Supergroup Sons of Apollo released their debut album “Psychotic Symphony” last October and recently completed an extensive tour of North and South America. Their European tour kicks off on 22nd June and includes a show in Limelight 1, Belfast on 3rd July. The band features Mike Portnoy, formerly of Dream Theater on drums, Derek Sherinian from Black Country Communion and previously Dream Theater on keyboards, Jeff Scott Soto from W.E.T. and formerly Journey on vocals, Billy Sheenan from Mr Big on bass and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal on guitar.
Bumblefoot is probably best known for his time in Guns n Roses, but he was also involved in another ‘supergroup’, Art of Anarchy, and has released many solo albums. I spoke to Bumblefoot via Skype on 20th June while he was in London preparing for the European tour. We chatted for about 35 minutes about Sons of Apollo, the new album, Art of Anarchy, his solo work and much more. That interview can be heard on the Friday NI Rocks Show for 22nd June along with tracks from Sons of Apollo, Art of Anarchy, Guns n Roses and his latest solo album. You can listen to it on our MixCloud page - https://www.mixcloud.com/NIRocks/interview-with-ron-bumblefoot-thal-on-the-friday-ni-rocks-show-on-22nd-june-2018/
Singer and bass player Peavy Wagner has fronted German band Rage since it formed in 1984 (initially as Avenger) and Refuge is the band created when he re-united with two former Rage members in 2014. “Solitary Men” is the debut album from Refuge and it was released via Frontiers Music on 8th June. The track “From The Ashes” was featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 4th May and “Mind Over Matter” was included on the Show on 1st June.
“Hymn of the Cosmic Man” is the second album from Belgian band Fire Down Below and it was released via Ripple Music on 8th June. Fire Down Below are a stoner rock band and that’s a genre I don’t feature that often, but something about this album just clicked with me. I included the tracks “Saviour of Man” on the NI Rocks A-Z Show on 15th May and “Ascension” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 8th June.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Hymn of the Cosmic Man" by FIRE DOWN BELOW
SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS have announced today, 18th June they’ll release their new album entitled “LIVING THE DREAM” on the 21st September via SLASH’s own label Snakepit Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records. “LIVING THE DREAM” is SLASH’s fourth solo album, and third with his band featuring MYLES KENNEDY (Vocals), BRENT FITZ (Drums), TODD KERNS (Bass & Vocals) and FRANK SIDORIS (Guitar & Vocals). A pre-order for the new album will begin on the 25th July.
Read more: NEWS UPDATE - New Album from SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS