According to BirminghamMail.net, legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi is among the musicians who will join former BLACK SABBATH/ELO drummer Bev Bevan on stage at Birmingham, England's Gatecrasher club next Thursday.
Bevan will be the 22nd celebrity honored on the Broad Street Walk Of Stars in Birmingham, England.
Iommi, comedian Jasper Carrott, guitarist Trevor Burton and rock and roller Raymond Froggatt will be on stage at the Broad Street club from 7 p.m., following the presentation.
Broad Street's Mike Olley said: "The lineup for this celebration is amazing. This gig celebrates a realm of Birmingham talent. Three Walk Of Stars recipients will be on stage — alongside some of the music world's greats."
Commented Bevan: "I am very honored and proud to receive this star and to be following in the footsteps of some fantastic talent from Birmingham.
"Some of my great mates in Jasper Carrott and Tony Iommi are on the Walk Of Stars and it's great to be joining them."
Bevan (born Beverley Bevan on November 24, 1944 in Sparkhill, Birmingham, England) was one of the original members of THE MOVE and the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA. After the collapse of ELO in 1986, he founded ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA PART II without the original ELO singer/songwriter Jeff Lynne.
Broad Street's Walk of Stars honors those who have made a significant contribution in music, television, film, radio, theatre, sport, business and literature and is run by the Broad Street Business Improvement District.
On July 6, 2007, Ozzy Osbourne became the first artist to be honored on Birmingham, England's own Hollywood-style Walk of Stars in the city's Broad Street / Centenary Square. Ozzy's SABBATH bandmate Tony Iommi received his own star in November 2008.
Benjamin "Benji" Baudelot of Rock Hard, the leading monthly metal magazine in France, spoke to JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford earlier today (Thursday, April 21), just one day after it was announced that the band's original guitarist, Kenneth "K.K." Downing, was retiring from the group.
"K.K. leaving was his own decision, for the reasons he made public on his web site [earlier today]," Halford said.
"We had a fantastic time together on the 'Nostradamus' tour... [But] K.K. has his own life to live and we can't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do.
"He told us [of his decision to leave JUDAS PRIEST] before Christmas time. Personally, I thought this could be the end... Emotionally, for me, it's been very, very difficult…
"When K.K. said he was thinking of retiring, Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] was the first guy to send him a personal email to say, 'Ken, I hope you're OK. If there's anything you need, just let me know.' We kept the door open all this time in case Ken changed his mind, but the clock was ticking."
When asked about the remaining JUDAS PREST members' decision to go ahead with their previously announced tour plans with a replacement guitarist — 31 year-old British guitar player Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS) — Halford said, "K.K. can never be replaced; he's unique, and we didn't want any kind of K.K. copycat. Richie Faulkner came to Glenn's house to jam, and Glenn simply told me he was absolutely brilliant."
Rock Hard's full interview with Rob Halford will be published in the in the magazine's May issue (#110).
Downing released a statement earlier today blaming his departure from JUDAS PRIEST on "an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time." He added that he "decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to . . . our cherished fans."
JUDAS PRIEST members had previously stated that their "Epitaph" tour would be their last, but that they would continue recording, with a new album due for release next year.
The tour begins in Holland on June 7 with a series of dates scheduled throughout Europe this summer. They will then hit Brazil and Mexico in the fall. There has been no word on a U.S. leg of the tour.
Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assaultconducted a short interview with JUDAS PRIEST drummer Scott Travis at the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which took place last night (Wednesday, April 20) at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California.
On whether he's as shocked as everyone else at original JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing's decision to leave the band:
Scott Travis: "Oh yes, I sure am. Everyone has been asking me about it, but then K.K. is a legend, so I do expect everyone to ask me about it."
On what this means for PRIEST to embark on a "farewell" tour:
Scott Travis: "I think we'll go as long as we want to go. It's up to everyone in the band. It's a five-member unit and I'm going to hopefully rock when PRIEST decides to give it up. I want to stick around and do what I can do. We're all lucky to do this to begin with. It's a gift to be able to make music, travel the world, meet fans and do everything else."
On what he plans to do after PRIEST's final tour:
Scott Travis: "I don't know, I'm just going to continue rocking my guts out like I do and hopefully something will come around the corner and I'll keep rocking."
Downing released a statement earlier today blaming his departure from JUDAS PRIEST on "an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time." He added that he "decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to . . . our cherished fans."
JUDAS PRIEST members had previously stated that their "Epitaph" tour would be their last, but that they would continue recording, with a new album due for release next year.
The tour begins in Holland on June 7 with a series of dates scheduled throughout Europe this summer. They will then hit Brazil and Mexico in the fall. There has been no word on a U.S. leg of the tour.
Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing has released the following statement regarding his departure from the band:
"Dear friends,
"It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer.
"Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am OK.
"There has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time. Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans. However, I would urge you to please support the PRIEST as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed.
"All my love and respect."
Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, the remaining members of JUDAS PRIEST — singer Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis — unanimously agreed that they should go ahead with the tour and not let fans around the world down. Fate also stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement — 31 year-old British guitar player Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS). He has blended into the band perfectly and is a great talent who is going to set the stage on fire, according to a press release. A new studio album is also planned for 2012.
When questioned about his plans for the future after PRIEST completes its previously announced farewell tour, Downing recently said, "To be perfectly honest, I have not given any thought as to possible case scenarios after the final tour. At the moment though I feel that PRIEST has played its part in music history and feel very proud to have achieved what we have. So there is a good positive feeling inside me and, of course, I feel very indebted to the fans all over the world. As for the future, we probably need the help of Nostradamus."
JUDAS PRIEST's most recent double-disc concept album, "Nostradamus", sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marked the band's highest-ever chart position in the U.S. In Canada, the CD opened at position No. 9 after shifting close to 4,000 units.
JUDAS PRIEST's previous studio CD, "Angel of Retribution", premiered with 58,000 copies in the U.S. back in March 2005 to debut at No. 13.
