PAID Inc. combined savvy social media marketing with its seasoned knowledge of AEROSMITH's fan base to launch a VIP experience campaign in Japan that resulted in rapid sellouts or near sellouts of the most popular AEROSMITH VIP experience packages in all markets of AEROSMITH's Japanese tour. As fans quickly snapped up the VIP experience, PAID, which manages AEROSMITH's official Aero Force One (AF1) fan community, was able to access additional ticket inventory to meet the mushrooming demand in many markets. Most of that also has sold out and only limited numbers of VIP packages are still available for the Japanese tour via AeroForceOne.com.
"AEROSMITH has always been about the fans, so PAID is using social media and its new CRM system to help the band better know and get closer to its fans," said Keith Garde, president of PAID Inc. celebrity services. "We're engaging fans across multiple channels, delivering refined programs with simple, user-friendly access making it easier than ever for fans to respond to the call-to-action and connect."
The most popular VIP Experience packages included elements such as meet-and-greets with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry or Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford — complete with fan and band member photo opp, a premium ticket in the first few rows and exclusive bundles of AEROSMITH merchandise.
"We're working with the band daily using social media channels for direct-to-fan communication that keeps fans abreast of what is happening with AEROSMITH anywhere in the world," Garde noted. "With every transaction/interaction, we have the opportunity to take the information fans share about themselves and funnel it into our new CRM system enabling detailed fan base analysis, which helps AEROSMITH and PAID better understand how to deliver to the fans more of what they want, when, where and how they want it."
"AEROSMITH has always been about the fans, so PAID is using social media and its new CRM system to help the band better know and get closer to its fans," said Keith Garde, president of PAID Inc. celebrity services. "We're engaging fans across multiple channels, delivering refined programs with simple, user-friendly access making it easier than ever for fans to respond to the call-to-action and connect."
The most popular VIP Experience packages included elements such as meet-and-greets with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry or Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford — complete with fan and band member photo opp, a premium ticket in the first few rows and exclusive bundles of AEROSMITH merchandise.
"We're working with the band daily using social media channels for direct-to-fan communication that keeps fans abreast of what is happening with AEROSMITH anywhere in the world," Garde noted. "With every transaction/interaction, we have the opportunity to take the information fans share about themselves and funnel it into our new CRM system enabling detailed fan base analysis, which helps AEROSMITH and PAID better understand how to deliver to the fans more of what they want, when, where and how they want it."
Legendary WHITESNAKE singer David Coverdale is going to celebrate his 60th birthday on September 22. During his six decades, the rocker has made some amazing music with both WHITESNAKE and DEEP PURPLE, but his most famous song has to be the WHITESNAKE hit "Here I Go Again". Next year, the song turns 30 years old and David told VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner about some plans to mark the occasion.
"It's coming up to some 'Here I Go Again' anniversary," he said, "so I think they're talking about putting a lot of people in to do that song. You know, I have some amazing versions that Warner/Chappell, my publishing company, sends to me of people auditioning for deals — beautiful R&B versions, super contemporary folk versions, they're readings of the song and I embrace them fully. I would love to see them highlighted in that kind of tribute package. It'd be great to do something like that, for instance for Japan, I'd be totally up for it."
Before Coverdale, who's originally from Saltburn-by-Sea area, founded WHITESNAKE, he was the lead vocalist for DEEP PURPLE. When Coverdale celebrates his 60th birthday on September 22, he's able to look back at a musical career that is almost 40 years long.
"I'm going to celebrate my birthday with my private family and my musical family," he reveals, "I will party several times on several different continents. Even if it sounds a little un-rock and roll, I will use the day to reflect and be thankful for what I achieved in my life so far. I'm incredibly grateful to still be experiencing professional success and to be so physically active in what I do, after all these years."
"It's coming up to some 'Here I Go Again' anniversary," he said, "so I think they're talking about putting a lot of people in to do that song. You know, I have some amazing versions that Warner/Chappell, my publishing company, sends to me of people auditioning for deals — beautiful R&B versions, super contemporary folk versions, they're readings of the song and I embrace them fully. I would love to see them highlighted in that kind of tribute package. It'd be great to do something like that, for instance for Japan, I'd be totally up for it."
Before Coverdale, who's originally from Saltburn-by-Sea area, founded WHITESNAKE, he was the lead vocalist for DEEP PURPLE. When Coverdale celebrates his 60th birthday on September 22, he's able to look back at a musical career that is almost 40 years long.
"I'm going to celebrate my birthday with my private family and my musical family," he reveals, "I will party several times on several different continents. Even if it sounds a little un-rock and roll, I will use the day to reflect and be thankful for what I achieved in my life so far. I'm incredibly grateful to still be experiencing professional success and to be so physically active in what I do, after all these years."
Guitarist Chris Caffery (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SAVATAGE) will make a guest appearance with DIO DISCIPLES tonight (Thursday, September 22) at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, New York.
DIO DISCIPLES — which features former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar), Scott Warren (keyboards) and Rudy Sarzo alongside singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN) — pays tribute to the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy, who recently posted that "there will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the DIO DISCIPLES."
Commented Chris: "I can't wait to see Simon, Ripper and the guys and help them to celebrate the life and music of my friend the legendary Ronnie James Dio! Long Live rock and roll and Dio!"
DIO DISCIPLES — which features former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar), Scott Warren (keyboards) and Rudy Sarzo alongside singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN) — pays tribute to the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy, who recently posted that "there will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the DIO DISCIPLES."
Commented Chris: "I can't wait to see Simon, Ripper and the guys and help them to celebrate the life and music of my friend the legendary Ronnie James Dio! Long Live rock and roll and Dio!"
Two iconic American figures have joined forces, but it may not be the ones you expect. All-American teen Archie Andrews has partnered with rock 'n' roll legend Kiss in an upcoming series called, eponymously, "Archie Meets Kiss."
The four-part series launches Nov. 30 and, in the words of writer Alex Segura of Archie Comics, "brings together two pieces of Americana for the first time."
Jon Goldwater, CEO of Archie Comics, is a self-described "crazy Kiss fan," even having a Kiss-themed party for his son's Bar Mitzvah.
But Goldwater told ABC News that the idea of a partnership between Archie and Kiss came from Kiss bassist-vocalist Gene Simmons.
"One day, I was lucky enough to get a call," Goldwater said.
Simmons flew him out to L.A. to discuss the idea of a partnership.
"His ideas were extremely inspiring, and we thought it would be a wonderful thing for Archie," Goldwater said.
Simmons told ABC News that the partnership with Archie and Kiss seems natural.
"Kiss has always broken the rules and will continue to do so. We write our own rules. We are Kiss. Archie has stood the test of time. And Kiss is the juggernaut of them all. This is a ground breaking moment for anyone wanting to rock and roll all nite and party every day," said Simmons.
The series will be a topsy-turvy, magical tale of a spell gone wrong that involves Archie and the gang, and Sabrina meeting the famed rockers.
Archie Comics hopes that the collision of characters will be enough to pull in a full audience — one that includes older Americans who grew up with the comics and younger fans too.
"Younger kids will enjoy the magical nature while older audiences will enjoy old rock 'n' roll," said Goldwater.
The Archie comic turns 70 years old this December, which is eight years older than Simmons.
For parents worried that Kiss' mature themes may be too much for younger kids, Simmons offers words of comfort.
"Kiss is all things to all people," Simmons told the New York Post. "A 5- or 10-year-old fan doesn't look at the lascivious nature of my tongue the same way someone much older would — such a thing is not obvious to a 5-year-old, nor should it be."
Goldwater, in addition to hoping the series and comic does well, has one other wish.
"Maybe the kids will even pick up a Kiss album," said Goldwater.
Fans can expect to rock 'n' roll but maybe not all night. … Archie and the gang have a curfew.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/archiekiss.jpg
VH1 Classic is once again ringing in the Jewish New Year with a 24-hour marathon of Canada's greatest music export, RUSH. "Rush Hashanah" begins Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. and features the world premiere of "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland". "Time Machine" delivers the first live performance of the entire "Moving Pictures" album and other fan favorites from their many celebrated albums. The RUSH extravaganza will include unforgettable concerts, performances and a behind-the-scenes look into the phenomenal 40-year career.
Beginning Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. and ending on Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m., the RUSH takeover on VH1 Classic will give viewers the opportunity to immerse themselves in all things RUSH. With a glimpse into the renowned band's life with the award-winning VH1 rock doc "Beyond The Lighted Stage" and "Classic Albums '2112' And 'Moving Pictures'", there is no portion of RUSH's legacy that will go unseen. Relive throwback hits with memorable concerts including the world premiere of "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" and other hit concerts, including "Rush In Rio" and "R30".
Additional information for "Rush Hashanah" below:
* Classic Albums: Rush '2112' And 'Moving Pictures'" premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The story of the making of two of RUSH's greatest albums.
* "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Filmed in Cleveland in April 2011, the "Time Machine" tour was an evening with RUSH, where the band performed new songs, classic hits and, for the first time ever, performed the "Moving Pictures" album in its entirety.
* "Beyond The Lighted Stage" premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Regarded as the world's biggest cult band, "Beyond The Lighted Stage" explores the phenomenon behind the forty-year career of the legendary rock group RUSH. Features never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with the band.
* "R30" premieres Thursday, September 29 at 1 a.m. ET/PT. RUSH performs live on September 24, 2004 in Frankfurt, Germany.
* "Rush In Rio" premieres Thursday, September 29 at 12 p.m. ET/PT. Taped in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the final night of RUSH's 2002 "Vapor Trails" tour.
Beginning Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. and ending on Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m., the RUSH takeover on VH1 Classic will give viewers the opportunity to immerse themselves in all things RUSH. With a glimpse into the renowned band's life with the award-winning VH1 rock doc "Beyond The Lighted Stage" and "Classic Albums '2112' And 'Moving Pictures'", there is no portion of RUSH's legacy that will go unseen. Relive throwback hits with memorable concerts including the world premiere of "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" and other hit concerts, including "Rush In Rio" and "R30".
Additional information for "Rush Hashanah" below:
* Classic Albums: Rush '2112' And 'Moving Pictures'" premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The story of the making of two of RUSH's greatest albums.
* "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Filmed in Cleveland in April 2011, the "Time Machine" tour was an evening with RUSH, where the band performed new songs, classic hits and, for the first time ever, performed the "Moving Pictures" album in its entirety.
* "Beyond The Lighted Stage" premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Regarded as the world's biggest cult band, "Beyond The Lighted Stage" explores the phenomenon behind the forty-year career of the legendary rock group RUSH. Features never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with the band.
* "R30" premieres Thursday, September 29 at 1 a.m. ET/PT. RUSH performs live on September 24, 2004 in Frankfurt, Germany.
* "Rush In Rio" premieres Thursday, September 29 at 12 p.m. ET/PT. Taped in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the final night of RUSH's 2002 "Vapor Trails" tour.
According to TulsaWorld.com, GUNS N' ROSES will not perform in Tulsa, Oklahoma as part of its upcoming U.S. tour, despite an announcement from the band to the contrary.
