Essential Modern Progressive Rock Albums: Images and Words Behind Prog's Most Celebrated Albums 1990-2016 Available For Pre-order Now

Earlier this summer, a new book dedicated to the resurgence of one of music's most enduring and underrated genres was announced from The Prog Report. Essential Modern Progressive Rock Albums: Images and Words Behind Prog’s Most Celebrated Albums 1990-2016, authored by Prog Report editor Roie Avin, is the first book to shine a light exclusively on the important albums of the modern progressive rock era. This new book showcases more than 50 albums from the last quarter century of prog, with each chapter dedicated to one album.

Featuring full color images of the artists live, original press photos and brilliant album cover art, this 280+ page, soft cover coffee table book will be one every prog fan will want to display proudly as a badge of their fandom.

The book, out in late November, is now available for preorder only at: http://progreport.com/essential-modern-prog-rock-albums/

Preorders come with a download of a chapter from the book on Transatlantic’s The Whirlwind.

Highlighted in the book are prolific and pioneering artists such as Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Spock’s Beard, Marillion, The Flower Kings, Enchant, Fates Warning, Queensryche, and Big Big Train, along with more recent bands like Haken, Karnivool, Riverside, Between the Buried and Me, and The Dear Hunter, among the more than 30 bands included. Drawing on original interviews with band members such as Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Steven Wilson, John Petrucci, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas, Ross Jennings, and dozens more, the book offers an in-depth look at the stories behind the albums that shaped the next wave of progressive rock. This book focuses solely on bands that carried the mantle of the genre's initial '70s explosion, artists that expanded the genre further, incorporating new sounds and elements to reach new audiences worldwide.

“The last 25+ years have been an incredibly fruitful period for progressive music, as this books indicates. The albums chosen here represent some of the most exciting music created in the modern progressive period, and it's only right that they claim their moment in the spotlight.” - Jerry Ewing, Prog Magazine

“There certainly was a period when the majority of bands of the New Prog generation, whilst more than competent, sounded just a bit too derivative of the their first generation idols. But Roie Avin's book goes some way to establish the credentials of the more recent Neo-Prog bands as having a far more individual and original voice whether it be the virtuosity of Dream Theater, the creativity and appeal of Big Big Train, or the highly impressive path carved out by Steven Wilson firstly with Porcupine Tree and latterly, in his own right.” - Anthony Phillips, Genesis founding member and guitarist

“This looks to be an amazing book and a MUST HAVE for Prog fans!” - Mike Portnoy

Teaser video that was released in July: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuamlgOsIOI

To purchase: http://progreport.com/essential-modern-prog-rock-albums/

For more information: contact@progreport.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Essential Modern Progressive Rock Albums: Images and Words Behind Prog's Most Celebrated Albums 1990-2016 Available For Pre-order Now

Earlier this summer, a new book dedicated to the resurgence of one of music's most enduring and underrated genres was announced from The Prog Report. Essential Modern Progressive Rock Albums: Images and Words Behind Prog’s Most Celebrated Albums 1990-2016, authored by Prog Report editor Roie Avin, is the first book to shine a light exclusively on the important albums of the modern progressive rock era. This new book showcases more than 50 albums from the last quarter century of prog, with each chapter dedicated to one album.

Featuring full color images of the artists live, original press photos and brilliant album cover art, this 280+ page, soft cover coffee table book will be one every prog fan will want to display proudly as a badge of their fandom.

The book, out in late November, is now available for preorder only at: http://progreport.com/essential-modern-prog-rock-albums/

Preorders come with a download of a chapter from the book on Transatlantic’s The Whirlwind.

Highlighted in the book are prolific and pioneering artists such as Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Spock’s Beard, Marillion, The Flower Kings, Enchant, Fates Warning, Queensryche, and Big Big Train, along with more recent bands like Haken, Karnivool, Riverside, Between the Buried and Me, and The Dear Hunter, among the more than 30 bands included. Drawing on original interviews with band members such as Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Steven Wilson, John Petrucci, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas, Ross Jennings, and dozens more, the book offers an in-depth look at the stories behind the albums that shaped the next wave of progressive rock. This book focuses solely on bands that carried the mantle of the genre's initial '70s explosion, artists that expanded the genre further, incorporating new sounds and elements to reach new audiences worldwide.

“The last 25+ years have been an incredibly fruitful period for progressive music, as this books indicates. The albums chosen here represent some of the most exciting music created in the modern progressive period, and it's only right that they claim their moment in the spotlight.” - Jerry Ewing, Prog Magazine

“There certainly was a period when the majority of bands of the New Prog generation, whilst more than competent, sounded just a bit too derivative of the their first generation idols. But Roie Avin's book goes some way to establish the credentials of the more recent Neo-Prog bands as having a far more individual and original voice whether it be the virtuosity of Dream Theater, the creativity and appeal of Big Big Train, or the highly impressive path carved out by Steven Wilson firstly with Porcupine Tree and latterly, in his own right.” - Anthony Phillips, Genesis founding member and guitarist

“This looks to be an amazing book and a MUST HAVE for Prog fans!” - Mike Portnoy

Teaser video that was released in July: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuamlgOsIOI

To purchase: http://progreport.com/essential-modern-prog-rock-albums/

For more information: contact@progreport.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

King Crimson's "THRAK - The Complete Scores" Full Band Transcriptions Book Now Available!

King Crimson's “THRAK – The Complete Scores” is now available! For the first time ever, full band transcriptions of this classic from the King Crimson double-trio era. Six musicians: two guitar players, two bassists and two drummers.

All parts transcribed and most of the essential bits tabbed for the various instruments and tunings: Adrian Belew's guitar in standard tuning, Robert Fripp's guitar in new standard tuning, Tony Levin's fretted and fretless basses, Trey Gunn's Chapman Stick and Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto’s acoustic and electronic drum transcriptions.

Transcriptions by Gabriel Riccio
Editing and tabs by Trey Gunn

Produced on high-quality paper in 9"x12" format, spiral bound for lay-flat-open reading.

Official release date: September 24, 2017

Track listing:
VROOOM
Coda: Marine 475
Dinosaur
Walking on Air
B'Boom
THRAK
Inner Garden I & II
People
One Time
Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream
VROOOM VROOOM
VROOOM VROOOM: Coda
and a bonus track from the “VROOOM EP”: Cage

To purchase: King Crimson “THRAK – The Complete Scores”: http://tinyurl.com/THRAKSCORES



From Trey Gunn:

A book of King Crimson transcriptions is a built-in contradiction – Crimson rarely steps in the same puddle twice.

This is a band known for stretching beyond even its own limits, meaning most of the arrangements are given freedom to grow and change as the spirit moves. My own experience in the group was that about every one to two weeks some part of the compositions had significantly morphed into something else. For example, in the VROOOM coda, the Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream “Spider Fingers Freakout” and THRAK every night saw the musicians heading into unexplored territory. As a result, any book of transcriptions can only reflect a slice in time of what this particular Crimson was doing on this particular day during this particular performance.

The approach Gabriel Riccio and I have taken with these THRAK recordings was to adhere strictly to what is on this record. While we’ve referred to the 2015 re-mixes and various live versions of the pieces, we have generally stayed with notating what is in the 1995 original mixes and performances. 

