Legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne will guest on tomorrow morning's (Thursday, October 13) edition of NBC's crown jewel, the "Today" show, at 8:15 a.m.
Ozzy has told Billboard.com that a reunion of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup is a "very, very strong possibility," adding, "It's in the very early stages, so we haven't recorded anything yet. If it works out, it'll work out. If it doesn't, I'll keep doing my thing." Ozzy was asked about the topic while discussing his upcoming second book, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy", which came out on Tuesday (October 11).
The Birmingham Mail reported in August that the original SABBATH lineup — Ozzy, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — had begun rehearsing and writing music in secret for a new album. The Mail based its story around remarks made by Iommi, who later said the comments were off the record and taken out of context. Iommi's manager, however, did not deny that a reunion was underway.
Speculation about a reunion was fueled later that month when Ozzy skipped the Hollywood premiere of the documentary about his life, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne". Both his son Jack and daughter Kelly hinted at the time that their dad was "doing something that is very, very exciting."
SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, the original lineup's first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. The original lineup has not toured together since summer 2005 and last appeared together when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.
"Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy" is a collection of Ozzy's health and sex advice columns of the same name that have been published in Rolling Stone and the U.K.'s Sunday Times magazine.
Ozzy has told Billboard.com that a reunion of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup is a "very, very strong possibility," adding, "It's in the very early stages, so we haven't recorded anything yet. If it works out, it'll work out. If it doesn't, I'll keep doing my thing." Ozzy was asked about the topic while discussing his upcoming second book, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy", which came out on Tuesday (October 11).
The Birmingham Mail reported in August that the original SABBATH lineup — Ozzy, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — had begun rehearsing and writing music in secret for a new album. The Mail based its story around remarks made by Iommi, who later said the comments were off the record and taken out of context. Iommi's manager, however, did not deny that a reunion was underway.
Speculation about a reunion was fueled later that month when Ozzy skipped the Hollywood premiere of the documentary about his life, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne". Both his son Jack and daughter Kelly hinted at the time that their dad was "doing something that is very, very exciting."
SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, the original lineup's first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. The original lineup has not toured together since summer 2005 and last appeared together when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.
"Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy" is a collection of Ozzy's health and sex advice columns of the same name that have been published in Rolling Stone and the U.K.'s Sunday Times magazine.
Judas Priest founder and bassist Ian Hill continues to live and breathe metal. The 60-year-old legendary bassist may be on his final world tour but confirms that Priest is far from retiring. "We all genuinely love what we do and the thought of not doing it anymore is terrifying," explained Hill in a recent phone interview with Beyond the Dark Horizon.
The band is currently on the US leg of its Epitaph World Tour and has just unleashed The Chosen Few- an album curated by Judas Priest's contemporaries in the music world – each artist picking their own favorite Priest track and explaining why it is special to them. Hill spoke with Beyond the Dark Horizon regarding Judas Priest's extraordinary legacy, tour and upcoming endeavors.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Hello Ian, thanks for speaking with Beyond the Dark Horizon, how are you doing today?
Ian Hill: Hello, I'm doing fine. Thank you.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: The US leg of the Epitaph World tour begins tomorrow. Are you prepared?
Ian Hill: I hope so [laughs] yeah. We have been practicing since June and that's when the tour started in Europe. We've been gone since then and have been through Eastern and Western Europe and throughout Central America. It's been great and now we're ready for the USA.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Priest are kicking things off in San Antonio, TX-a city filled with legions of Judas Priest fans. San Antonio holds a special history for the band, care to share some of your experiences and memories here?
Ian Hill: Oh yeah! Judas Priest dates back to the late great disc jockey, Joe Anthony. He was a great character. We got there in the late 70's, early 80's and Joe did a hell lotta work breaking bands such as ourselves to not only San Antonio but Texas in general. And probably largely due to his efforts we've just always had such a great fan base in San Antonio. The people have always been excellent and we are really looking forward to performing there. It's always one of the dates that we look forward to while on tour.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: A few selections from every album in the JP catalog will be performed while on this tour. Being the only founding Priest member remaining, has it been odd for you to journey back and dig up old tracks that you have not performed in years? "Never Satisfied" off Rocka Rolla is a perfect example.
Ian Hill: It's funny you know. You start going back and think, "Wow our first album was out in '74." But yes, we are doing a song from every album. And as you look back at some of these albums you find that there are some songs that you had forgotten about. We had some great material back then and it's been extremely difficult to get our set list together. And you know for each old song we have to drop someone's favorite. It's been a bit of a nightmare but we've done it, playing something from Rocka Rolla all the way down to Nostradamus.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Many critics and fans are throwing around the terms "farewell" and "retirement" which sound so permanent- but in reality, the band has plenty of journeys on the horizon. Glenn mentioned it was "the beginning of the end." That must be bittersweet.
Ian Hill: It's more of a slowing down process; not a goodbye or a farewell. None of us are spring chickens anymore, you know. It's just the world touring thing that really gets to us. We all genuinely love what we do and the thought of not doing it anymore is terrifying! We love this. We never really intended to kill the band off. But by no means does this mean that this will be the last time that we are on stage, it's just in the future we plan to do a handful of dates and take some time off and in the long run I think it will extend the life of the band. Doing this might give us a few extra years because we love it.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Did the addition of guitarist Ritchie Faulkner, change the bands outlook? A revitalization in a sense? New blood can fuel the soul and add to the fire.
