LEGENDARY GUITARIST JOE BONAMASSA ANNOUNCES THE BIGGEST BLUES ROCK PARTY AT SEA

LEGENDARY GUITARIST JOE BONAMASSA ANNOUNCES THE BIGGEST BLUES ROCK PARTY AT SEA LINEUP INCLUDES BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, LOS LOBOS, JJ GREY & MOFRO, ANA POPOVIC, NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS & MANY MORE   KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE AT SEA IV SETS SAIL FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 2, 2018, FROM MIAMI TO MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA ON THE NEWLY RENOVATED NCL JADE ATLANTA, GA – Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, Joe Bonamassa, and Sixthman are proud to present Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea IV, another voyage of the incredible four-day music festival at sea featuring Bonamassa and some of the most celebrated names in Blues. Sailing from Miami, Florida to Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2,100 of the most passionate fans will enjoy performances from some of the biggest names in music, while discovering new favorites among emerging Blues artists on multiple stages throughout the ship. From rare artist collaborations to intimate gatherings with fellow musically inclined cruisers, the festival will have something for everyone to enjoy. “We’ve had a blast this year and we’ve had a blast every other year…There has been some great music this year and we will carry it on to next year,” declared Bonamassa. Joining the 2018 festival are a robust mix of new and returning powerhouse names, such as Black Country Communion (Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian), Los Lobos, JJ Grey & Mofro, Ana Popovic, North Mississippi Allstars, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, The James Hunter Six, Matt Andersen, Kirk Fletcher & Josh Smith, Marcus King Band, Greyhounds, Toronzo Cannon, Larkin Poe, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, New Orleans Suspects, The Steepwater Band, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, Jack Broadbent, The Bros. Landreth, Juzzie Smith and more to be announced! Music fans interested can sign up for the pre-sale to get the best available cabins first here: https://www.sixthman.net/account/presale/bluesaliveatsea For more details about the biggest Blues-Rock Party at sea, visit here: www.bluesaliveatsea.com Once onboard, fans can expect to enjoy a performance by Joe Bonamassa, a special reunion of Black Country Communion, multiple artist collaboration shows, activities with many Blues Alive at Sea artists, dozens of live performances by living legends and emerging blues talent, and opportunities to jam with fellow cruisers while sailing an idyllic Caribbean course aboard Norwegian Jade. A destination of her own, Norwegian Jade offers guests Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature freedom and flexibility during their vacation. Fresh off a dry dock refurbishment where she received enhancements to every part of the onboard experience, Jade now features two brand new restaurants, two new bars and lounges, updated design and décor in many public spaces, and a refurbishment of all staterooms. Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea’s first three sold-out voyages saw the floating music festival sail to beautiful locations like Key West, the Bahamas, Costa Maya and Cozumel, while entertaining over 5,000 blues aficionados. Performers included many of today’s best blues artists, including John Hiatt, Robben Ford, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Blues Traveler, Beth Hart, Ana Popovic, Vintage Trouble, Marc Broussard, Shemekia Copeland, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and many more. The sold-out festivals raised a combined $181,000 in donations for Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, which helps to fund scholarships and music programs for students and teachers across the country. Music enthusiasts can pre-register for the sailing now at bluesaliveatsea.com/presale before cabins become available. Double occupancy staterooms on Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea IV begin at $1099 per person, plus taxes and fees. For more information about booking your vacation, visit us online at www.bluesaliveatsea.com or call Sixthman directly at 877-379-9170 between the hours of 10AM EST and 6PM EST. Connect with Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea cruisers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #BluesAliveAtSea. About Joe Bonamassa: Joe Bonamassa has established himself as one of the world’s greatest guitar players, and proved himself as an incisive and compelling songwriter, a gutsy and soulful vocalist, as well as one of the most popular touring-and-recording artists around, averaging over 100 sold-out shows worldwide each year while amassing a body of work that stands out in the already vast waters of the blues-rock form. Even after 28 years of professionally performing, the two-time Grammy®-nominated bluesman has really just hit his stride. Joe currently has more #1 Billboard Blues Albums than any other artist in history – 17 and counting – and all on his own record label, J&R Adventures. His latest studio solo album, Blues of Desperation, landed at #5 on the Billboard Top Album Sales, his highest charting yet. Joe’s new highly anticipated CD/DVD “Live at Carnegie Hall - An Acoustic Evening” will be in stores June 23rd, 2017. http://jbonamassa.com/ About Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation: Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation fuels the passion for music by funding programs and scholarships for students and teachers who possess the desire, but lack the resources or access to achieve their potential within music education. Through generous donations from Joe Bonamassa, J&R Adventures, and individual donors, KTBA has been able to fund music projects reaching over 43,500 students with over $224,249 donated so far. We accomplish this by making weekly donations to music projects in education and scholarships all over the country. http://keepingthebluesalive.org/ About Sixthman: Since 2001, Sixthman has pioneered themed cruise experiences, creating intimate shared encounters for bands, brands, and their fan communities. We are proud to be celebrating our 16th year and the accomplishment of executing 104 festivals, hosting over 230,000 guests for 940,000 days on vacation at sea with world class artists such as KISS, Kid Rock, John Mayer, Zac Brown Band, Train, Pitbull, Paramore, Florida Georgia Line, Diplo, Joe Bonamassa, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 311, Lyle Lovett, Barenaked Ladies, Sister Hazel and for brand partners such as Turner Classic Movies, VH1, SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country, Walker Stalker Con, truTV and others along with Sixthman curated festivals, The Rock Boat and Cayamo!  Our festivals at sea bring non-stop performances, artist collaborations and a truly immersive vacation experience with fan/band interactions throughout the voyage and in port. Our home ports of call include Miami and Tampa Florida to dream destinations such as the Virgin Islands, Belize, Honduras, Mexico and the Bahamas. For more information, visit sixthman.net and connect with us @SXMLiveLoud.  LIVE LOUD.                   + MORE!     JOIN OUR MAILING LISTS

