DIVINE SORROW

BATTLE OF THE BANDS CONTEST WINNER

CHARTER CENTER STAGE

ST. LOUIS, MO

September 29^th, 2012

Article by Adriana Rubio

Pictures: Courtesy of Divine Sorrow 

“Divine Sorrow” is a progressive hard rock band from St. Louis, MO comprised of four talented musicians, Bryan Chappell (lead vocals and bass guitar), Matt Depew (lead guitar), Mike Sikorski (guitar) and Lee Skyles (drums).

In July of 2011 Divine Sorrow started playing live gigs in St. Louis, MO and surroundings pleasing the crowds with powerful heavy rock music and meaningful lyrics. 

Lead singer and bass player Bryan Chappell is the band’s gifted lyricist. Chappell is well known for his dark and tuneful writing style mostly described as an open journey to deep thinking.

On May 18^th, 2012 Divine Sorrow released the first full-length CD “Tales Of Descension”. It’s an eight tracks album recorded at “Saw Horse Studios” in St. Louis, MO and engineered by Jason McEntire. “Tales Of Descension” was musically produced by Divine Sorrow and Jason McEntire.

This album is without a doubt the result of hard work and wise songwriting. “Tales Of Descension” offers the kind of tunes that invite the listener to sing along right from the start especially on tracks like “Judas”, “Everything” and “Asunder”. 

These four talented rockers certainly know what playing rock music means. They know what they do and are by far clever at the time of reaching the highest point in songs like “Creeping/Shadows & Sorrow”. 

“Tales Of Descension” Tracks Listing:

1 - Ascension
2 - Eden
3 - Everything
4 - Throne
5 - Creeping / Shadows and Sorrow
6 - Judas
7 - Asunder
8 – Mary

“Tales Of Descension” is now available at the following sites:

ITunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tales-of-descension/id521703344

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Tales-of Descension/dp/B007XDXCY8/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347453948&sr=301-1

“Divine Sorrow” won the “Charter Center Stage Contest” which was officially announced on Wednesday, September 13^th. This contest triumph for Divine Sorrow is a full package of $25,000 that positions the band as the top unsigned act in the Nation. Additionally and as part of the contest win, Divine Sorrow will be on the big stage to open for the “All American Rejects” on September 29^th at “Soldier Memorial Park” in St. Louis, MO.

“Asunder” official video:

 

“Everything” official video: 

 For further information on Divine Sorrow, please visit the official sites at:

www.divinesorrow.com

www.reverbnation.com/divinesorrow

www.facebook.com/divinesorrow

ALVARO M ROCHA

BIO

BY ADRIANA RUBIO

Photograph: Courtesy of Alvaro M Rocha’s Management

 

Alvaro M Rocha was born in 1975, in Ovar, Northern Portugal. He is musical by nature and at the early age of 4 Alvaro started his first walking steps into the music world at the Esmoriz Academy of Music. He received education in so many disciplines and different levels as he was introduced to learn and play a variety of instruments. And after 15 years of studies Alvaro M Rocha finished his formal training at the Academy. Soon after Alvaro jumped into learning more about analog and digital electronics and received complementary training in Audio Engineering in Paris and London.

 

Although most of Alvaro Rocha’s work has been hidden from the general public, there’re a number of projects that yes were made public and really are of high importance to cite:

2006 - The Beyond Piano Project

2004- Beijing Opening Concert- Jean Michel Jarre Remastered

1994 - Electricity

Alvaro M Rocha is currently introducing a single titled “Stay” to the public. It is available to listen online at his official website prior to his first official album “Debut” which is expected to be released in December 2012.

For further information on Alvaro Rocha’s full bio, previous and current work, music reviews and detailed description of his previous cited master pieces, please visit:

www.alvaromrocha.com

STAY

THE SINGLE BY

ALVARO M ROCHA

Review by Adriana Rubio

“Stay” is Alvaro M Rocha first single he openly shares with the public as an anticipation of his full CD titled “Debut” which is expected to be released in December 2012. 

Alvaro Rocha’s music has always been deeply influenced by Vangelis, Wagner and Jean Michel Jarre. His work is undoubtedly into the realms of classical tunes audaciously performed. The use of rare synths such as a Yamaha  CS80 which is a Vangelis trademark makes Alvaro’s work even more impressive.

“Stay” is a unique piece performed and produced by Alvaro M Rocha. Precisely and on top of it Alvaro provides a very pleasant music for the listeners’ ears even for those who are not familiar with his previous projects. “Stay” offers well done piano-key tunes, wild-wind sounds, guitars and soft female-breathing vocals. If the music of classical composer Tchaikovsky, especially the Nº 1 Concert for Piano and Orchestra is amongst your favorites, Alvaro’s “Stay” revives that kind of piano sound in a peculiar-creative way.  You won’t be disappointed.

www.alvaromrocha.com

ANGIE BOWIE

BIO

By Adriana Rubio

Photograph: Courtesy of Angie Bowie

Author… Actress… Model… Musician… Mother

Former Wife of David Bowie

She is the leading light of the present age!

 THE EARLY YEARS OF A LEADING LIGHT WOMAN:

Angie Bowie was born on the island of Cyprus in 1949, the daughter of Colonel GM Barnett and Helena Marie Galas. Her father was a U.S Army veteran, a mining engineer and ran a mill for Cyprus Mines Corporation. Angie has a brother and grew up feeling like an only child in the family because her brother was 16 years older. 

Angie Bowie received education in Cyprus first, and at the age of 9 she was sent to St. George’s School in Switzerland, a very well known international school for wealthy people, a place where she felt she did not belong to but helped her to learn how to survive as an independent-self-sufficient person. 

“First I had to learn French --then get used to being away from home and having only my own resources to support me. My sense of humor rescued me from extreme alienation, but we were all outsiders at St. George’s.”

At the age of 16 Angie left Switzerland to attend the Connecticut College For Women in America where she began the journey of her own life. A lesbian relationship with a school mate started and resulted in college interference as was the way with many same sex relationships at that time.  

“The psychiatrist at the college grabbed my girlfriend and I, and imprisoned us in the surgery.  I had to convince a nurse to bring me my clothes, and then I leapt from the second floor window and ran back to my dormitory. I packed and left for Cyprus within a few days.”

In 1967 Angie went to England to study at Kingston Polytechnic, a notorious ahead of time College for advanced-thinking people. Angie Bowie is gifted with a remarkable intellect. She’s been always well read and well informed. England was definitely the place where she felt at home. 

“I believe the only place I truly felt at home was in England.”

In 1969 and at the age of 19, Angie met David Bowie. He was trying to get signed to a record label- Mercury Records. Angie was working with LKou Reizner and Doctor Calvin Mark Lee, both executives for Mercury, so was able to get Mercury to release Bowie’s single SPACE ODDITY. Angie and David fell in love, married in 1970 and had a son who called Duncan Zowie Heywood Jones. He dropped Zowie when he began his professional life and is a well known film director.

THE STARMAKER AND POWER BEHIND DAVID BOWIE:

Angie introduced David to Tony DeFries when He wanted to divest himself of Ken Pitt his previous manager. Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and Thin White Duke periods as the most productive and ground-breaking years. Angie and David Bowie looked curiously alike and they came together as a terrific package. She has often been referred to as the STARMAKER and the power behind David’s meteoric success. The cultural impact of David and Angie Bowie in the 70s led Angie to write emotively about in her books ‘Free Spirit’ and ‘Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side with David Bowie’.  Angie won an award for Best Audio biography with her audio book of “Backstage Passes”. ‘Backstage Passes’ is rumored to be the inspiration behind the film “Velvet Goldmine”. 

Angie and David divorced in 1980. And according to what has been said publicly, David Bowie has tried to edit Angie out of his life and deny her contribution to his tremendous success. As an ahead of time woman, Angie reacts in a very philosophical manner.

 “Famous men frequently do that when they feel threatened by a woman’s influence. They like to be thought of as the sole genius. God forbid that any woman helped them to get where they did. Picasso did the same thing to his women -- he tried to write them off as insane.”

