“A good documentary keeps the viewer locked into every moment and leaves them disappointed when it finally ends. Dio: Dreamers Never Die is not a good documentary. It is a great one.”
Dreamers Never Die” delves deep into the singer’s incredible rise from a ‘50s doo-wop crooner to his early rock days in Elf and Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, to replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and finally cementing his rock star status with his own band, DIO.
The film incorporates never-before-seen footage and personal photos, as well as offering intimate scenes with his closest peers, family, and friends, among them Wendy Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Glenn Hughes, Vinny Appice, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach, Eddie Trunk, and Jack Black, as they bring viewers inside the life of one of rock and roll’s true heroes and most beloved figures.
Dio’s widow and longtime manager, Wendy Dio, who executive produced the film, commented: “I wanted this documentary to be authentic, for the fans to see the roller coaster ride that was Ronnie's life—the good times, the bad times and everything in between, especially including events that even the most diehard fans would not have known about. It’s all in there, right up to the very end.”
Ronnie James Dio, who died of gastric cancer in 2010, reigns as one of the most influential rock artists of all time and one of the greatest vocalists ever. With an illustrious recording career spanning from the 1950’s through to the 2000’s, the documentary follows his trajectory from sideman into singer, songwriter and frontman of not one, but three of rock’s internationally renowned, multi-Platinum-selling arena attractions: Rainbow, Black Sabbath and DIO.
Famous for popularizing the ‘devil horns’ hand gesture that is now synonymous with hard rock and heavy metal music, Dio was known for not wavering in his pursuit of his rock and roll dreams and continues to influence a new generation of music artists. His fans the world over remember him not only for his massive talent, but for his kindness, resulting in millions of dollars raised for cancer research in his memory via the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout CancerFund.
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The acclaimed film, which world premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, enjoyed a special event theatrical release in more than 600 cinemas worldwide last fall and is streaming on SHOWTIME, will be released worldwide by Mercury Studios on September 29, 2023 on DVD and Blu-Ray+4K and as a special Deluxe Edition featuring the DVD and Blu-Ray packaged with exclusive merchandise.
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BOX-SET
The Studio Albums:
1996-2004
DIO:
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The estate of legendary singer Ronnie James Dio has partnered with BMG and Niji Entertainment Group Inc. to issue a limited-edition deluxe vinyl and CD box sets of Dio’s final four studio albums. Titled The Studio Albums: 1996-2004, the set will include Angry Machines (1996), Magica (2000), Killing the Dragon (2002), and Master of the Moon (2004).
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Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some ofthe 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.
CANDICE NIGHT is the enchanting singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, for the medieval folk rock group Blackmore’s Night.
Candice was raised on Long Island, New York and began a modeling
career at the age of twelve, appearing in print ads, commercials, and
promotions at trade shows into her 20s. She hosted a rock show at a
local Long Island radio station which helped transform her destiny.
Night met Ritchie Blackmore, legendary lead guitarist for Deep Purple, at a soccer match hosted by WBAB the classic rock radio station she worked at. Blackmore enlisted Night to sing backup vocals for Deep Purples’ The Battle Rages On tour in 1993.
Night went on to co-write and contribute her musical styles to Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
on the tracks, “Aerial” (Charted #2 in Europe), “Hall of the Mountain
King,” “Black Masquerade,” and “Wolf to the Moon” for the Stranger in Us All album (1995). Night also toured with Rainbow as a background vocalist.
Candice also provided vocals on Ritchie Blackmore’s version of “Apache” on the album, Twang! A Tribute to Hank Marvin & The Shadows. The compilation features some of the greatest guitarists of our time.
In 1997, BLACKMORE’S NIGHT catapulted the duo of Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night into a fairytale journey, performing wizardry medieval folk arrangements with a dose of rock and roll. The group’s debut album, Shadow of the Moon endured the European music charts for seventeen weeks. The track “Play Minstrel Play” featured Ian Anderson, the superlative flautist of Jethro Tull.
Blackmore and Night toured Europe extensively with their newly
christened band, decorated in medieval garb, while capturing the
ambience and spirit of Renaissance
as they perform shows at castles, theaters, churches, opera houses, and
fairs. The group also performs with many of the musical instrumentation
used during the Renaissance age. Self-taught, Night learned to play the
hurdy-gurdy, the shawm, rauschpfeife, pennywhistle, recorder,
cornamuse, and gemshorn. The addition of these amazing instruments,
along with performances by virtuoso musicians, spotlighted by Ritchie
Blackmore’s valiant and poetic acoustic strumming and Candice Nights’
enchanting fairy tale vocalizations, completes an exciting and
extraordinary musical celebration.