Black Country Communion's 'Afterglow' album released October 29th

Download Black Country Communion's FREE song "Confessor" HERE

THE BRAND NEW STUDIO ALBUM
AFTERGLOW
UK RELEASE: MONDAY 29th OCTOBER 2012

Black Country Communion the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, release their third album, ‘Afterglow’, via Mascot Records on Monday October 29th.
Just like its two predecessors, ‘Afterglow’ was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Journey, The Black Crowes and many more has made him the hottest producer that rock music has to offer. Shirley – who had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa together in a band together after seeing them jamming onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 – is the group’s unofficial ‘fifth member’.
The additions of Jason Bonham, esteemed son of Led Zeppelin’s John, who took his father’s place when the legendary group made musical history by reuniting at London’s O2 Arena in December 2007, and the in-demand Derek Sherinian, made them a force to be reckoned with. An air of expectancy and excitement greets the unveiling of ‘Afterglow’.
When issued in September 2010, BCC’s self-titled debut was described by Classic Rock magazine as “Possibly the best hard rock album of 2010”, whilst Mojo magazine awarded it 4 stars. Music Radar hailed the disc as “a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners.”
During its first week of release in the UK the album hit the #1 spot in the Official Top 40 Rock Album Chart. It was voted #3 in Classic Rock magazine’s “Critics Album of the Year” poll, and listeners of Planet Rock Radio crowned BCC as the Best New Band of 2010.

Black Country Communion L-R: Joe Bonamassa (Guitar/Vocals), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards),
Glenn Hughes (Lead Vocals/Bass), Jason Bonham (Drums). Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

Issued a mere nine months later, in time for a well received slot at the High Voltage Festival in London, ‘Black Country Communion 2’ was darker and deeper than its predecessor.  Once again it topped the UK’s Rock Album Chart. The band were also the recipients of the Best Breakthrough Act award at Classic Rock magazine’s prestigious Roll Of Honour ceremony. Acknowledging that more than a single listen was required to fully appreciate its “depth and artistry”, the same magazine rightly called ‘BCC2’ “one stone-solid classic song after another”.
This time with Bonamassa busy notching up the miles to promote his biggest solo record to date – ‘Driving Towards The Daylight’ reached Number Two in the UK’s Top 40 Album Chart – BCC (the distinctive name is a reference to the industrial area in the Midlands of Great Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised) had far more time to prepare ‘Afterglow’… and it shows.
“There were six months to write this album, and I’m really excited by the way it came out,” comments Glenn Hughes, the man responsible for the bulk of its contents. “I wanted to make a record that stood up to the first two, but not to repeat either of those records. There would be absolutely no point beginning it with a song like ‘Black Country’ [the distinctively energetic track that kicked off the debut].”
The band assembled to record ‘Afterglow’ in a studio in Westlake Village, about 70 miles outside of Hollywood, during five supremely productive days. Its 11 songs are set to delight all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice Of Rock for nothing.

