Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord, who
recently revealed that he is fighting cancer, has released the following
statement:
"Just a quick line or two from an absolutely overwhelmed, gratified and
humbled musician.
"Your responses to the news of my condition have touched my heart in a way
that has truly helped to make my life a better place to be than it had
occasionally threatened to become these last few weeks.
"Your wonderful messages wishing me strength and courage have given me
even more strength and courage — and so much more than you can ever know.
"I read many of them with tears in my eyes, grateful for this cast-iron
proof of the innate goodness of the human being, and grateful to every single
one of you for your invaluable support.
"This message goes out, too, to all the similarly wonderful folk on other
websites whose support has been equally warm and strong and I want you all to
know how greatly heartened and comforted I am by all this.
"The treatment continues and I am confident and being supported by my
glorious family and an amazing group of friends.
"See you soon."
Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond
organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing
rock and classical or baroque forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP
PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968.
Lord recently received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.
In his new book "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy",
rock legend Ozzy Osbourne embraces his status as a medical marvel to
tell incredible stories, offer advice as only he can and shed light on his
seemingly superhuman ability to stay alive. Due out October 11, "Trust
Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy: Advice From Rock's Ultimate Survivor" by Ozzy
Osbourne with Chris Ayres (Grand Central Publishing) is the
follow-up to 2010's New York Times bestselling memoir "I Am
Ozzy", which landed at #2 and #3 on the New York Times and Wall
Street Journal non-fiction charts, respectively.
Based on his ongoing Rolling Stone (U.S.) Sunday Times (U.K.)
columns, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy" will include some of the
best material from the columns, as well as survival stories not found in Ozzy's
memoir, his answers to celebrities' medical questions, charts and sidebars, and
much more. The best way to describe this book is 100% Ozzy — part memoir
and part advice column, delivered with Ozzy's famous wit and humor. It's
comprised of reader-submitted medical and lifestyle questions, Ozzy digs
deep into his murky past, searching for pearls of "wisdom."
The genesis of the Dr. Ozzy columns began last year, when Ozzy decided to have his DNA mapped to determine if science could perhaps explain
how he survived his nearly four decade avalanche of drugs and alcohol. The
"Full Ozzy Genome" contained variants that scientists had never
before encountered. In fact, the findings made headlines around the world and
even led to Ozzy hosting a prestigious TED conference.
The official book description reads as follows: "Wondering if science
could explain how he survived his 40-year avalanche of drugs and alcohol, Ozzy
Osbourne became one of a handful of people in the world to have his entire
DNA mapped in 2010. It was a highly complex, $65,000 process, but the results
were conclusive: Ozzy is a genetic anomaly. The 'Full Ozzy Genome'
contained variants that scientists had never before encountered and the
findings were presented at the prestigious TEDMED conference in San
Diego-making headlines around the world. The procedure was in part sponsored by The Sunday Times of London,
which had already caused an international fururoe by appointing Ozzy
Osbourne its star health advice columnist. The newpaper argued that Ozzy's
mutliple near-death experiences, 40-year history of drug abuse, and extreme
hypocondria qualified him more than any other for the job. The column was an
overnight hit, being quickly picked up by Rolling Stone to give it a
global audience of millions. In 'Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy', Ozzy answers
reader's questions with his outrageous wit and surprising wisdom, digging deep
into his past to tell the memoir-style survival stories never published
before-and offer guidance that no sane human being should follow. Part humor,
part memoir, and part bad advice, 'Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy' will include
some of the best material from his published columns, answers to celebrities'
medical questions, charts, sidebars, and more."
Ozzy last year said that his column in the Times is not meant to
be taken seriously. "It's not a serious thing," he said. "I
mean, I'm the last person to ask advice about health. It's just, it's not fit
to be taken seriously. I mean — and I'm not doing it, I'm not writing the
column personally, I've got a guy coming around, the guy who did my book, Chris
Ayres, is doing the column. He brings me the column things and I just joke
about it, you know. 'Cause if you believe me, you'll end up in the lunatic
asylum."
Ozzy said in his first column for the Times, "If people can
learn from my stupid mistakes without having to repeat any of them, or if they
can take some comfort from the crazy things my family has been through over the
years . . . that's more than enough for me."
Ozzy added in the column, "By all accounts, I'm a medical miracle.
When I die, I should donate my body to the Natural History Museum."
In response to a Rolling Stone reader by the name of Hugh from
New Mexico who asked if he should go to one of those "rub 'n' tug"
massage parlors given that his girlfriend will never know, Ozzy replied,
"A hand job is a very personal thing, and after a lifetime of practice,
most blokes get a pretty specific preference for the kind of technique they
like. So unless you're acting as a co-pilot and barking out instructions to
your dodgy masseuse every two seconds, it might end up feeling more like she's
skinning a dead rabbit than driving you wild with forbidden pleasure. In fact,
it sounds to me like you've already built this up in your head to the point
where it's gonna be an expensive disappointment. You also ain't factored in
guilt. It's all very well you telling Dr. Ozzy that 'it doesn't seem
wrong' to hire an extra pair of hands to help out in the monkey-spanking
department, but I'm afraid to say that if you're anything like me, your
conscience won't agree."
"I Am Ozzy" marked Ozzy's first foray into the book
world; it tells his unbelievable story, for the first time, in his own
hilarious, witty, and inimitable voice. In the end it was love that saved him:
the love of his wife Sharon and kids Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
AEROSMITH entered guitarist Joe Perry's home
studio (The Boneyard) in suburban Boston
and the Pandora's Box (the band's main studio) in early July with
producer Jack Douglas to begin recording its long-awaited 14th studio
album. The CD will be AEROSMITH's first set of original material since
2001's "Just Push Play" and first studio offering since 2004's
covers CD, "Honkin' On Bobo".
In a brand new online posting, Douglas stated about AEROSMITH's new CD, "The new album should be out
around May 2012. I know that's a long wait, but after the South American tour
and Japan
in October, November and December, we will just get back to work on it in
mid-January."
He added, "For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough
rock with a good deal of the old AEROSMITH 'tongue in cheek.'"
In a videotaped message that was released via AEROSMITH's official web
site, bassist Tom Hamilton stated about re-teaming with Douglas,
"For those of you who don't know who Jack is, he's the guy who we
worked with, producing our best albums of the '70s — 'Get Your Wings', 'Toys
In The Attic' and 'Rocks'. And it's really gonna be cool, because
there's no one that knows more about the soul of this band and the creative
part of this band [than] Jack. We worked with him on [2004's covers CD] 'Honkin'
On Bobo', but that wasn't all original material — most of that was not
original material. This time it's gonna be all-new AEROSMITH songs."
He continued, "When people say, 'What was it like to work with Jack back then?' all I can say is we just laughed the whole time; there was always
laughter going on, and fun, but at the same time really digging deep to get
performances that were even better than we thought we could do."
The plan to resume work on a new disc follows the completion of singer Steven
Tyler's first season as a judge on "American Idol". The
band, minus Perry, did get together for a week earlier this year in Los Angeles to work on
new material.
AEROSMITH and Tyler almost went their separate ways in late 2009,
but reunited and toured last year. However, Tyler then stunned his bandmates by
taking the "Idol" job, which pushed back work on the
already-delayed new record.
Isa Scott, the mother of legendary AC/DC singer Bon Scott, died in Western Australia at the age of 94.
Born Isabelle Cunningham Mitchell, Isa — along with her husband, Charles (Chick) Scott — emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1952 with
their then two sons, Ronald Belford (Bon) Scott (born
1946) and the younger Derek Scott (born 1949). It is from Western Australia that Bon
Scott began his musical career as a member of the bands THE SPEKTORS and THE VALENTINES. Following some time with Sydney-based FRATERNITY (later relocating to Adelaide), Bon was introduced to Malcolm and Angus Young who at the
time were looking for a new lead singer for their band AC/DC.
Throughout her life Isa Scott remained a private woman, shying away from
the limelight associated with her son's involvement in AC/DC. She rarely
spoke of Bon and AC/DC giving only a handful of interviews. Isa was a fan of the band, attending Perth AC/DC concerts in recent years whenever possible.
Legendary rocker Alice Cooper will guest on the
Friday, September 9 edition of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on NBC-TV.
"The Tonight Show" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. EST. Check
local listings for details.
"Welcome 2 My Nightmare", the long-awaited "sequel"
to Cooper's 1975 Top Five solo classic "Welcome To My
Nightmare", arrives on September 13.
"Welcome 2 My Nightmare" features original ALICE COOPER
BAND members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith,
who reunited for three tracks; current pop superstar Ke$ha, who
affectionately calls Alice "dad" — and legendary Alice and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, who is part of Alice's
current touring band and was featured prominently on the first "Nightmare" album.
Alice Cooper announced today that eminent guitar
prodigy Orianthi will join his band, replacing departing guitarist Damon
Johnson, for the next leg of his 2011 "No More Mr. Nice Guy" world tour starting September 22 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Currently in progress, the tour hits ninety plus cities, covering five
continents, including Europe and North America
twice over.
At the young age of 26, Orianthi has already experienced what most
aspiring musicians only dream of. She's opened for her hero, Steve Vai;
backed Carrie Underwood; traded solos with Carlos Santana; shared
the stage with the King of Pop (Michael Jackson) and accompanied Alice during his live performance of "School's Out" on the 2010
season finale of "American Idol".
"It's very difficult to find someone to match the talents of Damon
Johnson," commented Cooper, "but not only did we find
someone who is more than up to the challenge…she also looks WAY better."
Orianthi will join world-renowned guitarist Steve Hunter (toured
and recorded with Cooper and Lou Reed) and Tommy Henriksen (co-wrote and played on Cooper's upcoming release); drummer Glen
Sobel and Alice's longtime bassist Chuck Garric round out the
band.
"I'm super-excited to go on tour with Alice," said Orianthi.
"It's a huge honor to be able to get on stage and jam with an icon."
Orianthi will debut with the band for a performance on "The
Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Friday September 9 on NBC.
Roadrunner Records has announced a new worldwide
partnership with Anthem Records and rock trio RUSH. The band will
remain on Anthem/Universal Music in Canada only.
