New Song Inspired by Muhammad Ali about Leadership and Respect)
In support of Black History Month (February 2020), D-Zone
Entertainment is proudly releasing the single, “The Greatest Lives” in digital
stores and streaming sites on Friday, January 31.
The song will be on “The Greatest Lives Songwriter’s EP,” due out March 21. It is sung by Thembeka Mnguni, finalist for South Africa’s
The Voice in 2016. Her name is pronounced “Them-bek-kah
Mmn-Gu-Nee.” From Durban, SA, she is signed to Universal Records. Her greatest cause is as a spokesperson for Autism. She is also a brand
ambassador for MUD Designer Makeup SA and for Body Confidence
International. In South Africa, Universal is releasing a new song “Stimel”
from her upcoming album, which will also include “The Greatest Lives” as a
bonus track. Visit her on social media at instagram.com/thembeka_thediva.
Here are digital links as of Friday morning, January 31, 2020
The idea for the song came to Anne in 1984 when Muhammad Ali was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She wrote on a newspaper article, “What
would he want us to know?” and filed it in her box of song ideas. “It would
have been a totally different song if I wrote it then, because I was more
sentimental.” Instead she worked on the song as her first assignment for when
she was offered a songwriting deal. South Africa’s Sheer Publishing handle one
of Anne’s favorite songs, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
She started watching South African news, and discovered many women
expressing hope for a kinder world. Many went through bullying and abusive
situations, and the females were open enough to talk about their experiences.
The lyrics for “The Greatest Lives” came from Muhammad Ali’s quotes and
philosophies. They became a message about leadership and treating people right.
Joe Deninzon, who grew up in Cleveland, OH, went to college in
Bloomington, Indiana, and played throughout the Midwest, knew Muhammad Ali’s hometown
of Louisville. He understood the Midwestern sound that Anne was looking for,
made a demo, and then the two began to put musicians to work. Using John Mellencamp's "Ain't Even Done with the Night" as a role model, they asked Cactus and Vanilla Fudge's Carmine Appice, who also played with Rod Stewart.
Thembeka loved THE GREATEST LIVES’ message about having strong
character.Joe and Anne chose her because they thought she was one of the
greatest singers they ever heard. Thembeka showed she was (as the song says) a
master by being the runner up on “the Voice South Africa.” She liked the
recording enough to also want to include it on her upcoming album.
After they heard Thembeka’s performance, they found inspiration
from keyboards on albums from the late Oliver Mtukudzi. Joe knew
the perfect keyboardist, Jeremy Beck, who used both acoustic piano and Hammond
B3. Hence, the hashtag #BeckDeninzonAppice.
“Joy and optimism in this song, I think, come from its mission
and inspiration. Muhammad Ali dealt with obstacles with optimism and a
wink and smile,” Joe says. Joe and Anne, and their musicians, know “The
Greatest Lives” will make a difference, and are proud to—as their lyric says--take a “Never say die” attitude in promoting it!
Anne Leighton: Songs Dedicated to Greta Thunberg & Pete Seeger: Here are songs and activities for my songwriting artists. Are you planning any events and playlists for Earth Day? Ask me if you need music services! My rolodex covers North America, England, Australia, and South Africa.
Anne@anneLeighton.com and Leightonmedia@aol.com, 718-881-8183
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius playing Arlene's Grocery, NYC on Feb. 27 for StringFest II (presented by SonicVoyageFest and Composer's Now). Also appearing are Echo of the Ghost & Susan Aguila. Their hard rock prog song, GAME OF
CHICKEN features an electric violin-driven in a mold like Dream Theater, Rush, and Styx.
"We're heating up as we run out of time." People are daring one another to play with
risk. We're busy bickering while the
planet is losing it.
Please listen to the music hall-inspired A
TERRIBLE PICKLEby Folk-Pop songwriter Dean Friedman Some mentions of Australia's nature-- Koalas
and eucalyptus trees, all kinds of mentions about the environment, the oceans
are rising. Los Angeles, hear Dean live at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood, on Saturday night, February 1! #Pre-GroundHogs' Day!
MY
RIVER’S RUN DRY Karen Besbeck & Billy Montana (Modern Country) Vocals like Kacey Musgraves, Margo
Price, Cassadee Pop The song is a
metaphor for land going barren and love going barren—the “true” lover won't
change even though it's too late.
