DESCRIPTION:
Ancient Rocks! Yes! "Ancient" does "Rock", doesn't it? After finishing up my last album, "The Ninth Hour", Black Widow Records decided that I should stay in the studio and record that one incredible cover album I have always dreamed of doing!
I got the idea for this from David Bowie after hearing the now infamous "Pin-Ups" album from the 1970's! I was blown away that he had played a song by THE PRETTY THINGS, England's most underrated band! David went on US & UK television for the Halloween episode of Midnight Special to promote "Pin-Ups". His band featured Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Ansley Dunbar with some unknown back up singers.
The thing that blew me away the most was a surprise appearance of The Troggs performing "Wild Thing" and "Strange Movie"! I became a TROGGS fan all over again!
They were raw, nasty and heavy! Reg Presley's vocals were as taunting and angry as ever! These four cave men of a bygone era of rock & roll ruled the roost once again on that night so long ago! They really proved that they were the real deal and that every band that was popular at that time in the 1970's really sucked in comparison with their honest and deliberate approach to heavy rock & roll!
I wanted to present the same kind of album to my friends and fans all over the world! On "Ancient Rocks" I am showcasing some of my favorite bands in the world who influenced everything I do in music! These are all proto-metal bands from the mid-1960's to the mid-1970's. Most of these groups were once major label bands but sadly were used as tax write -offs for those same labels and I'm sure a lot of their proceeds financed those labels' bigger acts! That kind of thing still happens today!
I am very proud to present these songs that mean so much to me and hopefully I will do another album just like it next year with all of the songs that I couldn't fit on this one! Any requests?
Joe Hasselvander

TRACK LIST:
Trial of the Dead – Intro
Strange Movies (TROGGS)
I’m in Trouble Again (TROOPER)
Midnight to Six Man (THE PRETTY THINGS)
Idealist Realist (BANG)
Juke it (BOOMERANG)
Primitive Man (JERUSALEM)
Teachin’ Blues (BOB SEGER)
CookBook (DAMNATION OF ADAM BLESSING)
Sex Machine Intro
Come and Geti t (BLUE CHEER)
One Eyed Trouser Snake Rumba (HUMBLE PIE)


Joe Hasselvander - All Vocals and Guitars except on "Juke It" and "Come and Get it"
Martin Swaney - all bass guitar except on "Primitive Man" & "Cook Book"
T.C. Tolliver - All drums and percussion except on "Come And Get It" and "One Eyed Trouser, Snake Rumba
Paolo "Apollo" Negri - Keyboards
Russ Strahan - Lead guitar solo on "Juke It"
Paulie Kraynak - Bass Guitar on "Primitive Man"
Jimmy Kunes - Lead Vocals on "One Eyed Trouser, Snake Rumba"
Frankie Brando - Drums on "Come And Get It"
Joe Hasselvander-Bass guitar on "Cook Book"
recorded March-September 2011 at The Old School House Studios-Hadley, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Produced by Joe Hasselvander
Engineered by Jim Matus