These particular recordings, made at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in the UK, were live performances. In my memory, we played each piece as a group once or twice through, picked a take and then quickly added overdubs accordingly. In most cases the overdubbing was very minimal. The record was largely completed in two weeks time, including all of the vocals.

Gabriel Riccio on some of the challenges of this score book:

THRAK has been one of the most challenging records to transcribe thanks to the dense 6-player arrangements. This often made it difficult to tell who is producing each sound. The title track is perhaps the most exciting piece to see on paper, as many of the band's greatest tricks are on display – hocketed polymeters, symmetrical scales, and fiery improvisation.

The hardest part was figuring out how to write down the electronic drum parts. Bill Bruford provided some valuable input on that front, breaking down his sounds into four main categories which I used as labels throughout. The drums in the 'Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream' freakout are a great example of the complexity of this music - Bruford plays sextuplets phrased in 5s against Mastelotto's 4/4 groove.


For more information: 
www.treygunn.com
www.7dmedia.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

King Crimson's "THRAK - The Complete Scores" Full Band Transcriptions Book Now Available!

King Crimson's “THRAK – The Complete Scores” is now available! For the first time ever, full band transcriptions of this classic from the King Crimson double-trio era. Six musicians: two guitar players, two bassists and two drummers.

All parts transcribed and most of the essential bits tabbed for the various instruments and tunings: Adrian Belew's guitar in standard tuning, Robert Fripp's guitar in new standard tuning, Tony Levin's fretted and fretless basses, Trey Gunn's Chapman Stick and Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto’s acoustic and electronic drum transcriptions.

Transcriptions by Gabriel Riccio
Editing and tabs by Trey Gunn

Produced on high-quality paper in 9"x12" format, spiral bound for lay-flat-open reading.

Official release date: September 24, 2017

Track listing:
VROOOM
Coda: Marine 475
Dinosaur
Walking on Air
B'Boom
THRAK
Inner Garden I & II
People
One Time
Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream
VROOOM VROOOM
VROOOM VROOOM: Coda
and a bonus track from the “VROOOM EP”: Cage

To purchase: King Crimson “THRAK – The Complete Scores”: http://tinyurl.com/THRAKSCORES



From Trey Gunn:

A book of King Crimson transcriptions is a built-in contradiction – Crimson rarely steps in the same puddle twice.

This is a band known for stretching beyond even its own limits, meaning most of the arrangements are given freedom to grow and change as the spirit moves. My own experience in the group was that about every one to two weeks some part of the compositions had significantly morphed into something else. For example, in the VROOOM coda, the Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream “Spider Fingers Freakout” and THRAK every night saw the musicians heading into unexplored territory. As a result, any book of transcriptions can only reflect a slice in time of what this particular Crimson was doing on this particular day during this particular performance.

The approach Gabriel Riccio and I have taken with these THRAK recordings was to adhere strictly to what is on this record. While we’ve referred to the 2015 re-mixes and various live versions of the pieces, we have generally stayed with notating what is in the 1995 original mixes and performances. 

These particular recordings, made at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in the UK, were live performances. In my memory, we played each piece as a group once or twice through, picked a take and then quickly added overdubs accordingly. In most cases the overdubbing was very minimal. The record was largely completed in two weeks time, including all of the vocals.

Gabriel Riccio on some of the challenges of this score book:

THRAK has been one of the most challenging records to transcribe thanks to the dense 6-player arrangements. This often made it difficult to tell who is producing each sound. The title track is perhaps the most exciting piece to see on paper, as many of the band's greatest tricks are on display – hocketed polymeters, symmetrical scales, and fiery improvisation.

The hardest part was figuring out how to write down the electronic drum parts. Bill Bruford provided some valuable input on that front, breaking down his sounds into four main categories which I used as labels throughout. The drums in the 'Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream' freakout are a great example of the complexity of this music - Bruford plays sextuplets phrased in 5s against Mastelotto's 4/4 groove.


For more information: 
www.treygunn.com
www.7dmedia.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

New Book on Legendary Proto-Metal Power Trio BANG "The BANG Story: From the Basement to the Bright Lights" Now Available!

“The BANG Story: From the Basement to the Bright Lights” by Lawrence Knorr, Frank Ferrara, Tony Diorio, and Frank Gilcken

Often called America's answer to Black Sabbath, one of the most unsung bands in the history of US hard rock music, BANG, is back with a new biography “The BANG Story: From the Basement to the Bright Lights”! With the heaviness of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, coupled with the groove of Grand Funk Railroad, BANG released three critically acclaimed albums on Capitol Records in the early 1970s before disappearing for a number of years. 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of BANG's critically acclaimed debut album and the band is celebrating with the release of their new book! “The BANG Story: From the Basement to the Bright Lights” was written by Lawrence Knorr, Frank Ferrara, Tony Diorio, and Frank Gilcken.

In the summer of 1971, BANG, a trio from the Philadelphia area, decided to take a road trip to Florida to try their fortune. While buying some rolling papers in the Sunshine State, they learned about a Small Faces and Deep Purple concert nearby in Orlando. They showed up at the venue and brazenly declared they were ready to go on stage. The concert organizer asked them to set up and play for him. After a couple songs, he told them they were opening for Rod Stewart and Small Faces. Before they knew it, BANG was playing with Bachman Turner Overdrive, Deep Purple, Three Dog Night, Fleetwood Mac, Ike and Tina Turner, The Doobie Brothers, and even Black Sabbath. Capitol Records signed them, and three LPs were released. Join Frank Ferrara, Tony Diorio, and Frankie Gilcken, as they recall their rapid rise to fame, playing with numerous Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

The 1971 self-titled debut album “BANG” is considered an important forerunner to the early Doom Metal genre. Undoubtedly one of America's heaviest 'proto-metal' bands from the period, BANG also had a strong sense of melodic power. The band's versatility and songwriting skills are second to none. Highly regarded as a cult act by many for years, it’s now time for this truly amazing rock band to be enjoyed by a new audience worldwide!

Excerpts from the book:

“Those were the days when everything was experimental,” said Karl Richardson, the engineer. “We were looking for something more reverberant. We didn’t want BANG to sound like everybody else. In those days, records were more like paintings, than photographs. The studio was a palette, and we were always thinking about art—not just taking a picture.”

OZZY Cheesesteak anecdote … ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1972, BANG was back in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to play with Black Sabbath, who was in the midst of their Master of Reality Tour. Wild Turkey was to open this evening, followed by the boys from Philly. That afternoon, the band was hanging out with Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath. They offered to introduce them to cheesesteaks, having discovered a sandwich shop in town that was attempting to replicate their favorite Philadelphia cuisine. “I’ve never had a bloody cheesesteak,” admitted Ozzy. And so BANG introduced the Prince of Darkness to the delicacy. After chomping on a few bites, he asked, “I have another question for you. What do the fans mean when they are making the “V” signs with their fingers? For our Churchill, it meant victory.” “To them it means one of two things,” answered Frankie. “It either means peace or boogie.” After that, Ozzy would often be seen on stage flashing dual V-signs to all of his audiences, as captured on the cover of their next album Vol. 4.

