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New Music Monday Blog Skid Row United World Rebellion Chapter One

In this New Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the new music and the EP from Skid Row.  The EP is called United World Rebellion Chapter One.  We are going to get into history of this once 1980’s Pop Metal and into this great EP music.  Let us get into the history.

History

Skid Row was founded by Rachel Bolan, who is the bass player, and Dave “The Snake” Sabo, who is the lead guitar player, in a town of New Jersey in 1986.  Rachel and Dave filled out the rest of the band with Scotti Hill, who is the second guitar player, Rob Affuso, who is the drummer, and lead singer Sebastian Bach, who replaced Mark Fallon.  Jon Bon Jovi was good friends with Dave Sabo and each promise each other if one made it big to help the other person out.  Bon Jovi’s management sought out Skid Row and sign them to a management deal while the band signs a deal with Atlantic Records in 1988.  In 1988, the band return the studio to record their first record.  Jon Bon Jovi asked Gary Moore, who was part of Irish Blues band called Skid Row, if you would sell the name to American Skid Row for $35,000 US Dollar.  Gary Moore agreed to sell the rights to the name but the rest of his former band mates still dispute these events.  Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora signed Skid Row to a punishing deal which would become an issue when the band became successful.  The band toured and opened up with Bon Jovi.  Skid Row released their self titled record in 1989.  It was success with hit songs like “I Remember You,” “Youth Gone Wild,” and “18 And Life.”  The record went five times platinum.  The band went back into the studio in 1990 to record their second record which is called “Slave To The Grind.”  It was released in 1992 and it went number one in the first week of sale.  It produced hits like “Monkey Business,”  and “Wasted Time.”  The band went on a world tour with mostly Guns N’ Roses.  Before the band started working on their third record, they recorded EP called “B-Sides Ourselves” in 1992.  The band started recording their third record in 1994 with Bob Rock, who replaced Michael Wagenger at producer.  “Subhuman Race” was released in 1995.  It produced some hits but it was not as successful as their last two records.  Sebastian Bach was fired by the band in late 1996.  There was a fight between Bach and Balon about opening up for Kiss.  The band never really broke up but they did play under another band name called Ozone Monday with Shawn Mars.  Rob Affuso left the band and was replaced with Charlie Mills.  The band performed under the name Ozone Monday from 1998 to 1999 around the world.  In 1999, the band went back with the name Skid Row and hired new lead singer, who is Johnny Solinger.  Charlie Mills left the band and was replaced by former drummer of Saison Kick, who is Phil Varone.  The band released their fourth record, which was called “Thickskin” with Phil Varone  on drums and Johnny Solinger on vocals.  This record was the first record in eight years.  Dave Gara came a board to play drums in 2004.  “Revolutions per Minute” was their fifth record and it was released in 2006.  The band did several tours around the world and on the water as a cruise.  In 2010, Dave Gara left the band and was replaced by Rob Hammersmith on drums.  In 2011, rumors started to fly that Bach was returning to the band as the lead singer.  Dave Sabo put all those rumors to a stop after Bach started it on “That Metal Show.”  In 2013, the band signed a record dead with Megaforce Records.  They put out this EP, which is called “United World Rebellion Chapter One.”  This band has put out five studio records, two EP, one live record, and one greatest hits.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Kings Of Demolition

I love the heavy guitars and bass in your face at the beginning.  Johnny singing is strong and solid.  I love the main riff with some nice playing from the rhythm selection of the band.  I love the melody from the singer.  There is some solid lyrics on this opening track.  This is a really good singing with some great music and well written lyrics.  There is an awesome guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is a normal Skid Row ending to the song.

Lets Go

Just like the opening track, “Lets Go” starts out the same way but a little bit slower.  However, it has a nice pace with some solid lyrics, I love Johnny’s singing better than Bach’s vocals.  I believe Bach’s vocals would not fit on the music Skid Row is putting together on their last three records.  There is some nice lyrics.  There is an awesome and well place guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  This song you can hear the punk influence in the band.  Another awesome ending to a song.

This Is Killing Me

I love the touch of the acoustic guitar with a slight overdrive guitar over the top with a short guitar solo.  Johnny is singing with passion and feeling along with some great lyrics.  I love the pace of this song.  The drums and bass are calming but perfect for the song.  I love the well placed keyboards in the background.  They put some nice lays of the music here.  In the middle of the song, I can hear a nice dancing bass line in the background.  There is a nice guitar break towards the back half of the song that turns into a nice short guitar solo.  I kind of feel that one was forced.

Get Up

I love how the guitar starts out with bass and drums being the forces point at the beginning.  The drums and bass are forced in the main part of the song.  I love the touch of the guitars.  I love the singing from Johnny and the lyrics he is signing.  I love the pace and the way place back up vocals.  I love the change of pace towards the middle of the song.  It goes right back to the main riff.  I love the guitar solo ending the song.