BEEZ
(I KNOW WHERE THE BEEZ HAVE GONE) (Americana) Slambovian Circus of Dreams Rock, slow tempo,
environment, Americana, vocals like Tom Petty, “Stopped controlling the world,”
lyrics offer ideas on how to increase the bees to visit plant life. “the bees
are in my yard, I know where the Beez Have Gone,” “Reteaching me the facts of
life” “creatures great and small”
Friends in the New York City/Woodstock region, get ready for an announcement on the Slambovian's Earth Day activities. My UK Friends, the band will be back this summer, and one of the shows will be at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival.
POWER
FROM ABOVE Dan Berggren (Folk)The metaphor of the sky and the Christian
concept of God,Gospel-y folk, play on
words "Power from Above" the song encourages wind and sun power,
"Faith & Respect & Hope for this old earth."
traditional-sounding.
A limited run of screenings have been scheduled in select markets worldwide January thru April 2020 before the film’s release on DVD in mid-April.
"Rolling Stone Life and Death of Brian Jones" is the first documentary about the founder and original leader of The Rolling Stones.
"Beautifully put together and engrossing from start to end". Irvine Welsh - Author of "Trainspotting"
"A frank, attention-stealing tribute and worthwhile addition to any Stones enthusiast’s collection." Brett Dunford, Louder Than War
In the mid-1960s, Brian Jones emerged as ‘the face’ and poster boy of the Bohemian Swingin’ London scene, topping the charts with The Rolling Stones and dating model/actress Anita Pallenberg.
However, his excessive lifestyle and his reputation as ‘ the original bad boy of Rock & Roll’ was to cost him dearly. As the scene descended into the acid ridden year of 1967 so did Brian. Targeted by the authorities and media, he spiraled out of control losing both Anita and the respect of the Stones. Two years later, Brian was found at the bottom of his swimming pool, the verdict: death by misadventure.
During the last 50 years many theories have emerged, claiming that Brian was murdered and that it was covered up at high level, as this film discovers – the evidence for this is extremely compelling.
The film had a highly successful world premiere this past December 16th in London at the Regent Street Cinema.
Here is a list of the upcoming screenings. Tickets available thru the theaters and online thru Eventbrite: Düsseldorf - Atelier - January 25th NYC - Anthology Film Archives - January 30th
Boston - Regent Theatre - January 30th / February 1st/4th
Munich - Werkstattkino-February 6th
Santa Ana - The Frida Cinema - February 8th Seattle - Ark Lodge Cinemas - February 13th Pittsburgh - Harris Theatre Downtown - February 15th Sao Paulo - Olga 17 - Feb 15th Chichester - Cinema at New Park - Feb 21st/24th Curitiba - Centro Cultural Sistema Fiep - February 22nd Harrisburg - Moviate - February 23rd Cleveland - Grog Shop - February 23rd Gothenburg - Bio Roy - February 24th Chicago - Music Box Theater - February 27th Buenos Aires - Strummer - March 12th Minneapolis - Trylon Cinema - April 8th
"Rolling Stone Life and Death of Brian Jones" is the 5th acclaimed music documentary for Spanish filmmaker Danny Garcia. His other releases include "The Rise and Fall of The Clash"; "Looking for Johnny", about New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; "Sad Vacation", a film chronicling the final months in New York City of the Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious & his girlfriend Nancy Spungen and Danny's most recent release "Stiv: No Compromise, No Regrets" about Stiv Bators, legendary frontman of the iconic Ohio band the Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church.
"Rolling Stone Life and Death of Brian Jones" adds to the list of respected music documentaries Danny Garcia has produced and directed.
-Terry Ellis, Founder The Chrysalis Orchestra, co-founder
Chrysalis Records
The Greatest Lives is the new single from Joe Deninzon &
Anne Leighton's "The Greatest Lives - Songwriters' EP."Both veterans, the two knew they had a
special song, and asked one of their favorite singers, South Africa’s Thembeka
Mnguni to record it.
Though known for his
prowess as a violinist, fronting Stratospheerius and playing in orchestras for
acts including Game of Thrones, 50Cent, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, and
Renaissance, Joe produces, plays guitar, and bass on it. Other musicians are
Carmine Appice (Cactus, Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart) on drums and Jeremy Beck on
keyboards (piano and Hammond B3); hence the hashtag #BeckDeninzonAppice. A
working creative writer and publicist, Anne got the idea in 1984 after Muhammad
Ali announced his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease. She wrote “What does he
want us to know,” and put it in her song idea box that she started as a
teenager.
