Yogi Lang took his first steps in music as a keyboard player and singer in bands at school. His growing love of analogue synthesizers then turned his bedroom into a bubbling, swirling spaceship. At the end of the 1980s, he gave up his social work studies and switched to a school of audio engineering.
Working in studios had already increasingly become his main occupation. In those early days, Lang produced the band Violet District and their celebrated debut album Terminal Breath. Meeting the band’s guitarist Kalle Wallner and bass player Chris Postl was the basis for the band RPWL that they would later find. Years of studio work followed with numerous productions like rock/pop band The Schroeders, including their smash hit ,Lass uns schmutzig Liebe Machen” which reached gold and platinum and rock/metal band Megaherz. In this period Yogi began composing songs and music for pictures, such as the film Die Ratte by cult German director Klaus Lemke, the German TV series Nicht von Schlechten Eltern and music for the ZDF school holiday TV schedule. He also wrote and produced music for well-known companies like VW, Audi, Mercedes, Toyota and many others.
After these successful studio years, it was time to go back to his roots: a band, writing songs together, performing live, all the things that made Lang choose the path of music in the first place. On a studio production in 1997, Yogi met Kalle Wallner again and they talked about performing live. Together with bass player Chris Postl and drummer Phil Paul Rissettio, they founded the band RPWL. Their debut album God Has Failed in 2000 was so well received that they decided to continue and have done so to the present day.
He and Kalle also built The Farm Studios, close to Munich airport, so that they could work on the band’s recordings and in 2010 founded their own record label, Gentle Art Of Music. Working with other bands and artists in the studio is still part of Lang’s life: Subsignal, Blind Ego, Ray Wilson, to name just a few.
In the meantime, Lang has also released 2 solo albums: “No Decoder” in 2010 and his brand new work “A Way Out of Here”.
CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE
…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.
Neil
Ratner quit college in the late sixties and traversed the Hollywood celebrity
world as a successful road manager for names like Edgar Winters White Trash and
tour manager for Emerson Lake and Palmer. He established a full-service
production company (a pioneering approach at this stage) to support the artists
on tour and worked with T-Rex, Genesis, Pink Floyd and many others. Later in
his career he managed the successful songwriter Denise Rich and built Dream
Factory studios in NYC. Denise was the wife of Marc Rich, (one of the world’s
most successful commodities traders, indicted in the largest case of tax
evasion ever brought against an individual in the US at that time) After his
successful career in the music industry he decided it was time to follow his
heart and pursue his other childhood dream of becoming an MD. Even though not a
single American school wanted to take him, he didn’t give up and moved to
Mexico to get his medical degree. He made it back into the American system and
after many years of residency Neil became an anesthesiologist.
Traditionally anesthesiologists worked in hospitals, but Neil had other ideas.
He was the first to take the practice of anesthesia out of the hospital and
into doctors’ offices in NYC. When Propofol became available in the U.S. in the
late 1980 s Neil was one of the first to become expert in its usage as it was a
perfect drug for office use. His relationship with the top plastic and
reconstructive surgeons in New York allowed him to treat a number of high-profile
patients. That is how Neil met Michael Jackson. He became his personal doctor
and a close friend. They had a lot in common. Neil accompanied the star from
late 1997 until his last performance in 2001. Neil became a trusted friend of
Michael's from 1994 to 2002, periodically going on tour and spending time with
Michael at Neverland.
Rock
Doc is Neil’s remarkable journey about Rock & Roll and Michael Jackson,
Nelson Mandela, a prison sentence with very unexpected results and how helping
the poorest of the poor became a key part of his life.
