‘THE KINGS’ REMAIN A HUNGARY BAND WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE: NEW ALBUM 'THE LONGEST STORY EVER TOLD' ZOOM SPECIAL EVENT WITH ORIGINAL MEMBERS ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS!

 

CANADIAN ROCKERS

 T H E   K I N G S  

Celebrate 2024

With New Album

'THE LONGEST STORY EVER TOLD'

ZOOM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 

WITH

Original Members

lead vocalist...bassist... songwriter

DAVID DIAMOND

guitarist ...songwriter

MISTER ZERO

keyboardist

 SONNY KEYES

LIVE FROM CANADA!

CLICK BELOW 

TO WATCH THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW!

The Kings, originally formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oakville, Ontario, are a Canadian rock band formed in 1977.  They gained prominence with their 1980 hit song “This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide,” which resonated in both the United States and Canada. The original lineup was David Diamond (lead vocals, bass, songwriter), Sonny Keyes (vocals, keyboards, songwriter), Max Styles (currently Todd Reynolds) (drums), and Mister Zero (guitar, songwriter). 

In early 1980, The Kings recorded their debut album, “The Kings Are Here”, at Nimbus 9 Studio in Toronto. Renowned producer Bob Ezrin was impressed by their sound and collaborated with them on the album. The standout tracks were “This Beat Goes On” and “Switchin’ To Glide.” The double-A side single spent 23 weeks on the U.S. charts, peaking at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Kings toured extensively with artists like Bob Seger, Jeff Beck, The Beach Boys, and Eric Clapton. They appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and headlined the major Heatwave festival in August. Despite challenges in the late 1980s, The Kings experienced a revival when “This Beat Goes On” and “Switchin’ To Glide” became radio hits in Chicago once again and received substantial play. The band continued touring throughout Canada and the U.S. during the remainder of the decade. 

Their studio project ‘Unstoppable’ and title track released in 1993 reached the Top 10 in Canada. ‘Because of You’ released in 2003, showed the depth and versatility of the songwriting from The Kings. After that came other different projects, “Anthology One” which is a collection of rare early unreleased tracks, and what has become The Kings amazing “Live Trilogy”, “The Lost Tapes of a Seventies Bar Band”, “Party Live in ’85”, both audio only, and the DVD “No Covers-Live at O’Toole’s Roadhouse”, all of which document the energy of the band in concert. Also, the documentary about the band’s biggest hit: “Anatomy of a One-Hit Wonder” where the guys tell their own story with trademark candor and humor. 

The Kings most recent album is entitled ‘The Longest Story Ever Told’ and now in 2024, The Kings, with their history of hits, over 2000 North American shows, and a devoted fan base, remain a hungry band with something to prove. "The Longest Story Ever Told" reaffirms their status as a rock band with songwriting depth. When asked, “Is there a theme for the album?", guitarist Mister Zero replied, “I don't think there is one other than trying to get 10 really good songs together”.

PURCHASE

THE KINGS

LATEST ALBUM

The

 Longest Story

 Ever Told

available at amazon.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

T H E  K I N G S

VISIT

https://thekingsarehere.com/

Official website

https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Kings-Are-Here/100063548021148/

Facebook

https://twitter.com/TheKingsRHere

Twitter

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNjWtQvNPEsieBFbde-fnA

YouTube

https://www.instagram.com/thekingsrhere/

Instagram

https://www.tiktok.com/@thekingsrhere

Tiktok

 

T H E  K I N G S

Discography

The Kings Are Here album (Elektra, 1980) US #74

Amazon Beach album (Elektra, 1981) US #170

R.S.V.P [4-Song EP] (Dizzy, 1982)

Party Live '85 live album (Dizzy, 1985)

Parting Of The Ways single (1991)

Unstoppable CD (Dizzy, 1993)

Unstoppable [with "This Beat Goes On" and "Switchin' To Glide" added] CD (Griffin, 1995)

The Kings Are Here..and More CD (Warner, 2000)

The Kings Are Here/Amazon Beach (2 on 1 CD, Wounded Bird, 2003)

Because Of You CD (2003)

Anthology One CD (2006)

The Longest Story Ever Told CD (Dizzy, 2023)

 

UPCOMING SHOWS

Apr. 27, 2024, Casio Rama Resort, Rama, Ontario

GLASS TIGER With Special Guest THE KINGS

DAVID DIAMOND

MISTER ZERO

SONNY KEYES

 APPEAR WEEK OF

APRIL 27TH 2024

ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

WITH RAY SHASHO

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RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE  

CHRONICLES,TRUTHS

 CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM 

FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE!

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

AUTHOR ... TV SITCOM SCRIPT WRITER 

RAY SHASHO

OUTSTANDING

 COFFEE-TABLE BOOK!

CHAPTER ONE SPOTLIGHTS INTERVIEWS WITH MANY OF THE MUSIC LEGENDS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US

THE HARDCOVER EDITION IS A BONAFIDE COLLECTORS ITEM!

