|
Frontiers Records The Italian Style to Melodic Hard Rock
Do you remember the 1970's and 1980's, the heydays of Melodic Hard
Rock music? When music still had heart and soul? The days, when acts like
TOTO, JOURNEY, SURVIVOR or STYX ruled the airwaves, stormed the
international charts and aroused the enthusiasm of the masses with their
anthemic rockers and heartbreaking ballads? The times when those bands
played the world's biggest venues and blew the audiences away with their
magic live performances? No matter what people might say - don't believe
that these types of bands and their music are gone forever! Maybe the
public eye lost sight of Melodic Hard Rock behind the wall of a totally
commercialized music industry, ruled by greedy major labels, strictly
formatted radio stations and trend-oriented music television. Still, many
of the heroes and legends responsible for timeless Rock classics a la Hold
The Line, Boat On The River and Eye Of The Tiger, are still alive and
kicking! And many of them have found a home on Frontiers Records, a record
label that still cares for high quality Melodic Hard Rock music, its great
artists and passionate fans. Frontiers Records was founded back in 1996 in
Napoli, Italy by Serafino Perugino. In just a few months, he became one of
the most respected and well-known Italian distributors in the independent
Rock market. His growing reputation among musicians and business people
helped pave the way for the successful development of the company as a
recording label. In 1998 Frontiers Records released their first CD: A
double live album Never Say Goodbye from the sensational British Melodic
Hard Rock newcomers TEN. Since then, Frontiers Records have released many
critically acclaimed albums, while several internationally renowned acts
joined their high-profile roster: WINGER, STYX, TOTO, JOE LYNN TURNER,
JOURNEY, THUNDER, SURVIVOR, GLENN HUGHES, HOUSE OF LORDS, just to name a
few! Besides that, Frontiers Records also set up during this time many
exciting new studio projects to bring back some of Rock's finest voices,
or give some still established artists the chance to show a new side of
their musical personality! Shining examples are VERTIGO, lead by former
TOTO singer Joseph Williams; OVER THE EDGE featuring STARSHIP's Mickey
Thomas; PLACE VENDOME fronted by former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske;
and the highly successfull ALLEN/LANDE project. And not forgetting the
evolution of KANSAS' Billy Greer and his SEVENTH KEY release, from a
studio project to a real live band and the stunning PRIDE OF LIONS,
featuring former SURVIVOR main songwriter Jim Peterik and vocal star Toby
Hitchcock. Frontiers Records' foreword has always been to dream together
with the thousands of people that love quality Rock music. Achieving this
means constant hard work from a well oiled and highly ambitious team at
the Frontiers Records headquarters in Napoli. The Frontiers staff takes
care of all relevant business matters: contracts, licensing, sales,
promotion, etc. They always give their best and try to find the most
effective strategic marketing required for each of the label's releases.
More than a million records sold in nearly eight years and several
international chart entries prove their work right! There can be little
doubt about it that it is Frontiers Records' professionalism that sets
them apart from other independent Rock labels. The various distribution
and promotion companies the label joined forces with during the years have
always been chosen according to a choice of quality and contents and not
just for a commercial solution. Frontiers Records also cultivate a very
demanding relationship with the artists they sign. Their most important
rules in working with any of them are respect and commitment. The label
requires a positive attitude and GREAT - not 'simply' good music - from
their artists and in return, stands 100% behind them and their releases.
What else could you ask for to ensure a positive future for Melodic Hard
Rock music!?
Marco Spath
Melodic Rock Fanzine
|
