At Christmas 1978, Ian Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow , but Blackmore did make a guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
Later that year, the band released their fourth studio album, and first with Marky, Road to Ruin .
Journey hired Steve Perry as their new lead singer on October 10, 1977. Perry made his live debut with the band at the Old Waldorf on October 28, 1977, stepping into His Master’s Studios and Cherokee Studios from October to December. Herbie Herbert, the band’s manager, hired Roy Thomas Baker…
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Following the Sex Pistols’ break-up in 1978, photographer Dennis Morris suggested that Lydon travel to Jamaica with him and Virgin Records head Richard Branson , where Branson would be scouting for emerging reggae musicians. Branson also flew American new wave band Devo to Jamaica, aiming to install Lydon as lead…
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After the release of Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll and its extensive world tour in 1978, Blackmore decided that he wanted to take the band in a new, more mainstream direction, away from the “sword and sorcery” themes. Dio did not agree with this change and left the band.
In the late fall of 1978, a German promoter made an offer for the band to tour. The Metamorphosis lineup (Ingle, Bushy, Dorman, Pinera and Rhino) made preparations, but just before they were to depart for Germany, Dorman’s father took ill and another bassist, Keith Ellis (formerly of Boxer ),…
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Tommy, tired of touring, left the band in early 1978.
According to the band’s manager Herbie Herbert, tensions arose between a discontented Aynsley Dunbar and the band due to his displeasure with the change in musical direction from the jazz fusion sound. Neal Schon reflected on the tensions: “We would talk about it, and he’d say he’d be willing to…
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Irish magazine Hot Press was influential in shaping U2’s future; in addition to being one of their earliest allies, the publication’s journalist Bill Graham introduced the band to Paul McGuinness , who agreed to be their manager in mid-1978. With the connections he was making within the music industry, McGuinness…
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In 1978, Queen released Jazz , which reached number two in the UK and number six on the Billboard 200 in the US. The album included the hit singles ” Fat Bottomed Girls ” and ” Bicycle Race ” on a double-sided record. Critical reviews of the album in the…
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