Available in Paperback:
Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc. - Release date August 15, 2017
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-BANG-Story-9781620065822.htm

To purchase:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bang-Story-Basement-Bright-Lights/dp/1620065827
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bang-story-lawrence-knorr/1126989375
Sunbury Press: http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-BANG-Story-9781620065822.htm

Finnish label Svart Records is released BANG's 4 classic records: “Death of a Country,” “BANG,” “Mother/Bow to the King,” “BANG Music.” They were re-pressed on both vinyl and CD: http://www.svartrecords.com/

BANG has made available free ringtones! Free Frank Gilcken guitar solos for iPhones and Androids! http://www.bangmusic.com/ringtones/ Also, all BANG songs are now available for 99 cents mp3 downloads http://www.bangmusic.com/shop/mp3s/ BANG's complete recorded catalog is available as well through their website, which includes the band's latest CD releases “Return To Zero” and “The Maze.”

To purchase BANG CD's, Vinyl and Digital Album Downloads: http://www.bangmusic.com/shop/cds-and-vinyl/

Also the website contains never seen videos of BANG! http://www.bangmusic.com/videos/ including the “BANGstory” video a must see:

For more information:
http://www.bangmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Bangtheband
Instagram: @bang_the_band

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Author Trevor Barre Pens Second Book "Convergences, Divergences & Affinities: Further Beyond Jazz, the Second Wave of English Free Improvisation, 1973-9"

London - The sub title of the book is “The Second Wave of Free Improvisation in England, 1973-9.” It is the author’s second self-published book about English Free Improvisation, and follows his “Beyond Jazz, The Golden Age of Free Music in London, 1966-72,” an account of the genre's formative years. “Beyond Jazz” was well received and gained many favourable reviews in the press. In particular, it seemed that the book both shone a light on, and provided a much-needed account of, a music that had previously been next to ignored in the media. It was, in fact, the first such book of its kind, surprising given the lionization of most other genres from the 60s and 70s.

The author is a retired mental health nurse, having lived and practiced in London for 30 years. Wanting to use his increased spare time to do something useful, and having loved free improvisation for a similar amount of years, he identified a considerable gap in the market, and decided to translate his enthusiasm into the written word. The subject is a complex one which rewards both the historian and fan in Barre, and he has begun the research for another book, which will be a history of the London Musicians Collective. He lives in north London, is married and has three grown children.

If “Beyond Jazz” suggests a Golden Age, then “Convergences” can be said to cover a 7-year Silver Age, when free improv developed and changed, whilst remaining challenging and provocative, England's very own avant-garde, which paralleled and interacted with more popular strains like punk and post-punk. A fair amount of recorded evidence exists and is discussed in the book, and we are lucky that it is complemented by the contemporary magazine Musics, which is also studied in some detail as the house organ of the 'movement.' The emergence of a 'second generation' is studied, and the continuing work of the first, and the formation of several musical collectives/cooperatives across the country gets the attention is finally deserves. The figures of Steve Beresford, Lol Coxhill and Terry Day are identified as key mischief-making talents that represent the serious fun that the music provided, and get their own dedicated sections in the book.

It is intended that the book is written in a non-technical way, inviting newcomers to free improvisation to read about what can initially appear a very opaque scene, as well as wanting to appeal to those older fans who like a good story. It is written to attract, not to repel. It would appear that free improv is in a reasonably healthy state at present, and attracts a younger audience, as well as greybeards – the book is very much written with this audience in mind, who would like a readable, straightforward account of those years. It deserves to have its story old alongside the other creative environments that flourished in that decade. The author also has a website and a regularly-updated blog. One encouraging sign is the interest developed abroad, where the music is more generously funded and has a reasonably secure fan base.

For more information: www.improvmusic.co.uk

Contact details:
Tel: 0208 340 8751 07803 518648 (mob)
e-mail: trevorbarre@aol.com
Twitter: Trevor Barre
Post: 11 Bedford Road, Crouch End, London N8 8HL

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

ELP Legend Greg Lake's Eagerly Awaited Autobiography "Lucky Man" Now Available In The UK!

London - Greg Lake first won acclaim as lead vocalist, bass guitarist and producer when, together with Robert Fripp, he formed King Crimson. Their first album, the landmark In the Court of the Crimson King, co-produced by Greg, featured the iconic song “21st Century Schizoid Man.” King Crimson pioneered progressive rock and paved the way for many famous bands that followed, from Yes and Genesis to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In December 1969 Greg met fellow legend Keith Emerson at the Fillmore in San Francisco during a North American tour; the two shared common bonds: European musical influences and a desire to reinterpret classical works while creating a new musical genre. After being introduced to drummer Carl Palmer, they formed the first progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

To date ELP has sold over 50 million records. Lake produced “Emerson, Lake & Palmer,” “Tarkus,” “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Trilogy,” “Brain Salad Surgery,” “Works Vol. 1 & 2,” and two different live albums. All went platinum and featured a series of hit singles, most written and all sung by Lake. The three created a unique live theatrical performance which featured Emerson attacking his keyboards with knives, Palmer playing a 2.5 ton stainless steel kit and Lake performing on a £6,000 Persian rug which had its own roadie. One of their very first performances was at the historic Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 and they went on to headline California Jam, one of the biggest concerts of the 1970s, attended by 350,000 people.

Probably the voice of his generation, Greg fronted the greatest rock supergroup of the 1970s but never held with the “progressive” tag that attached itself to both the music and the excess. “Lucky Man” not only charts the highs and lows of a career in rock music but also reflects on the death of Keith Emerson last year, living with terminal cancer and the end of life. Greg can best be summed up by his now-famous line: “Material wealth is a very fleeting pleasure ... when you can buy anything you want and do anything you want, you soon discover that you actually don't want any of it.”

To purchase Greg Lake's “Lucky Man” autobiography: http://amzn.to/2t8BwZy

Watch the promotional video: https://www.facebook.com/GregLakeOfficial/videos/1691998314174403/

For more information:
Little, Brown Book Group Limited, Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ, 020 3122 6000. A member of Hachette UK Group, registered in England and Wales under company no. 2304585
Click here for company information http://www.littlebrown.co.uk  or here www.hachette.co.uk/information/email disclaimer page

Greg Lake's official website: http://greglake.com/
Greg Lake's official FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/GregLakeOfficial/

Greg Lake press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

ELP Legend Greg Lake's Eagerly Awaited Autobiography "Lucky Man" Now Available In The UK!

London - Greg Lake first won acclaim as lead vocalist, bass guitarist and producer when, together with Robert Fripp, he formed King Crimson. Their first album, the landmark In the Court of the Crimson King, co-produced by Greg, featured the iconic song “21st Century Schizoid Man.” King Crimson pioneered progressive rock and paved the way for many famous bands that followed, from Yes and Genesis to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In December 1969 Greg met fellow legend Keith Emerson at the Fillmore in San Francisco during a North American tour; the two shared common bonds: European musical influences and a desire to reinterpret classical works while creating a new musical genre. After being introduced to drummer Carl Palmer, they formed the first progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

To date ELP has sold over 50 million records. Lake produced “Emerson, Lake & Palmer,” “Tarkus,” “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Trilogy,” “Brain Salad Surgery,” “Works Vol. 1 & 2,” and two different live albums. All went platinum and featured a series of hit singles, most written and all sung by Lake. The three created a unique live theatrical performance which featured Emerson attacking his keyboards with knives, Palmer playing a 2.5 ton stainless steel kit and Lake performing on a £6,000 Persian rug which had its own roadie. One of their very first performances was at the historic Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 and they went on to headline California Jam, one of the biggest concerts of the 1970s, attended by 350,000 people.

