#172 – Annie Haslam of Renaissance – Turn of the Cards

Renaissance formed out of the same Yardbirds’ ashes that sent Jimmy Page to form Led Zeppelin.  After several lineup changes, the band developed a reputation as one of the finest progressive rock bands of the Seventies.  After breaking up in the Eighties, the band reformed back in 2009 with a new lineup – still fronted by vocalist Annie Haslam and guitarist Michael Dunford.  They’ve just released a two CD/1 DVD collection called Renaissance Tour 2011 – Live in Concert, where the band performed two of their classic albums in their entirety – Turn of the Cards, and Scheherazade and Other Stories.

Haslam tells us a great story of how the band got a flat tire in the pouring rain, while driving to where they were filming the DVD.  She also reveals details on a brand-new Renaissance studio album coming in 2013, funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign.