Talkin' bout rock - PRESS

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Vocalist Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group) recently appeared on the Talkin' Bout Rock podcast. During his interview, which can be seen below, McAuley confirmed that Black Swan - the band in which he sings alongside guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, Dokken), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) - is nearing completion of their third album. An excerpt has been transcribed as follows:

Robin McAuley:  "Last Friday I finished my vocals for the next Black Swan record. So that's in the can. We're waiting for drums to go down on that. That should be done in the next week. Jeff's done. Reb's done, just about. And we're waiting for drums to go on there and get that thing mixed. And I think it's a great record. I'm pretty excited about it."

 In a new interview with Talkin' Bout Rock, Robin McAuley confirmed that his BLACK SWAN project, in which he is joined by guitarist Reb Beach (WINGER, WHITESNAKE),bassist Jeff Pilson (FOREIGNER, THE END MACHINE, ex-DOKKEN),and drummer Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY, MR. BIG),is putting the finished touches on its third album. The singer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Last Friday I finished my vocals for the next BLACK SWAN record. So that's in the can. We're waiting for drums to go down on that. That should be done in the next week. Jeff's done. Reb's done, just about. And we're waiting for drums to go on there and get that thing mixed. And I think it's a great record. I'm pretty excited about it." 

BLACK SWAN released its second album, "Generation Mind" in April 2022. The LP was written and composed by McAuley, Pilson and Beach and was once again produced and recorded by Pilson at Pilsound Studios in Los Angeles, with Starr's drums being recorded at On Deck Sound Studios.

The genesis of BLACK SWAN was sparked by a conversation between Pilson and Frontiers Music Srl president and head of A&R, Serafino Perugino, who wanted a project that would not only showcase McAuley's vocal prowess, but have a mighty musical backbone to stand skyscraper tall behind him. Thus, the initial seeds were planted and Pilson ran with it from there. The four members got BLACK SWAN off the ground by exchanging ideas back and forth and then bringing all the songs together. The final result is something fresh, very heavy, but still intensely melodic and it's certainly not DOKKEN, nor WINGER, nor MSG, or some combination thereof, but its own unique animal.

Regarding how BLACK SWAN has managed to stay together to record a second studio album despite the fact that most so-called "supergroups" don't last very long, McAuley told VWMusic in a 2022 interview: "'Shake The World' was a great first record from BLACK SWAN, and I don't think any of us likes the supergroup reference attached to the lineup. We set out to write some great music together. Music that we enjoy playing and listening to. On 'Generation Mind', I think we achieved that cohesive band sound that is very BLACK SWAN, and the production reflects that very much. It's fresh sounding, high energy, and fun. We're not caught up in having to sound a particular way because the label [Frontiers] put us together. This is who we are as a band."

 In a new interview with Talkin' Bout Rock, former FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook reflected on his December 2019 surgery to have his gallbladder removed. Hook's operation took place just hours after the band was forced to postpone a show in Duluth, Minnesota. The final two concerts of FIVE FINGER's fall 2019 tour were also postponed: at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska and at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

"It was horrible," Hook recalled. "In most cases, our body is just listening to our brain, and I was experiencing a tremendous amount of stress at that phase of that situation, and it caught up to me. Because I had asked, 'What makes something like this happen?' I'm, like, super healthy, take care of myself, blah, blah, blah, blah. And all the analysts and the doctors are, like, 'Well, stress can be a big component.' I'm, like, 'Well, that makes sense.' And it kind of freaked me out too, because I realized that you can die in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere and that's how it ends."

 Now in a new interview with Talkin' Bout Rock, Hook opened up about the health issues that caused him to sit out those European dates and it's brutal. Hook said he became sick due to the stress of being in Five Finger Death Punch, and noted that he "didn't feel like I was surrounded by anyone who cared about me."

"It was horrible. In most cases, our body is just listening to our brain, and I was experiencing a tremendous amount of stress at that phase of that situation, and it caught up to me," said Hook. "Because I had asked, 'What makes something like this happen?' I'm, like, super healthy, take care of myself, blah, blah, blah, blah. And all the analysts and the doctors are, like, 'Well, stress can be a big component.' I'm, like, 'Well, that makes sense.' And it kind of freaked me out too, because I realized that you can die in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere and that's how it ends."

https://podcasts.feedspot.com/rock_and_roll_podcasts/

 "Talkin' Bout Rock" - The Ultimate Music Interview Podcast with Rob Edwards!

Are you a die-hard rock music enthusiast? Can't get enough of your favorite bands and their legendary stories? Well, look no further because "Talkin' Bout Rock" is here to fulfill all your rock 'n' roll cravings! 

Talkin' Bout Rock-Podcast Hosts- Rob Edwards brings you Interviews with veteran rock musicians and Upcoming Artists in Rock. 

In a new interview with Talkin' Bout Rock Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan elaborated on the decision to bring Luppi on board:

"That's kind of why it's a farewell tour. We could limp over the finish line or run over the finish line, and right now we're planning to run over the finish line. But it's tough. Vocals are tough. We have a tight, tough schedule. So, this gentleman plays in one of the Italian Mr. Big tribute bands. He's got a great voice and he's a wonderful guy. And that's not every song or everything like that, but a little help from my friends comes in on the lead vocals. I still do my part as I do. Paul (Gilbert / guitar) and our drummer, Nick (D'Virgilio), is a great singer."

"We're not faking anything, and we never have and never will. We're doing our best to keep everything real, so we brought somebody in. We didn't have him behind a curtain. There he is. He's helping the singer sing."

 In a new interview with Robert Edwards of Talkin' Bout Rock, MR. BIG bassist Billy Sheehan spoke about the band's decision to enlist Michele Luppi (WHITESNAKE) to assist with the lead vocals during MR. BIG's U.K. tour while singer Eric Martin was dealing with an unspecified voice issue.  

 In a new interview with Robert Edwards of Talkin' Bout Rock, guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett of legendary Canadian rockers TRIUMPH was asked if he thinks the band will ever perform again. 

 Triumph frontman, Rik Emmett, is featured in a new interview with Talkin' Bout Rock, in which he talks about the days of arena rock shows with Triumph, his latest solo release Diamonds, and more. 

After all, the Rock Hall has a history of what many of us metal fans perceive as snubs to our favorite music. The Hall will finally include metal pioneers Judas Priest just this year, and in what some see as a rather backhanded way.

As Appice shared with Talkin' Bout Rock this month, he clearly feels the same way about its treatment of Dio.

It's no secret the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a long-running feud with heavy metal. There are very few heavy metal Rock Hall alumni, and even where there are exceptions, there is still dissent. When Black Sabbath were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, vocalist Ronnie James Dio—who recorded with Sabbath from 1979 until 1992—was not included, leaving the metal titan Dio out in the cold, still waiting for his own nod towards glory.

One person who is not happy about Dio's exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is ex-Dio drummer Vinny Appice. In an interview on the Talkin' 'Bout Rock podcast, Appice made his feelings clear as to why the standoff still persists.