Eric Ragno News Page

As we come upon the second anniversary of the tragic fire in Rhode Island, members of Great White appeared on Larry King this week alongside the father of my deceased friend Ty Longley, and some of the survivors who have ongoing civil suits against the band, the club owners, etc. This was painful to watch, especially knowing some of the people involved. Watching the repeated footage from Rhode Island was no picnic either - but I guess this helps ensure that people will never forget what happened there, or Ty's memory. I guess it gets a little easier as time goes on - but the scars will always remain, especially for the band itself. In regards to making new music, Jack Russell comments, "Right now our focus is on just helping raise awareness. I haven't been in that space yet, even almost two years later. I just haven't felt like writing songs yet, and I kind of feel like it's another hurdle I need to overcome. But my main goal is to keep the band touring and to try to raise money [for the fund]."

On a lighter note, the Vox Tempus CD is sold out! We are beginning a second run this week with some new partners, which we will announce shortly. Since we are doing this new run, it gives us an opportunity to revisit some of the typing errors and thank-you lists that we prepared for the initial run. So for all you skeezers, skanks and scallywags who jerked us around over the last year, you're off the list! And to the tried and true friends who continue to help us move forward, please accept our eternal gratitude, both in our hearts and in the liner notes of this new CD. Thanks!

I've been locked up in the house a lot this week, in an effort to wrap up these outstanding projects on my desk. It hasn't been easy, but I've been making a lot of headway. This includes the fifth (and final?) Deluge track for me, a synth-heavy number called Suppress You. (38 tracks of keyboards in 24 hours? I think that's a record even for ME. ; ) Any projects that don't get finished by Tuesday will come with me to New York, where they'll be finished up at China Blue East.

And now it looks like I'm fighting off some kind of flu bug ...damn. I want to apologize to the folks who have been waiting patiently for me - it feels good to reach completion on some of these projects. I didn't expect to be this busy! I didn't expect to be invited to perform these Seven Witches dates, and I certainly didn't expect to be getting married next month. ; )

It's hard to believe how much work it takes to plan a wedding, even one as intimate as this one. I set up a Wedding Page for me & Kim, along with a Guestbook that has gotten some interesting posts from a lot of old friends. Thanks for that. It's an exiting time, and I'm grateful to have so many friends weighing in with their well-wishes. I leave for Jersey this week, so if you're on the coast and want to hang out before I'm a "kept man", this may be it for awhile. After that I'll be...

On the road with Seven Witches

(Picture courtesy of rock photog Nathan Ian Bradley)

After our initial splash at NAMM last month, I'll be playing select dates with Seven Witches this month, including the DVD taping in Allentown, PA on February 12. Admission is free, and I'll sign whatever you bring with you. The band, featuring former Savatage guitarist Jack Frost and Helstar singer James Rivera, have moved the show to the Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA from the previously announced The Freight Yard. The band performing material from all five of their albums, including their most recent effort, Year of the Witch, available now on Sanctuary Records.

Pictures Omitted from Takara Album?

One of the more embarrassing moments at NAMM this year was when Tommy from TKL discovered that my picture was omitted from the Lion Records reissue of Takara's Eternity album. Other than some very good photographs of Neal, the photo's are pretty awful - and mine was omitted completely! I was not thrilled at all, but the upshot is that it gave Neal & I a chance to catch up with each other's lives. He was kind enough to post the following on the Takara website this week:

First off, in February Lion Music will be releasing a Tribute CD to Ritchie Blackmore. We will be featured on one song. The song "Can't Let You Go" from the Rainbow CD "Bent out of Shape" We were very pleased to do this song, and really enjoyed doing too. We hope you enjoy it too. You may purchase this CD through the Lion Music Website. www.lionmusic.com

Next, as many people know Lion Music rereleased all the previous Takara CD's. With the re-release of these CD's came some booklet changes etc. With the re-release of Takara "Best Of" "Eternity" came many picture and booklet changes. In the process of doing these changes Keyboardist Eric Ragno's picture's were omitted. Takara and Lion music appoligize and to anyone who might have been mislead by this mistake. Takara and Lion music apologize to Eric too for this omission to the booklet. Please note, Eric name remains in the credits , just not his picture's.

We are currently at work on songs for the next CD. We hope to have a late 05" release. More news later on this. Cheers, Takara

Our friends in Enchant released their live DVD this week, and I'd like to thank my friends at CD Inzane for hooking me up with a copy. In the meantime, I've posted a clip of my interview segment from the second disc. If this isn't a good commercial for the new DVD, I don't know what it! Available everywhere music is sold!

Michael Schenker/Graham Bonnet/Kelly Keeling/Robin McAuley

Last weekend I attended NAMM's "Night Of Guitar" concert, featuring an amazing headlining set by Michael Schenker , along with the phenomenal George Lynch. (Also on the bill were Gilby Clarke, Bruce Kulick, and Frank Hannon of Tesla.) My friend Kelly Keeling sang lead for Lynch, and later sang for Michael Schenker as well, taking turns song-for-song with the awesome Robin McAuley! Kelly sang many of the later day Schenker songs, while Robin sang such classic UFO hits as Lights Out in London. Wild stuff!

Graham Bonnet w/Michael Schenker

Also slated to sing with Schenker during the finale was the legendary singer Graham Bonnet. Graham rehearsed with him right up to the show, but fell ill the day before, and couldn't make it. For those who doubt that this dream pair-up was actually set to happen, I've attached the above photo. : )

As for Kelly Keeling...as if he wasn't busy enough, he still found time to play this week's Prog Night featuring keyboard virtuoso (and Vox Tempus engineer) Erik Norlander. He is currently working on his autobiography, documenting his time in Baton Rouge, Blue Murder, MSG, etc - as well as maintaining his constant lineup of rotating gigs. "Michael Schenker has asked me to appear on his newest album and to write a few songs as has [Don] Dokken. If I could be cloned it may help my state but I simply can't be in three places at once. I hope they wait for me...All I can say is God has a plan and purpose for me to have made it through the last 35 albums and around the world a few times non-stop."

Fates Warning Update - Headway Festival April 3

I spent some time at NAMM with the guys from Enchant, who are headlining Day 2 of the Headway Festival in Holland this April. We went over to harass Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, who will be playing drums for Fates Warning when they headline Day 1. Fates will kick off their European tour in February with Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio (Tears for Fears, Mike Keneally & Kevin Gilbert) filling the seat vacated by departing drummer Mark Zonder. Nick says "Fates is a great rock band that I had the good fortune to tour with a couple of years ago. "They have a new CD out and Europe is calling." These will likely be the only Fates shows in Europe this year.

After April, guitarist Jim Matheos will be focusing on a new album from OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE). This is the supergroup featuring Jim, the aforementioned Mike Portnoy and Kevin Moore of Dream Theater. As for now, tonight Fates is filming a video for "Simple Human", the first single off their latest release, FWX. Sadly, it is a closed set. : (