Black Country Communion L-R: Jason Bonham (Drums), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards),
Glenn Hughes (Lead Vocals/Bass), Joe Bonamassa (Guitar/Vocals). Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

In terms of content, ‘Afterglow’ expands upon the progression that took place between ‘BCC’ and ‘BCC2’. Rich in hooks, melodies and choruses, it’s nonetheless another of those highly rewarding albums that bears additional fruit with repeated spins.
“I wanted this album to have more acoustic moments than the previous two,” explains Hughes. “I wanted to hear more of Derek [Sherinian] and I wanted the more angelic voice of Glenn as well as the more aggressive one which is there on songs like ‘Crawl’ and ‘Midnight Sun’. Above all, I wanted more drama.”
Hughes shares lead vocals with Bonamassa on the song ‘Cry Freedom’. “The vocal sound that Kevin got on this record is second to none – it’s his best work yet with BCC,” believes Hughes. “We butted heads a little on the first and second albums, simply because we’re both control freaks, but this was the record on which Kevin and Glenn became friends.”
Indeed, Hughes speaks of Shirley in the most glowing terms. “Kevin only needs three hours of sleep per night; he’s hyper and super-intelligent. He cracks the whip but he also knows exactly what he’s talking about when it comes to music.”
Black Country Communion hope to tour ‘Afterglow’ at the start of 2013.

Here’s a breakdown of the album’s contents in the words of Glenn Hughes:
BIG TRAIN
“It’s very quirky and British-sounding. Jason Bonham is an incredible timekeeper. I love the way he provides the engine room on that song.
THIS IS YOUR TIME
“Let’s give Jason Bonham a little more love. He writes his songs on an iPhone whilst driving his car, which is completely nuts. It really helps the groove factor. He emailed me some footage of him playing this song. He wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics. It has a huge chorus, too. Jason is not just a brilliant drummer – he’s a great songwriter.”
MIDNIGHT SUN
“I had my wallet stolen in a Starbucks and arrived late at the studio. When I got there the guys were fooling around with a song that sounds quite a lot like The Who, thanks to those Rabbit Bundrick-style keyboards. I picked up my bass and joined in. It’s quite a romp; there’s a definite vibe of Moon and Entwistle.”
CONFESSOR
“The first album had ‘No Time’, which was slow and groovy. I wrote ‘Confessor’ that way too, but when Jason heard it he insisted upon playing it – in his own words – like his dad would have done. We’re a democratic band and I went along with that. When he turbo-d it up it really came to life.”
CRY FREEDOM
“I sang this one alone originally until Kevin pointed out that the album didn’t have a song with split vocals. Joe and I sing well together. I’ve never had a problem sharing a microphone with other great singers. We really let rip off one another on this one, which has a ZZ Top/Humble Pie kind of a vibe.”
AFTERGLOW
“[At more than six minutes long] it’s an epic song. I was adamant that this album should have a proper title instead of a number. I played it to the band right at the end of sessions – purposely so. When they heard it on acoustic guitar, everybody agreed that it should name the album.”
DANDELION
“I wrote it slower than we recorded it; maybe I had too much coffee that day. Had we done it that way then maybe it would have sounded a bit dirge-like. Jason sets the tempos – he’s got a really good ear for the way that a song should sound.”
THE CIRCLE
“It’s one of my favourites on this record. It gives me the chance to use my ‘breathier’ voice. Kevin asked me to sing it an octave higher than I intended, and it worked. The high voice in the chorus is not my falsetto, it’s my upper register natural voice. I’m singing about being powerless; being in a dreamlike state. People have spoken about my voice and bass playing for so many years, I hope that this time they notice my lyrics because I’m very proud of them.”
COMMON MAN
“That’s another of the songs that came from Jason. When he sang me its melody acapella I could hear myself singing it. It could have been a song from Deep Purple’s ‘Stormbringer’ album; he wrote it for my voice.”
THE GIVER
“When you listen to the end of the song, if people are trying to figure out what key it’s in, I’m playing a capo [a device that raises the pitch of notes] on the fifth fret. When I wrote it, I deliberately held back from completing it because it needed Joe’s input. Kevin helped as well.”
CRAWL
“Some people may know that this song was going to be on ‘BCC2’ but we held it over because there simply wasn’t enough room. To me, it fits this album a lot better. It’s a really aggressive song – it’s dangerous and angry. I love it. It’s a great way to finish the record.”