JUDAS PRIEST announced in December that it will head out on its farewell world tour beginning in 2011. The band intends to hit all major cities across the globe as they sign off on a career that has lasted for nearly 40 years.
The third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards presented by Epiphone — America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show — announced this year's winners last night at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. Highlights from the Revolver Golden Gods Awards will be broadcast on VH1 Classic on Saturday, May 28. Revolver will release a special Golden Gods issue of the magazine on May 24. The Golden Gods issue will include exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and interviews.
The full list of winners and presenters for the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards is as follows:
* Golden God Award: Alice Cooper (presented by Rob Zombie)
* Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award: MÖTLEY CRÜE (presented by Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR)
* Honorary Headbanger Award: William Shatner (presented by Scott Ian of ANTHRAX and THE DAMNED THINGS and comedian Brian Posehn)
* Best Guitarists Award: Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by Robb Flynn of MACHINE HEAD and Wayne Static of STATIC X)
* Best Drummer Award: Mike Portnoy for his work with AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by Vinnie Paul of PANTERA/HELLYEAH)
* Best New Band Award: BLACK VEIL BRIDES (presented by Duff McKagan of LOADED/VELVET REVOLVER/GUNS N' ROSES)
* Most Metal Athlete Award: Skateboarder Mike Vallely (presented by Chino Moreno of Deftones)
* Best Vocalist Award: M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by Taylor Momsen of THE PRETTY RECKLESS and Sebastian Bach)
* Best Live Band Award: RAMMSTEIN (presented by Charlie Benante of ANTHRAX and Mike Portnoy)
* Comeback of the Year Award: MURDERDOLLS (presented by David Coverdale of WHITESNAKE)
* Album of the Year Award: AVENGED SEVENFOLD's "Nightmare" (presented by Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of ALICE IN CHAINS)
The show featured host Chris Jericho (WWE, FOZZY, "Dancing With The Stars") along with presenters, performers, nominees and attendees, including:
* Alice Cooper
* MÖTLEY CRÜE
* Rob Zombie
* Actor William Shatner
* Geezer Butler (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL)
* Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, LOADED)
* Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR)
* Steve Jones (SEX PISTOLS)
* Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION)
* Chino Moreno (DEFTONES)
* Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA/HELLYEAH)
* Scott Ian (ANTHRAX, THE DAMNED THINGS)
* Actress Juliette Lewis
* David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE, DEEP PURPLE)
* Steven Adler (GUNS N' ROSES)
* Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY)
* Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED, KINGDOM OF SORROW)
* Taylor Momsen (THE PRETTY RECKLESS)
* Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
* Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES)
And members of:
* ALICE IN CHAINS
* SLAYER
* MEGADETH
* STATIC-X
* DETHKLOK
* FEAR FACTORY
* MACHINE HEAD
* WE ARE THE FALLEN
* MURDERDOLLS
* SUICIDE SILENCE
* WINDS OF PLAGUE
Also appearing were comedian Brian Posehn, skateboarders Mike Vallely and Chris Cole, MMA fighters Dan Hardy and Josh Barnett, Wendy Dio (wife of Ronnie James Dio) and many more.
Live performances for the Revolver Golden Gods awards included musical sets from ALICE COOPER (fresh off their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and their first L.A. appearance in 40 years), LOADED (featuring Duff McKagan of GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER), Elvis Presley/Johnny Cash-inspired metal group VOLBEAT, host Chris Jericho's band FOZZY, fast-rising metalcore newcomers ASKING ALEXANDRIA, and hometown heroes AVENGED SEVENFOLD closed out the night.
Special collaborations that took place at the 2011 show included AVENGED SEVENFOLD performing PANTERA's "Mouth For War" with Vinnie Paul Abbott and GUNS N' ROSES' "It's So Easy" with Duff McKagan; Steve Jones and Corey Taylor performing JUDAS PRIEST's "Electric Eye" with LOADED; Sebastian Bach performing SKID ROW's "Youth Gone Wild" with ASKING ALEXANDRIA; Scott Ian of ANTHRAX performing DUSTY SPRINGFIELD's "I Only Want To Be With You" with VOLBEAT; Max Cavalera, Jamey Jasta, and Mike Vallely joining DEVILDRIVER for a salute to BLACK FLAG.
Clark Collis of Entertainment Weekly recently conducted an interview with Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED). An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Entertainment Weekly: You played a surprise show in London with GUNS N ROSES last year. What was that like?
Duff: I was so jet-lagged. I was there on financial business. The cool thing about that was Axl [Rose] and I got to reconnect. We're grown-ups, you know. There's been a lot silliness. Lawyers and bullshit. You know, lawyers like to create a situation so that their jobs go on. And I know that. But it was just nice to reconnect. We had a nice dinner. That was much more important to me than actually getting up and playing. But it was fun playing with those guys. There are some really good players in that band.
Entertainment Weekly: And you were in JANE'S ADDICTION somewhat briefly last year.
Duff: Yeah. Well, I was never in it. I was just writing songs. I played a couple of gigs with them. We were making our record, so that's my focus and in no uncertain terms have I been unclear to any parties I played with that LOADED is my focus.
Entertainment Weekly: With all the bands you've now been a part of, do you have a certain outlook on the idiosyncracies of frontmen?
Duff: No.
Entertainment Weekly: Let me put it another way: You're a frontman, now. Is "Lead Singer Disease" contagious?
Duff: I do play with a guitar, so I'm still a full step away from being a singer with just a microphone. So I don't know what that's like. But there's no excuse for being an asshole. There's no excuse in the world for being a dick to your band mates or your crew. I've seen some stuff. I've been playing for a long time and I still haven't found an excuse for being a fucking dick. I keep looking for it! No, being the lead singer in a band is just fine and dandy.
Steve Appleford of LA Weekly recently conducted an interview with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
LA Weekly: What's the latest with [SLAYER guitarist] Jeff Hanneman [who was recently forced to sit out shows after coming down with an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite]? Is he going to make it to the ["Big Four"] show [in Indio, California on April 23]?