Probably the voice of his generation, Greg fronted the greatest rock supergroup of the 1970s but never held with the “progressive” tag that attached itself to both the music and the excess. “Lucky Man” not only charts the highs and lows of a career in rock music but also reflects on the death of Keith Emerson last year, living with terminal cancer and the end of life. Greg can best be summed up by his now-famous line: “Material wealth is a very fleeting pleasure ... when you can buy anything you want and do anything you want, you soon discover that you actually don't want any of it.”

To purchase Greg Lake's “Lucky Man” autobiography: http://amzn.to/2t8BwZy

Watch the promotional video: https://www.facebook.com/GregLakeOfficial/videos/1691998314174403/

For more information:
Little, Brown Book Group Limited, Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ, 020 3122 6000. A member of Hachette UK Group, registered in England and Wales under company no. 2304585
Click here for company information http://www.littlebrown.co.uk  or here www.hachette.co.uk/information/email disclaimer page

Greg Lake's official website: http://greglake.com/
Greg Lake's official FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/GregLakeOfficial/

Greg Lake press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Music Legend Frank Zappa's Brother Bob Zappa To Release Second Book “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”

NYC - Following his critically acclaimed book “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,” music legend Frank Zappa's younger brother Charles Robert “Bob” Zappa is releasing a second book titled “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story.”

Bob's first book, “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,” is poignant and insightful perspective on the life of one of the twentieth century's most provocative and intriguing musicians. This “coming of age” memoir provided readers with never before told stories about events that helped shape Frank's political, social, intellectual and creative development. The book begins with the brother's time in Maryland from the late 1940's until the summer of 1967 in New York City before Frank and the Mothers went on their first of many European tours. This fascinating account describes how the two brothers lived through, and handled, a series of events ranging from amusing to life threatening. It is a must-read for anybody interested in Frank's amazing life that only his closest confidant and brother, Bobby, can tell.

Bob's new book “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story” picks up where the first volume leaves off... Says Bob, “For those of you who read my first book, 'Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa', thank you. I hope you enjoyed it and found that the information about Frank added to your understanding his complex and brilliant mind and his early development. This book tells the next chapter in our story. It's about how my brother and I continued on our separate but intertwined paths after his successful long running show, 'Absolutely Free' (sic), at the Garrick Theater in New York in the summer of 1967.

“When I decided to write the sequel to 'Frankie and Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,' I wanted to provide readers with more personal stories that would fill in gaps on how our lives intersected over the last decades of Frank's life. I also wanted to describe more about life in America during the Vietnam era and up to the present day to help set the stage for events that fans have wondered about for a long time. This time I added more about my own life's journey. I wanted to depict how Frank and I maintained our relationship because to me he was a 'regular guy,' except for his extraordinary life in the public eye. He was my older brother and best friend regardless of his talents, celebrity or public image. I think fans will find this aspect interesting and should help add a more human dimension to his image.

“There are also the episodes about Frank's own family - especially his wife, Gail - that try to explain their curious relationship and how she interacted with me and her own children. Of interest are how our mother, sister, and brother, and especially me, were kept from Frank's and his children's lives. The reasons for that are still unclear to my niece Moon and nephew, Dweezil.

“But I do end on a positive note by describing my reunion with Moon and Dweezil following Gail's death, after more than four decades of estrangement. 'Frankie and Bobby: The Rest of Our Story' provides new material that will help Frank's fans add some much needed pieces to the puzzle that is Frank Zappa.”

While there have been several books and documentaries about Frank Zappa, most have forgotten to mention that Frank often referred to himself as “a regular guy.” And that is one of the “driving forces” behind Bob's new book.

Says Co de Kloet, well-known radio personality and music producer in Amsterdam, “By sharing personal, sometimes extremely personal stories about his relationship with Frank, Bob gives us a clear view of that 'regular-guyness' quality, leaving the importance and impact of his brother intact. By not just focusing on Frank and giving us information about other relations and some of his own experiences, he puts Frank in a new and sincere perspective. I had a great time reading it and I hope it will do well. Over the years I had a friendship with Herbie Cohen, Frank's manager and business partner. He was at my farmhouse a few times and once when he was reading something in a book about Zappa, he smiled and said, 'It is always fun to read what people THINK really happened (in Frank's life) but they haven't got a clue.' Bob Zappa has! And that is what makes this book a must have.”

The book is also one of rejection, reconciliation and closure... As James Cohen: Zappanale Master of Ceremonies explains, “A memoir is more than recollection, it exposes a continuum of related events: Bob Zappa's 'Frankie & Bobby - The Rest of Our Story' is wisdom gained over time. Picking up where his first book left off, it focuses on Bob's adventures in the US and elsewhere - a Swedish university course in Deviant Behavior or a close brush with Soviet espionage. Bob's ultimate purpose of understanding how his alienation from his brother Frank's world developed, or was created, overshadows these episodes. Climaxing with a series of rejections relating to the passing of their mother Rose Marie and finally of Frank himself, Bob celebrates his subsequent reconciliation with Dweezil and Moon and a new life rooted deep in his past…A great read, and for the Zappa faithful, optimistic closure.”

Distinguished Teaching Professor Joseph Klein, Dmus concludes, “Perhaps most poignant are the episodes relating to Frank's own family- in particular his wife, Gail…during the final years of Frank's life…and (sheds) light on a matter that has baffled and frustrated the Zappa fan community for decades…'Frankie and Bobby: The Rest of Our Story' is essential reading for any Zappologist curious for answers regarding some of the more enigmatic aspects of Frank's life.”

Bob Zappa's “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story” is a must-read for all fans of Frank Zappa!

To purchase “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”: 
https://www.createspace.com/6991665 (United States)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1544258798 (United States)
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1544258798 (Canada - Book not currently available in Canada)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1544258798 (United Kingdom)
http://www.amazon.de/dp/1544258798 (Germany)
http://www.amazon.es/dp/1544258798 (Spain)
http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1544258798 (France)
http://www.amazon.it/dp/1544258798 (Italy)

To purchase “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa”:

https://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Bobby-Growing-Up-Zappa/dp/099647790X

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Music Legend Frank Zappa's Brother Bob Zappa To Release Second Book “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”

NYC - Following his critically acclaimed book “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,” music legend Frank Zappa's younger brother Charles Robert “Bob” Zappa is releasing a second book titled “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story.”

Bob's first book, “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,” is poignant and insightful perspective on the life of one of the twentieth century's most provocative and intriguing musicians. This “coming of age” memoir provided readers with never before told stories about events that helped shape Frank's political, social, intellectual and creative development. The book begins with the brother's time in Maryland from the late 1940's until the summer of 1967 in New York City before Frank and the Mothers went on their first of many European tours. This fascinating account describes how the two brothers lived through, and handled, a series of events ranging from amusing to life threatening. It is a must-read for anybody interested in Frank's amazing life that only his closest confidant and brother, Bobby, can tell.

Bob's new book “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story” picks up where the first volume leaves off... Says Bob, “For those of you who read my first book, 'Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa', thank you. I hope you enjoyed it and found that the information about Frank added to your understanding his complex and brilliant mind and his early development. This book tells the next chapter in our story. It's about how my brother and I continued on our separate but intertwined paths after his successful long running show, 'Absolutely Free' (sic), at the Garrick Theater in New York in the summer of 1967.

