Every band gets bad and good reviews. The good ones are real, most of the bad reviews come from reviewers who lost their girl to one of the
band guys. But we give a fuck about their opinion, we don't care about criticism and we aren't ashamed to show you even the worst review "Shameless" has ever got.
"Shameless" doesn't make music
for the press or for other musicians. They aren't
"Dream Theater" and for God's sake they don't
wanna be "Dream Theater". The music is for their
fans and for fun. The guys rock your town live.
Go, see them on stage and judge yourself if you
like the sound or not.
"Backstreet Anthems" |
Important message to fans of Poison and Pretty Boy Floyd's debut albums: "Shameless" have arrived. There's no sign of anything really new her,
but you can't help love these glam / rock'n roll tunes. "Backseat Action" and "What's Goin' On" makes it impossible to not move.
"You're The One ( I Want )" is not a rocker like most of the stuff here, let's just call it a ballad, but it's just a fantastic track.
"Shameless" version of KISS' "Flaming Youth" is a bit of a downer, but it's all made up for with a great version of The Beatles "Hard Dayz Night".
The list of musicians involved in this CD is impressive, but let's just mention that you'll find members from bands like KISS, Pretty Boy Floyd,
TUFF and L.A. Guns here. |
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"Shameless" is the brain child of German guitarist and all round Glam fan Alexx Michael. He has written most of the material and secured backing
to fly to L.A., hire Gilby Clark to produce it and has an absolute stack of guests from the glam, sleeze and L.A. hard rock scene.
This CD is utterly and totally for those fans of the above. They might just think they are in hog heaven, but beyond that I think this CD will have limited appeal.
The tunes are what they advertise to be - 100% good time glam.
The opening track is a little thin production wise, but from track two it becomes a little more solid. Best songs include "Strange Dayz", "Just 1 Nite", "Talk To Me"
and the hilarious "Hard Dayz Nite" ( yes, that version ).
At 10 tracks the album does the right thing in not over staying it's welcome - something a few other albums reviewed here today are guilty of. The production sounds a
little thin in places, but then again, that's pretty much what glam records have always been about. Check it out.
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This is easily the best album I have heard this year !!! It's the kind of album that I listened to in high school and gave me a reason to raise
my hands to rock! On the back of the album it says "No grunge - No alternative. This is kick ass rock & roll", and that's exactly what it is, glam / sleeze rock at it's
absolute very best !!!
The CD is from a very talented West German bassist named Alexx "Skunk" Michael who burns up all ten tracks on the album. But, what makes this album
extra special is the bevy of great guest musicians that Alexx enlisted to aid in the recording of it. There's a virtual who's who of glam rockers here:
Steve Summers & Kristy Majors ( Pretty Boy Floyd ), Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer ( ex-KISS ), Tracii Guns ( L.A. Guns ), Robert Sweet ( ex-Stryper ), Stevie Rachelle
( ex-TUFF ), Eddie Robinson ( ex-Alleycat Scratch ), Brian Tichy ( ex-Snakepit ), Eric Skodis ( Gilby Clarke ), and Teddy Andreas ( ex-Guns N' Roses ).
Each track on the album bleeds 80's glam! It starts off with the kind of song that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning ( literally,
the first thing you hear is the sound of an alarm clock ). The track is called "Backseat Action" and it sets the pace for the rest of the album which brings back the
days of sex, drugs, and good old rock & roll. Other rockers include "Just 1 Nite", "Talk To Me", "What's Goin' On" and "All The Girls But U".
There are two tracks, "Strange Days" and "Flaming Youth", that by all accounts should be considered amoung the greatest youth anthems ever recorded.
Like all great glam albums this includes some great ballds, too. "Your The One ( I Want )" and "Realize" are tender dedications to that special someone.
There's even a killer remake of the Beatles' "Hard Days Nite" that totally blows away the original!
The only bad thing about this album is that you can't go down to your local record store and pick it up. It's only available in the US through
Perris Records ( go visit their site for all your rock needs! ). Needless to say this album is the one fans of 80's hard rock / glam music have been waiting nearly
a decade for! Get it and fuckin' crank it up! You'll be glad you did !!! ( Rating: Excellent )
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Alexx "Skunk" Michael formed a band with a bunch of rock stars! Alexx is a great bassist and WOW what a writer !!! If you like Rock & Roll
and Glam rock, this band is for you.