But then occasionally you’ll also witness Ritchie Blackmore “the
legendary rocker” wailing on his ‘Strat’ on tunes like “The Circle.”
Blackmore’s Nights’ music is positive, inspiring, romantic, and it
wakes up the soul. Their audiences are so inspired, that they contribute
to the celebration by dressing in their favorite garb, mimicking their
most revered fairy tale, medieval, or Renaissance era character.
Blackmore Night’s subsequent album releases … Under a Violet Moon (1999), Fires at Midnight (2001), Ghost of a Rose (2003), The Village Lanterne (2006), Winter Carols (2006), Secret Voyage (2008), and Autumn Sky (2010).
Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night
finally tied the knot in 2008 after a nineteen year relationship. Their
first child together, Autumn Esmeralda Blackmore was born in May 2010.
Blackmore’s Nights’ eighth album, Autumn Sky was dedicated to the birth of their first born daughter.
Candice Night released her first solo album entitled Reflections
in 2011. It’s an awe-inspiring collection of music written and
performed by Candice. The album was not influenced by husband Ritchie,
leaving Candice alone to do her own thing. Track two … “Gone Gone Gone,”
should be sitting at the top of the country charts, while “Dangerous
Smile” could easily be the theme to the next James Bond movie. “Alone
with Fate” is a beautiful composition reminiscent to the timeless
classic “Those were the days” by Mary Hopkin.
… I instantly fell in love with the CD and gave it (5) stars.
On February 7th 2012, Candice Night gave birth to their son Rory Dartanyan.
Blackmore’s Night continues to amaze and illuminate audience’s
worldwide, bringing joy and happiness to their faithful, young and old,
and who for one very special evening are transported into another place
and time … filled with fantasy, magic, chivalry, clever repartee, and a
reason to be merry.
Blackmore’s Night is currently celebrating their fifteen anniversary.
The group’s latest release is called Blackmore’s Night: A Knight in York. It’s
an incredible journey of some of the groups most recent tracks
performed live in York, England. The special edition collection contains
a single audio CD accompanied by (1) DVD and (1) Blue-ray DVD. The DVD
is where you’ll receive the genuine Blackmore’s Night experience. You’ll
witness the colorful onstage wardrobe and scenery, capturing the true
ambience and celebration of the show. You will also share what their
audience’s have experienced for fifteen years … the enjoyment and magic
of being part of a Blackmore’s Night event. I gave Blackmore’s Night: A Knight in York - The CD/ DVD special edition collection (5) stars.
Coming in mid January 2013! Blackmore’s Night will be releasing “The
Beginning” A documentation of their early period. -Including Shadow Of The Moon and Under A Violet Moon as
well as rare video footage of their early tours "Live In Germany
1997-1998" and "Under A Violet Moon - Castle Tour 2000” -Available for
the first time on DVD and only in the "The Beginning” box.
I had the delightful opportunity to chat with Candice Night last week
about her life before and after meeting her legendary guitar-hero
husband.
Candice was definitely one of the most personable artists that I have
ever interviewed. She gleams with positivity, is extremely cheerful,
and just a pleasure to talk with.
Here’s my interview with the enchanting songstress/ songwriter/ and multi-instrumentalist for Blackmore’s Night… CANDICE NIGHT. Ray Shasho: Candice, thank you for being on the call today, where are you calling from? Candice Night: “I’m in cold, wet, and rainy New York, but the leaves here are amazing right now.” Ray Shasho: First of all, I’d like to say congratulations on the groups fifteen year anniversary. Candice Night: “Thank you very much Ray … you’re one of a few men who remembered an anniversary (All laughing).” Ray Shasho:Tell Ritchie, I also like to clean house and run the vacuum like he does. Candice Night: “I hate to tell you this … but this
is probably one of the main reasons why your wife married you, because I
could say that about my husband (Laughing). He calls it a Hoover,
because the big separation of language between the English and American,
so I often need a translator when he’s talking. So when he says I’m
running the Hoover, I say that’s exactly why I married you my darling
(All laughing).”
