Photo By Jimmy Church
From Doug's Site:
Doug: Hey you guys, I just wanted
to give you an update. First I need to say thanks for everyones support. I as
you know I don't go online much, mainly because my typing is lame, you know the
one finger style....But it is really cool to hear from you all when I do come
on.
Yup, just finished the new Dio record. I am really happy with the way it went.
Ronnie sounds amazing and it is more like his earlier solo records. It was so
cool to work on the record with one of if not the best singers in rock.
Hope you guys like it. As for Burning Rain, We had started basic recording for a
3rd record, but we got hung up with a bunch of delays, and then the Dio gig came
up at Xmas. So to Burning Rain fans, please be patient, I don't know exactly
when a new record will be done, but as soon as it is possible, we'll finish it.
For now the Dio record is called "Killing the Dragon" and it will be out in May
I think. Thanks again See ya Doug
p.s. I will try to check in more....
Z Records News!
DOUG ALDRICH JOINS DIO:
Doug Aldrich has joined Dio and is currently in the studio with the band. All at
Z Records office where extremely happy that Doug was given the chance to play
with the legendary ex Rainbow and Black Sabbath singer. Doug will tour the US
later this year in support of the forthcoming Dio release.
Dougs involvement with Dio does not mean the end of the road for Burning Rain,
the band will still appear at Z Rock 2002 UK and Canada as planned and recording
will start during February for their new studio album. Titles that look set to
be included on the forthcoming Burning Rain album are "Dont leave your love
behind", "Licking the lap of luxury" and Live for that Rush".The album is as yet
untitled
So, who is this hot new guitarist?
Well, he's NOT new. This guy has been around for a very long time. In fact he nearly worked with Dio before.
Interesting! And the tale only grows taller, so let's take a look inside Doug Aldrich....
Doug Aldrich was born February 19th 1964, making him 38 years old upon joining Dio. He was born in the United States, somewhere in North Carolina. (Please, E mail me if you know the exact city/town).
Doug received his first guitar when he was only twelve years old--and from that time forth he took an interest in playing. Interestingly enough it is said that he was greatly influenced to play this particular instrument due to his sister's guitar lessons.
When Doug hit high school several years latter is when he took on a serious nature about music. His family had relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he met Jerry Best who would later play in Lion, and who also interestingly did a stint in DIO. [ED note: According to Tapio's Dio.Net, "Dio officially confirmed Jerry Best as their new bass player in mid August 1995. With the new member in the band they continue working with the forthcoming album. The band did also a five-day South American tour in late 1995."]
Some of Doug's initial influences quote to have inspired his own playing include Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen in addition to later day influences like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Gary Moore..
And what bands has he been involved in? Well here is a brief glimmer of some of the MANY bands and projects he has been involved with over the years:
Lion from 1983-1989
Members included
Kal
Swan
Doug Aldrich
Jerry Best
Mark Edwards
In 1983 the then lead singer for Tytan relocated from Britain to the United States--Los Angeles, California to be exact! He hooked up with a drummer from another immerging metal force (A Rising Force you might say), a band called Steeler. Mark Edwards was that drummer. Together these two newly teamed musicians began the makings of a demo tape for a new fresh taste of metal.
In 1985 two more forces were added to the duo out of a band called Mansfield to forge another demo called Power Love. This finally panned out as a Japanese release of six songs.
Likely the oddest start for a band this band contributed to two movie sound tracks ("Never Surrender" for the movie "The Wraith", and they did the title track for the animated movie "The Transformers") before actually gaining much of any notoriety, nor a full blown album to toe of their own. Amazing!
Technically Lion's debut LP release was in 1987 with Dangerous Attraction.
Strangely there were circumstances apparently that forbade a release in the US
and was limited to Japan once again. Though the second LP (entitled
Trouble In Angel City) did actually hit America. The latter was in effect the
first demo release (except the title track Power Love) along with 5 new
recordings--but were again plagued with trouble securing--this time--overseas
release rights!
The band Lion, ended in as tragic a way as they seemed
to be plagued with in their releases. In September, 1989, Mark Edwards was
seriously injured when he fell from a cliff at a Palmdale, California motorcycle
race essentially ending the band's continuance.
Their discography includes three movie sound tracks titled Friday 13th Part 4, The Wraith, and The Transformers The Movie, in addition to the studio work with the band entitled Power Love, Dangerous Attraction and Trouble In Angel City.