It's melodic, hard sometimes ... It's powerful rock & roll. Here's a few rock star in this band: Steve Summers ( PBF ) , Stevie Rachelle ( TUFF ),
Tracii Guns ( L.A. Guns ), Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer, etc ...
This album is one of the best glam album that I listened this year !!! Great guitar, emotions, a good ballad and party lyrics.
"Shameless" ... What a party !!! ( Rate: 90% )
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"Queen 4 A Day" |
Alexx "Skunk" Michael, unknown in the world of glam rock, managed to get some people interested and released "Backstreet Anthems", the first CD from
this all-star band. Now they have returned with their second CD "Queen 4 A Day", and it's a mixed bag of catchy pop glam songs and songs that border on being parodies.
8 of the 12 tracks were voiced by Steve Summers of Pretty Boy Floyd fame and produced by Keri Kelli at his home. The remaining four tracks were voiced by Stevie Rachelle of
TUFF and produced by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clark.
Though I am a huge fan of Keri Kelli's writing and guitar playing abilities, I have to say that I prefer Gilby's production a bit more than his. The songs that Gilby produced
just seem more polished, but that's just my opinion. However, the songs that are voiced by Summers are much stronger in terms of appealing to the glam community. It's as
though they had a few songs left over and just kind of handed them over to Stevie and Gilby to see what they could do with them.
Overall, the songs are strong, though there are a few that aren't worth a damn. The title track, "Shock the World," "Lonely Night" and "Steal the Girlz" are all great
glam songs that liken back to the earliest of days with Pretty Boy Floyd. They contain all of the sex driven lyrics and bubblegum sing along choruses that you would expect
from PBF. Obviously Alexx was greatly influenced by the Floyds. There are even a couple of songs on this CD that were written by Ariel Stiles.
For those of you that don't know, Mr. Stiles wrote the entire "Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz" PBF release, and was kicked out and / or quit the band right before that
release. I guess Steve Summers still hasn't learned to write his own music, because you won't find his name credited anywhere for writing duties.
On the flip side, certain songs such as "Nonstop City," and "I don't think I Luv U" are just plain silly. I've got to believe that Stevie Rachelle absolutely cringes
when he has to sing lines like, "When you're feeling low, and you've got no place to go, let us take you down to Non-Stop-City."
Other notable musicians on the collection are Tracii Guns, Bruce Kulick, Steve Railey, Jani Lane, and Eric Singer.
Riffage: Keri Kelli burns through the first two tracks like a madman. The rest of the CD is handled well enough, though nowhere near the energy of the first two songs.
Songs: A real toss up. You're going to find songs that you absolutely love, and songs that will make you try to slit your own wrists with the jewel case.
Attitude: It's loud guitars, songs about sex, guys wearing makeup, half-naked girls on the cover, big hair glam music.
Final Score: Overall, the CD is a decadent romp through the glam of yesteryear. And while this album isn't going to put glam back on the charts,
it will make you a believer that Germans do, in fact, love David Hasselhoff.
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Never having been a big Glam-Rock fan and with the horrible debut of wannabe glamsters Stikky Fykk in mind I had already given up on the whole
genre in which an "s" is mostly written "z". Too early as it becomes clear now because the californian trio around bass player Alexx Michael and helped out by some
well known guests is head & shoulders above the mentioned german outfit. Not only are they called "Shameless" they also copy style and sounds of their heroes
Mötley Crüe, Poison, Ratt in a "Shameless" way. What counts however is the song quality and in that field "Shameless" have much more to offer than many of the originals.
Most of the 12 titles like the Michael-written fun-rockers "Nonstop City", "Queen 4 A Day" or "Lonely Nite In Paradise" have a strong melody and could supposedly
save every alternative-contaminated teenager party whereas classy ballads like "Far Away" and "A Place Where Love Can’t Go" show the soft side of "Shameless" and are
equally as strong as for example Poisons classic "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".
Not very innovative but who gives a flying fxxx!? Fans of the above mentioned bands can’t go wrong here!
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Glam fans take note - this release is ESSENTIAL for you!
Glam rock is an acquired taste, and as far as I go - I love the heavier side of it with bands like Poison, L.A. Guns & Little Caesar etc. Otherwise it has to be pretty
good to get me hooked, but this release really is as good as it gets. This is pure and undiluted glam rock. The album is a huge step up from their debut album.