Thembeka loved THE GREATEST LIVES’ message about having
strong character. “It's important to always remember that I'm nothing without
my supporters ‘cause they drive me by just looking up to me. Though it's a
heavy load but it comes with the job. That's why I speak so openly about my
son, life, past abuse and my current....
Thembeka is signed to South Africa’s Universal Music, and on
the verge of releasing her first album. A finalist on The Voice South Africa
and a Mommy, Thembeka's greatest cause is as a spokesperson for Austism.She is also a brand ambassador for MUD
Designer Makeup SA and for Body Confidence International.
The
Greatest Lives
I won’t
look down on those
that look up to me
we all wanna shine bright
but sometimes there’s reason to fight
It’s
always the season
to fight for equality
Some may hate what we achieve
but we got reason to believe
CHORUS:
The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
there’s light and there’s fight in your inner child
The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
To face all our fears and to Never Say Die
Character
matters
and strong action make us masters
Ali says Protect them
so they won’t be suffering.
Sometimes we feel alone
Because others just don’t know
Raise up your fist
and find our courage to resist
CHORUS:
The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
There’s light and there is fight in our inner child!
The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
To face all our fears and to never say die
BRIDGE:
And even though you feel like screaming
at all the hatred in this world
It’s so surreal you must be dreaming
It’s time to let your love unfurl
THE
GREATEST LIVES
Lead Vocals, background harmonies: Thembeka Mnguni
Jeremy Beck: piano and Hammond B3
Drums: Carmine Appice
Producer, background vocals, additional percussion, guitars, bass, keyboards,
co-writer: Joe Deninzon
Assistant Producer, co-writer: Anne Leighton
Durban Producer/Engineer Dale Wardell
Durban assistant: Sequoia Duncan
Drum engineer: Jz BarrellMix: Alex
Salzman, Mastering: Fred Kevorkian, Art Work: Arie Monroe Studios:
the Deninzoo-Dumont, NJ ; Randyland-Manhasset, NY; AudioSuite-Durban, SA
I
dedicate the hashtag #IKnewYouWhen to a man that was “a great radio teacher,” who also sang folk music with my fellow classmates at Fredonia State. Dan Berggren taught
me how to listen—really listen, which is one of the reasons I keep listening to
new music.
It’s
a joy to watch my teacher grow his career, and a blessing to spread the word
about his songs about the environment. Dan’s song “Looking for Answers” is
about a daughter asking her father if we’ll have a future because of what’s
going on with our environment. This past November a review in the Saratogian described
Dan, “Resembling a young Pete Seeger.” YEAH!
😊
All
my songwriters have a little Pete Seeger in them. In fact, John and Johanna Hall
worked with him on the Clearwater. John's influence on teaching us about the environment is earth-shaking, especially the
No Nukes concerts in the 1970s. He and
Johanna Hall, who had the sync to end all syncs STILL THE ONE have a vintage
song WAKE UP from Orleans II. With
classic Orleans’ harmony and trumpet, this is a hooky song with clever
lyrics. Note that WAKE UP is with Sony
Publishing, and is NOT a ONE-STOP. WAKE UP Orleans Adult Album Alternative,
trumpet, group harmony, wake up, people, “wake up!” environment, pollution, “stop
throwing plastic in the sea/can’t you let the fishies be!” ecology, snow,
lightning, birds in flight, seasons, signs of life, “the day’s gonna come” air pollution,
water pollution, MusiciansUnitedForSafeEnergy, This song is co-written by John
and Johanna Hall, the couple that wrote the most incredible sync, “You’re Still
The One.” GLOBAL WARMING Phoebe Legere Singer Songwriter, Piano and soaring female
vocals and strings, vocals in English and French, rising sea levels, oceans,
"I place a piano on the tongue of the world to give it a voice to
cry.”
LOOKING
FOR ANSWERS Dan Berggren Folk,daughter
asking about what the environment will look like when she grows up. Long term /
Short term materialism, greed, easy answers, ask questions, learn what's ahead.
DON’S THEME Joe Olnick Instrumental
guitar, influences like David Gilmour, Alex Skolnick, Kyuss, Roy Bucchanan. Emotional, atmospheric,
sad, orchestral, slow, dirgeMellow
and quite proggy,pretty. The guitar soloing is slow and expressive. As it
continues a bluesy edge is introduced to the piece. This continues to grow with
style and class.
BEES
AND ZOMBIES Rebecca Loebe Theatrical Folk, Gilbert & Sullivan-y. If Jim Carrey was a soprano, singing a
train-of-thought song with symphonic piano backup singers. About the environment. Rebecca telling someone about environment problems, and the person takes another seat. At the end, someone else tells her about the bees, and
guess what! She moves away... The video is a delight, like a school play with
children and a slightly panic’d male teacher.
