Hard Rock and AOR/Melodic Rock Ramblings( My Opinions)

This Blog Is Moving!

jtfelton1970 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:54:12 +0000

Yup, you read that right, within the next month or so, this blog will be moving to Blogspot.com! The new address will be www.hardrockandaor-melodicrockrumblings.blogspot.com. So copy the link and visit us there very soon! There will be no further updates to this site from this point forward.

Thanks For Reading!

Marcel Jacob, Former Riseing Force, Europe And Talisman Bassist Dies At 45

jtfelton1970 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:15:19 +0000

It is with much regret and the deepest of sympathies that Hard Rock And AOR/Melodic Rock Ramblings reports that Marcel Jacob, former bassist for Yngwie Malmsteen, Talisman and Europe has passed away today by taking his own life. Our sympathies go out to all of his family and friends. Marcel’s long time friend and colleague, Jeff Scott Soto, had this to say on his web site:

Marcel Jacob
January 30, 1964 – July 21, 2009

It is with deep regret & remorse I, along with fellow members of Talisman, am announcing our brother, long time colleague & overall greatest musician we’ve ever played with, Marcel Jacob, is no longer with us as of today, Tue July 21, 2009. Marcel took his own life after many years of personal & health issues he was battling.

We were mere days from starting what would have been our 8th Talisman studio album together, celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the band. I spoke with him just yesterday about finalizing the details that would get us started only to get the news this afternoon that my friend merely gave up on it all.

I want him to be remembered as everything I have already mentioned above but more so, he helped influence so many musicians & songwriters. He was a quiet, gentle soul with a very intense passion for his craft. I have been associated with him since 1984 but it was when we started Talisman is when he truly became a brother, one of my dearest friends.

It is far too early to say anything now but I plan to organize a memorial for his legacy, although not known by the masses, the ones who do see him as the genius I know he was.

R.I.P. my friend, you will be sorely missed, you will be in my heart forever & I’ll see you on the other side…I hope now you will get your dream & jam with Phil Lynott!!

Jeff Scott Soto
marcel we love you

A Short Message

jtfelton1970 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:56:46 +0000

A few weeks ago, I had a pretty good fall at my day job and busted up my left hand pretty good. So much so, that I needed a little bit of Reconstructive Surgery on the Fifth Meta Carpal Bone. Basically the bigger bone under the pinkie finger. The surgery took place June 29th and appears to have been a success. I have to do about six more weeks of time in a Cast before I can start to get back typing at full speed again (this two finger typing stuff is for the birds!). So hang in there all and I’ll do my best to get caught up not only here on this site, but over at my second home at Loud Reviews too! See ya soon!

Ace Frehley Finishes First Solo Album In 20 Years!

jtfelton1970 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:43:20 +0000

Finally, the wait is over Ace fans! Ace has finished work on his latest offering, “Anomoly”, which is his first solo album in 20 years. Hard to believe that it’s been that long, but it has. If your like me, then you think that Ace is better by himself than with KISS anyway, with the exception of some of his early recordings with them. This album, from what I’ve heard from some of the sneak peeks, is pretty damn good and typical Ace through and through. The only thing holding up the release of this album at this point is Ace’s distribution company. Ace says that as soon as he get’s some solid dates from them, they will decide what date will be official. So stay tuned Ace fans, the release can’t be that far away! Oh, and if you get the chance, head over to www.acefrehley.com to listen to some snippets of the new album. Trust me, your gonna love all that you hear!

Axl Wants Nothing To Do With “Chinese Democracy”

jtfelton1970 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:00:16 +0000

Hmm… after listening to it a few times after it’s initial release months ago, I can hear why! Supposedly, Axl has fired and rehired his manager 3 to 5 times already, and just will not leave his house. But like I said, after the disaster that is “Chinese Democracy”, I wouldn’t leave my house either.

I figure that he has finally realized that he has alienated every last fan he had from the beginning with this garbage of an album and is afraid to leave his house for fear of getting stoned by an angry mob of pissed of die-hards. I mean come on Axl, if you wanted to make this kind of music, then by all means, put out a fuckin’ solo record! Don’t put this crap out and put the Guns n Roses name on it! For millions of die-hard fans, the ones that have been there since the “Appetite” days, they would love nothing more than a happy medium between “Appetite” and the “Use Your Illusion” albums. You know, a REAL Rock-n- Fuckin’ Roll record! Words cannot even describe how bad this latest release with the Guns-n-Roses name really is! Just last week I tried to give it another chance because a few people said that it will grow on you. Frankly, I don’t see or hear how it can. It’s just plain terrible and Axl is doing the right thing by keeping his silly, winey, bitchy ass behind closed doors. Because I sure as hell would after a mess like “Chinese Democracy”. Oh, and if I’ve offended you newbe Guns-n-Roses fans by picking on your boy Axl, well… to fuckin’ bad! I’ve hated his bitch ass from day one and would love nothing more than to kick it for him! Any asshole who disrespects his fans the way he does, sure deserves it! And as for all of you GnR fans, your all idiots for putting up with it! That’s just my opinion.