GUNS N' ROSES confirmed earlier today that it will kick off its first U.S. tour in five years on October 28 in Florida. The 30 dates include a Tulsa listing, but no specific date, venue or ticket information has been announced, according to a press release.
Nearly all the dates and venues already announced are arenas.
The Tulsa date announcement is wrong, said BOK Center officials.
"No, they are not playing Tulsa," a BOK Center official told TulsaWorld.com.
GUNS N' ROSES confirmed earlier today that it will kick off its first U.S. tour in five years on October 28 in Florida. The 30 dates include a Tulsa listing, but no specific date, venue or ticket information has been announced, according to a press release.
Nearly all the dates and venues already announced are arenas.
The Tulsa date announcement is wrong, said BOK Center officials.
"No, they are not playing Tulsa," a BOK Center official told TulsaWorld.com.
Renowned guitarists Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT and Chris Broderick of MEGADETH have joined forces to create the first annual Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat. This unique experience offers a select group of guitarists of all talent levels the opportunity to expand their horizons while spending four days and five nights studying and jamming with Broderick and Skolnick in a relaxed setting at Full Moon Resort in New York's Catskill Mountains from December 26 to December 30, 2011.
While best known for their work with TESTAMENT and MEGADETH, Skolnick and Broderick are diverse, well-rounded musicians with backgrounds and training in rock, jazz, classical and blues.
Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat will include master classes with Skolnick and Broderick, jam sessions, open-mic nights and optional private lessons. Attendees are invited to expand their knowledge of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, music history, jazz theory, chord theory, harmony, improvisation, counterpoint, composition, chord voicings, improv (taught by Skolnick), classical fingerstyle technique (taught by Broderick), and, of course, heavy metal guitar. Guitarists will learn techniques to increase speed and improve tone, while hearing stories about life on the road, getting gear tips and much more. Nathan Peck (bass) and Matt "Zebar" Zebroski (drums, percussion) of the ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO will provide rhythm accompaniment for jam sessions throughout the week.
Check out a video clip of Skolnick and Broderick talking about the Winter Guitar Retreat below.
"I'm really looking forward to partnering with my friend Chris Broderick for our Winter Guitar Retreat," says Skolnick. "Each of us has a unique, individual approach to guitar and it's always fun to share one's experience with deserving students. Therefore, we've decided to join forces and create the ultimate post-Christmas, pre-New Year's getaway for amateur and pro guitarists alike."
Broderick concurs: "Come join Alex and myself this winter for a comprehensive look at how we view the guitar. It will not only be insightful, but relaxed and fun as well. We will cover things such as stage performance, live jam sessions, and all kinds of helpful guitar playing tips that you can utilize. I look forward to seeing you at this incredible event."
Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat will provide a full vacation experience, including gourmet meals from the in-house chef. In addition, Full Moon Resort is conveniently located close to a full array of winter activities including skiing and snowboarding.
A special 10 percent discount for Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat is available for those who register and pay in full before October 31, 2011.
For full details, go to sbwinterguitarretreat.com/site/.
The Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat is the first winter installment of the successful Music Masters Camp Series held at Full Moon Resort, which has been hosted by musicians including Dweezil Zappa, Todd Rundgren, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto.
While best known for their work with TESTAMENT and MEGADETH, Skolnick and Broderick are diverse, well-rounded musicians with backgrounds and training in rock, jazz, classical and blues.
Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat will include master classes with Skolnick and Broderick, jam sessions, open-mic nights and optional private lessons. Attendees are invited to expand their knowledge of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, music history, jazz theory, chord theory, harmony, improvisation, counterpoint, composition, chord voicings, improv (taught by Skolnick), classical fingerstyle technique (taught by Broderick), and, of course, heavy metal guitar. Guitarists will learn techniques to increase speed and improve tone, while hearing stories about life on the road, getting gear tips and much more. Nathan Peck (bass) and Matt "Zebar" Zebroski (drums, percussion) of the ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO will provide rhythm accompaniment for jam sessions throughout the week.
Check out a video clip of Skolnick and Broderick talking about the Winter Guitar Retreat below.
"I'm really looking forward to partnering with my friend Chris Broderick for our Winter Guitar Retreat," says Skolnick. "Each of us has a unique, individual approach to guitar and it's always fun to share one's experience with deserving students. Therefore, we've decided to join forces and create the ultimate post-Christmas, pre-New Year's getaway for amateur and pro guitarists alike."
Broderick concurs: "Come join Alex and myself this winter for a comprehensive look at how we view the guitar. It will not only be insightful, but relaxed and fun as well. We will cover things such as stage performance, live jam sessions, and all kinds of helpful guitar playing tips that you can utilize. I look forward to seeing you at this incredible event."
Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat will provide a full vacation experience, including gourmet meals from the in-house chef. In addition, Full Moon Resort is conveniently located close to a full array of winter activities including skiing and snowboarding.
A special 10 percent discount for Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat is available for those who register and pay in full before October 31, 2011.
For full details, go to sbwinterguitarretreat.com/site/.
The Skolnick & Broderick's Winter Guitar Retreat is the first winter installment of the successful Music Masters Camp Series held at Full Moon Resort, which has been hosted by musicians including Dweezil Zappa, Todd Rundgren, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto.
Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth's leader and guitar player, is a worried man. He's worried by the turn the society in which he lives is taking, particularly the American one. Known for being very supportive of his country, he's nonetheless very critical regarding how it is evolving nowadays, especially in the context of the economical crisis we all know.
But John Schaffer is also an angry man. He's angry because he tried to understand, to know, to research and to explain, then became aware of the corruption filling the world, a world that's doomed, according to him, if the true, painful, power-overthrowing revolution doesn't happen. This is the shout sent by Schaffer in Iced Earth's new album entitled Dystopia that will be released the 17th of October. The pack's leader explains everything about that in the following interview. Just like he did through his project Sons Of Liberty, he considers his duty to encourage people to think about the state of the world and the politics.
Regarding the future of the band, he's way less worried, and actually rather optimistic, especially about Stu Block (Into Eternity)'s new arrival. A singer with a surprising and dynamic range from whom he mangaged to get the best thanks to his coaching, making a very strong record.
As an introduction, Schaffer go back over emblematic singer Matt Barlow's departure and its circumstances. Good occasion to evoke and understand the impact of both the musical industry and the consumers behavior's changes on an artist like Iced Earth, who built his fame in the metal world.
Have a great read.
Have a great read.
(About Stu Block) "I love the look in his eyes when he performs, and the intensity and passion that he has. [...] When you have guys like that that have all the abilities in the world and they have great attitudes, you can accomplish anything." Radio Metal : Matt Barlow left the band earlier this year. Was his departure something that had been brooding for a while or did it happen out of the blue?
Jon Schaffer (guitars) : Well, it happened out of necessity, really. You know, when Matt came back in 2008 the music industry was in a different situation back then. He came back kind of as a part-time thing, while he still worked as a police officer the whole time that he was in the band, but he was able to take some vacation time and go out on tour, do a few shows here and there, that kind of stuff. But you know, as things have kind of unraveled in the music business, and physical CD sales are going down, you've got a lot of retail stores closing and record labels going bankrupt, things are kind of tough: the band has to play more, we have to perform more live. So our management approached Matt and said "Hey, we've got a really busy schedule coming up, and we'd really love for you to come on board full-time." I mean, Matt obviously could've made a lot more money being a full-time singer in Iced Earth than a police officer, but that's really not what it's about; it's about being with his family and he chose a different path several years ago for his life, and even though he was missing music, he just kind of wants to do it as a part time thing, that really can't work anymore for Iced Earth. So we were forced to make a decision of just survival for the band. Matt totally understands and he knew that he was going to hold the band back if he stayed in, so he retired and we had a great sendoff for him at Wacken, that was his last show with the band. He said goodbye to the band and the fans and we had a big party afterwards and it was really cool.
You have qualified the band's current situation as a new beginning. How would you compare this situation to the one when Tim Owens came into the band after Matt's first departure?
This is very different, because number one, The Glorious Burden album was already written, all the parts were already written, and Tim wasn't committed, he was coming in and doing a job, and he had a lot of desire to go on a solo career, but the Iced Earth opportunity was there so he took it but he was kind of a hired gun, and he was never really committed to the band, so that's a really different thing. With Stu, he's totally committed, and he was there not for the writing of the music but for the writing of the lyrics and the vocal melodies, he was very involved in it. So we shared those duties, that's the thing that's very different, he has already contributed more than any singer has in terms of writing credits, and he has just stepped into it and done a great job. He's totally committed to this, it's really great because since 9/11 happened, we haven't had that kind of… you know, since that had such a big impact on Matt, you know, it made him start questioning his life and what he was doing. We just haven't had that kind of commitment in a long time.
Do you think there is real chemistry between Stu and you? Because with Matt there was great chemistry, so do you think you'll be able to reproduce that?
It's a different chemistry, but there's definitely real chemistry between Stu and I. Of course there was chemistry between Matt and I, but this is just different. With Matt, he was great to produce, he used to call me "coach" when he first joined the band, and Stu is doing the same thing. Stu has a very similar attitude and work ethics and even a similar background, you know, both those guys took drama class in high-school. So there's a lot of similarities there, and when I'm writing songs, producing singers, I'm very, very involved in the process, and when you have guys like that that have all the abilities in the world and they have great attitudes, you can accomplish anything. So I'm sure the chemistry is going to be different, but it's going to be great. It is great. I don't know if you've heard the record, but it's the strongest album we've done in years.
The last two singers in Iced Earth Ripper Owens and Matt Barlow had two very distinct styles and vocal tones. But what is striking with Stu is that he often sounds surprisingly close to Matt but also does these Judas Priest like screaming. You get the best of both worlds in a sense and even more. Was it this dynamic vocal range that convinced you to choose him?
Well of course. Actually, he didn't even know he had that kind of a dynamic range. He knew that he had a dynamic range, but he never sung like that before. This is all totally new to Stu, and this is part of the production process, when I'm coaching a singer and writing a song… I don't think Stu sounds anything like Matt, I think what you're hearing is Iced Earth, man; it's the way the songs are structured and produced. Stu was in a progressive death metal band, so he was singing deep growl vocals, and doing really high screams, but he never used the middle part of his voice, and when he came to audition that was my thing, I was like "Well dude, we've got to try to open your voice up" because I love the look in his eyes when he performs, and the intensity and passion that he has, but Into Eternity was 100% different than Iced Earth, so you have to explore the voice and see if it's the right thing. Once I got him out for the audition, I knew he was going to be able to do this, even if it was new to him to sing like this. You know, this is a whole new direction for Stu and he's doing great, but it's only going to get better with time. Stu is a fan of Matt's, he's a fan of many different singers, but I'd venture to say that you're hearing that this is Iced Earth's writing style and production style. If you were to really analyze the voice, I don't think it would be really similar. But that's just me, I don't know.
"In the United States, it's terrible actually. [...] It's turned into a police state, we're going to have a major financial crash, we have martial law, we have military on the streets, and you can't fly in a fucking airplane without either going through the radiation thing or getting your balls felt up by a TSA agent."Actually when we've heard Stu in his other band Into Eternity, we barely recognize him on Dystopia. Did you give him guidelines in order for him to adapt his voice to the Iced Earth style?
