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Comments from the Black Country camp (and video)
In Kevin Shirley’s online diary, he confirms what Jason Bonham said about Black Country and also confirms the rumour that there is a keyboard player in the group. Maybe no one told Bonham that. 🙂
Kevin Shirley writes:
So there it is folks – the cat is out the bag! This is BLACK COUNTRY.
I am producing the debut album and we already have six tracks cut. We’re going to do the next session in March when I’m through with my current project, and I hope to finish in early April. The band is Jason Bonham on drums, Derek Sherinian on keyboards, Glenn Hughes on bass and vocals and Joe Bonamassa on guitar and vocals. The songs are all original and what a lineup! They are all the very best players in the world, for my money!
Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) is a totally unique drummer and a supreme, yet oh-so-tasty powerhouse. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper) is super versatile, and is playing mostly overdriven Hammond organ in this ensemble and is the color on the palette. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze) plays bass and sings with a range VERY, VERY few can even get close to, and Joe Bonamassa, perhaps the best Blues guitarist around, plays hard riffing guitar as well as adding his signature vocals alongside Glenn. You’ll just have to wait – we’re planning to get this out late summer, and it’s promising to be phenomenal! Perhaps if you’re around San Bernadino about March 17………
Meanwhile, Glenn Hughes’ website has this to say:
There is a lot of speculation and talk about the new project that Glenn is involved with, and at this stage, all we can say, is that an official statement/announcement is forthcoming and will be made very soon. However, this will not be made until the time is right.
Joe Bonamassa comments on his Facebook page:
So it is out of the bag… I am in a band again.. Really cool bunch of guys who are so good. The first tracks are really great..
And here’s a very small taster of what’s to come. Hughes and Bonamassa joins Bonham at 2.20.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
I`m speachless……Can´t wait for this “SUPERGROUP” to release the album and tour the world ! Count me in at the frontrow !!!! Stunning news !!!!
January 15th, 2010 at 13:51Hardly a ‘taste’, the vocals are obviously going to be the major draw. A power trio sounded like a better idea, but if Shirley is being totally accurate than maybe the keyboards will be audible and there will perhaps even be some solos.(usually doesn’t happen these days, all you get is texture and no soloing)
January 15th, 2010 at 15:41As far as keeping together goes, Jason has a track record of not staying in one band very long. Lets hope he finds a home here with Glenn and CO.
Fantastic, I can’t wait!
January 15th, 2010 at 16:13I just hope they will be doing more exciting stuff than old Zeppelin tracks. Zeppelin continues to be one of the most overrated bands ever imho.
January 15th, 2010 at 16:57If we cant get Hughes, Blackmore and Lord together then this looks great.
January 15th, 2010 at 17:42Since Joe is apparently working with Don Airey on a Solo Record, it seems weird that Don wasn’t chosen for this ensemble. That would have ruffled the Purple Feathers I presume….
Looks like a pretty decent collaboration though. Should be some pretty good music coming from this venture…
Cheers
January 16th, 2010 at 02:53Saw Jason with UFO and FOREIGNER.nfortunately I was not one of the lucky bastards in O2 with Zep.
Both great gigs but ofcourse…..
NO ONE matches Michael Schenker in there but FOREIGNER without Lou Gramm was very good even without him.
Kelly Hansen did a fantastic job and is a real stage persona, resembling a bit Steven Tyler IMO.
I really LOVE Gramms voice but this worked for me very well. Most line up chages are deadly but some….
When I clicked on the U tube I was confused.
First I thought…..
Hey….is that a clip from ‘2 because of the images of his father above him while doing the solo….
Then I recognised the song, the people…..
I hoped from something ORIGINAL.
Maybe a mixture of old DP, Led Zeppelin, some Bonamassa songs….and a few new tracks might be nice?
I have given up hope for Huges in the overdoing department.
What a waste.
Wish he realised he should economise, leave the excessive screeming out.
Have a nice weekend, cheers, Mark
January 16th, 2010 at 12:29Looks interesting , hardly what I’d call a “Supergroup”. It will probably be a “one off” project especially if it is in the Rock n Blues genre.We all now know that GH’s heart is in the F.U.N.K. groove. AND, heaven forbid if any tour that takes place EVER makes it to the US.
January 16th, 2010 at 14:02*Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner)*
WTF? is this a joke?
January 16th, 2010 at 15:14@ 9
Pardon your French?!
WTF?!
I just informed people that Jason already did do his duty in bands like Foreigner, the o 2 event with the remaining parts of LZ, UFO and earlier his own band BONHAM.
Its possible that I dont mention everything, I m not perfect upstairs.
Goodnight.
January 16th, 2010 at 19:51@ 6
You seem to be very positive in expectation with BC, Trace.
What if they only play oldies from Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin?
That would make them a good contender to follow up our beloved Purple Rainbow, hehehe
January 16th, 2010 at 19:55Yeah, I saw Bonham with Foreigner and UFO also Priest, here in Nashville. I actually liked his Solo records from 80’s. Very Zeppish but heavier and more up to date at the time. He has played with many ensembles since. Quite a good session player. Nice to see that an Original Band is being pursued. Should be a great album. The tour has such versatile promise as well. A little Purple and Zepp would very nice to hear from this effort as long as they don’t wind up doing Tribute Show. They should play all from their own ‘Black Country’ debut and a couple of throw ins from prior influences….
Derek Sheridian comes from a band whom admits their Deep Purple influence and played the “Made in Japan” concert in tribute, plus did a nice cover of ‘Perfect Strangers’. Should be a very good line-up for Purple Listeners.
Hopefully Glenn will tamp down the overbearing ‘Shrieking Screams’. A well placed few is OK, but he seems to throw them in areas totally unnecessary all the time. Surely someone must have said something to him by now….