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS

Black Country Communion: Official Website

Black Country Communion: Facebook

Black Country Communion: Twitter

Black Country Communion: YouTube

Jason Bonham triumphs on new Black Country Communion album

Download Black Country Communion's FREE song "Confessor" HERE

THE BRAND NEW STUDIO ALBUM
AFTERGLOW
UK RELEASE: MONDAY 29th OCTOBER 2012

Black Country Communion the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, release their third album, ‘Afterglow’, via Mascot Records on Monday October 29th.
Just like its two predecessors, ‘Afterglow’ was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Journey, The Black Crowes and many more has made him the hottest producer that rock music has to offer. Shirley – who had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa together in a band together after seeing them jamming onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 – is the group’s unofficial ‘fifth member’.

The additions of Jason Bonham, esteemed son of Led Zeppelin’s John, who took his father’s place when the legendary group made musical history by reuniting at London’s O2 Arena in December 2007, and the in-demand Derek Sherinian, made them a force to be reckoned with. An air of expectancy and excitement greets the unveiling of ‘Afterglow’.
When issued in September 2010, BCC’s self-titled debut was described by Classic Rock magazine as “Possibly the best hard rock album of 2010”, whilst Mojo magazine awarded it 4 stars. Music Radar hailed the disc as “a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners.”
During its first week of release in the UK the album hit the #1 spot in the Official Top 40 Rock Album Chart. It was voted #3 in Classic Rock magazine’s “Critics Album of the Year” poll, and listeners of Planet Rock Radio crowned BCC as the Best New Band of 2010.

Black Country Communion L-R: Joe Bonamassa (Guitar/Vocals), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards),
Glenn Hughes (Lead Vocals/Bass), Jason Bonham (Drums). Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

Issued a mere nine months later, in time for a well received slot at the High Voltage Festival in London, ‘Black Country Communion 2’ was darker and deeper than its predecessor.  Once again it topped the UK’s Rock Album Chart. The band were also the recipients of the Best Breakthrough Act award at Classic Rock magazine’s prestigious Roll Of Honour ceremony. Acknowledging that more than a single listen was required to fully appreciate its “depth and artistry”, the same magazine rightly called ‘BCC2’ “one stone-solid classic song after another”.
This time with Bonamassa busy notching up the miles to promote his biggest solo record to date – ‘Driving Towards The Daylight’ reached Number Two in the UK’s Top 40 Album Chart – BCC (the distinctive name is a reference to the industrial area in the Midlands of Great Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised) had far more time to prepare ‘Afterglow’… and it shows.
“There were six months to write this album, and I’m really excited by the way it came out,” comments Glenn Hughes, the man responsible for the bulk of its contents. “I wanted to make a record that stood up to the first two, but not to repeat either of those records. There would be absolutely no point beginning it with a song like ‘Black Country’ [the distinctively energetic track that kicked off the debut].”
The band assembled to record ‘Afterglow’ in a studio in Westlake Village, about 70 miles outside of Hollywood, during five supremely productive days. Its 11 songs are set to delight all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice Of Rock for nothing.

Black Country Communion L-R: Jason Bonham (Drums), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards),
Glenn Hughes (Lead Vocals/Bass), Joe Bonamassa (Guitar/Vocals). Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

In terms of content, ‘Afterglow’ expands upon the progression that took place between ‘BCC’ and ‘BCC2’. Rich in hooks, melodies and choruses, it’s nonetheless another of those highly rewarding albums that bears additional fruit with repeated spins.
“I wanted this album to have more acoustic moments than the previous two,” explains Hughes. “I wanted to hear more of Derek [Sherinian] and I wanted the more angelic voice of Glenn as well as the more aggressive one which is there on songs like ‘Crawl’ and ‘Midnight Sun’. Above all, I wanted more drama.”
Hughes shares lead vocals with Bonamassa on the song ‘Cry Freedom’. “The vocal sound that Kevin got on this record is second to none – it’s his best work yet with BCC,” believes Hughes. “We butted heads a little on the first and second albums, simply because we’re both control freaks, but this was the record on which Kevin and Glenn became friends.”
Indeed, Hughes speaks of Shirley in the most glowing terms. “Kevin only needs three hours of sleep per night; he’s hyper and super-intelligent. He cracks the whip but he also knows exactly what he’s talking about when it comes to music.”
Black Country Communion hope to tour ‘Afterglow’ at the start of 2013.