Ian Hill: Definitely, he's young [laughs]. He has the enthusiasm and he's moving all of us. There's a great future with him because he's such a talented performer and an overall great guy. He's a great find and we were very lucky to find him. It would have been difficult to carry on without someone of his caliber.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: The Chosen Few album was released today and it's quite the ultimate "Best of" Judas Priest album. What are your thoughts on legendary musicians like Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper taking part, sharing their favorite Priest tunes?
Ian Hill: It's been truly flattering and I just love it. It's great that they took the time out to pick their favorite track and it's the first compilation album that we never had any control over. It was all whatever they picked ended up on the album. They all picked some great songs and the surprising thing about it is you get input from musicians from the early generation and newer generation and they're all picking the same songs [laughs]. It goes to show that we are timeless when it comes to heavy metal I suppose.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Agreed. It's amazing that the music of Judas Priest remains timeless and fresh. You can blast "Living After Midnight," "Breaking the Law" or "Screaming for Vengeance" 20 years from today and it would still hold relevance.
Ian Hill: We're lucky in that respect. We've had some excellent material that has been recorded over the years and whenever we are working on putting the set list together like you mentioned we have tracks like "Breaking the Law" "You've got Another Thing Coming" and those songs. And when you go on stage and see the fans reaction to it, everyone goes wild. We're very lucky in that respect.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: You say it's luck but Priest has always and still has a unique way of writing music. Share insight on how the band worked together throughout the years to dish out countless of classic heavy metal hits.
Ian Hill: I tell you what, we have always done what we felt was right. With each album we try to take one step forward and embrace anything that comes along the way. I don't think we did anything special other than always trying to progress.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Albums like Defenders of the Faith, Painkiller and Nostradamus are testimony of this progression that you speak of. Judas Priest is known to up the ante.
Ian Hill: Exactly, taking a step forward is what has kept the band fresh over the years.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Let's talk about the early Priest days. When you and Ken started the band back in your school days, what was your visualization or goals for the band at that point? Did you ever think that Judas Priest would end up being as successful as it is today?
Ian Hill: Actually no. We did what we did and rehearsed for years. We lived for that day and lived to play and that's what we did. I don't think any of us realized what we had or how long it would turn out we'd be doing this. The further we went, the more popular we got and before you knew it we were playing for people all over the world, records going gold and platinum. It's a beautiful feeling. But back then we didn't have a clue that this would be a fulltime gig. It was like I said, play for today [laughs]. We're still doing this today because we love it. We love the music, love the fans and love to travel. That's why it has been so difficult to give it up, it's in our heart and in our souls.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Being in this business for 40 plus years, what has been the most important lesson learned?
Ian Hill: Tolerance and optimism. Those are the two things that you have to have. We're lucky that we're all friends. It's very important to be friends. If you have somebody that you don't really get along with in the band then it becomes difficult. We get along, we're great friends with the same goals and ambition to move forward. It's important that you tolerate peoples personality perks, it's interesting because everyone's got them.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: There is talk that Judas Priest has already begun work on the new album. How are the songs coming along?
Ian Hill: It's been coming along a bit slow at the moment because of the tour but Glenn and Rob have put a lot of ideas together. This was before Ritchie joined the band so after the tour we're going to see if he has input on the album. Once that gets done we'll head over to the studio and complete the album. It's going to be sort of a traditional Priest album, now that we got the concept thing out of us. There's lots of classic metal in there, think of Angel of Retribution. It will be where we left off. We're excited, it's going to be a good old classic metal album.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: We're looking forward to it. I know we are pressed for time, so here's my last question for you. Where do you see the future of heavy metal? Do you think there are any bands today that can hold up that torch and standard that Judas Priest has held for over four decades?
Ian Hill: I'm sure there is but bands come and go so quickly these days. The minute you discover them they seem to vanish. It's kind of a difficult question for me to answer since we're still around but yet bands like ourselves, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, we're all coming to the end of our careers and heavy metal will always be there. It's a popular music genre and it will never go away. When we begin to vanish then other bands will begin to establish themselves and it's up to the younger generation to keep it up.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: It's been great speaking with you Ian, any last words for fans out there?
Ian Hill: We're really looking forward to the start of the US tour that begins tomorrow. We have lots of fans everywhere and we hope to see everyone. Thank you.