Members included
Kal
Swan
Doug Aldrich
Chuck Wright
Sean McNabb
Ian Mayo
Ken Merry
Jackie Ramos
In late 1990 this band was forged--also right about the same time that Ronnie extended his first offer, apparently, to this able guitarist. There was a great deal of carry over from the Lion band as the debut album initially released in 1991 consisted of four demos recorded when Doug and Kal were still in the former band. Additionally there was an inherent sound, naturally, of that prior band to carry on into this new venture.
Thought the second album (called Blood) took another two years to make release, there was a lot of band member and line up turmoil.
By the third release, Opium for the Masses, took the approach of a more live sound and after two more years of work showed that the band was beginning to gel. Unfortunately this departure from traditional sound sent them down the road of breaking up--which did occur in 1998, sited as musical differences.
This is where Kal and Doug began working on their own individual directions in the music industry thus giving us Burning Rain and some solo efforts by Doug Aldrich.
Their discography includes several studio efforts beginning with the self titled debut album Bad Moon Rising, followed by several other critically acclaimed efforts which include Full Moon Fever (Mini Album), Blood, Blood On The Streets (Mini Album), Opium For The Masses, and Flames On The Moon.
Members included
Keith
St. John
Doug Aldrich
Ian Mayo
Alex Macarovich
Through the circles that musicians often travel, Ian, Keith and Doug all knew one another and added Alex to firmly settle on a line up for Burning Rain in November of 1998, and by March of 1999 the debut of the new band was released. This was quickly followed up the next year with Pleasure To Burn with Doug Aldrich doing all of the production work on both albums.
With quickly spreading popularity, Burning Rain was signed to Z Records--where they still reside today--and began a spread from Japan (Where their largest fan base is) to Europe and even the United States.
Their discography includes two very solid studio efforts to date entitled Burning Rain and Pleasure To Burn as well as a new one in the works for some projected date in 2003.
Doug Aldrich (Solo Releases)
Highcentered
Electrovision
Alter Ego
Other Projects (Various)
This list of projects and albums as well as collaborations is quite extensive but include One, Cutting Air Act 1 Air Pavilion, Slave To The Thrills by Hurricane, House Of Lords' Sahara, Guitar Zeus featuring various artists in addition to Doug, Ignition by Mark Boals, the Mike Vescera Project called Windows, Here Before by a band called Stone, a pair of original sound tracks called Mikazuki In Rock as well as Art Of Mackin'. In addition to all this Doug Aldrich has been featured on seven tribute albums that include: Tribute To Stevie Ray - Crossfire; Tribute To Rod Stewart - Forever Mod; Tribute To Van Halen 2000; A Tribute To Ozzy - Bat Head Soup; Tribute To Metallica - Metallica Assault; A Tribute To Queen - Stone Cold Queen; and finally Tribute To Aerosmith - Let The Tribute Do The Talkin'.
Doug Aldrich also has an instructional video out:
The
Electro-Lesson
Video (Canyon PCVP-52193) JAPAN.....$47
Guitar Instructional Video.....59min.
PART-1. Basic Technique (Bending/Staccato and Legato Runs)
PART-2. Modes (Blues Styling Licks)
PART-3. Advice (Developing Your Own Style)
*Demoonstration
Super Fly Sumo
Plazma
Midnight Sun
So, as you can see, this is one busy man! When he says "One Man, One Guitar, One Vision!" that he means to do it all! Without a doubt this is one hard working guitar professional that I think will fit quite nicely into Dio's stable!
A Special thanks to these two great ladies and fans of Doug for helping me compile all this information:
Yuki Yamashita http://www.eternalmelody.net and Kyoko's Doug Aldrich Fan Site
Here is Doug's home page: http://www.dougaldrich.com Drop by and check things out--if you haven't already!
I have asked for an interview with him, but have received no reply back as of yet.
Check the Dio Jukebox for some audio samples of Doug's work in the near future.
Well, as we can see the new Killing the Dragon is simply KILLER.
Doug Aldrich plays a hand in bringing us some hard rocking metal Dio Style!
I for one really look forward to seeing this man getting it done live and in person out on the road this summer and the headliner tour to follow in November.
Hope to see you out there on the road in support and see youhere in Thirty!
KEN