Purchase "Rock Doc" the
brand-new book by Neil Ratner MD
at amazon.com
ROCK DOC will take you
from backstage at a Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon concert in the early
seventies, where Neil's production company, Circus Talents, Ltd. was providing
production services, to the office operating rooms of elite New York surgeons
where Neil Ratner MD was Director of Anesthesia. Neil was an aspiring rock n
roll drummer but ended up on the other side of the business working as both a
tour manager for Emerson, Lake, & Palmer and providing production for the
Pink Floyd. After a bad attack of kidney stones and a stint in the hospital, Neil
had an epiphany and decided to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a doctor.
Dr. Ratner became an expert in the use of the new drug,
Propofol, a drug that would play a significant role in Neil's future. Although
Dr. Ratner encountered many celebrities in his anesthesia practice, one would
change his life... Michael Jackson.
“ROCK DOC” CHRONICLES
NEIL RATNER MD’S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE JOURNEY FROM
THE MUSIC BUSINESS TO
MEDICINE,
BACK TO MUSIC AND EVERYWHERE
IN BETWEEN
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN
Also don’t forget to
purchase a copy of my book entitled Check the Gs -the true story of an eclectic
American family and their Wacky family business ... available now at
amazon.com. You’ll live it!!!
Have a great week everybody!
Please subscribe to my You Tube channel interviewing
the legends with Ray Shasho for the very latest interviews… It’s REAL news
people!
Our Very Special Guest Today is author, sculptor, artist and poet
GINGER GILMOUR
Pink Floyd's DavidGilmour,GingerGilmour&MatthewGilmourcreated a multi-media
phenomenon--1 Book, 2 Albums simultaneously & coincidently released. Ginger Gilmourreleased
her book 'Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon'.Matthew Gilmour(son of David and Ginger) released his
album titled 'The Grey'.David Gilmourreleased
his solo album 'Rattle that Lock'.
"Despite living in separate houses, separate
lives, the Family Affair still carries on creatively," says Ginger with a
smile. "It is such an energetic period to be living, especially watching
our children's artistic flowering within the wings of our support," she
adds.
Matthew Gilmourreleased
his first solo album titled 'The Grey' which received high acclaim from
all who have listened. "I am extremely proud of him. He has climbed a
great mountain," says Ginger. "It has been amazing to watch him grow
into the artist he has become. It is only the beginning," she adds.
Matthew's website iswww.matthewgilmour.com
The album contains 11 cuts containing 10 of
Matthew's original material, recorded inTexasat
the private recording studio of musician/producerDanny Johnsonof Steppenwolf and tweaked and
mastered byJames Guthrieof
Pink Floyd fame. "Matthew is someone to be reckoned with. The world needs
to hear his music!" says James.
'Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon' is Ginger's
personal way of thanking David for such a wonderful adventure-filled life (a
story never told before).
It consists of 653 pages, 140 photographs and 90
descriptive stories as she walks us thru individual chapters of her life ...
glimpsing her heart as you meander down the hallways of her life, pausing &
peeking inside a closet or two. A one of a kind life that takes you to secret
beach hideaways in the Greek Islands to a remote Middle Eastern village where
the likes ofMick Jaggerfrolic
within a hidden world unknown to fans. Ginger's life has crossed paths with a
list of Rock n' Roll's biggest stars, spiritual teachers, therapists, friends
AND adversaries who have helped to guide her to Live, Let go, Forgive and Love
God.
Her self-published book itself has been described as
a work of art by fans who have already received it. The book is Not a Tell-All
but a collection of self-revealing stories of love, truth, motherhood and creativity.
Through her artwork and self-belief that she shares, it is evident Ginger's
passion is to uplift others' hearts beyond the challenges and to remember the
Beauty that they are.
It is a must have for those who want to glimpse the
other side of the Wall. It is brimming with content that will enlighten anyone
who was part of that Rock n Roll Era or has ever dreamt that they could have
been.
'Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon' can be
ordered thru Ginger's website:www.angelscript.comand also available on amazon.com.