12 October AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
14 October Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi, TX
15 October The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
16 October Allen Event Center, Dallas, TX
18 October Ava Amphitheater, Tucson, AZ
19 October Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA
21 October AZ State Fair, Phoenix, AZ
22 October San Manuel Amphitheater, San Bernardino, CA
23 October Hard Rock, Las Vegas, NV
25 October Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, CA
27 October Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA
29 October WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA
30 October Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
1 November Shaw Conference Center, Edmonton, AB
2 November Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
4 November Maverik Center, Salt Lake City, UT
5 November 1STBANK Center, Denver, CO
8 November US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
9 November Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL
10 November The Family Arena, St. Louis, MO
12 November The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, Chicago, IL
13 November Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
15 November Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
16 November The Armory, Rochester, NY
18 November Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
19 November Cambria County War Memorial, Johnstown, PA
20 November Paul E Tsongas Arena/Lowell, MA
22 November Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
23 November Colisee Pepsi Arena, Quebec City, QC
24 November Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
27 November Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC
30 November 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa
1 December Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami
3 December Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino, Biloxi
7th February Sunpalace/ Fukuoka
9th February Pacifico/Yokohama
11th February Kokusai Hall/Kobe
13th February Alsok Hall/Hiroshima
14th February Prefectural Arts Theater /Aichi
14 October Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi, TX
15 October The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
16 October Allen Event Center, Dallas, TX
18 October Ava Amphitheater, Tucson, AZ
19 October Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA
21 October AZ State Fair, Phoenix, AZ
22 October San Manuel Amphitheater, San Bernardino, CA
23 October Hard Rock, Las Vegas, NV
25 October Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, CA
27 October Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA
29 October WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA
30 October Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
1 November Shaw Conference Center, Edmonton, AB
2 November Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
4 November Maverik Center, Salt Lake City, UT
5 November 1STBANK Center, Denver, CO
8 November US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
9 November Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL
10 November The Family Arena, St. Louis, MO
12 November The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, Chicago, IL
13 November Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
15 November Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
16 November The Armory, Rochester, NY
18 November Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
19 November Cambria County War Memorial, Johnstown, PA
20 November Paul E Tsongas Arena/Lowell, MA
22 November Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
23 November Colisee Pepsi Arena, Quebec City, QC
24 November Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
27 November Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC
30 November 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa
1 December Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami
3 December Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino, Biloxi
7th February Sunpalace/ Fukuoka
9th February Pacifico/Yokohama
11th February Kokusai Hall/Kobe
13th February Alsok Hall/Hiroshima
14th February Prefectural Arts Theater /Aichi
VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" is back in Los Angeles and ready to shake things up for lucky season nine. Members of some of the biggest metal acts, including AC/DC, GODSMACK and MEGADETH, grace the "That Metal Show" stage to give viewers a true power hour that all hard rock and heavy metal enthusiasts are certain to love.
The boys are back and ready to rock! Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson host the only talk show where all things hard rock and heavy metal are discussed, dissected and debated. Metal musicians and rock royalty, including Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER), Brian Johnson (AC/DC) and Marilyn Manson, will be part of the roundtable discussions this season.
Scheduled guests:
Show 1:
* Herman Rarebell (SCORPIONS)
* Andrew Dice Clay
* Guest guitarist: Chris Broderick (MEGADETH)
Show 2:
* Marilyn Manson
* Biff Byford (SAXON)
* Guest guitarist: Chris Broderick (MEGADETH)
Show 3:
* Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS)
* Michael Monroe (HANOI ROCKS)
* Guest guitarist: John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
Show 4:
* Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY)
* Keith Nelson, Josh Todd (BUCKCHERRY)
* Guest guitarist: John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
Show 5:
* Sully Erna (GODSMACK)
* Jesse James Dupree (JACKYL)
* Guest guitarist (playing bass): Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION)
Show 6:
* Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER)
* Sam Dunn ("Metal Evolution", "Metal: A Headbangers Journey", "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage")
* Guest guitarist (playing bass): Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION)
Show 7:
* Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
* [to be announced]
* Guest guitarist: Warren DeMartini (RATT)
Show 8:
* Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH)
* Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, KILL DEVIL HILL)
* Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN, KILL DEVIL HILL)
* Guest guitarist: Warren DeMartini (RATT)
Distilling decades of your favorite hard rock and heavy metal into sixty minutes of mayhem; "That Metal Show" will deliver the ever-popular "Stump The Trunk" as well as the triumphant return of "TMS Top 5" to your TV every Saturday night at 11 p.m., only on VH1 Classic.
"That Metal Show" is a production of VH1 Classic. Lee Rolontz and Keshia Williams as executive producers for VH1. Jeff Baumgardner serves as producer for the series for VH1.
The boys are back and ready to rock! Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson host the only talk show where all things hard rock and heavy metal are discussed, dissected and debated. Metal musicians and rock royalty, including Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER), Brian Johnson (AC/DC) and Marilyn Manson, will be part of the roundtable discussions this season.
Scheduled guests:
Show 1:
* Herman Rarebell (SCORPIONS)
* Andrew Dice Clay
* Guest guitarist: Chris Broderick (MEGADETH)
Show 2:
* Marilyn Manson
* Biff Byford (SAXON)
* Guest guitarist: Chris Broderick (MEGADETH)
Show 3:
* Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS)
* Michael Monroe (HANOI ROCKS)
* Guest guitarist: John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
Show 4:
* Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY)
* Keith Nelson, Josh Todd (BUCKCHERRY)
* Guest guitarist: John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
Show 5:
* Sully Erna (GODSMACK)
* Jesse James Dupree (JACKYL)
* Guest guitarist (playing bass): Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION)
Show 6:
* Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER)
* Sam Dunn ("Metal Evolution", "Metal: A Headbangers Journey", "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage")
* Guest guitarist (playing bass): Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION)
Show 7:
* Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
* [to be announced]
* Guest guitarist: Warren DeMartini (RATT)
Show 8:
* Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH)
* Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, KILL DEVIL HILL)
* Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN, KILL DEVIL HILL)
* Guest guitarist: Warren DeMartini (RATT)
Distilling decades of your favorite hard rock and heavy metal into sixty minutes of mayhem; "That Metal Show" will deliver the ever-popular "Stump The Trunk" as well as the triumphant return of "TMS Top 5" to your TV every Saturday night at 11 p.m., only on VH1 Classic.
