Michael Sweet & Ricky Warwick on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 436 - Another State of Ten

Michael Sweet just put out his latest solo release “Ten” via Rat Pak Records. This is probably his heaviest effort yet and loaded with great guest guitar slingers including Jeff Loomis, Gus G, Ethan Brosh, Joel Hoekstra. This week we’ll get the story on that one direct from the man himself. 

After that we sit down with Ricky Warwick to talk through Black Star Riders latest “Another State of Grace”

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Damon Johnson Drops By On This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 423 - Uprising

The accidental link on this weeks show is “Uprising”. First up is Damon Johnson who just released his latest solo effort “Memoirs of an Uprising” Damon will give us the lowdown on that and everything else he’s up to including some Thin Lizzy talk. Order your own signed copy of the release right from Damon at DamonJohnson.com/

After that we have vocalist Buddo from Last Crack. Those guys just release their first full length release in 28 years. Yep, I said 28 years! It’s called “The Uprising” and we’ll find out the story behind it this week.

Here's the first single off the album


Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Ricky Warwick From Black Star Riders Guests This Week on Focus on Metal

Episode 318 - Heavy Fire

Black Star Riders just released their third album “Heavy Fire” and this week we sit down with Ricky Warwick to discuss it. I know, usually we have Jimmy DeGrasso on to discuss such things but change is good and it’s nice to get a new perspective on all things BSR.

Find out more about all things BSR at: blackstarriders.com/

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Black Star Rider's Jimmy DeGrasso Returns on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 220 - Focus on Black Star Riders

While almost every media outlet out there has been talking with either Ricky or Damon we've managed to score a talk once again with drummer extraordinaire Jimmy DeGrasso. Jimmy returns to Focus on Metal this week to talk about the upcoming Black Star Riders release "The Killer Instinct" which comes out Feb 24th. As always Jimmy brings us a wealth of stories and info on what's going on in the BSR camp as well as some insight on the upcoming tour. This chat was conducted on Jan 21st and we have fast tracked it into your waiting ears.

Get all your BSR info as well as tickets and tour dates at http://blackstarriders.com/ you can also contact them at https://www.facebook.com/BlackStarRidersOfficial

And be sure to order your own copy of "The Killer Instinct"

Get the latest episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Jimmy DeGrasso from Black Star Riders Guests on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 204 - Jimmy DeGrasso

Our guest this week is Jimmy DeGrasso, the man currently occupying the coveted drum seat in Black Star Riders. After a career playing in a ton of legendary bands it looks like Jimmy has settled in nicely in BSR. Jimmy regales us with tales of his storied career and gives us some insight into the new BSR album currently in production.

Get your fix of all things Jimmy at: http://www.jimmydegrasso.com/

Updates on Black Star Riders including tour dates can be found at: http://blackstarriders.com/

Jimmy's San Jose Pro Drum shop is at: http://www.sanjoseprodrum.com

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Review - Black Star Riders- All Hell Breaks Loose (Nuclear Blast)

 

You are Scott Gorham, sometimes you wish you were Jerry Cantrell. Why doesn't he get the same shit I'm getting for bringing out new music. Phil's been dead since '86, much longer then Layne and those bastards keep releasing new music and keep the same bloody band name. No one bats an eyelid, the new Alice why isn't it fantastic and can't wait for the tour mate. And me? Change the bloody name and all I'm getting is Phil this Lizzy that. Well I've had my fuckin Phil of you lot.

   You can just imagine these thoughts going through his head can't you. Gorham has kept the Lizzy flag flying more or less since '96. On his travels he's brought ex-members like John Sykes, Darren Wharton and most importantly drummer Brian Downey out with him. The shows were done tastefully and lets be honest it would be hard to perform a shit gig with that catalogue. I saw the Sykes version in Dublin, a great show for sure but more of a rawk type of show, a little too metalized if you will, Tommy Aldridge pounding seven shades of shit out of his kit.

   Recent years brought Downey and the ever reliable Marco Mendoza back along with Ricky Warwick, Vivian Campbell and now Damon Johnson. The Sykes version played Cold Sweat, Downey nixed all that stuff, too heavy mate. Gorham breathed a sigh of relief. The new version of the band were fantastic live, a fact I can attest to after seeing them open on the Priest Epitath tour. The press kept asking about new stuff, bit of a touchy subject there. The band finally said fuck it.

   So here we have it, Black Star Riders All Hell Breaks Loose. No Downey, no Wharton. If you think what they are doing is sacrilege then it's shit before you've heard it, shit as you're listening to it and shit to anyone within earshot. Couldn't be the same without Phil. They got rid of the Thin Lizzy monicker, a right move in my opinion. Does it sound like classic Lizzy? Of course it bloody well does but what's wrong with that.

   What we have here is one really solid rocking disc. Ricky Warwick does sound uncannily like Phil on certain tracks but that's to be expected as he's been singing those songs (very well) for a number of years. Great to hear twin guitar leads and harmonies. Surprisingly it's Warwick and Johnson who dominate the songwiting, both massive Lizzy fans in their youth. Fav tracks for me are Bloodshot and Valley of the Stones but there's not one duffer amongst the lot. Ably produced by Kevin (get in get out I've gotta work with Bonamassa) Shirley even the hard nosed Lizzy fan might begrudgingly give respect if you buy him a pint.

http://blackstarriders.com/

Richie.