"Queen 4 A Day" has everything a glamster could want for - much better production ( from Keri Kelli and Gilby Clarke ), better songs, better singing and bigger and
better sleaze rock anthems.
As for comparisons, you name it - Poison, TUFF, Motley Crue, KISS, Bulletboys ... they're all here. The vocals of Steve Summers are just great. There's an even balance
of raspiness, power and melody.
Most of the songs rock out, but there is the odd ballad places every 3 or 4 tracks to break the pace of the album up, which is an excellent move. Guest appearances on the
album include Gilby Clarke, Tracii Guns, Brian Tichy, Steve Rilley, Jani Lane and Eric Singer.
Add to that a bonus interactive area with behind the scene's video footage and a music video for the single "Queen 4 A Day" and you have the perfect glam rock CD package.
A seriosuly good glam hard rock album for all fans of the genre. The guest list includes most glam acts on the planet anyway, so I can't imagine any sleaze rock fan
being without this album. Even better than the great debut album. Please note, the essential rating on this album goes out to glam fans! Casual observers or fans of
the more traditional straigh ahead rock release might not get this at all. Glam fans however will ... big time!
Production: 85%
Songs: 80%
Vibe: 75%
Attitude: 85%
Essential for: All glam rock die hards!
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They're not pop, they're not AOR, they're not pomp, indeed, "Shameless" is not your typical MTM-label act. "Queen 4 A Day" is an L.A.-style burst
of melodic sleaze in the decidedly non-grand tradition of Poison, L.A. Guns, Motley Crue and all those classic others. Because it's a different style, this
"Queen" may alienate some MTM listeners.
For what it is, however, it's quite good. It's got it all: slashing guitar riffs, sexed-up lyrics, and energized, hooky tunes like the full-tilt "You Can't Stop Me,"
the melancholy "Far Away," and the smartly catchy riff-rocker "Lonely Nite In Paradise".
There isn't much that sets it apart from the best that '80s sleaze rock had to offer. For fans of the genre, that's not an insult. This is high-grade stuff,
and if you can get over preconceptions about MTM albums, "Shameless" might become one of your favorite guilty pleasures.
Score: 81
Description: Sizzling Sunset Strip flashback
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"Queen 4 A Day" is "Shameless" second release and the expectations are high due to a major guestlist and an impressive MP3 file on their website.
"Shameless" is the brainchild of Alexx "Skunk" Michael. He obviously has some serious connections because this release features many glam / sleaze rockstars ( mostly
fallen or fading stars but an impressive gang bang anyway ). Steve Summers, Stevie Rachelle, Tracii Guns, Bruce Kulick, Keri Kelli, Steve Riley, Eric Singer, Keith Alan
and Kari Kane all contribute on "Queen 4 A Day". I guess some of Glitzine’s readers are pretty excited by now. So is "Shameless" as good as the hype?
Unfortunately, they aren’t. Steve Summers prove once again that he is one of the more talented vocalist within this genre. Stevie Rachelle is a good singer as
well though I’ve always considered his voice being better suited for more metallic songs. The Production, by Keri Kelli, is as slick and polished as this kind of music
demands. The performance is good at every level. It’s the lack of interesting songs that makes "Queen 4 A Day" something of a disappointment.
The opener "Shock the World" was written by Aeriel Stiles back in the early eighties to Doll ( which later developed into Pretty Boy Floyd ). It’s a good song though it
sounds a bit outdated. It would be wrong to call "Shameless" version a cover since this song has never been released but many glamfans have already heard Pretty Boy Floyd’s
much more impressive demoversion of this particular gem.
The next song – the titletrack – "Queen 4 A Day" is easily the strongest song on this album. The Verse is one of the better I’ve heard in a long time. It will bring you
back to the day that you bought your first PBF or Poison album. Unfortunately there are no other song that even comes close to this standard.
Stiles’ "Far Away", TUFF’s "A Place where Love can’t go", "Nonstop City", "Lonely Nite in Paradise" and "What you want is what you get" are nice songs and they’ll
make your eyes glow a bit if you’re into 80’s glam. The Rest of the songs are mediocre. "American Man", co-written by Gene Simmons ( KISS ), Jaime St. James and Tommy
Thayer ( Black'n'Blue ), is another proof that Gene Simmons is one of lousiest songwriters in the history of rock ( ouups, that probably put me on top of KISS Army's hitlist.
