UG Exclusive Premiere: Spirits of Fire, Feat. Ripper Owens, Launch New Song and Video ‘It’s Everywhere’
Last year, a brand new supergroup was formed by Frontiers Music Srl, featuring guitarist Chris Caffery of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, bassist Steve Di Giorgio of Testament, drummer Mark Zonder of Warlord and Fates Warning, and the well-known 90s Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens. Called Spirits of Fire, the group will be launching their debut record on February 22. So far, they’ve released two tracks – “Light Speed Marching” and “Stand and Fight” – but as the release date is getting closer, they teamed up with Ultimate Guitar for the premiere of their new song and video. Titled “It’s Everywhere,” you can check out this brand new song and video in the player below.
Here’s what Chris Caffery had to say about the whole thing:
“‘It’s Everywhere’ is the second video that we shot and the third single we are releasing for the debut record of ‘Spirits of Fire.’ The first two singles presented songs that had a similar feeling, influence and metal sound to a lot of songs from all of our pasts. ‘It’s Everywhere’ has its own distinct personality that sets it apart from those a bit. Just when you thought you knew exactly what this record will sound like, it will give you some twists and turns. Still traditional to our roots but presenting a sound that is uniquely identical to the Spirits of Fire!”
When it comes to working with producer Roy Z, Caffery explained:
“My influences for writing on this record were the bands that we were and are still in! I wanted to write songs that [Judas] Priest, Savatage, Testament, and Fates Warning fans would like. But, I wanted them to have a personality of their own as well. To give it a vibe that was SPIRITS OF FIRE! I grew up listening to Judas Priest and spent 30 plus years working with Jon Oliva and Paul O’Neill with Savatage and TSO. Many years playing Criss’ music. These influences for me came naturally! Especially because I’m a fan of all of our bands!
“This was the first time that I ever worked with Roy and it was so much fun. I have been a huge fan of his work for a long time. He’s written music, played on, and produced some of my favorite metal albums ever. He had a difficult job bringing this all together and I can’t think of anyone that would have been a better producer and co-worker for this album!”
In a recent exclusive interview with UG’s David Slavković, vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens said this about the creative process for this new record:
“Well it was fun, I actually had a lot of fun recording it. Because Chris would send me ideas. Some songs he had vocal ideas that he thought might work, some songs he just sent me the song and I wrote all of the vocal lines…
“I think the great thing is, a lot of the stuff Chris sent me with his vocal ideas – I really, really liked it. It was different to what I would do, so it was fun to do that.
“I think only a few songs had my idea, which I know Chris probably liked his idea better. But it was fun. He would send me the ideas and I would sit in my studio in my house and just sit down and sing to it, write to it, then come back the next day and change it. So really, it was great to be able to do that.”
He also added:
“Everybody did come to the table with ideas. Obviously, Roy wrote music and would send me the ideas and I’d write to it. And they would tell me whether they liked it or not. They would say, ‘Yeah, I don’t like that.’ Then we can go back and redo it.
“And the thing about Steve and Mark is, they’re so unique and their style is different. Their music, what they play, brought things to the table. Mark’s drumming is amazing on parts and he’s such an amazing drummer. And obviously Steve with the fretless bass. I couldn’t wait to hear what they put down, it made so many of the songs better.”
Caffery has followed up his tribute to O’Neill with an update:
“Eighty days ago I started using this app. I’ve gone over one million steps. I pretty much do the same routine daily. That’s an average of 13,500 steps a day. That means since I met Paul O’Neill… give or take a step or two thousand I’ve walked 162,607,500 steps. Each one of those steps was different since the day I met him.
Life flies by. I’m happy that mine flew by with him and Savatage and TSO. I have a lot of life left. The next 162 million steps will be followed by a new angel. The next thousand shows he will watch from the sky but I’ll always know he’s there. He visited in a dream and told me it was time to get back to work. That everything would be ok. Today I’m back in my studio recording guitars for a new record. A record you will hear soon. More details on that will follow asap. After that is finished I will submerse myself in a new solo CD. One I will have infinite inspiration to write. In the meantime I want to thank you all for your friendship and support during this trying time.
Many chapters left in this play. Time to make them come alive…”
This and That!
This and that
** Tickets are selling well for the America the Beautiful Concert that is raising funds for the fall Hudson Valley Honor Flight, a day-long trip taking veterans to Washington to see the monuments their service in the military has built. The concert will be Aug. 12 at the Goshen Historic Track, starting at 5 p.m. Doors open at 4. Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra headline the event with special guests. They are Joe Piscopo from “Saturday Night Live,” Chris Caffery from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Hudson Valley Regional Police Pipes & Drum Corps and more. Also attending will be the Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club. Concert tickets are $25 per person and can be ordered by sending a check to America the Beautiful Concert, P.O. Box One, Florida, N.Y. 10921.
** Bricks are available for purchase by Monday for the next brick-laying ceremony in October at the Trestle Inc. Walkway on Front Street overlooking the Hudson in Newburgh. For information, call 565-0844.
** Fortune Esposito, musician and retired music teacher in the Middletown School District, will be appearing at John Botti’s Harvest Inn at 633 Route 17M, Middletown (343-6630) from 7-10 p.m. today, with members of his talented family. Joining in song will be the daughters: Jenna Esposito-Cannizzaro and Kelly Esposito-Broelmann. And drumming along will be Charlie Broelmann, 9, who made his debut with the family years ago. Charlie’s grandmother, Sheila, is always present. She’s the one who remembers to bring the music and whatever else is needed. It’s always good music.