Ozzy Sueing for Black Sabbath Name

jtfelton1970 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:24:30 +0000

At first, I really thought that this was some kind of a joke. But everywhere I turned, even on tv the news of this is almost everywhere! You can bet your bottom dollar that Sharron is the driving force behind this. I never really realized till after watching a few episodes of that embarrassment of a reality show, “The Osbournes”, how controlling that Bitch really is! What surprised me even more was how whipped Ozzy actually is! I always picture Ozzy, pre- Osbournes, as this total bad-ass, but got my reality check fairly quickly after just one 10 minute segment of “The Osbournes” .

Seriously though, do Ozzy and Sharron, or should I say… just Sharron, really expect to get the rights to the Black Sabbath name, when all Ozzy has done is disgrace it? C’mon Ozman, get fuckin’ real already…for real! Oh, and an official and actual announcement of your retirement would also due nicely please! For Christ’s sake, let this go already would ya!!

Latest Reviews For Saga, Psycostic, OSI And More On The Way!

jtfelton1970 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:35:47 +0000

Keep watching for the latest reviews from these bands and more on the CD review page!

Thank You For Your Support: HRAMRR Celebrating 2 Years!!!

jtfelton1970 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:03:29 +0000

Although I never really payed much attention to this blog when I began it back in March of 2007, I sure am glad that I resurrected it a year later. It has become a way for me to vent about some of the crazy things that happen in this biz, as well as a way for me to sort of, well… inform you about recent releases and bands.

And even though it’s not the most popular blog out there, the stats are good enough for me anyway, to keep this thing going. The marks show me that at least someone out there is paying attention and is at least somewhat interested in what I have to say. For me being a nobody in the world Journalism/Blogging, I’m pretty satisfied with my numbers here. Satisfied enough to keep blogging about what I love best.. and that’s Hard Rock And AOR/ Melodic Rock. Thanks again to those of you who either visit on a regular basis, or are first timers here! I certainly appreciate you taking the time to hear my opinions and view my album reviews and read what few news stories I choose to print here. Thanks for a great 2 years, and thanks for caring!

Editorial: Outragous Ticket And Album Prices Killing The Music Biz

jtfelton1970 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:27:09 +0000

It’s amazing to me how much these bands are aloud to charge for tickets now. But it goes much deeper than the musicians themselves. It also goes to the promoters and the ticket brokers too. I just read somewhere that Nickleback tickets are selling for $350 for a pair! Not to mention what you will spend once your already at the show on drinks, food and band merchandise. When it’s all said and done, there’s a good possabilitie that you will spend close to $500 – $600 by the end of the day.

I can remember back in the mid to late 80′s blowing $100 at a show, and that got you quite a bit of shit. And that includes the price of the ticket to get in! You could get a ticket, a couple of shirts, bumper stickers, pins and a freakin’ tour book all for $100 or under! These days, all of that will cost you almost your entire life savings! Of coarse, we tail gated in the parking lot too. We were able to grill our own stuff and drink a little before the show even started, and spent a little bit more on beer once inside the venue and food! So we maybe spent about $125 for two tickets, food, a few T-shirts, a bumper sticker, a pin and a tour book! No wonder the kids these days are trying everything that they can to get shit free! Because between the bands, the brokers and the promoters, you’ll go fuckin’ broke at just one concert and filing for bankruptcy by the time it’s all over!

Seriously, with the way the economy is right now, you would think that these acts would want to cut the common man a break and drop their prices. But what’s happening here is that the common man is being cut totally out of the picture, and these bands and promoters and brokers are all focusing on the Rich People to make them their money. They have all totally forgotten about the little guys who put them at the top of the heap.

But there has also been a rebelion of sorts against these bands. The common man has basically turned to getting free music and such from other sources as a big screw you to all those acts and such, because they are charging so much for a performance. So to all of you bands like Metallica, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Eagles and others like you who want to rape your fans of their hard earned money to have the priviledge to see you… you have no right to bitch about the common man taking your recordings for free. In fact, you should be giving them away anyway since you all insist that it is owed to you that these people spend that much money at your concerts! I think that you have all forgotten who put you where you are. I think you have all forgotten where the fuck it is that you came from, and who supported you from the beginning!And personally, I think it’s great that these common people, much like myself, are stickin’ it to ya where it hurts most! Because I really think that the entire music industry needs a good dose of a reality check! And another thing… it should not be considered a priviledge to see these bands live, it should be our right to do so at reasonable prices. And quite frankly, the prices now a days are beyond reasonable. They have become inflated beyond all recognition, just like the egos of the bands and promoters and brokers who charge these prices. Hey, kid ego, someone needs to knock you down a few sizes there, buddy!

Deep Purple Mark 3 Line – Up Not Reuniting.

jtfelton1970 — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:32:03 +0000

In the on again, off agian world of band reunions (believe me, on the local level, I’ve been there myself more than once), it’s really hard to keep up with who’s getting back together, who’s not, and who’s just talking about it. So, for those keeping score at home, no there will not be a reunion for the Mark 3 line-up of Deep Purple.

Glenn Hughes happened to call into The Classic Metal Show April 11th, 2009 and responded to the question of the Mark 3 reunion, and pretty much laid to rest the idea of that ever happening. Well, at least in the near future. If you would like to hear the full interview, you can visit feeds.feedburner.com/theclassicmetalshow.

Oh, and just for the record, Led Zepplin will not be reuniting either. Sorry to burst your bubble on that one, but I could have told you so. Looks like we’ll just have to keep playing “The Song Remains The Same” DVD if we want our live Zepplin fix. Ah, it’s just as well. Robert Plant sounds better on that than he does live now anyway.