Ok, I know the guy wrote some good stuff ... but that was twenty years ago! ).
"Steal the Girlz" has a good and catchy melody but the lyrical content is way below average. The Next song – "I’m so Good" suffers from the same shortcomings. "Nasty boy –
looking for a bad girl. A bad girl like you. Little girl let the show begin. I play the starring role and you are my sin. Nasty girl Getting so high. Get your ass in gear.
I’m coming near".
Hmmm, my nephew Anton could probably come up with something more sophisticated than that and he is five months old. The Lyrics is as essential in Glamrock as in any other
genre.
Summary: "Queen 4 A Day" is a pretty good album and if you’re into 80’s glam ( think Warrant, Ratt and PBF ) you will probably find some parts interesting.
I still haven’t figured out if "Shameless" is a band or a project. The guestlist contains some well-known names but, personally, I prefer bands rather than projects.
By the way, Alexx and the boys aren’t just "Shameless". They’re a bit tasteless as well. Please, skip the blonde bimbos and strippers next time will you? That is
just plain silly – not shameful.
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Will The GLAMorous people please stand up, please stand up, please stand up! It's time to put on your best high heels, lipstick, leather and not
2 forget the glitter! Cuz the "Shameless" boys are back in town and Eminem better run home to his Mama before the party begins.
Let's face it ... you need to be a really SLEAZY / GLAM dude to wear your make-up with pride? Eeehh ... Nevermind !!! The main man behind it all is German born
Alexx Michael ( Bass Player / Songwriter ) the only member left from the original band that started out in Germany in the Mid-80's. The rest of the line-up are really
impressive though. We can find on vocals: Steve Summers ( Pretty Boy Floyd ) & Stevie Rachelle ( TUFF ), guitars are mostly done by Keri Kelli ( Warrant, Ratt, Pretty
Boy Floyd ) but we also find both Bruce Kulick ( KISS, Union ) & Tracii Guns ( L.A.Guns ) and behind the drums Steve Reiley ( WASP, L.A. Guns ) & Eric Singer ( KISS,
Alice Cooper, Badlands etc. ). Pretty cool huh ?
Add that it's produced by Gilby Clarke ( Guns N' Roses ) and that the song "American Man" was written by Gene Simmons ( KISS ) and the fun can begin.
It's almost like a Dream-Team of Sleaze / Glam rockers from the 80's and the only downer is that a couple of songs are a bit too corny ( like: "You cant stop me" )
even for my taste, but tracks like "Shock the World", "Queen 4 A Day", "Lonely Nite in Paradise" and "Steal the Girls" are all future glam classic's. All these 4 tracks
has the vocals of Steve Summers and it do sound like Pretty Boy Floyd with a lotta influences taken from the classic Mötley Crüe album: "Too fast for Love".
"Nonstop City", "American Man", "What U want is what U get" are some of the songs that Stevie Rachelle gets to sing and while Gene's "American Man" is nice but not really
anything special are the other 2 really catchy.
Add a couple of good power ballads "Far Away" ( Summers ) & "A place where love Can´t go" ( Rachelle ) and you'll have a really good album that fans of 80´s Sleaze / Glam
( PBF, Mötley Crüe, TUFF etc. ) really can't be without.
So get your glitter outta the gutter as the "Shameless" boys are ready to "Shock the World" once again. |
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"Name your Poison" |
Now what could be as good as a best of from Poison - well what about a sleazy tribute album where you'll hear top glam / cock-rocker,
Steve Summers ( from Pretty Boy Floyd ) provide lead vocals for the gorgeous ballad "I won't forget you" the kick-ass rocker "Talk dirty to me" and the dirtiness
of "Fallen Angel".
The vocal dynamics of Derek St. Holme's ( from Ted Nugent's band ) are unbelievably incredible on "Something to believe in" - man this guy can sing so well -
he hits all the high notes perfectly. In fact, it's as though the song was written for him !!!
My personal faves have got to be "Every Rose has it's thorn" which is brought to us beautifully by Rick Ruhl of Every Mother's Nightmare ( who also salutes No. 1 Bad Boy )
and "Nothin' but a good time" ( with lead vocals courtesy of Wes Kimball from Cherry St ).
There are so many other highlights on this tribute album like Steevi Jaimz ( ex-Tigertailz ) delivering an awesome rendition of "Cry Tough", a ground-shaking take of
"Look what the cat dragged" in' from Stevie Rachelle ( TUFF ) who has changed the odd word here and there.