Barbara Bedell’s column appears daily. She can be reached at 346-3125 or by email: bbedell@th-record.com.
TIM ‘RIPPER’ OWENS, CHRIS CAFFERY, STEVE DIGIORGIO And MARK ZONDER Join Forces In SPIRITS OF FIRE
Guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) have joined forces in a new band called SPIRITS OF FIRE. The group, which is completed by the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH, SEBASTIAN BACH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) and drummer Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING, WARLORD), is halfway through recording its debut album for an early 2018 release through Frontiers Music Srl. Enlisted to help with the writing and to produce the entire venture, including recording and mixing, is Roy “Z” Ramirez (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD).
“It’s going to be a great album!” says Roy Z.
Regarding how his collaboration with Caffery came about, Owens told Metal Express Radio: “Chris and I have been friends for years, and he wrote a song [‘The Shadows Are Alive’] with me on my solo CD [2009’s ‘Play My Game’], and we’ve always wanted to write together and do something. And he gave me a shout and we’ve signed a deal with Frontiers. It’s gonna be like a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST kind of stuff. [Frontiers] is a fantastic label, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST — “Jugulator” and 2001’s “Demolition” — before the band reunited with Rob Halford.
TIM ‘RIPPER’ OWENS And CHRIS CAFFERY Joined In New Project By STEVE DIGIORGIO And MARK ZONDER
Frontiers Music Srl has signed a handful of American metal musicians to collaborate on a new musical project. The songs that will comprise the first album are being composed by guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED). Enlisted to help with the writing and to produce the entire venture, including recording and mixing, is Roy “Z” Ramirez (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD). Completing the lineup is the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH, SEBASTIAN BACH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) and drummer Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING, WARLORD).
Regarding how his collaboration with Caffery came about, Owens told Metal Express Radio: “Chris and I have been friends for years, and he wrote a song [‘The Shadows Are Alive’] with me on my solo CD [2009’s ‘Play My Game’], and we’ve always wanted to write together and do something. And he gave me a shout and we’ve signed a deal with Frontiers. It’s gonna be like a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST kind of stuff. [Frontiers] is a fantastic label, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST — “Jugulator” and 2001’s “Demolition” — before the band reunited with Rob Halford.
Ex-JUDAS PRIEST Singer TIM ‘RIPPER’ OWENS Joins Forces With SAVATAGE Guitarist CHRIS CAFFERY
Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim “Ripper” Owens is collaborating with SAVATAGE and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA guitarist Chris Caffery on a new project.
The duo is currently writing material with producer Roy “Z” Ramirez (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD) for an album that will be released through Frontiers Music Srl.
Regarding how his collaboration with Caffery came about, Owens told Metal Express Radio: “Chris and I have been friends for years, and he wrote a song [‘The Shadows Are Alive’] with me on my solo CD [2009’s ‘Play My Game’], and we’ve always wanted to write together and do something. And he gave me a shout and we’ve signed a deal with Frontiers. It’s gonna be like a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST kind of stuff. [Frontiers] is a fantastic label, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Owens also talked about the current status of PROJECT ROCK (formerly ROCKSTAR), the project he formed several years ago with guitarist Keri Kelli (SLASH’S SNAKEPIT, ALICE COOPER, RATT), drummer James Kottak (SCORPIONS, KINGDOM COME), bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO) and keyboardist Teddy “Zig Zag” Andreadis (GUNS N’ ROSES). He said: “Keri Kelli is the main one in the band that spearheaded it. We wrote a record and it’s finished and ready to go. We were gonna release it, but at the last minute we were gonna change the name and James didn’t wanna change it so we pulled the record… [we took] the deal off the shelf. But it’s really good. It’s straightforward rock, and I really like it a lot, actually… It’s sitting there, ready to go.”
Owens added that it’s frustrating not being able to release the PROJECT ROCK album after spending so much time putting it together. “Especially for Keri and myself, ’cause we are the ones who did all the work, especially Keri — he really worked his tail off,” he said. “But him and I went back and forth with the songs forever and I flew out there and met with him and we did some stuff. We did a lot of it, so it’s a shame that it’s sitting there.”
“Here’s To Us”, the first-ever original song written and recorded by PROJECT ROCK, was premiered in 2013 on Russia’s “Drive Time Morning Show with Evgeny Shtoltz”. It was expected to appear on the band’s debut album, for which the group had reportedly signed a deal with Cleopatra.
Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST — “Jugulator” and 2001’s “Demolition” — before the band reunited with Rob Halford.
Wilbur’s T-Shirts are in!
Hi everyone in Metal Land! Great news!
WILBUR Has ARRIVED! Check out some new CLOTHING and JEWELRY in the store!
This handwriting is from none other than Jon Oliva – The Master!
This handwriting is from none other than Jon Oliva himself!!I have a new album project I’m working on…details will come out soon. The deals are signed and the record should be released mid 2017…No, Jon isn’t singing or in the project, it’s not a new #savatage record…so that should keep you guessing, but he is helping me write a few things. It feels great to create with the master again!
The project is great friends and amazing musicians and one brilliant singer with an amazing metal producer…and yes, I’m a tease!
More details soon!
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Awesome day today!
Awesome day today. They broke the attendance record at 2pm! My last known count was 12,500 people!
This photo is a lil harder to find Wilbur! And no…he’s a 1 year old Metalphant…he wasn’t drinking!
We did reach over 110,000 on the live feed! Check it out tomorrow on the RFD Facebook page we will be live again all day!