“When I decided to write the sequel to 'Frankie and Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,' I wanted to provide readers with more personal stories that would fill in gaps on how our lives intersected over the last decades of Frank's life. I also wanted to describe more about life in America during the Vietnam era and up to the present day to help set the stage for events that fans have wondered about for a long time. This time I added more about my own life's journey. I wanted to depict how Frank and I maintained our relationship because to me he was a 'regular guy,' except for his extraordinary life in the public eye. He was my older brother and best friend regardless of his talents, celebrity or public image. I think fans will find this aspect interesting and should help add a more human dimension to his image.

“There are also the episodes about Frank's own family - especially his wife, Gail - that try to explain their curious relationship and how she interacted with me and her own children. Of interest are how our mother, sister, and brother, and especially me, were kept from Frank's and his children's lives. The reasons for that are still unclear to my niece Moon and nephew, Dweezil.

“But I do end on a positive note by describing my reunion with Moon and Dweezil following Gail's death, after more than four decades of estrangement. 'Frankie and Bobby: The Rest of Our Story' provides new material that will help Frank's fans add some much needed pieces to the puzzle that is Frank Zappa.”

While there have been several books and documentaries about Frank Zappa, most have forgotten to mention that Frank often referred to himself as “a regular guy.” And that is one of the “driving forces” behind Bob's new book.

Says Co de Kloet, well-known radio personality and music producer in Amsterdam, “By sharing personal, sometimes extremely personal stories about his relationship with Frank, Bob gives us a clear view of that 'regular-guyness' quality, leaving the importance and impact of his brother intact. By not just focusing on Frank and giving us information about other relations and some of his own experiences, he puts Frank in a new and sincere perspective. I had a great time reading it and I hope it will do well. Over the years I had a friendship with Herbie Cohen, Frank's manager and business partner. He was at my farmhouse a few times and once when he was reading something in a book about Zappa, he smiled and said, 'It is always fun to read what people THINK really happened (in Frank's life) but they haven't got a clue.' Bob Zappa has! And that is what makes this book a must have.”

The book is also one of rejection, reconciliation and closure... As James Cohen: Zappanale Master of Ceremonies explains, “A memoir is more than recollection, it exposes a continuum of related events: Bob Zappa's 'Frankie & Bobby - The Rest of Our Story' is wisdom gained over time. Picking up where his first book left off, it focuses on Bob's adventures in the US and elsewhere - a Swedish university course in Deviant Behavior or a close brush with Soviet espionage. Bob's ultimate purpose of understanding how his alienation from his brother Frank's world developed, or was created, overshadows these episodes. Climaxing with a series of rejections relating to the passing of their mother Rose Marie and finally of Frank himself, Bob celebrates his subsequent reconciliation with Dweezil and Moon and a new life rooted deep in his past…A great read, and for the Zappa faithful, optimistic closure.”

Distinguished Teaching Professor Joseph Klein, Dmus concludes, “Perhaps most poignant are the episodes relating to Frank's own family- in particular his wife, Gail…during the final years of Frank's life…and (sheds) light on a matter that has baffled and frustrated the Zappa fan community for decades…'Frankie and Bobby: The Rest of Our Story' is essential reading for any Zappologist curious for answers regarding some of the more enigmatic aspects of Frank's life.”

Bob Zappa's “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story” is a must-read for all fans of Frank Zappa!

To purchase “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”: 
https://www.createspace.com/6991665 (United States)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1544258798 (United States)
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1544258798 (Canada - Book not currently available in Canada)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1544258798 (United Kingdom)
http://www.amazon.de/dp/1544258798 (Germany)
http://www.amazon.es/dp/1544258798 (Spain)
http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1544258798 (France)
http://www.amazon.it/dp/1544258798 (Italy)

To purchase “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa”:

https://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Bobby-Growing-Up-Zappa/dp/099647790X

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock Revised and Expanded Edition by Charles Snider to be Released April 22

The definitive record guide to the progressive era of rock music, Strawberry Bricks presents a standard discography of music from artists around the globe. Beginning in 1967 and continuing through 1982, a generation of musicians took rock music in directions unforeseen as they charted what would become known as progressive rock. This edition also includes exclusive interviews with a host of musicians of the era, providing proof that progressive rock was indeed the music of a generation. From art rock to krautrock, from England to Germany to Italy and all across Europe, Strawberry Bricks offers a candid reappraisal of rock's most cerebral genre.

The book also includes exclusive interviews from the following artists, about their early life and how they began their music careers: Dave Lawson (Web, Samurai, Greenslade), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Christian Grumbkow (Hoelderlin), Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant), John Wetton (Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, UK, Asia), David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator), Pye Hastings (Caravan), Hugh Banton (Van der Graaf Generator), Gigi Venegoni (Arti e Mestieri), Hartwig Biereichel (Novalis), Ciro Perrino (Celeste), Michael Rother (Neu!, Harmonia), Joachim “Eroc” Ehrig (Grobschnitt), Rich Williams (Kansas), Steve Hillage (Khan, Gong), and Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich (Agitation Free, Ashra).



The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock
Revised and Expanded Edition
• The definitive Progressive Rock record guide
• Reviews of 476 albums from 1967 - 1982
• 632 pages
• Exclusive interviews with 16 artists from the era
• Fully edited, proofread and fact-checked

“Navigating the topographic oceans, surviving the brain salad surgery and in general making sense of the dense, incredibly ambitious, and so often misunderstood or unfairly denigrated genre of progressive rock is a difficult task, but Charles Snider accomplishes it with the insight of the very best rock critics combined with the infectious enthusiasm of the most devoted fans.” - Jim DeRogatis, Music Critic & co-host of Sound Opinions

“Charles Snider has an encyclopedic knowledge of progressive rock, and has accrued one of the world’s most formidable record collections. No one is better equipped to write the definitive discography of this rich genre of music.” - Jonathan Schang, District 97

“Charles Snider's Strawberry Bricks record guide is accessible, comprehensive, and indispensable. A great read and an excellent resource.” - Will Romano, author of Close to the Edge: How Yes’s Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock & Mountains Come Out of the Sky

The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock is the definitive record guide to the classic progressive era of rock music. Beginning in 1967 and continuing until 1982, the book presents the progressive rock canon, set in the presentation of a timeline. This new edition extends the timeline into the early 80's, to offer a more natural conclusion to the progressive era, as well as offering a broader selection of albums from the era.

Secondly, beginning with a database of the birth years of musicians in the timeline, the book offers that what we now know as “progressive rock” is in fact the music of a generation. The statistics play out: the median birth year for the “progressive artist” is 1947, with a standard deviation of +/- 3 years.

Says Charles, “I’ve also conducted many interviews with artists from the era, and 16 of these appear in the book. The premise was to study their early lives, from birth through the late 60's and very early 70's, to find the commonalities that these men experienced. The newly written Prologue offers a historical perspective of the pretext to the progressive era, beginning post-WWII, while the Epilogue offers a current perspective on progressive rock since the early 80's.

“I've also spent a good deal of time fact-checking every detail in the book, including song titles and artist names. Further, this edition has been professionally edited and peer reviewed, all to make this as exacting and rewarding a book as the music it covers. Strawberry Bricks is another narrative on the classic era of progressive rock, one with hopefully a novel and candid outlook on the genre, its albums and the men that made it one of the most interesting chapters in rock's history.