"That Metal Show" is a production of VH1 Classic. Lee Rolontz and Keshia Williams as executive producers for VH1. Jeff Baumgardner serves as producer for the series for VH1.
Queensryche have done it again, they have set the standards for hard rock with the release of Dedicated To Chaos. Also with that they are celebrating 30 years as a band, no small feat in the world of hard rock and heavy metal. With that it was time to talk to Geoff Tate once again about Dedicated to Chaos as well as the brilliant Queensryche Cabaret that they embarked upon last year. Geoff checked in and was abundant with thoughts on the last 30 years, the cabaret, DOC as well as the fans.
An interview with Geoff Tate of Queensryche.
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: Before we get into the new record, last year you did the Queensryche Cabaret. What did you get out of doing that?
Geoff: Artistically I got to write a show that was fun but challenging to perform. I was able to work with a lot of talented performance artists and had the pleasure of watching them become inspired by our music.
Metal Exiles: How did you find these people and convince them to perform to your music?
Geoff: The cabaret scene is really taking off in many places around the world. Its is an old art form but it is finding a resurgence in a lot of major American cities as well as Europe. There are people who do it, they were trained all of their lives to be what they are. What we did was contact all of these managers that handle these artists and started the interview process. It was a great psychological experiment with they could take and could not take, discovering what boundaries they had.
Metal Exiles: Was that experiment for the fans or the performers?
Geoff: From my own point of view I enjoyed what it did to the people, I liked watching their reactions. Some people find nudity and sensuality offensive (Editor: I am not one of them) for a number of different reasons and it is fascinating in itself on why people become unglued on that stuff. Some people do not have a problem with it but then you have people just do not like art, they have their own definitions of what they deem artful.
Metal Exiles: I know a lot of the people I talked to thought they were just getting a normal Queensryche show, not a Cabaret.
Geoff: I always like to challenge the idea of expectations. I think if you have a lot of expectations in your life you are constantly disappointed. My motto is have low expectations and you are never disappointed.
Metal Exiles: I knew what to expect from watching some video of prior shows but I was still taken aback by some of the visuals I encountered at both shows I went to. I do like the way you integrated the catalog into your themes, which must have been a challenge in itself.
Geoff: It is very challenging and it is fun trying to come up with different scenarios to present your music. I like that kind of thing as I think it is very boring to get up on stage and play a song, it just does not interest me anymore. I have done it so many times that I am sure it is the same way for somebody who has worked at the same job for years. You know what to expect, you know what's going to happen and you end up wanting to change up the way you do things. This is the way I am these days, I would rather play onstage with a bunch of people I do not know just for a change than playing onstage with Queensryche. On one hand it is really great because you are comfortable with each other and you know what the other guy is going to do but on the other hand its predictable because you know what they are going to do. We try to change it up as much as we can and make it interesting for ourselves and hopefully for others as well.
Metal Exiles: A few years ago you guys released American Soldier. I know you are used to writing from your own perspective so how hard was it to write from someone else's?
Geoff: It was difficult and primarily because of the material. You have to treat it with sensitivity and respect and you can really get on the wrong side of wrong if you do not approach it correctly. You are talking about other people's lives and experiences that are important to them and it needs to be treated that way. Also the topic itself, you have to be careful on how you treat the military in respect to those who feel strongly about it. That record was quite a responsibility when we recorded and presented it, it was serious and when we played for the troops in Iraq that was incredibly serious because we were in the battlefield playing about soldiers who have been that same exact position. Although the album turned out very well and I really enjoyed making it I am glad to be on a different path I am glad to be on a different path doing something completely different.
Metal Exiles: The new album, lyrically, is all over the place. What was occupying your mind while you were writing Dedicated To Chaos?
Geoff: Life and I am fascinated by life. I find myself in all of these situations all the time commenting about things. I do not have an answer to every situation that I am in, I just pose the question. In the song Retail Therapy, I am so inundated iPhone apps, programs for my computer and social media, I am just so caught up in it all the time. I do not make a judgment on it in the song, I am just pointing out that its there and I am hooked. I think on a lot of the tracks on the album, there is not a position I take, I am just painting a picture that it exists, are we caught up in it, is it good? Is it bad? That is how I feel about modern life, it is moving so fast, it is just fascinating to be alive right now. It is a real time of change, not just technologically, but socially and politically. We are growing at a stunning rate and it is probably because we are just connected so much, everywhere in the world. We are able to monitor all of these places everyday and it is fascinating to watch.
Metal Exiles: But is it good or bad though?
Geoff: I do not know, I do not have that answer. Nobody does until we spend enough time doing it. But then what is good or bad? Those decisions are based on certain frames of reference on any given time period. We used to think slavery was good. We used to think that driving 55 mph was good and that chanced in the 70's. We have all kinds of opinions on what is good or bad so I do not know.
Metal Exiles: One of the songs that really stands out to me Is "Around The World". I feel as though that could be a world anthem. What made you decide to pen that?
Geoff: I really believe the ideas in that song. I believe that love is the most powerful human emotion there, it is so important to our survival as a species. We can easily knock off our neighbor because we do not have any relationship with them. Love is something that we need and to experience because without it we get to a certain point where we just stop developing. Love gives you this other dimension; you can be so much more than you started out being.