Tom: From what I'm being told, he wants to do the show, but we don't really know what condition he's in. He's obviously doing well enough to play his guitar, so that says a lot that he's determined to want to play the show. Apparently he's healing well. He has two tender areas on his arm that cause him pain when he plays the guitar, but he's eager to play, he's eager to get back out on the road with us. I know that he's healing well enough to want to play the show. We'll see.
LA Weekly: In the meantime, you've been playing with someone else.
Tom: Right now we're playing with Pat O'Brien, the guitar player for CANNIBAL CORPSE. Before him we had Gary Holt from EXODUS. When Gary Holt was brought up, it made it an easier decision to make. He's a friend, and that to me meant a lot. Then Pat O'Brien came in because Gary had highly recommended him. He said that he could do it and that he was a good guy. Those words mean a lot coming from him. I think Gary is going to come to the show in L.A. and obligated tours that we have, until Jeff feels well enough to come in and play. Gary has committed himself to it. We'll see how Jeff feels or plays the day of the show. I'm hoping he'll be fine. What he's going through, there's a lot of rehabilitation to his arm. I just want Jeff to get better and stays healthy.
LA Weekly: Most of SLAYER did not participate when the "Big Four" bands joined onstage in Sofia, Bulgaria, to perform "Am I Evil?" Why?
Tom: [SLAYER drummer] Dave Lombardo jams with other people. I'm not a fan of that. I don't want to go onstage and fuck somebody else's set up. [Laughs] And then the song "Am I Evil?" ... if they were to say, "Hey, we want to do 'The Four Horsemen'," I would have been on it. Shit, I'll do that one! That's the song I was hoping to hear. When they said they want to do "Am I Evil?", err... To me it just didn't represent the Four. It didn't represent what we do as bands. We play heavier than that. "The Four Horsemen" would have been more appropriate, because it was very representative of the bands. That's what we're doing: the Four Horsemen are riding.
LA Weekly: If James [Hetfield] came to you this time and said "Hey, we're going to do 'The Four Horsemen'," you might have a different answer this time?
Tom: I would have a different reaction, oh yeah.
Keith Matheny of The Desert Sun recently conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
On the decision to hire Gary Holt (EXODUS) as the initial temporary replacement for SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who is recovering from an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite:
Kerry: "Gary was a no-brainer. When I was getting ready to ask him, my only fear was that he would say no. He's perfect. I've known him for 25 years."
On SLAYER's 30th anniversary:
Kerry: "It's definitely been a long ride. It's great to be able to still go up there and still be relevant, and have a recycling of fans — the older people still come, and now they come with younger siblings or their kids."
On the possibility of retirement:
Kerry: "I remember people started hitting us up after 'Christ Illusion' — 'How long do you plan to keep going?'
"We are making relevant, good music. We're still putting on good shows and having fun. That's what it's all about."
On attempting to build on the intensity and shock value with each new album:
Kerry: "The trick is finding things that are interesting to write about that we haven't covered yet. There's always going to be war, odd religious things going on in the world. It's just picking the right things and making it compelling in that SLAYER way."
On this coming Saturday's (April 23) "Big Four" show in Indio, California featuring SLAYER alongside METALLICA, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX:
Kerry: "METALLICA has such a wide range of fan base; they get people who would never consider coming to one of our shows — or MEGADETH or ANTHRAX, for that matter. I guess it's cool for the three of us to get exposure to those fans. Maybe they'll like us, too."
"I've always lived in California, so that show is definitely important to me.
"The war face will be on. I don't want to suck in front of my friends."
Gary Holt from veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS will once again act as SLAYER's guest guitarist for this Saturday's (April 23) "Big Four" show in Indio, California, temporary filling in for Jeff Hanneman who is still recovering from surgery.
In a recent interview with Austria's Stormbringer.at webzine, SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo stated about the decision to hire Holt as the initial temporary replacement for Hanneman, who is recovering from an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite, "Well, that was a hard decision to make. We had to think to ourselves, 'Do we cancel — again? Or what do we do? Do we keep going?' It was a difficult decision, but we had to make it — to find a guitar player to take Jeff's place until Jeff gets better. And Gary, really, was a no-brainer — meaning, we didn't have to think about it. Because at Hellfest in France [in 2010], Kerry [King, SLAYER guitarist] and myself were watching EXODUS. And SLAYER and EXODUS go waaay back. We go back to '83 or '84 when we first got together and did shows up in San Francisco together. So we saw Gary play with EXODUS [again last year], and we loved it. And Gary's performance was outstanding. So the first person
that came to our minds was Gary — to take the place for Jeff. Again, it was difficult to make that decision, but we had to do it to fulfill our shows; we couldn't cancel again."
Hanneman underwent emergency surgery on his right arm in January. He is now recuperating at home and is expected to make a full recovery. He will return to the SLAYER lineup as soon as he has fully recovered.
While Hanneman's doctors were not able to definitively identify the infection's origin, they diagnosed necrotizing fasciitis, an infection caused by bacteria. According to WebMD, necrotizing fasciitis can destroy skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles. The disease sometimes is called "flesh-eating" bacteria.
It's hard to believe that Anthrax's last studio album, We've Come for You All, arrived in 2003 – and that it's been 21 years since their last true studio album with singer Joey Belladonna (1990's Persistence of Time). But with Belladonna back on board, the group's delayed Worship Music album – which was fully recorded with a different singer, before being shelved and redone with Belladonna – should finally see release this fall.
Meanwhile, Anthrax has continued to tour, playing mammoth European shows last year with fellow thrash metallists Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. And on Saturday, the U.S. will get its first-ever "Big 4" show, at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California (the same location as last weekend's Coachella Festival).
In an interview with Rolling Stone, drummer Charlie Benante discussed paying tribute to Judas Priest, helping Metallica early on and creating "rap metal."
Let's talk about the upcoming album, Worship Music.