THIS DARKNESS Rachael Sage Pop, Dream Pop/Chamber Pop, female
singer with CSNY protest guitar sound, environment, the song is about the Dakota
Pipeline, keywords: see myself, grieve
myself, somebody's fool, hate, “I don’t know why you’re full of hate."
A TERRIBLE PICKLEDean FriedmanA Music Hall
song with ukulele about the world being in a terrible pickle. Some mentions of Australia-related
nature-- Koalas and eucalyptus trees, all kinds of mentions about the
environment, the oceans are rising. Kyota accord.
MARY MAGDALENE Gary Lucas & Jann Klose Upbeat folk song
with Irish singalong energy, singer sounds like Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran.
About Superstorm Sandy, hunkering down and praying during a horrible storm that
took place in Long Island, 2012. The City never had a hurricane like this.It told New Yorkers that global warming is
real NOBODY KNEW Carmine Appice’s Guitar Zeus Hard Rock, Like
the heavier parts of the Beatles’ “I’m the Walrus” and “Strawberry Fields,”
Brian May guitar, vocals by Kelly Keeling. “Nobody knew who’s running the White
House,” gas, all we wanted, here we are, Hear me now. Nobody Knew where they
were going. “There’s a hole in the blue sky” "Thought it would last."
Spotify Playlist dedicated to Greta Thunberg Thank you from the musicians
A Perfect ‘80s Night at Bowery Electric W/ the Band that Gave Us "Switchin' to Glide"/"This Beat Goes On"
The Kings return to New
York City for a concert at Bowery Electric on January 19, at 6:30 pm. Bowery Electric is at 327
Bowery (next door to Joey Ramone Place), in New York City.
The Kings
last played New York City on September 11, 2011 to support survivors from
Ground Zero. Originally
known as WhistleKing, the group (made up of three members from Toronto, and one
from British Columbia) formed in Vancouver, BC and Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The Kings
feature original members David Diamond (lead vocals, bass guitar, songwriter),
Mister Zero (guitar and songwriter), and Peter Nunn (keyboards) who joined in 1994,
and Todd Reynolds (drums) since 2009.
While recording their first album at Nimbus 9
Studio in Toronto, world famous producer Bob (Pink Floyd) Ezrin dropped by to
visit and checked the band out and liked what he heard. He agreed to mix the
tracks The Kings had recorded but soon discovered that the whole thing needed
to be re-done. He approached Elektra Records in Los Angeles with The Kings’
tapes and the unknown band was signed to a world-wide deal. Ezrin and The Kings re-record the songs for the album “The Kings
Are Here."
Radio picked up the infectious,
5:43 song “This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ to Glide”
and it caught on all over the USA and Canada with huge airplay in every major
market, staying on the Billboard Hot 100 for six months. It was named one of
the Top 100 U.S. Radio Programmers Picks of the Decade by Album Network
Magazine and The Kings were named most promising group by Cashbox Magazine, and
nominated for a Juno Award. An amazing appearance on Dick Clark’s “American
Bandstand” helped spread the word as well. The album “The Kings Are Here” went
gold in Canada, and since it was re-released on cd as “The Kings Are Here and
More,” combined sales have passed platinum status. The second Ezrin-produced Elektra effort “Amazon
Beach” did not fare as well and the band left the label and signed with Capitol
Canada which released “RSVP” which contains the holiday classic “This Christmas”
which gets lots of airplay every yuletide season.
The next studio project was called “Unstoppable”
and the title track reached the Top 10 in Canada.
Next came the studio album “Because of You,”
which once again showed the depth and versatility of the songwriting from The
Kings. After that came other different projects, “Anthology One” which is a
collection of rare early unreleased tracks, and what has become The Kings
amazing “Live Trilogy,” “The Lost Tapes of a Seventies Bar Band,” “Party Live
in ’85,” both audio only, and the DVD “No Covers-Live at O’Tooles Roadhouse,”
all of which document the energy of the band in concert. And also the great
documentary about the band’s biggest hit: “Anatomy of a One-Hit Wonder” where
the guys tell their own story with trademark candour and humour.
Earlier 2019, The Kings released a two-song
segue, “Circle of Friends/Man That I Am” which has all the energy and feel-good
hooks the band is known for, and mixed in Nashville by their champion Bob Ezrin.