Also, I can't forget to mention the full-on sexually charged number "I want action" featuring the lead larynx of Erotic Suicide front-man Mike Pierce - the man is
guaranteed action after this great spectacle !!
Featuring a musical entourage of drummer, Kris Beaver ( Every Mothers Nightmare ), with Bass duties provided by Jaime Scott ( Tyketto / Vaughn / Cherry St. ),
Troy Fleming ( Every Mother's Nightmare ) and Alexx Michael ( "Shameless" ).
Whereas Paul Lidel ( Dirty Looks / Broken Teeth ) cracks out all the rhythm guitar work and the lead guitar solo's coming courtesy of Keri Kelli ( Slash's Snakepit /
Pretty Boy Floyd / Ratt ), Steve Fister ( Lita Ford ) and Tom Mathers ( Cherry St. ).
It's a glam-slam paradise from where I'm standing. Like "Welcome to the Aerosmithsonian - A tribute to Aerosmith" there's a free CD that features samples of
sleaze from the likes of Cherry St, "Shameless", Erotic Suicide, Pretty Boy Floyd, Steevi Jaimz and Every Mothers Nightmare - that gives you a top-notch indication
of other priceless albums available on this magnificent label.
Rate: 10/10
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"Kaol Kreatures of the Net" |
Well folks, "Creatures of The Net - A New Millennium" was officially released on August 3rd and is now available for sale. As many of you know,
the original 1998 version sold out but now this special re-release of the 2000 edition is bigger and better featuring many of the same classics as before plus brand new
tracks, a new CD booklet, and 3 all new special collectable inserts!
Quick highlights: Early reviews are raving about 2 particular tracks. The first one is the all acoustic performance of "Tomorrow" by glam band "Shameless", based in
Germany and headed by Alexx Michael and featuring lead vocals by former Pretty Boy Floyd frontman, Steve Summers ...
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"Oh it's fabulous. It sounds like The Partridge Family. Bob ( Ezrin ) got off on it so much, he said he was going to mix it."
-- Gene Simmons -- on KAOL 2's version of "Shout It Out Loud"
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" ... I thought it was just great. Bob ( Ezrin ) mixed it ... It was just the funniest thing I've heard. It's fabulous. Oh it's great, just great."
-- Paul Stanley -- on KAOL 2's version of "Shout It Out Loud"
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"I think the KAOL 2 is one of the best tributes I ever heard ( and I have several tributes ) ... Now, I'm waiting for the KAOL 3 CD."
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"I just received the "Creatures of the Net" CD, and I absolutely love it! Great bands, great selection of songs,
a highly enjoyable package. Can't wait to receive Spirit of '78 ...!"
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"Shameless" Live |
Three live-bands were playing at each party. Opener were "Chikara" who played some Kiss covers, followed by "Toxic Sin", who didn't have
anything in common with KISS at all ( pretty much a Rammstein cover-band ). Headliners were shooting stars "Shameless", who played the very first time in Germany and
Holland.
The newcomers who had just released their second CD "Queen 4 A Day" came with TUFF-singer Stevie Rachelle, because their original singer Steve Summers was
unfortunately unable to attend the shows. Some KISS cover songs were of course included in the set ( including a surprising "Tomorrow" ), but they mainly played
their own material.
Bruce Kulick joined the band on stage for the encores to play 4 songs with them. Three KISS songs and one "Shameless" song, where Bruce had already played on the album.
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On Saturday Bruce of course had to appear at the KISS Expo at De Kade in Zaandam. One hour before the doors opened to the public, Bruce came into
check out the merchandise and say "Hello" to the dealers / fanclubs present there. Then he left to have something to eat.
Later on Bruce did a Question & Answer session and signed autographs for the fans. Backstage he also did many interviews, before he had to play the encores with "Shameless".
The glam band fronted by Alexx Michael from Germany put up a great, entertaining performance with ( guest ) lead vocalist Stevie Rachelle ( ex-TUFF ) from Los Angeles. The
band did songs from their two albums plus a cover of KISS' "Tomorrow" and with Bruce they did some more KISS tunes, including "Do you Love me" and "Lick it up".
The next morning Bruce left for Germany, where he appeared at the Expos in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Ludwigsburg, München and Berlin.
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