Here’s a breakdown of the album’s contents in the words of Glenn Hughes:
BIG TRAIN
“It’s very quirky and British-sounding. Jason Bonham is an incredible timekeeper. I love the way he provides the engine room on that song.
THIS IS YOUR TIME
“Let’s give Jason Bonham a little more love. He writes his songs on an iPhone whilst driving his car, which is completely nuts. It really helps the groove factor. He emailed me some footage of him playing this song. He wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics. It has a huge chorus, too. Jason is not just a brilliant drummer – he’s a great songwriter.”
MIDNIGHT SUN
“I had my wallet stolen in a Starbucks and arrived late at the studio. When I got there the guys were fooling around with a song that sounds quite a lot like The Who, thanks to those Rabbit Bundrick-style keyboards. I picked up my bass and joined in. It’s quite a romp; there’s a definite vibe of Moon and Entwistle.”
CONFESSOR
“The first album had ‘No Time’, which was slow and groovy. I wrote ‘Confessor’ that way too, but when Jason heard it he insisted upon playing it – in his own words – like his dad would have done. We’re a democratic band and I went along with that. When he turbo-d it up it really came to life.”
CRY FREEDOM
“I sang this one alone originally until Kevin pointed out that the album didn’t have a song with split vocals. Joe and I sing well together. I’ve never had a problem sharing a microphone with other great singers. We really let rip off one another on this one, which has a ZZ Top/Humble Pie kind of a vibe.”
AFTERGLOW
“[At more than six minutes long] it’s an epic song. I was adamant that this album should have a proper title instead of a number. I played it to the band right at the end of sessions – purposely so. When they heard it on acoustic guitar, everybody agreed that it should name the album.”
DANDELION
“I wrote it slower than we recorded it; maybe I had too much coffee that day. Had we done it that way then maybe it would have sounded a bit dirge-like. Jason sets the tempos – he’s got a really good ear for the way that a song should sound.”
THE CIRCLE
“It’s one of my favourites on this record. It gives me the chance to use my ‘breathier’ voice. Kevin asked me to sing it an octave higher than I intended, and it worked. The high voice in the chorus is not my falsetto, it’s my upper register natural voice. I’m singing about being powerless; being in a dreamlike state. People have spoken about my voice and bass playing for so many years, I hope that this time they notice my lyrics because I’m very proud of them.”
COMMON MAN
“That’s another of the songs that came from Jason. When he sang me its melody acapella I could hear myself singing it. It could have been a song from Deep Purple’s ‘Stormbringer’ album; he wrote it for my voice.”
THE GIVER
“When you listen to the end of the song, if people are trying to figure out what key it’s in, I’m playing a capo [a device that raises the pitch of notes] on the fifth fret. When I wrote it, I deliberately held back from completing it because it needed Joe’s input. Kevin helped as well.”
CRAWL
“Some people may know that this song was going to be on ‘BCC2’ but we held it over because there simply wasn’t enough room. To me, it fits this album a lot better. It’s a really aggressive song – it’s dangerous and angry. I love it. It’s a great way to finish the record.”

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS

Black Country Communion: Official Website

Black Country Communion: Facebook

Black Country Communion: Twitter

Black Country Communion: YouTube

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Black Country Communion's only UK show is cancelled - Free Download

Download Black Country Communion's FREE song "Confessor" HERE

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION'S ONLY UK SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES

WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL
SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2013

Black Country Communion, the Anglo-American rock group featuring Joe Bonamassa (guitar, vocals), Glenn Hughes (vocals, bass), Jason Bonham (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards), today announced that their only UK concert at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday January 5th has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Planet Rock Radio launched a 48-hour ticket pre-sale on Wednesday 19th September. Customers who purchased tickets will receive a full refund, however if you have any queries, please email customerservice@eventim.co.uk.
The one-off concert was originally intended to be Black Country Communion’s only UK appearance in 2013. The band chose Wolverhampton due to their geographical and spiritual ties to the area (Glenn Hughes was born in Cannock, and Jason Bonham was born in Dudley).
In 2011, Black Country Communion’s last studio album, “2”, scored the No.1 spot in the Official UK Rock Album Chart. The band’s upcoming third album Afterglow, produced by Kevin Shirley, will be released in the UK by Mascot Records on Monday October 29th.

