This week, Cover Me celebrates Freddie Mercury 20 years after his passing. Read Part 1 here.

On April 20, 1992, one of the most impressive collections of musicians ever assembled for one show gathered together to pay tribute to Farrokh Bulsara, better known to the world as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who had passed away due to complications from AIDS some six months before. Today, as we approach the 20th anniversary of his passing, Cover Me looks back at this monumental concert event, a celebration of covers and of one of the most unique talents ever to grace the performing arts. Continue reading »

It’s a rare enough thing to get a full covers album based on a conceptual theme. It is a once-in-a-lifetime cover album when that theme is space and the artist is the man who has boldly gone where no man has gone before. Canadian-born actor, musician, author, producer, and director, William Shatner, aka Captain James T. Kirk from the ’60s TV series Star Trek, is that man.

Set for release this Tuesday October 11, Shatner’s Seeking Major Tom will be available as a one volume digital download, two CDs and three vinyl LP set. The album is being released along with his new book Shatner Rules: Your Guide to Understanding the Shatnerverse and the World at Large. Continue reading »

In the seven years since he released Has Been, the people have requested – nay, demanded – another William Shatner album. You can only replay that “Rocket Man” video so many times before you need something fresh. Well, as we mentioned back in February, that comes in the form of his metal space-themed covers album (that’s the awesome album art up there). Now we’ve got our first listen, in the form of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” It even features ex-Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde shredding away. Continue reading »

In a time when the Middle East is even less stable than usual, Victoria Faiella brings us an Arabian-themed cover of Black Sabbath’s classic anti-war song. Replacing the guitar and bass with sitar and violin changes the tone from angry to haunting, and Faiella’s vocals contribute to this effect, especially when she wails “oh yeah” at the end of the second verse. Continue reading »

Twice a year, the indie chicks of Girl Crisis sit down in a Brooklyn living room to perform a cover. In the summer months, they honor their gender with a song by a female songwriter. Last summer, for instance, they covered Taylor Dayn’s “Tell It to My Heart.” In the winter, they go for the guys. This winter: Ozzy Osbourne, with Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” Continue reading »

Quickies rounds up new can’t-miss covers. Download ‘em below.

For their LateNightTales mixtape, Texas folk rockers Midlake made some not surprising choices: The Band, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span. As is tradition in the series, for one song they delivered a cover, and that one proves a more surprising choice: Black Sabbath’s “Am I Going Insane.” In their hands, the Sabotage cut blends in naturally.
MP3: Midlake – Am I Going Insane (Black Sabbath cover) Continue reading »

Trekkies, Hessians and absurdists, the day you didn’t know you’d been waiting for has arrived: William Shatner is working on a metal covers album! L.A. Weekly reports that Mike Inez (Alice in Chains), Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) and Peter Frampton (Peter Frampton) will be manning the bridge. Other probable guest stars include Steve Howe (Yes), Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Brian May (Queen), Bootsy Collins (Parliament-Funkadelic) and the ghost of Ricardo Montalban (we wish).

Apparently all the songs are to have a “space” or “flying in space” theme. They will include “Space Odyssey” (The Byrds), “Iron Man” (Black Sabbath), “Learn to Fly” (Foo Fighters), “She Blinded Me with Science” (Thomas Dolby) and, inexplicably, “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen). Continue reading »

Full Albums features covers of every track off a classic album. Got an idea for a future pick? Leave a note in the comments!

From the political science of “War Pigs” to the applied pharmacology of “Fairies Wear Boots,” Black Sabbath‘s Paranoid features seven of the most iconic heavy metal songs of all time…and an instrumental ditty with the evocative title “Rat Salad.” Ozzy Osbourne‘s original wail forever eclipses his latter-day cries of “Shaaaaroooon.” Tony Iommi is the Lennon/McCartney of doom-laden riffs. Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make a mean rhythm section and an even meaner rat salad. And as the following covers demonstrate, the quartet’s hard rock mastery sounds good in any genre. Continue reading »

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