When we continued working on this record again with Joey, the first song he sang when we all heard it, we all got goose bumps. It sounded like Anthrax again – it was that "sound" again.
How much of the music of the unreleased version of Worship Music is being used on this version?
Musically, a lot of the songs are the same, because a lot of the music was written prior to that. And then Scott [Ian, Anthrax's guitarist] changed a lot of the lyrics now. I rewrote three or four songs, and just finished doing the last drum track to the last song like about a week ago. We went back in and rerecorded some of those songs, too. Because I play them now with a different energy, there's a different vibe to the songs. I just felt like I wanted to go in and with this new energy, bring it to the record.
What are some song titles?
"Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't," there's a song called "I'm Alive," there's a song called "Judas Priest" – it may change, but we like that title, because Judas Priest has called it quits, and it's going to be the last hurrah for them. We wanted to dedicate that song to them.
Will Joey remain Anthrax's singer from here on out?
100 percent. This is the band.
How would you describe the early days of thrash metal?
Before that whole movement happened, metal was just your traditional metal. There were little tiny sparks of things in parts of the world, but it wasn't a movement that happened with the four bands from America. If you look back at those four bands, there are elements of other bands that were doing it prior to us. When I think of the Big 4, the bands that influenced us, I always have to give respect to the Iron Maidens, the Scorpions, the Motörheads, the Judas Priests – these are the bands that helped shape what we came to do. Up until that point, metal had a certain look and a certain style. We came out, and it was just a different take on it.
As that whole thrash thing progressed, those four bands totally had their own identity. As the Eighties went on, we were just having such a good time with it all. We didn't take it so serious as maybe other bands did. And then we started to explore different territories of music. In some ways, that hurt us, because we didn't stay traditional. We probably lost some of our audience because of that at the time.
When did you realize that Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer were carving their own niche?
I don't think we knew in the early days that this was going to have a significant effect on the world, as far as music went. We were just playing what we felt was metal. It wasn't up until about 1986 that the phrase "Big 4" was put on it.
I've heard that Anthrax befriended Metallica during their brief relocation to Queens, New York in 1983.
I think that's where the bond came from, because there was good camaraderie at that point. They were living out of their rehearsal room, and Scott gave them a microwave and some other stuff. I remember they went out to do a few shows, and their gear got ripped off in I think Boston. They were doing this to make money to get overseas to go record Ride the Lightning. I remember they used our gear to do some of the shows. It was just like that back then – "whatever you need."
For better or for worse, did Anthrax create "rap metal"?
I think the thing we did with Public Enemy [a remake of "Bring the Noise"] was the real catalyst for it. You could say Aerosmith and Run-DMC brought it to a more mainstream audience [with "Walk This Way"]. But nothing really happened after that. And we didn't do "I'm the Man" because of that, we were way into rap before that. Here's a bit of trivia – originally, the Beastie Boys were going to do the rap on "I'm the Man." We had conflicting schedules and couldn't get it together, and then we just ended up doing it. If I had to say, Public Enemy and Anthrax took it to more of that "street vibe." Made it cool for white kids to explore or open their mind to that kind of music – which they wouldn't have.
Have you had to break up any fights between Dave Mustaine and Metallica during these Big 4 dates?
Oh, every day! To quote Alice in Chains, "It ain't like that anymore."
Lastly, what can fans expect from the Big 4 show this Saturday?
We're going to bring the whole European vibe to America. Finally.
MÖTLEY CRÜE/SIXX: A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx's new book, "This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx", debuted at No. 4 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. The book came out on April 12 via the HarperCollins imprint William Morrow.
You can now "browse inside" the book at HarperCollins.com.
Sixx's remaining signing engagements for "This Is Gonna Hurt":
Monday, May 2
7 p.m.
Bookends
211 E. Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood, NJ
Tuesday, May 3
7 p.m.
Borders
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
Wednesday, May 4
6 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
555 12th Street NW
Washington, DC
Thursday, May 5
6 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
1805 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA
Friday, May 6
7 p.m.
Boston University Bookstore
660 Beacon Street
Boston, MA
Saturday, May 7
3 p.m.
Chapters Festival Hall
142 John Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nikki Sixx is the creative force behind a multitude of projects. As the founder, bass player and songwriter for the genre-defining rock band MÖTLEY CRÜE, he led the band through an unbridled career of rock 'n' roll, addictions, recovery, exploits, breakups, and girls, sending their first five albums to platinum status in the process. From their debut album in 1981 ("Too Fast For Love") through to 2008's "Saints of Los Angeles", MÖTLEY CRÜE have sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, emerging as one of the most influential and enduring rock acts of their era. Their '89 release "Dr. Feelgood", topped The Billboard 200 chart, marking the band's most successful and best-selling album to date. The new millennium saw the band issue a best-selling, tell-all biography entitled "The Dirt" — and the launch of Crüe Fest, the highest-grossing summer rock tour package in 2008.
In 2007, Sixx published "The Heroin Diaries". This haunting chronicle of addiction stayed atop the New York Times Best Seller list for more than six months and went on to sell over 350,000 copies in the U.S. alone. In a fitting crescendo, the accompanying soundtrack by SIXX: A.M. — featuring Sixx, James Michael and D.J. Ashba — sold over 300,000 copies in the U.S. and solidified the group with "Life Is Beautiful", the most played rock track of 2008. Sixx's most recent venture is the syndicated radio show "Sixx Sense" and its companion weekend show "The Side Show Countdown With Nikki Sixx", carried nightly and on the weekends, respectively, on 60 rock/alternative music stations in the U.S. and Canada. Hosted by Sixx himself and co-host Kerri Kasem, the shows feature straight, honest talk from special celebrity guests, bands and friends and the hottest and newest music in rock.
