Lost Jimi Hendrix film to screen on Monday night

TJR provides an update and thoughts on the October 21, 2019 screening of the legendary film "The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Royal Albert Hall":


https://youtu.be/NI3Vp0Y6M6Y


You can watch the official trailer below:

https://youtu.be/6egSVu3rYhs

Concert For George: George Harrison Tribute Box Set due out Feb. 23, 2018

Amazing news. Read the official media release below...

CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF

GEORGE HARRISON

WITH A SPECIAL REISSUE OF

CONCERT FOR GEORGE

AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON STREAMING PLATFORMS, AND ON VINYL -

AS A 180-GRAM 4-LP BOX SET, AND A LIMITED-EDITION DELUXE BOX SET

THE LEGENDARY TRIBUTE CONCERT, FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY

ERIC CLAPTON, JOE BROWN, DHANI HARRISON, JOOLS HOLLAND, JEFF LYNNE, PAUL McCARTNEY, TOM PETTY, MONTY PYTHON, RAVI & ANOUSHKA SHANKAR, RINGO STARR AND MORE

SET FOR RELEASE ON FEBRUARY 23, 2018

In honor of George Harrison's 75^th birthday (February 25), the Grammy^®-winning, 8-times platinum release CONCERT FOR GEORGE, will be available for the first time on vinyl, released as a 4-LP Box Set, as well as a Limited Edition Deluxe 10-disc Box Set viaConcord Music.

Says Olivia Harrison, "We will always celebrate George's birthday and this year we are releasing Concert for George in a very special package in memory of a special man."

The Deluxe Box Set (limited to 1,000 pieces worldwide) features the complete sound and film recordings from the concert (on 4 180-gram audiophile LPs, 2 CDs, 2 DVDs and 2 Blu-rays), a 12"x12" hard-bound 60-page book, plus an opportunity to own a piece of the historic event, by way of a cutting from the original hand-painted on-stage tapestry used as the backdrop at the Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2002. The package is housed in a gold-colored, fabric-wrapped box with a die-cut mandala window to display the unique stage fabric (which is mounted on an individually numbered card, suitable for framing). Includes a note from Olivia Harrison, explaining the story behind the tapestry.  The 1,000 Limited Edition Deluxe Box Sets are only available on ConcertForGeorge.com. Click here to pre-order: http://found.ee/CFG-deluxe-r  

             

The 4-LP Box Set includes the complete sound recordings from CONCERT FOR GEORGE, on 180-gram audiophile vinyl, featuring a special, mandala-design etched on side-8. This is the first time that all songs from the performance have been available on an audio configuration. The album will also be made newly available via streaming platforms, track listing mirroring that of the vinyl.

In addition to the vinyl formats, the release will also be presented as a 2-CD set, as well as newly issued 2-CD + 2-DVD, and 2-CD + 2-Blu-ray combo packages. The 2-CD set features sound recordings from the concert. The 2-disc DVD and Blu-ray sets also include the complete filmed concert on the first disc, with a second disc containing the original theatrical version featuring concert highlights, interviews with the performers, rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage. Exclusive to the Blu-ray format, the second disc includes an interview segment featuring Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner and Ray Cooper, entitled "Drummers."

Pre-order the Deluxe Box Set: http://found.ee/CFG-deluxe-r

Pre-order the 4-LP Box Set: http://found.ee/CFG-LP-r

Pre-order the 2-CD + 2-DVD Combo Pack: http://found.ee/CFG-CDDVD-r

Pre-order the 2-CD + 2-Blu-ray Combo Pack: http://found.ee/CFG-CDBR-r

Pre-order the 2-CD: http://found.ee/CFG-CD-r

On November 29, 2002, one year after the passing of George Harrison, Olivia Harrison and longtime friend Eric Clapton organized a performance tribute in his honor. Held at London's Royal Albert Hall, the momentous evening featured George's songs, and music he loved, performed by a lineup that included Clapton, Joe Brown, Dhani Harrison, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr and many more.

