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Switzerland's Nemo has won the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), which was held on Saturday in the Swedish city of Malmo.
Swiss rapper and singer presented "The Code", a drum and bass, opera, rap and rock song about Nemo's journey of self-discovery as a non-binary person. 24-year-old Nemo is the first non-binary winner of the contest and also the first Swiss winner since 1988, when Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion competed under the Swiss flag. At a press conference following the win, Nemo expressed pride in accepting the trophy for "people that are daring to be themselves and people that need to be heard and need to be understood." "We need more compassion, we need more empathy," he said. Meanwhile, Croatia's Baby Lasagna, whose real name is Marko Purisic, came second with "Rim Tim Tagi Dim." The Ukrainian duo Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil placed third with "Teresa & Maria." Out of a total of 25 finalists, Germany landed in 12th place with singer Isaak's "Always on the run." The winner of the competition is determined by the votes of television viewers in Europe and around the world. These votes are combined with those of juries of music professionals in each of the 37 participating countries. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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We’ve been seeing more fuzz boxes released than any other kind of pedal lately, several with a claim to having special characteristics. The latest from Walrus Audio is no exception, but its special characteristic is plain for all to see: a tube lit up in a front-panel window. The idea behind the pedal was to create a fuzz with the rich, harmonically complex texture that a real valve can provide, so Walrus Audio teamed up with valve expert Jim Hagerman to develop this design based around an ECC82/12AU7 preamp tube. It’s a tidy-sized fuzz pedal, with sounds dialled in by three knobs and a three-way toggle switch, and it sports an extra foot switched Harmonic mode for some octave action. Starting with the Gain knob at zero we get a nice crunchy drive tone, and with unity gain around noon, there’s plenty of scope for delivering a boost with the Volume knob. The Tone knob, post-fuzz, is a tilt EQ that’s basically flat in the centre, cutting highs and boosting lows to the left, and boosting top while rolling off lows clockwise. Small deviations either side of centre work great for matching the tone to various amps, but there’s plenty of range if you want to get more extreme, especially if combined with the three-way contour switch that, besides a flat setting, offers either a high-pass or a low-pass filter to tweak the tone before it hits the fuzz stage. Extreme sounds aside, the Contour switch’s attenuation of bottom- or top-end is a practical asset in compensating for different pickups.
Advancing the Gain knob takes you through various shades of distortion to fat fuzz, always with harmonic richness, decent string articulation and volume knob clean-up. There are some excellent sounds to be had here in standard nine-volt operation, but running the pedal at 12 volts squeezes out extra gain. Switching into Harmonic mode gives you another voice as a frequency doubler before the drive transforms the sound, adding throaty octave harmonic overtones. This thickens up dirty chordal work and delivers a distinctive tone for single-note leads – rich and gnarly with a hint of ring modulation.
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Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died at the age of 76. Bandmate Jeff Lynne made the announcement on X. "He was an extraordinary artist and friend. I cherish the memories we had together."
Tandy joined ELO when the debut album had already been released in 1972. He switched from guitar to keyboards because a spot had become available there. In all the different formations of ELO, Tandy would continue to form the backbone of the Birmingham band with Lynne and drummer Bev Bevan. At a time when keyboard players were given more options with new electric instruments, Tandy left his mark on the sound of ELO: in addition to piano, he used a Minimoog synthesizer, a Wurlitzer electric piano, the clavinet and a Mellotron. With him the band had hits such as Can't Get It Out of My Head, Don't Bring Me Down, Evil Woman and Livin' Thing. Tandy himself can be heard distorted on probably the band's most enduring hit, Mr. Blue Sky, which is still consistently among the hundred best records in the Radio 2 Top 2000 every year. By putting his voice through a vocoder, he gives the catchy song mysterious robot sounds. Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky (Official Video)Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky (Official Video) His often misunderstood sounds at the end of that song are a relic from the LP era: "Please turn me over", a signal for the listener to turn the record over. In the 1980s the band broke up, but not before recording one more contractually obligated album. After the turn of the century, Lynne revived the formation with Tandy. New successes were not forthcoming, but the classics remained popular: Mr. For example, Blue Sky can be heard extensively in the opening scene of Guardians of the Galaxy II, with a cheerfully dancing Groot. In the obituary, Lynne did not report a cause of death, but Tandy had been ill for a long time. Last month, Lynne announced that she would give one more series of ELO performances, but it is not known what this news means for the Over and Out tour. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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The Rodenberg Luke OD Overdrive-Pedal is the original version of the three-way Luke SL-OD, which is more affordable than the original version which is loaded, with a sound that is completely accurate.