…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/   

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Alice Cooper- “Elected” into rock and roll’s hall of fame on March 14th

By Ray Shasho

“We’re not worthy, We’re not worthy” 

  …Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar from Wayne's World

Alice Cooper is truly a pioneer of glam and heavy metal- rock and roll.  In an interview with the East Valley Tribune in Phoenix Arizona, Alice’s hometown, Cooper said, Cooper procreated legendary fans like Peter Sellers, Groucho Marx, Mae West, Salvador Dali and Bob Dylan. He even helped shape the careers of Lady Gaga and Metallica.

"We brought theatrics to rock ‘n’ roll. We did it before Bowie; we did it before Kiss and before anybody. There was no show biz in rock ‘n’ roll before Alice Cooper. It was taboo and really looked down upon to call yourself showbiz. So when we came along, we went as far out on a limb as we possibly could. We did everything we could to annoy every parent in America, then backed it up with anthems that got played. We had 25 gold albums and sold 50 million records; it wasn’t a fluke."

The 63 year old rocker was the first to sell-out concerts by playing the role of a frightening fictitious character.  Cooper stated in an interview that his Alice character was inspired by the film Barbarella.  He said,

“When I saw Anita Pallenberg playing the Great Tyrant in that movie in 1968, wearing long black leather gloves with switchblades coming out of them, I thought, that’s what Alice should look like.”

I remember being nervous, afraid, and excited while waiting for Alice Cooper to appear on stage in the early 70’s. I’d hear all those rumors of what he would do on stage. And I wasn’t so sure if I really wanted to see him decapitate himself with a guillotine. But once his electrifying band led by guitarist Glen Buxton started to rock- out- I became hypnotized into one of his twisted disciples.

Alice Cooper definitely turned rock concerts into a theatrical experience.  Said Cooper...

"You just let your lower self go, and then it takes on all these aspects of the society-the city with horns blowing, the people yelling things at each other, and the all-in-all violence and chaos of the city. Put that on stage with music, and that’s what this is.”

Alice’s screams of rebellion were relentless in his single “I’m Eighteen” from the “Love It to Death” album , an anthem which reached number #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. The song epitomized the complicated transition of boy to man during adolescence.

Alice’s next rock and roll anthem “Schools Out” converted mild -mannered preteens into raving disobedient lunatics during their last week of school before the summer break. The song reached the Top 10 in the summer of 1972. It eventually made 21 on Billboard’s top 30 summer songs of all-time.

The “Billion Dollar Babies” album in 1973 became the band’s most successful album reaching number #1 in the US and UK. The album spawned the hits "Elected," "Hello Hooray," "Billion Dollar Babies," and "No More Mr. Nice Guy."

Wearing a top hat and cane, Alice hit the road again, but this time with his version of Broadway and the “Welcome to My Nightmare tour.”  The concept album produced another Top 20 hit with “Only Women Bleed.”

In 1989 Cooper released the “Trash” album that featured another Top Ten hit “Poison”.
In 1991 Alice Cooper released the popular “Hey Stoopid.” The album featured guest appearances from Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Vinnie Moore, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and members of Motley Crue.

By 2010 Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie collaborated on the  "Gruesome Twosome Tour.”

Alice and his longtime producer Bob Ezrin (Who worked with Pink Floyd, Kiss, Lou Reed, and Peter Gabriel to name just a few) are reported together again. Ezrin a partner with “Bigger Picture Group” will be working on a new album and elaborate stage show for an upcoming Alice Cooper tour.

Alice Cooper has been around since I can remember. And I’ll never forget those crazy grade school- rumors.  “Hey Ray, Did you know that Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver is actually Alice Cooper?"

Tampa bay area golfers should watch out for some golfing tips from Alice Cooper, or shall we just call him by his real name for the score card, Vincent Damon Furnier. Alice started playing golf years ago to help overcome his addiction to alcohol. He has a two- handicap and tries to play the game at least six days a week. He’s competed in several Pro-Am competitions and hosts his own charity golf tournament in Phoenix each April.
He's written a book called “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock ‘n’ Roller’s 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict."  http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Cooper-Golf-Monster-Becoming/dp/0307382656

In his hometown of Phoenix, Cooper raises about $150,000 each year for his Solid Rock Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help inner city kids stay out of gangs and away from guns and drugs.

On March 14th, Alice Cooper and his original band with Mike Bruce, Glen Buxton, (Died in 1997) Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith will Get Elected!  Alice’s graduating class will include Neil Diamond, Dr John, Darlene Love(The Blossoms and Crystals), Tom Waits, Jac Holzman, (Electra Records) Art Rupe,(Specialty Records) and Leon Russell.

And then “School’s Out”… but not forever!

Tell me about you classic rock stories or write a request at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Continue reading on Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/classic-rock-music-2-in-st-petersburg/ray-shasho