Phil Mogg

Tue
29
May

UFO Frontman PHIL MOGG Ready To Call Time

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Phil Mogg has confirmed that next year's 50th anniversary tour with UFO will be his last as the frontman of the long-running hard rock band. Consequently, it seems almost certain that at that point they will cease to exist. UFO were formed in London in 1968 and Mogg is their only ever-present member, performing on all of the group's 22 studio albums.
 
'This decision has been a long time coming, I've considered stepping down at the end of UFO's previous two tours,' Mogg explains. 'I don't want to call this a farewell tour as I hate that word, but next year's gigs will represent my final tap-dancing appearances with the band."
 
'2018 marks UFO's 50th anniversary, so the timing feels right,' he continues. 'There will be a final tour of the UK and we will also play some shows in selected other cities that the band has a strong connection with. But outside of the UK this won't be a long tour. Being out on the road isn't always tremendously luxurious and although the playing is as great as it ever was, the stuff that surrounds it becomes very tiresome. I always told myself that when I reached that stage I would step down, and that's what I'm going to do. This is the right time for me to quit.'
 
Mogg turned 70 back in April and although his voice remains strong, he admits that age played its part in his conclusion.
 
'I'm a big reader of obituaries, and my finger always goes down to: 'I wonder how old they were…',' he chuckles. 'The last few years have been tough, losing Lemmy was awful and I was sad that Jimmy Bain passed on a cruise ship. That distressed me quite a lot.'
 
While many veteran bands in such a position simply cease playing live and continue to record, UFO will no longer be releasing new music. "A Conspiracy Of Stars" in 2015 and last year's covers collection 'The Salentino Cuts' are set to become a signing-off point, though Mogg insists that however unlikely the prospect might seem – the singer is a lone strrand of consistency throughout a 50-year history – he would have no problemm with UFO continuing with a replacement.
 
The band's current line-up – completed by keyboard player/seconnd guitarist Paul Raymond, guitarist Vinnie Moore, drummer Andy Parker and bassist Rob Le Luca – have of course been informed of Mogg's decision. 
 
'I've told the guys that this is how it is,' he says. 'They know it's my time to go and they know that they can do whatever they want to do without me but I don't want to play live or make records anymore, though having said that I might go on and do an album of my own. I'll have to see how I feel about that.'
 
Of course UFO have either split up, retired or gone on hiatus several times before but Mogg is keen to make the distinction that next year's dates don't just mark the end of his touring commitments with UFO – for Phil, therre will be no further concerts of any kind.
 
'For me, this is the end of my stint with UFO,' he clarifies. 'This is a line in the sand. I'm suggesting we call the tour 'Last Orders', though I also like 'The Bar Is Closing'. I'm also tempted to name it 'The Drinks Are On Parker',' he chuckles, referring long-suffering sticksman Andy Parker.
 
You'll have gathered that Mogg is not about to slash his wrists anytime soon. Of course he is sad that the finishing line is now within slight but has had sufficient time to live with and process such a massive personal decision.
 
'Maybe the best word to use is 'bittersweet',' he concludes. 'But my time has arrived and all that remains is to make sure that we have a good tour.'
 
(Press release written by Dave Ling)
 
First confirmed date 2019:
 
March 14th-17th GB-Gwynedd/North Wales - Hard Rock Hell
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Wed
02
Aug

UFO Delivers First Covers Album ' The Salentino Cuts'

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Friday, September 29, 2017
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British Rock Legends UFO To Release First Ever Covers Album 'The Salentino Cuts'
 
Los Angeles - British rock legends UFO offer up their first ever covers album paying homage to a dozen of their personal favorites! 'The Salentino Cuts' includes several unexpected choices such as Mad Seasons's 'River Of Deceit,' John Mellencamp's 'Paper In Fire,' and Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine' alongside more traditional but nonetheless thrilling versions such as The Yardbirds' 'Heartful Of Soul,' ZZ Top's 'Just Got Paid' and lots more!
 
UFO's current line-up features original members Phil Mogg on vocals and Andy Parker on drums. Keyboardist/guitarist Paul Raymond joined the band in 1976. Lead guitarist Vinnie Moore has been a permanent member of the group since 2003, and American bassist Rob De Luca joined the fold in 2012. 
 
Vinnie says, 'Making this covers record was a blast for me. I thoroughly enjoyed putting a little of my own spin on these tunes that I grew up with. I played ZZ Top and Robin Trower songs about a gazzilion times onstage over the years. it was great to actually get to record some of my old faves.'
 
UFO's 'The Salentino Cuts' will be released on September 29th and will be available on both CD & 2 limited vinyl pressings, one splatter vinyl and one white vinyl!
 
Track List:
1. Heartful Of Soul
2. Break On Through (To The Other Side)
3. River Of Deceit
4. The Pusher
5. Paper In Fire
6. Rock Candy
7. Mississippi Queen
8. Ain't No Sunshine
9. Honey-Bee
10. Too Rolling Stoned
11. Just Got Paid
12. It's My Life
 
In September & October, the band will be embarking on a monster tour of North America with fellow classic rockers Saxon!
 