Stitches

I love the fade in guitar work with some nice drums and killer bassline.  This music is pretty sick in a good way.  Johnny comes in with a nice punk like singing.  This song is in your face but in a nice way.  I am not a fan of the lyrics but they will have to grow on me.  The music is making this song right now.  This is a perfect ending to this EP.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.skidrow.com

Twitter:  @OfficialSkidRow

In the end, Skid Row has been a band has been on my radar.  They were a band that was at the end of the 1980’s metal scene.  I believe to this day they do not get the credit they should for their music.  Was their first record like all the bands of their time?  Yeah, their records after that shows more than just your normal 1980’s metal bands.  Yes, they are part of that era and they cannot block that out of their career.  I have to say Skid Row has come a long way from their self titled record.  Even with Bach, the band did get heavier and I felt they push themselves away from their peers.  This band has re-establish itself in the hard rock and metal world.  Skid Row was awesome in the 1980’s and early 1990’s but I feel this is the real Skid Row.  Skid Row is back and better than ever.  I cannot wait to see what the next chapter.  I highly recommend you checking this band out.  Let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Tom Keifer The Way Life Goes

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the first solo record from lead singer Cinderalla, who is Tom Keifer.  There is two things I love about this singer’s first solo record.  First thing, it is so different than his band’s music.   Second thing, Tom Keifer voice is fine and health.  Tom went for vocal box surgery and no one knew as a fan base if he was going to sing again or at the level he did back in the 1980’s.  I am happy he is back.  I am going to back down his music career and then get into this great solo record.  Let us get into the history of Tom Keifer.

History

Carl Thomas Keifer was borned in 1961 in Springfield, Pennsylvania.  He grew up loving the blues and later founded Cinderella with bassist Eric Brittingham in 1980.  Jon Bon Jovi discovered  Cinderella in 1985 at Empire Rock Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  With a recording contract from Mercury/Polygram Records, Jeff LaBar, who is the lead guitar player, and Jim Dmec, who is the drummer, join the band that same year.  Fred Coury replaced Jim Dmec on drums to make it on their “Night Songs” record.  In 1988, Cinderella released their second record, which was called “Long Cold Winter.”  “Heartbreak Station” was released in 1990 as their third record.  Fred Coury left the band after a short tour and joined Arcade with lead singer of Ratt, who is Stephen Pearcy.  Tom lost his voice during the recording of their fourth record.  This delayed the recording of the “Stilling Climbing.”  He went for several operations to solve this problem  Fred was replaced Kenny Aronoff to finish drum tracks on the record.  The record had some poor sales and dropped off the charts.  Mercury Records drop the band and the band went on a hiatus or broke up in 1995.  In 1997, the band resurfaced to record a few new tracks for their first Greatest Hits record, which was called “Once Upon A…”  The band did tour in 1998 which led for a live record, which was called “Live At The Key Club,”  to be released in 1999 under Cleopartra Records.  Cinderella was singed to Sony Records in 2000.  However, before they could release their fifth record, they were dropped by Sony.  It led the band and Sony to be in court fights over the music.  The band has done several tour dates but in 2008, the band was forced to cancel their tour dates due to Tom’s vocal chords.   In 2009, the band stated that Tom’s voice is back to normal and went on a few more tours.  The band is still together and Tom is health.  Tom has been working on this record since 2003.  “The Way Life Goes” was record in 2013 under Merovee Records.  He worked on this record with his wife Savannah Keifer.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Solid Ground

There is some nice guitar work at the beginning of the song.  Tom screams over the top of some nice music.  He wrote some nice lyrics and music.  This is a different pace to his Cinderella music.  There is some nice drumming and bass playing on this song.  There is some nice guitar work.  Tom’s singing is solid.  This is a great opening track to his first solo record.

A Different Light

Tom comes in singing with an acoustic guitar.  There is some nice music and good lyrics.  I love how the chorus came together.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  This is a nice calming song.  The main versus reminds something he would write with Cinderella but the chorus is a little different.  This song sounds like a Bon Jovi song or one of Jon’s solo songs.  I love this song.  I love the fade out ending.

It’s Not Enough

I love the effect on the guitar.  Tom’s singing is strong with some great lyrics.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  This is a song I could see Cinderella do back in the day.  His vocals chords sound very strong so far on this record.  His wife’s back up singing is spot on and blends nicely with his vocals.  Savannah Keifer, who is Tom’s wife, is all over this record because she helped her husband write this record.  She has a beautiful voice.  I love the fade out ending to this song too.

Cold Day In Hell

I love the acoustic guitar and then the harmonica from Pat Buchanan.  Tom wrote some nice music and lyrics on this song.  I love the back up singing on this song.  It is perfect for this song.  I love the sax playing from Jim Horne.  It gives this song a nice change of pace to the rest of the songs on this record.  This is a killer chorus.  I love the build up to the ending of the song.  Once again, another fade out ending.

Thick And Thin

I love the piano playing on this song.  This song gives this record a different element.  He has some nice lyrics on this song.  I have crazy thought he wrote this song for his wife.  I love how there is guitar to expand the music from the piano.  The drums and bass are a nice support.  Man, these are some great lyrics.  He put some thought into these words.  I love the short guitar solo towards the middle of the song.

