Wednesday, February 22, 2023

BEN CRAVEN CINEMATIC PROGRESSIVE-ROCK ARTIST LIVE FROM BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: ZOOM TV SPECIAL EVENT ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO!

 


B E N   C R A V E N 

AUSTRALIAN CINEMATIC PROG-ROCK 

SINGER, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST 

and PRODUCER

ZOOM TV EXCLUSIVE

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

CLICK BELOW

TO WATCH IN ITS ENTIRETY!



Ben Craven is a cinematic progressive-rock artist from Brisbane, Australia. He likes to make records.

In 2005, Craven dispensed entirely with the band approach and recorded his debut album, Two False Idols under the name of Tunisia. The result was a work of incredible maturity, with influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Brian Wilson to the likes of Bernard Herrmann and John Barry.

Craven stepped up a gear for his sophomore album, Great & Terrible Potions. Delivering on the cinematic promise of Two False Idols, Potions went widescreen as Craven blurred the boundaries between conventional songs and orchestral soundtracks. Augmented by a stunning cover designed by legendary artist Roger Dean. Potions was dense, complicated, and unashamedly pretentious – everything a good prog rock album should be! Or, to put it another way, Craven sounded exactly like someone reveling in the creative freedom that came only from not worrying about what others wanted and delivering what he felt instead.

His 2016 album, Last Chance To Hear, was a stunning triumphant musical masterpiece of progressive rock. The grandness of the album suggested it was performed by a five or six-piece band. Craven explained, “In keeping with the idea of the album as an endangered species, the new album’s title is Last Chance To Hear. It’s another solo album in the true sense of the word where I play just about everything, like on Potions. The difference this time is a much greater portion has turned out to be instrumental. Not that I dislike vocals, but sometimes the music can be strong and emotional and moving enough to stand on its own without them.”

There was also a special appearance on the album by legendary Star Trek actor William Shatner, providing spoken-word vocals for the track Spy In The Sky Part 3!

Craven achieved a great accolade in 2016, winning the MusicOz Australian Independent Music Award for Best Instrumental, for the track Critical Mass Part 2.

Craven’s most recent release, Monsters From The Id is the logical realization of Craven’s musical trajectory thus far. It’s an album of two halves, each containing a traditional progressive rock “epic” the length of a side of vinyl. The two pieces comprise flowing parts and movements with both rock and Hans Zimmer-esque orchestral arrangements, punctuated by Ben’s distinctive lead guitar and vocals. Yet the album is predominantly instrumental.

In closing Ben has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “The music business is becoming an increasingly cynical place. The landscape is dominated by reissues, remixes and repacking of old material in what feels like a ‘last hurrah’. But there are still true believers out there flying under the radar and producing music primarily out of love and obsession. Not because of contractual obligations, deadlines or other market forces. I’d still be making music if the industry was truly dead and buried. But I’d much rather people listened to it!”


PURCHASE

THE LATEST RELEASE

BY

BEN CRAVEN

MONSTERS FROM THE ID

Available at

https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/album/monsters-from-the-id

and amazon.com


When the music alone visualizes an epic and spellbinding story!

CINEMATIC…ASTOUNDING…BRILLIANT! 

5 STARS!

...music journalist Ray Shasho


M O R E 

M U S I C

BY

B E N 

C R A V E N


amazon.com




FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

BEN CRAVEN

VISIT

www.bencraven.com

Official website

www.facebook.com/BenCravenMusic

Facebook

www.facebook.com/BenCravenMusic

Twitter

www.instagram.com/bencravenmusic

Instagram

https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/

Bandcamp

www.patreon.com/bencraven

Patreon

  

BEN CRAVEN

DISCOGRAPHY

Two False Idols (2005)

Under Deconstruction (EP) (2007)

Great & Terrible Potions (2011)

Last Chance to Hear (CD+DVD) (2016)

First Chance to Hear (Blu-Ray) (2017)

Monsters From The Id (CD+DVD) (2022)









BEN CRAVEN
APPEARS WEEK OF 
FEBRUARY 22ND 2023
ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
WITH RAY SHASHO


ORDER NOW

 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE  

CHRONICLES,TRUTHS

 CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM ROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE!




BY MUSIC JOURNALIST ...TALK SHOW HOST...  

