PLACE VENDOME Featuring MICHAEL KISKE: 'My Guardian Angel' Video Available

"My Guardian Angel", the new video from PLACE VENDOME, the project featuring former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske alongside PINK CREAM 69's Dennis Ward, can be viewed below. (Note: The video was originally posted on YouTube in late January but was quickly pulled from the site because it was "not approved by the artist," according to PLACE VENDOME's record label, Frontiers Records.) The track, which was written by Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER, PRIMAL FEAR),comes off the band's second album, "Streets Of Fire", which was released on February 20 via Frontiers Records.

Karlsson told MichaelKiske.net, "I heard the mix from Dennis Ward and I must say that Michael sounds fantastic! He did this song perfect! I'm a big fan!!"

The songs on "Streets Of Fire" were supplied by different songwriters, who were particularly motivated and enthusiastic to be part of this new project. Torsti Spoof (LEVERAGE) offered up "Dancer", "Changes", "Believer" and the title track; Ronny Milianowicz (SAINT DEAMON and songwriter for PRIMAL FEAR) wrote "Surrender Your Soul", "Completely Breathless" and "A Scene In Replay"; while Robert Sall (WORK OF ART) contributed "Follow Me" and "Valerie". The CD was once again recorded at Ward's studio in Karlsdorf, Germany, with Ward's PINK CREAM 69 bandmate Kosta Zafiriou and Gunther Werno of VANDEN PLAS laying down drums and keyboards, respectively. A promotional video for the song "My Guardian Angel" — written by Magnus Karlsson (BOB CATLEY, PRIMAL FEAR) — is included as a special interactive bonus on the album and marks Michael Kiske's visual return on the scene after years of a self-imposed exile.

Speaking to MichaelKiske.net, Kiske stated about the new CD, "It's more AOR this time. I like it very much so far. Very different to the stuff I normally do. To record the vocals for the projects I usually need two, maybe three evenings (two hours) for a song to get learned and to find the right performance. Often also just one evening. I always do MY thing. I don't believe in vocals were singers are just puppets of other people. That makes very static and unconvincing vocals for my ears. The singer always has to be himself. If someone wants me to sing a song and I say yes to it, it gets 'kiskelized.'"

Torsti Spoof told MichaelKiske.net about the new album, "I wrote 'Dancer', 'Changes', 'Believer' and 'Streets of Fire'. Tuomas Heikkinen and Pekka Heino wrote the lyrics. The songs are very melodic hard rock. 'Changes' is a bit more AOR than the rest. The songs are not so far from the style of the first album at all. 'Streets of Fire' and 'Dancer' are a bit on the heavier side. It is up to the producer how the songs end up sounding: how heavy, how AOR etc... I can't wait to hear the finished album."

Ronny Milianowicz stated: "My songs are 'Surrender Your Soul', 'Completely Breathless' and 'A Scene In Replay'. I think it's very AOR and especially 'Surrender Your Soul' and 'A Scene In Reply'. 'Compleatly Breathless' could be a modern pop/metal song. Kiske sang on the greatest album of all time, 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 2', [so] to be able to write something for him is a dream come true. Since I started write music back in '88 I always thinking a voice like Kiske in my head when I compose so finally I get the original voice to my compositions."

Robert Sall: "I wrote 'Follow Me' and 'Valerie'. These songs sounds more like the songs on the WORK OF ART album which I think it's a bit softer than the first PLACE VENDOME record. I didn't write these songs specifically for PLACE VENDOME and I'm a bit surprised that the record company wanted these songs for the new VENDOME record but I hope the VENDOME fans, as well as Mr. Kiske, will enjoy them anyway!!"

Check out audio samples below (courtesy of MelodicRock.com).

"Streets Of Fire" track listing:

01. Streets OF Fire (5:52) (sample)
02. My Guardian Angel (4:59) (sample)
03. Completely Breathless (3:17) (sample)
04. Follow Me (3:53) (sample)
05. Set Me Free (4:32) (sample
06. Beliver (4:38) (sample)
07. Valerie (The Truth Is In Your Eyes) (3:44) (sample)
08. A Scene In Reply (4:44) (sample)
09. Changes (4:33) (sample)
10. Surrender Your Soul (3:43) (sample)
11. Dancer (4:23) (sample)
12. I'd Die For You (5:00)

The Japanese edition of the album contains a bonus track: an acoustic version of "My Guardian Angel". On this version, the writer of the track, Magnus Karlsson, plays the acoustic guitar.