“But it’s so funny when you listen to all the different dialects when
you’re traveling and touring. This one whole area where Ritchie’s
ancestors are from, Jamaica Inn, which was based on an old story by
Daphne du Maurier, it’s a little bit north and east of Penzance where
all the pirates use to come and bring all their booty there and
distribute it. So the Jamaica Inn actually exists and it’s very haunted
on Bodmin Moor. Whenever we go to England, we try and go to this place
because a lot of Ritchie’s ancestors are from there, it’s a lot of farm
country, and all the people out there literally have a pirate’s dialect.
It’s like being out on a movie set … you have the sign swinging in the
wind, it’s really dark and misty, the cobblestones are outside, and then
the door blows open and some guy comes in talking like a pirate … and I
go, can somebody just pinch me, I just love it!” Ray Shasho: Ritchie always looked like a swashbuckler anyway …
put a sword in his hand and he could even be one of the Three
Musketeers. Candice Night: “He’s a big fan of Errol Flynn as I’m sure you could imagine. And of course you watch The Princess Bride
and he’s like Inigo Montoya. Actually Mandy Patinkin who played that
part, we went to see him in concert at Westbury Music Fair awhile ago
and he was just brilliant. He has this amazing voice where when he sings
he sounds like an old 1920s record. It’s so funny because apparently
for his encore he ends by running back on stage and saying “Hello: My
name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” And then
everybody applauses and he comes back off the stage (Laughing).” Ray Shasho: Candice, you and I share something in common … we were both in radio. Candice Night: “Actually, when I first met Ritchie
that was my chosen career path. I tried to figure out where I’d fit into
the radio world, trying every aspect of it … promotions, I was cutting
commercials, and just seeing where I’d fit in before someone came along
and scoop me up and ride off in a white horse … or black horse
probably.”
“I met Ritchie back in 1989 on a soccer field. I was there to cheer
on my team; we were actually number one arbitron-rated for a classic
rock station here in Long Island. I was going to New York Tech for
communications and taking my radio courses. So I was interning there for
about a year and half at WBAB and Deep Purple
came into town and said let’s play a charity soccer match. We brought
our guys down, and they brought all their ringers from Europe, and our
guys were not the most athletic, they were really good at eating pizza,
and running up and down on the field was not their forte. So you can
imagine that Deep Purple beat us pretty badly. So after the game, I went
over and congratulated him and that’s when our meeting began.” Ray Shasho: Was Ian Gillan the singer of Deep Purple at the time? Candice Night: “Yes, but the funny thing was he
wasn’t on the soccer field. Ritchie and Roger Glover came, but I think
the rest of the guys just said have a nice time boys.” Ray Shasho: I chatted with Joe Lynn Turner last year, and it
sounded to me that he really cherished working with Ritchie, so they
must have had a really good working relationship. But it didn’t sound
like Ritchie and Ian Gillan liked each other very much. Candice Night: “Joe and I ended up doing a duet; we
redid “Street of Dreams” on one of our albums a couple of years back.
Joe is one of those guys we keep in contact with and just such a good
guy and so overenthusiastic and has got a lot of energy. But yea, I
think there was a lot of friction and from what I wound up seeing there
was a large amount of friction in the last days of that Deep Purple
incarnation, which was so sad because in the beginning they had such an
amazing rapport and they had so many amazing songs. But towards the end,
everybody is travelling in their own separate limo and they only talk
when they get onstage …if then, and maybe egos were pulling everyone in
opposite directions, and it’s kind of bad to see that sort of thing
happen. You also don’t want to keep people in one box when they’re like
that because somebody is going to explode somewhere along the line.” Ray Shasho: What did you think when Ritchie asked you to become his musical partner at that time? Candice Night: “It’s a funny thing; we never
actually went through a conversation like that. Everything that we’ve
ever done has been a really natural evolution. When I first met him, we
ended up being friends first and then obviously the evolution of our
relationship grew and he got me on the road with him. He knew I could
sing …when he has parties, he’ll bring out the acoustic guitar and play
for you, but he also wants everybody to give a little bit of themselves
to be on an equal playing field. He doesn’t care if it’s reciting a
poem, or doing a dance, or playing an instrument, singing a song or
whatever it is, just bring it and let everybody have a good time and
participate. So when it got to my part when I first met him at one of
his parties, he said what’s your contribution to the party? I said I’ll
sing a song … and I think the first song we ever did together was the
“Theme from Mahogany” believe it or not, he loves that song. At that
point he knew I could carry a tune. So when I went out on the road with
him in 1993 with Deep Purple, he had asked me to do some backing vocals
on his “Difficult to Cure” solo. So they had me well hidden behind some
drapes and had amplifiers stacked up in front of me so nobody could see
me.”