The "This Is Gonna Hurt" book explores a new, more introspective side, the first-ever public showing of his photography and insights on his life yesterday, today and tomorrow. "This Is Gonna Hurt" takes Sixx to a whole new level as an artist, musician and photographer. Accompanying the book, and slated for a May 3 release, will be a new CD by SIXX: A.M. complementing the book's themes and showcasing the incredible songwriting and musicianship of Sixx and SIXX: A.M. bandmates James Michael and D.J. Ashba.
According to Interbridge.com's "The Late Night TV Page", TWISTED SISTER will guest on the Tuesday, April 26 edition of NBC-TV's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon". The program will air at 12:35 a.m. ET (technically early Wednesday morning, April 27).
On Friday, April 29, TWISTED SISTER will perform at the Best Buy Theater in New York City to benefit The Pinkburst Project. Tickets are $45 via online, Charge by Phone 800.745.3000, and at the Best Buy Theater box office (no service charge) located at 1515 Broadway at W. 44th Street, Monday through Saturday, 12 noon to 6 p.m.
Created by TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French, The Pinkburst Project is a collection of custom made guitars and amplifiers that have been built to both create awareness for The Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation and be sold at auction to help raise funds for research, education and support for those affected by uveitis and other inflammatory eye diseases. Uveitis is the leading cause of blindness among American girls.
The Pinkburst Project one-of-a-kind collection includes custom made guitars from Gibson, Fender, Paul Reed Smith, Epiphone, Gretsch & Martin and custom amps from Marshall, Fender, Vox, Mesa, Orange, Hartke and Diamond. All will be offered for sale at auction during the Skinner Fine Musical Instruments Auction on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts
Auction previews will take place at Skinner Auctioneers at their Boston location (63 Park Plaza). The preview dates and times will take place as follows (all times EST):
April 29: 12 noon - 7 p.m.
April 30: 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
May 1: 9-10:30 a.m.
French states, "The Pinkburst Project was my way of calling attention to the virtually unknown disease called uveitis. In a world of cookie-cutter fundraisers, I wanted to do something that was different and really exciting, something that would get lots of attention with collectors of musical instruments, something never done before (and probably never again) and something that could hopefully raise a lot of money."
French commissioned the custom shops of the world's top guitar electric makers to replicate the color and style of his pink sunburst Gibson Les Paul. To anyone even remotely involved with this industry, this dream would seem completely unrealistic as all these companies are highly competitive and many have even sued each other over the slightest attempt at copying anything that the other was doing.
The entire collection can be viewed online at www.pinkburstproject.org and will appear in Skinner 's catalog and auction previews in April.
Reunited Los Angeles heavy metal legends MALICE have recruited journeyman metal lead singer James Rivera to front the band. James is the singer and driving force behind HELSTAR, and has been "the guy" for groups like VICIOUS RUMORS, SEVEN WITCHES and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM on numerous albums and world tours.
MALICE's current lineup includes the three original members (Mick Zane on guitar, Jay Reynolds on guitar and Mark Behn on bass) alongside Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP) on drums and Rivera on vocals.
In a brand new interview with KNAC.COM, Zane stated about MALICE's present incarnation, "Pete's been out on the road with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP for the last ten years and he's doing some dates with BLACK 'N BLUE. They have a new record out and they're playing with WHITESNAKE and TWISTED SISTER in Baltimore this summer at some huge outdoor festival. We're excited to have James Rivera come in and do these shows with us. He did a great job on the VICIOUS RUMORS 'Warball' record, so we're anxious to play on stage with him and grateful he was able to join us at such short notice. Brian Allen, who did our last reunion show, is now singing with VICIOUS RUMORS and we even approached Tim 'The Ripper' Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) at one point, who I heard is now with DIO DISCIPLES. James Rivera is the guy for now."
MALICE is currently rehearsing in Los Angeles and will soon to head to Europe in to co-headline the Keep It True festival in Germany on April 30 and play in Switzerland at Rock City (near Zurich) on May 1.
When asked if MALICE is planning to play some U.S shows, Zane told KNAC.COM, "Yes, that's the plan. We're going to see how these [European] shows go and then start working on this new record with [producer] Max Norman. But yeah, we'd love to play some shows on the west coast. Gina Zamperelli concert promotions, who used to book the Perkins Palace shows, is looking to get back into the business. So maybe we can hook up with W.A.S.P. or WARRIOR again and play some shows around L.A. We have some killer new songs in the can and we're really stoked at the thought of getting back in the studio and releasing a new MALICE record. We released a new CD of rare and unreleased tracks last year on Retrospect Records that's been doing very well. Everyone's really going to like the new stuff. We're not going to play any new material for these shows, just the classics."
MALICE 2011 is:
* Mick Zane - Guitar
* Jay Reynolds - Guitar
* Mark Behn - Bass
* Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, MICHAEL SCHENKER) - Drums
* James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMORS, SEVEN WITCHES, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) - Vocals
The band released an album titled "The Rare And Unreleased" last year on Retrospect Records .
MALICE's two Atlantic releases — "In the Beginning" (1985) and "License to Kill" (1986) — are available Stateside on WEA label Wounded Bird and have continued to sell over the years.
For more information, visit MALICE's official web site, www.malicemusic.com.
NEVERMORE guitar player Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams have announced their departure from the group. The two have released the following joint statement:
"In a mutual decision, Jeff Loomis and Van Williams have decided to leave NEVERMORE. The time has come to pursue our own paths from the group. Due to internal struggles and ongoing issues within the band, we feel it is our time to move on. We would like to thank all of our fans around the world for their years of love, support and enthusiasm. This was not an easy decision but a very necessary one at this point, may we all meet again someday, somewhere in time."
Loomis and Williams had been with NEVERMORE since the band's self-titled first album, which came out in 1995.
NEVERMORE tapped Dagna Barrera to play bass on the band's recent "Power Of Metal" European tour with SYMPHONY X, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ, MERCENARY and THAUROROD after the group's regular bassist, Jim Sheppard, underwent surgery on February 16 to remove a benign brain tumor.
Dagna previously played bass in NEVERMORE singer Warrel Dane's solo project and is also a member of the Seattle-based progressive rock band ONE UNDONE.