There has been a close collaboration between Steve Lukather and the German pedal manufacturer Rodenberg for several years. Enough reasons to take a closer look at the Luke OD! In the review pedal today is basically the little brother of the Rodenberg SL-OD we have already tested, which is equipped with three independent channels and costs more than twice as much. In terms of sound, the new Luke OD should be identical to the low and high gain overdrive of the large pedal. You can read its test here. So far, so exciting! But we'll get to the sound later in the practical part. First of all, we have to look at the good piece up close. As usual, the Luke OD is delivered in a box, in which it completes its journey to the customer safely wrapped in foam, as well as an operating manual written in German and English - and it's worth mentioning: there are also rubber feet in the box to stick on the bottom, which is actually shouldn't be worth mentioning, but manufacturers of high-priced boutique pedals in particular often refuse to deliver them with their products. The Luke OD makes an extremely robust and high-quality impression and is completely handcrafted in Fulda. At this point, if you haven't already done so, you should quickly take a look at the selling price again, because it is quite moderate for a hand-made pedal - assuming, of course, that the sound is right. But more on that later. With its 240 grams and dimensions of 59 x 110 x 33 mm, it has standard dimensions, and if you turn the controls, it immediately becomes clear that high-quality components have been installed here that can be moved smoothly but with enough resistance. There is a level control that determines the output volume, a gain control for adjusting the distortion and a tone pot that controls the treble level. There is also a switch for selecting the low or high gain mode and a toggle switch labeled bass that activates a bass boost. Of course, a footswitch that wakes the pedal from its true bypass sleep is also a must. As soon as the pedal is active, the LUKE lettering lights up red, a very nice detail! The connections in the form of input and output on the right and left sides of the black painted housing as well as the power supply socket on the front are still missing. This allows the connection of a standardized 9-volt DC dispenser, but the Luke OD can also be operated with 18 volts. A look at the cleanly crafted interior shows that battery operation is not intended. As expected, there is absolutely nothing to complain about in terms of workmanship, the pedal makes a high-quality, robust impression, which brings us to the practical part. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death for his role in the anti-government protests in 2022, his lawyer told the Iranian newspaper Sharq.
Salehi was arrested in October 2022 because he expressed support for the protest movement in his music. The death of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini sparked months of protests against which the regime cracked down. The woman died after being violently arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely. The rapper was sentenced to six years in prison last year, and then avoided the death penalty at the hands of the Supreme Court. According to the lawyer, a revolutionary court in Isfahan has now ruled that Salehi will still receive the death penalty. According to the counsel, this judgment is contrary to the judgment of the court. “We will certainly appeal this ruling,” he says. German parliamentarian Ye-One Rhie (Member of the Bundestag for the SPD) also reports the verdict. She is Toomaj's political sponsor, which means she keeps his case in the spotlight and increases the pressure. Salehi was briefly released at the end of last year. In a video he then talked about torture in the cell. His arms and legs would have been broken. He also had to spend 252 days in solitary confinement. For two weeks now, the Iranian police have been enforcing the headscarf requirement for women more strictly. Videos are posted on social media showing police cracking down on women who do not adhere to the dress code. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Metallica co-founder and frontman James Hetfield has shown off a new tattoo dedicated to fellow metal icon Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. The ink used in the design, according to Hetfield, features the actual remains of the late rockstar. In an Instagram post on Metallica’s official account on Wednesday, the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist shared a picture of his new ace-of-spades tattoo etched on his middle finger, with the caption: “A salute to my friend and inspiration Mr. Lemmy Kilmister. Without him, there would be NO Metallica.” The design, drawn by tattoo artist Corey Miller, was made using black ink mixed with “a pinch of [Kilmister’s] cremation ashes,” that Hetfield said were “graciously given” to him after the Motorhead founder passed away from cancer in 2015 at the age of 70. Kilmister, often simply referred to as Lemmy, founded Motorhead in 1975 and became a household name in the rock world, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of British heavy metal. With Motorhead, Lemmy released a total of 22 albums, which featured some of the most iconic metal hits of the era, including the songs Overkill and Bomber (1979), Ace of Spades (1980) and Killed by Death (1984).
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The History of Greeny4/13/2024 The legendary guitar known as "Greeny," a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, has earned its place in the annals of rock history through its association with Peter Green, one of the most influential guitarists of his era.
The story of Greeny intertwines with the careers of several notable musicians, each leaving their mark on this iconic instrument. Peter Green, a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, acquired the guitar in 1966. Greeny quickly became his instrument of choice, shaping the distinctive sound of the early Fleetwood Mac albums and contributing to the band's rise to prominence. Green's emotive playing style and soulful tone were amplified through the rich, resonant tones of the Les Paul, making it an integral part of his musical identity. However, Green's tenure with the guitar was relatively short-lived. Following a period of personal turmoil and struggles with mental health, he left Fleetwood Mac in 1970. In the years that followed, Greeny changed hands multiple times, each new owner adding another chapter to its storied history. One of the notable owners of Greeny was Gary Moore, an Irish guitarist renowned for his virtuosic playing across various genres, including blues and hard rock. Moore acquired the guitar in the 1970s and used it extensively throughout his career. His fiery playing style and expressive phrasing breathed new life into Greeny, ensuring its continued relevance in the world of rock music. After Moore, Greeny found its way into the hands of other guitarists, each bringing their own unique flair to its sound. From Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy to Rick Vito of Fleetwood Mac, the guitar continued to be a sought-after instrument among musicians seeking to channel the spirit of its original owner, Peter Green. In 2014, Greeny found its current custodian in Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist of Metallica. Hammett, an avid collector of vintage guitars, recognized the historical significance of Greeny and added it to his impressive collection. While primarily known for his work in metal, Hammett's appreciation for blues and classic rock makes him a fitting guardian for this iconic instrument. Today, Greeny remains a symbol of musical heritage and artistic expression. Its journey from the hands of Peter Green to its current owner, Kirk Hammett, serves as a testament to the enduring power of music and the profound impact that a single instrument can have on generations of musicians and fans alike. As long as its strings continue to resonate, Greeny will continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world, carrying forward the legacy of its legendary owners. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Last week, reports suggested that BMG and Warner Music Group were vying to purchase the catalog of Pink Floyd. Now, the companies are facing another competing bid, for Iver Heath-based One Media iP has made an offer for a portion of the song rights.
Berlin-headquartered BMG and the publicly traded Warner Music Group have yet to comment on their reported efforts to acquire the catalog of Pink Floyd – nor has the nearly six-decade-old group addressed the matter. But according to anonymous sources with knowledge of the talks, the winning bidder could spend over $500 million on the body of work. The sum would rival that which Bruce Springsteen reportedly received from Sony Music Entertainment for his own catalog in December of 2021. Other legacy artists, including but certainly not limited to Sting, Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, and America, have likewise cashed in on their catalogs since the corresponding sales rush initiated in 2020. On the heels of these high-profile deals and a more recent collection of smaller-scale transactions, however, some have expressed the belief that the red-hot catalog space could finally be cooling down. In any event, at least one more blockbuster agreement appears to be in the works, and as highlighted at the outset, One Media is looking to get in on the action, founder and CEO Michael Infante has confirmed. The Sun shed light upon One Media’s offer for the catalog of Pink Floyd – or one percent of this catalog, to be specific – and the company posted an excerpt from the appropriate article to its website. One Media’s £3.5 million ($4.29 million at the present exchange rate) bid for the single-percent interest “should be taken seriously,” per the piece, and “includes access to anti-piracy software which would help protect the music.” The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Inspired by guitar legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page, Sykes honed his skills with relentless dedication, spending countless hours practicing and perfecting his craft. Sykes' breakthrough came in the late 1970s when he joined the band Tygers of Pan Tang as their lead guitarist. His blistering solos and dynamic stage presence propelled the band to newfound success, garnering critical acclaim and a devoted following. However, it was his tenure with the iconic rock band Thin Lizzy that would truly solidify his place in rock history.
In 1982, Sykes joined Thin Lizzy as their lead guitarist, following the departure of legendary guitarist Gary Moore. His arrival injected new life into the band, revitalizing their sound and reigniting their creative spark. Sykes' contributions to Thin Lizzy's album "Thunder and Lightning" are nothing short of monumental, with his electrifying guitar work elevating tracks like "Cold Sweat" and "The Sun Goes Down" to iconic status. Despite his undeniable talent and success with Thin Lizzy, John Sykes' true legacy would be forged with the formation of the band Whitesnake. In 1984, he joined forces with rock icon David Coverdale to create what would become one of the most revered lineups in the history of the band. As the co-writer and lead guitarist on the multi-platinum album "Whitesnake," Sykes played an integral role in shaping the band's sound and delivering timeless hits such as "Still of the Night" and "Is This Love." However, it was his magnum opus, the eponymous 1987 album "Whitesnake," that would catapult Sykes to superstardom. Featuring his masterful guitar work and songwriting prowess, the album became a global sensation, selling over eight million copies in the United States alone and cementing Sykes' status as a guitar virtuoso of unparalleled talent. Despite his monumental success with Whitesnake, Sykes' career would take an unexpected turn in the years that followed. His departure from the band in 1987 marked the beginning of a tumultuous period characterized by lineup changes, solo projects, and collaborations with various artists. While his subsequent endeavors may not have reached the same heights as his work with Whitesnake, Sykes continued to push the boundaries of his artistry, exploring new musical avenues and leaving an indelible mark on the rock landscape. Today, John Sykes' legacy looms large over the world of rock music, his influence reverberating through the work of countless artists and bands. His mastery of the guitar, coupled with his innate songwriting ability, remains unmatched, serving as a testament to the enduring power of rock 'n' roll. Whether shredding through blistering solos or crafting unforgettable melodies, Sykes' impact on the genre is nothing short of legendary, ensuring that his place in the pantheon of rock gods is secure for generations to come. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Chapman ML1 Pro Modern Review2/25/2024
If you’re looking for a new guitar, the Chapman ML1 Pro Modern is a great contender for anyone who wants a guitar with great specs without spending ridiculous amounts of money.