Absolutely, he has to be able to do what I'm asking. I'm the chief songwriter and the driving force in the band, so he has to be able to do what I want him to do or he's not going to get the gig, you know. And he's very capable, he's got a great attitude, and he's willing to try everything. I can work with any musician that's like that, I can pull things out of them they never knew they had, but they've got to have good attitudes and be willing to try.
Have you ever thought of using his death metal capacity in Iced Earth?
No, I don't like death metal. I asked him to do a couple of buried in the mix sort of things, like in Boiling Point, at the very end in the really high "boiling point" where there's also a death metal "boiling point" underneath that . It's not very loud in the mix, but it's there just as a cool texture. So there were a couple of things I asked him to do but I have no interest in having death metal lead vocals in Iced Earth. That's never going to happen.
I assume you began composing before Stu came in the band. So was it any different for you to write these songs without knowing who will end up singing on them?
No. That's not the way it works. The music of Iced Earth is the music of Iced Earth, and the vocals really have to adapt and work within that window. I don't know any real songwriter that writes music for the vocals. The vocals come later, it's not the way it works.
With your new album you explore dystopian themes from movies and literatures. What fascinates you in these rather dark and hopeless themes?
Well, some of the songs are based on movies, they're dystopian in their nature, and there's a lot of stuff that's paralleled in reality right now: there's some very disturbing things going on in the world so there are parallels of reality and there's some stuff from the Something Wicked story, the two songs Dystopia and Tragedy and Triumph, and then you have many songs that are very uplifting and inspire hope. Anthere is a very positive song, Tragedy and Triumph is a very positive song, Iron will, which will be a bonus track on the digipack version, that's a very inspired and powerful song. So it's a good balance of good message versus bad message, or "reality", let's put it that way.
In Iced Earth you either write about history or about fictions. Does this help you in a certain way to better understand today's world and where we're heading at?
Yeah, I think if people get inspired to research and learn what's happening around them, and stop watching television and stop listening to their criminal governments, and kind of reconnect with their humanity and do some research, you can find out what's happening and that's going to turn things around. If people can have a clear understanding, then I think we can prevent things from really going bad. Because it feels like it's getting ready to go really bad.
Do you think a dystopia is where our world is heading at?
I do, yeah. I think we're very close to that, especially in the West. In the United States, it's terrible actually. Things are so bad there, and they've been going that way for a long time, but it's just gotten worse and worse and worse at a record pace. It's turned into a police state, we're going to have a major financial crash, we have martial law, we have military on the streets, and you can't fly in a fucking airplane without either going through the radiation thing or getting your balls felt up by a TSA agent. It's just tyranny, that's what it is: there's no liberty left in America. It's time for a revolution.
"We've got the Fourth Reich rising, and I don't like it."Actually, many people think that the world crisis we're going through is the sign that we have reached the limits of the capitalist system upon which the American economic system is based. What's your opinion about that?
I think that what we have is not real and certainly not free market capitalism. We have corporatism, we have fascism, we have communism, we have all these different forms of totalitarianism, but we certainly don't have free markets, and that's the problem, and this has been a rigged game for a long time by the global elite that have seized control of the American monetary system through fraud and deception back in 1913 with the signing of the Federal Reserve Act. When that institution was established, the United States of America ceased to exist and now it's accelerating. The collapse is coming because none of these fiat currencies ever last. They never last. A hundred years is about as long as anyone has ever lasted and we're getting close to that point, so I think that what needs to happen is an honest monetary system, instead of this fraudulent paper system, needs to be put back into place.
We need to go back to some kind of commodity-based currency, whether it's gold and silver or whatever, something that takes effort and that governments can't just create money out of thin air and spread the warfare and the welfare empires that they are doing. I mean, all of our governments are involved in some really brutal criminal stuff, and it's based on this fraudulent monetary system, and that's what it roots from. So if we have sound money and free markets, then I think we would have prosperity and peace, but with a criminal monetary institution like the Federal Reserve which really owns and runs the United States, Bush has no power, Obama has no power, Clinton… these guys were just puppets for the banks. They may come out and tell you whatever rhetoric they want to tell you, politicians are professional liars, so they're going to come out and say what the people are going to hear, but it's divide and conquer tactics man, the only way to turn the world around is to get smart about monetary policies and to go back to a more sound and honest monetary system and to stop the wars and stop the welfare state and work towards liberty and prosperity.
I know you have always been very proud of your own country, but when I hear you talking right now about it, I hear some disappointment in your words…
I'm proud of what America stood for in the beginning, what the founding ideals were, I mean I didn't realize until a few years ago what my country has really become. I mean, we are being deceived in America, you are too. Your government's deceiving you too, and so is Germany, so is the UK, I mean, the whole West is going down the shitter. And we're all being deceived by the same group of people, it's a hostile corporate take-over of the Western world they call the New World Order and they're trying to put about a world government. They're talking about it openly now. So the people in the United States and in the West are victims of high tech propaganda. It's worse in the United States, clearly, people have become far too trusting of the government. For me, my big wake-up was when I learned about the financial system and how fraudulent it is. And then everything started to make sense of how all of this deception is going on, it's very disturbing when you do the research, and that's what the Sons Of Liberty project was all about. If you go to the website, there's a great booklist there, there are great documentaries to watch and it will let people know what's going on and inspire them to learn and to get prepared, because I think we've got the Fourth Reich rising, and I don't like it.
The last two Iced Earth albums were based on the story from the Something Wicked Trilogy that appeared on the 1998 album. But the opening and closing songs on Dystopia both go back to this storyline. It sounds like it's hard for you to detach yourself from this story, as if it was an obsession…
It's not an obsession, it's something to write about. You know, it's a big story, it's twelve thousand years of human history, it's never-ending story-telling, so why not do it? Especially on an album where you have dystopian themes, it's the perfect thing.
Actually, in some interview you gave in 2008, you have stated that you didn't see what you could tell more about this story, so I guess there was more to tell in the end.
There's way more to tell. I mean, dude, it's twelve thousand years of human history, it's un-ending story telling. You can take any point in human history, let's take the Napoleonic wars for instance, you can take that and you can apply it to the Something Wicked universe and come up with all these different scenarios, you know. It's that way with everything, from the crucifixion of Christ to… you name it, man, you pick out any human event in twelve thousand years and you can take it and there's never-ending story-telling. That's what's so cool with the Something Wicked plot-line.
Could there be a third Something Wicked album in the future?
I doubt it. I mean, I don't have any desire to get any deeper in the story in the future, but I may write the occasional song that exposes something else from the story line. Dude, I just do whatever I feel like I want to do when the songwriting starts, I don't think about it. I just finished this album two weeks ago, so I'm not into discussing what's going to happen next (laughs) it's too early in the process.
Back in 2008 you have stated in an interview that you planned to release in a boxed set a version of Framing Armageddon with Matt on vocal and that it would give you the opportunity to go back and address some of the productions issues you had with that one. But in the end this is not what happened, although a boxed set did come out but with both original Something Wicked albums... Why didn't things happen the way you wanted?
Well, I actually didn't have any production issues with Framing Armageddon, the album kicks ass, that's not why we were going to do it. We were going to do it just to make it more consistent, but at the end of the day SPV was going bankrupt, and it costs money to do that kind of stuff. It costs money to go into the studio and record, it costs money to remix and they were in trouble financially so it didn't happen. But I don't have any problems with Framing Armageddon, it's a great album, it's great the way it is. There's no production issues, that's not why we were going to do it, we were going to do it just to make both albums more consistent, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter.
(About musical industry's decline) "I don't like it, I don't like having my property stolen, I don't think anybody does. But if you're faced with a situation, which in this case is just a microcosm of much bigger problems, you just have to deal with it and figure out ways to get other income."I've heard rumors about a comic you had started featuring the Set Abominae character, is this true?
We talked about it, it's just a time-issue man, I just can't take on all the projects. I've got the artist in place, and if I'm given time to do it the right way, then I will, but it's almost like starting another career, and I just can't do that. It'll happen someday, but it'll be several years from now I'm sure.
You have often showed disgust for the music industry. So what are your thoughts now about the difficulties it is now experiencing? I know you have actually addressed about the Century Media / Spotify issue...
I think it's a big result from the fact that we have this whole entitlement attitude with the youth of today, where they think they just deserve stuff for free because it's easy to take it. It's kind of a little microcosm into the decline of Western civilization, I think. Unfortunately, bands are suffering because people are stealing music. So we just have to face that fact that the industry has changed, it's kind of devastated by the file sharing and bands have to make income in other ways. I have already accepted that fact, I mean I don't like it, I don't like having my property stolen, I don't think anybody does. But if you're faced with a situation, which in this case is just a microcosm of much bigger problems, you just have to deal with it and figure out ways to get other income. So I disagree with Century Media's choice, but I totally understand why they're doing it, I just think I've already accepted the fact that this is the way it is and, we should at least use Spotify to help spread the word so the occasional honest kid that thinks about stuff and thinks about the big picture will maybe go buy the CD or maybe go buy the download instead of just stealing it.
You said that you disagree with their decision, but in the end your voice isn't counting. Is it frustrating for you?
No, it's their company man, they've got hundreds of other artists and they think they're doing what's right for themselves and the artists and maybe they are, I just kind of see the writing on the wall. I think that the record labels are going to be extinct before too long, and they're going to have to figure out other ways to make income to stay in business because the physical sales are dropping all the time.
Do you have any news from Demons And Wizard? Do you think we can expect a third album someday?
There definitely will be, it's a matter of time. Hansi (Kürsch, Blind Guardian) and I would love to do it, we're just both really busy doing our main bands which is what we have to do because we have other guys that rely on that. But yeah, we'll do it.
Do you plan on doing another solo album in the future, like Sons Of Liberty?
Yeah, I have an EP coming out in December with five songs in it for Sons Of Liberty. Really, my manager said "Hey, if you're going to do Sons of Liberty stuff, you'd better do it now because you're going to be on the road for a year and a half." So I decided to crank out five Sons Of Liberty songs and record them at the same time and put it out there just to keep the people motivated because it's really having an effect. It's an underground grassroots movements but there's been 200 000 free downloads, and I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of copies have been passed around to people just to try to get people to think. So it's a good weapon against the globalist agenda and it's been a good tool to wake people up, so I've got to keep it going.
So it's going to be about the same theme revolving around the album, like corrupt world-leaders etc?
Yeah, it's totally the same vibe, it's all based on the same kind of thing. There's one song that's sort of an allegory, it's based on Leonidas. If you haven't seen the movie 300, it's about the Spartan king Leonidas, and how he stood up against I don't know how many hundred thousand Persians with 300 men and basically it's become sort of the libertarian battle-cry. It's a tribute to king Leonidas, let's put it that way. But the rest of it is very similar to – I mean that's what Sons Of Liberty is, it's to light brushfires of liberty in the minds of the people, so any song that really makes somebody think heavily about stuff, that's what Sons Of Liberty is.
Interview conducted on saturday 3th, 2011 by phone. .
Transcription : Stan.
Transcription : Stan.
For one night only, on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m., participating Vue Cinemas in the United Kingdom will screen BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's debut concert film, "Live Over Europe", in high definition and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.
