Billy Sherwood, a 1990s-era member of Yes, is working on two new all-star projects – a tribute to Supertramp and an original prog-rock album. Babicz Identity series guitars will be featured on the project.

A track like “The Laws of Nature,” for the Cleopatra Records prog release, illustrates the guest-packed theme: Sherwood confirms that John Wetton is on vocals; Tony Levin is on bass; and Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Styx, the Dixie Dregs) is on violin. Colin Moulding of XTC will appear on a track called “Check Point Karma,” too.

Meanwhile, Steve Morse is part of the Supertramp album, Sherwood said. Mickey Thomas of Starship fame will handle vocal duties on the familiar hit “The Logical Song.” Both Levin and fellow Yes alum Rick Wakeman will guest on a new version of Supertramp’s “Crime of the Century,” Sherwood said. Also on board: Steve Porcaro, co-founder of Toto, a band that Sherwood has also collaborated with in the past.

Richard Page, frontman of 1980s hitmakers Mr. Mister, is appearing on both the Supertramp tribute album (handling the hit “Give A Little Bit”) and Sherwood’s prog project – as is Larry Fast, a keyboardist who’s played with Peter Gabriel, Foreigner and Hall and Oates.

Yoso drummer Scott Connor appears on several tracks, too, including “Breakfast in America,” “Goodbye Stranger,” “Dreamer” and “Crime of the Century.”

Sherwood appeared on Yes’ 1991 release Union; toured with the band in support of 1994’s Talk; then co-produced and mixed Yes’ Keys to Ascension and Keys to Ascension 2 projects in 1996-97; was a key creative contributor to the band’s 1997 release Open Your Eyes and played on the subsequent tour; then finally appeared on 1999’s The Ladder and the live document from a subsequent tour, House of Yes.

Special Thanks to : Something Else! Reviews.
Please see:
http://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/02/21/all-star-supertramp-tribute-new-prog-rock-album-on-tap-for-yes-alum-billy-sherwood/

for the original story in it's entirety.

Babicz Guitars USA will be doing a private unveiling of their new "Octane" Series guitars at the upcoming NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. The 2012 "Octane" is the culmination of years of design work by luthier Jeff Babicz and is the second version of the company's tremendously popular "Octane 818" which debuted in 2006.


The 2012 version of the Babicz Octane is designed to capitalize on the impact the model made when first introduced in 2007. It is a high end-high performance-quality built professional instrument featuring the proprietary innovations in guitar technology that the Babicz brand has become known for, such as:

Babicz Torque Reducing Split Bridge (Pat. # 7,534,945) and the

Babicz Lateral Compression String Anchors
(Pat. # 7,112,733).

In addition, the new "Octane" features Babicz's latest patented innovation, the Babicz Tilt-Thru neck joint (Pat. # 7,816,592) which offers fast and seamless string height adjustments by instantly changing the pitch of the 'neck-thru' design with the turn of an Allen key.

Other features unique to the 2012 version of the Octane are Flame Maple tops with a variety of finishes, a semi-chambered Mahogany body, Seymour Duncan pick ups (1 Pearly Gates, bridge, 2 Cool Rails, middle & neck) in conjunction with an L.R.Baggs custom acoustic pre-amp and a proprietary blend circuit.