"We have tremendous respect for Roadrunner Records and what Cees
Wessels and Jonas Nachsin have built on a worldwide level. After
years of Roadrunner pursuing the band, Tom Lipsky presented a
deal that worked and the timing was right. We wanted to be at a label focused
on the rock genre — and that's Roadrunner," said Ray Danniels,
manager of RUSH.
"In another life I worked with RUSH and their great management team
more than 30 years ago and to have RUSH finally on the Roadrunner label is a dream come true. I am grateful for Ray Danniels' confidence
in this new partnership," said Cees Wessels, Roadrunner Records Chairman.
"RUSH has a tradition of excellence and independence, both in the
studio and on the live stage, and they remain as prolific today as at any point
in their career. We are excited to be their label partners," said Tom
Lipsky, President of Lipsky Music, LLC, who brokered the significant
deal for Roadrunner.
The first release from RUSH through this deal will be various live
configurations recorded during their highly successful Time Machine tour
that wrapped earlier this summer. Details of the release will be revealed in
the coming weeks.
RUSH bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee recently spoke to The Plain
Dealer about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's
upcoming 20th studio album, "Clockwork Angels", for which a
release date has not yet been set.
"We've got about seven songs written," Lee said. He added,
"When you hear the first two songs ['BU2B' and 'Caravan'],
which we're playing live now, they definitely have a heavier sound. It's the
heavier side of RUSH in the early going. But when I think of all the
songs that we've written already, there's quite a lot of diversity there. I
think — I hope — RUSH fans will like it. We're certainly going to work
hard to make it a great record, as we always try."
DEF LEPPARD, MÖTLEY CRÜE and STEEL PANTHER will join forces for a six-show U.K.
tour in December.
The dates are as follows:
Dec. 06 - Birmingham, UK @ LG Arena
Dec. 08 - Nottingham, UK @ FM Arena
Dec. 09 - Glasgow, UK @ SECC Hall 4
Dec. 11 - Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena
Dec. 13 - Sheffield, UK @ Arena
Dec. 14 - London, UK @ Wembley Arena
Tickets go on sale on Friday, September 2 at 9:00 a.m. They cost £47.50 in London and £45
regionally. Buy them from www.livenation.co.uk.
DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott said: "I can't tell you
enough how thrilled I am to announce this tour! We always strive to make our
shows an event and to have MÖTLEY CRÜE and STEEL PANTHER along
for the ride makes this an event that just can't be missed for rock fans across
the U.K.!!
Come join us on what will be the event of the year!"
Added MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx: "MÖTLEY CRÜE is
excited to do some destruction with longtime peers DEF LEPPARD on tour
this holiday season. We have never toured together so hopefully there will be
some de-virginizing of each-other's fans and in the end one fucking wild party
together."
Out now is DEF LEPPARD's CD/DVD set, "Mirror Ball: Live And
More". The concert collection — which is the band's first — was
recorded during DEF LEPPARD's 2009 tour.
MÖTLEY CRÜE's summer trek landed the group on the Billboard "Hot Tours" chart six times, marking it as one of the legendary rock
group's most successful tours to date. The 48-city trek tour — which launched
on June 24 and wrapped last week — was one of the summer's highest grossing,
packing amphitheaters and arenas all summer long, drawing half a million fans.
STEEL PANTHER will release its new album, "Balls Out",
on October 18. The CD's first U.K.
single will be "If You Really, Really Love Me". (Note: The
first single in the U.S.
will be "17 Girls In A Row".)
In Spain
on the magical island of Ibiza, Ex-GUNS N'
ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash and his wife Perla
Hedson renewed their wedding vows yesterday (August 29) for their 10-year
anniversary. The celebration included their beautiful two sons — London (9), who
gave away the bride, and Cash (6), who was the best man — the family dog Foxy (11) as flowergirl, and a close circle of precious friends.
After a strong marriage and even stronger friendship, the Hudsons exchanged self-written vows in a fisherman's shack on the cozy beach of Benirras. They both promised to cherish,
trust and honor each other, to give each other and their boys unconditional
love and share the journey of the rest of their lives. Slash and Perla presented their two boys with rings signifying the unity of their family.
Perla wore her original wedding dress designed by Richard Tyler 10 years ago when she first said, "I do!" The gown was restyled by Perla and Brides by Liza to reflect the fun beach vibe of Ibiza.
And as a surprise to Slash, she wore a tiny white top hat which finished
off her outfit complimenting her husband's iconic look. Never has a bride been
more glamorous, stylish and sexy. Slash was hatless, but rocked his
signature style. The roses were black and ordered from the mainland.
The wedding party returned to their St. Gertrudis luxury mountain top villa
where a Mediterranean buffet was served. Guests drank Maestro Dobel Tequila and Monster Energy drinks served by gorgeous Ibiza
bar staff. Hundreds of candles and soft lighting gave a romantic feel for the
evening. DJ Reboot hit the decks with "The Space Between
Us" by the DAVE MATTHEWS BAND as the fabulous rock and roll
couple opened the floor with an emotional first dance. Katy Perry's "California Gurls" followed and got everyone on the dance floor and danced 'till dawn after which
they all jumped into the pool and followed by a hot air balloon ride into the
sunrise."
Around the time his second son was born, Slash told The Pulse Of
Radio that becoming a family man helped settle him down. "I never
actually was one of those guys that said I'm gonna be single forever and never
have children," he said. "I just never made plans for it, so when it
happened, it was, like, at the perfect time in my life. It's like, if it had
happened a second earlier, I couldn't have handled it, 'cause I was too out
there. Then when the kids came, it actually sort of secured me, more than
anything."
The couple recently put their Los
Angeles mansion up for sale with an asking price of
$9.5 million. The seven-bedroom, eight-bath property is in a gated community
where the neighbors include Paris Hilton, Charlie Sheen and Vanna
White.
Slash sold a number of personal possessions in March, including cars and
guitars, with a sizeable portion of the proceeds going to a charity for abused
and homeless adolescents.
The guitarist is also working on pre-production for his second solo album,
expected to be released in the spring of 2012.
Former VELVET REVOLVER and current STONE TEMPLE
PILOTS frontman Scott Weiland is selling a digital album, "A
Compilation Of Scott Weiland Cover Songs", via his official store.
The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. I Am The Resurrection (STONE ROSES)
02. Personality Crisis (NEW YORK DOLLS)
03. Frances Farmer Will Get Her Revenge On Seattle (NIRVANA)
04. Let Down (RADIOHEAD)
05. Into Your Arms (LEMONHEADS)
06. Dead Flowers (THE ROLLING STONES)
07. Waiting For Superman (THE FLAMING LIPS)
08. Revolution (The Beatles; recorded by STONE TEMPLE PILOTS in 2001)
09. But Not Tonight (DEPECHE MODE)
10. Reel Around The Fountain (THE SMITHS)
11. Fame (DAVID BOWIE)
12. Jean Genie (DAVID BOWIE)
Scott Weiland's autobiography, "Not Dead & Not For Sale", was
released on May 17 via the Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner.
The singer collaborated on the project with David Ritz, the "Sexual
Healing" lyricist who has co-written autobiographies for the likes of Marvin
Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and more recently Don
Rickles.
Elliot Levin of the NY Hard Rock Music Examiner recently conducted an interview
with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. A couple of excerpts from
the chat follow below.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: So we're less than a month away from the
"Big Four" at Yankee Stadium here in New York City. Are these "Big Four"
shows, whether the ones here in the U.S. or the European ones, any
different from any other SLAYER concert from your perspective? Do you
have to prepare or play any differently?
Tom: Well, we're talking about four groups that have been around for 30
years, to some extent, and it's a gathering of four tribes, you know what I
mean? To me it's pretty special and it says a lot about the music that the four
bands created and we're a part of, that we've lasted this long and to some
extend are still going strong.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: Are the shows themselves, the setlists, the
production, any different from a regular SLAYER show?
Tom: Well you know what it is? It's a competitive edge — everyone wants
to outdo the other band. And so the result is you get four bands playing
really, really good trying to outdo each other. To me it's more of a friendly
competitiveness... Whether they want to admit it or not, we all want to go out
there and beat the other bands. But I think it is special, because as a fan of
this music, I've always wanted to see these four bands play together. We tried
to do this in '90 with Clash Of The Titans, so it's a very special
thing.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: When you play a city, do you look forward
to hanging or sightseeing, or do you just get in and out?
Tom: Whenever we're doing a show in the city, I prefer to just come in
and out, because when you're out and everybody knows you're in town,
everybody's looking for you. I guess I'm somewhat of a private person, and I
like it when no one knows I'm there. I would prefer to walk the streets without
a million — it's not a million, but to me it feels like a million people. There
might be ten people that recognize me in a given day, but for me that's too
many. I would prefer to be a private guy, whenever I go into town I would
prefer that SLAYER wasn't doing a show and no one would be looking for
me. I always wonder if my life was like Michael Jackson's, where
everywhere I go people are always hounding me, I understand how people end
being reclusive. I think I would end up being that way. I wouldn't want to go
out because I wouldn't have to deal with that. And it's not that I hate the
fans, it's just that I don't need that, you know what I mean? Some people need
that, but I don't, I need my privacy, I would like it if I could go somewhere
and be invisible. It's bad enough my life consists of living in a fish bowl
when I'm out on tour, I don't want to be in that fishbowl when I'm living my
life.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: SLAYER is kind of the standout band
in this group — you guys have never tried to do radio songs, or soften your
sound like the other bands. Do you feel you bring something unique to these
"Big Four" shows?
Tom: Yeah, like you said, we're the only ones out of the four that never
really had a radio hit. We became a part of radio because radio added a metal
hour, and that's how we were able to make it on the radio. I think out of all
the bands, we hit the radio waves because of "Metal Shop", and
that was the reason why we made it on the radio. Not because of our hit songs,
or our love songs, or our slow melodic songs. The one hour a week, for that one
hour a month.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: Can you name your favorite METALLICA, MEGADETH, and ANTHRAX songs?
Tom: Meh. I like the first three METALLICA albums, "Kill
'Em All", "Ride The Lightning", and "Master
Of Puppets".