Directed by David Leland (whose credits include the feature Wish You Were Here,HBO's Band Of Brothers and the Traveling Wilburys video "Handle With Care"), CONCERT FOR GEORGEcaptures stunning renditions of some of the most significant music of the 20th century, including "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (featuring Clapton on guitar, McCartney on piano and Starr on drums), "Taxman" (performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and "The Inner Light" (covered by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar). Lynne, Harrison's longtime friend and collaborator, produced the audio elements of the concert, while Clapton oversaw the entire proceedings as Musical Director.

CONCERT FOR GEORGE has been certified 8-times platinum by the RIAA since its initial release as a 2-DVD set in November 2003 and earned a 2004 Grammy^® Award for Best Long Form Music Video.

"The sweet, solemn music of George Harrison... has rarely sounded more majestic than in the sweeping performances of the enlarged star-studded band that gathered in London at Royal Albert Hall on Nov. 29" - The New York Times

"The event's warmth sweeps the audience along." **** The Guardian

"The fondness that everyone in Eric Clapton's all-star band has for the former Fab shines throughout a tribute that retains the sincerity and simplicity of Harrison's music." **** Empire

"It's hard to think of a more fitting tribute to a man who, despite being in the world's biggest band, spent so much of that time in the shadows of his fellow players. George's songs take centre-stage here, lovingly arranged by musical director Eric Clapton to accommodate as many famous friends as possible." **** Record Collector

CD TRACK LISTING:

Disc 1:

1.       Sarve Shaam - Traditional Prayer 
2.     Your Eyes (Sitar Solo) - Anoushka Shankar
3.       The Inner Light - Jeff Lynne & Anoushka Shankar
4.       Arpan - Conducted by Anoushka Shankar

Disc 2:

1.       I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne
2.       If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton
3.       Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
4.       Give Me love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - Jeff Lynne
5.       Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
6.       Here Comes The Sun - Joe Brown
7.       That's The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
8.       Taxman - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
9.       I Need You - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
10.     Handle With Care - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne & Dhani       Harrison
11.    Isn't It A Pity - Billy Preston
12.    Photograph - Ringo Starr
13.    Honey Don't - Ringo Starr
14.    For You Blue - Paul McCartney
15.    Something - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
16.    All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
17.    While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
18.    My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston
19.    Wah Wah - Eric Clapton and Band
20.    I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown

DVD & BLU-RAY TRACK LISTING

Disc 1 (Complete Concert)

1. Your Eyes - Anoushka Shankar
2. The Inner Light - Jeff Lynne & Anoushka Shankar
3. Arpan - Conducted by Anoushka Shankar
4. Sit On My Face - Monty Python
5. The Lumberjack Song - Monty Python with Tom Hanks
6. I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne
7. If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton
8. Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
9. Give Me Love - Jeff Lynne
10. Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
11. Here Comes The Sun - Joe Brown
12. That's The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
13. Horse To The Water - Jools Holland & Sam Brown
14. Taxman - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
15. I Need You - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
16. Handle With Care - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne & Dhani Harrison
17. Isn't It A Pity - Billy Preston
18. Photograph - Ringo Starr
19. Honey Don't - Ringo Starr
20. For You Blue - Paul McCartney
21. Something - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
22. All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
23. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
24. My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston
25. Wah Wah - Eric Clapton & Band
26. I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown

Disc 2 (Theatrical Version) 

1. I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne
2. If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton
3. Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
4. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)- Jeff Lynne
5. Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
6. Here Comes The Sun - Joe Brown
7. That's The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
8. Taxman - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
9. I Need You - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
10. Handle With Care - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne & Dhani Harrison
11. Isn't It A Pity - Billy Preston
12. Photograph - Ringo Starr
13. Honey Don't - Ringo Starr
14. For You Blue - Paul McCartney
15. Something - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
16. All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
17. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
18. My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston
19. Wah Wah - Eric Clapton & Band
20. I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown

Plus interviews, rehearsals and behind the scenes footage, including: 