When asked how Jim is doing following the operation, Jeff told Austria's Stormbringer.at webzine, "I was talking with him right after he got the surgery. A lot of people don't know, he actually had a brain tumor that was removed from his... you know, head. [laughs] The surgery was very successful and he came out of it with flying colors. So yeah, he's gonna be returning to the band very soon. He just needs time to recover and relax for the time being."
Regarding Dagna's addition to NEVERMORE's touring lineup, Loomis said, "She's really amazing. She's picked up the songs very, very fast. And yeah, I think that was part of it — that she was also playing in Warrel's band, that she decided she would help us out. And we're very fortunate to have her, because she is a friend of ours from Seattle and a great bass player."
On the topic of NEVERMORE's current second guitarist, Hungarian musician Attila Voros, Loomis said, "I think Attila is more of a permanent member of the band now, really, because he's just a perfect fit for the band; he plays all the songs very, very well, so we're very fortunate to have him as well."
He added, "When we lost Chris Broderick to MEGADETH, Attila had found out the news about that, so he started sending videos — these YouTube videos — to us that really showcased his overall playability of the instrument. And I mean, he knew every little nuance of all the NEVERMORE songs, so obviously he spent a lot of time going over all of the stuff. So we're very fortunate to have him, and I think the band has never sounded better; it's really sounding very powerful right now."
Sheppard in 2006 missed a number of NEVERMORE shows after undergoing a minor procedure for Crohn's Disease, a condition he's managed for nearly 20 years. Filling in for Sheppard was longtime friend James MacDonough (ex-MEGADETH, ICED EARTH).
"The Obsidian Conspiracy", the new album from NEVERMORE, sold around 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 134 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
"It is with great heartache and sorrow that we relay the passing of our dear friend, bandmate, guitarist and brother Matthew LaPorte.
"Matt passed away in his home shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday. No information regarding his cause of death is currently available.
"Matt was a brilliant guitar player on all levels. He understood that instrument better than almost anyone. His knowledge of music in general was just amazing. His contributions to JON OLIVA'S PAIN and every band he ever played with was also without measure. He was truly a one-guitar army when he needed to be and his solo performances on all the JON OLIVA'S PAIN CDs will forever send chills down our spines. A near-20-year history and friendship with one of the true greats has now ended and we are deeply saddened.
"Matt was a fan of all kinds of music and instruments, having even embarked on a mission to conquer the hammered dulcimer...one of the hardest instruments to play. He was always trying to expand his musical horizons and influences. He marveled at the musical greats, both old and new. He was never one to rate his talents above others and often commented about the great new music and artists he had just discovered.
"Criss Oliva was without a doubt his most profound influence, and anyone who saw him play SAVATAGE songs knew that Criss was channeling his talents via Matt. Matt's attention to detail and always striving to play everything perfect is without comparison. We would sit for hours during rehearsals with him muddling over whether a guitar chord was played exactly as recorded. Sometimes frustrating, but always appreciated in the end. He was the professionals' professional when it came to his guitar skills, and the loss of such a talent will be forever felt.
"Matt was a gentle soul, and would avoid conflict at all costs. He got along with everyone and greeted all with a smile on his face. There was a shyness and almost embarrassment felt by him from the adoration of his fans around the world...and he had many. He was humbled by the love and respect music fans gave to him, but in a quiet way, that made him work just a little bit harder. His had a hilarious, twisted and often sarcastic sense of humor that was unique to him. A very funny man, indeed.
"We miss you terribly, Matt, and we will celebrate your music and life each and every day. That great band in the sky just got a whole lot better, and you are in the most peaceful place you could have ever hoped for.
"Until we meet again..."
Matthew Davis LaPorte was 40 years old at the time of his death.
Road warriors CLUTCH have confirmed a headlining run for this July with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY serving as direct support. The tour will kick off with two special concerts in the New York area. The first show is on July 20 at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, New York. The following evening, CLUTCH will play a in New York City aboard The Temptress Cruise ship on the Hudson River as part of the "Rocks off Boat Cruise Series". Tickets for the cruise are extremely limited and will sell out fast.
The entire July run, with the previously announced dates supporting FLOGGING MOLLY, is as follows:
Jul. 20 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
Jul. 21 - New York, NY @ The Temptress (Rocks off Boat Cruise) (CLUTCH only)
Jul. 22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Jul. 23 - Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
Jul. 24 - Traverse City, MI @ Ground Zero
Jul. 26 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
Jul. 27 - Urbana, IL @ The Canopy Club
Jul. 28 - Cleveland, OH @ Jacob's Pavilion at Nautica (w/ FLOGGING MOLLY)
Jul. 29 - Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion (w/ FLOGGING MOLLY)
Jul. 30 - Madison, WI @ Willow Island @ Alliant Energy Center (CLUTCH only)
Jul. 31 - Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
CLUTCH will kick off its nine-date headlining tour on May 20 in Reading, Pennsylvania to promote its forthcoming "Basket Of Eggs" project, as well as serving as an extended warm-up run for their large scale European festival tour in June. The 10 day south-eastern U.S. run will feature MAYLENE & THE SONS OF DISASTER as main support. CLUTCH will keep the average ticket price for these shows to a fan friendly $17.50.
Weathermaker Music has added even more bonus value to CLUTCH's new deluxe "Blast Tyrant" 2CD set, in the form of a collector's edition vinyl "Worm Drink" bumper sticker. The item was designed in the likeness of the "Worm Drink" character image that appears within "Blast Tyrant"'s "Atlas Of The Invisible World", which is also available inside the deluxe packaging. The collector sticker is the first in a series of "Blast Tyrant" images, and will be available in every retail copy of this reissue's first pressing. The fan-friendly retail price of the double disc set, which also features CLUTCH's "Basket Of Eggs" bonus CD, will remain $15.98. The onsale/retail date for this package is May 10, but fans can now pre-order "Blast Tyrant" at the band's online store,ClutchMerch.com.