“The cover is an image of the vinyl record grooves on Jethro Tull's Minstrel In The Gallery album. Enjoy the music!”

About the Author:
Charles Snider has been collecting records since the early 70's, amassing one of the most complete archives of what is known as progressive rock. “One of my earliest memories of vinyl was The Beatles' 'Paperback Writer' b/w 'Rain.' I can remember turning the balance knob to isolate the sounds within the stereo mix, and just being fascinated with the tones of the instruments.” Snider's self-professed passion for the music “archaeology” continued over the decades, branching out to many other genres of music. “In the early 90's, Kevin Eden and I curated the WMO label, with the cooperation and support of Wire. The CD was a new format, and we released a lot of hard to find records, as well as unreleased archival material and two very good tribute discs.” Upon moving to Chicago in 2000, he began writing the first edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock. “I've always loved record guides. Certainly, Ira Robbin’s Trouser Press was the prototype, but growing up in the 70's with magazines like Circus, Creem and of course Rolling Stone, I've always enjoyed the passion writers convey about music.” While not listening to prog rock, Snider can be found blogging about personal technology or cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Revised and Expanded Edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock is released on Record Store Day, April 22nd, 2017. Available direct from http://strawberrybricks.com/the-book, and from Amazon.com (including UK and EU). Published by http://www.strawberrybricks.com/ via CreateSpace.com, an Amazon company.

For more information: http://www.strawberrybricks.com/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock Revised and Expanded Edition by Charles Snider to be Released April 22

The definitive record guide to the progressive era of rock music, Strawberry Bricks presents a standard discography of music from artists around the globe. Beginning in 1967 and continuing through 1982, a generation of musicians took rock music in directions unforeseen as they charted what would become known as progressive rock. This edition also includes exclusive interviews with a host of musicians of the era, providing proof that progressive rock was indeed the music of a generation. From art rock to krautrock, from England to Germany to Italy and all across Europe, Strawberry Bricks offers a candid reappraisal of rock's most cerebral genre.

The book also includes exclusive interviews from the following artists, about their early life and how they began their music careers: Dave Lawson (Web, Samurai, Greenslade), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Christian Grumbkow (Hoelderlin), Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant), John Wetton (Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, UK, Asia), David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator), Pye Hastings (Caravan), Hugh Banton (Van der Graaf Generator), Gigi Venegoni (Arti e Mestieri), Hartwig Biereichel (Novalis), Ciro Perrino (Celeste), Michael Rother (Neu!, Harmonia), Joachim “Eroc” Ehrig (Grobschnitt), Rich Williams (Kansas), Steve Hillage (Khan, Gong), and Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich (Agitation Free, Ashra).



The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock
Revised and Expanded Edition
• The definitive Progressive Rock record guide
• Reviews of 476 albums from 1967 - 1982
• 632 pages
• Exclusive interviews with 16 artists from the era
• Fully edited, proofread and fact-checked

“Navigating the topographic oceans, surviving the brain salad surgery and in general making sense of the dense, incredibly ambitious, and so often misunderstood or unfairly denigrated genre of progressive rock is a difficult task, but Charles Snider accomplishes it with the insight of the very best rock critics combined with the infectious enthusiasm of the most devoted fans.” - Jim DeRogatis, Music Critic & co-host of Sound Opinions

“Charles Snider has an encyclopedic knowledge of progressive rock, and has accrued one of the world’s most formidable record collections. No one is better equipped to write the definitive discography of this rich genre of music.” - Jonathan Schang, District 97

“Charles Snider's Strawberry Bricks record guide is accessible, comprehensive, and indispensable. A great read and an excellent resource.” - Will Romano, author of Close to the Edge: How Yes’s Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock & Mountains Come Out of the Sky

The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock is the definitive record guide to the classic progressive era of rock music. Beginning in 1967 and continuing until 1982, the book presents the progressive rock canon, set in the presentation of a timeline. This new edition extends the timeline into the early 80's, to offer a more natural conclusion to the progressive era, as well as offering a broader selection of albums from the era.

Secondly, beginning with a database of the birth years of musicians in the timeline, the book offers that what we now know as “progressive rock” is in fact the music of a generation. The statistics play out: the median birth year for the “progressive artist” is 1947, with a standard deviation of +/- 3 years.

Says Charles, “I’ve also conducted many interviews with artists from the era, and 16 of these appear in the book. The premise was to study their early lives, from birth through the late 60's and very early 70's, to find the commonalities that these men experienced. The newly written Prologue offers a historical perspective of the pretext to the progressive era, beginning post-WWII, while the Epilogue offers a current perspective on progressive rock since the early 80's.

“I've also spent a good deal of time fact-checking every detail in the book, including song titles and artist names. Further, this edition has been professionally edited and peer reviewed, all to make this as exacting and rewarding a book as the music it covers. Strawberry Bricks is another narrative on the classic era of progressive rock, one with hopefully a novel and candid outlook on the genre, its albums and the men that made it one of the most interesting chapters in rock's history.

“The cover is an image of the vinyl record grooves on Jethro Tull's Minstrel In The Gallery album. Enjoy the music!”

About the Author:
Charles Snider has been collecting records since the early 70's, amassing one of the most complete archives of what is known as progressive rock. “One of my earliest memories of vinyl was The Beatles' 'Paperback Writer' b/w 'Rain.' I can remember turning the balance knob to isolate the sounds within the stereo mix, and just being fascinated with the tones of the instruments.” Snider's self-professed passion for the music “archaeology” continued over the decades, branching out to many other genres of music. “In the early 90's, Kevin Eden and I curated the WMO label, with the cooperation and support of Wire. The CD was a new format, and we released a lot of hard to find records, as well as unreleased archival material and two very good tribute discs.” Upon moving to Chicago in 2000, he began writing the first edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock. “I've always loved record guides. Certainly, Ira Robbin’s Trouser Press was the prototype, but growing up in the 70's with magazines like Circus, Creem and of course Rolling Stone, I've always enjoyed the passion writers convey about music.” While not listening to prog rock, Snider can be found blogging about personal technology or cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Revised and Expanded Edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock is released on Record Store Day, April 22nd, 2017. Available direct from http://strawberrybricks.com/the-book, and from Amazon.com (including UK and EU). Published by http://www.strawberrybricks.com/ via CreateSpace.com, an Amazon company.

For more information: http://www.strawberrybricks.com/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

The Turtles/Zappa & The Mothers Legend Jim Pons Pens New Book “Hard Core Love: Sex, Football, and Rock and Roll in the Kingdom of God”

From the Sunset Strip to the White House and stadiums throughout the NFL, Jim Pons' journey through rock and roll to filming professional football becomes a one-of-a kind spiritual autobiography. “Hard Core Love” connects the dots behind the scenes of Jim's years with The Turtles, Frank Zappa and The New York Jets, all of which lead to his finest achievement, a long-sought peace with God.

Says Jim, “People I have worked with, played with and lived with always told me I should write a book someday and I always thought it would be entertaining to people. It was Neale Donald Walsch who convinced me. He told me it would be helpful to people.”

Jim Pons is a former bass guitarist and singer for several legendary 1960's and 70's rock bands, including The Leaves, The Turtles, Frank Zappa & The Mothers and Flo & Eddie.

