“Steve Lee – The Eyes Of A Tiger: In Memory Of Our Unforgotten Friend!” Out Now – To Honor The Upcoming Tenth Anniversary Of His Death
How do you honor a legend? Someone who has become immortal through his songs, his voice, and his being and who is as alive as ever in the hearts of his friends, colleagues, and fans years after his tragic passing. What do you say about a singer who was among the best in the world in his genre without ever taking his feet off the ground? It only works with music. On the tenth anniversary of Steve Lee‘s passing, GOTTHARD bow in front of their singer with Steve Lee – The Eyes Of A Tiger: In Memory Of Our Unforgotten Friend! an album released in his memory – it will be released this Friday and contains two unreleased tracks, including the eponymous “Eye Of The Tiger” in two versions, as well as eleven “stripped-down” versions of well-known songs: performed by GOTTHARD – sung by Steve Lee.
Steve Lee was born in August 1963 in the Swiss town of Horgen and later moved to the Canton of Ticino with his family. Although buying his first drum set at the age of 12 and knowing his whole life would revolve around music, the grounded young man completed a goldsmiths apprenticeship before becoming a drummer. “When I saw Steve for the first time, he was sitting behind his drums singing ‘Child in Time’, the classic by Deep Purple,” Leo Leoni recalls. “I was impressed by the way he sang the song and knew straight away: This is a voice that can conquer the world.” Everybody wanted a singer like Steve Lee – his musicality, passion, and integrity could change an entire song and thrilled colleagues, producers, and audiences alike. And this, without ever aiming for the frontman position: Because his first band’s singer had left the group at short notice, he was persuaded to take the mic and was actually shocked to be the lead singer in front of 8000 people. Even later – during his 18 years with GOTTHARD, including their rise to Switzerland’s most successful band, 14 No.1 albums, and global headliner tours as well as tours with DEEP PURPLE, BON JOVI, or AC/DC– Steve Lee never was too sure of himself. “He believed in his talent well enough,” Leoni explains “but he was skeptical as well. I always encouraged him to make the best of his instrument. He had a gift.” – The rest is music history.
A story that, on October 5, 2010, due to the accidental death of Steve Lee, would take the Rock world’s breath away, far beyond the borders of Switzerland. The fact that GOTTHARD survived as a band, despite the unbelievable loss of their singer against all expectations as a band comes close to a miracle and has to do with both the deep love for their music, which Lee always connected with Habegger, Leoni, Lynn and Scherer and the luck to have found in Nic Maeder not a replacement but a full-fledged family member. With Maeder providing backing vocals, GOTTHARD now honors their unforgotten friend with eleven songs never heard before in this distilled form and two unreleased tracks. In addition to ‘Tarot Woman’, two versions of the 1982 “Rocky” classic ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ – one of Steve Lee’s absolute favorite songs – will be released as an advance single of the album just in time for his birthday on August 5th. “We had been planning a memorial concert for a long time before Covid-19 changed everything. So the idea was born to make a tribute album with Steve for both our fans and us. As an additional memory of this unique, unforgettable singer. We want to make sure people know that he is still part of this band and will always be!“
When the goosebump recordings emerged from the band’s archives, they proved to be a treasure that had to be shared with the world. With infinite love to detail, a magical album developed – not least because of the nearly transcendental possibility of hearing Steve Lee sing again: “I never thought it would be possible to make an album with his unique voice again. Recording the bass lines was very emotional for me,” shares Marc, and Freddy adds: “Steve’s last recorded session brings back so many memories – of our shows, but also of what a great singer he was.” With the album “Steve Lee – The Eyes Of A Tiger: In Memory Of Our Unforgotten Friend!”, GOTTHARD take off on a highly emotional journey through time on October 2 – and they are inviting everyone who has ever been touched by Steve Lee.
A trip that lingers on stages all over the world, and hasn’t ended on the ‘highway to hell’ in Nevada ten years ago. Because in the words of Nic Maeder: “Steve is loved – truly loved. By many people.”
Get the album here: http://nblast.de/Gotthard-TEOAT
“Steve Lee – The Eyes Of A Tiger: In Memory Of Our Unforgotten Friend!”
TRACKLISTING
1. One Life One Soul
2. Let It Be
3. In The Name
4. Lonely People
5. Heaven
6. Need To Believe
7. Lift U Up
8. Hush
9. First Time In A Long Time
10. Tarot Woman
11. And Then Goodbye
12. The Train
13. Eye Of The Tiger
BONUS TRACK:
Eye Of The Tiger (Electric Version)
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GOTTHARD live 2021:
11.01. D Köln – Carlsweg
12.01. D Singen – Stadthalle
14.01. D Regensburg – Airport Traubling
15.01. D Fürth – Stadthalle
16.01. D München – Tonhalle
18.01. D Frankfurt – Batschkapp
19.01. D Saarbrücken – Garage
21.01. D Berlin – Tempodrom
22.01. D Bremen – Pier II
23.01. D Balingen – Volksbankmesse
25.01. D Hamburg – GF36
26.01. D Hannover – Capitol
