Phenomena (band)
Encyclopedia
Phenomena is a rock
concept around a supergroup formed by record producer
Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake
guitarist Mel Galley
. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May
, Tony Martin and John Wetton
amongst others. In a cover story, run by Kerrang!
magazine in 1985, Phenomena's production of rock songs based on a story line running through a whole album, attached to artworks and other multi-media aspects was credited for the "return of the concept album" in the 1980s. Phenomena released three album
s in the 1980s and early 1990s, and had a number one hit single
in South America with "Did It All For Love", while the album charted across Europe, in Japan and Brazil. An accompanying music video
was shot and produced by Rimensberger in conjunction with Spidercom Films at London's Abbey Road Studios
, and represented a video trailer for the Phenomena - Dream Runner movie project.
More albums followed without the involvement of Rimensberger and released under the branding of 'Tom Galley, the creator of Phenomena'. The latest, Blind Faith, was released in September 2010 and a final production is scheduled for release later this year. Whilst all were well received, they were not comparable to the original Phenomena as they lack the typical concept story running through the whole album, international, mixed genre musicians’ matrix and multi-media links. In interviews Tom makes clear, that these albums released under a solo contract with the Escape label, of which a final is due later this year, should not be compared with the original Phenomena. He has recently joined forces again with Rimensberger and the 2 are working on the first real Phenomena concept album for 25 years.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
concept around a supergroup formed by record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
guitarist Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...
. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
, Tony Martin and John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
amongst others. In a cover story, run by Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine in 1985, Phenomena's production of rock songs based on a story line running through a whole album, attached to artworks and other multi-media aspects was credited for the "return of the concept album" in the 1980s. Phenomena released three album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in the 1980s and early 1990s, and had a number one hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in South America with "Did It All For Love", while the album charted across Europe, in Japan and Brazil. An accompanying music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was shot and produced by Rimensberger in conjunction with Spidercom Films at London's Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, and represented a video trailer for the Phenomena - Dream Runner movie project.
More albums followed without the involvement of Rimensberger and released under the branding of 'Tom Galley, the creator of Phenomena'. The latest, Blind Faith, was released in September 2010 and a final production is scheduled for release later this year. Whilst all were well received, they were not comparable to the original Phenomena as they lack the typical concept story running through the whole album, international, mixed genre musicians’ matrix and multi-media links. In interviews Tom makes clear, that these albums released under a solo contract with the Escape label, of which a final is due later this year, should not be compared with the original Phenomena. He has recently joined forces again with Rimensberger and the 2 are working on the first real Phenomena concept album for 25 years.
Discography
- Phenomena (Bronze, 1984) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#63 - Phenomena II Did It All For Love (BMG/RCA, 1987) (single)
- Phenomena II: Dream Runner (BMG/RCA, 1987)
- Phenomena III: Inner Vision (Castle Communications, 1993)
- Phenomena Project X 1985-1996 (1997) (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
), partly remixed - Psychofantasy (Escape, 2006)
- The Complete Works (2006) (three first albums partly remixed, plus bonus tracks)
- Blind Faith (Escape, 2010)