In 2009, the new variety show „Osbournes Reloaded“ for the Fox network happened. This series debuted on 31st March 2009, but it was canceled after the first episode. Now there are rumours, that eight new episodes will be filmed in 2015.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 20th January!
Ian Hill (Judas Priest)
Happy birthday to Judas Priest bassist Ian Frank Hill, who was born on the 20th January 1951 in West Bromwich (UK)!
Taught by his father, who played in local Jazz bands, Ian Hill learned how to play the double bass. At the age of 19, Ian founded with guitarist Kenny “K.K.” Downing the band Judas Priest. Singer Rob Halford and second guitarist Glenn Tipton joined later. And with drummer John Hinch the debut album “Rocka Rolla“ (1974) was recorded. The LP was anything but a success. With the follow-up “Sad Wings of Destiny” (1976) the group became better known. Classic tracks like “Victim of Changes“, “The Ripper” and “Dreamer Deceiver” should get a fix place on future setlists. The special Judas Priest sound, with two guitars and Halford’s unique voice, has been refined over the years. Due to albums like “Sin After Sin” (1977), „Stained Class“, “Killing Machine” (both 1978) and “British Steel” (1980) the band is conisdered as the pioneer of British Heavy Metal.
Ian Hill has only three songwriting credits („Winter“ and „Caviar and Meths“ – both featured on „Rocka Rolla“ and „Invader“ from „Stained Class“). After the departing of K.K. Downing in 2011, Ian Hill is the sole constant founding member of Judas Priest.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 3rd December!
Happy birthday to John Michael Osbourne, who is better known as „Ozzy„! The also called „Prince of Darkness“ was born on the 3rd December 1948 in Birmingham, UK. In the seventies the singer joined Black Sabbath, whose unique and very dark, heavy sound has been considered as one of the developers of the Heavy Metal genre. Until his leaving in 1979 he recorded many milestones with Black Sabbath, like „Paranoid„, „War Pigs“ (both 1970) and „Iron Man“ (1971).
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 17th November!
Martin Barre & John Glascock (Jethro Tull – 1978)
On the 17th November two remarkable things happened, which are connected to the British Rock band Jethro Tull:
In 1946 guitarist Martin Lancelot Barre was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Barre joined Jethro Tull in 1969 after the departing of Mick Abrahams and his first recordings with Ian Anderson & Co. can be heard on the second Tull album „Stand Up“ (1969). Martin Barre was the long time member in the line-up beside singer, flute player and acoustic guitarist Ian Anderson. He left Jethro Tull in 2011 and concentrated on his solo works.
Barre’s signature solo on the 1971 Jethro Tull standard „Aqualung“ is still considered as one of the most outstanding guitar solos. It was voted by the readers of „Guitar Player“ magazine as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time.
And on the 17th November 1979, John Glascock, the bass player for Jethro Tull from 1976 until 1979, died at the age of only 28 years. Glascock suffered a congenital heart valve defect, which was worsened by an infection caused by an abscessed tooth. Before joining Jethro Tull to replace Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond on bass, Glascock was a member of the Blues band Chicken Shack and later of the progressive Rock band Carmen. Ritchie Blackmore mentioned John’s fantastic skills in an interview with „Guitar Player“ in September 1978; „John Glascock is a brilliant bass player, the best in the business in rock.“ John Glascock’s playing can be heard on the Tull albums „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ (1976), „Songs from the Wood“ (1977), „Heavy Horses„, the live album „Bursting Out“ (both 1978) and some parts on „Stormwatch“ (1979).
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Welcomt to my Music Diary – today for the 11th November!
Black Sabbath (2011)
On the 11th November 2011, the four original members of Black Sabbath (Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward) announced that they are going to reunite. And it was also announced that a new record followed by a world tour in 2012 will happen. But the plans and the schedules were crossed because of Tony Iommi‘s health issue and Bill Ward’s contract problems – so the tour had to be postponed. Finally, the first Black Sabbath show since 2005 took place on the 21st May 2012 in Birmingham at the O2 Academy. Tommy Clufetos filled in for Ward playing the drums.
On the 10th June 2013 the comeback album „13“ was released and went straight to number one in many countries like USA, UK and Germany.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 25th October!
GlennTipton (Judas Priest)
Glenn Tipton was born on the 25th October 1948 in Blackeath, West Midlands (UK). Before becoming the guitarist of the legendary Heavy Metal band Judas Priest, Glenn attended Olive Hill Primary School at the age of five. And as a young boy he was taugt to play the piano by his mother.
At the age of 19, Tipton began to play the guitar – his first instrument was a Hofner acoustic. Later he changed to a Rickenbacker before he could afford a Fender Stratocaster.This one was stolen and he replaced it with a black axe of the same type. Later he also bought a Gibson SG.
