From the Archives of Bob Moog: A Photo Retrospective Calendar for 2010

Asheville, NC - The Bob Moog Foundation has created a calendar celebrating the rich history of the Moog Legacy through vintage photos, memorabilia, quotes and information taken directly from Bob’s archive. The photos trace pivotal moments in Bob’s early career and highlight many musicians and pioneers who inspired his work. Throughout the calendar, which is laden with images of early Moog instruments, Bob’s thoughts and philosophies about his work are shared in an effort to give greater understanding to his history and path; his was one of collaboration, listening and absolute dedication to musician’s needs.
The calendar includes five vintage photos of Moog himself, taken from 1958-1974. The remaining photos are of his mentors and collaborators:
Leon Theremin
Vladimir Ussachevsky
Herb Deutsch
Keith Emerson
Paul Beaver and Bernie Krause
Isao Tomita
Joel Chadabe
Roger Powell

Mark Vail, well-known synthesizer historian and author of Vintage Synthesizers proclaims:

“What a beautiful, informative, and intricately detailed document the 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar is! The rarely — if ever before — seen photos are outstanding, so much so that in 2011 I may extract and frame many of them for my studio walls. On second thought, the calendar as a whole will end up in my archives; I promise no scissors will ever touch it. Also extremely cool and drool-worthy are the Moog Modular images in the background. Well done! I can hardly wait for the 2011 edition.”

The calendar was designed by Asheville-based graphics artist Rose Hecht in collaboration with the Bob Moog Foundation. Through her designs, Rose pays homage to the original Moog modular synthesizer as the instrument that spawned an industry and radically changed the face of popular music. The background of every page touts panels of knobs and patchbays — images taken from photos of an early modular that was used in Moog’s shop in the 60s. That instrument is one of the many priceless items in Moog’s archives.
The calendar is available for purchase for $20.00 on the Bob Moog Foundation's online store. All proceeds go to funding our ongoing projects, including the preservation of Bob's historical and extensive archives, creating a Moogseum in Asheville, NC.
http://www.moogfoundation.org/

InsideOut Music Signs Aspera To Label

InsideOut Music has announced the signing of the progressive metal band ASPERA to a worldwide deal. The group's debut album, "Ripples", is scheduled for release on January 25, 2010.

These five aspiring musicians from Skien, Norway, are truly what can be described as "youngsters" and "newcomers," being just 20 years of age (all born in the last quarter of the year 1989!) and even only 18-19 years old whilst producing "Ripples".

The name ASPERA is taken from Latin and stands for "thorns" or "rugged ground," which describes the band's complex and colorful sound in an appropriate way.

Despite their young individual age, ASPERA have gathered previous experience under the band name ILLUSION and shared stages in their native Norway with bands like PAGAN'S MIND, CIRCUS MAXIMUS and AUDREY HORNE and most recently also debuting internationally as support band for former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen on two shows in Spain and one in Switzerland.

ASPERA cite acts like PAIN OF SALVATION, PAGAN'S MIND, SYMPHONY X, DREAM THEATER and EVERGREY as common favorites and stylistic influences and the band's debut full-length album "Ripples" was mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden by Jens Bogren, who has previously produced bands such as OPETH, PARADISE LOST, HAMMERFALL and SYMPHONY X. Bogren was obviously impressed by the potential of the young musicians and comments on "Ripples" as follows: "The debut album from ASPERA is one of the best progressive metal albums I've heard in a looong time! Since 1992, to be exact! It was an honor helping the band getting the album the way they deserve."

Based on the strength of "Ripples", the band had been approached by a number of labels but it was what InsideOut Music had to say that interested them the most.

"The deal they offered us was perfect," comments vocalist Atle. "It showed that their ideas for the band matched our goals and aspirations, and it was exactly the deal we wanted." "And we're big fans of InsideOut," adds guitarist Robin. "Look at the calibre of artists they've got! It's a great label, we've always wanted to work with them, and they made us an offer we literally couldn't refuse. It's a great opportunity for us as a band."