• Ravi's orchestra rehearsals
• Monty Python backstage
• George's band rehearsals
• Interviews with musicians
• Photo gallery
•  "Drummers" featurette (on the Blu-ray only, not included on the DVD)

4-LP VINYL TRACK LISTING

Side 1

1. Sarve Shaam - Traditional Prayer 
2. Your Eyes - Anoushka Shankar
3. The Inner Light - Jeff Lynne & Anoushka Shankar 

Side 2

1. Arpan - Conducted by Anoushka Shankar

Side 3

1 Sit On My Face - Monty Python 

2. The Lumberjack Song - Monty Python with Tom Hanks
3. I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne  
4. If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton
5. Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
6. Give Me Love - Jeff Lynne 

Side 4

1. Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
2. Here Comes The Sun - Joe Brown
3. That's The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
4. Horse To The Water - Jools Holland & Sam Brown
5. Taxman - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Side 5

1. I Need You - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. Handle With Care - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne & Dhani Harrison
3. Isn't It A Pity - Billy Preston 
4. Photograph - Ringo Starr

Side 6

1. Honey Don't - Ringo Starr
2. For You Blue - Paul McCartney
3. Something - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
4. All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton

Side 7

1. My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston
2. Wah Wah - Eric Clapton & Band 
3. I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown

Side 8

Etched vinyl with mandala design

DIGITAL TRACK LISTING

1. Sarve Shaam - Traditional Prayer 
2. Your Eyes (Sitar Solo) - Anoushka Shankar
3. The Inner Light - Jeff Lynne & Anoushka Shankar 
4. Arpan - Conducted by Anoushka Shankar
5. Sit On My Face - Monty Python 
6. The Lumberjack Song - Monty Python with Tom Hanks
7. I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne  
8. If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton
9. Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
10. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - Jeff Lynne 
11. Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
12. Here Comes The Sun - Joe Brown
13. That's The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
14. Horse To The Water - Jools Holland & Sam Brown
15. Taxman - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
16. I Need You - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
17. Handle With Care - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne & Dhani Harrison
18. Isn't It A Pity - Billy Preston 
19. Photograph - Ringo Starr
20. Honey Don't - Ringo Starr
21. For You Blue - Paul McCartney
22. Something - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
23. All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
24. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
25. My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston
26. Wah Wah - Eric Clapton & Band 
27. I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown

The following songs will be available for instant-grat download with digital preorders, as well as on streaming services; "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton (available January 26, 2018), "I Need You" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (available February 9, 2018).

###

The Who's 'Tommy – Live at the Royal Albert Hall' coming to DVD, Blu-ray, CD and vinyl on October 13, 2017

One of rock's most seminal works is being celebrated via an upcoming release courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment...

THE WHO

TOMMY – LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

~DVD, BLU-RAY, 2CD, 3LP, AND DIGITAL~

~OCTOBER 13, 2017~

~VIEW TRAILER HERE~

New York, NY (August 17, 2017)—On October 13, 2017, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Tommy – Live At The Royal Albert Hall by The Who on DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD and 3LP [MSRP $15.98 DVD, $21.98 Blu-ray, $19.98 2CD, $39.98 3LP]. This unbelievable concert film captures the first-ever live performance by The Who of Tommy in its entirety and boasts over two hours and twenty minutes of content. The show includes all-time classics like “Pinball Wizard”, “I’m Free”, “Amazing Journey”, “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, “I Can’t Explain”, “Who Are You”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “I Can See For Miles”, and many more!

In April 2017, The Who took to the stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall to perform their rock opera Tommy live in its entirety for the first time in their long and illustrious career. Previous Who live shows had always dropped two, three or four tracks from the album, but for this show, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, the band would perform every track. With specially created animations on a huge screen above the stage and creative use of lighting, the concert told the story of the “deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure played a mean pinball.” In addition, at the end of Tommy, the sell-out crowd was treated to a short set of Who classics. Always a great live band, this performance was a thrilling ride from start to finish.