Ask Me Yesterday

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  This is a thinking man’s song.  I love the lyrics.  He wrote some nice music for ten years and how time made them really good.  I love how the drums and bass are nice support throughout this record.  There is some nice music on this song.

Fools Paradise

“Fools Paradise” has a little pick up from the last two songs.  There is a programming on this song and you can hear it.  Midi Programming is coming from Mitch Goldfarb.  Tom is singing is pretty solid with some great lyrics.  I love the guitar work and the lays of guitars on this song.  There is a nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  Drums and bass playing are spot on but I kind of wish he would do more with the drums and bass on this record.  I love the exiting guitar solo to end the song.

The Flower Song

“The Flower Song”  is his first single off this record.  I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning of the song.  I love the touch of the slide guitar playing on this song.  There is some nice back up vocals.  Tom’s singing is solid and wrote some great lyrics.  I love the music because it is almost like a folk song.  I love the calm drumming and bass playing on the song.  I love the trade-off from the slide guitar and the normal guitar players on a short solo.  There is some organ playing deep in the background.

Mood Elevator

I love the music on this song.  This song should have been a Cinderella song.  Tom’s singing is strong with some great lyrics.  The drums and bass playing have pick up.  I love the lyrics and the singing from the back up singers.  There is some nice guitar work on this song.  This song is so much a different pace to the rest of the song.  It kind of does not fit on this record, however, there is always songs like that on every record.  I still dig this song.

Welcome To My Mind

I love the guitar work at the beginning of the song.  There is an awesome main riff.  I love the midi programming on this song from Blair Daly.  He did a great job.  I love the music and lyrics.  I almost want to say this should be his second single off this record.  Svannah has some solid back up singing on this song.  I love the guitar break to a nice low-end guitar solo.  There is a nice fast pace on this song.  “Welcome To My Mind” makes “Mood Elevator” fit on this record.  It is a nice pace for the record now.  It makes sense.  This is a great song.

You Showed Me

“You Showed Me” brings it back down with some nice piano playing.  I love the support from the guitar playing.  The drums are perfect with a nice bass line on this song.  I love the lyrics.  Thank you, Tom for letting the bass player dance up and down that neck.  This is a great song.  This song needs to be a single off this record.  Tom’s singing is off the charts.  I love this record so far.

Ain’t That A Bitch

I love the the guitar riff on this song.  There is some nice music on this song.  Tom has written some nice lyrics with his wife and Conley White.  There is a nice pace to this song.  The drums and bass playing are pretty solid.  There is a nice short guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I love the exiting guitar solo.  Nice touch!

The Way Life Goes

The beginning is a little weird and different but comes together.  It has a heavy Blues feel to it.  I have listen to Blues in my time but not a lot.  I know enough to love the music.  I love Tom’s singing and he wrote some great lyrics. I love the touch on the back up singers.  I love the meaning behind this song.  It has a nice theme to it.  Nice drumming and bass playing from Ben Strano and Michael Rhodes.  Pat Buchanan playing a nice harmonica.

Babylon

Mitch Goldfrab back on Midi Programming.  I love the playing from the bass and drums.  I love the music and lyrics on this song.  This is a perfect song to finish off this great first record from Tom Keifer.  I love how this song flows and the pace is perfect.  This is a great song.

Line Up For Tom Keifer’s Band

  • Tom Keifer – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, and Keyboard
  • Greg Morrow – Drums, Percussion
  • Michael Rhodes – Bass Guitar
  • Tony Harrell – Piano, B3 Organ, Wurlizer, Clvinet

Here is his website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tomkeifer.com and www.cinderella.net

Twitter:  @TomKeiferMusic and @Cinderellanet

In the end, this was pretty impressive solo record.  I knew it was in him.  Tom Keifer and his wife wrote some great music.  I have to say this is a different pace to his music with Cinderella.  Most artist release a solo record and they sound like their parent band.  I love when artist do something different from their parent band.  Geoff Tate from Queensryche did it twice.  Don Dokken from Dokken has done it twice.  There is other artist like former lead singer from Skid Row.  Bach solo music sounds like Skid Row.  Rob Halford has done it but still sounds like his Judas Priest.  The same can same about Ronnie James Dio and Ozzy.  This is no knock on their music.  It is still good but I love when an artist goes solo and does something different.  This is what music is all about.  Their guests were not the mainstream guys like you normally do see on most solo artist records.  Pat Buchanan did some great guitar works.  He has some great solo music records also.  You need to check him out.  Back to Tom, I am so glad he is back and fully heathy on the vocal cord side.  He sounds great.  I have been a fan of Cinderella for a long time.  This is a great record and I will be listening to this record non stop.  There has been some great new releases in 2013.  I have to say this record has to be in my top five of 2013.  I highly recommend this record if you are a Cinderella fan or just love some great rock to hard rock with a touch of blues.  Go get some!   Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  Thanks Tom for some great music over the years.  I has been an honor listening to your music.  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia.)