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: Do you have a favorite song off of those,
though?
Tom: I guess "Battery" would be one of them. ANTHRAX, I'm familiar with some of them but I
don't really have a favorite tune. ANTHRAX is more on a personal level —
they're all great guys and I get along with them on a personal, human level,
and they got great songs, but they're more on a personal level; they're good
guys. As for the MEGADETH dudes, I've gotten to know the new drummer and
guitar player; they're really nice guys. I've had a going relationship with David
Ellefson, who is also a really nice guy, and I've gotten to know him. And, Mustaine...
well. (laughter). So I guess "Peace Sells" is my favorite
song. And the METALLICA guys, I've kind of gotten to know them, Robert [Trujillo]
is an old friend from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, who hasn't changed at all,
and he's a really sweet guy. The opportunity to play, and to get to know them,
is really good and I'm just glad it finally happened.
Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Icon Vs. Icon: It has been years in the making and no easy process for
the band. How do you feel about finally being able to unleash "Worship
Music" on the world?
Joey: Yeah, they have had some difficulties getting it off the ground. I
guess through the trials and tribulations, they had time to find me a spot in
there. It seemed that I had been out of the band forever. It is cool in its own
way, but it is a shame that after we have done something so well, I wish we
could have done more in the past and kept that going. That still bugs me. You
have all of these comparisons now and reasons why you weren't there. You just
look back on it like, "Man, we missed a lot of opportunities. Who knows
what we could have come up with along the way?" I think it would have been
successful in its own way, especially when music was being centered around the
stores instead of the Internet. But you know what? I am happy to be there! I am
very glad that the record is finished and ready to go — finally!
Icon Vs. Icon: Did you have any reservations about heading back into the
studio for this project?
Joey: Well, you know, just getting me in there in a real situation where
it was going to be legit, that I was going to be doing it, and that the music
was going to be fitting to me, because it seemed like the last touches were
going to be the vocals on a record that was going to be sitting for a while. I
had been out, so the expectations of me coming back in, to me, were large. They
had all these different singers, the longevity of doing other records with
other people after I had been out. To have to come in and lift that all off
your back and stand on your own, which was great, because it obviously turned
out that way. I wasn't worried about it, but there was a moment where I hoped
that the songs were suitable because sometimes music doesn't fit your need.
Obviously, a lot of it doesn't fit, but I find a way to make it fit and I think
I have done that again on this album. That was a little bit of a concern, just
having the weight on my shoulders because they had been taking so long, so
people are a little bit upset that it was taking so long and then to have me
come in and hold it up again just because something wasn't working or the doubt
of a song or the whole thing in its entirety. It was that kind of stuff that
made me think, "Wow! I don't want to be the burden of this thing falling
because they were rushing it or couldn't get it together." But as soon as
I walked in and started doing stuff with them, it was clear that it was coming
together. As the day was evolving, there were no problems whatsoever. In fact,
it sounded better than I had even anticipated.
Icon Vs. Icon: What was the biggest challenge in putting the record
together?
Joey: No challenge, really! [laughs] Honestly, the hardest part was
finding the time for the producer on the project, I had things going on that I
couldn't make it on a particular week and then he couldn't make it another
week. It was a matter of saying, "OK, here is what I have open. What do
you have open?" Scheduling, that was the hardest part, the rest was pretty
easy, you know? I had to fly out to California.
The coolest thing was that no one was there but me and [producer] Jay Ruston.
Nobody was there staring at me through the window, which can make you tense as
you are trying to work. So that is the way to do it; it is for me, anyhow.
There can be those situations someone has to coach someone all day long and
tell them how to do it. I didn't need that.
Icon Vs. Icon: I am sure there is some concern on your part in regards
to your future with ANTHRAX. Where do you stand with the other guys in
the band right now?
Joey: I stand pretty good right now. I mean, we are taking on everything
according to the time-frame that is in front of us. Each day is a new
situation. We just try to take everything down in numbers just to make sure
that everybody is correct and that we are doing it together and that everyone
is a part of it. You have to have good management and good people around you to
make sure that things are done right. I think that sometimes over the years, we
haven't had the most adequate situations in place to help the band succeed.
Between that and us working together as a band to make sure that we are on the
same page and that no one is dictating to one another, out of fairness, and
making sure that we all get a nice, even shake — together. We may all decide as
a group that "We want to do this song" or "Yeah, we want to go
out then." Everything is a group effort. So right now I think that everything
is in line, as best as it can be and we have a lot of stuff going on.
ANTHRAX will take part in a meet-and-greet on
September 7 at 8:00 p.m. at the Soho Apple store (103 Prince Street) in New York City. The band will discuss how the
Mac changed everything, including their upcoming release, "Worship
Music".
For more information, go to this location.
ANTHRAX will perform on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Wednesday, September 7 (technically Thursday morning, September 8).
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" airs on NBC at 12:35
a.m. ET/PT.
As previously reported, ANTHRAX will play a very exclusive show under
the name SATAN'S LOUNGE BAND on Monday, September 12 at the Best Buy
Theater in New York City.
To redeem your free ticket for the concert, enter the unique order number found
on your confirmation e-mail when you pre-order the new ANTHRAX album, "Worship
Music", via a special web site which has been launched at this location.
Regarding how the idea for the SATAN'S LOUNGE BAND concert came about, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "We played a
couple of shows at L'Amour [in Brooklyn, New York] in… I wanna say '88 or '89.
I'm not sure exactly which year. But we played two or three nights at L'Amour
back then under the name SATAN'S LOUNGE BAND, because it was at that
time things were already kind of blowing up for us, so we had pretty much
stopped playing at L'Amour, but wanted to go back there and do these shows for
our fans. So we announced it as SATAN'S LOUNGE BAND and kept it like a
secret thing. It was the only time we had ever done it, and it was fun and it
was cool. So when this came around — the idea of doing some type of gig before
the Yankee Stadium ['Big Four'] show [on September 14], and basically throwing
a 30th-anniversary party for ourselves in New York City… We've basically been
telling people, 'Oh, yes, we're having this 30th-anniversary party for ANTHRAX and we've got this ANTHRAX cover band called SATAN'S LOUNGE BAND — they're the best ANTHRAX cover band you've ever seen; literally down
to the goatee they really nail it."
When asked if "SATAN'S LOUNGE BAND" can be expected to play
any of the material that will appear on "Worship Music" that
hasn't been performed live yet, Scott joked, "We could actually say
that they're such a great cover band that they actually know more of the new [ANTHRAX]
material and they might be debuting it."
The SATAN'S LOUGE BAND concert will immediately follow the Metal
Masters Clinic, which will be held earlier in the day at the Best Buy
Theater. Members of SLAYER, MEGADETH and DREAM THEATER are
all scheduled to take part in that event, leading to speculation that some of
them may stick around long enough to make guest appearances with SATAN'S
LOUNGE BAND at the end of the night. "It's a good possibility," Scott said. "Everyone is invited. Obviously, the guys that are at the Metal
Masters clinic, I'm assuming, will all still be around. There might be
special guests at that Metal Masters clinic as well that they haven't
advertised, which I can pretty safely say. I would assume everyone else would
be around for our party/gig as well some of the other bands, like METALLICA [who will headline the 'Big Four' concert at the Yankee Stadium two days
later]. Put it this way — they've been invited."
"Worship Music" will be released in the U.S. on September 13 via Megaforce Records (three days later in Germany
through Nuclear Blast Records). The band's first studio release in eight
years marks the return of vocalist Joey Belladonna, whose last
full-length studio work with the group was 1990's "Persistence Of
Time".
When the so-called "Big Four of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX — play Yankee Stadium on
September 14, the concert will be a celebratory and emotional experience for
the five New York born-and-bred members of ANTHRAX, the only New York
band on the bill. To begin with, ANTHRAX's hometown gig will be preceded
by the September 13 release of "Worship Music", the band's
first new album in eight years, and already called "the metal album of the
year" by numerous music critics.
Drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, and guitarist Rob
Caggiano are all from the Bronx, guitarist Scott Ian was born in
Queens, and vocalist Joey Belladonna is an Oswego native.
Bello is
a self-proclaimed, diehard Yankees fan who attended games at the
original stadium while growing up. Ian, also a lifelong Yankees fan who
frequented Yankees games as a kid, was at the stadium in '77 when Reggie
Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series against the L.A.
Dodgers. Ian recently told Rolling Stone, "We're a New York band, I'm a
crazy Yankees fan, and we're playing Yankee Stadium, those three things
add up to a perfect storm of insanity."
Benante's father, who was scouted by the majors, would regale a
four-year-old Charlie with all the stats and facts about the Yankee players while the two played catch in the backyard. "My dad was a huge Yankees fan," Charlie recalls. "I remember he always had the TV or
radio on, listening to every Yankees game he could. He died when I was
five, so he never knew about my success as a musician, but I know he would have
been so proud of me playing Yankee Stadium. I know that in some way, he'll be
there, giving me the power I'll need to knock it out of the park."
QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael "Whip"
Wilton will appear at a Whip Ale event on Saturday, September 3 at
Finaghty's Irish Pub and Restaurant located in the heart of scenic Snoqualmie
Ridge in Snoqualmie, Washington starting at 9:00 p.m. Rumor has it a few of Michael's
friends from QUEENSRŸCHE will be on hand that evening as well to enjoy
the festivities.
For more information, go to this
location.
Whip Ale is a collaborative effort between Diamond Knot Brewery in Mukilteo, Washington
and Wilton.
Whip Ale is an American pale ale bittered with nugget, simcoe and
cascade hops. Pale, caramel and vienna
malts provide a balance to the bright, citrusy hop flavors. American ale yeast
generates a clean, crisp finish. 30 IBUs; 6.1%ABV
Interviewed
by Brian Rademacher
Date: August 2011
Official Site
Facebook Site
Brian Rademacher:Hey Mike, how's
it going?
Mike Portnoy:Good, we just started rehearsals and had a
great summer in Pennsylvania.
Brian Rademacher:How didADRENALINE
MOB actually get started?