I must admit though, I am truly looking forward to this one…
Cheers
January 17th, 2010 at 20:16I have both Hughes/Iommi cds and they are awesome! I also have about 6 Hughes solo cd’s; and my favorites are Hughes/Thrall; and Soulmover; and the very excellant Blues cd! That being said; I do have to agree with what PurplePriest1965 says: Quote: I have given up hope for Huges in the overdoing department.
January 17th, 2010 at 22:36What a waste.
Wish he realised he should economise, leave the excessive screeming out….I just listened to a Deep Purple MK4 live cd; and during the song Georgia On My Mind it sounds like he pissed in a electical outlet; very funny indeed! He doesn’t need to scream at all; his voice is fine the way it is! I do hope they tour USA also; Glenn only seems to play in LA…
LZ is so overrated, I don’t understand that hip, it’s like look at my dad on the screen. I mean it’s great band, and Bonham is great drummer (RIP), but to this point.. Still Jason is good drummer and the rest of the band is great, with Hughes in the front. I’m expecting superb music, and few LZ & DP classics with new energy.. Wish them all well..
January 18th, 2010 at 08:10Thats not Derrek playing on ‘Perfect Strangers’ is it? I might be wrong but wasn’t that the superior ‘Jordan Rudess’ on keyboards for DT?
I can totally do without the Purple/Zeppelin things at their concerts. Why not go all out on their own and try to be themselves 100%? I do understand them playing old stuff because in this day and age its likely a joke to promoters if you don’t, but thats a retarted fact. I’m a lot more interested in them as a contemporary force, but who knows, just like the naysayers say about Purple, ‘maybe they won’t have condifence in their current material?’, although I don’t subscribe that ridicuolous shortminded excuse of a theory. Its just shy of a gigantic clue as to how things work from the inside out. The promoters will have their way as usual, lets just hope the band delivers and then some… otherwise the Purple and Zep fans will likely dismiss it.(I can just see the Zep fans at shows for instance, only standing and cheering when they know a song, which will obviously be the Zep songs. Just like at Page and Plant shows, I’m sure it will be the same) The only good side to something like that will be how blown away the Zep fans will be by the Purple stuff, regardless of knowing it already or not.lol!
January 18th, 2010 at 18:48@15 Yes, Derek played on DT’s version of PS. Which is not saying much because what sucked most on that version was the synth Hammond. 🙂 But I can see why DT in those days didn’t have the ability to carry around a big Hammond just for one song. 🙂
January 18th, 2010 at 20:10Was Derek not the one playing in Planet X some years ago together with that bassplayer from the Morse bands?
Or was it an other DT key player?
I saw Planet X over here around 2000.
It was extremely loud and difficult to listen to, also because the crammed content of the music.
That great guitarplayer, I forgot his name….., was there as well……
Tony Mc Alpine, thats the one…..
Still remember Edge Of Insanity……
January 19th, 2010 at 13:29hughes/thrall and hughes/turner projects were nice pieces. fans and concert goers will b*tch if no purple/zep is played. i agree @15 and just do new stuff and gain some new fans.in addition–the purple stuff will blow away zep stuff–agreed again.
January 19th, 2010 at 17:59@16
I dug out my ‘Seasons Of Change’ CD and I see you’re right. But I recalled Derek as horrible when opening for Purple and ELP, he was circus all the way, probably much more akin to Emmerson than Lord anyday, and it showed on that tour. Lord blew them both away with subtlety, probably intentional. Jordan Rudess for my money any day, he impressed me when I saw them several years earlier.
=====
Glenn commented on facebook that ‘this guy got it right!’ So after reading it yesterday I’ve concluded that with the keyboards the Purple factor is highly prevailant according to Glenn’s concurrence and no denial there. Have a read, the guy obviously really seems to know his Purple a bit.
January 19th, 2010 at 18:46http://rockguitardaily.blogspot.com/2010/01/black-country-real-vultures.html
Ha ha , at last justice is being done for Glenn Hughes. Have all you naysayers ever listened to the Glenn Hughes dvd LIVE IN AUSTRALIA?
January 20th, 2010 at 01:20Most of you might be stuck in a Made in Europe time rut, where yes, our Glennyboy did a lil bit too much vocal histrionics. But believe me ‘the boy can sing the blues’.
It will be quite interesting to see what type of
January 21st, 2010 at 09:07material will eventuate, no doubt, this is a one
off project as each member have “their” own bands?
Of great interest will be also in the vocal department, as both Glenn & Joe are excellent in their fields. It will be most likely be an amalgamation of blues, rock, funk and perhaps hard rock. Can you also imagine how amazing the production will be? Hmmmm we shall see “what lies
beneath”
Adrian rules the line of selfcontrolllllllllllll
Mmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhh, a line from ROCKY s Hearts On Fire, I think.
I love Stallones work and lots of the music.
The SURVIVOR stuff and the one by Robert Tepper, NO EASY WAY OUT.
I still own that single. Man, did that guy look great with his long manes then…….
Adrian, I m safe to say I did listen to more than Made In Europe, which I like btw…..thaaaaaaaaaank you!!!!since around 1977.
I ALWAYS dug deeper than the surface.
I heard Hughes and Thrall for example when it was released, on VINYL!!!!
Made In Europe is not the worst concerning the overindulging in shrieking.
I m a huge GH fan and framed some of his solo gigs in the 90 s over here in GOLD.
But, like with Ritchie, I ll tell when something is annoying or a shame or not.
GH did waste alot of time considering his amazing talent.
RB did as well IMO but not after putting his stamp forever.
Maybe Glenn could have been bigger if he had left out that…. I want to be the Michael Jackson of rock….????
January 21st, 2010 at 12:51