Screeeeaaam for me Ullevi

It actually feels quite surreal that it is almost a year ago (well, 10 months at least) the tickets for Iron Maiden @ Ullevi, Gothenburg were purchased... But now it's finally time to see them again. I know it will be a superb concert. Maiden can't do anything else, even on bad days they better than all other bands.
I haven't read anything what so ever about this tour. Partly because I haven't had the time to roam the internet, partly because I want it all to be a surprise. Just like the old days when you might have heard someone say something about the stage props, Eddie or the bands outfit. Bruce's pants can be a hot topic years after the concert you know!!!

Even if I've must have seen Maiden about 30 times by now (yeah, yeah, I know, that's not much when you talk about seeing Maiden) I'm still just as excited as I was when I first went in to Johanneshov, my first Maiden concert and first real concert ever, on September 30th 1988... That one will always be very special though, because of mentioned reasons but all gigs I've seen has been great.

Iron Maiden's latest release "From Fear To Eternity" made me think about what Eddie will be like now. Ok, the Tour is still Final Frontier but who know's, maybe Eddie shows up as the grim reaper. I'm not that excited about Best Of albums but despite the coputer produced artwork I thought this one was pretty cool.

But then, speaking of Maiden releases... This one will be interesting. A photo-book and more about life on board of Flight 666.

There's a teaser available on Maidens official webpage and it sure looks promising!!! I'll absolutely place a pre-order for this one! Photobooks are always cool, all books containing pictures (!) are cool. I bought the "Run For Cover" hodling artworks of Derek Riggs a couple of years back. Quite expensive but I've never regretted that!!!

Well, only a few hours left now so perhaps I should try to get some sleep... Really a shame I have to work tomorrow, would have been so much nicer to be home listening to records and just charged for the concert!

Cheers

E

NP: Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

Recordshoppers Anonymous #2

It has been an utmost good time for record shopping lately. Even if the Record stores sadly closes one after another around here and most deals need to go over eBay it happens on occasion that real bargins can be made. The same day I went to India (more on that later) me and Peter went out to have breakfast and do the last shopping round for the trip for me we decided to take a trip to Skivesset. They have a steady stream of incoming records all the time. A lot of new CD's with some odd bands. Probably reviewers who sell the nowadays quite rare physical albums after the review as been done. But that's normally it.
This day we scanned through the CD's, dug out a few and went to the vinyl section. There has NEVER been anything interesting up on the wall ever at that place. This time though, which I first missed, the whole midsection was filled with goodies, Íron Maiden "Genghis At The Ruskin" and the Noise classic collection "Death Metal" for about 1/5 of the price you normally (if you ever) see them for. Then of course a lot of other goodies, all in shape as brand new. Some even looked brand new and all to a really fair price. Peter picked the major part of this bunch though since I had changed almost all my money into Rupies...


When I got back from India I could go straight to the post office and pick up the next package. Trans-Siberian Orchestra vinyl box with Nightcastle and Beethoven's Last Night and a massive 12" book. Very nice. The new UDO "Rev-Raptor" fan pack was a step up from the last one but still it could have been better. Last time though the box itself was very similar from the ones you get from the shoe store. The "Rev-Raptor" box was really steady at least. But the belt, buckle and bottle... I don't know. The cover really isn't the best UDO artwork and it didn't translate very good on either Metal or Fabric. The bottle was very small... No fun bringing that along...

And then, after the Midsummer party in Falkenberg (more on that later too) we stayed at a flee-market which we have been driving by time after time. Normally it is closed and since this was a very red day we didn't have much hope that it would be open now either. But it was and we dug through the vinyl. He actually had some really good ones, a lot of high quality bands and not only the nice price and regulars that are available everywhere... And all to very decent price. I suppose it will be more rounds there in the future.

The only issue now is the vinylplayer. It really has seen its best days and since the receiver doesn't have a phono connection there's a shitty Riaa-amp in the middle too. Not the best combination. Just need to figure out what to get and where to find it. I think we settled for one semi-automatic at least but there's still very much to choose from. Any suggestions anyone?

On the India trip I decided I was going to read rather than watch stupid movies on the flight. Ok, I couldn't resist Gnome & Juliet when it was dinnertime and it sure was hilarious... But the most other part of the flight I dug into the book about David Byron "Born To Perform". It's fascinating how much a book can affect. And how interesting something get when you read about it. Ok, I'm a big fan of Uriah Heep, both old and new but I haven't paied much attention to David Byrons solo albums or his work after Uriah Heep. It will be a change on that now. Very interesting book, that's for sure. Great writing by Jeff Perkins.

So of course, because of this book I've been listening to Uriah Heep. Even if I really like the albums they got even better after reading about them. So now all I want to listen to is Uriah Heep. A little bad timing because it would have been better in September instead when they are playing here... But I guess I can try to recharge then again! Until then I'll place an order for all deluxe-remasters from Ginza. A lot of extra features on these and high quality too, I have a few already...

Cheers

E

NP: Uriah Heep - Wonderworld

Kitty Galore

Well, the cat really don't like it when I bring out the camera. No matter if it is the real one or as here, just the one in my phone. He looks so bothered and annoyed after 1-2 pics. This time I was a little bit lucky (or he was extremely tired) so he stayed on the couch during the whole session. Normally when I tried to work with this hostile little model I get a paw-slap from him after a while. even if he's a small cat the power is still fascinatig.

Now the cat is with Peter's parents out in their summer cabin. He likes that. Then he can be outside smeaking on flies and dry leafs. He really is terrified about everything that moves and is a little bigger than a fly. Sparrows are terrible you know...

I never thought it could be so empty when he's not home. Even if he sleeps most of the time he is great company. A little annoying sometimes though. I normally snooze in the morning when I get out of bed. To pause the alarm on the clock is one thing. To try to paus the cat is another. He really do his best getting me out of bed in the mornings when he's here meowing, scratching doors, stepping on me, poking me and it's impossible to say something to him when he just look really happy and playful doing all of this...

Cheers

E

NP: The Rods - Wild Dogs

Cult of the Fox - Letters of Fire And Sword

A little sneak preview of the coming record from

CULT OF THE FOX

"A Vow Of Vengeance"

Releasedate July 29

It will be ONE HELL OF A PARTY at

HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR

Cheers

E

What the hell happened???

To start with, a few packages filled with records has arrived during the week! That's always nice... But I'm actually a little surprised over what I've been buying lately.

First, one must have though. The Godfather of Heavy Music Mr Iommi has done it again. With Heaven & Hell he and his band mates proved that NOT A BAND IN THE WORLD can touch them when it comes to write dark and heavy music. Bands have tried but still noone even come close to the feeling delivered on "The Devil You Know".

Iommi didn't really need to prove anything though, he will always be the master of the six-strings!!! And there's not many as cool on the Organ as Jon Lord... Ian Gillan thogh, he's been looking like a drunk Bobby Ewing in pyjamas n stage lately and it was LONG ago he convinced me he still had it. (One thing he shall have though is his performance with his solo band Gillan during the "Toolbox" tour in 1991 which I still hold as one of the best concerts I ever seen, take Borlänge or Uppsala, both were equally good)
But when he sings like he does on "Out Of My Mind" GODDAMN!!! Amazing! So the Whocares project is absolutely worth checking out. Just a shame Ginza cut the 7" from my order without even sending a bit of information...


The little more odd choises for my lastest purchases is Heaven & Hell "Neon Nights Live at Wacken".
Not that Heaven & Hell is strange but I'm not very found of live albums. But this sure is a nice documentary of their time together and I still get sad when thinking of Dio. It still feels surreal that there never will be a new Dio album out, that the big voice has silenced for good and that over a year has passed since he left. R.I.P Ronnie!!


The next one on the same order is Deep Purple "Phoenix Rising". The history of the Mark IV era. Tommy Bolin and that line up has always been too funky for me but I have to give them cred for this album. It really sounds awesome. Just my damn vinyl player that can't manage the volume... I seriously need a new one, and that's NOW!!!!


Maybe this shopping spree was an outcome of my recent adventures on stage and the inspiration to play guitar again. I really hope I can keep this up and channel the inspiration (and find time and energy to go to the rehearse room and play) into something creative. It feels really amazing that both Void Moon and Cult Of The Fox gets really good feedback!! That is very cool!

Now it will be a nice and long weekend, a well deserved rest I say! Some adventures are to come, gonna be fun!

Cheers
E

NP: Zero Illusions - Oblivion