This one-night-only rock and roll cinema experience includes an exclusive filmed introduction from all four members of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION.
By pre–booking tickets here, fans who attend each of the 16 participating cinemas, will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a guitar signed by the band.
The participating Vue Cinemas are as follows:
* London West End
* Cambridge
* Oxford
* Portsmouth
* Exeter
* Bristol
* Doncaster
* Leicester
* Hull
* Leeds
* York
* Birmingham
* Edinburgh
* Dublin
* Bury
* Swansea
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is the English-American rock supergroup featuring the talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE, BLACK SABBATH), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER).
The "Live Over Europe" DVD is scheduled for release on October 24 (Blu-ray to follow November 15) on the J&R Adventures imprint. The two-DVD live set was filmed with 14 HD cameras and 5.1 Surround Sound during the band's debut tour in the summer of 2011. Over three nights, playing to packed venues in the German cities of Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the 18-song set list (17 originals and one cover) hits on both of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's albums — 2010's debut and 2011's sophomore release "2", which The Sunday Mercury praised, "This is classic rock goes large, an album that lives up to its heritage. It may not be bettered this year." "Live Over Europe" highlights include the songs "Black Country", "One Last Soul", "Save Me", "Man In The Middle", "Cold" and "Song of Yesterday", which fans can sign up to receive as a free audio track download, available September 8. Bonus features include an exclusive 28-page collector's booklet and DVD with a 20-minute "behind-the-scenes" featurette and photo collection.
Producer Kevin Shirley explains, "We saw that this live act could be an awesome force of nature to behold; one that promised legendary performances like those of our heroes of classic rock. The plan was to get them out there for the entire world to hear. Records allow a certain musical finesse, but live performance promises so much in the very transient nature of a gig; chances are taken, boundaries are crossed and the most exciting performances explode. Two studio albums built a repertoire big enough for a full concert which allowed us to unleash the monster for all the world to see and feel."
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION recently completed its debut tour, visiting a select number of cities in North America and Europe. On June 10, the band played to a near-sold-out crowd in Anaheim, California, prompting The Orange County Register to write, "The four members of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION truly recast the heavy rock of the '60s and '70s and yank it into the 21st century as well as anyone in recent memory." At the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, The Birmingham Mail called the band's performance "rip-roaring" and "breath-taking."
As part of J&R Adventures' strategy to use social media as an integral part of the initial marketing launch of "Live Over Europe", they created the Facebook BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION event page. Facebook members can join the page here to receive an exclusive glimpse of the new DVD and a chance to download the live free track "Song Of Yesterday".
"Live Over Europe" track listing:
01. Revolution of the Machine
02. Black Country
03. One Last Soul
04. Crossfire
05. Save Me
06. The Battle For Hadrian's Wall
07. Beggarman
08. Faithless
09. Song of Yesterday
10. I Can See Your Spirit
11. Cold
12. The Ballad of John Henry
13. The Outsider
14. The Great Divide
15. Sista Jane
16. Man In The Middle
17. Burn
18. Smokestack Woman
Bonus Features
* Forging BCC - The Making of "Live Over Europe"
* Photo Collection - Live On Tour
* Photo Collection - Behind The Scenes
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION initially came to fruition when producer Kevin Shirley saw Hughes and Bonamassa join forces on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center's King of the Blues event. Shirley then recruited Bonham and Sherinian for the project, which is named after the industrial area in the British Midlands where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised.
This one-night-only rock and roll cinema experience includes an exclusive filmed introduction from all four members of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION.
By pre–booking tickets here, fans who attend each of the 16 participating cinemas, will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a guitar signed by the band.
The participating Vue Cinemas are as follows:
* London West End
* Cambridge
* Oxford
* Portsmouth
* Exeter
* Bristol
* Doncaster
* Leicester
* Hull
* Leeds
* York
* Birmingham
* Edinburgh
* Dublin
* Bury
* Swansea
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is the English-American rock supergroup featuring the talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE, BLACK SABBATH), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER).
The "Live Over Europe" DVD is scheduled for release on October 24 (Blu-ray to follow November 15) on the J&R Adventures imprint. The two-DVD live set was filmed with 14 HD cameras and 5.1 Surround Sound during the band's debut tour in the summer of 2011. Over three nights, playing to packed venues in the German cities of Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the 18-song set list (17 originals and one cover) hits on both of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's albums — 2010's debut and 2011's sophomore release "2", which The Sunday Mercury praised, "This is classic rock goes large, an album that lives up to its heritage. It may not be bettered this year." "Live Over Europe" highlights include the songs "Black Country", "One Last Soul", "Save Me", "Man In The Middle", "Cold" and "Song of Yesterday", which fans can sign up to receive as a free audio track download, available September 8. Bonus features include an exclusive 28-page collector's booklet and DVD with a 20-minute "behind-the-scenes" featurette and photo collection.
Producer Kevin Shirley explains, "We saw that this live act could be an awesome force of nature to behold; one that promised legendary performances like those of our heroes of classic rock. The plan was to get them out there for the entire world to hear. Records allow a certain musical finesse, but live performance promises so much in the very transient nature of a gig; chances are taken, boundaries are crossed and the most exciting performances explode. Two studio albums built a repertoire big enough for a full concert which allowed us to unleash the monster for all the world to see and feel."
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION recently completed its debut tour, visiting a select number of cities in North America and Europe. On June 10, the band played to a near-sold-out crowd in Anaheim, California, prompting The Orange County Register to write, "The four members of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION truly recast the heavy rock of the '60s and '70s and yank it into the 21st century as well as anyone in recent memory." At the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, The Birmingham Mail called the band's performance "rip-roaring" and "breath-taking."
As part of J&R Adventures' strategy to use social media as an integral part of the initial marketing launch of "Live Over Europe", they created the Facebook BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION event page. Facebook members can join the page here to receive an exclusive glimpse of the new DVD and a chance to download the live free track "Song Of Yesterday".
"Live Over Europe" track listing:
01. Revolution of the Machine
02. Black Country
03. One Last Soul
04. Crossfire
05. Save Me
06. The Battle For Hadrian's Wall
07. Beggarman
08. Faithless
09. Song of Yesterday
10. I Can See Your Spirit
11. Cold
12. The Ballad of John Henry
13. The Outsider
14. The Great Divide
15. Sista Jane
16. Man In The Middle
17. Burn
18. Smokestack Woman
Bonus Features
* Forging BCC - The Making of "Live Over Europe"
* Photo Collection - Live On Tour
* Photo Collection - Behind The Scenes
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION initially came to fruition when producer Kevin Shirley saw Hughes and Bonamassa join forces on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center's King of the Blues event. Shirley then recruited Bonham and Sherinian for the project, which is named after the industrial area in the British Midlands where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised.
Over the course of 20 years and thousands of touring miles, the relationships that make up Down — vocalist Philip Anselmo, drummer Jimmy Bower, bassist Pat Bruders and guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein — have outlasted most marriages.
"Tell me about it!" Windstein laughs. "I've been divorced twice! But you're absolutely right — it's like I've got four wives who happen to be guys."
Windstein and his betrothed spend most of their lives on the road, as they all have musical projects outside of Down. For Windstein, there's Kingdom of Sorrow and Crowbar. For Keenan, it's Corrosion of Conformity. Right now, both men are focused on Down's current stretch of U.S. dates, a November leg through South America, and in the midst of this, a series of four EPs in the works, each showcasing a different musical side to the band, but all connected as the sum of the parts.
It's a chance to explore the many directions and influences that create Down, as well as a sharp move to remain in tandem with an industry in flux, where digital songs outsell physical CDs and six-song EPs stand a better chance than a 12-song disc.
Keenan and Windstein phoned in from Texas to talk about what it takes to get down with Down.
How does the rest of the band factor into the riffs and melodies that you both come up with?
Keenan: Sometimes I try and write overly simple riffs or chord structures so that Kirk can have room to breathe and not be so structured by a technical riff. I think sometimes writing those riffs is a lot trickier than writing complicated, busy riffs, where you're filling in all the negative spaces. So I tend to think like that, in terms of the "classic song structure; you've heard it before" kind of deal. Kirk will come up with things, and sometimes we'll do variations on the same riff with Jimmy changing the drumbeat. That's a pretty big Down trick too, where we hammer a riff into the ground and Jimmy does half time.
Windstein: I bring in riffs, but it's very seldom that anyone's riff is not tricked up a little bit by the other guy. Phil is in charge of arranging the songs. As far as me writing with Pepper, a lot of times I have a riff and he says, "Why don't you do this," or he has a riff and I do all the harmonies. The thing we have is weird; it works great, but we're two completely different schools as far as guitar players and styles. We couldn't be more different from one another, but when we work together, it's magic. Certain things he does really well and certain things I do really well, but we understand one another and where we're both coming from as players because we've played together so long. The very incarnation of this thing was 1991, so it's been, like, 20 years.
We've done quite a bit of touring all over the world and quite a bit of writing, so it works out great. It's like a symbiotic relationship in a way. It's totally different, but we gel, we feed off of one another's ideas, as do the other guys in the band. Everyone in the band plays guitar and writes riffs. In a lot of bands, one guy is the chief songwriter, but we get in there, throw around ideas, and if something clicks, we know it. Everybody puts their two cents in and we have what we think is a great final product.
What do the guitar parts and solos need to do within this band?
Keenan: When I play guitar with Down, I don't have to sing, so it allows me to do more complicated things that I might not do with C.O.C. That's the main difference. Sometimes there are pretty technical things going on when Phil's singing, so that's a different way to look at it.
Windstein: I think we're a throwback in a lot of ways, and one of the ways is, sure, we're all about the riff, but we're also about the songs, like, we all love the Beatles. We're trying to keep alive something that in my opinion seems to have gone away, which is concentrating on not just being heavy or loud or the fastest kick drum you can play or the craziest arpeggio you can do or whatever.
We're trying to keep the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s and early 1980s rock and metal alive, which was really based around great songs. We're proud of the music we make because we feel we are keeping that sprit alive and flying the flag for the old-school bands that it seems like the newer generation of bands unfortunately haven't had the chance to experience.
What is the key to working successfully with another guitarist? It's easier said than done for some players.
Keenan: Kirk and I love the same type of music. We see things easily, we know who's got to do what solo and who's got to do what riff by just the way the riff is or the way the solo is. If we need a fast, articulate solo, it's going to be Kirk. If you need some David Gilmour melodic thing, it's me. If you need the Michael Schenker shit, it aint gonna be me! We know it and we like it like that. We play to each other's positive parts. It's not like we sit there and practice all different kinds of music. I work on my strengths and Kirk works on his. And between those two, we've pretty much got it covered.
Windstein: Right, and I think a lot of times it has to do with egos — one thing Pepper and I don't have a problem with that a lot of guitar players do. We want to write great songs, have big riffs and make music that's like a throwback, but we don't have the egos. Some guys are so stuck on the solo that everything to them besides the solo is boring. They're just waiting for their solo. We're not those types of players.
He does a lot more of the melodic kind of trippy stuff, the David Gilmour kind of approach, where I'm more — and he'd be the first to say this — if we have any fast solos, I do those. He does the weird effects and bendy stuff. It's just a different approach. I honestly couldn't imagine being in a band without two guitar players. I just couldn't. It seems to me that something's missing. I like the approach.