“So really after that … was when he left that band and reformed
Rainbow, and he knew I was kind of a closet poet, constantly scribbling
in my journals and writing poetry. So when the guys in Rainbow were
having a hard time coming up with lyrical content he came to me. He
called me up on the phone and I was coming up to visit anyway, he played
me a backing track over the phone and said, look, see what you can do,
if it’s not something that works for us, we’ll fly up a professional guy
and head that way. So I thought I’d just give it a shot and got on the
ferry up here from Port Jefferson to Bridgeport and by the time I got to
the other side, and after an hour and fifteen minutes of just looking
at the water and listening to that backing track in my head, I came up
with fourteen versus. When I got to the other side they said … great!
We’ll take this one and that one. Then they’re circling … yea, this one,
that one, and the other one, and we’ll piece this together … there’s
the chorus and there’s the song. I said wow that was easy! And it was
something I really loved. So that was actually how I ended up writing or
co-writing.”
“While the other guys in Rainbow were doing the backing tracks,
Ritchie and I would be sitting in front of a big raging fireplace in
Massachusetts at Long View Farm Studio with the snow falling down, and
he and I would have the acoustic instruments, and I would make up lyrics
and he would make up songs, and that was kind of his escape from what
the rock and roll world had become for him, because he had been in it
for over thirty years at that point. So like I said, it was just all a
natural revolution, we started writing together, the people wanted to
hear the music more, and then a record company offered, and it grew and
grew. Now it’s been fifteen years and every step of the way has been
amazing.” Ray Shasho: Blackmore’s Nights’ music is positive, inspiring, romantic, and it wakes up the soul. Candice Night: “This is one of the only shows where
people leave with smiles on their face. It’s like a contagious energy
that’s all positive and it makes me feel so good in a world that is so
unsure, unknown, and negative. And you have everything from road rage to
air rage to your senses being bombarded by texts and emails and
everything is always in your face all the time. Even the commercials are
screaming at you all the time …and it never ends! For me it’s just
nice to see people enjoying the music and enjoying the escape to be able
to close their eyes and go someplace else and get away from all the
stress and the pressure. I love the age range of the people that come to
the shows … from five year old little kids who are enjoying it because
they’re still innocent enough to dress up and become anything from
princesses to fairies, or Robin Hood. Then the parents get involved
because the fathers followed Ritchie’s music since the 60s, and now that
guy’s married to a wife who likes the romantic lyrical content. Then
there’s the grandparents who think it’s just good old melodic music.” Ray Shasho: I watched an interview that you and Ritchie did
implying the decision to play Renaissance-type music was because of Yoko
Ono … was that a joke? Candice Night: “Its tongue and cheek I think. I’ve
heard rumors that I may be referred to that occasionally but no one has
been brave enough to say that to my face luckily, probably because I do
have medieval torture devices all through my house. We have converted
our home into a medieval dungeon. I think when people get so caught up
in nostalgia; they just look at their favorite bands and think those
bands are going to be exactly the way they were in the 70s, just stay in
that box and be like that forever and ever. And when something comes
along, that world changes and their whole world gets shattered and they
have a hard time dealing with that.”
“Let’s go back to the John Lennon/Yoko Ono thing, when you’re
watching any of the documentaries, for better or for worst, did you ever
see John Lennon happier than with Yoko Ono?” Ray Shasho: I don’t know … I really thought Paul McCartney broke up The Beatles. (All laughing) Candice Night: “When the Beatles ran their course
and weren’t happy anymore, you can’t keep them in that box. So who’s
ever around at the time ends up getting blamed, and I can speak from
personal experiences. Being with Ritchie, I’m with him first and forth
most at a personable level and if something is going to make him smile
and be happy than I’m for that one hundred percent. But if somebody’s
going to tell me, he’s got to go on stage and be absolutely miserable,
and I know its eating him up inside, and he hates what he’s doing every
night, which one are you going to support? I stand behind him whatever
decision he makes, and so the decision he made was to follow another
path.” Ray Shasho: I do like hearing all those Ritchie Blackmore
rock and roll stories though. Like when he destroyed the cameraman’s TV
camera at California Jam. Greg Lake told me that he’d become annoyed
over the fact that Emerson, Lake & Palmer were headlining. They
didn’t want to be playing in the support role. Candice Night: “I think they were promised by the
promoters when they were to go out and do their show that they would be
the first band to play when the sun went down. So they ended up getting
completely screwed on that. He said he had people banging on his door
for like an hour saying you’re going to get cut from the list, than you
can’t go out, and you’re going to get sued…. they tried to get rushed
out and he said no, this is what was in the contract, this is what we
were promised. So… sorry Greg, it had nothing to do with that. But it
was probably the fact that they had promised him that slot and he was
just so pissed off. It’s just such an amazing visual when you’re the
first band that comes onstage when the lights come on.”