David Bowie’s songs “The Prettiest Star” and “Golden Years” are definitely about Angie. It is openly proven with her appearance in a backstage sequence from the D.A. Pennebaker concert film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars where David Bowie calls her by the name “Star”. Angie Bowie accompanied her husband on the majority of his international concert tours and promoted him on radio and television as a celebrity guest on The Tonight Show in 1973 Russel Harty Show UK and also performed on The Mike Douglas Show in 1975. 

ACTING TALENT AND FILM WORK:

Angie Bowie is also known for her acting talent. She performed at the Lausanne exhibition in 1964 playing Barberine in the Alfred de Musset play BARBERINE. She acted all through school and college in the Changeling, Jeanne D’Arc by Jean Anouilh and rejoined and auditioned for the leading role of the telefilm Wonder Woman which aired on March 12, 1974. As Linda Carter already had the role and the auditions were just to satisfy the acting unions, Angie approached Stan Lee in Hollywood and in late 1975, Angie Bowie bought the television rights for the Marvel Comics' characters: Black Widow and Daredevil for developing and selling purposes featuring the two heroes. Terry O’Neill photographed Angie and Benny Carruthers American actor and screenplay writer as the characters.

Angie Bowie’s film work includes acting roles in “Eat the Rich”, “Demented”, “Deadrockstar”, and “The Slayer Bureaucrat”. She took to the stage in Tucson with City Players to star as TINY ALICE in Edward Albee’s play.

MUSIC WORK OF A GODDESS:

As a musician, there’s a CD maxi-single, “The World Is Changing” where Angie receives full credit as composer with various co-composers including David Padilla, Morgan Lekcirt, Tom Reich, Jim Durban and D.J. Trance. The musical work was published by Angela Bowie Music in 1996 on the New York label Warlock Records. MOON GODDESS is the CD of her songs and spoken word. Obsession for Paul Zone, she covered the Ramones’ tune for BOSSA n RAMONES and The Last Time is a STONES cover with Jude Rawlins.

PROJECTS , WRITING AND MORE:

In 1980, Angie had her second child, daughter Stacia, with the punk musician Drew Blood. She settled in America concentrated mainly on Stacia’s education, but she has also been involved in a number of projects.  Angie ran her own horse ranch, was a celebrity editor for the notorious Larry Flynt and has succeeded in book writing. She published, “Bisexuality: A Pocket Guide” and has productively lectured for it. 

Angie Bowie currently resides in Atlanta, GA with her NON-musician partner and is working on her fifth book, “Pop Sex”. Her first solo album “Moon Goddess” was released in 2000. “Fancy Footwork” is her second album. Her collection of poetry and lyrics will be released in 2013.

Angie is the leading light of the present age!

www.angiebowie.net

ROCK 'n' ROLL GYPSIES

THE MAT SARGENT MUSICAL ENDEAVOR

FOR THE SEX, DRUGS & HIV PROJECT

By Adriana Rubio
Photographs: Courtesy of Mat Sargent

 

‘Mat Sargent’ is a well known musician-bass player for the London-based punk band ‘Chelsea’.  Mat Sargent joined Chelsea in 1991 and went on to play for legendary punk band ‘Sham 69’ in 1995 also becoming the resident bass player for ‘Splodgenessabounds’. He is currently completing the writing process of his autobiography.

The ‘Sex Drugs & HIV’ Project started in 1995 when Mat Sargent wanted to give something back to the charities that helped him on his life journey.  He came up with the idea of recording an album with different musicians on each track.  

For the first 10 years Mat recorded at Dave Goodman’s home studio in Gipsy Hill.  Known for his work with the Sex Pistols as their sound man, Goodman also produced the Spunk album & The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle.

Mat knew Dave Goodman from the Chelsea years as Dave produced two of the band’s albums that Mat played on: “The Alternative” & “Traitors Gate”. Dave Goodman also produced 2 albums for ‘Splodge’: “I Don’t Know” & “Artful Splodger”. Mat & Dave got on very well becoming close friends and a working relation started. Dave Goodman believed in Mat’s HIV album project and they produced most of the songs together.  