Metal Exiles: On the other side of that coin you have the song "Got It Bad". I truly believe that is a needed song for lust.
Geoff: Lust is an incredibly strong emotion as well, it is something that inspires and pushes you in a direction that can be confusing depending on the situation. All of us have felt or feel that emotion in our lives and some have that emotion more frequently than others.
Metal Exiles: As it is lyrically diverse, it is musically as well, maybe the most diverse Ryche record to date. How hard was it to make the entire album work together with its many sounds?
Geoff: I enjoy that process quite a bit, putting the albums together in an order that works. This album was less time spent on that than other though. Primarily because of the way we release music these days, it is not an album anymore, it is a playlist. Its not a single anymore, it's a focus tracks. All of that terminology is changing the way we think about music. All of these studies point out that we do not listen to albums anymore, they say, we just listen to specific songs that they like and put together a playlist. I say, sure why not, especially with this album. With Dedicated To Chaos there is no theme or concept, they are all individual tracks so put them in any order you want. I even tried them alphabetically and that works very well too.
Metal Exiles: I know that Vivian Campbell said recently that nobody cares about albums anymore. Do you think that's true?
Geoff: That's a very global statement but going by information I have and talking with different record companies there is a lot less emphasis on selling albums instead there is more focus on the content of the song. The public is leaning that way as well.
Metal Exiles: As far as I am concerned, I still like going out and buying CDs (and records for that matter).
Geoff: They say that the older people are the ones that keep the record bankrolled as well as the artists. Pretty much everybody under 35 are downloading and illegally.
Metal Exiles: You have a bunch a different vibes on this album, what was the focus on with Dedicated?
Geoff: We just wanted to make an album with a bunch of diverse songs. Usually when we sit down to make an album we talk about what we want to achieve and with this one the two major points we wanted to cover was diversity within the songs. We wanted them as different from each other as we could make them. The second thing we wanted to do was play our instruments differently. You do the same thing for so long you develop habits , these ways of doing things that you go to because its easier. Then you start repeating yourself and we wanted to make the songs diverse so to make them that way we played our instruments differently. Each member approached their instruments differently in their own way. Scott set up his kit differently than he had before which forced himself to play in different times. Parker taped his fingers together in different configurations to force himself to reach for notes differently and exercise his fingers. I changed my recording location to a different studio to give myself a whole different vantage point for inspiration. Eddie just went out and bought a bunch of new equipment so he is out opening new artistic doors for himself.
Metal Exiles: You mention technology and I know you sometimes record your parts separately and send them in. Do you miss recording an whole album together?
Geoff: We do that to, we will record in the same studio for a record as well. We will come up with an idea and pass it around and once another member puts their stamp on it, it's a Queensryche project. We do get together to rehears stuff, arrange and try different parts and ways of doing the song. There is always constant jamming between members and the whole band three of four times a week.
Metal Exiles: You said earlier that you do not like to tour and do "the same thing" so how is the tour supporting Dedicated going to go off?
Geoff: Unfortunately the new album does not get a lot of attention on the first tour because it is our 30th Anniversary this year so we are playing songs from all of our records so we have quite a lot of material to pick from so we will be limiting what we do play from this album to a few songs. It's OK because when we put out a new album it usually takes people a year to get into the record, especially to appreciate it in the live setting. Its ok, we will play more from it next year when we do a proper tour for the album.
Metal Exiles: What do you have planned for 30 years?
Geoff: We will be experimenting with our music as we will be selecting stuff from all of our records as well as incorporating a visual show that has video footage from throughout the years as well as some new stuff. We will be presenting it in conjunction with the songs so it will be a Queensryche retrospective in audio and visual.
Metal Exiles: Considering this is your 30th year, compare Geoff Tate 1981 and Geoff Tate 2011. How much have you changed as a musician and a singer?
Geoff: Probably pretty dramatically for me, you have to change. You grow up, you change and you try new things. I am glad I have had a career that was so inspirational to me and that I have had the chance to experience so much. I have traveled in over the world, played thousands of shows in over 50 countries, thousands of conversations with people from all over the world. I have golfed with Presidents, Mayors and Governors, I have just had amazing experiences and I might not have done any of this if I had not of joined the school band, took up an instrument and fallen in love with music. It was one of the catalysts of where I am right now.
Metal Exiles: It seems that you have grown and developed into a whole different animal since the EP came out. It seems as if your song writing has gotten better throughout the years and with the new record it has peaked again. I know I might offend a few fans but the new record is close to being one of your best.
Geoff: I think we all hear music differently and to each his own. We experience it differently and we all have different tastes in what we listen to. For me I do not believe in the concept of good music and bad music, I think music is art, its an expression, it is what it is. To make a judgment is acting on the ego and you cannot expect everybody to like what you do and as long as you like it as an artist and you put it out there that's all it matters. We never looked at it as a competition sport, we do not care about ratings, units sold etc, it does not mean anything to us. We are in it for the shear art and creation of it and it shows in what we do. We do not stick to a tried and true method; we are all over the place and try new things as well as challenging our audience. We are just those kinds of people who place a value on it.
Metal Exiles: To close this out, when a new Queensryche record drops and I mention it to people I know, the first question I get is "Are they back?", meaning the Mindcrime/Empire era. What do you think about music fans that just cannot get past a certain era?
