Bonfire - 'Ready 4 Reaction' (MMXXIII Version)

I met you early in the night
you had nothing much to hide
your eyes where burning in to me

Oh yes I'm nervous don't you know
girl you make me loose control
my heart is pounding - missing beats

I can't move - with you right beside me
I'm going all the way

You hold the answer in your hand
the ice is melting where I stand
the lights go down on me

More and more I feel the heat
girl you knock me off my feet
my head is spinning round and round

Just let go - forget the world around us
Hold me through the night

[Chorus:]
Ready 4 the action
oh yes I'm ready for the flight
Ready 4 reaction
because I'm running wild tonight

I'm so caught up in desire
got no way to cool the fire
the blood is boiling in my veins

All the secrets that you hide
I'll discover on the ride
I'm getting lost within a dream

One more time - we can feel the fire
burning deep inside

[Chorus]

Οι Bonfire μας έρχονται από την Γερμανία. Δημιουργήθηκαν το μακρινό 1972 ως Cacumen (με δισκογραφικό απολογισμό ένα single, δύο albums και ένα ep) και το 1986 -κατόπιν προτροπής της δισκογραφικής τους εταιρείας και του manager της μπάντας- άλλαξαν το όνομά τους σε Bonfire.

Δραστήρια δισκογραφικά μπάντα με 19 "ολοκληρωμένους" δίσκους στο ενεργητικό της (συν επτά live albums και τέσσερις συλλογές). Ο δεύτερος δίσκος των Bonfire ("Fire Works") κυκλοφόρησε το 1986 και κυκλοφόρησε επανηχογραφημένο μόλις χθες (η MMXXIII version) σε cd και βινύλιο μέσω της AFM Records...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Since more than 35 years Bonfire are the embodiment of "Hard'n'Heavy made in Germany“. Now they are releasing their most wanted albums "POINT BLANK", "FIREWORKS" and "DON'T TOUCH THE LIGHT" as MMXXIII re-recording versions with an entirely new artwork! Available for the very first time as digital format on all streaming providers, as colored limited and none limited vinyl and as CD digipak.

Sometimes you get the feeling that time stands still. Surely 1986 was only yesterday? And haven’t the hits from back then lost none of their magic? Then you dig out your favourite records and discover that the tracks that sound alive and fresh in your memory have acquired a little patina in recent years. Which is pretty much what happened to Bonfire guitarist Hans Ziller when he remembered his band’s first major successes.

Bonfire are one of the most iconic German hard rock bands of the past forty years, and their 2020 album ‘Fistful Of Fire’ garnered high positions in the German charts. Their first three releases ‘Don’t Touch The Light’ (1986), ‘Fireworks’ (1987) and ‘Point Blank’ (1989), which have shaped a whole era, still hold a special position in Bonfire’s career.

As one of the group’s founding members and its main composer, Ziller came up with an ambitious idea: How would the songs from those now slightly dated releases sound if they were re-recorded in contemporary studio conditions? This concept was particularly exciting because the band’s current line-up is one of the strongest of their entire career.

And so his idea began to take shape: The outstanding current Bonfire line-up has completely re-recorded all three albums, supported by updated cover artwork and a sound to make your heart beat faster. The result will be released on 22 September 2023 on AFM/Soulfood. Ziller: “What we wanted to do was to record the songs as if Bonfire had been a metal band in the eighties!”

Naturally, you need first-rate musicians for this kind of ambitious undertaking, and that’s precisely what Bonfire mark 2023 have: Greek singer Dyan Mair, one of the greatest European vocal talents of our time, has recently joined the Bonfire fold.

Ziller hadn’t realised that the man from southern Europe has always been a huge Bonfire fan for whom a lifelong dream came true. In less than two weeks, the 30-year-old had mastered all 35 songs from the three cult albums. Ziller enthuses: “Dyan can simply sing anything, from rock vocals to falsetto. You only have to listen to him to realise that he will excel live.”

In addition to Mair and Ziller, the line-up includes solo guitarist Frank Pané (Valley’s Eve, Sainted Sinners), New York bassist Ronnie Parkes and drummer Fabio Allesandrini (Annihilator).

What literally screams metal by name definitely sounds like it: These recent recordings of ‘Don't Touch The Light’, ‘Fireworks’ and ‘Point Blank’ see Bonfire deliver the timeless material from the original albums in a powerful sound that, despite its unbridled power, has lost none of its complexity.

Ziller: “Of course, we kept to the original arrangements as much as possible, perhaps slightly changing a riff now and then or updating the sound of a guitar part. But all the essential elements, right down to the lyrics, have remained untouched.”

Bonfire have taken an equally sensitive approach to the cover design: The main features of the original artwork have remained unchanged, but there are a few subtle alterations: ‘Don’t Touch The Light’ now features two women instead of two children, the cover of ‘Fireworks’ has been given a little more “heat”, and a monk is now standing in front of the huge gate on ‘Point Blank’, instead of a woman. “The direct reference to the originals has been retained, but at the same time you can see that these are new versions of the albums,” explains Ziller.

And so we can now all look forward to fantastic new versions of great Bonfire hits such as ‘Ready 4 Reaction’, ‘American Nights’, ‘Fantasy’, ‘Never Enough’, ‘Waste No Time’ and ‘Never Surrender’, which have lost none of their compositional timelessness and could hardly sound more haunting. It comes as no surprise that Ziller & Co. plan to present their stroke of genius as extensively as possible.

They are set to release seven (!!) lead singles and are also thinking about a lavish collector’s box, including great fan gadgets. According to Ziller, there’s plenty of material: “Of course it’s still a secret what the content will be, but I can tell you this much: I’m currently busy writing a book about my career as a musician. So who knows?”»

Band: Bonfire
Country of origin: Germany
Location: Ingolstadt, Bavaria
Formed in: 1986
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Lyrical themes: Life, Relationships, Rock
Years active: 1972-1986 (as Cacumen), 1986-present

Video: "Ready 4 Reaction"
Music & Lyrics: Hans Ziller, Claus Lessmann, Horst Maier Thorn
Produced by: Hans Ziller
Mixed by: Tom Müller (Flatliners Studio)
Mastered by: Tom Müller (Flatliners Studio)
Video produced & edited by: Musikclip
Video produced & edited at: Photofrank Studio, Näfels, Switzerland
Camera: Frank
Light: Yves
Setdesign: Miriam & Frank

Album: "Fireworks MMXXIII"
Type: Full length / Reissue
Release date: September 22nd, 2023
Label: AFM Records
Format: CD, LP, Digital

Track listing:
01. Ready 4 Reaction (MMXXIII Version)
02. Never Mind (MMXXIII Version)
03. Sleeping All Alone (MMXXIII Version)
04. Champion (MMXXIII Version)
05. Don't Get Me Wrong (MMXXIII Version)
06. Sweet Obsession (MMXXIII Version)
07. Rock Me Now (MMXXIII Version)
08. American Nights (MMXXIII Version)
09. Fantasy (MMXXIII Version)
10. Give It a Try (MMXXIII Version)
11. Cold Days (MMXXIII Version)
12. Angel in White (MMXXIII Version)

Band members:
Hans Ziller - Guitars
Ronnie Parkes - Bass
Frank Pané - Guitars
Fabio Alessandrini - Drums
Dyan Mair - Vocals (lead)