For a metal band, you boys sure do have the funk!
Keenan: That comes from me! We have some pretty ham-fisted shit going on if we want to, and we're not afraid to go backward and do that. That's the fun thing. We'll go back and beat an E chord to death all day long; I don't give a shit. If a song is going a certain direction, I think a lot of bands try to control it to put their sound on it, whereas we just let the song go and take its course and try to push it as far as we can in the song's direction. Another thing is that we're from the South, so of course some of that slippery greasiness is part of our thing, it's part of the New Orleans thing. That's one of the main things about Down in terms of being a heavy band is that we're more into the melodic.
Windstein: Oh, absolutely, and thank you! That's very well put and I totally agree! To me, there's one reason and that's because we're from New Orleans. We grew up on New Orleans music, which is funk and blues; it's music you can shake your ass to. We play behind the beat a lot. In a band like Down, we would never dream of playing to a click track or anything like that. It's all about being in the pocket. Jimmy is a great behind-the-beat drummer. That gives you funk. Funk is playing behind the beat. It's got a groove. We can shift gears and go behind a groove. Live, it's even slower than it is on record; we call it switching gears.
We like switching gears. It brings an element of funk and old school into it. We all credit that to the environment we grew up in, which was New Orleans, which was the music and booze and having a good time, and ever since we were kids you'd be at your grandma and grandpa's crawfish boil on the weekend and you'd be hearing Dr. John and the Neville Brothers and the Meters and all these popular New Orleans bands. It's instilled in you. We're a product of the environment we grew up around. To me, New Orleans is the best music town in the world. The best drummers, the funkiest, badass drummers, are guys like Mean Willie Green, Russell Battiste and Stan Moore. They're monster drummers. It's New Orleans. There's something in the water down there.
Down Gear Rundown:
KIRK WINDSTEIN:
GUITARS: One ESP Eclipse; two custom, single-pickup, double-cutaway ESPs.
AMPS: Two Orange Thunderverb 50 heads, four Orange 4X12 cabs with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
EFFECTS: Maxon Tube Screamer, Boss Super Chorus, Dunlop "Slash" Wah pedal, MXR Phase 90, Boss TU-12 tuner.
GUITARS: One ESP Eclipse; two custom, single-pickup, double-cutaway ESPs.
AMPS: Two Orange Thunderverb 50 heads, four Orange 4X12 cabs with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
EFFECTS: Maxon Tube Screamer, Boss Super Chorus, Dunlop "Slash" Wah pedal, MXR Phase 90, Boss TU-12 tuner.
PEPPER KEENAN:
GUITARS: Two Gibson ES-335s and one Gibson Firebird for drop-tuning. All guitars totally stock.
AMPS: Two Orange Thunderverb 50 heads, four Orange 4X12 cabs with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
EFFECTS: Tuner, rack-mounted wah, MXR Phase 90, Ibanez Square Button Tube Screamer and the Electro-Harmonix Pog and thick-ass bass picks.
GUITARS: Two Gibson ES-335s and one Gibson Firebird for drop-tuning. All guitars totally stock.
AMPS: Two Orange Thunderverb 50 heads, four Orange 4X12 cabs with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
EFFECTS: Tuner, rack-mounted wah, MXR Phase 90, Ibanez Square Button Tube Screamer and the Electro-Harmonix Pog and thick-ass bass picks.
San Francisco Bay Area metallers EXODUS were added to the billing of the "Big Four" concert at September 14 at Yankee Stadium in New York City as the last-minute replacement for MEGADETH after it looked like Dave Mustaine wasn't going to be able to make the show.
Two days prior to the "Big Four" event in New York City, rumors spread that MEGADETH had pulled out of the concert so that guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine could undergo surgery for stenosis, a neck and spine condition that he says was caused by "years of headbanging." Mustaine eventually had a change of heart and decided to go through with the performance, but struggled through the set due to the pain.
During an interview with Guitar World magazine conducted at the "Big Four" concert (see video below), SLAYER guitarist Kerry King stated about MEGADETH's near-cancelation, "I just felt bad for EXODUS, 'cause they were on the bill. They were working on flights [so they could make it to New York in time for the show]. And that got yanked. I mean, Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist who is touring with SLAYER as the temporary replacement for Jeff Hanneman] is gonna be here anyway, but the [rest of the] band EXODUS, I felt bad for them."
Two days prior to the "Big Four" event in New York City, rumors spread that MEGADETH had pulled out of the concert so that guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine could undergo surgery for stenosis, a neck and spine condition that he says was caused by "years of headbanging." Mustaine eventually had a change of heart and decided to go through with the performance, but struggled through the set due to the pain.
During an interview with Guitar World magazine conducted at the "Big Four" concert (see video below), SLAYER guitarist Kerry King stated about MEGADETH's near-cancelation, "I just felt bad for EXODUS, 'cause they were on the bill. They were working on flights [so they could make it to New York in time for the show]. And that got yanked. I mean, Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist who is touring with SLAYER as the temporary replacement for Jeff Hanneman] is gonna be here anyway, but the [rest of the] band EXODUS, I felt bad for them."
German metallers RAGE will enter Twilight Hall Studio in Grefrath, Germany in mid-October to begin recording their new album for a March 2012 release via Nuclear Blast Records. The recordings will once again be helmed by Charlie Bauerfeind, who has previously worked with SAXON, BLIND GUARDIAN, HAMMERFALL and HELLOWEEN, among others.
As a direct consequence of RAGE's decision to release orchestral compositions under the LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTER banner in the future (with the first album due in 2012), the bandmembers will fully concentrate on producing their "hardest" album to date.
RAGE's latest CD, "Strings To A Web", was released in February 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Twilight Hall Studio and was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HAMMERFALL). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard (AVANTASIA, THERION), and it shows the soundchaser as a spider, caught in a web.
The limited-edition digibook version of "Strings To A Web" included a high-quality DVD including 15 live clips. The main portion of the DVD consists of the "best-of" show RAGE played at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2009, including guest appearances by Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Schmier (DESTRUCTION) and Jen Majura (BLACK THUNDER LADIES).
As a direct consequence of RAGE's decision to release orchestral compositions under the LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTER banner in the future (with the first album due in 2012), the bandmembers will fully concentrate on producing their "hardest" album to date.
RAGE's latest CD, "Strings To A Web", was released in February 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Twilight Hall Studio and was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HAMMERFALL). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard (AVANTASIA, THERION), and it shows the soundchaser as a spider, caught in a web.
The limited-edition digibook version of "Strings To A Web" included a high-quality DVD including 15 live clips. The main portion of the DVD consists of the "best-of" show RAGE played at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2009, including guest appearances by Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Schmier (DESTRUCTION) and Jen Majura (BLACK THUNDER LADIES).
"Age Of The Joker", the new album from German melodic metallers EDGUY, sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 21 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.
EDGUY's previous CD, "Tinnitus Sanctus", opened with 600 units back in February 2009 to land at No. 88 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.
"Age Of The Joker" has registered the following first-week chart positions around the world:
Germany: #3
Czech Republic: #10
Sweden: #10
Switzerland: #13
UK (Rock Chart): #14
Finland: #15
Norway: #26
Austria: #30
Spain #44
France: #63
Japan: #74
Italy: #79
"Age Of The Joker" was released in Europe on August 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Peppermint Park studio (SCORPIONS, PHIL COLLINS) in Hannover, which was previously described by the group as "a recording temple with a tremendously great-sounding room." The album features 11 songs with a total running time of over one hour. The limited-edition digipack contains a bonus disc with six additional songs.
"Age Of The Joker" track listing:
01. Robin Hood
02. Nobody's Hero
03. Rock Of Cashel
04. Pandora's Box
05. Breathe
06. Two Out Of Seven
07. Faces In The Darkness
08. The Arcane Guild
09. Fire On The Downline
10. Behind The Gates To Midnight World
11. Every Night Without You
Limited-edition bonus disc track listing:
01. God Fallen Silent
02. Aleister Crowley Memorial Boogie
03. Cum On Feel The Noize (SLADE cover)
04. Standing In The Rain
05. Robin Hood (single version)
06. Two Out Of Seven (single version)
EDGUY's new video, "Robin Hood", can be seen below. Video director Oliver Sommer (AVANTASIA, NENA, HELLOWEEN) and the band decided to satirize the Errol Flynn film "The Adventures Of Robin Hood". The miniature epic was shot in the forest with a large number of additional actors, starring German TV comedian Bernhard Hoecker in two different leading roles.
EDGUY's previous CD, "Tinnitus Sanctus", opened with 600 units back in February 2009 to land at No. 88 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.
"Age Of The Joker" has registered the following first-week chart positions around the world:
Germany: #3
Czech Republic: #10
Sweden: #10
Switzerland: #13
UK (Rock Chart): #14
Finland: #15
Norway: #26
Austria: #30
Spain #44
France: #63
Japan: #74
Italy: #79
"Age Of The Joker" was released in Europe on August 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Peppermint Park studio (SCORPIONS, PHIL COLLINS) in Hannover, which was previously described by the group as "a recording temple with a tremendously great-sounding room." The album features 11 songs with a total running time of over one hour. The limited-edition digipack contains a bonus disc with six additional songs.
"Age Of The Joker" track listing:
01. Robin Hood
02. Nobody's Hero
03. Rock Of Cashel
04. Pandora's Box
05. Breathe
06. Two Out Of Seven
07. Faces In The Darkness
08. The Arcane Guild
09. Fire On The Downline
10. Behind The Gates To Midnight World
11. Every Night Without You
Limited-edition bonus disc track listing:
01. God Fallen Silent
02. Aleister Crowley Memorial Boogie
03. Cum On Feel The Noize (SLADE cover)
04. Standing In The Rain
05. Robin Hood (single version)
06. Two Out Of Seven (single version)
EDGUY's new video, "Robin Hood", can be seen below. Video director Oliver Sommer (AVANTASIA, NENA, HELLOWEEN) and the band decided to satirize the Errol Flynn film "The Adventures Of Robin Hood". The miniature epic was shot in the forest with a large number of additional actors, starring German TV comedian Bernhard Hoecker in two different leading roles.
Tim Needles of Short And Sweet NYC recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Short And Sweet NYC: I know from reading about SKID ROW that essentially KISS was sort of part of why you guys fell apart, because the rest of the band thought SKID ROW was too big to open for KISS and it was ironic that SKID ROW went on later opening up for KISS anyhow after you were out of the band. Did you guys resolve that? Do you talk to those guys at all?
Bach: No, I don't talk to them at all. I have a new record, "Kicking & Screaming", that comes out on September 27th and I've been making new music. My album before that was "Angel Down" and I'm just making new music, that's what I'm doing. I'm really proud of the new CD; I think it sounds fucking killer. . . I think "Angel Down" is probably a harder record, but, you know, I've always surprised journalists with how heavy [the sound is]. I remember when we put out [SKID ROW's] "Slave To The Grind", every interview was like, "This album is so heavy, this album is so heavy." That was back in '91. I think "Slave To The Grind" might even be heavier than "Kicking & Screaming". I don't know, but it's got really heavy production from Bob Marlette.