Tipton’s first band was called „Shave Em‘ Dry“ – the named changed into „Merlin“ and „Flying Hat Band„. And in April 1974 he joined Judas Priest during the recording sessions for the debut album „Rocka Rolla„. The band was founded by Kenny „K.K.“ Downing (Guitar) and Ian Hill (Bass). The line up that time was completed by Rob Halford (Vocals) and John Hinch (Drums). The title track was the single outtake in August 1974 – the album followed one month later. Judas Priest toured then through Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. The LP was a flop and also the concerts were not really successful. In November and December 1975 the next album „Sad Wings of Destiny“ was recorded and released on 23rd March 1976. Especially the tracks „Victim of Changes„, „The Ripper“ and „Dreamer Deceiver“ stood out and a great fanbase was created. And in 1977 with „Sin After Sin“ (released on the major label CBS and produced by Deep Purple’s Roger Glover) the band had found its very own sound and metal style which was refined over the years with classic albums like „Stained Class„, „Killing Machine“ (both1978) and „British Steel“ (1980).
In 1990 one of the most outstanding Heavy Metal releases ever, „Painkiller“ (1990), hit the market and this LP is still considered as one of miletstones of this genre.
After some changes in the line up (Rob Halford left the band in 1991 and returned twelve years later, K.K. Downing retired and was replaced by Richie Faulkner in 2011) the latest album „Redeemer of Souls“ (2014) hit the stores and Judas Priest are still touring all around the world.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 14th October!
Dan McCafferty (Nazareth)
On the 14th October 1946, Scotsman William Daniel „Dan“ McCafferty was born in Dunfermline. In 1968 he founded with guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew and drummer Darrell Sweet the Hard Rock band Nazareth. The moniker was taken from a city in Pennsylvania, which is mentioned in the first line of The Band’s classic song „The Weight„. In 1970 the band moved to London and one year later the self titled debut album was released. In 1972 the LP „Exercises“ hit the shops and Nazareth did the support for Deep Purple. Shortly after this touring Purple’s bass player Roger Glover produced one year later „Razamanaz„, which features the two UK top ten hits „Broken Down Angel“ and „Bad Bad Boy“. And before the ending of 1973 the next Nazarth album was released: „Loud ‚N‘ Proud“ with the Joni Mitchell’s song „This Flight Tonight“ – this cover became also a hit single for the Scottish Hard Rock band. With „Hair of the Dog“ (1975) the fanbase became bigger and bigger, because of the rockin‘ title track and the cover of the evergreen „Love Hurts“ – the ballad went platinum in the United States and is still Nazareth’s superhit until today.
In 1979 Zal Cleminson (formerly The Sensational Alex Harvey Band) joined Nazareth as a second guitarist and recorded with the band the two albums „No Mean City“ and „Malice in Wonderland“ (1980). Different line-ups happened over the years and in 1999 drummer Darrell Sweet died at the age of 51. Lee Agnew, son of bass player Pete Agnew, replaced Sweet.
On 28th August 2013, Nazareth announced the retirement of singer Dan McCafferty due to ill health. So the latest record „Rock ’n‘ Roll Telephone“ (2014) features Dan’s voice for the last time on a Nazareth release. In February 2014 the new singer was presented: Linton Osborne was chosen with McCafferty’s blessing.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 19th March!
On the 19th March 1982, guitarist and former Quiet Riot member Randy Rhoads died. The musician was killed in a plane crash.
Randy played that time in Ozzy Osbourne’s band and the whole entourage was touring through the USA. On the way to the next show in Orlando (Florida), they stopped on a property where on an airstrip some small helicopters and planes were parked. Andrew Aycock, the bus driver, took a test flight with keyboarder Don Airey and tour manager Jake Duncan. After a safe landing, Andrew took another flight – this time with guitarist Randy Rhoads and makeup artist Rachel Youngblood. During that flight the tragic happened: The plane buzzed over the tourbus, where Ozzy and the other band members were sleeping. After a second close pass the third didn’t succeed and one of the wings clipped the bus, broke and the plane was out of control and crashed into a near garage and bursted into flames. All three people were killed instantly and the bodies were burned beyond recognition. Randy Rhoads died at the age of only 26 years.
On the 21st June 1997 I attended another Jethro Tull gig – this time in Munich at the Rudi-Sedlmeyer-Halle.
And this one was very remarkable because the setlist was full with fine surprises like „A Song for Jeffrey„, „Skating away“ or „Acres Wild„! And as another surprise Mr. Leslie Mandoki joined the band for the tune „Back to Budapest„.
And today one of the Tull family has his birthday:
Mr. Don Airey (Keyboard Player), who toured with the band during the „Crest of a Knave“ worldtour in 1987, was born back in 1948! Happy bday!
On the 5th March 2002, the reality show „The Osbournes“ had its premiere on MTV!
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