Geoff: I look at it this way, I am glad that they like something that we have done, I am happy about that. I am not writing records for them, I am not writing records for anybody but myself, that is the way I have always done it. Some people are going to be into what we are doing now, some people wont, that is the way it all works and I am fine with that. If someone only wants to those records, that's cool.
Queensryche have lived up to their legacy and released a stunning new record in the form of Dedicated To Chaos, I suggest you invest your mind and ears into this creation.
Official Queensryche Site
An interview with Geoff Tate of Queensryche.
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: Before we get into the new record, last year you did the Queensryche Cabaret. What did you get out of doing that?
Geoff: Artistically I got to write a show that was fun but challenging to perform. I was able to work with a lot of talented performance artists and had the pleasure of watching them become inspired by our music.
Metal Exiles: How did you find these people and convince them to perform to your music?
Geoff: The cabaret scene is really taking off in many places around the world. Its is an old art form but it is finding a resurgence in a lot of major American cities as well as Europe. There are people who do it, they were trained all of their lives to be what they are. What we did was contact all of these managers that handle these artists and started the interview process. It was a great psychological experiment with they could take and could not take, discovering what boundaries they had.
Metal Exiles: Was that experiment for the fans or the performers?
Geoff: From my own point of view I enjoyed what it did to the people, I liked watching their reactions. Some people find nudity and sensuality offensive (Editor: I am not one of them) for a number of different reasons and it is fascinating in itself on why people become unglued on that stuff. Some people do not have a problem with it but then you have people just do not like art, they have their own definitions of what they deem artful.
Metal Exiles: I know a lot of the people I talked to thought they were just getting a normal Queensryche show, not a Cabaret.
Geoff: I always like to challenge the idea of expectations. I think if you have a lot of expectations in your life you are constantly disappointed. My motto is have low expectations and you are never disappointed.
Metal Exiles: I knew what to expect from watching some video of prior shows but I was still taken aback by some of the visuals I encountered at both shows I went to. I do like the way you integrated the catalog into your themes, which must have been a challenge in itself.
Geoff: It is very challenging and it is fun trying to come up with different scenarios to present your music. I like that kind of thing as I think it is very boring to get up on stage and play a song, it just does not interest me anymore. I have done it so many times that I am sure it is the same way for somebody who has worked at the same job for years. You know what to expect, you know what's going to happen and you end up wanting to change up the way you do things. This is the way I am these days, I would rather play onstage with a bunch of people I do not know just for a change than playing onstage with Queensryche. On one hand it is really great because you are comfortable with each other and you know what the other guy is going to do but on the other hand its predictable because you know what they are going to do. We try to change it up as much as we can and make it interesting for ourselves and hopefully for others as well.
Metal Exiles: A few years ago you guys released American Soldier. I know you are used to writing from your own perspective so how hard was it to write from someone else's?
Geoff: It was difficult and primarily because of the material. You have to treat it with sensitivity and respect and you can really get on the wrong side of wrong if you do not approach it correctly. You are talking about other people's lives and experiences that are important to them and it needs to be treated that way. Also the topic itself, you have to be careful on how you treat the military in respect to those who feel strongly about it. That record was quite a responsibility when we recorded and presented it, it was serious and when we played for the troops in Iraq that was incredibly serious because we were in the battlefield playing about soldiers who have been that same exact position. Although the album turned out very well and I really enjoyed making it I am glad to be on a different path I am glad to be on a different path doing something completely different.
Metal Exiles: The new album, lyrically, is all over the place. What was occupying your mind while you were writing Dedicated To Chaos?
Geoff: Life and I am fascinated by life. I find myself in all of these situations all the time commenting about things. I do not have an answer to every situation that I am in, I just pose the question. In the song Retail Therapy, I am so inundated iPhone apps, programs for my computer and social media, I am just so caught up in it all the time. I do not make a judgment on it in the song, I am just pointing out that its there and I am hooked. I think on a lot of the tracks on the album, there is not a position I take, I am just painting a picture that it exists, are we caught up in it, is it good? Is it bad? That is how I feel about modern life, it is moving so fast, it is just fascinating to be alive right now. It is a real time of change, not just technologically, but socially and politically. We are growing at a stunning rate and it is probably because we are just connected so much, everywhere in the world. We are able to monitor all of these places everyday and it is fascinating to watch.
Metal Exiles: But is it good or bad though?
Geoff: I do not know, I do not have that answer. Nobody does until we spend enough time doing it. But then what is good or bad? Those decisions are based on certain frames of reference on any given time period. We used to think slavery was good. We used to think that driving 55 mph was good and that chanced in the 70's. We have all kinds of opinions on what is good or bad so I do not know.
Metal Exiles: One of the songs that really stands out to me Is "Around The World". I feel as though that could be a world anthem. What made you decide to pen that?
Geoff: I really believe the ideas in that song. I believe that love is the most powerful human emotion there, it is so important to our survival as a species. We can easily knock off our neighbor because we do not have any relationship with them. Love is something that we need and to experience because without it we get to a certain point where we just stop developing. Love gives you this other dimension; you can be so much more than you started out being.
Metal Exiles: On the other side of that coin you have the song "Got It Bad". I truly believe that is a needed song for lust.
Geoff: Lust is an incredibly strong emotion as well, it is something that inspires and pushes you in a direction that can be confusing depending on the situation. All of us have felt or feel that emotion in our lives and some have that emotion more frequently than others.