In 1973 Pons left the music industry to become the film and video director for the New York Jets football club. He held this position until his retirement in 2000. Pons and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where he did game day video for the Jacksonville Jaguars for three more years before finally leaving the NFL. He now sings and plays upright bass in a bluegrass band called Lonesome Ride.

“If you’ve been taught to believe that fame and fortune are the keys to happiness—and most of us have—Jim Pons’ remarkable story is for you. If you’ve been taught that your questions about the meaning of life should be left in the hands of religious experts—and most of us have—Jim’s personal quest to know God offers the gift of spiritual freedom. His transparency shines throughout and cannot help but assist other seekers—covertly, even those who buy the book for the football and rock n’ roll. Having known his story for several years, it has been our sincere desire that Jim share it with the world. Thankfully that time has come. We invite you to open these pages, enjoy his story and come away the better for sharing his experience.” - Lee and Steven Hager, authors of The Gospel of Thomas: Where Science Meets Spirituality

In closing Jim has this to impart, “There is more to life than fame and fortune. We haven’t learned all there is to know about God.”

To purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Core-Love-Football-Kingdom/dp/1945390484

For more information:
www.jimpons.com
www.facebook.com/wjpons

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Art Rock Band Schooltree Descends into Crumbling Dreamworld with Multimedia Epic Heterotopia

Boston, MA - When music trends pander to the lowest common denominator, the real rebellion discards formulas and charts a stubbornly individualistic path. That's where we find Schooltree on their second release, Heterotopia: forging a new standard in sonic storytelling and taking us through cracks in the sidewalk into other worlds.

The story
Four years in the making, Heterotopia is a symphonic odyssey through a dystopian dreamworld: a 100-minute double record in the tradition of ambitious concept albums like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Quadrophenia.

Underachiever Suzi loses her body and must make her way through a parallel world of the collective unconscious to get it back. But the road she travels has been overtaken by shadows and chaos. In order to become whole again, Suzi must uncover the origins of this darkness, in a journey that takes her from the neon lights of her plasterboard horizon home to the bottom of a cursed river, where the fate of this place and her own are inextricably linked.

The recording
Produced by Peter Moore (Think Tree, Count Zero) and Lainey Schooltree, Heterotopia favors warmth and dynamics but also clarity and punch, effecting a sound that’s both classic and contemporary. Dramatic choices like distinct singing styles for each character’s voice and accompanying instrumentation guide the listener through a shifting topography layered with stacked guitar harmonies, crystalline synth leads, odd time grooves and ominous ambient soundscapes.

Heterotopia’s successful Kickstarter campaign raised more than $20,000, with signal boosts from notable artists Aimee Mann, Neko Case, Margaret Cho, Amanda Palmer and Barry Crimmins. (link: http://kck.st/1Rn2Je8 )

Brimming with ambition, this record is the sound of a group of musicians playing at their peak.

The illustrated book
In a nod to classic opera, Heterotopia’s complete libretto will be made available as a companion to the album, bringing the story and lyrics to life in a full color illustrated book. Combining influences from art nouveau and graphic novels, the artwork has a dreamlike quality that complements the music.

The live experience
Heterotopia will first be performed on March 31 at OBERON, the American Repertory Theater's stage in Cambridge, MA. The performance will take audiences inside a 3D interactive light sculpture video installation by Sam Okerstrom-Lang (Samo), a Boston-based new-media interdisciplinary digital artist and designer. Samo’s boundary-pushing work will use technology create an immersive sensory experience, blurring the line between nirvana and dystopia. From the moment each audience member enters the room, their experience will reflect Suzi’s, as the installation’s elements are activated in parallel with the performance. Key moments will be accentuated with sound and light, triggering an out-of-body sensation of navigating the worlds expressed in the music.

Lainey Schooltree
Lainey Schooltree is a Boston-based composer, performer and producer. A classically trained musician and vaudeville performer, humor and tragedy inform each other equally in her work. She explores the intersection of the new and old, always striving for the timeless in sound and theme. Her band, Schooltree, fuses literature and music to create something uniquely accessible, visceral and profound.

Lainey is the composer and librettist of Heterotopia, and will serve as performer, musical director and producer of the live experience.

Here's what the press have raved about Schooltree!

“Schooltree's music embodies the essence of Art Rock, with catchy melodies, sophisticated arrangements, lush instrumentation, and a wide array of influences that - besides classic prog - include opera, Broadway musicals and baroque pop. Lainey's dazzling vocals deliver lyrics that are humorous and thought-provoking at the same time. Highly recommended to fans of Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Supertramp, Queen and Roxy Music.” – Progarchives.com

“Schooltree (the woman) is a painstaking crafter of sound, if not an outright artisan of sound...” – Cambridge Day

“All in all, Lainey has her own stamp and an incredible sense of all aspects of music, from basic structure to finished master. Her arrangement skills are regal. Her composition smarts are sorely beautiful. Schooltree moves from art pop to symphonic rock, to haunting ballad to unforgettable music all over.” – Prognaut.com

“It takes a certain kind of courage to get onstage and make people laugh. It also takes courage to lead a rock band playing your own autobiographical, if cryptic, songs. For Lainey Schooltree, it has been a long trip transitioning from one to the other.” – The Phoenix

“Shockingly gorgeous… There’s an undeniable charm in Schooltree's music.” – Glorydaze Music

“Schooltree is a beautifully unique and experimental artist. Possessing a world of talent as vocalist, pianist, and composer, she is unafraid to let her creativity and imagination unfold and take her in whichever direction she feels like going.” – Bill Copeland News

“Lainey is the prog rock queen of modern times, with her Broadway musical vocals and theatrical cabaret presentation.” – Boston Survival Guide

“With a voice that garners comparisons with Goldfrapp, Tori Amos, Kate Bush and even Freddie Mercury, and a virtuoso command of the keyboard, singer Lainey Schooltree is a strong frontwoman who becomes two or three times actual size on stage. Believe it.”  – Boston Band Crush 

To purchase Heterotopia:
http://schooltree.bandcamp.com ;

For more information:
http://schooltreemusic.com
http://facebook.com/schooltreemusic

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
(828) 350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Art Rock Band Schooltree Descends into Crumbling Dreamworld with Multimedia Epic Heterotopia

Boston, MA - When music trends pander to the lowest common denominator, the real rebellion discards formulas and charts a stubbornly individualistic path. That's where we find Schooltree on their second release, Heterotopia: forging a new standard in sonic storytelling and taking us through cracks in the sidewalk into other worlds.

The story
Four years in the making, Heterotopia is a symphonic odyssey through a dystopian dreamworld: a 100-minute double record in the tradition of ambitious concept albums like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Quadrophenia.

Underachiever Suzi loses her body and must make her way through a parallel world of the collective unconscious to get it back. But the road she travels has been overtaken by shadows and chaos. In order to become whole again, Suzi must uncover the origins of this darkness, in a journey that takes her from the neon lights of her plasterboard horizon home to the bottom of a cursed river, where the fate of this place and her own are inextricably linked.

The recording
Produced by Peter Moore (Think Tree, Count Zero) and Lainey Schooltree, Heterotopia favors warmth and dynamics but also clarity and punch, effecting a sound that’s both classic and contemporary. Dramatic choices like distinct singing styles for each character’s voice and accompanying instrumentation guide the listener through a shifting topography layered with stacked guitar harmonies, crystalline synth leads, odd time grooves and ominous ambient soundscapes.