RAY SHASHO INTERVIEWS GINGER GILMOUR ON BBS RADIO 1
POSTED ON YOU TUBE
You can purchase Ginger Gilmour’s book entitled
‘Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon’
at amazon.com or visit Ginger Gilmour’s website at www.angelscript.com
and on facebook at www.angelscript.com/facebook.html
Purchase Matthew Gilmour’s latest release entitled The Grey at www.matthewgilmour.com
or amazon.com
THE
RAY SHASHO SHOW
Bi-weekly
Monday Afternoon at 3pm Pacific/6 pm Eastern
The Australian Pink Floyd Show
have been echoing legends with virtuoso showmanship and mind-numbing
special effects, while steadily expanding a global fanbase who are
simply appreciative for keeping the Floyd spirit alive.
Dubbed as “The best tribute band in the world,” the Australian Pink Floyd
modestly lofted onto the music scene from Adelaide, South Australia in
1988, and was cofounded by longtime band members, keyboardist Jason Sawford and guitarist Steve Mac.
Although tribute bands
may be considered fun and entertaining, some may also say that they
shouldn’t be taken too seriously because they don’t write or perform any
of their own material. Then again, there are legendary rock
configurations with integrity issues, still touring with maybe one or
even no original members left in the band, and still performing under
the bands legacy trademark. So regarding today’s music standards,
tribute bands probably should be taken seriously.
So are tribute bands keeping rock alive or helping to phase it out?
Let’s face it, our rock and roll heroes won’t be around that much
longer, and tribute bands may be a way for mature enthusiasts to
recapture the days of their youth, while also enlightening the pristine
enthusiast. But it may also put an end to any chance for fostering
fresh new rock talent. With only a handful of the traditional record
companies remaining, the odds for a resurgence of rock and roll are
sadly slim. One can only hope that the old adage “history repeats
itself” comes true.
As for the real Pink Floyd … In 1994, guitarist David Gilmour attended the performance of Australian Pink Floyd
at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, South London. Gilmour invited Aussie
Floyd to an end of tour after-show party for The Division Bell tour at
Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. In ‘96, Australian Pink Floyd
played for David Gilmour at his 50th birthday party. And over the years various band members of the real Floyd have performed onstage with Aussie Floyd.
Australian Pink Floyd ‘Exposed in the Light World Tour 2012’ will be performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Friday October 12th. It will be the productions’ fifth area appearance at the Hall. The Australian Pink Floyd Show
is a magnificent onstage production mechanized by amazing musicians.
But you also wonder what these virtuosos are capable of creating
musically when out of their realm.
This week, I had the opportunity to
chat with keyboardist Jason Sawford about the bands incredible journey
since its inception in 1988.
Here’s my interview with keyboardist and founding member of Australian Pink Floyd … JASON SAWFORD. Ray Shasho: Hello Jason! Thank you for being on the call today. How’s the tour going? Jason Sawford: “Really well, we’re in Austin, Texas at the moment and we’ve had some great gigs. Ray Shasho: I’ve always been amazed over the way they setup
these shows, especially a show of your size, and you’re doing back- to-
back performances each night. Jason Sawford: “There’s a lot of logistics involved …
I’ve finally figured out how they do it. They work really hard. They
get up really early in the morning and go to bed really late.” Ray Shasho:Then the soundcheck is still a very important part of the process. Jason Sawford: Soundchecks are still pretty
important, when you get into a schedule soundchecks get shorter. At the
beginning of the tour soundchecks are longer because you’re getting the
sound equipment right and all the settings. Once that’s all in place,
you get a schedule and the show goes ahead pretty smoothly.” Ray Shasho: Jason your accent sounds very English, are you from England? Jason Sawford: “I live in England and have lived
there for a number of years because it’s just easier to tour. We started
in Australia and moved to England in 1992, so we do have Australian
roots. That’s why we call it The Australian Pink Floyd Show. But we’re