                                                 All photos: © Christie Goodwin except Derek Sherinian: © Simon Jay Price

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION OFFICIAL WEB LINKS:

Black Country Communion: Official Website
www.bccommunion.com

Black Country Communion: Official Facebook
www.facebook.com/bccommunion

Black Country Communion: Official Twitter
http://twitter.com/bccommunion

Black Country Communion: Official Youtube
www.youtube.com/bccommunion

 

Black Country Communion announces rare concert in Wolverhampton

THE SAVIOURS OF CLASSIC ROCK
RECONVENE FOR ONE UK SHOW ONLY!
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ANNOUNCES
THE CLASSIC ROCK CONCERT OF THE YEAR!

WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL
SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2013
TICKETS ON SALE 21st SEPTEMBER
"I am a messenger, this is my prophecy,
I'm going back... to the Black Country"
- Glenn Hughes

Following the news that their third album Afterglow - released in the UK on Monday 29th October, supergroup Black Country Communion, the Anglo-American rock group featuring guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes drummer Jason Bonham, and keyboardist Derek Sherinian, today announced that they will perform a one-show only UK concert in the heart of the black country, at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday January 5th 2013.

Be the first to get tickets to this exclusive show. Do NOT miss the Classic Rock event of the year!

Planet Rock Radio will launch an exclusive 48-hour ticket pre-sale starting on Wednesday September 19th via their website, www.planetrock.com.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on a strictly first-come-first-served basis from 9am on Friday September 21st via the 24 Hour ticket hotline 0844 478 0898 & www.thegigcartel.com.

Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

When fans visit www.planetrock.com from Wednesday 19th September, they will be able to receive a free download of the track Confessor.

All photos: © Christie Goodwin except Derek Sherinian: © Simon Jay Price

WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL
SATURDAY 5TH JANUARY 2013
TICKETS: £59.00 / £49.00 / £44.00
VENUE BOX OFFICE: 0870 320 7000
WWW.WOLVESCIVIC.CO.UK
NORTH STREET, WOLVERHAMPTON, WV1 1RQ

This special concert marks Black Country Communion’s only UK appearance in 2013.
Given BCC’s geographical and spiritual ties to the area (both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised in the Black Country), when discussions arose about where in the world the band would perform this one-off show, there was only ever going to be one outcome. The band is very excited to come home for this performance.

In 2011, Black Country Communion’s last studio album, “2”, scored the No.1 spot in the Official UK Rock Album Chart.

All photos: © Christie Goodwin except Derek Sherinian: © Simon Jay Price

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION OFFICIAL WEB LINKS:

Black Country Communion: Official Website
www.bccommunion.com

Black Country Communion: Official Facebook
www.facebook.com/bccommunion

Black Country Communion: Official Twitter
http://twitter.com/bccommunion

Black Country Communion: Official Youtube
www.youtube.com/bccommunion

Black Country Communion announce new album "Afterglow"

THE BRAND NEW STUDIO ALBUM
AFTERGLOW
UK RELEASE: MONDAY 29th OCTOBER 2012

Black Country Communion the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, release their third album, ‘Afterglow’, via Mascot Records on Monday October 29th.

Just like its two predecessors, ‘Afterglow’ was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Journey, The Black Crowes and many more has made him the hottest producer that rock music has to offer. Shirley – who had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa together in a band together after seeing them jamming onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 – is the group’s unofficial ‘fifth member’.

The additions of Jason Bonham, esteemed son of Led Zeppelin’s John, who took his father’s place when the legendary group made musical history by reuniting at London’s O2 Arena in December 2007, and the in-demand Derek Sherinian, made them a force to be reckoned with. An air of expectancy and excitement greets the unveiling of ‘Afterglow’.

When issued in September 2010, BCC’s self-titled debut was described by Classic Rock magazine as “Possibly the best hard rock album of 2010”, whilst Mojo magazine awarded it 4 stars. Music Radar hailed the disc as “a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners.”

During its first week of release in the UK the album hit the #1 spot in the Official Top 40 Rock Album Chart. It was voted #3 in Classic Rock magazine’s “Critics Album of the Year” poll, and listeners of Planet Rock Radio crowned BCC as the Best New Band of 2010.

Black Country Communion L-R: Joe Bonamassa (Guitar/Vocals), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards),
Glenn Hughes (Lead Vocals/Bass), Jason Bonham (Drums). Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

Issued a mere nine months later, in time for a well received slot at the High Voltage Festival in London, ‘Black Country Communion 2’ was darker and deeper than its predecessor. Once again it topped the UK’s Rock Album Chart. The band were also the recipients of the Best Breakthrough Act award at Classic Rock magazine’s prestigious Roll Of Honour ceremony. Acknowledging that more than a single listen was required to fully appreciate its “depth and artistry”, the same magazine rightly called ‘BCC2’ “one stone-solid classic song after another”.

This time with Bonamassa busy notching up the miles to promote his biggest solo record to date – ‘Driving Towards The Daylight’ reached Number Two in the UK’s Top 40 Album Chart – BCC (the distinctive name is a reference to the industrial area in the Midlands of Great Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised) had far more time to prepare ‘Afterglow’… and it shows.

“There were six months to write this album, and I’m really excited by the way it came out,” comments Glenn Hughes, the man responsible for the bulk of its contents. “I wanted to make a record that stood up to the first two, but not to repeat either of those records. There would be absolutely no point beginning it with a song like ‘Black Country’ [the distinctively energetic track that kicked off the debut].”

The band assembled to record ‘Afterglow’ in a studio in Westlake Village, about 70 miles outside of Hollywood, during five supremely productive days. Its 11 songs are set to delight all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice Of Rock for nothing.

Black Country Communion L-R: Jason Bonham (Drums), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards),
Glenn Hughes (Lead Vocals/Bass), Joe Bonamassa (Guitar/Vocals). Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin

In terms of content, ‘Afterglow’ expands upon the progression that took place between ‘BCC’ and ‘BCC2’. Rich in hooks, melodies and choruses, it’s nonetheless another of those highly rewarding albums that bears additional fruit with repeated spins.

“I wanted this album to have more acoustic moments than the previous two,” explains Hughes. “I wanted to hear more of Derek [Sherinian] and I wanted the more angelic voice of Glenn as well as the more aggressive one which is there on songs like ‘Crawl’ and ‘Midnight Sun’. Above all, I wanted more drama.”

Hughes shares lead vocals with Bonamassa on the song ‘Cry Freedom’. “The vocal sound that Kevin got on this record is second to none – it’s his best work yet with BCC,” believes Hughes. “We butted heads a little on the first and second albums, simply because we’re both control freaks, but this was the record on which Kevin and Glenn became friends.”

Indeed, Hughes speaks of Shirley in the most glowing terms. “Kevin only needs three hours of sleep per night; he’s hyper and super-intelligent. He cracks the whip but he also knows exactly what he’s talking about when it comes to music.”

Black Country Communion hope to tour ‘Afterglow’ at the start of 2013.

Here’s a breakdown of the album’s contents in the words of Glenn Hughes:

BIG TRAIN
“It’s very quirky and British-sounding. Jason Bonham is an incredible timekeeper. I love the way he provides the engine room on that song.

THIS IS YOUR TIME
“Let’s give Jason Bonham a little more love. He writes his songs on an iPhone whilst driving his car, which is completely nuts. It really helps the groove factor. He emailed me some footage of him playing this song. He wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics. It has a huge chorus, too. Jason is not just a brilliant drummer – he’s a great songwriter.”

MIDNIGHT SUN
“I had my wallet stolen in a Starbucks and arrived late at the studio. When I got there the guys were fooling around with a song that sounds quite a lot like The Who, thanks to those Rabbit Bundrick-style keyboards. I picked up my bass and joined in. It’s quite a romp; there’s a definite vibe of Moon and Entwistle.”

CONFESSOR
“The first album had ‘No Time’, which was slow and groovy. I wrote ‘Confessor’ that way too, but when Jason heard it he insisted upon playing it – in his own words – like his dad would have done. We’re a democratic band and I went along with that. When he turbo-d it up it really came to life.”

CRY FREEDOM
“I sang this one alone originally until Kevin pointed out that the album didn’t have a song with split vocals. Joe and I sing well together. I’ve never had a problem sharing a microphone with other great singers. We really let rip off one another on this one, which has a ZZ Top/Humble Pie kind of a vibe.”

AFTERGLOW
“[At more than six minutes long] it’s an epic song. I was adamant that this album should have a proper title instead of a number. I played it to the band right at the end of sessions – purposely so. When they heard it on acoustic guitar, everybody agreed that it should name the album.”

DANDELION
“I wrote it slower than we recorded it; maybe I had too much coffee that day. Had we done it that way then maybe it would have sounded a bit dirge-like. Jason sets the tempos – he’s got a really good ear for the way that a song should sound.”