RECORDING SESSIONS

Mat Sargent booked Dave Goodman's studio for a month with a very well organized schedule for all the instruments and musicians. Mat got all the drummers scheduled for the first week, all the guitarists & bass players were called to record on the second & third week and all the vocalists did their singing contribution on the last week.

It all worked out as professional as possible even with the craziness of people coming in & out of the studio all day and night.  Up to seven different musicians a day were required to play and record.  The album was like a huge jigsaw, filling in spaces with various musicians from many different styles including rock, pop, ska, punk, reggae, rockabilly, heavy metal, funk, R&B, new age, country. The ‘Sex Drugs & HIV’ album can be described as a vivid musical collage!

Six months after the first recording sessions, Mat booked Dave Goodman’s studio for another month to record more songs with an additional group of musicians.  Originally only supposed to be 1 album, the HIV project attracted many musicians and the charities that Sargent chose to support encouraged more people to join the project which is now a double CD of 40 songs. 

  

HIGHLIGHTS

One of the highlights on the HIV project has to be Max Splodge on the song '667 The Neighbour Of The Beast' where he plays a trombone solo. The thing was Max had never played a trombone before but insisted the track needed a trombone solo! Max also played trombone on the title track for the album Sex Drugs & HIV, written by Darrell Bath (UK Subs / Dogs D'amour / Crybabys) and Honest John Plain (The Boys / Crybabys).

Mat Sargent wrote the songs on the Sex Drugs & HIV album, collaborating with musicians on some of the tracks, including: Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy / Motorhead), Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Dick Lukas (Citizen Fish / Subhumans), Paul Fenech (Meteors), Micky Fitz (The Business), Frankie Stubbs (Leatherface), Roly Wynne (Ozric Tentacles), Poly Styrene (X Ray Spex), Darren White (The Blood Divine), Chris Bowsher (RDF), Jennie Matthias (The Belle Stars), Jimmy Pursey (Sham 69), Mark E Smith (The Fall), Lee Thompson (Madness), Judge Dread, Angie Bowie, and Afrika Bambaataa.

THE ROCKUMENTARY- HARD WORK & LEARNING PROCESS

The entire project was filmed by Mat Sunderland & Dublin Joe who filmed the first half, and Mat’s son, Alex Sargent, filmed the final sessions. Included in the limited Sex Drugs & HIV box sets (which will later be released) will be 3 memory sticks with 30 one hour documentaries showing the musicians at work, the making of the album, storytelling, different meetings with musicians at the studio and more.

Through 15 years of making the album with over 200 guests, Mat Sargent went through a transfer period where everything that had been recorded on analogue had to be transferred to digital, not only for each instrument on each song but also all the hours of video tape.

Back and forth to Germany for the past 10 years, Mat has been trawling through the hours of footage (over 150 hours) with his good friend Manni Kusters, who taught him how to use the editing, machines. It really was a learning process for Sargent as he became a perfectionist on all the tasks.

CHANGE OF STUDIO

Dave Goodman died in 2005 so Sargent spent the next 5 years finishing the project at Panther Studios which was owned by Dick Crippen, former bass player for bands; Tenpole Tudor and King Kurt. Ten years had passed since Dick had played bass on one of the tracks for the HIV Project; ironically it was the same track that Dave Goodman had played on (Cigarette In The Ashtray).

Dick Crippen helped Mat Sargent to finish off the jigsaw and additionally, a number of new tracks were recorded to complete the 40 songs for the double album CD.  On May 16^th, 2011, Sargent finished all the recordings and mastered the albums at Abbey Road in October of the same year.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH - LIVE SHOWS & FUND-RAISING

Mat Sargent has worked on the Sex Drugs & HIV project for 15 years which is now ready to present to everyone and start generating funds for the beneficiary charities.  The songs from the Sex Drugs & HIV album have been available to download since January 1^st, 2012 and a CD/DVD release is planned for 1^st December (World AIDS Day).

The HIV Project band ROCK 'n' ROLL GYPSIES will also play shows to promote the album release and raise awareness for the charities: - Rape Crisis, Release (drugs), Terrence Higgins Trust (HIV+AIDS) & Cancer Research after Mat Sargent’s recent fight with cancer. A few musicians on the project have since died of cancer;- Kelly Johnson (Girlschool), Paul Samson (Samson), Jez Bird (The Lambrettas), Paul Fox (The Ruts), Chris Townson (John's Children / Jet / Radio Stars), Poly Styrene (X Ray Spex) - also not forgetting; John McGeoch (Magazine / P.I.L), Wurzel (Motorhead), Min (Splodgenessabounds), Roly Wynne (Ozric Tentacles), Wally Nightingale (Sex Pistols / Swankers), Judge Dread and Dave Goodman who have also passed.

Fund-raising shows are organized to finance the pressing of the Sex Drugs & HIV album. Also a big show is planned with Rock'n'Roll Gypsies to perform a live version of the album with many guests from the album appearing with the band.

THE CHARITIES WE SUPPORT:

CANCER RESEARCH UK

RAPE CRISIS

RELEASE

TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Gypsies

Rock ‘n’ Roll Gypsies  (1998 - 2001)
Vocals & guitar - Mat Sargent 
Lead guitar - Wurzel  (Motorhead)
Keys - Seaweed (Ozric Tentacles)
Bass - Leo Smee  (Cathedral)
Drums - Stuart Soulsby  (Chelsea)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Gypsies  (2002 - 2007)
Vocals & guitar - Mat Sargent
Vocals - Monique Maasen (B Bang Cider) 
Lead guitar – Johnny Chunders  (Splodge)
Bass - Tracey Lamb  (Girlschool)
Drums - Smeg  (Juicy Lucy)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Gypsies  (2010 - 2012) 
Vocals & guitar - Mat Sargent
Vocals - Monique Maasen (B Bang Cider) 
Lead guitar – Johnny Chunders  (Splodge)
Guitar - Ronny Rocka  (Angelic Upstarts)
Bass - Noel Hendrick  (Streatham Hillbillys)
Drums - Robin Guy  (Faith No More)

FOLLOW THE SEX DRUGS & HIV PROJECT!

You can follow the progress of the Sex Drugs & HIV Project on the Facebook site at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sex-Drugs-Hiv/166505350026652

SUPPORT THE HIV PROJECT!

If you would like to donate towards the Sex Drugs & HIV Project please click the ‘Donate’ button on the website:   

 www.sexdrugsandhiv.com

METAL EYE WITNESS

 

THE PHOTO BOOK

By Fernando Serani

Book Review by Adriana Rubio

Heavy Metal Fans Take Heed!

If you are a true heavy metal fan…

You can’t miss it!

“Metal Eye Witness” by Fernando Serani was first published by Arts Publications in the United States. A compilation of photographs professionally taken to the best HEAVY METAL bands ever! The Author has toured with major bands all over the planet and wants to share with you the most successful moments of their musical careers.

Filled with exclusive pictures never published before of Megadeth, Heaven & Hell, Marilyn Manson, Whitesnake, Pantera, Slayer, Iron Maiden, among many others and MORE! “Metal Eye Witness” includes backstage, live performances and person to person interviews photographs. If you are a true heavy metal fan, you can’t miss it!

Fernando Serani started his career as a journalist/photographer in 1993 writing and taking photographs for major rock magazines such as Madhouse, Epopeya, La Maga, Generación X among many others in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has followed a big number of heavy metal bands on tour and became a “Metal Eye Witness” of their successful careers to the present days. Serani is a Black Sabbath fan himself and has pictured the most valuable images of the band. 

Fernando Serani worked for a Record Label in Argentina and was in charge of the Art Department promoting over 200 records where International artists such as Blackmore’s Night, Manowar, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Angra, Blind Guardian, Slayer and Yngwie Malmsteen among others were in.

In 1999 Serani founded “Blackstar CP”, his own independent production company. Today, Blackstar CP is one of the most important Indie Metal Labels in Argentina and has released and promoted over 20 records in different countries: (www.blackstar3.com ). This Indie Label has also opened the first digital store for Metal Artists in Latin America: (www.blacksdigital.com ).

For further info, feel free to visit the book official website at:

www.metaleyewitness.com