“But there were problems on the Come Hell or High Water
video too. And these are all the stories behind the stories. We were in
the dressing room and we knew they were going to film that night,
Ritchie had said, “Why don’t you film on the first couple of nights
because the singer tends to blow his voice out on like the second or
third night and I’d rather you guys get a good performance.” So they
kept putting him off, and putting him off, and saying no. They finally
decide they’re going to record more towards the middle or end of the
tour. So Ritchie wasn’t happy about that, he didn’t feel like it was
going to be a really good performance for everybody involved.”
“Ritchie goes to the side of the stage and sees cameras setup on the
stage, and a camera was setup right in between him and the audience. He
said, “That is not going to happen because those people paid money to
see me, not to see the back of a cameraman’s head.” Everything he does
is fighting for the fans, which is so ironic because he has such a bad
name, but nobody ever hears the stories behind while these temper
tantrums are happening. So he spoke to management and they said okay I
get it, we’ll move the cameraman, get ready to go onstage. Ten minutes
later, the cameraman hasn’t moved an inch, he’s still out there. So
Ritchie says, “That’s it… I’m telling you, I’m not going out there.” And
everybody is waiting and the guy still isn’t moving. Ritchie says, “I’m
not having a cameraman in between me and the fans!”
“By the third time, Ritchie tells the roadie to move the cameraman.
Five minutes later, Ritchie hears the band starting. Now they’re
starting “Highway Star.” Ian Paice is out there getting the drumbeat
started; everyone is starting and their waiting for Ritchie. The band is
thinking if they go ahead and played Ritchie has to come out and play
at some point. So they’re going on and on and on with the backing track
of “Highway Star” without a guitar.”
“Ritchie says, “That’s it!” He went out with a glass of water and
threw it right into the camera and it was taped. The guy’s camera was
ruined, and I think somewhere along the way when he threw that water it
got Ian Gillian’s wife at the same time. It was not international but it
did happen. So that was the story behind that.” Ray Shasho: Deep Purple will never capture the excitement it
once had; especially now that Jon Lord has left us. Did you and Ritchie
attend Jon Lord’s funeral? Candice Night: “We actually got the news five
minutes before we stepped on stage one night. We didn’t go; we were
actually on tour at the time but we were invited to it. We actually made
a large contribution to pancreatic research in his name and obviously
sent condolences to his family. But it was just devastating for
Ritchie.” Ray Shasho: Blackmore’s Night recently released A Knight in York and will be releasing “The Beginning” box set sometime in mid January of 2013. I really want to chat about “Reflections” your first solo album …it’s an awe-inspiring CD. Candice Night: “Wow, that’s so nice thank you. When
you do something solo you kind of take off the training wheels, you’re
doing the whole thing by yourself. Ritchie didn’t even know I was going
to the studio and doing that, I would book time when he wasn’t in the
house with the producer, and didn’t even ask his advice or want him
knowing it. If I had asked his advice it would have been the same as a
Blackmore’s Night song. So it was really important for me to do that one
hundred percent by myself.” Ray Shasho: The second track on the album “Gone Gone Gone”
can easily be sitting on top of the country charts, are you a big fan of
country music? Candice Night: “I love country music; Richie stays
far away from that stuff, I obviously have different influences than he
does, he’s much more into the renaissance purist aspect of things and I
get more involved with the fantasy aspect of things. And I’ll listen to
radio tracks, even on “Dangerous Smile” I was getting inspiration from a
Kelly Clarkson track at that point which was “Walk Away” as far as
instrumentation and production was concerned. Yea, I love country music
and listen to it often. As a matter of fact it’s probably almost the
last passion of music where I feel they really craft their songs and
their lyrics. Sometimes I listen to some of those lyrics and it brings
tears to my eyes. I can’t think of another genre of music that makes me
feel that deeply at this point.” Ray Shasho: The DVD of Blackmore’s Night:A Knight in York is
so important because it captures the full essence of the concert
experience, not only the music, but the beautiful set and wardrobe. How
do you determine the on-stage wardrobe? Candice Night: “I have a lot of different colored
outfits that I mix and match so it looks like I’m wearing all different
outfits every night. On that show, I was five and a half months
pregnant. My daughter comes out in one of the songs and I did not know
that they were going to bring her out at that song. We’re in a brilliant
opera house and she’s walking out onstage while I’m playing the shawm
towards the microphone and there’s a big huge drop where the orchestra
pit was. So I’m watching her frantically as she’s walking out and I’m
having a mommy- moment. (All laughing) So I finally scooped her up while
I finished the song because I knew she was in my arms … but it was so
funny.” Ray Shasho: A lot of your audience also dresses up in renaissance garb as well? Candice Night: “We’ve seen everything from five year
old little girls dressed up in fairy outfits to knights and shining
armor, peasants, kings and queens, minstrels, and eighty five year old
jesters in full bells in England. Actually in England, I’ve seen men
dressed up like women coming to the shows. But it always adds to like a
costume party type of event and makes the show a lot of fun. It’s always
so interesting to me to see what these people wear, when they wear
their personality on their sleeves.” Ray Shasho: Candice, you are an awesome songwriter, where do you usually receive your inspiration for writing? Candice Night: “Nature is my number one inspiration.