As well as the incredible full show, Tommy – Live At The Royal Albert Hall includes some great bonus features: a behind-the-scenes featurette, plus full screen animations of both “The Acid Queen” and “Pinball Wizard” with the live performance audio.

This concert film captures some of their greatest work, breathtakingly staged and fully live in full for the first time ever, at an iconic venue. Tommy – Live At The Royal Albert Hall is absolutely unmissable for any fans of The Who.

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

CD: https://www.amazon.com/Tommy-Live-Royal-Albert-Hall/dp/B0746XTX18

Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Tommy-Live-Royal-Albert-Blu-ray/dp/B07472V1D9

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Tommy-Live-Royal-Albert-Hall/dp/B07477ZM3B

Vinyl: https://www.amazon.com/Tommy-Live-Royal-Albert-Hall/dp/B07472TY5L

TRACK LISTING
1) Introduction

2) Overture

3) It’s A Boy

4) 1921

5) Amazing Journey

6) Sparks

7) Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)

8) Christmas

9) Cousin Kevin

10) The Acid Queen

11) Do You Think It’s Alright?

12) Fiddle About

13) Pinball Wizard

14) There’s A Doctor

15) Go To The Mirror!

16) Tommy Can You Hear Me?

17) Smash The Mirror

18) Underture

19) I’m Free

20) Miracle Cure

21) Sensation

22) Sally Simpson

23) Welcome

24) Tommy’s Holiday Camp

25) We’re Not Gonna Take It

26) I Can’t Explain

27) Join Together

28) I Can See For Miles

29) Who Are You

30) Love, Reign O’er Me

31) Baba O’Reilly

32) Won’t Get Fooled Again

Walter Trout to mark his return with headlining performance at The Coach House on July 10

Walter Trout received a trio of standing ovations when he performed at the Lead Belly Fest
at London's Royal Albert Hall on June 15, 2015. Photo courtesy of CGFILM.TV

On June 29, 2015, I got the chance to chat with legendary bluesman Walter Trout. Here are highlights of my 30-minute phone interview.

Robert Kinsler: I know you have the show coming up at The Coach House (on July 10), but you recently performed at Royal Albert Hall in London (on June 15, 2015).

Walter Trout: I played Royal Albert Hall with Van Morrison and Eric Burdon and Eric Bibb and a whole bunch of others; it was awesome. I only did two songs - they have a house band there that backed everybody up - I did two songs on my own and I got three standing ovations. And then I got to play two songs backing up Van Morrison and Eric Burdon on guitar.

Robert: How was that, getting to back up Eric Burdon and Van Morrison? They are true legends.

Walter Trout, right, performing at Royal Albert Hall
on June 15 during his comeback performance.
Photo courtesy of CGFILM.TV

Walter: Well, it was kind of like I was pinching myself. 'Wow.' Hey, a year ago I was close to death and now here I am standing on stage at Royal Albert Hall like three feet away from these two icons. It was really, 'This is pretty awesome. This is pretty cool.'

Robert: Obviously, your chops are coming back, and you're feeling pretty good about actually embarking on your own tour, right?

Walter: I think my chops are back, big time. I don't know if you saw the video from Albert Hall; there is a video on my Facebook page. You have to scroll down, it's called "Marie Trout introduces Walter Trout at RAH." Marie introduced me; they had her give a little talk and introduce me, and then my first song on there was a tribute to B.B. King. And that's on there. You can hear that my chops are back.

Robert: I remember when we talked last year, you told me all the notes and all the music was inside you, but you simply didn't have the strength yet to play. I imagine you have been undergoing some physical therapy and rehabilitation, right?

Walter: Yeah, I've been doing that (rehabilitation); as a matter of fact, the more it came back, and the more I was overjoyed I was with it there were days I would sit on my couch and play my Stratocaster for five or six hours, and you know, I ended up pulling out the tendons in the fingers on my left hand, and I had to go get hand therapy. Like, it's one thing or the other; I overdid, right? After having no muscles in my hand or my arm, you know because I lost all the muscles...but (now) I'm doing fine. But you know, of course, I would overdo it. That's sort of what I'm known for; so, but it was joyous to be able to do it again so I would sit there for hours and just revel, 'Wow, I can do this again.'