based in England now and work with a lot of English people.” Ray Shasho: What were you doing before joining the band? Jason Sawford: “I was a student at University and
doing a science degree in biochemistry and genetics … that kind of
thing, and the Floyd thing was like a little band on the side that I
did. I also studied a bit of music but didn’t finish the music degree
because we decided to move to England. So we took all our equipment and
that’s when I concentrated on what I was doing and just made a career
out of it.” Ray Shasho: Are you surprised over the bands success? Jason Sawford: “Oh yea, I would have never of
imagined. Twenty four years ago when I started, I was just playing
around pubs; it was just something to do, just playing for fun …and it
changed my life.” Ray Shasho: At what age did you start playing Pink Floyd music? Jason Sawford: “I was in the early 20s and I’m 45 now, so it’s been a long time.” Ray Shasho: Were you primarily influenced by progressive rock music while growing up? Jason Sawford: “Yea, you could say that. When I was
in my teens I was actually into classical music. But it was actually
Pink Floyd that kind of got me into more of these other progressive
rockers as well. I’d listen to Atom Heart Mother that had this
orchestra opening and then the rock band would kick in and it works
together really well, and I really liked it. So I kind of got into it
from that angle.” Ray Shasho: So how many times have you seen the real Floyd in concert? Jason Sawford: “They Performed in Adelaide in 1988,
which was the year we actually formed, and I saw them at Earls Court in
1994, and saw them a couple of times there. Obviously, I didn’t see them
with Roger playing because this was the post Roger band when I saw them
play. But it was a fantastic concert and I was quite moved … it was an
emotional experience.” Ray Shasho: The first time I saw Floyd was
the Wish You Were Here tour … so I was fortunate to see Roger in the
band. It’s something to see the band transform itself from a simple
four-man setup with back-up singers to almost a mini orchestra. Why do
you think Floyd added so many additional musicians to the band … I
thought the original four sounded really tight musically. Jason Sawford: “Yea, they basically have two of
everything now, the more musicians you put in, the bigger the sound, and
maybe it looks more interesting …I don’t know. But the music became
more complex and required more musicians. Our basic band is just five
people; their albums are double- tracks so it was pretty hard to do with
just four … we’ve got two guitarists because you need two guitarists.
It’s just gotten more involved, so you need more people.” Ray Shasho:I’ve talked with a lot of
legendary artists who are concerned over touring with a large band.
After paying everyone and travel expenses –it’s just not cost effective. Jason Sawford: “It is difficult, our production is
pretty expensive. You’ve really got to have a handle on the budget to
make sure we don’t overspend here or there, because if things go wrong
and if you have to replace equipment or whatever …it just eats up the
funds.” Ray Shasho: Does Pink Floyd get their check from you guys every time you play a gig? Jason Sawford: “Yes, we do pay royalties to them; I’m not sure how that’s handled our management deals with that side of things.” Ray Shasho: Aussie Floyd actually played at David Gilmour’s birthday party? Jason Sawford: “Yes we did, we played for him in
person at his birthday party a few years ago. He came to one of our gigs
and we didn’t know he was there. He was just sitting in the balcony and
he turned up after our show … a head popped out from around the corner
and it was David Gilmour, and he shook our hand and asked if we’d play a
party or something. So a couple of years later we ended up playing his
birthday party. He actually saw us play at the Royal Albert Hall as well
and again didn’t tell us he was there in the balcony. (Laughing)” Ray Shasho: Did David Gilmour make any comments about the show? Jason Sawford: “He said it was a lot of fun, and I think he enjoyed it. I think his wife also bought a number of T-shirts. (All laughing)” Ray Shasho: You guys also had some Pink Floyd band members join you onstage? Jason Sawford: “On this particular tour we’re joined
with Lorelei McBroom who toured with Pink Floyd on The Delicate Sound
of Thunder tour. She’s the sister of Durga McBroom who used to work with
