss Oliva was killed in a car crash near his home in Florida. |
| TIME MACHINE |
 Time
Machine - Behind the Cross, from "Eternity Ends", their third
album, released in 1998. Time Machine are one of Italy's best prog metal
bands, having formed in October 1992. It was in fact thanks partly to Time
Machine that fellow Italian bands such as Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Black Jester
and Eldritch have done fairly well internationally. They released their first
EP in November of 1993 and have been fairly consistent to date. The quality of
their musicianship is excellent. Unfortunately, though, their albums aren't
that easy to find here in SA. |
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