AUTHOR RAY SHASHO 


Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover or E-book at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

 

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   

Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO




Friday, February 17, 2023

GERMAN PROGRESSIVE ROCK GROUP RPWL ANNOUNCE THEIR NEW ALBUM ‘CRIME SCENE’ DUE OUT MARCH 17TH: ZOOM TV EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FRONTMAN YOGI LANG!

 

 




German Progressive Rock Group 

RPWL

Announce Their New Album 

CRIME SCENE

Due Out March 17th

EXCLUSIVE ZOOM INTERVIEW

WITH

LEAD SINGER

SONGWRITER...KEYBOARDIST...FOUNDER


Y O G I 

L A N G

CLICK BELOW

TO WATCH IT ITS ENTIRETY!


When a group like RPWL takes on a theme for an album, it can usually be assumed that this eclectic quartet will dive deep, very deep, into the chosen spectrum and illuminate it from all possible perspectives. Then - as with past concept albums such as "Tales from Outer Space" (2019) - the largest possible carpet is rolled out and the compositions go hand in hand with Yogi Lang's carefully written, as well as musically set lyrics, to be finally presented, arranged, and performed from one cast.

On the new long player Crime Scene this Bavarian Artrock institution directs its attention to the morbid, the perverse, the evil in good, the abysses of the human behavior spectrum in all its unpredictable diversity, which sometimes comes across as bizarrely disturbing and conclusive, if one tries to fathom it.

Progressive German rock group RPWL have announced a new album titled ‘Crime Scene’ due out on March 17th. You can Preorder the album now at www.gentleartofmusic.com


PURCHASE

THE NEW ALBUM

BY

RPWL

'CRIME SCENE'

Available to Preorder at

www.gentleartofmusic.com



RPWL'S 
NEW SINGLE

victim of desire

rpwl


"Victim of Desire", the first single and video of their upcoming album "Crime Scene" is out! Watch on YouTube or listen on any streaming platform!


FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

RPWL

Visit

www.rpwl.net

Official site

www.facebook.com/rpwl.net

Facebook

https://twitter.com/RPWL_official

Twitter

www.instagram.com/rpwl

Instagram

www.youtube.com/rpwltv

YouTube 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

Y O G I   L A N G

Visit

www.yogilang.com


RPWL

Tour Dates 2023:
30 March D-Stuttgart clubCANN
31 March D-Bonn, Harmonie
01 April NL-Zoetermeer, De Boerderij
02 April UK-Chepstow, Winter’s End, Drill Hall
03 April UK-Bilston, The Robin
04 April UK-Glasgow, Slay
05 April UK-Oundle, Queen Victoria Hall
06 April UK-London, Boston Music Room
07 April B-Verviers, Spirit of 66
08 April F-Pagney-derrière-Barine, Chez Paulette
09 April CH-Pratteln, Z7
10 April D-Dortmund, Piano
13 April PL-Warschau, Progresja
14 April PL-Piekary Slaskie, Andaluzja
15 April PL-Suchy Las, Centrum Kultury
16 April D-Reichenbach, Artrock Festival
18 April D-Berlin, Maschinenhaus
19 April D-Hamburg, Knust
20 April D-Isernhagen, Blues-Garage
21 April D-Rüsselsheim, Das Rind
22 April D-Freising, Lindenkeller

 RPWL

Discography

Studio albums

God Has Failed (2000)

Trying to Kiss the Sun (2002)

World Through My Eyes (2005)

The RPWL Experience (2008)

Beyond Man and Time (2012)

Wanted (2014)

Tales from Outer Space (2019)

Crime Scene (2023)

 Live albums

Start the Fire Live (2005)

The RPWL Live Experience (2009)

Nine (2009)

A Show Beyond Man and Time (2013)

RPWL plays Pink Floyd (2015)

RPWL plays Pink Floyd - The Man and The Journey (2016)

A New Dawn (2017)

Live from Outer Space (2019)

God Has Failed - Live & Personal (2021)


Compilations

Stock (2003)

The Gentle Art of Music (2010)

 YOGI LANG

Solo

No Decoder (2010)

A Way Out Of Here (2019)

 








YOGI LANG

APPEARS WEEK OF 

FEBRUARY 17TH 2023

ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

WITH RAY SHASHO



ORDER NOW

 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE  

CHRONICLES,TRUTHS

 CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM HE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE!




BY MUSIC JOURNALIST ...TALK SHOW HOST...  

AUTHOR RAY SHASHO 


Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover or E-book at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

 

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   

Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO