Articles Observations and Musings 

A Light in the Black: A Tribute to Jimmy Bain

Jimmy Bain passed away on January 24th, 2016. He enjoyed a lengthy career working beside some of rock’s greatest talents. Bain leaves behind an impressive discography, but is best remembered as the bass player of choice for Ronnie James Dio. The two first crossed paths in Rainbow. After quitting Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore was determined to make Rainbow a spectacle of sight and sound. Only the very best musicians would be capable of meeting the demands of this mad architect. Jimmy Bain was chosen to round out a rhythm section…

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Album Reviews Articles 

SAINT VITUS – V ALBUM REVIEW

Saint Vitus fans have been spoiled. Most of the classic Vitus albums have been reissued. The band’s 5th album, V, had long been the exception. Thanks to Hankenstein records, this lost classic is available on vinyl once again. Remastered and limited to 1000 copies, this pressing will soon become a rarity.   Originally released in 1990, V is a pivotal album in the Saint Vitus discography. After nearly a decade with SST Records, the band found themselves signed to a new upstart label. In addition to V, Hell Hound Records decided…

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Album Art Exploration Articles Observations and Musings 

Rush vs. Rainbow: The Great Rock and Roll Swindle

In 1978, Rainbow was a veritable super group carefully assembled by Ritchie Blackmore. The gatefold photo inside Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll perfectly captures the excitement of seeing these giants perform live. A festive crowd eagerly waits for the curtain to drop. A few fans even hold a banner to greet Blackmore and company as they hit the stage.   This sign has always struck me as problematic. Who makes a banner to hold up at a rock concert and decides NOT to include the name of the band? One…

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