Florida-based extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH have finished recording their fifth album, now titled "The Ultimate Deception", at Lambesis Studios in San Diego, California with engineer Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING, WINDS OF PLAGUE). The final mix will be completed in May with mastering by Alan Douches (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, MASTODON) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York.
Comments vocalist Ipek: "We recorded eight original tracks and one cover tune. These songs that Nate Poulson (guitarist, songwriter) composed are so explosive and challenging that I can't wait for everyone to hear it. Each track stands on its own and Nate really challenged me as an artist to leave my comfort zone and enter a whole new realm. Engineer Daniel Castleman was also a pleasure to work with and a great talent; you'll definitely be hearing his name for a long time. He pushed us to our limits to get the best performances out of us and the final product will show this. Also, after going through several name changes for the album title, we decided on 'The Ultimate Deception'. As it stands now, the album is such a refreshing and drastic rebirth I'm not sure if this album will be released under WYKKED WYTCH or as a new project. Stay tuned!!"
Guitarist Richard Ebisch has left Dutch thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED. He says in a statement, "I am very grateful for having achieved so much with LEGION OF THE DAMNED, but after having played in bands for so many years and having toured numerous times, I decided to leave the band after careful deliberation. Because of health issues, it was no longer possible for me to continue at this pace.
"I would like to say thank you to the fans and the LEGION OF THE DAMNED guys and wish them, and their new guitarist, all the best for the future."
Vocalist Maurice Swinkels, who has played in LEGION OF THE DAMNED with Richard for more than 16 years, comments: "We recently successfully ended Sweden Rock Cruise and have a lot of other great festivals planned ahead such as Graspop Metal Meeting, Nummirock in Finland, Metalcamp, Bang Your Head!!! and With Full Force. We didn't really notice anything or felt like this is going to end somewhere for Richard. During Kettersach Festival last weekend Richard announced that he would still do Paaspop this upcoming weekend, but call it an end after that. It will be a great lost for us, but we accept his decision, of course."
He continues, "Even though this came out of blue for us, we have no intention on cancel any of the planned festivals. Who is going to replace Richard Ebisch is still a question unanswered, but hopefully we will have this answered as soon as possible as well. One thing is for sure: after Paaspop, Finnish metal fest Nummirock is next in line and we will be there stronger than ever!"
Bassist Harold Gielen states: "It's really sad that Richard decided to leave the band, but it's his decision to end his carrier as a musician and we have to accept it as it is. I am really happy to be part of the LEGION family, and shared the stage with Richard for five years. I have to thank him as well for all the fun and musical influences we shared. Richard is a great guitar player with an own style, and I wish him all the best with his future plans."
Drummer Erik Fleuren, who has also played in LEGION OF THE DAMNED with Richard for more than 16 years, comments: "Bandmembers leaving the band was always something that happened in other bands, not with LEGION OF THE DAMNED. We are like brothers, shared joy and happiness as well as disappointment and sadness together. It was always the four of us, but that's also part of being in a band that it might end somewhere or that someone leaves at a certain point, we have to accept it. We will miss Richard and I wish him all the best in the future."
LEGION OF THE DAMNED's new album, "Descent Into Chaos", was released on January 7 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Abyss Studios in Pärlby, Sweden with producer and PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren, who also makes a guest appearance on the limited-edition bonus track "Legion Of The Damned".
CHROME DIVISION, the Norwegian five-piece featuring DIMMU BORGIR frontman Shagrath (a.k.a. Stian Thoresen) on guitar, has scheduled a release show/party for the band's upcoming third album, "3rd Round Knockout", on Friday, June 3 at John Dee in Oslo, Norway.
"3rd Round Knockout" will be released in Europe on May 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Marius Strand Studio in Oslo.
"3rd Round Knockout" track listing:
01. Bulldogs Unleashed
02. 7 G-Strings
03. Join The Ride
04. Unholy Roller
05. Zombies & Monsters
06. Fight (Rumble 'n' Roll)
07. The Magic Man
08. Long Distance Call Girl
09. Ghost Riders In The Sky (JOHNNY CASH cover)
10. Satisfy My Soul
The song "Bulldogs Unleashed" can be streamed on the band's Facebook page.
CHROME DIVISION recently filmed two new videos with director Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, KAMELOT), who previously worked with the group on the "Serial Killer" clip (off 2006's "Doomsday Rock 'N' Roll" album).
CHROME DIVISION in August 2009 parted ways with longtime vocalist Eddie Guz "due to lack of dedication and commitment to the band." His replacement is none other than Athera of SUSPERIA, who filled in for Guz at the Winterfire Festival at Hessenhallen in Giessen, Germany on February 21, 2009 after Eddie Guz was unable to make the gig.
"Booze, Broads And Beelzebub" was released in July 2008 in Europe and August 2008 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records.
CHROME DIVISION current lineup:
Shagrath - Guitar
Luna - Bass
Shady Blue (a.k.a. Athera) - Vocals
Ricky Doom - Guitar
Tony White – Drums
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and WHITECHAPEL will headline this year's installment of the "Summer Slaughter Tour", which will run from July 21 through August 21. The fifth annual travelling festival will feature additional performances by such heavyweights as DARKEST HOUR, SIX FEET UNDER, DYING FETUS, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, OCEANO, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, as well as a special halftime appearance by POWERGLOVE. However, the madness doesn't stop there as for the first time in Summer Slaughter history the fans voted on the band that will open the tour.