Metal Exiles: As it is lyrically diverse, it is musically as well, maybe the most diverse Ryche record to date. How hard was it to make the entire album work together with its many sounds?
Geoff: I enjoy that process quite a bit, putting the albums together in an order that works. This album was less time spent on that than other though. Primarily because of the way we release music these days, it is not an album anymore, it is a playlist. Its not a single anymore, it's a focus tracks. All of that terminology is changing the way we think about music. All of these studies point out that we do not listen to albums anymore, they say, we just listen to specific songs that they like and put together a playlist. I say, sure why not, especially with this album. With Dedicated To Chaos there is no theme or concept, they are all individual tracks so put them in any order you want. I even tried them alphabetically and that works very well too.
Metal Exiles: I know that Vivian Campbell said recently that nobody cares about albums anymore. Do you think that's true?
Geoff: That's a very global statement but going by information I have and talking with different record companies there is a lot less emphasis on selling albums instead there is more focus on the content of the song. The public is leaning that way as well.
Metal Exiles: As far as I am concerned, I still like going out and buying CDs (and records for that matter).
Geoff: They say that the older people are the ones that keep the record bankrolled as well as the artists. Pretty much everybody under 35 are downloading and illegally.
Metal Exiles: You have a bunch a different vibes on this album, what was the focus on with Dedicated?
Geoff: We just wanted to make an album with a bunch of diverse songs. Usually when we sit down to make an album we talk about what we want to achieve and with this one the two major points we wanted to cover was diversity within the songs. We wanted them as different from each other as we could make them. The second thing we wanted to do was play our instruments differently. You do the same thing for so long you develop habits , these ways of doing things that you go to because its easier. Then you start repeating yourself and we wanted to make the songs diverse so to make them that way we played our instruments differently. Each member approached their instruments differently in their own way. Scott set up his kit differently than he had before which forced himself to play in different times. Parker taped his fingers together in different configurations to force himself to reach for notes differently and exercise his fingers. I changed my recording location to a different studio to give myself a whole different vantage point for inspiration. Eddie just went out and bought a bunch of new equipment so he is out opening new artistic doors for himself.
Metal Exiles: You mention technology and I know you sometimes record your parts separately and send them in. Do you miss recording an whole album together?
Geoff: We do that to, we will record in the same studio for a record as well. We will come up with an idea and pass it around and once another member puts their stamp on it, it's a Queensryche project. We do get together to rehears stuff, arrange and try different parts and ways of doing the song. There is always constant jamming between members and the whole band three of four times a week.
Metal Exiles: You said earlier that you do not like to tour and do "the same thing" so how is the tour supporting Dedicated going to go off?
Geoff: Unfortunately the new album does not get a lot of attention on the first tour because it is our 30th Anniversary this year so we are playing songs from all of our records so we have quite a lot of material to pick from so we will be limiting what we do play from this album to a few songs. It's OK because when we put out a new album it usually takes people a year to get into the record, especially to appreciate it in the live setting. Its ok, we will play more from it next year when we do a proper tour for the album.
Metal Exiles: What do you have planned for 30 years?
Geoff: We will be experimenting with our music as we will be selecting stuff from all of our records as well as incorporating a visual show that has video footage from throughout the years as well as some new stuff. We will be presenting it in conjunction with the songs so it will be a Queensryche retrospective in audio and visual.
Metal Exiles: Considering this is your 30th year, compare Geoff Tate 1981 and Geoff Tate 2011. How much have you changed as a musician and a singer?
Geoff: Probably pretty dramatically for me, you have to change. You grow up, you change and you try new things. I am glad I have had a career that was so inspirational to me and that I have had the chance to experience so much. I have traveled in over the world, played thousands of shows in over 50 countries, thousands of conversations with people from all over the world. I have golfed with Presidents, Mayors and Governors, I have just had amazing experiences and I might not have done any of this if I had not of joined the school band, took up an instrument and fallen in love with music. It was one of the catalysts of where I am right now.
Metal Exiles: It seems that you have grown and developed into a whole different animal since the EP came out. It seems as if your song writing has gotten better throughout the years and with the new record it has peaked again. I know I might offend a few fans but the new record is close to being one of your best.
Geoff: I think we all hear music differently and to each his own. We experience it differently and we all have different tastes in what we listen to. For me I do not believe in the concept of good music and bad music, I think music is art, its an expression, it is what it is. To make a judgment is acting on the ego and you cannot expect everybody to like what you do and as long as you like it as an artist and you put it out there that's all it matters. We never looked at it as a competition sport, we do not care about ratings, units sold etc, it does not mean anything to us. We are in it for the shear art and creation of it and it shows in what we do. We do not stick to a tried and true method; we are all over the place and try new things as well as challenging our audience. We are just those kinds of people who place a value on it.
Metal Exiles: To close this out, when a new Queensryche record drops and I mention it to people I know, the first question I get is "Are they back?", meaning the Mindcrime/Empire era. What do you think about music fans that just cannot get past a certain era?
Geoff: I look at it this way, I am glad that they like something that we have done, I am happy about that. I am not writing records for them, I am not writing records for anybody but myself, that is the way I have always done it. Some people are going to be into what we are doing now, some people wont, that is the way it all works and I am fine with that. If someone only wants to those records, that's cool.