Mike Portnoy:It began with Mike Orlando and Russell Allen;
they've been working on material for at least a year now before I came into the
picture. After my time with DREAM THEATER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD came
to an end I was quote/unquote available. Russell reached out to me and
asked would I be interested in checking out this music he and this guy Mike,
who I didn't know at the time, were working on. Literally 30 seconds after
hearing the first song I was onboard and I knew I was totally into it.
Brian Rademacher:What was it like at
the first rehearsal?
Mike Portnoy:The first rehearsal was actually after the
album was finished. When I came on board Mike and Russell had
these demos, then I went into the studio and did my drums then we bought Paul
DiLeo and Rich Ward into the band later so everyone tracked the
album bit by bit and the first time all five of us got together and laid a
track was after the album was done. We decided to do this one-off unveiling of
the band in New York City
back in June. So the band and the album and the chemistry were already in place
before we played a single note together.
Brian Rademacher:Yeah, we were at that
show and posted a review by our writer Herb Newman.
Brian Rademacher:I'm hearing a lot of
fans can't find the physical CD?
Mike Portnoy:You can get it off my website and we will have
it at the shows. Basically this is something we are putting out ourselves just
to get it out immediately because we are touring with GODSMACK and doing
some of our own shows. We didn't want to wait for the full album which will
come out next year. This is just a temporary setting to get this music out. It
was not to be at the mercy of the way labels work with a three to four month
set-up. We didn't want to wait; we wanted the people
Brian Rademacher:Do you feel the way to
go now is downloads?
Mike Portnoy:I do, I think in a perfect world you would have
both but I like collecting myself. I remember the last album with DREAM
THEATER and went in a sat with the heads at roadrunner and I pitched them
desperately "Lets release the album now" let's put it out and make
available for download we can still sell a physical CD with a special edition
and a bonus disc. Three months down the road you can still do your set up but
let's get it out for the fans now and I desperately pitched it, they weren't
ready to make the plunge. I guess we are using that mentally now with the ADRENALINE
MOB release. I think to have an album finished and have to wait three or
four months to hear it. In today's world people get their information here and
now in real time. It has its negative side but it also has it's positive sides.
I feel music is meant to be heard immediately. As a fan I download music all
the time because if I am sitting in a hotel in Madison, WI
early in the morning and I'm reading about a band I want to be able to check it
out right there and then. I don't want to wait until my next day off or to go
to a music store if I can even find one. I still collect CD's because I'm a
collector.
Brian Rademacher:That actually helps us
because a label will say the physical CD will not be out for three or four
months but we can send you the download. We have writers on our staff that
prefer the physical CD because they say the sound is different but for me I
want the physical CD too because I'm a collector but for a review I think
downloads are perfectly fine. Just send me the CD when it comes out, labels are
happy with that.
Mike Portnoy:The reality of it is I listen to 99.9 percent
of my music on my iPod anyway, whether I'm traveling in my car but I will buy
the physical CD because I'm a collector but that is just so I have it in my
collection. I can't remember the last time I went to my wall where I have my
collection and pulled out a CD and popped it in. I get the CD put it into my
iPod and listen to it that way.
Brian Rademacher:What do you think
about Vinyl trying to make a comeback now?
Mike Portnoy:I think it's great if you're a collector. I
have a big vinyl collection and I love being able to look at the artwork on a
twelve by twelve layout rather than a thumbnail the way artwork has been
reduced to on iPod and iTunes. I like the full packaging of vinyl and its
nostalgic dropping the needle down and hearing the scratches as the music
plays. As a collector I'm into it.
Brian Rademacher:Since the cover
picture of the EP is in silhouette was that because there really wasn't a cover
ready or was that the actual cover?
Mike Portnoy:Yeah that's the cover, it's just an EP. It's
really not import, it's about the music.
Brian Rademacher:What was the feeling like the first
time you were on a cover of a magazine?
Mike Portnoy:It's been so long I guess my first cover must
have been twenty years ago. I think it was called Drum Magazine. I've been on
the cover four times now. It's exciting, the first time I was on the cover of
Modern Drummerit was a
really life goal of my career. It's awesome and a great feeling of
accomplishment and gratitude.
Brian Rademacher:Comparing the Industry today vs.
back in the day.
Mike Portnoy:Oh my God, it's a world different. When I
signed my first record deal back in 1988 it was completely different.
Everything was the success of a band, it was based on MTV play and that is what
makes or breaks a band. Our first album we didn't do a video and we were completely
buried and fell right into oblivion immediately. A couple years later we did
our second record with Atco and that was a seven album deal that lasted fifteen
years of our career and that album we did a video and it was plastered all over
MTV and the radio and we were on tour all over the world and that made the
biggest difference. Back then you sold records; a band like DREAM THEATER back in 1992 sold a half million records. Nowadays the Madonna's andLady
GaGa's aren't even selling like DREAM THEATER used to. I recently
saw this quote so I am paraphrasing someone else's quote, it was a funny thing
and very true "Back in the old days there were hundreds of bands selling
millions of records nowadays there are millions of bands selling hundred of records."
It's the truth, the industry has so much music and so many bands it's hard for
any of them to get any sales like they used to. It's a different world right
now.
Brian Rademacher:Compare touring or playing today as
vs. back in the day.
Mike Portnoy:Touring now, as back then, is crucial to a band
breaking especially if you're a band that doesn't get radio airplay as DREAM
THEATER was for all the years we did it. We couldn't rely on radio airplay.
We did have a minor hit twenty years ago other than that it's all about
touring. It's still like that in this day and age, especially financially.
Bands now aren't selling CD's and product, it's all about getting on the road,
concert tickets and merchandise and that's how bands make a living.
Brian Rademacher:What are some of the things you
would ask for on your tour rider?
Mike Portnoy:(laughing) We were never like VAN
HALEN was with a bowl of M&M's with all the brown ones taken out. We didn't
ask for much, maybe a bowl filled with piranha, a fishing rod and some
blindfolds!
Brian Rademacher:What's going on with the project you
were doing with John Sykes?
Mike Portnoy:John and I have this band going we have an
album worth of stuff ready to go and we start recording in the fall. People
should look for that next year.
Brian Rademacher:Being in a band and on the road so
much do you feel you missed anything from your home life?
Mike Portnoy:No, because myself and the guys in DREAM
THEATER always put an emphasis on the importance of family. So we always
made sure our families were able to join us on tour whenever possible and we
always paced the tours to fit the family life and I feel that's the way to have
the best of both worlds.
Brian Rademacher:Has ADRENALINE MOB set any
kind of goal?
Mike Portnoy:Well ADRENALINE MOB is a very different
beast from what me and Russell had/have with DREAM THEATER and SYMPHONY
X. If anyone is expecting to hear music anything like DREAM THEATER and SYMPHONY X I think they're going to be in for a shock as this is a
complete different animal. This is not progressive at all this is not about
long epic songs. This is about awesome cool riffs, grooves and stuff you can
really bounce to very much like a modern day PANTERA. Our goal is to
take this out around the world and I think we're very much a live act and the
energy on stage with the five of us is insane. You have five people on stage
that are complete performers and the energy on stage is infectious. We want to
tour as much as we can.
Brian Rademacher:When is the full length CD expected
to be release?
Mike Portnoy:I would expect it out the beginning of next
year. If we can get it out sooner it will be done.
Brian Rademacher:Mike, again congratulations
on the new EP.
Mike Portnoy:Thank you man later.
Jenna Williams (a.k.a. "The Scream
Queen") of TheScreamQueen.com conducted an interview with Kirk Windstein of KINGDOM OF SORROW, CROWBAR and DOWN at the seventh show of this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink
Mayhem Festival on July 17 in Englewood, Colorado. A couple of excerpts
from the chat follow below.
TheScreamQueen.com: For your next album with KINGDOM OF SORROW,
when you all do have time to work on it, how do you want it to evolve more with
your sound and whatnot?
Kirk: Just what we've already started to do, which is get away from like
all the bands. All the heavy new bands are really... There's a lot of great
ones, but there's a lot of very… We're trying to get away from the really fast
stuff, double kicks, and whatever, and do more of an organic… 'Cause he [KINGDOM
OF SORROW frontman Jamey Jasta] comes from a hardcore background. I
come from a '70s and early '80s rock and metal background. So, we're organic.
We just plug in, and you know, there's no triggers, there's no backing tracks,
which is great, but that's not really what we want. We want to kind of get
further away from that and get a little more into, you know, just doing our own
thing; separating ourselves from that.
TheScreamQueen.com: Whenever you're in the writing/recording process,
whether it be with CROWBAR, DOWN, KINGDOMOF SORROW,
or anything else; how would you translate your energy that you have on the
stage and integrate it into a record?
Kirk: It's a totally different world, you know? I mean, it's a different
energy; the record is a different... Records are fun to make in the sense that
when it's done, it's an accomplishment and you're like, "Wow, we created
this piece of work that's going to last forever." But, it's not fun to
make in the sense that it's — everything perfection. You really have to be on
top of your game, everything's got to sound perfect, because it's going to be
scrutinized, you know? Live, it's more energy and aggression and more raw, you
know? And it's more of the vibe of feeding off the crowd, where in the studio,
you're feeding off yourself. You're just like, "Jeez, I've got to play
this thing right, so I can do it again." So the writing is enjoyable,
writing is fun, playing live is fun, recording is not fun, but I do enjoy it.
Like I said, in a sense of when it's done, you can look back and say,
"Wow, I really accomplished something special."
TheScreamQueen.com: What exactly did you want out of CROWBAR's "Sever
The Wicked Hand" album?
Kirk: Just to put out every influence and every element that's ever made
up CROWBAR's sound into one record. Because I'm touched upon some of
these things maybe on one song here and there over the course of the previous
eight albums on our ninth album, but I've never put it all on one record. So to
me, it's all a CROWBAR record because it's got everything in it, you
know?
TheScreamQueen.com: I was at your "Over The Under" [DOWN]
release party and listening to that album now and all of your others in
general, they're really full of life and passion. How do you give an album like "Over The Under" that "life" to it?