UFO European tour dates:
 
August 11 - Leyendas del Rock Festival XII - Villena - Spain
August 13 - Alcatraz Open Air- Kortrijk - Belgium
September 7 - Germany - Dortmund - Musiktheater Piano
September 8 - Holland - Eindhoven - Cityrock Festival 
September 9 - Holland - Leeuwarden - Cityrock Festival
September 10 - France - Raismes - Raismes Fest
September 12 - England - Southampton - The Brook
September 14 - England - Dorking - Dorking Halls 
September 15 - England - Holmfirth - Picturedrome
September 16 - England - Northampton - Roadmender
 
UFO & SAXON US Tour Dates - Round 2:
 
September 22 - Newton, NJ - Newton Theater
September 23 - Huntington, NY - Paramount Theater
September 24 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
September 26 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater Of The Living Arts
September 28 - Plymouth, NH - Flying Monkey
September 29 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
September 30 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
October 1 - Portland, ME - Aura
October 3 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
October 4 - Montreal, QU - Corona Theatre
October 6 - Flint, MI - Machine Shop
October 7 - Traverse City, MI - Ground Zero
October 8 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
October 9 - Akron, OH - Tangier Cabaret Room
October 11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Jergels
October 12 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
October 13 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza
October 14 - Indianapolis, IN - The Egyptian
 
UFO was formed in London in 1969. They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal. Over a career spanning 48 years, UFO has released 22 studio albums, 14 live recordings and 16 compilation albums. They achieved success with several albums and singles  in the UK and US Top 40 charts, and have sold over 10 million records worldwide. UFO is considered one of the classic hard rock acts, and have influenced many notable rock bands. The band was ranked number 84 on VH1's '100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.'
 
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Mon
25
Jan

UFO Super Deluxe Box Set Of Vintage Live Performances From The Early 80s

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Take Flight With Hard Rock Heroes UFO In A Super Deluxe Box Set Of Vintage Live Performances From The Early ‘80s!
 
Los Angeles, CA - They shot across the ‘70s night sky, all flashing lights and roaring engines, streaking through Japan and Germany (where they abducted 18-year old Scorpion guitarist Michael Schenker) before descending on the UK and eventually American shores with a series of brilliant hard rock singles including “Lights Out,” “Too Hot To Handle,” “Doctor Doctor,” “Only You Can Rock Me” and many more now ubiquitous radio staples. Though Schenker would depart in 1978, the rest of the band including founding members vocalist Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker alongside lead guitarist Paul Chapman retooled their spaceship and carried on into the early ‘80s dropping such influential classics as No Place To Run, The Wild, The Willing & The Innocent, and Mechanix.

Now, comes Live Sightings, a magnificent 4CD box set featuring vintage live performances from the early ‘80s that finds Mogg & Co. blasting through highlights from those 3 crucial records such as “No Place To Run,” “Lonely Heart,” and “We Belong To The Night,” and seamlessly blending them in with the group’s more well-known spawn. Boasting 4CDs each in its own mini jacket with printed inner sleeve, this extraordinary box set also features a lavish 12”x12” 16-page booklet with full color photos and extensive liner notes plus two carefully duplicated printings of vintage tour programs. There’s even a special bonus live LP from 1972 of the only known recordings of guitarist Larry Wallis (Pink Fairies / Motörhead)! Fans of UFO and early hard rock will not want to miss this incredible piece of music history. Launch date is February 5 courtesy of Cleopatra Records!

Track List:
DISC 1: Chicago 1980
1. Lettin' Go
2. Young Blood
3. No Place to Run
4. Cherry
5. Only You Can Rock Me
6. Love to Love
7. Mystery Train
8. Doctor Doctor
9. Too Hot to Handle
10. Lights Out
11. Rock Bottom
12. Shoot Shoot

DISC 2: Chicago 1981
1. The Wild, The Willing & The Innocent
2. Only You Can Rock Me
3. Long Gone
4. Lonely Heart
5. Cherry
6. No Place to Run
7. Love to Love
8. Making Moves
9. Mystery Train
10. Too Hot to Handle
11. Lights Out
12. Rock Bottom
13. Doctor Doctor

DISC 3: St Louis 1982
1. We Belong to the Night
2. Let It Rain
3. Long Gone
4. No Place to Run
5. The Wild, The Willing & The Innocent
6. Only You Can Rock Me
7. Terri
8. Making Moves
9. Doing It All For You
10. Too Hot To Handle
11. Lights Out
12. Mystery Train

DISC 4: Cleveland 1982
1. We Belong To The Night
2. Let It Rain
3. Long Gone
4. The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent
5. Only You Can Rock Me
6. Terri
7. Doing It All For You
8. Too Hot to Handle
9. Lights Out

LP 1: Early Flight - 1972
SIDE A
1. Silver Bird
2. Galactic Love
3. C’mon Everybody
4. Boogie For George

SIDE B
1. Back In The USA
2. Mean Woman Blues
3. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
4. Johnny B. Goode

Buy the box set: http://flyt.it/UFOBoxCD
Download on iTunes: http://flyt.it/UFOBoxDig
 
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