Chapman Guitars offer a Standard line made in Indonesia and a Pro line built in South Korea. In this review, we’ll be taking a look at a guitar from their Pro line – the ML1 Modern. I’ll kick off with a bit of background on Chapman, then I’ll cover specs, my thoughts on the guitar, etc. If you somehow missed all of the buzz surrounding Chapman Guitars in recent years, let me bring you up to speed: Chapman Guitars was founded in 2009 by Rob Chapman – one of the first guitarists to make a name for himself on YouTube. What started as a small limited run of guitars has grown into a guitar company that pushes the envelope year after year. Chapman Guitars stand out amongst guitar brands partly due to the collaborative nature of their guitar design process. Instead of just guessing the spec and designs people want on guitars, they allow people to vote for their favourite configurations on a regular basis. Quite a nice idea. Now, let’s take a closer look at the ML1 Pro. As I mentioned earlier, the Pro line of guitars from Chapman are made in South Korea by WMI who happen to make some of the best guitars in the world. This is why other brands such as PRS, Schecter and ESP LTD have used this exact factory for their higher end import models. The quality is exceptional. Before we dive into the spec, it is worth noting that the current ML1 Pro may vary slightly in specification. In the case of this particular iteration, we’ve got a maple through-neck with a satin finish, ebony fingerboard, a volute headstock joint for extra stability and 24 jumbo stainless steel frets with rolled edges. With exceptional upper fret access.
There’s also a dual action truss rod and glow in the dark side-dots. The neck carve is stated to be a C shape. It’s fairly thin but not quite as thin as an Ibanez wizard neck.The body features a beautiful flamed maple carved top in satin with a mahogany body. There are a few comfort cuts on the body and there’s a spoon cut that allows for great upper fret access. A string-through hardtail bridge, locking tuners, 5 way selector switch and a pair of Chapman humbuckers round out the package. Later versions of this model come with Seymour Duncan pickups.
This guitar is quite a looker and the same can be said for a lot of the Chapman lineup. The build quality is excellent and the playability is right up there with guitars that cost 3x the price. While the guitar has a modern feel and will appeal to those who are more into heavy rock & metal, it is still an extremely flexible guitar. And it is great to see a hard case included – something not too many brands offer at this price point. The lack of traditional fret markers may not be to everyone’s liking. This is something to consider if you plan to record instructional videos or teach with this guitar.
What about tones? The ML1 Pro offers plenty of sustain and resonance thanks to the through-neck design. The ebony fretboard provides a good balance of warmth and brightness. It’s a nice ‘middle of the road’ option between the tonal characteristics of rosewood and maple. Positions 2 and 4 of the selector switch offer coil-split sounds so there are plenty of tones to be had. The pickups in this model offer plenty of clarity. They’re fairly hot in terms of output. When cranking the gain, these pickups remain tight and controlled. Rob has mentioned in various videos that part of the approach to their guitar building process is on making sure that all of the parts you can’t easily swap out – neck, fretboard, frets, body, etc – is as good as possible. Some may take this to mean that the parts you can change – pickups, tuners, electronics, etc. – are of lower quality. But in the case of this guitar, that definitely is not the case. I’ve had the guitar in my collection for a few years now and there have been no issues. The electrics have been spot on and the pickups sound great. It is worth noting that the newer version of this guitar comes loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups rather than the Chapman branded ones.
While the ML1 Pro Modern will appeal best to rock and metal players, traditional variations of this line are available. As you might expect, these come with a more traditional styling and configuration. This includes S-style and T-style variations – both with carved tops. For those who want to go even lower, baritone and 7-string variations are available. If you’re on a tighter budget, consider the ML1 Standard line as an alternative. These are built in Indonesia and come in at a more affordable price point. The Standard line loses the locking tuners and have a few other changes but they offer excellent value for money.
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