In 2020 The Kings will
release "Live at Heatwave" a half hour concert movie shot in
16mm film at the famous 1980 "Heatwave Festival" which was held at
Mosport Racetrack near Toronto which featured Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, The
Pretenders, the B-52's…. The Kings’ footage is the only surviving film
from the event. The lead-off single is a bodacious cover of the
Beach Boys classic "California Girls."
“Like a snowball full of heart and unabashed beauty with songs of hope and resistant joy." - Jambase.com
The Hudson Valley’s 'best band' brings Christmas songs “with a Slambovian twist” and rockin’ original holiday tunes for a fun ‘outside the box’ holiday show. A rootsy psychedelica that hints at Dylan, Bowie, Neil Young, The Beatles, Incredible String Band, Waterboys, and Wilco with the perfect mix of Christmas tradition and cool vibes for all ages and persuasions. Celebrate the holidays and have "A Very Slambovian Christmas"!
This just in: The Slambovians will be performing at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival this August 14.
“They take the stage by storm!” – New York Times
“The cool end of Americana” – Maverick Magazine, UK
“One of the finest American bands" – All Music
16 + recommended.
December Holiday Tour Dates
Thursday, December 5: Skyloft, 1 Crossgate Mall Rd., suite #200, Albany, NY
Friday, December 6: Roy’s Hall, 30 Main Street, Blairstown, NJ
Friday, December 13: Club Passim, 47 Palmer Street, Cambridge, MA
Saturday, December 14: Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center Street, Northampton, MA
Sunday, December 15: Six on the Square, 6 Lafayette Street, Oxford, NY
Friday, December 20: Mauch Opera House, 14 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA
Saturday, December 21: The Towne Crier, 379 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Sunday, December 22: Hopewell Theater, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell, NJ 08525 (Mercer County)
Inspired by the Life of Muhammad Ali, A Lyric for Our Time
Anne Leighton is crowdfunding again. This
is to help press up an EP and promote a song she co-wrote and co-produced with
electric violinist/client Joe Deninzon. “The Greatest Lives” is about one of
Modern History’s most famous real-life super-heroes, Muhammad Ali. The EP
features two versions of the song by South African Voice finalist Thembeka
Mnguni. (Listen also for “The Greatest Lives” on Thembeka’s upcoming album for
Universal South Africa.)
Currently finding
radio airplay with her “life-after-abuse” song “Khalazome, Thembeka relates to
“The Greatest Lives”’ lyrics. She loves the first line, “I won't look down on
those who look up to me.” Feeling music belongs to the masses, she says,
“It's my job to give people hope by being honest, by being true, by being
relevant and sensitive all at the same time. It's important to always remember
that I'm nothing without my supporters ‘cause they drive me by just looking up
to me. Though it's a heavy load but it comes with the job.”
A poet/pacifist/teacher/and champion boxer,
Muhammad Ali called himself “The Greatest” as one of the ways to promote his
spectacular boxing career of 56 wins and only 5 losses. In 1967, Ali had
his championship title taken away from him, because he refused to fight in the
Vietnam War. For more info, visit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_v._United_States.
As a school age student, Anne was inspired by
the Midwestern-born personality’s creativity and conviction. I wanted to write
an anthemic chorus about his and our mission: “The Greatest Lives for the
Greatest Lives. There’s light and there’s fight in our inner child.” In
addition to a successful crowdfunding campaign for her poetry book, “The Leighton
Explosion,” Anne’s personal projects including contributing a voice over for
the movie, “One Little Finger” and singing backup and doing an interview for
Lisa Sniderman’s “A Light in the Darkness,” book and music video, “Lisa was
impactful in having me do write for myself; when you’re 60 years old, a
songwriting deal is a gift.”
Co-writer Joe Deninzon’s been a client of Anne’s
for 20 years. Joe leads the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius (Melodic
Revolution Records). Joe is an in-demand session player, recently with the Who,
Renaissance, 50Cent, Game of Thorns. He has syncs in over 100 film and TV
scenes. Inspired by “The Greatest”’s unshakeable confidence, Joe says,
“in the music world, you gotta fight to prove yourself. Never give up.”
The campaign features the music on digital and
CD, plus historical swag from Joe and Anne, their books, recordings, and
low-cost PDF files and MP3s from their archives. Conversations,
custom-made poems, and a new work in progress (due December 2020) from Anne are
available as perks.
