DIZZY REED
“ROCK ‘N ROLL AIN’T EASY”
Album Review by Piers Renfree

7/10

As a child, Dizzy Reed was taught to play the organ, by his Grandmother. Growing up, Dizzy heard a lot of Booker T and the MGs, due to his Father’s love of them and by the age of 12 Dizzy was touring in his band. Other early influences included Gregg Rollie, Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple’s Jon Lord. In 1985, Dizzy moved to LA and in 1990, he joined Guns ‘N’ Roses in time for their seminal double release “Use Your Illusion” and the tour in support of both discs. In 2012, he was inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of Guns ‘N’ Roses. Dizzy has also toured with The Psychedelic Furs, sings lead vocals in his side project Hookers ‘N’ Blow and is a member of the supergroup The Dead Daisys alongside members of Nine Inch Nails, The Cult, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, The Rolling Stones and Mötley Crüe.

“Rock ‘N Roll Ain’t Easy” is Dizzy’s debut solo album and sees Dizzy uniting with fellow Guns ‘N’ Roses members as well as musicians from W.A.S.P., Quiet Riot, The Psychedelic Furs, The Replacements, No Doubt, Thin Lizzy and Queens Of The Stone Age and is available as Digital, CD and Purple Vinyl. The album opens with a mid-fast paced rocker “This Don’t Look Like Vegas” which has nice, clean vocals, a sing-along chorus and a nice guitar solo.

“Mother Theresa” is the second song. It’s a mid-slow paced effort, with a fair few guitar solos in there. Third song “Cheers To R Oblivion” is a mud-paced song that has a vocal melody that reminds me of My Chemical Romance. Not 100% my cup of tea, but not bad. The song seems to grow on me as it goes on. A bit of an Elton John type intro starts the fourth song “Fragile Water”. It’s a slow, ballady song – quite nice though. Fifth song “Dirty Bomb” is a mid-paced rocker with a bit of classic rock n’ roll swagger.

For me, the sixth song “Mystery In Exile” is a NO! It’s one of those pop-punk, trendy, commercial rock songs that disgraces the airwaves on too regular a basis. Even on the third spin of the album, it’s not improved. If you like this kind of thing, then you may like it, if not, skip to the next song. Seventh song, “I Celebrate”, is a mid-paced rocker. The chorus vocal melody reminds me of a song by a mid-90s Brit-Pop Indie band. Singing and a bit of a guitar solo introduce “Understanding”, the eighth song of the album, which is a mid-fast paced rocker with a nice beat and some Hammond Keyboard that’s reminiscent of Deep Purple’s legendary ivory tickler, the late Jon Lord.

Ninth song “Crestfallen” is introduced with piano and vocals, before the bass, drums and guitar join in. Then drops to piano, vocals and drums, before the bass and guitar join in again. The album continues with a mid-paced rocker for the tenth song “Forgotten Cases”. “Reperations”, the eleventh song is a fast paced rocker, where the guitar solo is followed by a quick stop start. Piano introduces the final song, the title track “Rock ‘N Roll Ain’t Easy”, which is a slow, ballady type song, with some saxophone in the middle.

Overall, not a bad album (with the exception of “Mystery In Exile”). There’s no big, overblown epics, like “November Rain” here, just a good old, no frills rock n’ roll album. Everyone works well and compliments each other.

TRACKLIST

This Don’t Look Like Vegas
Mother Theresa
Cheers 2 R Oblivion
Fragile Water
Dirty Bomb
Mystery In Exile
I Celebrate
Understanding
Crestfallen
Forgotten Cases
Reparations
Rock ‘N Roll Ain’t Easy

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