Kirk: I don't know... I mean everybody's just passionate about what they
do, you know? Phil's [Anselmo; DOWN frontman] such a good
singer and he's really an emotional… He's the best singer out there today, as
far as I'm concerned, hands down. Nobody sings anymore or screams; he's a
throwback to fuckin' Glenn Hughes [DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH]
and Ian Gillan [DEEP PURPLE] and David Coverdale [WHITESNAKE],
and you know, real vocalists. I mean, Rob Halford [JUDAS PRIEST],
whatever. I'm talking real vocalists.
TheScreamQueen.com: With each DOWN album, the way they've
progressed over the years, like the first one ["Nola"], you
can tell it's raw, the second one ["Down II: A Bustle in Your
Hedgerow"], it's heavier in a sense and even more melodic, and then
the third one ["Over The Under"], it's completely different
with some of the sounds, lyrics, etc... How would you describe the evolution in
your way?
Kirk: It's the same mindset as, you know, the latest CROWBAR,
even tenfold... You know, DOWN can do anything. DOWN can be
heavy, DOWN can be acoustic, DOWN can be bluesy, you know, we can
do anything. So, we like to touch upon all of those elements in everything that
we do.
Interview
and Photo by Mike Bax
www.testamentlegions.com
www.myspace.com/baptizedinblood
www.heavyto.com
This
was a day of humbling interviews for me – within minutes of each other, getting
to meet and chat with Chuck Billy and Dave Lombardo back to back – two legends
of thrash metal.
I
was brought back into the band's change room area and was led into an area
partitioned off by thick black drapery. Testament's tour manager opened the
drapes to one side and I was steered into a sitting area, complete with leather
sofas, dimly lit lamps, a table and a small beverage fridge. Chuck Billy was
standing in the area in front of one of the couches smiling. He motioned for me
to come over and sit with him.
While
we got settled, Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick stood together in the corner of
the change area, picking out riffs from some of their songs together,
concentrating deeply on what they were doing. After a minute of chatting with
Chuck, I forgot they were even in the room with us – they were so immersed in
their guitar work.
Chuck
Billy is a big man. He has to be four inches taller than me (I'm six feet
tall), and he is carrying a bit of weight around his waist. He settled into a
corner of the sofa, backlit by the lamp which was directly behind him, and we
started talking.
Mike:
It feels like there's resurgence right now in the genre of thrash metal. All
these bands seem to be back and doing all these tours together. I understand
you're touring with Anthrax and Death Angel in the fall.
Chuck:
Yeah, that's in the works.
Mike:
Why do you think people are reinvesting in all this music?
Chuck:
I don't know about reinvesting, it's not like it was bad music, but you find
new, young rebellious looking for something. To me a lot of the new metal bands
copy each other too much, so maybe they're (the fans) are finding that the
twenty year old thrash music has a different feel from it. I know we do, so
maybe that has something to do with it.
Mike:
What are you impressed by now? What's new that's doing it for you now?
Chuck:
I like hard aggressive music, but I like a powerful singer or some melody. It
doesn't have to be a singer to carry a melody or hooks, I guess. That's just
the way I am, I need something I can catch on to.
Mike:
Have you heard the kids in Holy Grail yet? They're very Judas Priest sounding.
Chuck:
Where are they from?
Mike:
They're from California.
Chuck:
Oh yeah?
Mike:
Yeah, young, one album out. Speaking of new albums I understand you've got
something new coming out soon. Can you talk a bit about it?
Chuck:
Yeah. We're actually in the studio recording, we came out just do this weekend
and then we're going right back Monday to finish. Right now we're at the point
where all the drums are done and all the rhythm guitars are done. Next week
we're going to start bass, vocals and lead guitar.
Mike:
How many songs is it going to be?
Chuck:
Ten songs.
Mike:
Is there anything on it that's going to be a little different?
Chuck:
With this one we kind of wrote, I wouldn't say a ballad, but something a little
slower; we've got one of those on this record. Eric's (guitarist Eric Peterson)
always written some really strong ballads for the band, or whatever you want to
call them. There's some other stuff, there's definitely some songs that are the
fastest we've ever played, there's some mid-tempo, there's a little bit of
everything on there. It's definitely Testament, but we never try to do the same
record twice. There are some good hooks on it.
Mike:
Last year when Megadeth was touring "Rust in Peace" and Slayer was touring
"Seasons in the Abyss", did you feel like you wanted to go out and do a whole
"The New Order" tour?
Chuck:
We already did that with "The Legacy" on the Megadeth and Exodus tour.
Mike:
"The New Order" is coming up on twenty-five years.
Chuck:
I would like to do a "The New Order" one. In London
(England)
we did "The Legacy" and "The New Order" back to back. That was kind of cool.
"New Order" is such a short record, so unless we're the opening act we've got
thirty or forty-five minutes.
Mike:
When you're doing festival shows it's a shorter set list. When you've got so
many great songs from your back catalogue, it must be kind of challenging to
put a set list together.
Chuck:
Well, because we're in the studio and we're not just rehearsing or haven't been
on tour, we can play our classics from "The Legacy" and "The New Order" in our
sleep. That for us is what we are. We always play all the old stuff, which we
still enjoy doing, but if we were going on tour we'd sit down and put a variety
of everything, a real good mixture of music. For stuff like this, we just get
together, go and just fucking play, man.
Mike:
It's not like your music is particularly slow, but as you get older and your
body starts to give you some grief in your arms, legs, back, and that kind of
stuff, how do you keep up with your music?
Chuck:
I don't know. I don't really know the answer to that.
Mike:
…..because I watch guys like you, guys like Metallica, guys like Slayer and
still banging this stuff out and doing it well.
Chuck:
I don't think any of us really wanted to "grow up". A lot of us still act the
same way we did twenty-five or thirty years ago, I don't think we've changed
much. I think it's like AC/DC, you still see Malcolm (Young) and the guys
wearing the same black shirts and the same hair-do.
Mike:
They still pull it off, though.
Chuck:
Yeah! When I went and saw them I was like, "Fuck yeah!" Not a guy with a bald
head or short hair, wearing a golf shirt or anything. I'm 49 years old and I'm
still dressing like a kid.
Mike:
But that's you doing a good job, man. You're doing what you love.
Chuck:
I think that's the key to us not wanting to grow up, we want to still listen to
do that music because it gets you going and for us it brings back old memories.
That's what it's about; it's about what we did at the beginning.
Mike:
When you're writing, is it the same kind of process as back in the day?
Chuck:
Well, now it is because Alex (original lead guitarist Alex Skolnick) was more
on this record, where for years after he left, Eric was writing most of the
songs. This year Alex came in and worked with Eric for weeks all day, all night
arranging, contributing parts and he's on a lot more on this record. I think
Eric felt like he was writing "The New Order" record, because Alex is really
good at taking what Eric's doing and interpreting it to what he does, too. It
seemed to work. It's going to be a good record and it's going to be a different
record.
Mike:
Chris Adler (of Lamb of God) did the drums on this record right?
Chuck:
He did two songs and Gene Hoglan (ex-Strapping Young Lad) did the rest, he
(Hoglan) worked with us on our demonic record. He's a monster drummer. He's
perfect for the record we are working on and what we are doing.
Mike:
What was it like getting Chris (Adler) in? Chris is a pretty badass drummer.
Alex:
Well, Chris wanted to do the full record but he's doing the new Lamb of God
record so our schedules weren't working. At that point, Gene came back to us
and said he was interested to do it too, so it worked out having two great
drummers work with us.
Mike:
A lot of bands would like to have your problems!
(Mike
and Chuck laugh)
Chuck:
Yeah. Gene came up three days later, learned the songs in three days, recorded
them in six or seven days, and got out of there.
Mike:
How long did it take you to write "The Dark Roots of Earth"? (Testament's new
album currently due out in October 2011)
Chuck:
It took a long time. I mean, we can only write as fast as Eric writes the songs
and then we all came together. I think Alex came out and really put a lot of it
together. It's really coming together fast. We work well under pressure and
trying to get it done, but we've got South America
coming up next month so that puts us out of the studio.
Mike:
Was there a song on the new album that was challenging for some particular
reason?
Chuck:
Every song's a challenge; this cleaner one is an eight minute song where I have
to do eight minutes of ballad style singing is a challenge.
Mike:
Are you looking forward to doing that live?
Chuck:
I don't know.
(Mike
and Chuck laugh)
Chuck:
It feels good, but we'll see.
Mike:
What are you looking forward to at Heavy T.O, other than your set?
Chuck:
The last time we came we only had a thirty minute set opening up for everybody,
but we get to play a lot more. It's always fun to play outdoors; we're going to
get fired. It's good to get out and get off some steam. We've only done two
shows this month, this and the Mayhem show, so we're going to get out there and
knock them out.
Mike:
Who is your label right now?
Chuck:
Nuclear Blast. We've been with them for "The Formation of Damnation" (released
in 2008) and this one ("The Dark Roots of Earth").
Mike:
When is the new album scheduled to come out?
Chuck:
Sometime in October. Like I said, that's what we're shooting for, but we'll see.
KYUSS LIVES!, the project featuring three-quarters of KYUSS — the influential American stoner rock/metal band, originally from
Palm Desert, California — will be the featured musical guests on tonight's
(Wednesday, August 31) edition of Fuel TV's "The Daily
Habit" program. The band — bassist Nick Oliveri, drummer Brant
Bjork and singer John Garcia along with guitarist Bruno Fevery,
who most recently played with Garcia in the GARCIA PLAYS KYUSS project — will perform the classic KYUSS songs "Hurricane" (the lead track from 1995's "...And the Circus Leaves Town")
and "100°" (from 1994's "Welcome to Sky Valley").
"The Daily Habit" features "the biggest risk-taking
athletes and the most influential faces in entertainment." The show will
first air this evening at 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT with subsequent airings
to follow.
The air times for KYUSS LIVES! on Fuel TV's "The Daily
Habit" are:
11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT
2:00 a.m. ET / 11:00 p.m. PT
3:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT
5:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 a.m. PT
KYUSS LIVES! recently revealed that it will record a new studio album
following the band's current tour.
KYUSS, the inventors of Desert Rock, have been in the last ten years
much more popular than when they were still around in the early Nineties. So,
due to massive public demand over the years to play songs from his old cult
band KYUSS, John finally made the decision to give the fans what
they want.