The billing for the travelling festival is as follows:
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
WHITECHAPEL
DARKEST HOUR
SIX FEET UNDER
DYING FETUS
AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK
OCEANO
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE
POWERGLOVE
"Summer Slaughter Tour" dates:
Jul. 22 - Los Angeles, CA - House Of Blues
Jul. 23 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove
Jul. 25 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
Jul. 26 - Seattle, WA - King Cat Theatre
Jul. 28 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades
Jul. 29 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Jul. 30 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
Jul. 31 - Scottsdale, AZ - The Venue Scottsdale
Aug. 02 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
Aug. 04 - Louisville, KY - Expo Five
Aug. 05 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews
Aug. 06 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
Aug. 07 - Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
Aug. 08 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
Aug. 09 - Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
Aug. 10 - Montreal, QC - Olympia
Aug. 11 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Aug. 12 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Aug. 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre Of Living Arts
Aug. 14 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Aug. 16 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Aug. 17 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
Aug. 19 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
Aug. 20 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
Aug. 21 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
Vocalist Niklas Kvarforth of Swedish extreme metallers SHINING has issued the following update:
"Guitarist Fredric Gråby has left the ranks of SHINING today because he no longer felt able to continue playing. Unfortunately, this means that we have been forced to cancel our appearance at the Ragnarok Festival this month as there is not enough time for a new guitarist to learn the material. We are also pleased to announce that Christian Larsson, who has been playing bass with the band for some time on a temporary basis, has now has joined SHINING as a permanent full-time member."
Following on from the recent news that SHINING had parted company with Indie Recordings and signed with Spinefarm Records, the band has debuted a track from the forthcoming album, "VII / Född Förlorare", which in English means "Born Loser". The track "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel" can be heard usingthe SoundCloud player below.
All the music and lyrics for "VII / Född Förlorare", which is due for release on May 25, were written by SHINING's founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth, and the album was recorded over what the band describes as "three long years" inside the Slaughterhouse studios in Sweden, with Rickard Bengtsson once again producing.
Kvarforth himself defines the finished result as "THE" SHINING album. "It is", he commented, "the natural successor to our fifth album 'V/Halmstad', rather than to our last release, 'VI/Klagopsalmer', which I have always thought of as more of an experiment both in terms of writing and performance."
"VII / Född Förlorare" includes an array of guest appearances, and here follows a track-by-track description of the album.
* "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel" (Despair, My Heritage) marks the start of what promises to be the darkest album in SHINING's career to date — and for a band that epitomises the exploration of darkness, the significance of that statement is self-evident. A video of the track is currently being made.
* "Tiden Läker Inga Sår" (Time Heals Nothing). As well as being tortured behind the microphone throughout most of the song, WATAIN's Erik Danielsson makes an appearance on vocals on a track whose atmosphere is evocative of LED ZEPPELIN.
* "Människa O'Avskyvärda Människa" (Man Despicable Man) could perhaps be the most groovy, yet most sinister and dark song from SHINING. Chris Amott of ARCH ENEMY contributes a magnificent solo on the track.
* "Tillsammans Är Vi Allt" (Together We Are All) sheds an entirely new light on the band with its melancholic structure and the use of a grand piano as the lead instrument. The refrain is sung by Nordman, one of Sweden's biggest pop stars.
* "I Nattens Timma" (In The Night Hour). As can be expected with a SHINING album, there is always one track that differs from the rest, and this is the one, with only piano, mellotron and a guest vocal appearance by Peter Bjärgö of ARCANA.
* "FFF" A track exploring family relationships, this is one of the most personal songs that Kvarforth has ever written.
Drummer Marquis Marky (a.k.a. Marky Edelmann) of the reunited Swiss thrash trio CORONER was interviewed on last Friday's (April 15) edition of Tony Webster's "The Metal Command" radio show . The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below. A few excerpts from the interview follow.
On CORONER's current status:
Marky: "[We're] rehearsing, rehearsing, practicing and rehearsing. That's basically what we do. For me personally, I didn't play drums in 15 years. I think we started in September last year — we started to play the old songs — and by now it sounds quite good, but it was a lot of work — very painful, actually. [Laughs]"
On playing with his CORONER bandmates again after so many years:
Marky: "It was a total trip; it was really like a time warp. It was totally strange. Sometimes you could play the songs automatically; it was still somehow programmed. It was really funny; your arms go left and right, and you don't know why. 'Oh, wow, that's why. I have to hit this cymbal right now.' [Laughs] So that was really quite a trip. It makes me feel like being [brought[ back [in time] 15 years or more. And I missed playing drums, totally. That was also something I'm very happy about now — to just play drums."
On the possibility of recording a new studio album:
Marky: "We never really thought about that, because we were too busy to get fit for the shows. I don't know. I cannot say right now. There is no talk about this at all yet. Right now we concentrate totally on playing those live shows and whatever happens later, I have no idea yet. I really can't say. There was no time to think about it yet."
On whether there are any plans to reissue CORONER's back catalog:
Marky: "I was surprised, because I was actually trying to buy a CD here recently and [I was told] that all of them were out of stock so that you cannot buy them anymore. So, yeah, it would probably be a good idea. I mean, basically, you can download everything. But I was always someone [who] liked vinyl — to have something in my hand, as well as the CD. I still like it. It's still different than just a downloaded file on your computer. So yeah, maybe we're gonna think about that. Last year we started to work on some sort of a home video where we're gonna put all the video recordings we did in the past, also with interviews and things like that. So, probably next year we're gonna put out something like this — a little box with a DVD or something. I don't know yet."
According to Stuff.co.nz, the identity of the killer in the brutal murder of the lead singer of one of New Zealand's longest-running death metal bands, BACKYARD BURIAL, remains a mystery, despite an alleged confession from a man who is now dead.
Police are yet to close the Matthew Hall case — which they say hinges on finding an unidentified woman who spent Valentine's Day evening with the man who reportedly confessed.
The man, Timothy Parlane, was heard in his bedroom at his home with the woman around 11 p.m. the night before Hall was murdered.
Parlane allegedly told the woman he went to Hall's house with two knives and stabbed him.
BACKYARD BURIAL frontman Matthew John Hall, 35, who went by the stage name "Blaps Warmonger", was found dead with multiple stab wounds by his roommate at his Wellington apartment on February 15.
BACKYARD BURIAL released its debut album, titled "Symptoms Of Psychopathology", in 1999.
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