Hartmann – Hands On The Wheel – Pride and Joy Music

 I was a little surprised to realise that this is the fifth Hartmann album I have in my collection, and yet again Oliver has done exactly what I expect of him by now, namely producing an album containing immaculate vocals, with a depth and breadth that is often sadly missing from this style of music, while there is still that edge to every song. They are commercial and radio-friendly yet still maintain the power and authenticity that one demands from music without it being overtaken by the sappiness that some melodic rockers feel that they need. The guys have built a reputation as an outstanding live band and has been called to tour with rock legends as Toto, The Hooters, Uriah Heep, Edguy, Mother’s Finest, Y&T and others, and this comes through in the music which definitely sounds as if it is ready for the band to take on to the stage.

This is hard melodic rock, no room here for over the top sugariness, but commerciality that is grounded in a band that can trace its influences from bands such as Bad Company, and then bringing that right up to date. The production is strong, musicianship spot on, hooks aplenty, the vocals are full of depth and breadth, while the guitars haven’t been sanitised out of existence. This is yet another incredibly solid and enjoyable album from Hartmann, well worth investigation if this is your style of music.

– Kev Rowland

 

Legendary Rock Producer Chris Tsangarides Dead At 61

It is with complete and utter sadness that I need to tell you all that our beloved father and my mums best friend Chris Tsangarides passed away peacefully last night after another brave battle with pneumonia as well as heart failure. We really are appreciating your messages of love and kindness but we are struggling to reply to them. With all our love and thanks from us all. Jane, Theo, Louis, Paris, Samantha, and Casey. We’re gonna miss you every day of our lives xxxxxxxxx
– Anastasia Tsangarides

MR. BIG, Y&T’S DAVE MENIKETTI, AND FRIENDS TO PERFORM SPECIAL TRIBUTE CONCERT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY RECORDING ENGINEER TOM SIZE

“One Size Fits All” Show Set for January 7, 2017 at the Historic Empress Theatre in Vallejo, California

Tickets go on sale Friday, December 2 at 10 AM

Two Bay Area superstar bands, MR. BIG and Y&T’s Dave Meniketti, and friends will appear in a special live performance and all-star jam on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the historic Empress Theater in Vallejo, California. The show, dubbed “One Size Fits All,” is a musical celebration of the life and music of Bay Area recording and live engineer Tom Size, who succumbed to melanoma on October 30, 2016. Both bands had a long-standing professional and personal relationship with Tom. The concert will also feature an all-star jam, including Ross Valory of Journey.

Organized by Tom’s long-time friends Valory and Bob Madsen of 41POINT9, the evening will also include a live auction featuring guitars autographed by JOURNEY, Mr.Big and Y&T, collectible photos by John Popplewell, rare art created by JOURNEY’s Steve Smith, autographed Journey drum heads, and more. Proceeds of the concert will benefit the Size family to pay the huge medical bills incurred during Tom’s treatment.

MR. BIG (Eric Martin, lead vocals, Paul Gilbert, guitar, Billy Sheehan, bass guitar and Pat Torpey, drums),released their self-titled debut album in 1989, and rose to international super stardom. They have earned 3 platinum albums and their smash hit “To Be With You”, spent 15 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. MR. BIG has released 8 albums to date, including 2014’s, “The Stories We Could Tell”. The original MR. BIG lineup will be performing at the Empress.

Dave Meniketti (guitar) is an original Y&T member, and like Y&T, was born and raised in Oakland, CA. Dave has been critically acclaimed by the media and musicians alike. Lars Ulrich (Metallica) credited Y&T as the reason he wanted to become a musician.

Tom Size’s professional career began in the early 1970’s at the Music Annex in Palo and Fantasy Studios in Berkeley before going independent. He oversaw the engineering for superstar artists such as David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani, the Steve Miller Band, Journey, Mr. Big, Y&T and Enchant. Tom also handled touring sound duties for bands such as Aerosmith, Mr. Big and Y&T to name just a few. Even after becoming ill in 2016, he continued working and was even planning on mixing the sound for One Size Fits All until his illness worsened.

Tickets for “One Size Fits All” go on sale Friday, December 2 at 10 AM at https://empresstheatre.org/. Prices range from $150 for VIP tickets (including a Meet & Greet and a poster signed by all the artists), to $55

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Original Y&T Drummer Leonard Haze Passes Away At 61

September 12, 2016—Hayward, California—Leonard Haze, original drummer for legendary Bay Area rock band Y&T, passed away Sunday evening, September 11, 2016, at his home in Hayward. He was 61 years old.

Haze had been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for several years, making breathing difficult. Even so, he had fought to keep playing drums, performing regularly with his band, HazeXperience, and joining Y&T on-stage at the Fillmore in San Francisco in both 2015 and 2016. HazeXperience was scheduled to open for Y&T at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma November 18 and 19, and had been in the midst of recording an EP of new material.

“Leonard was not only a bandmate but a close friend, sharing not just a passion for music but also our appreciation for fast cars, cool RC planes, and Fireball Whisky,” said HazeXperience guitarist Jim Bradley. “Leonard was taken from us way too soon.”

“Leonard was a good friend, a great drummer, and a true ambassador for the world of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Jeffrey Winslow, lead singer for HazeXperience. “I’m shocked that he’s gone, but thankful I got to know him while he was here.”

Haze was a founding member and one of the principal songwriters for the Bay Area hard rock band Yesterday & Today, later known as Y&T. He co-wrote some of their biggest hits, including “Hurricane,” “Black Tiger,” “Mean Streak,” “Rescue Me,” “Dirty Girl,” “Forever,” and MTV staple “Summertime Girls.”

It was Haze’s bass drum prowess that made his powerful drumming style legendary and, thanks to it, Y&T quickly developed the reputation as a must-see live band and musical powerhouse, headlining shows with opening acts such as Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many others. Y&T’s hard-driving style helped them land worldwide tours alongside such acts as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, and Rush, which resulted in the development of a strong following throughout Europe.

In the early Nineties, Haze played drums on Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan’s solo album, Toolbox. Gillan subsequently asked him to join the band, and Haze was part of one of the first rock bands ever to not only perform, but tour, behind the “Iron Curtain,” traversing the Soviet Union during the cold war. After that tour, Haze became a permanent member of the Ian Gillan Band, continuing with a two-year world tour and performing in 71 countries.

In 2002, Haze reunited with Y&T and went back on tour with them throughout the United States until they parted ways in 2006.

Haze’s final performance took place August 20 with HazeXperience at the Quarter Note in Sunnyvale.

According to Dave Meniketti
It is with shock and sadness that I type this. Leonard Haze, the legendary drummer, and a guy I spent decades with creating great music together, has passed away at 61. This, just a few days after his birthday. I just woke up to this news, as I’m in Germany, and immediately called his wife, Kelly. She confirmed that Leonard had passed away in his sleep, a few hours ago, sometime between noon and 7:30pm on Sunday, September 11.

Leonard has been struggling with COPD for years, but Kelly said that although his health had recently declined, they felt he had a few years left, so this is unexpected.

My deepest condolences to Leonard’s family and friends. His impact on the rock scene was well documented.

Rest in peace, my friend.
-Dave Meniketti