Southern California's heavy
fuzz rock legends FU MANCHU will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their
major label debut, "In Search Of…" The hardworking group will
be undertaking a headlining tour of the United States and Canada with a set comprised of the
entire album from start to finish. This tour is a companion to the band's
recent European "In Search Of…" run.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 01 - The New Parish - Oakland, CA
Nov. 04 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CA
Nov. 07 - Double Door - Chicago, IL
Nov. 09 - The Grog Shop - Cleveland Heights, OH
Nov. 10 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
Nov. 11 - The Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON
Nov. 12 - Les Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
Nov. 14 - The Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA
Nov. 15 - Santo's Party Haus - New York, NY
Nov. 16 - The Note - West Chester, PA
Nov. 17 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
Nov. 20 - Red 7 - Austin, TX
Support at all shows will come from HONKY AND THE SHRINE except for the
November 10 date, which will feature support from SUPERSUCKERS, NASHVILLE
PUSSY and HONKY.
FU MANCHU recently reissued the original "In Search Of…" album on 180-gram vinyl on their own At The Dojo Records.
Recorded at Grandmaster Studios in Hollywood, California by the band and Brian
Jenkins (KYUSS, SCREAMING TREES) and mastered by Eddy
Schreyer (SLAYER, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, BAD RELIGION, ALICE IN CHAINS), "In Search Of…" was FU MANCHU's
first effort for Mammoth Records. This twelve-track collection is
considered a classic of the '90s and a pillar for the "stoner rock"
movement. Highlights include the lead single "Asphalt Risin'", "Redline" and fan favorite "Cyclone Launch".
Originally formed in 1985 as a BLACK FLAG-influenced hardcore punk band
called VIRULENCE, FU MANCHU has since become one of hard rock's
most celebrated names. The band released its first single "Kept Between
Trees" in 1990 and in the years following, helped give rise to a
celebrated style of heavy music tagged "stoner rock" alongside peers
such as KYUSS, MONSTER MAGNET and SLEEP. Since its
inception, the quartet has built itself a fanatical army of loyal enthusiasts
all drawn to the group's ridiculously catchy, unpretentious music,
guitar-driven sound and carefree lyrics centered on "old muscle cars,
choppers, vans, skateboarding and science fiction."
Hugely influential
British melodic hard rock group MAGNUM will release its new album, "Evolution",
in Europe on November 14 via Steamhammer/SPV.
The set will come in a high-value ecol book.
MAGNUM's lineup of guitarist/songwriter/producer Tony Clarkin,
vocalist Bob Catley, keyboard player Mark Stanway, bassist Al
Barrow and drummer Harry James excelled itself on "Evolution",
which is described in a press release as "one of the strongest and most
unusual best of albums in [MAGNUM's] illustrious (near-40-year) history
to date."
"Evolution" contains partially re-recorded and fully remixed
versions of eight songs from MAGNUM's previous albums, including two
tracks from MAGNUM's acclaimed "The Visitation" album
(which cracked the Top 20 in Germany
and made it to No. 3 on the U.K. Rock chart) and two newly recorded songs.
"Evolution" track listing
01. That Holy Touch
Re-recorded drums, bass, guitar and some vocals (remixed)
Originally on "Breath Of Life"
02. Just Like January
Re-recorded drums, bass and guitar (remixed)
Originally on "Breath Of Life"
03. Brand New Morning
Re-recorded bass, guitar and some vocals (remixed)
Originally on "Brand New Morning"
04. Immigrant Son
Re-recorded bass and guitar (remixed)
Originally on "Brand New Morning"
05. When We Were Younger
Re-recorded drums, bass, guitar and some vocals (remixed)
Originally on "Princess Alice & The Broken Arrow"
06. Out Of The Shadows
Re-recorded drums, bass, guitar (remixed)
Originally on "Princess Alice & The Broken Arrow"
07. All My Bridges
Re-recorded bass and drums (remixed)
Originally on "Into The Valley Of The Moonking"
08. Blood On Your Barbed Wire Thorns
Re-recorded bass (remixed)
Originally on "Into The Valley Of The Moonking"
09. The Visitation
Taken from "The Visitation"
10. Wild Angels
Taken from "The Visitation"
11. The Fall
New recording
12. Do You Know Who You Are?
New recording
Ralf
Scheepers of German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR has finished laying
down vocals for the band's new album, "Unbreakable", which is
scheduled for a January 20, 2012 release via Frontiers Records. he
states, "I know that every musician will always praise his new work as his
best so far, but what the whole team have created here is simply outstanding! I
am sure you guys will love what you hear."
"Unbreakable" is being recorded at House Of Music studios in Winterbach, Germany. The CD, which is being
produced by Sinner and engineered by Achim Köhler (EDGUY, MASTERPLAN),
will feature the following songs:
* Blaze Of Glory
* Marching Again
* And There Was Silence
* Night Of The Jumps
* Give 'Em Hell
* Born Again
* Where Angels Die
* Bad Guys Wear Black
* Strike
* Metal Nation
* Conviction
* Raise Some Hell
Regarding the musical direction of the new PRIMAL FEAR album, Scheepers told Greece's Rock Overdose,
"You can really expect an album which is somehow skipping back again to
the very basics of PRIMAL FEAR, with very rough metal riffs and
screaming vocals and good melodies on it. So people can really expect a pure PRIMAL
FEAR album with melody and beating drums and very harsh guitars."
He added, "Of course, every musician will somehow advertise his own album,
but I'm really convinced that people will like this one, because it's got very
catchy hooklines and it's a really 'bang-your-head' metal album.
"When you look back on the [PRIMAL FEAR] back catalog, from the
very first album to this album now, I think there were quite some changes — on 'Seven
Seals', for instance, and also when we came [out with] 'New Religion'.
We somehow now have a combination in between a good, bombastic sound with more
back-to-the-basics guitar riffing stuff. Also we have two ballads on it, which
are not [really] ballads. There's one mid-tempo song with some acoustic guitars
in it and one song which has a little bit more keyboards. It's still not an
acoustic-guitar ballad— it's still with drums and stuff — so I think it's a
pretty tough album [overall]."
VIRGIN
STEELE has been confirmed for next year's edition of the 70000 Tons Of
Metal cruise, which will set sail from Miami,
Florida to Cayman Islands
on January 23, 2012 and return four days later. A total of 40 acts will perform
on the cruise.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMORPHIS
CORONER
DARK FUNERAL
ELUVEITIE
GOD DETHRONED
GRAVE DIGGER
HAMMERFALL
IN EXTREMO
MOONSORROW
MY DYING BRIDE
NIGHTWISH
PESTILENCE
SAMAEL
STRATOVARIUS
TANKARD
THERION
TRISTANIA
VIRGIN STEELE
Ticket prices start at $666 plus $289 taxes and fees per person and include all
onboard entertainment, non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages, all meals at
the dining rooms, most on-board restaurants and even 24-hour room service.
For more information, visit www.70000tons.com.
British
thrashers EVILE will celebrate the release of their third album, "Five
Serpent's Teeth", by taking part in a number of in-store signing
sessions at Blue Banana stores in the U.K.
Fans will get the chance to meet their metal heroes in person and get their EVILE merchandise signed by the band. The signing sessions are due to take place
between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. in each city (4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Plymouth).
Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake: "We have some
awesome in-store meet-and-greets/signings coming up with Blue Banana!
"It's always great to be able to meet fans in an everyday normal setting.
So if you want to come get your copy of 'Five Serpent's Teeth' signed
before coming to the show, make sure you check out which Blue Banana stores
we'll be at and at what time! See you out there!"
Head down to your nearest Blue Banana store and meet EVILE in
person at these signing sessions:
Sep. 30 - Birmingham
Oct. 16 - Plymouth
Oct. 17 - Exeter
Oct. 26 - Cardiff
Oct. 28 – Sheffield
In other news, EVILE has confirmed a special Kerrang!-sponsored
hometown show to celebrate the release of "Five Serpent's Teeth".
The special release show is due to take place at the Holmfirth Picturedrome on
October 2. Supporting at the gig will come from fellow British metallers TORANAGA and GRIEVE.
Commented Ol Drake: "It's been a long time since we played so close
to home. One venue we've always wanted to play near to home is the Picturedrome
in Holmfirth. We've teamed up with Kerrang! magazine to have a very
special album release show at that very venue. We can't wait to play the new
material so close to home after such a long time, and we're honored to have the
great Kerrang! sponsoring this special event. See you all there!"
Added EVILE frontman Matt Drake: "At long last we can
announce that we are playing a local show! We haven't played locally in nearly
three years, so it's about time we did so. We are heading into the green hills
of Holmfirth to play at a place called the Picturedrome, which is the place to
go to see older rock bands, so for one night we're turning it into a building
full of METAL. Hopefully everyone who used to watch us locally back in the day
can turn out to see us, along with all the new blood, and make it a night to
remember!"
"Five Serpent's Teeth" is scheduled for release on September
26 in Europe and October 18 in North America
via Earache Records.
Sony/ATV
Music Publishing has extended its deal with Jeff Waters for the
music publishing/administration rights to at least eight ANNIHLATOR CDs.
This extension comes after the successful partnership of Sony/ATV and ANNIHILATOR's 2007 deal for the 2007 ANNIHILATOR release
titled "Metal" as well as other strong-selling titles such as "King
Of The Kill", "Refresh The Demon", "Schizo
Deluxe" and ANNIHILATOR's latest effort, titled simply "Annihilator".
Commented Waters: "Being with Sony/ATV helped to
breed new life into ANNIHILATOR back in 2007. With the steady rise of
our CD sales, downloads and touring/festival opportunities, we are happy to,
once again, align ourselves with Sony/ATV to move into ANNIHILATOR's
14th studio release and 22nd year releasing records… without a break! Thanks to
all at Sony/ATV and thanks to all the metal fans that listen to
real metal music!"
ANNIHLATOR is currently working on its 14th studio release as well as a
"special" recording that Waters describes as "a treat for the
faithful ANNIHILATOR fans and a welcoming to our new fans." The
band is also in talks with labels about a record deal for Canada and the USA.
ANNIHILATOR's self-titled album was released in Europe
on May 17, 2010. The CD was made available in Europe via Earache Records,
in Japan through Marquee and in Australia
via Riot Entertainment. It was also released in the U.S. and Canada via iTunes and most
all other digital/online outlets.
SABATON, AMARANTHE, NOCTURNAL RITES and IN MOURNING are the first
confirmed bands for next year's edition of the Rockstad: Falun festival,
set to take place August 16-18, 2012 at Lugnet Falun in Falun, Sweden.
Krister Lindholm, one of the organizers of Rockstad: Falun, last
year stated about the festival's origins, "Pär from SABATON and I wanted to do a special SABATON show back in 2008 and we invited
some local bands and made the first issue of Rockstad: Falun a total
success when we sold out the venue (1600 tickets) and went through the night
with no problems or other negative stuff. After that, we decided to make the Rockstad:
Falun festival an annual event and we started the plans for 2009 within a
few weeks after the premiere. 2009 we went outside to do an open air one-day
festival, everything went out good but we had four days of heavy rain during
that weekend so we didn't manage to get more than 3000 people out."
According to Fontana Herald News, Sammy Hagar (CHICKENFOOT, VAN HALEN, MONTROSE) will take part in Fontana, California's
centennial celebration, the 2013 Fontana Days Festival, which is
scheduled to take place in June 2013.
Hagar will return to his hometown to serve as the grand marshal of the Fontana
Days Parade, according to Toni Lewis of the Exchange Club of
Fontana.
What started off way back in June of 1913 as a tiny agricultural town has
become a city of close to 200,000 inhabitants.
In order to
"avoid mix-ups" with various things named "Imaginarium",
the title of the upcoming album and the movie from Finnish/Swedish symphonic
metallers NIGHTWISH has been changed to "Imaginaerum".
NIGHTWISH recently inked a new European deal with Nuclear Blast
Records. The band's new album, "Imaginaerum", will be
released in December. The U.S.
version of the CD will be made available through Roadrunner Records.
Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen:
"We are very happy to continue working with the Nuclear Blast family! Our collaboration started on a friendship basis and continues to do so.
"I was utterly happy and relieved to see they truly understood what 'Imaginaerum' is all about, and we seem to share similar profound enthusiasm towards it.
"I feel privileged working with such people who, despite the infinite maze
of business they must handle properly, still have a huge heart for music
itself."
Added Andy Siry, head of A&R and label manager of Nuclear Blast:
"We are very happy that NIGHTWISH and Nuclear Blast Records can continue as a team.
"NIGHTWISH became the biggest success of our label and everyone in
the band, their management and crew also became trustful and close friends. For
us, it is a pleasure to work with such highly gifted musicians and a genius
like Tuomas Holopainen, as a songwriter and composer. We also thank King
Foo Entertainment [NIGHTWISH's management company] for their belief
and the great relationship between all of us.
"We are looking forward to the next releases with the band, starting with
the upcoming masterpiece, 'Imaginaerum', which is another big step for
this visionary band, which is simply outstanding and brilliant."
NIGHTWISH recently spent time not only putting finishing touches to its
new album, "Imaginaerum", but also planning a movie of the
same name. If all goes well, the film will arrive at some point in 2012.
NIGHTWISH will kick off the "Imaginaerum" world tour in
Los Angeles.
The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California
on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show
production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be
no U.S.
tour until later in 2012.
Pictured below (left to right): Michael Langbein (Nuclear Blast), Toni
Peiju (King Foo), Markus Klumpp (Nuclear Blast), Yorck Eysel (Nuclear Blast), Patrick Walch (Nuclear Blast), Andy Siry (Nuclear Blast), Ewo Pohjola (King Foo), Tuomas Holopainen (NIGHTWISH), Markus Wosgien (Nuclear Blast), Uwe Dannenmann (Nuclear Blast), Holger
Tiefenbach (Nuclear Blast), Tobias Pfletschinger (Nuclear Blast)
WARRANT guitarist Joey Allen was interviewed on the August 15 edition of "Eddie
Trunk Live" on SiriusXM satellite radio about the passing of
the band's former frontman, Jani Lane. A couple of excerpts from the chat
follow below.
On WARRANT's relationship with Jani Lane and how he feels about
the singer's death:
"It's kind of like a band of brothers, and brothers love one another and
brothers hate one another sometimes — or brothers can get pissed off at one
another sometimes, let's just put it that way.
"It's no secret that we did have our ups and downs with the guy and it's
also no secret in some circles that we tried to do what we could do for him in
our own way.
"We're not necessarily shocked, because he just was such a…
"With talented people like that, I think there's peaks and valleys
talented people like that, I think there's peaks and valleys — I think it's the
highest of highs and the lowest of lows. That's what makes for some great
music, unfortunately.
"It's just tragic, man. It's tragic for his kids."
On whether WARRANT was always hoping that Jani would one day be
able to conquer his demons:
"Outside of a few short press releases when he would get in trouble — just
'cause we would get backlash from our side of the press, and it wasn't anything
that we were doing but guilt by association… Aside from a few of those things
that we put out that weren't a hurtful thing, it was just kind of trying to
protect what we were doing, we always wanted the guy to get well. We stuck
through a few rehab stints with him during the reunion tour.
"There's so much stuff that a lot of people don't know, that's not
necessarily for them to know, but it wasn't us not wanting him to be well —
ever! We're not that type of people; we're not those guys. I think the last
time we [Eddie Trunk and Joey Allen] talked, which was a few
months ago, I said 'We're rooting for the guy. Let him get out there. People
wanna hear the music, people wanna hear him sing the music. Go for it. And do
it well. And do it like you used to.' And it just wasn't meant to be for some
reason.
"I think the main tragedy we've all gotta keep in mind here is that the
guy is survived by two young daughters. I know one of them — she's a great kid.
And you've really just gotta wish them the best. And that's where it really
stings the most."
On whether he remembers a time and place when he noticed that things were
getting more serious for Jani in terms of his substance-abuse issues:
"I think when the whole Seattle thing came on and kind of took the wind
out of the whole late-'80s hard rock, hair-metal scene — whatever people wanna
call it — I think that it was hard for him to deal with that. And at the same
time, I think he was going through some personal issues, maybe with an ex-wife,
that was hard. And I just saw him turning to a place that was pretty dark. And
we were all there and supportive, and we did what we could do. We kept on
touring or took time off when he needed time off. Probably shortly after we
started the 'Dog Eat Dog' tour, after he left the band and then when he
came back, it just got a little dark. And that was about the time that I split,
because I was in my own private hell, so to speak, and I didn't need any help
being there. So that would have to be it for me personally when I saw it. But
even when we got back together for the reunion and I saw him and I went and met
him for the first time, and buried the hatchet on all the old stuff — all the
legal crap, all the personal stuff — he looked great and he sounded great. And
he was good. It just didn't last."
WARRANT announced in September 2008 that it was splitting with Lane six months after the band reunited with the troubled vocalist. He has since
been replaced by Robert Mason (LYNCH MOB, CRY OF LOVE, BIG
COCK).
Lane originally left WARRANT in March 1993 but rejoined the band
in September 1994. The group went on to record the "Ultraphobic" (1995), "Belly To Belly" (1996) and "Greatest &
Latest" (1999) albums and issued and collection of covers, "Under
The Influence", in 2001. Jani quit WARRANT again in 2004
before reuniting with the group four years later.
After two years of extensive international touring, guitar
virtuoso, singer/songwriter Richie Kotzen is back to unleash his new
album, "24 Hours", due on November 11 via Headroom-Inc.
"24 Hours" reflects the guitar style that has defined Kotzen's
career as a virtuoso, while taking it to another level.
"I feel like I have reached a new level of soloing on the opening track '24
Hours'," explains Kotzen. "I stopped using a guitar pick
on electric a few years ago and my playing has evolved in a different way. Some
of the solo lines I play on the song '24 Hours', and others as well, are
lines I would have never been able to play with a guitar pick. So I would say
the solos on this CD are at a different level than previous recordings."
"24 Hours" is an absorbing collective blend of Kotzen's
musical influences and diversity. It takes you on an inspired, musical journey
as the opening track sets the tone that falls stylistically somewhere between
early VAN HALEN and SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE. Kotzen also
brought in his talented daughter, August Kotzen, and friend Jerry
Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, to complete the album.
"My daughter August is singing with me on a few songs and is
playing electric piano on the song 'Stop Me'," states Kotzen.
"My friend Jerry Cantrell is singing backgrounds on 'Love Is
Blind' and does a very cool lead vocal ad-lib in the final chorus of the
tune."
Kotzen burst onto the heavy metal scene as a teenager with a
lightning-fast guitar techniques. With his talents, Kotzen has played
with some of the best musicians; including renowned jazz great Stanley
Clarke and a three-year stint in the band MR. BIG.
"I have been lucky in the sense that I have been able to play with guys
who I could learn from," explains Kotzen. "The biggest musical
lesson for me was playing in a band with Stanley Clarke and Lenny
White. Obviously, these guys are jazz musicians and I am not, but I learned
so much from the time we recorded and toured together. My favorite rock bassist
is Billy Sheehan, and we were in MR. BIG together for three
years, which was awesome."
"Post Mortem", the sophomore album from the
Miami hard rock quartet BLACK TIDE, sold
5,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land
at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available on
August 23 via DGC/Interscope Records.
Commented vocalist and lead guitarist Gabriel Garcia: "This record
means everything to us. We poured our heart and soul into this and have been
waiting for it to come out like the rest of you.
"'Post Mortem' is the name of the record. It means 'after death.'
The reason we love this title is because we feel that we are so lucky to be
able to be doing this, and having an opportunity to put our music out there is
honestly the closest thing to heaven we have on this earth. It's a like a dream."
"Post Mortem" was written and recorded in the summer of 2010,
and is the follow-up to 2008's "Light From Above", which
garnered instant critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Spin, Revolver and more.
The band followed the release of "Light From Above" with an
appearance on the inaugural Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival,
performed on the main stage of Download 2008 and capped it off by
playing the entire 2009 Vans Warped Tour.