Short And Sweet NYC: You've seen the industry change so much going from this analog stuff to the digital stuff and when you started out it was still real "sex, drugs and rock and roll," you know, metal was huge and sort of dipped down a bit and changed and came back. When you look back at the changes, what stands out to you?
Bach: The Internet is the biggest change. When it first happened I thought it was going to be all bad for music, but it turns out at the end of the day, I don't think it's all bad because when we go on tour in South America or whatever, everybody knows the brand new songs just as good as the old ones and that's gotta be because of the Internet, you know. I don't think the radio stations are playing "Angel Down" in Ecuador as much. Maybe they are, I don't know, but I gotta see that it's from being exposed to the music on the Internet and so I think that it gets your music to the fans very quick and that's really awesome so that's the biggest difference to me. Also, touring is completely different now. Most of the promoters are just really into this reunion-tour kind of thing and it's very safe and about selling beer, and I don't know, it seems weird to me, but that's a big difference, too. But those are to two big differences, I'd say.
Short And Sweet NYC: Another thing that I've heard from rock stars is that you have "the songs" that you have a relationship with and you have to play them night after night; you have "18 And Life" and "I Remember You".. Do you get sick of those songs?
Bach: Yeah, I do, I do, because I've been playing them since [I was] 18, 19 years old, but I still love the songs. It's just more exciting for me as an artist to do something new than something really old. I think that's basic human nature, but I still love the songs. I consider myself lucky that people want to come hear me sing a concert and I'll do the songs they want to hear. I don't want to go see a band and not hear the songs I want to hear, so I understand, so it's not a big deal. A song like "Piece Of Me", I've done it so many times, I can't tell you how many times, (sings) "Sleazin' in the city I'm looking for a fight," I've been doing that my whole fucking life, dude, so when I do a new song like "Kicking & Screaming", it's more exciting. It's like when you go to an amusement park and they got a new roller coaster, you're obviously going to have more fun on the brand new one than the old crickety, crackety one in the back that you've been on a million times. You still have affection and memories for the old, wooden Coney Island coaster, you know — "Oh, I remember this. [It] fuckin' hurts going around the corners. Oh, I love this spot" — that's kind of like what it is. But I'll take the loop de loop Green Lantern 3D fucking ride any time.
Short And Sweet NYC: I know from reading about SKID ROW that essentially KISS was sort of part of why you guys fell apart, because the rest of the band thought SKID ROW was too big to open for KISS and it was ironic that SKID ROW went on later opening up for KISS anyhow after you were out of the band. Did you guys resolve that? Do you talk to those guys at all?
Bach: No, I don't talk to them at all. I have a new record, "Kicking & Screaming", that comes out on September 27th and I've been making new music. My album before that was "Angel Down" and I'm just making new music, that's what I'm doing. I'm really proud of the new CD; I think it sounds fucking killer. . . I think "Angel Down" is probably a harder record, but, you know, I've always surprised journalists with how heavy [the sound is]. I remember when we put out [SKID ROW's] "Slave To The Grind", every interview was like, "This album is so heavy, this album is so heavy." That was back in '91. I think "Slave To The Grind" might even be heavier than "Kicking & Screaming". I don't know, but it's got really heavy production from Bob Marlette.
Short And Sweet NYC: You've seen the industry change so much going from this analog stuff to the digital stuff and when you started out it was still real "sex, drugs and rock and roll," you know, metal was huge and sort of dipped down a bit and changed and came back. When you look back at the changes, what stands out to you?
Bach: The Internet is the biggest change. When it first happened I thought it was going to be all bad for music, but it turns out at the end of the day, I don't think it's all bad because when we go on tour in South America or whatever, everybody knows the brand new songs just as good as the old ones and that's gotta be because of the Internet, you know. I don't think the radio stations are playing "Angel Down" in Ecuador as much. Maybe they are, I don't know, but I gotta see that it's from being exposed to the music on the Internet and so I think that it gets your music to the fans very quick and that's really awesome so that's the biggest difference to me. Also, touring is completely different now. Most of the promoters are just really into this reunion-tour kind of thing and it's very safe and about selling beer, and I don't know, it seems weird to me, but that's a big difference, too. But those are to two big differences, I'd say.
Short And Sweet NYC: Another thing that I've heard from rock stars is that you have "the songs" that you have a relationship with and you have to play them night after night; you have "18 And Life" and "I Remember You".. Do you get sick of those songs?
Bach: Yeah, I do, I do, because I've been playing them since [I was] 18, 19 years old, but I still love the songs. It's just more exciting for me as an artist to do something new than something really old. I think that's basic human nature, but I still love the songs. I consider myself lucky that people want to come hear me sing a concert and I'll do the songs they want to hear. I don't want to go see a band and not hear the songs I want to hear, so I understand, so it's not a big deal. A song like "Piece Of Me", I've done it so many times, I can't tell you how many times, (sings) "Sleazin' in the city I'm looking for a fight," I've been doing that my whole fucking life, dude, so when I do a new song like "Kicking & Screaming", it's more exciting. It's like when you go to an amusement park and they got a new roller coaster, you're obviously going to have more fun on the brand new one than the old crickety, crackety one in the back that you've been on a million times. You still have affection and memories for the old, wooden Coney Island coaster, you know — "Oh, I remember this. [It] fuckin' hurts going around the corners. Oh, I love this spot" — that's kind of like what it is. But I'll take the loop de loop Green Lantern 3D fucking ride any time.
"Heritage", the new album from Swedish progressive metallers OPETH, is likely to sell between 15,000 and 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on September 20 via Roadrunner Records.
OPETH's previous studio CD, 2008's "Watershed", opened with more than 19,000 units to land at No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"Watershed" was the follow-up to the band's acclaimed "Ghost Reveries" CD, which debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard chart back in September 2005 with first-week sales of just under 15,000. OPETH's 2003 album, "Damnation", opened with a little over 5,000 copies.
"Heritage" was produced by OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and was recorded earlier this year at Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm. Mixing duties were handled by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE) and Åkerfeldt. Longtime collaborator Travis Smith also worked with Åkerfeldt to create, design and execute the album's artwork, which can be seen below.
"Heritage" was released in several configurations that will certainly incite the interest of OPETH's legion of fans, known for their passion for collecting and collectibles. The album was made available as a standard version; as a special edition loaded with extras; as a box set exclusive to the Roadrunner and the band's own official Omerch webstore; and as a double LP.
Standard CD
01. Heritage
02. The Devil's Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Häxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth
Special-Edition Digipack CD/DVD
As above plus additional DVD including:
* Bonus audio tracks: "Pyre" and "Face In The Snow"
* 5.1 mix of the whole album
* "Making of the album" documentary
* Card to download the bonus tracks
* Limited-edition OPETH coin (until stocks last)
The Deluxe Box Set:
* Double-LP set of "Heritage" with exclusive lenticular artwork (180-gram vinyl
in gatefold jacket)
* Custom gatefold jacket that houses the "Heritage" special edition CD/DVD set
(includes 2 bonus tracks, 5.1 audio mix of album and "Making Of Heritage" documentary)
* Exclusive 7" of 2 bonus tracks
* Litho print of album cover
* Oversized 16-page booklet with exclusive photos and artwork
* All content housed in custom slipcase
* Receive a digital download of the album the day before release
In a recent interview with Radio Metal, Åkerfeldt stated about "Heritage", "I never heard music like that, so I can't compare it to other bands. If you want to compare it to another band, it has to be us. But still, it's different. For me, it kind of makes sense, because I've been doing this for such a long time. So it's not a massive departure for me and for the guys in the band. But for fans, if they are, for example, into 'My Arms, Your Hearse' [OPETH's third album, released in 1998], it might be a bit different. But I'm hoping that a lot of people are ready for this type of album from us. The music is all over the place. It's hard to define the album and say it sound like this or like that. There are no songs that represent more the album than any other songs. It's an album as whole. You can't listen to only one song and you'll know what the album is going to be like. Because, like I said, it's all over the place."
OPETH made its live debut with keyboardist Joakim Svalberg (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, GLENN HUGHES) at the 10th annual Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival on June 10, 2011 on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville.
Keyboardist Per Wiberg, who joined OPETH in 2005, was relieved of his duties in April as part of a mutual decision with the remaining members of the band.
OPETH's previous studio CD, 2008's "Watershed", opened with more than 19,000 units to land at No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"Watershed" was the follow-up to the band's acclaimed "Ghost Reveries" CD, which debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard chart back in September 2005 with first-week sales of just under 15,000. OPETH's 2003 album, "Damnation", opened with a little over 5,000 copies.
"Heritage" was produced by OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and was recorded earlier this year at Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm. Mixing duties were handled by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE) and Åkerfeldt. Longtime collaborator Travis Smith also worked with Åkerfeldt to create, design and execute the album's artwork, which can be seen below.
"Heritage" was released in several configurations that will certainly incite the interest of OPETH's legion of fans, known for their passion for collecting and collectibles. The album was made available as a standard version; as a special edition loaded with extras; as a box set exclusive to the Roadrunner and the band's own official Omerch webstore; and as a double LP.
Standard CD
01. Heritage
02. The Devil's Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Häxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth
Special-Edition Digipack CD/DVD
As above plus additional DVD including:
* Bonus audio tracks: "Pyre" and "Face In The Snow"
* 5.1 mix of the whole album
* "Making of the album" documentary
* Card to download the bonus tracks
* Limited-edition OPETH coin (until stocks last)
The Deluxe Box Set:
* Double-LP set of "Heritage" with exclusive lenticular artwork (180-gram vinyl
in gatefold jacket)
* Custom gatefold jacket that houses the "Heritage" special edition CD/DVD set
(includes 2 bonus tracks, 5.1 audio mix of album and "Making Of Heritage" documentary)
* Exclusive 7" of 2 bonus tracks
* Litho print of album cover
* Oversized 16-page booklet with exclusive photos and artwork
* All content housed in custom slipcase
* Receive a digital download of the album the day before release
In a recent interview with Radio Metal, Åkerfeldt stated about "Heritage", "I never heard music like that, so I can't compare it to other bands. If you want to compare it to another band, it has to be us. But still, it's different. For me, it kind of makes sense, because I've been doing this for such a long time. So it's not a massive departure for me and for the guys in the band. But for fans, if they are, for example, into 'My Arms, Your Hearse' [OPETH's third album, released in 1998], it might be a bit different. But I'm hoping that a lot of people are ready for this type of album from us. The music is all over the place. It's hard to define the album and say it sound like this or like that. There are no songs that represent more the album than any other songs. It's an album as whole. You can't listen to only one song and you'll know what the album is going to be like. Because, like I said, it's all over the place."
OPETH made its live debut with keyboardist Joakim Svalberg (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, GLENN HUGHES) at the 10th annual Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival on June 10, 2011 on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville.
Keyboardist Per Wiberg, who joined OPETH in 2005, was relieved of his duties in April as part of a mutual decision with the remaining members of the band.
Powerhouse heavy metal vocalist James Rivera (HELSTAR, SEVEN WITCHES, VICIOUS RUMORS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) has released the following statement:
"Some of you may be aware through online media that ARMORED SAINT has announced three confirmed shows in the Northeastern U.S. with SEVEN WITCHES as a support band.
