Charles Snider's blog

The book is available directly from my on-demand publisher CreateSpace.com via Amazon.com. It is also distributed via Amazon in Canada, UK and throughout Europe. Book stores may order the book via traditional channels (like Ingram) or CreateSpace Direct using its ISBN: 978-0578189024. For bulk orders, or for signed copies, please use the contact form at the bottom of the page.

Guitarist Allan Holdsworth passed away on April 16th, 2017, the news from a post by one of his daughters on Facebook. Uniquely talented, I would steer anyone to Gong's Gazeuse! album for a prime example of his guitar technique. When I was a teenager, I went to my local record shop (Spec's Music) and asked if they had Holdsworth's Velvet Darkness album, or if they could order it for me. The manager said to me, "He's pretty good guitarist, how do you know about him?" I replied that I had a Soft Machine and Gong album that he played on.

Esoteric Recordings are set to reissue the entire Patto catalog, with a load of bonus material; SPOILER ALERT:

[Bad link: Invalid Node ID "3167"] has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. I had the honor of interviewing him via phone last summer, an interview that will feature prominently in the next edition of the book. Here's the portrait that Plastic Crimewave drew for it and an excerpt from my interview:

John spent the next few years in King Crimson as part of the monster rhythm section with Bill Bruford.

Jean-Michel Jarre's Electronica World Tour is coming to the US. See you in Chicago!

5/9/2017 Toronto, ON Canada Sony Center for the Performing Arts
5/11/2017 Montreal, QC Canada Bell Centre
5/16/2017 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
5/18/2017 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre
5/20/2017 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
5/22/2017 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
5/24/2017 Broomfield, CO 1st Bank Center
5/26/2017 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre
5/27/2017 Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater

From Can's Facebook page: "It is with great sadness we have to announce that Jaki passed away this morning from sudden pneumonia. He fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. We will miss him hugely."

Revised and Expanded edition, coming April 22, 2017!

Today, it was announced that the "Union Tour" lineup of Yes will be inducted this year to the Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Fame. Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White will get the honors, Squire of course, posthumously. No mention of Peter Banks, their original guitarist who also gave the band their name, as well as the Buggle duo of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, and keyboardist Patrick Moraz.

Greg Lake lost his battle with cancer yesterday, December 7th, at age 69. RIP, Moonchild.
"Yesterday, December 7th, I lost my best friend to a long and stubborn battle with cancer. Greg Lake will stay in my heart for ever, as he has always been. His family would be grateful for privacy during this time of their grief. Many thanks, Stewart Young"

Warming up for the launch of Violeta de Outono's new album Spaces, here is the first single, 'A Painter Of The Mind'. The song has lyrics inspired by Swiss artist Paul Klee's poems.