THE CIRCLE
“It’s one of my favourites on this record. It gives me the chance to use my ‘breathier’ voice. Kevin asked me to sing it an octave higher than I intended, and it worked. The high voice in the chorus is not my falsetto, it’s my upper register natural voice. I’m singing about being powerless; being in a dreamlike state. People have spoken about my voice and bass playing for so many years, I hope that this time they notice my lyrics because I’m very proud of them.”

COMMON MAN
“That’s another of the songs that came from Jason. When he sang me its melody acapella I could hear myself singing it. It could have been a song from Deep Purple’s ‘Stormbringer’ album; he wrote it for my voice.”

THE GIVER
“When you listen to the end of the song, if people are trying to figure out what key it’s in, I’m playing a capo [a device that raises the pitch of notes] on the fifth fret. When I wrote it, I deliberately held back from completing it because it needed Joe’s input. Kevin helped as well.”

CRAWL
“Some people may know that this song was going to be on ‘BCC2’ but we held it over because there simply wasn’t enough room. To me, it fits this album a lot better. It’s a really aggressive song – it’s dangerous and angry. I love it. It’s a great way to finish the record.”

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS

Black Country Communion: Official Website

Black Country Communion: Facebook

Black Country Communion: Twitter

Black Country Communion: YouTube
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Black Country Communion's "Live Over Europe" in cinemas on November 1st

For one night only, on Tuesday November 1st at 7:30pm, participating Vue Cinemas will screen Black Country Communion’s debut concert film “Live Over Europe” in high definition and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.

Black Country Communion is the Anglo-American rock group featuring the talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater).

“Live Over Europe” was filmed using 14 HD cameras during BCC’s first ever world tour in the summer of 2011. Recorded across three nights in Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the band’s set includes 18 songs taken from both of BCC’s albums; 2010’s eponymous debut, and 2011’s follow-up album release “2”.

This one-night-only rock and roll cinema experience includes an exclusive filmed introduction from all four members of Black Country Communion, read the full press release here.

By pre–booking tickets via www.myvue.com/bcc, fans who attend each of the 16 participating cinemas, will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a guitar signed by the band.

The participating Vue Cinemas are as follows –

- London West End

- Cambridge

- Oxford

- Portsmouth

- Exeter

- Bristol

- Doncaster

- Leicester

- Hull

- Leeds

- York

- Birmingham

- Edinburgh

- Dublin

- Bury

- Swansea

Black Country Communion - DVD Release

Black Country Communion, the rock and roll band featuring bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), have confirmed the Monday October 24^th UK and European release of their first ever live DVD & Blu-ray; “Live Over Europe”.

Released by Mascot records, the double live DVD was filmed with 14 HD cameras and 5.1 Surround Sound during the band’s debut world tour in the summer of 2011. Recorded across three nights in the German cities of Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the 18-song set includes tracks taken from both of BCC’s albums – 2010’s eponymous debut, and 2011’s follow-up album release “2”.

From Thursday September 8^th, fans will be able to download a live version of “Song of Yesterday” (taken from Live in Europe) absolutely free by visiting here. Bonus features include an exclusive 28-page collector’s booklet, and an additional DVD containing a 20-minute “behind the scenes” featurette and photo collection.

Sky Arts to air High Voltage TV special featuring Black Country Communion

Sky Arts is pleased to announce the television transmission of this year’s High Voltage Festival on Saturday 20th August at 10pm. Filmed in Hi-Definition, the 90-minute TV special includes performances from Black Country Communion, Slash, Judas Priest, Dream Theater, Rival Sons, Thin Lizzy, Thunder, Saint Jude, Michael Monroe, and Queensryche.



“This year’s High Voltage line-up was amazing,” says Black Country Communion’s front man, Glenn Hughes. “It was an honour and a privilege to play the festival.”



Voted Planet Rock’s Festival of the Year, High Voltage 2011 features the crème de la crème of classic, progressive and heavy metal rock music from London’s Victoria Park. Filmed by Blink Television for Sky Arts, the 90-minute special also includes exclusive band interviews, festival highlights and comments from the fans.



High Voltage 2011 will be broadcast Saturday 20th August at 10pm on Sky Arts 1 HD (Channel 243), and Sky Arts 1 (Channel 244).



For further information, visit the official Sky Arts web page announcement - www.skyarts.co.uk/music/article/high-voltage-2011