"To avoid any confusion, I would like to make it clear that I will not be performing with SEVEN WITCHES. In fact, I have chosen to no longer be a part of this band due to circumstances beyond my control. I tried my best to get things going in the right direction for SEVEN WITCHES, although the powers that be did not see it the same way and have decided to go out and represent the new SEVEN WITCHES record with a whole different lineup again already.
"I'm more than positive the long-anticipated return of ARMORED SAINT will be well worth the wait. As for the fans who have been looking forward to the SEVEN WITCHES lineup with me back in the picture, my deepest apologies go out to you.
"In related news, I am working on booking some dates in Europe with my tribute band, SABBATH JUDAS SABBATH, which will be billed as special shows performing a night of SEVEN WITCHES and METALSTEEL songs. Three gigs have been confirmed in November with others in the works. When all shows are finalized, the dates and locations will be announced."
"Some of you may be aware through online media that ARMORED SAINT has announced three confirmed shows in the Northeastern U.S. with SEVEN WITCHES as a support band.
"To avoid any confusion, I would like to make it clear that I will not be performing with SEVEN WITCHES. In fact, I have chosen to no longer be a part of this band due to circumstances beyond my control. I tried my best to get things going in the right direction for SEVEN WITCHES, although the powers that be did not see it the same way and have decided to go out and represent the new SEVEN WITCHES record with a whole different lineup again already.
"I'm more than positive the long-anticipated return of ARMORED SAINT will be well worth the wait. As for the fans who have been looking forward to the SEVEN WITCHES lineup with me back in the picture, my deepest apologies go out to you.
"In related news, I am working on booking some dates in Europe with my tribute band, SABBATH JUDAS SABBATH, which will be billed as special shows performing a night of SEVEN WITCHES and METALSTEEL songs. Three gigs have been confirmed in November with others in the works. When all shows are finalized, the dates and locations will be announced."
SEVEN WITCHES wil support Los Angeles-based metallers ARMORED SAINT on the following East Coast dates:
Nov. 30 - Amityville, NY @ Ollie's Point Bar
Dec. 02 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Dec. 03 - New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall
Commented SEVEN WITCHES mainman/guitarist Jack Frost: "I'm here to tell you how stoked I am to do a run of dates with my brothers in ARMORED SAINT. This is a killer paring for the East Coast but for me it's a dream come true. Not only am I a fan of SAINT's music but there are so many family ties with those guys since Joey Vera [ARMORED SAINT bassist] for several years played bass (on albums and live) in WITCHES and he has mastered, engineered, and/or mixed on all the WITCHES albums since 'Xiled To Infinity And One' in 2002. It's gonna be a fun night and WITCHES will try our best to warm you all up for the mighty SAINT. This is also a very special for us because it will be a one-time run with this special lineup. We will be playing new music from our latest album, 'Call Upon The Wicked', the classics we are known for, plus dusting off a few we haven't played in a while."
Vocalist James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMORS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) announced his departure from SEVEN WITCHES earlier today. A replacement singer has not yet been revealed.
Rivera sang on SEVEN WITCHES' "Passage To The Other Side" (2003), "Year Of The Witch" (2004) and "Call Upon The Wicked" (2011) albums.
"Fields Of Fire", the latest video from SEVEN WITCHES, can be viewed below. The song comes off "Call Upon The Wicked", which was released on June 3 via Massacre Records.
"Call Upon The Wicked" features material that ranges in sound from classic JUDAS PRIEST to a touch of RAINBOW. There's even an epic song featuring female vocals, a new step in the band's chapter. The record is a bit of a concept, talking about how women have been the decline of men since the beginning of time.
Nov. 30 - Amityville, NY @ Ollie's Point Bar
Dec. 02 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Dec. 03 - New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall
Commented SEVEN WITCHES mainman/guitarist Jack Frost: "I'm here to tell you how stoked I am to do a run of dates with my brothers in ARMORED SAINT. This is a killer paring for the East Coast but for me it's a dream come true. Not only am I a fan of SAINT's music but there are so many family ties with those guys since Joey Vera [ARMORED SAINT bassist] for several years played bass (on albums and live) in WITCHES and he has mastered, engineered, and/or mixed on all the WITCHES albums since 'Xiled To Infinity And One' in 2002. It's gonna be a fun night and WITCHES will try our best to warm you all up for the mighty SAINT. This is also a very special for us because it will be a one-time run with this special lineup. We will be playing new music from our latest album, 'Call Upon The Wicked', the classics we are known for, plus dusting off a few we haven't played in a while."
Vocalist James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMORS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) announced his departure from SEVEN WITCHES earlier today. A replacement singer has not yet been revealed.
Rivera sang on SEVEN WITCHES' "Passage To The Other Side" (2003), "Year Of The Witch" (2004) and "Call Upon The Wicked" (2011) albums.
"Fields Of Fire", the latest video from SEVEN WITCHES, can be viewed below. The song comes off "Call Upon The Wicked", which was released on June 3 via Massacre Records.
"Call Upon The Wicked" features material that ranges in sound from classic JUDAS PRIEST to a touch of RAINBOW. There's even an epic song featuring female vocals, a new step in the band's chapter. The record is a bit of a concept, talking about how women have been the decline of men since the beginning of time.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of NIRVANA's landmark 1991 album, "Nevermind", this week's issue of U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine comes with an exclusive 14-track NIRVANA covers CD, featuring the following artists/songs:
01. ARCANE ROOTS - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
02. FRAMING HANLEY - "In Bloom"
03. DEAF HAVANA - "Come As You Are"
04. RISE TO REMAIN - "Breed"
05. FRANCESQA - "Lithium"
06. YOUNG - "Polly"
07. THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - "Territorial Pissings"
08. KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES - "Drain You"
09. EVILE - "Lounge Act"
10. THE BLACKOUT - "Stay Away"
11. FRANK TURNER - "On A Plain"
12. SPYCATCHER - "Something In The Way"
13. DANGEROUS! - "Endless, Nameless"
14. WE ARE THE OCEAN - "Sliver" (bonus track)
Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake on his band's contribution: "So the cat is out of the bag; EVILE have covered 'Lounge Act' by NIRVANA for Kerrang!'s upcoming anniversary issue of the 'Nevermind' album.
"When we got the offer, all I could see was fun to be had, and what an honor it was to be included. I was a big fan of Nirvana when I was a young teen, so it's an extra honor in that way for me.
"I wondered what we could do to the track to make it our own, so we approached it like we would one of our own songs. That bass riff is brilliant and I wanted to make it more a core element of the track guitar-wise and just metal it up in general. I wanted to respect the approach of the song but also alter Kurt's [Cobain] chord approach to a style more suited to EVILE, and that's a chug-athon!
"Hope you all enjoy it; we definitely do."
01. ARCANE ROOTS - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
02. FRAMING HANLEY - "In Bloom"
03. DEAF HAVANA - "Come As You Are"
04. RISE TO REMAIN - "Breed"
05. FRANCESQA - "Lithium"
06. YOUNG - "Polly"
07. THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - "Territorial Pissings"
08. KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES - "Drain You"
09. EVILE - "Lounge Act"
10. THE BLACKOUT - "Stay Away"
11. FRANK TURNER - "On A Plain"
12. SPYCATCHER - "Something In The Way"
13. DANGEROUS! - "Endless, Nameless"
14. WE ARE THE OCEAN - "Sliver" (bonus track)
Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake on his band's contribution: "So the cat is out of the bag; EVILE have covered 'Lounge Act' by NIRVANA for Kerrang!'s upcoming anniversary issue of the 'Nevermind' album.
"When we got the offer, all I could see was fun to be had, and what an honor it was to be included. I was a big fan of Nirvana when I was a young teen, so it's an extra honor in that way for me.
"I wondered what we could do to the track to make it our own, so we approached it like we would one of our own songs. That bass riff is brilliant and I wanted to make it more a core element of the track guitar-wise and just metal it up in general. I wanted to respect the approach of the song but also alter Kurt's [Cobain] chord approach to a style more suited to EVILE, and that's a chug-athon!
"Hope you all enjoy it; we definitely do."
Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, PHILM), Tommy Aldridge (WHITESNAKE, OZZY OSBOURNE), Aquiles Priester (HANGAR, ANGRA), George Kollias (NILE), Derek Roddy (HATE ETERNAL, NILE, TODAY IS THE DAY) and Will Calhoun (LIVING COLOUR) are among the drummers who will take part in the 20th-anniversary edition of the International Percussion Festival Drum Fest, set to take place October 13-31, 2011 in Poland.
For more information, go to this location.
SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor had the following to say about what "Nevermind" means to him: "I was a huge fan of NIRVANA. I remember playing 'Bleach' for my friends and telling them they were going to be massive. When 'Nevermind' was on the verge of dropping, I made all my friends go out and buy it. Never knew it would be that big, but they deserved it.
"No pun intended, but never mind the singles — the album is deep as hell. From 'Lounge Act' to 'Territorial Pissings' it is the perfect blend of punk, college, rock and pop. To this day, one of the best albums of all time."
For more information, go to this location.
SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor had the following to say about what "Nevermind" means to him: "I was a huge fan of NIRVANA. I remember playing 'Bleach' for my friends and telling them they were going to be massive. When 'Nevermind' was on the verge of dropping, I made all my friends go out and buy it. Never knew it would be that big, but they deserved it.
"No pun intended, but never mind the singles — the album is deep as hell. From 'Lounge Act' to 'Territorial Pissings' it is the perfect blend of punk, college, rock and pop. To this day, one of the best albums of all time."
Revolver magazine conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan about the passing of the band's bassist, Paul Gray, and the group's future. In an outtake from the chat, Crahan speaks about the effigy of Paul Gray that the band had onstage with them during their comeback shows this summer. The effigy featured Gray's original "Pig" mask, coveralls, and bass guitar.
"I had to have something of Paul there besides a memory," he said. "Besides a thought. I wanted something obtainable for the kids. Instead of all of us thinking in our minds the same thing, and pretty much trying to admit to yourself, 'Yeah, I bet they're thinking this and we're thinking this.' Let's put a factor. Let's put some symbolism on the thought. Let's go the extra step.
"I know Paul's younger brother, Tony. He's a very close friend of mine. He has worked for SLIPKNOT. He's been around since the beginning, when I owned my bar. I got the bar [where SLIPKNOT would play because other local venues were afraid to book them] to help get the band signed, and we got signed out of that bar. He helped me run it. He was my partner. His brother, Paul, had given him his original Pig mask, and he also gave Tony his original bass. And both of those things are very significant things in Paul's life, especially if you knew him.
"His first mask. Who he was from the beginning. So that relic was obtainable. And the same with his bass. Anyone who jammed with Paul or knew him from the old days, he had this one particular bass, and it was in all the bands that he had jammed with until we got to the area where we could get more basses. [Before then] he had one particular bass, and it really represented him."
"I had to have something of Paul there besides a memory," he said. "Besides a thought. I wanted something obtainable for the kids. Instead of all of us thinking in our minds the same thing, and pretty much trying to admit to yourself, 'Yeah, I bet they're thinking this and we're thinking this.' Let's put a factor. Let's put some symbolism on the thought. Let's go the extra step.