Robert: How does it feel to set out on a tour after this amount of time?

Walter: It feels awesome man. It's hard for me to even believe that I'm going to get to do this again. I didn't think I ever would (again), and as a matter of fact, I did my first unannounced warm-up gig last night (Sunday, June 28, 2015) at Malarkey's. It was just word-of-mouth. We didn't tell anybody I was going to be there. It was billed as Mike Leasure and Friends. Mike's my drummer. And I showed up; I didn't know if I would make it through 40 minutes. We had told the guy putting the show on, 'Look I don't know what is going to happen.' It was one thing to do two songs at Royal Albert Hall, but to get up and do a whole show. I don't know what's gonna happen. And, I may need to only do 40 minutes and if that's what it is, then so be it.' My son was keeping time and I thought we had been up there for about 40 minutes and we were just blazing away. My son came up and said, 'Dad, you've already been up here for 90 minutes.' We ended up playing over two hours. And it was - we were - indescribable how it felt. The band was blazing; the people were loving it and I was able to play. I didn't fall over; I didn't have to sit down. It was really joyous. Now that doesn't mean that is going to happen every night. But it did give me hope that, ''Hey, I can do this again, you know.'

Robert: That's great. You're going to continue to get stronger every day, I would imagine.

Walter: I would think so. When I go out on the tour and I'm playing every night. Because, I have to say when I got home last night (after the performance in Long Beach) my fingers started really hurting. This first I've played full board, digging in for over two hours. I was unchained. I could play anything I wanted. I was bending strings, and it was like the old me. When I got home the fingers on my left hand went 'What did you do to us?' I couldn't hold my phone. But I got up today and they're fine. It's like overworking a muscle. You get sore, of course.

Robert: After you play at The Coach House, you're going on a pretty substantial tour...

Walter: What we're doing. We start at The Coach House, and then do a U.S./Canada run. Our next gig after the Coach House is we play at the Ottawa Blues Fest. So we fly off to Canada, and we do three days in Canada, and then fly to Kansas City and that's where we start a U.S. tour that takes us all over the country. And that's going to be five weeks. I have a couple weeks off in September, and then I do the Huntington Beach Library. And that would be good to push that gig. Then I do the big blues bender in Las Vegas. We're going to play on the bill there with Buddy Guy. He's the big headliner. On the final night of the Blues Bender it's us and Buddy Guy. And then we take off and do five or six weeks in Europe.

And we have a brand new CD we just recorded that will come out the first of October. And I'm excited about it. It's really something I think.

Robert: Your publicist told me about it.

Walter: Well, as a matter of fact, the CD is being mastered today as we speak. It will be sent off to Provo (his record label) tomorrow. The final step in doing the CD is doing the mastering. And that's being done right now up in L.A. at The Mastering Lab and I'm excited about this one Robert because what I've done is a concept album what is all about what I went through. The whole thing is the story of what happened set to music. It starts off where nobody thought I was going to make it and my wife would be standing over me in the bed holding my hand, telling me I need to fight but I could look in her eyes and I could see nobody thought I was going to survive. It's called 'Almost Gone' and the chorus goes 'I See It In Her Eyes / We both Know I'm Almost Gone.' And it goes through the whole story and it ends with an acoustic song called 'Gonna Live Again.' And it's me having a conversation with God asking him why he has kept me here and what it is I need to do now that I'm here.