Anne talks about #crowdfunding for Promotion for "The Greatest Lives"
Listen to both versions of THE GREATEST LIVES at
Quotes about the Greatest Lives:
“She’s very good.” (re: Thembeka’s performance
on the song)
-Harris Allen, WFAN Sports Radio -New York
“Outstanding. Yes, it has all the elements to go
R&B, Urban AC and Gospel. Strong message, well produced, and the vocals are
great. I can hear this song on all Urban and R&B stations.”
--Spider Harrison, WLAC-Nashville (Hippie
Radio)
“I remember when most music
had lyrics of hope and brotherhood. Nice to bring some of that back!
Carter Alan, WZLX-Classic
Rock- Boston
“Great chorus.”
-Terry Ellis, founder: Chrysalis Orchestra, co-founder: Chrysalis Records
One of the amazing benefits of my job (which includes
helping artists keep their music heard by the masses) is that I can work with
classic artists that I’ve admired for many years.Rick Derringer and his first wife Liz were
instrumental in getting my career off the ground in New York City 30-plus years ago.
If you’re a fan of an artist, let them influence you in many
ways. Rick taught me the value of being yourself, and learning about yourself, and how much happier it makes you, and keeps you going, professionally. The profound example he used in a big interview we did was of 1980s' superstar Michael Jackson, "50 million people love and 50 million can't stand him."
He worked with Joy Behar, whose speaking
voice was loved and hated by millions.Therefore she turned it into millions as an interviewer with a sense of
humor.Early on, she and Rick collaborated
on camera for a cable TV show, Way Off Broadway. The show, which found its way into music biz gossip columns, was taped in New York City, between 1987-1988, and seen
on cable TV throughout the United States.
As of now, here are all the links that have recently
resurfaced on the Internet. With Meatloaf Rick backs Robbie Dupree on his hit "Steal Away."
Rick and superstar guitarist Larry Carlton
Rick and his longtime bandmate/partner-in-crime, Edgar Winter
"Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo"
and "Hang on Sloopy"
Rick and the New McCoys make their U.S. debut at Terra Fermata, in Stuart, Florida on
November 13, at 7 PM. For more info: https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/349413
Joe
Deninzon & Stratospheerius’ new
single, IMPOSTOR, is out and available for the fans on all digital music
platforms—stores and streaming media through Melodic Revolution Records. The
group premiered the song at ProgStock Festival this October.
IMPOSTOR
is also the first song recorded for the band’s upcoming album.
Produced
and written by Joe Deninzon, the 8-minute prog recording IMPOSTOR features
virtuosity from Joe’s violin, and his bandmates –bassist Paul Ranieri, drummer
Jason Gianni, and guitarist Michelangelo Quirinale. It was engineered by
Joe's longtime engineer Rave Tesar, mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser, with
special guests Bill Hubauer (Neal Morse Band) & Randy McStine (The Fringe,
Stu Hamm, Robben Ford).
The song
addresses theImpostor Syndrome,
as it applies toall the
wrong people having too much confidence and those who need more having not
enough. Lyrics about power, celebrity, success, and self-doubt.
Joe says
IMPOSTOR is based on conversations he’s had with many other friends that are
actively working in the music world. “A few years ago, a friend. who is a
very successful musician and writer, confessed that she often feels like an
impostor, like sooner or later everyone will figure out that she’s actually a
fraud. I realized that I had felt this way many times in my life. After some
research, I learned that this is called “impostor syndrome” and is common among
many people around the world.”
Carmine Appice and Ginger Baker, along with the Who’s Keith Moon and Jimi Hendrix’s Mitch Mitchell, pioneered hard rock drumming. Carmine feels that Ginger's influence is everywhere.
"I admired Ginger's
drumming because he combined technical skills, with a jazz feel and
innovating double bass drum patterns. He could pretty much play
anything in the jazz, rock or afro arenas. His influence is
tremendous and it is everywhere. We became friends in 1967 when Cream
and Vanilla Fudge toured together, we toured again in later years and
Ginger and I also did drum clinics together. Ginger was always the
wildest guy on the tour and although he could be quite prickly, we
had some mighty good times.
It saddens me that
so many of my early contemporaries are gone -Keith, Mitch, and now
Ginger. I believe we were four that pioneered the underground rock
music movement. Everything was new, including the drumming which
combined elements of old and new, and gave birth to the hard rock,
progressive and psychedelic genres. God bless you, Ginger. RIP."
-Carmine Appice
PHOTO from Guitar Center's Rockwalk Hall of Fame induction. Carmine, Ginger and Alex Van Halen. 1991. Also inducted that day: Buddy Rich, Keith Moon, John Bonham.