"I know Paul's younger brother, Tony. He's a very close friend of mine. He has worked for SLIPKNOT. He's been around since the beginning, when I owned my bar. I got the bar [where SLIPKNOT would play because other local venues were afraid to book them] to help get the band signed, and we got signed out of that bar. He helped me run it. He was my partner. His brother, Paul, had given him his original Pig mask, and he also gave Tony his original bass. And both of those things are very significant things in Paul's life, especially if you knew him.
"His first mask. Who he was from the beginning. So that relic was obtainable. And the same with his bass. Anyone who jammed with Paul or knew him from the old days, he had this one particular bass, and it was in all the bands that he had jammed with until we got to the area where we could get more basses. [Before then] he had one particular bass, and it really represented him."
British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2012 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMON AMARTH
AXEL RUDI PELL
CRADLE OF FILTH
DARK FUNERAL
DIMMU BORGIR
ENDSTILLE
FORBIDDEN
GAMMA RAY
HAMMERFALL
HENRY ROLLINS (spoken word)
IN EXTREMO
MINISTRY
MOONSPELL
NAPALM DEATH
PARADISE LOST
SCORPIONS
SIX FEET UNDER
U.D.O.
WATAIN
WINTERFYLLETH
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMON AMARTH
AXEL RUDI PELL
CRADLE OF FILTH
DARK FUNERAL
DIMMU BORGIR
ENDSTILLE
FORBIDDEN
GAMMA RAY
HAMMERFALL
HENRY ROLLINS (spoken word)
IN EXTREMO
MINISTRY
MOONSPELL
NAPALM DEATH
PARADISE LOST
SCORPIONS
SIX FEET UNDER
U.D.O.
WATAIN
WINTERFYLLETH
DISTURBED's first-ever collection of B-sides and rarities, "The Lost Children", will be released on November 8. The set includes a previously unreleased track, "Mine", and "3", which was as a benefit track for the West Memphis Three. Other tracks on this B-side collection include "God Of The Mind" and "A Welcome Burden". which appeared on the 2010 reissue of the band's 2000 debut album, "The Sickness"; "Monster", "Two Worlds" and "Sickened", which were included as bonus tracks on the U.K. tour edition of "Ten Thousand Fists"; "Run", which was featured on a limited-edition version of 2008's "Indestructible"; and "Parasite", which appeared on the Japanese edition of "Indestructible".
"The Lost Children"track listing:
01. Hell
02. A Welcome Burden
03. This Moment
04. Old Friend
05. Monster
06. Run
07. Leave It Alone
08. Two Worlds
09. God Of The Mind
10. Sickened
11. Mine
12. Parasite
13. Dehumanized
14. 3
15. Midlife Crisis (FAITH NO MORE cover)
16. Living After Midnight (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman recently spoke out on the speculation regarding the band's future, which he himself started in July when he hinted that the group's current tour could be its last for a while — if not for good. Draiman confirmed to The Pulse Of Radio that DISTURBED plans to take an indefinite hiatus, and gave some hints about the "personal reasons" behind the decision. "Many of those reasons are have to do with the state of the music industry in general and, you know, the demise of hard rock and heavy metal right now, and I think it's just a good time for DISTURBED, after 10 to 12 years straight of touring, to go away for a little while and kind of wait for the phoenix to rise from the ashes here," he said. "It's frightening times right now, and it's just a good time for us to go away."
But Draiman also admitted that DISTURBED may in fact never come back. "It could be a concern," he said. "You don't know. We don't know. I can't definitively tell you one way or the other at this point. We really haven't gotten that far in our discussions. We all agree that we are going to step away for an indefinite period of time."
Draiman told Billboard that one thing the hiatus is not about is any personal strife between the four band members, saying, "This is really not due to any animosity — I want to make that very clear. In fact, we just had dinner together last night. Believe me, it's not like we can't work with each other anymore or we don't get along."
The singer said that all four members of the group have other creative endeavors they'd like to pursue, with both he and guitarist Dan Donegan interested in producing other acts.
Draiman added that he doesn't think a solo album is in his future. But he also told Billboard, "Depending on how far those individual interests end up taking us, and depending on how much we end up missing (the band) over the course of time — which, of course, at some point I'm sure we will — that will determine if and when we return."
"The Lost Children"track listing:
01. Hell
02. A Welcome Burden
03. This Moment
04. Old Friend
05. Monster
06. Run
07. Leave It Alone
08. Two Worlds
09. God Of The Mind
10. Sickened
11. Mine
12. Parasite
13. Dehumanized
14. 3
15. Midlife Crisis (FAITH NO MORE cover)
16. Living After Midnight (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman recently spoke out on the speculation regarding the band's future, which he himself started in July when he hinted that the group's current tour could be its last for a while — if not for good. Draiman confirmed to The Pulse Of Radio that DISTURBED plans to take an indefinite hiatus, and gave some hints about the "personal reasons" behind the decision. "Many of those reasons are have to do with the state of the music industry in general and, you know, the demise of hard rock and heavy metal right now, and I think it's just a good time for DISTURBED, after 10 to 12 years straight of touring, to go away for a little while and kind of wait for the phoenix to rise from the ashes here," he said. "It's frightening times right now, and it's just a good time for us to go away."
But Draiman also admitted that DISTURBED may in fact never come back. "It could be a concern," he said. "You don't know. We don't know. I can't definitively tell you one way or the other at this point. We really haven't gotten that far in our discussions. We all agree that we are going to step away for an indefinite period of time."
Draiman told Billboard that one thing the hiatus is not about is any personal strife between the four band members, saying, "This is really not due to any animosity — I want to make that very clear. In fact, we just had dinner together last night. Believe me, it's not like we can't work with each other anymore or we don't get along."
The singer said that all four members of the group have other creative endeavors they'd like to pursue, with both he and guitarist Dan Donegan interested in producing other acts.
Draiman added that he doesn't think a solo album is in his future. But he also told Billboard, "Depending on how far those individual interests end up taking us, and depending on how much we end up missing (the band) over the course of time — which, of course, at some point I'm sure we will — that will determine if and when we return."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/disturbedchildren.jpg
Savannah, Georgia-based psych-rock band KYLESA will perform two songs — "Tired Climb" and "Crowded Road" — on the Wednesday, September 28 episode of NBC-TV's "Last Call With Carson Daly".
"Last Call With Carson Daly" airs on NBC at 1:35 a.m. Eastern.
The episode will re-air on Fuse the following day at 2:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
"Spiral Shadow", the fifth album from KYLESA, sold around 1,500 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.
Released on October 26, 2010 via Season Of Mist, "Spiral Shadow" was recorded last summer at the Jam Room in Columbia, South Carolina with band member and renowned producer Phillip Cope (BARONESS, WITHERED) once again at the helm.
"Spiral Shadow" was made available as a regular CD as well as a limited-edition digipak with 3D cover art packaged with a bonus DVD.
"Last Call With Carson Daly" airs on NBC at 1:35 a.m. Eastern.
The episode will re-air on Fuse the following day at 2:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
"Spiral Shadow", the fifth album from KYLESA, sold around 1,500 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.
Released on October 26, 2010 via Season Of Mist, "Spiral Shadow" was recorded last summer at the Jam Room in Columbia, South Carolina with band member and renowned producer Phillip Cope (BARONESS, WITHERED) once again at the helm.
"Spiral Shadow" was made available as a regular CD as well as a limited-edition digipak with 3D cover art packaged with a bonus DVD.
ABSU and TSJUDER have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Inferno festival, set to take place April 4-7, 2012 at the Rockefeller and John Dee venues in Oslo, Norway. Also scheduled to appear on the bill are BORKANAGAR, ARCTURUS, WITCHERY, AGALLOCH and ANAAL NATHRAKH.
The Inferno metal festival has become a true black Easter tradition for metal fans, bands and music industry from all over the world with nearly 50 concerts every year since the start back in 2001. The festival offers exclusive concerts in unique surroundings with some of the best extreme metal bands and experimental artists in the world, from the new and underground to the legendary giants. At Inferno you meet up with fellow metalheads for four days of head banging, party, black-metal sightseeing and expos, horror films, art exhibitions and all the unholy treats your dark heart desires.
For more information, visit www.infernofestival.net.
The Inferno metal festival has become a true black Easter tradition for metal fans, bands and music industry from all over the world with nearly 50 concerts every year since the start back in 2001. The festival offers exclusive concerts in unique surroundings with some of the best extreme metal bands and experimental artists in the world, from the new and underground to the legendary giants. At Inferno you meet up with fellow metalheads for four days of head banging, party, black-metal sightseeing and expos, horror films, art exhibitions and all the unholy treats your dark heart desires.
For more information, visit www.infernofestival.net.
Scarlet Records has created and launched its own partner label, Bakerteam Records, which aims in discovering and offering support to the best talents of the hard rock and heavy metal international scene. The new label will benefit from all the distribution channels and promotional tools that have made Scarlet one of the most established labels out there, focusing primarily on up and coming sensations that aspire worldwide exposure.
The first two Bakerteam releases will be debut albums from Israeli band RED ROSE (due October 25 ) and Italian band THE RITUAL (November 14 ).
According to a press release, RED ROSE "blends melodic hard rock, classic heavy metal and pomp rock keyboards in an elegant and refined shape in the vein of ROYAL HUNT. Recorded at Jailhouse Studios with renowned Danish producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, JORN), 'Live The Life You've Imagined' is a thrilling and memorable record from the first to the very last song."
Always in perfect balance between aggression and melody, THE RITUAL is "a power/thrash metal monster 'contaminated' by modern metal gods such as AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE. 'Beyond The Fragile Horizon', graced with a beautiful cover artwork by Nerve Design (THRESHOLD, NILE, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, VISION DIVINE), is the heavy metal revelation of the year thanks to the contagious vehemence of its ten songs produced and mixed by Federico Pennazzato (SADIST, SECRET SPHERE) and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM, EMPYRIOS).
For more information, visit www.bakerteamrecords.com.
The first two Bakerteam releases will be debut albums from Israeli band RED ROSE (due October 25 ) and Italian band THE RITUAL (November 14 ).
According to a press release, RED ROSE "blends melodic hard rock, classic heavy metal and pomp rock keyboards in an elegant and refined shape in the vein of ROYAL HUNT. Recorded at Jailhouse Studios with renowned Danish producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, JORN), 'Live The Life You've Imagined' is a thrilling and memorable record from the first to the very last song."
Always in perfect balance between aggression and melody, THE RITUAL is "a power/thrash metal monster 'contaminated' by modern metal gods such as AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE. 'Beyond The Fragile Horizon', graced with a beautiful cover artwork by Nerve Design (THRESHOLD, NILE, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, VISION DIVINE), is the heavy metal revelation of the year thanks to the contagious vehemence of its ten songs produced and mixed by Federico Pennazzato (SADIST, SECRET SPHERE) and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM, EMPYRIOS).
For more information, visit www.bakerteamrecords.com.
__._,_.___
MARKETPLACE
.
__,_._,___
0 comments:
Post a Comment