Heterotopia’s successful Kickstarter campaign raised more than $20,000, with signal boosts from notable artists Aimee Mann, Neko Case, Margaret Cho, Amanda Palmer and Barry Crimmins. (link: http://kck.st/1Rn2Je8 )

Brimming with ambition, this record is the sound of a group of musicians playing at their peak.

The illustrated book
In a nod to classic opera, Heterotopia’s complete libretto will be made available as a companion to the album, bringing the story and lyrics to life in a full color illustrated book. Combining influences from art nouveau and graphic novels, the artwork has a dreamlike quality that complements the music.

The live experience
Heterotopia will first be performed on March 31 at OBERON, the American Repertory Theater's stage in Cambridge, MA. The performance will take audiences inside a 3D interactive light sculpture video installation by Sam Okerstrom-Lang (Samo), a Boston-based new-media interdisciplinary digital artist and designer. Samo’s boundary-pushing work will use technology create an immersive sensory experience, blurring the line between nirvana and dystopia. From the moment each audience member enters the room, their experience will reflect Suzi’s, as the installation’s elements are activated in parallel with the performance. Key moments will be accentuated with sound and light, triggering an out-of-body sensation of navigating the worlds expressed in the music.

Lainey Schooltree
Lainey Schooltree is a Boston-based composer, performer and producer. A classically trained musician and vaudeville performer, humor and tragedy inform each other equally in her work. She explores the intersection of the new and old, always striving for the timeless in sound and theme. Her band, Schooltree, fuses literature and music to create something uniquely accessible, visceral and profound.

Lainey is the composer and librettist of Heterotopia, and will serve as performer, musical director and producer of the live experience.

Here's what the press have raved about Schooltree!

“Schooltree's music embodies the essence of Art Rock, with catchy melodies, sophisticated arrangements, lush instrumentation, and a wide array of influences that - besides classic prog - include opera, Broadway musicals and baroque pop. Lainey's dazzling vocals deliver lyrics that are humorous and thought-provoking at the same time. Highly recommended to fans of Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Supertramp, Queen and Roxy Music.” – Progarchives.com

“Schooltree (the woman) is a painstaking crafter of sound, if not an outright artisan of sound...” – Cambridge Day

“All in all, Lainey has her own stamp and an incredible sense of all aspects of music, from basic structure to finished master. Her arrangement skills are regal. Her composition smarts are sorely beautiful. Schooltree moves from art pop to symphonic rock, to haunting ballad to unforgettable music all over.” – Prognaut.com

“It takes a certain kind of courage to get onstage and make people laugh. It also takes courage to lead a rock band playing your own autobiographical, if cryptic, songs. For Lainey Schooltree, it has been a long trip transitioning from one to the other.” – The Phoenix

“Shockingly gorgeous… There’s an undeniable charm in Schooltree's music.” – Glorydaze Music

“Schooltree is a beautifully unique and experimental artist. Possessing a world of talent as vocalist, pianist, and composer, she is unafraid to let her creativity and imagination unfold and take her in whichever direction she feels like going.” – Bill Copeland News

“Lainey is the prog rock queen of modern times, with her Broadway musical vocals and theatrical cabaret presentation.” – Boston Survival Guide

“With a voice that garners comparisons with Goldfrapp, Tori Amos, Kate Bush and even Freddie Mercury, and a virtuoso command of the keyboard, singer Lainey Schooltree is a strong frontwoman who becomes two or three times actual size on stage. Believe it.”  – Boston Band Crush 

To purchase Heterotopia:
http://schooltree.bandcamp.com ;

For more information:
http://schooltreemusic.com
http://facebook.com/schooltreemusic

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
(828) 350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

New Book By Douglas Harr “Rockin' The City of Angels” Feat. Stunning Images & Memorabilia of Led Zeppelin, Queen, David Bowie, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, The Who, Yes and Others!

Celebrates incredible performances by Led Zeppelin, Queen, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Heart, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, The Who, Yes!

London - Concert culture in Los Angeles, the City of Angels, in the 1970s had all the lush opulence of theater, the virtuosic chops of a classical performance, and the edge-of-your-seat excitement of rock n’ roll. First-time author, and lifelong music fanatic, Douglas Harr’s Rockin’ The City Of Angels: Celebrating the Great Rock Shows of the 1970s In Concert, On Record and On Film brings to life all the classic majesty in real time. This collection of over 500 stunning images is carefully culled from the premiere practitioners of fine art photography, covering a refreshingly broad cross section of 1970s iconic artists.

“The 1970s were a time when rock bands made expansive concept records with sweeping themes,” recalls author Douglas Harr. “Rock albums back then promised ‘theater of the mind,’ and their creators were inspired to mount elaborate stage shows that brought these dreams to life. I caught many of these concerts in Los Angeles. They were almost religion to me and masses of fellow concert-goers.”

RTCOA celebrates more than thirty incredible performances, including key tours by bands such as Led Zeppelin, Queen, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Heart, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, The Who and Yes. These myth-making moments are presented here by a hand-picked collection of brilliant images by the best photojournalists of that time, including Richard E. Aaron, Jorgen Angel, Fin Costello, Armando Gallo, Neal Preston, Jim Summaria, Lisa Tanner and Neil Zlowzower among many others. “I spent 2 years in basements, agencies, and sometimes bands' homes, combing through hundreds of slides to find the best concert photos from that time, now so long ago,” Harr shares. In addition, RTCOA includes written commentary reflecting on these legendary concerts with reviews of the best concert video documents filmed during the era.

This 396-page book is thoughtfully divided into three sections. “Rock Gods & Entertainers” features bands like The Who, Stones, Zep, Tull, Bowie, Queen, and AC/DC. “Shamans, Storytellers, and Mellow Rockers” explores the concerts of Genesis, Yes, Cat Stevens, Eagles, Heart, Supertramp, Kansas, and more. Lastly, “Virtuosos & Classic Rockers” brings to life performances by ELP, King Crimson, ELO, Dixie Dregs, Kate Bush and many of their peers. This is the perfect gift for those who were there—or wish they were there—for that magical time.

Harr is a staff writer for Gonzo Weekly magazine, part of the Gonzo Multimedia label in England. In addition, he has contributed articles and photographs to Expose Magazine and Something Else Reviews in the U.S. His writings and photos are also captured in his weekly blog at diegospadeproductions.com. He is an aficionado of progressive and classic rock music from the early 1970’s and a frequent concert patron who has attended more than 400 shows during his lifetime. He was classically trained on the piano for seven years before transitioning to college and full-time “music patron” status. Besides music publications, Harr’s written work is also featured in technology books, including CIO Perspectives and Data Insights: New Ways to Visualize and Make Sense of Data, and in his blog on music and technology Alternative IT. All this has been a part of a 30-plus year career as a technology executive and patron of the rock ‘n’ roll arts.

This coffee-table book is nearly the size of an LP album cover, 396 pages, over 500 images, written by Douglas Harr, designed by Tilman Reitzle. Foreword by Armando Gallo.

Customers pre-ordering before December 20 will receive a signed commemorative postcard which can be used as a gift, just in time for the season.

Release Date: 13th January 2017

For more information: http://www.gonzomultimedia.com/search/product_details/16002/Douglas_Harr-Rockin%27_The_City_of_Angels.html

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com