Here is a re-posting of my article on Trout that ran in The Orange County Register on Sunday, July 5, 2015:

BACK IN ACTION

Orange County bluesman Walter Trout returns to the stage after battling illness

Walter Trout performing at
Doheny Blues Festival in May 2011.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Walter Trout

Where: The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano

When: 8 p.m. on July 10

Tickets: $25

Information: thecoachhouse.com or waltertrout.com

Next: Walter Trout will perform at the Huntington Beach Library on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015

Like any bona fide bluesman, Walter Trout has experienced life's lofty heights and its darkest hours. His 50-year-career has included unbelievable highs performing at major festivals throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Among his most memorable local sets was opening for John Fogerty at the Doheny Blues Fest in May 2011, and then opening for B.B. King at the Pacific Amphitheatre in August 2011. But the 64-year-old Huntington Beach resident has also experienced hopelessness, especially in the months leading up to May 26, 2014 when he underwent life-saving liver transplant surgery. 

Just over a year later, on June 15, 2015, Trout made his highly-anticipated return to the stage when he performed at London's Royal Albert Hall, receiving a trio of standing ovations when he performed at the Lead Belly Fest on a bill with a number of legendary artists.

"I played Royal Albert Hall with Van Morrison and Eric Burdon and a whole bunch of others; it was awesome," Trout said in a recent phone interview. 

"Well, it was kind of like I was pinching myself. Wow. Hey, a year ago I was close to death and now here I am standing on stage at Royal Albert Hall like three feet away from these two icons. It was really, 'This is pretty awesome. This is pretty cool.' "

Now local fans will get to see the 64-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist when he headlines at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on July 10, or at Huntington Beach Library on Sept. 26.

Anyone who has seen Trout perform his powerful style of blues-rock may wonder if the guitarist's powers on lead guitar are intact. But daily five-to-six practice sessions and an otherworldly zeal to play his Fender Strat are likely just what the doctor ordered. He has relentlessly built back up strength in his arms, hands and fingers to play like he did before he grew ill with the disease.

"As a matter of fact, the more it came back (my strength), and the more I was overjoyed...I would sit on my couch and play my Stratocaster for five or six hours, and you know, I ended up pulling out the tendons in the fingers on my left hand, and I had to go get hand therapy. Like, it's one thing or the other; I overdid, right? After having no muscles in my hand or my arm, you know because I lost all the muscles...but (now) I'm doing fine. But you know, of course, I would overdo it. That's sort of what I'm known for; so, but it was joyous to be able to do it again so I would sit there for hours and just revel, 'Wow, I can do this again.'."

On the afternoon of June 28, 2015, Trout made an unannounced appearance at Malarkey's in Long Beach. Although he anticipated performing for about 40 minutes, his joy at being back on stage beckoned.

"My son was keeping time and I thought we had been up there for about 40 minutes and we were just blazing away. My son came up and said, 'Dad, you've already been up here for 90 minutes.' We ended up playing over two hours. And it was – we were – indescribable how it felt. The band was blazing; the people were loving it and I was able to play. I didn't fall over; I didn't have to sit down. It was really joyous. Now that doesn't mean that is going to happen every night. But it did give me hope that, ''Hey, I can do this again you know'."

When Trout worked on the recordings for his 2014 album "The Blues Came Callin' " between April 2013 and January 2014 during the midst of his battle with liver disease, he feared the album would like be his final set of recordings. But with the successful liver transplant and subsequent recovery, Trout has recorded a new as-of-yet untitled album set to be released on Oct. 1, 2015.

"I'm excited about this one Robert because what I've done is a concept album what is all about what I went through," Trout said. "The whole thing is the story of what happened set to music. It starts off where nobody thought I was going to make it and my wife would be standing over me in the bed holding my hand, telling me I need to fight but I could look in her eyes and I could see nobody thought I was going to survive. It's called 'Almost Gone' and the chorus goes 'I See It In Her Eyes / We both Know I'm Almost Gone.' And it goes through the whole story and it ends with an acoustic song called 'Gonna Live Again.' And it's me having a conversation with God asking him why he has kept me here and what it is I need to do now that I'm here."

Click here to read my Orange County Register article that ran in July 2014, where I interviewed Trout in connection with a special tribute show being held featuring his son Jon Trout and singer-guitarist Danny Bryant.