"It's important to have the right partners to launch a new band," says ASPERA's manager Manuela Froehlich. "The knowledge, expertise and support of a label like InsideOut is exactly what ASPERA need to be able to realize their true potential."

"Ripples" consists of 10 extremely well-composed and varied tracks, wrapped in a dynamic and a powerful production.

"Ripples" track listing:

01. Intro

02. Ripples

03. Do I Dare?

04. Remorse

05. Between Black & White

06. Catatonic Coma

07. Torn Apart

08. Traces Inside

09. Reflections

10. The Purpose

ASPERA lineup:

Robin Ognedal - Guitar

Nickolas Main Henriksen - Keyboards

Atle Pettersen - Vocals

Joachim Strøm Ekelund - Drums

Rein T. Blomquist - Bass

News Bytes For November 2009

• Roger Waters has decided, at least as of now, to do The Wall and bring it on tour in 2010-2011 . Word is as of now, that 8 cities may host it, but per the source, it could change.

• On November 10th, Greg Lake will launch is new website at the link of http://www.greglake.com Greg will also have a live chat SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15th AT 5PM Eastern Time.
• Umphrey's McGee has released "Cover It!", a double disc set of Umphrey's McGee covers from the last few years, featuring music from Pink Floyd, Genesis, Steely Dan and many others.

• The band Quarkspace has just released a FREE download documenting a Quarkspace live show from the Summer of 2000 in Worcester MA. You can download it at http://quarkspace.com/Worcester.aspx
• Univers Zero is due to release a new album titled "Clivages"
• Florida progressive band Cynic is currently working on a new EP that will include reinterpretations of 4 songs off Traced in Air (The Space for This, Evolutionary Sleeper, Integral Birth, King of Those Who Know), and 1 totally new song.
• Seattle band Moraine were announced to kick off day 2 of NEARfest 2010 on the Gagliarchives 11/7/09
• Progressive Ears celebrates its 10th year as a mecca for progressive rock lovers online around the world.
• Pendragon have been confirmed for Rosfest 2010
• Pim Koopman, drummer of Kayak unexpectedly passed Monday morning, November 23, 2009, at the age of 56. GPRN sends it condolences. For more information, their site is at http://www.kayakonline.nl/e_news.html
• Michelle Moog was recently featured on the Matrix Synth blog to spotlight her father's creation, the Moog Voyager: http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2009/11/image-of-michelle-moog-koussa-of-bob.html
• Australian band Unitopia is to perform at ROSFest 2010
  
  

STRATOVARIUS: Support Acts Announced For European Tour

Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS have announced the support acts for their forthcoming European headlining tour, which is scheduled to kick off on January 7 in Bochum, Germany. They are as follows:

With TRACEDAWN, MYSTIC PROPHECY:

Jan. 07 - Zeche - Bochum [DE]
Jan. 08 - Hof ter Lo - Antwerp [BE]
Jan. 09 - Melkweg - Amsterdam [NL]
Jan. 10 - Garage - London [UK]
Jan. 12 - Elysee - Paris [FR]
Jan. 13 - Le Bikini - Toulouse [FR]
Jan. 15 - La Riviera - Madrid [ES]
Jan. 16 - Rockstar Live - Bilbao [ES]
Jan. 17 - Razzmatazz 1 - Barcelona [ES]
Jan. 19 - Transbordeur - Lyon [F]
Jan. 20 - Z7 - Pratteln [CH]
Jan. 21 - Alcatraz - Milan [IT]

With TRACEDAWN, WINTER'S VERGE:

Jan. 23 - SKC - Belgrad [RS]
Jan. 24 - Hristo Botev Hall - Sofia [BG]
Jan. 26 - Petöfi Hall - Budapest [HU]
Jan. 27 - Szene - Vienna [AT]
Jan. 28 - PKO - Bratislava [SK]
Jan. 29 - Masters of Rock - Zlin [CZ]