Pink Floyd. We’ve also played with Guy Pratt as well.” Ray Shasho: Did you ever get the opportunity to meet with Richard Wright? Jason Sawford: “I did at the birthday party. It was a
great memory of mine, we were doing the show and towards the end he
came to the front of the stage and asked me politely if he could play my
Hammond. He was very polite, came up on stage, and said you play the
synthesizer and I’ll play the Hammond. And I was next to him shoulder to
shoulder while playing “Comfortably Numb” together. And he was doing
all this crazy stuff on the Hammond …and it was great.” Ray Shasho: Obviously, Richard Wright was always one of your favorite keyboardists? Jason Sawford: “Oh yea … his playing was very
subtle, and used all these strange chords and things. He wasn’t someone
like Jon Lord… very fast playing. He was just very subtle and a great
player. And he was so important to the Floyd family. Pink Floyd would
not be Pink Floyd without Rick Wright.” Ray Shasho: Have you met Roger Waters? Jason Sawford: “I’ve never met Roger. I’d like to
but he’s the only one I haven’t met. And apart from Syd Barrett and of
course I’ll never meet him now.” Ray Shasho: Are there specific Pink Floyd tours, specific
years, or setlists that you perform each year, or do you create and mix
your own setlists? Jason Sawford: “We kind of design a setlist every
year basically; we might have one or two alternating sets. We’ve covered
albums in its entirety; we’ve done … Dark Side of the Moon, Animals, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall
has been done in its entirety. But of course if you do that you’re kind
of limited in what else you could put in. So we’re trying to do a more
well- balanced set that includes a little bit of everything. You’ve got
to have certain songs in there that all the Floyd fans want to here. But
we do like to put in some more unusual numbers like “Set the Controls
for the Heart of the Sun” and songs from the Animals album like “Sheep” or “Pigs on the Wing” and “The Fletcher Memorial Home” from The Final Cut. And we just have to put it together in a way that works, and I think we’ve got a really good setlist.” Ray Shasho: I think the Animals album was more popular than a lot of people thought. Jason Sawford: “It’s a great album. It’s probably my
favorite in a way; because I think it’s one of their purest albums
…it’s just the band Floyd. Just a lot of great instrumental parts as
well as cutting lyrics, and it’s a real rocking album. Anytime we play
songs from the album it goes down really well.” Ray Shasho: Jason, what’s your favorite piece to perform … I’m guessing “Echoes?” Jason Sawford: “Echoes” is great and one of my
favorites, but it’s such a long song and we can’t do it every time. I
love it and it’s a fantastic track. But I think one of my favorites is
“Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” For a keyboardist, it has great keyboard
parts … especially the mysterious opening and that little duet between
guitar and keyboards. It’s wonderful, I love playing that.” Ray Shasho:It’s amazing when you think how much of Pink Floyd’s sound was about keyboards and synthesizers. Jason Sawford: “I’m the only one who’s on the stage
all the time… they’ll be gaps when there’s no bass, no guitar, or no
drums on certain songs …but there’s always keyboards. And it’s always in
the background, people don’t always notice it. It just creates that
mood and atmosphere.” Ray Shasho: Any plans to record and release original material? Jason Sawford: “People do ask about it. We do have
ideas and they are in our archives. It’s just a matter of finding the
time to do it because we’re pretty busy touring all the time. And when
you’re off tour you think, do I really want to hang out with Steve after
finishing a long tour? (All laughing) I want a bit of a break.” Ray Shasho: Jason thank you so much for being on the call
today, we’re looking forward to the show at Ruth Eckerd Hall in
Clearwater on Friday, October 12th. Jason Sawford: “Thanks Ray!”
The Australian Pink Floyd official website www.aussiefloyd.com
Pink Floyd official website www.pinkfloyd.com
The Australian Pink Floyd Show Live at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Fl on Friday, October 12th, tickets available at www.rutheckerdhall.com or call 727-791-7400 for more information. Coming up … an interview with Maria Muldaur! Contact classic rock music journalist RAY SHASHO at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.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.