I think there is just so much complexity and simplicity in dealing with
nature. You go outside and see a flower and really get involved with
the intricacies of that flower …. Like the bees going into it. Nature
provides miracles and magic every single day and so many people are
caught up on survival mode, or survival techniques, so we don’t get a
chance to see it, enjoy it, or appreciate it. And if you king of unplug
everything and just step outside …listen to the crickets, feel the wind
in your hair or face, see the stars or sunset … all these things are in
front of you all the time. If you just unplug and give yourself to that
moment ….it’s incredibly inspirational. So if I ever feel low on
inspiration, I just take a walk through the woods and it all comes back
to me.”
“The other thing I like to do is when we are travelling, doing our
touring, I always like to get absorbed in the legends, the myths, and
fairytales of the regional area, which I always find fascinating. That’s
where songs like “Benzaiten” about one of the Goddesses from Japan
wound up coming to me. She actually lived at the bottom of a lake and
played this sixteenth century instrument and married the dragon king and
I thought … huh, that’s kind of close to my life. But she’s an
incredible legend, out of the seven Gods of good fortune; she’s the only
Goddess from Japan. So I reworked that legendary story and put it into a
song.” Ray Shasho:We’ll be looking forward to “The Beginning” box set coming out in mid January 2013. The set also includes footage from your early castle tour? Candice Night: “For the fans who really want to see
where our roots came from and where it all started, I think it’ll be a
great collector’s piece for them and they’ll really appreciate it.” Ray Shasho:Candice, thank you so much for
all the great music you and Ritchie have given to us over the years. And
please come down to Florida … Imagine Blackmore’s Night performing at
Epcot or the Magic Kingdom? Candice Night: “We love Epcot! Ritchie use to have a house down there on Marco Island about twenty years ago.”
“It was great talking with you Ray!”
Candice Night official website http://candicenight.com/ Blackmore’s Night official website www.blackmoresnight.com Order now…Blackmore’s Night: A Knight in York at amazon.com or on Blackmore’s Night official website. Order now … Candice Night’s incredible solo release Reflections at amazon.com Coming in mid January 2013! Blackmore’s Night will be releasing “The Beginning” A documentation of their early period. -Including Shadow Of The Moon and Under A Violet Moon as
well as rare video footage of their early tours "Live In Germany
1997-1998" and "Under A Violet Moon - Castle Tour 2000” -Available for
the first time on DVD and only in the "The Beginning” box.
Special thanks to Chip Ruggieri of Chipster PR & Consulting www.chipsterpr.com
Purchase Ray’s very special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business … You’ll LIVE IT! Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST .99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com-Support Ray so he can continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting. ~~Pacific Book Review says Ray Shasho is a product
of the second half of the 20th century, made in the USA from parts
around the world, and within him is every trend in music, television,
politics and culture contributing to his philosophical and comically
analytical reflections collected in his fine book of memories. I found Check the Gs to
be pure entertainment, fantastic fun and a catalyst to igniting so many
memories of my own life, as I too am within a few years of Ray. So to
all, I say if you have a bit of grey hair (or no hair), buy this book!
It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids,
if they are the history buffs of younger generations trying to figure
out why we are the way we are.