With TRACEDAWN, DREAM EVIL:

Jan. 30 - Backstage - München [DE]
Feb. 01 - Longhorn - Stuttgart [DE]
Feb. 02 - Garage - Saarbrücken [DE]
Feb. 03 - Markthalle - Hamburg [DE]
Feb. 04 - The Rock - Copenhagen [DK]
Feb. 06 - Mejeriet - Lund [SE]
Feb. 07 - Trädgarn - Gothenburg [SE]
Feb. 08 - Rockefeller - Oslo [NO]
Feb. 09 - Tyrol - Stockholm [SE]

"Polaris", the new album from STRATOVARIUS, landed at position No. 57 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Polaris" entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 2. The album also debuted on the German Media Control chart at No. 55.

"Polaris" was released in the U.S. on May 26 via Armoury Records (a division of Eagle Rock Entertainment).

The cover artwork for "Polaris" was created by Gyula Havancsák.

"Polaris" was recorded in the fall 2008 at Hästholmen and 5by5 studios in Helsinki, Finland. It was mixed by the longtime confidant of the band, Mikko Karmila.

STRATOVARIUS 2009 is:

Timo Kotipelto - Vocals
Matias Kupiainen - Guitars
Lauri Porra - Bass
Jörg Michael - Drums
Jens Johansson - Keyboards

RNR

Steve Hackett To Headline NEARfest Alumni-Night Friday

NEARfest is honored to present in a sophomore appearance, Steve Hackett and his band. There is very little that Prog fans don’t know about the legacy of Steve Hackett. He is a renowned, iconic and immensely talented and innovative rock musician. He was lead guitarist with Genesis as part of their classic lineup with Gabriel, Collins, Banks and Rutherford that produced acclaimed albums such as Nursery Cryme and Selling England by the Pound (a favorite of John Lennon). From the post Gabriel era came the classics, A Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering. With Steve’s extraordinary versatility in both his electric guitar playing and his composing, he involves influences from many genres, including Jazz, World Music and Blues. His classical albums include renditions of pieces by composers from Bach to Satie, as well as his own stellar acoustic and classical guitar compositions.

With Genesis, Steve’s guitar playing produced some of the most memorable moments, from the sensitivity of his acoustic sound on Horizons and Blood on the Rooftops to the dramatic rock guitar solos of Firth of Fifth and Fountain of Salmacis. As he embarked on his solo career he developed his exceptional range, pushing musical boundaries into exciting areas, inventing new sounds and also techniques such as ‘tapping’. Steve’s solo career as well as his collaboration with fellow guitar icon Steve Howe in GTR, gained favorable momentum in the 1980’s. After GTR, Steve worked further with many renowned musicians such as Paul Carrick, Bonny Tyler, John Wetton and Brian May, who has credited Steve as an early influence. He went on record Genesis Revisited and even further back to his roots with Blues with a Feeling, whilst continuing to challenge his own ‘horizons’ with an amazingly eclectic mix of sounds, genres and a sense of the exotic that excites his many followers to this day.

Recent albums have possessed a high level of sophistication, along with an ever-present powerful dynamic, from the dramatic and atmospheric darkness of Darktown and Wild Orchids to the colorful voyage through time and space of To Watch the Storms. Steve’s live electric gigs take his fans on an extraordinary journey that embodies his Genesis days right through to the present, all woven together with his exceptionally unique and distinctive rock guitar sound. With a new album entitled, “Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth,” Steve is poised to continue his legacy of creating excitement through his music. His return to the NEARfest stage will be a fantastic journey; from classic tunes to Steve’s most recent material. A big NEARfest round of applause is in order for Steve Hackett and his band as they grace our stage on Friday, June 18th for an Alumni-Night aural feast. This was announced live on the Gagliarchives Saturday, November 21st, 2009

http://nearfest.com
http://hackettsongs.com