In April 2011 BLACK TIDE was added as support for the only two announced
U.S. dates of IRON MAIDEN's "The Final Frontier" world
tour, which took place in BLACK TIDE's home state of Florida.
BLACK TIDE is taking part in this summer's edition of Rockstar Energy
Drink Uproar Festival. The trek will run through October 15, conquering North America with a massive active rock lineup which
features veteran acts AVENGED SEVENFOLD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SEVENDUST and more.
Guitarist Stéphan Forté of French neo-classical
metallers ADAGIO has signed a worldwide deal with Listenable Records for the release of his first instrumental solo album, "The Shadows
Compendium". The CD features several guests such as Jeff Loomis, Mattias Eklundh, Glen Drover, Daniele Gottardo and Derek
Taylor.
Commented Stéphan: "I am very happy to sign with Listenable for 'The Shadows Compendium'. The label did a great job for ADAGIO's
latest album, 'Archangels In Black', and I am really pleased to have
such a strong metal label supporting an instrumental album worldwide. I've been
working on the writing for more than four years and I'm glad to finally be
ready to share this music with you guys.
"This album reflects my very personal vision of guitar. It is, of course,
a metal album, featuring some insane guitar chops, but still very melodic.
"Right now, I am practicing the songs in order to be ready to play them
perfectly for the showcase tour in October. As far as the guests, I am lucky to
have such talented friends; they all did amazing solos.
"Jeff, Glen, Mattias, Daniele and Derek,
guys you kick serious asses, thanks again, buddies!!"
Dutch "atmospheric doomsters" OFFICIUM TRISTE entered the studio of the band's keyboardist, Martin Kwakernaak, in
April to begin recording their fifth full-length album, tentatively titled "Mors Viri". The group states, "Everything
has been recorded except for a small acoustic guitar piece in one of the songs
that Martin will record shortly. Then Martin needs to do some
editing on the recordings before it will all be sent off to Sweden where Ronnie
Björnström of Enhanced Audio Productions will mix and master the
album. When that's done, we will start looking for the best possible label to
release our fifth full-length recording. Some labels already showed interest,
so we have high hopes we can come to a suitable agreement. Oh, and we can tell
that the rough mixes already sound devastating!"
Songtitles set to appear on the new OFFICIUM TRISTE CD include "To
The Gallows", "Burning All Boats And Bridges", "Your
Fall From Grace", "The Wounded And The Dying", "Your
Heaven Is My Underworld" and "One With The Sea (Part 2)".
OFFICIUM TRISTE's fourth full-length album, "Giving Yourself
Away", was released on May 28, 2007 via Displeased Records. The
CD was recorded at Excess studio in Rotterdam,
Holland.
Ironclad Recordings has announced the signing of EACH
OF THE DAYS.
EACH OF THE DAYS, formed in 2007, is a six-piece metal band from Tokyo, Japan
that combines elements of the heavy metal underground with a driving force of
melody reminiscent of SLIPKNOT and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. The
dual-percussion band also utilizes the voice of its female drummer, Mako,
to the already melodic choruses performed by lead vocalist Norio.
2009 was the breakout year for EACH OF THE DAYS in Japan as one of
the band's songs made it on the theatrical thriller "Saw VI" soundtrack. In April 2010, the self-released "Historical Sheep" caught the eye of Japanese label Howling Bull and the band was cast into
a new light. After touring its homeland of Japan numerous times with the likes
of UNEARTH, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, AUGUST BURNS RED, HEAVEN
SHALL BURN and more, EACH OF THE DAYS is poised to make the leap to
foreign soil to continue building momentum and achieving their goal of being
Internationally renowned.
Long Island-based hardcore metal veterans THIS IS HELL will release their fourth studio album, "Black Mass", on
October 11 via Rise Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Weight Of
The World" was recorded earlier this summer at Killingsworth Studio in Valley Village, California with producer Tomas Costanza.
Commented THIS IS HELL guitarist Rick Jimenez: "The new
album takes the crossover and metal influences from last album to much greater
extremes and the end product was 'Black Mass', by far the heaviest and
thrashiest songs we've written and recorded. Lyrically, this album touches on
issues we haven't dove into before. Social injustice as a whole is a recurring
theme. Persistence and empowerment are familiar themes with us that I've
revisited, but with an even more aggressive outlook than before."
He added, "The artwork was done by Will Blood, an amazing English
illustrator/artist that we've worked with on shirts and designs before. The
concept came from some lyrics and underlying themes from the album and Will really took the ball and ran with it. Whether someone takes the art at sheer
superficial face value, or really absorbs the details and subtleties of it,
it's an extremely powerful piece of artwork. I feel the same way about the
music and especially the lyrics on this new record."
"Black Mass" track listing:
01. Acid Rain
02. Black History
03. Salt the Earth
04. Black Mass
05. The Wars: Part I
06. Mi Nombre
07. The Last Outlaw
08. Demons
09. The Reckoning
10. The Wars: Part II
THIS IS HELL will hit the road next month as part of a North American
tour with UNDEROATH, COMEBACK KID and THE CHARIOT.
"We're very excited for our upcoming tour with UNDEROATH, COMEBACK
KID and THE CHARIOT," said THIS IS HELL vocalist Travis
Reilly. "We've toured many times with COMEBACK KID and we look
forward to spending more time with them and meeting the other guys. It's going
to be great to play some new songs for a bunch of new faces."
On November 1, Los Angeles hardcore/metal band TERROR will release
the "Defining The Faith" DVD as part of the special deluxe
reissue of the group's latest CD, "Keepers Of The Faith".
Produced, edited, and authored by Carlo Oppermann and Ambitious.Films, "Defining The Faith" features a full live set that is composed
of three different TERROR shows in three distinct settings: a small
club, a big hall, and a massive European festival. These live performances were
filmed at the following concerts: Mach1 festival in Montabaur (June 24),
Cafe Central in Weinheim (June 28), and Essigfabrik in Köln (June 29), and the
complete set-list for the DVD is below.
"Defining The Faith" live DVD set-list
01. Stick Tight
02. Out Of My Face
03. One With The Underdogs
04. Push it Away
05. Never Alone
06. Lowest Of The Low
07. Betrayer
08. Spit My Rage
09. Always The Hard Way
10. Keep Your Mouth Shut
11. Hell And Back
12. Life & Death
13. You're Caught
14. You're Enemies Are Mine
15. Overcome
16. Keepers Of The Faith
"Defining The Faith" also features a European tour documentary
with band interviews, backstage footage, and more-plus, four music videos taken
from the band's "Keepers Of The Faith" album: "Stick
Tight", "Keepers Of The Faith", "Return To
Strength", and "You're Caught". And as yet another
additional bonus, the making-of footage for the band's latest music video, "You're
Caught", will also be included in the DVD.
In support of this upcoming release, TERROR will be back on the road this
fall with THE ACACIA STRAIN, STRAY FROM THE PATH, and HARM'S
WAY for the "God Damn" tour.
TERROR's fifth album, "Keepers Of The Faith", sold
around 2,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD
landed at position No. 11 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.
"Keepers Of The Faith" was released on August 30, 2010 in
Europe and September 14, 2010 in North America
via Century Media Records. Doom Patrol issued the album in Japan on
September 1. The CD contains 13 new tracks produced by Chad Gilbert of NEW
FOUND GLORY at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange County, California.
It was engineered by Paul Miner (DEATH BY STEREO, ADAMANTIUM)
and mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED).
"Keepers of The Faith" was made available in three different
versions worldwide, with the U.S.
and European editions each released as a digipak with a special fold-out poster.
The next reissue from DEATH's legendary catalog is
1993's "Individual Thought Patterns". Due on October 25 in
North America; October 28 in Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany; and
October 31 in the rest of Europe via Relapse Records, the effort was
remixed by Alan Douches and has been re-packaged to include a second and
third bonus disc worth of previously unreleased demos and a full live set
recorded in Germany during a 1993 European tour. Also included on the third
bonus disc exclusive to this reissue are rare riff tracks from the Chuck
Schuldiner archives.
"Individual Thought Patterns" follows the recent reissues of "The
Sound Of Perseverance" and "Human". Like those
reissues, "Individual Thought Patterns" will be available as a
deluxe three-disc set, a two-disc standard set, and deluxe digital. Pre-order
options and additional release information can be found here.
"Individual Thought Patterns" track listing:
Disc 1:
01. Overactive Imagination
02. In Human Form
03. Jealousy
04. Trapped In A Corner
05. Nothing Is Everything
06. Mentally Blind
07. Individual Thought Patterns
08. Destiny
09. Out Of Touch
10. The Philosopher
Disc 2:
Live In Germany
- April 13, 1993
01. Leprosy
02. Suicide Machine
03. Living Monstrosity
04. Overactive Imagination
05. Flattening Of Emotions
06. Within The Mind
07. In Human Form
08. Lack Of Comprehension
09. Trapped In A Corner
10. Zombie Ritual
"Individual Thought Patterns" Studio Outtake:
11. The Exorcist
Disc 3:
Four-Track Demos - Chuck & Gene - December 1992
01. Overactive Imagination
02. In Human Form
03. The Philosopher
04. Trapped In A Corner
05. Individual Thought Patterns
06. Jealousy
07. Nothing Is Everything
08. Destiny
09. Mentally Blind
10. Out Of Touch
Chuck's Riff Tape - 1992
11. In Human Form
12. The Philosopher
13. Trapped in a Corner
CANNIBAL CORPSE has been confirmed for next year's
edition of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, which will set sail from Miami, Florida to Cayman Islands on January 23, 2012 and return four days
later. A total of 40 acts will perform on the cruise.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMORPHIS
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORONER
DARK FUNERAL
ELUVEITIE
GOD DETHRONED
GRAVE DIGGER
HAMMERFALL
IN EXTREMO
MOONSORROW
MY DYING BRIDE
NIGHTWISH
PESTILENCE
SAMAEL
STRATOVARIUS
TANKARD
THERION
TRISTANIA
VIRGIN STEELE
Ticket prices start at $666 plus $289 taxes and fees per person and include all
onboard entertainment, non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages, all meals at
the dining rooms, most on-board restaurants and even 24-hour room service.
For more information, visit www.70000tons.com.
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