Queensryche have lived up to their legacy and released a stunning new record in the form of Dedicated To Chaos, I suggest you invest your mind and ears into this creation.
Official Queensryche Site
Eagle Vision has set a November 8 release date for "From The Bars To The Stars", a five-disc DVD box set from TWISTED SISTER featuring three decades of live performances. The set comes with instant fan collectibles for the crazed SMF TWISTED SISTER fan. Includes the exclusive "Twisted Xmas: Live in Las Vegas" DVD, along with four other TWISTED SISTER DVDs ("Live At Wacken", "Live At Reading", and "Double Live", which includes "North Stage '82", as well as "NY Steel '01"), this box set also includes souvenirs including a TWISTED SISTER Christmas ornament, official NY Steel backstage pass, classic 2 ½-inch TWISTED SISTER pin, and a reproduction of the first ever SMF fan club letter.
Disc 1
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. The Kids Are Back
03. Stay Hungry
04. Destroyer
05. Like A Knife In The Back
06. Under The Blade
07. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
08. The Fire Still Burns
09. Shoot 'Em Down
10. We're Not Gonna Take It
11. The Price
12. Burn In Hell
13. I Wanna Rock
14. S.M.F.
Disc 2
01. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
02. White Christmas
03. Shoot 'Em Down
04. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
05. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
06. Deck The Halls
07. The Price
08. Come All Ye Faithful
09. Burn In Hell
10. Silver Bells
11. I'll Be Home For Christmas
12. I Wanna Rock
13. 12 Days Of Christmas
14. We're Not Gonna Take It
Disc 3
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Destroyer
03. Tear It Loose
04. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)
05. Lady's Boy
06. Leader Of The Pack
07. Under The Blade
08. Shoot 'Em Down
09. Sin After Sin
10. I'll Never Grow Up, Now
11. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
12. You Know I Cry
13. It's Only Rock 'N' Roll
14. Rock 'N' Roll Saviors
Disc 4
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. The Kids Are Back
03. Stay Hungry
04. Burn In Hell
05. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
06. Under The Blade
07. Shoot 'Em Down
08. Come Back
09. You Know I Cry
10. I Wanna Rock
11. We're Not Gonna Take It
12. The Price
13. S.M.F.
Disc 5
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Sin After Sin
03. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)
04. Destroyer
05. Shoot 'Em Down
06. Tear It Loose
07. Under The Blade
08. It's Only Rock 'N' Roll
Disc 1
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. The Kids Are Back
03. Stay Hungry
04. Destroyer
05. Like A Knife In The Back
06. Under The Blade
07. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
08. The Fire Still Burns
09. Shoot 'Em Down
10. We're Not Gonna Take It
11. The Price
12. Burn In Hell
13. I Wanna Rock
14. S.M.F.
Disc 2
01. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
02. White Christmas
03. Shoot 'Em Down
04. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
05. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
06. Deck The Halls
07. The Price
08. Come All Ye Faithful
09. Burn In Hell
10. Silver Bells
11. I'll Be Home For Christmas
12. I Wanna Rock
13. 12 Days Of Christmas
14. We're Not Gonna Take It
Disc 3
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Destroyer
03. Tear It Loose
04. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)
05. Lady's Boy
06. Leader Of The Pack
07. Under The Blade
08. Shoot 'Em Down
09. Sin After Sin
10. I'll Never Grow Up, Now
11. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
12. You Know I Cry
13. It's Only Rock 'N' Roll
14. Rock 'N' Roll Saviors
Disc 4
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. The Kids Are Back
03. Stay Hungry
04. Burn In Hell
05. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
06. Under The Blade
07. Shoot 'Em Down
08. Come Back
09. You Know I Cry
10. I Wanna Rock
11. We're Not Gonna Take It
12. The Price
13. S.M.F.
Disc 5
01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Sin After Sin
03. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)
04. Destroyer
05. Shoot 'Em Down
06. Tear It Loose
07. Under The Blade
08. It's Only Rock 'N' Roll
In conjunction with Rise Above Records, Metal Blade will release the double-disc live album "Anniversary" from U.K. mainstays and international cult act CATHEDRAL on November 21. According to a press release, "Anniversary" captures CATHEDRAL in all their raw and live glory and marks the first official live album to be ever released by the doom metal legends. Recorded live in London, 2010, Disc 1 features "Forest Of Equilibrium" in its entirety, delivered impeccably by the original lineup of Lee Dorrian on vocals, Garry Jennings and Adam Lehan on guitar, Mark Griffiths on bass and Mike Smail on drums. Disc 2 is a greatest-hits set courtesy of the long-lasting lineup featuring Leo Smee (bass) and Brian Dixon (drums) alongside Dorrian and Jennings.
Commented Dorrian on the band's first-ever live album and the impending final live show: "The release of 'Anniversary' is both exciting and sad for us. Exciting, as it is the first-ever official CATHEDRAL live album, recorded at our 20th-anniversary show on December 3rd in London last year, where we reunited with our original lineup and performed the entirety of or debut album, 'Forest Of Equilibrium', for the first (and last) time ever. Sad, because December the 3rd this year will be the night we perform our last show ever, before calling it a day as a live band. So more than anything, we would like to dedicate 'Anniversary' to everyone who has followed and supported CATHEDRAL over the years. Your support really means and has meant the world to us. Thanks and stay heavy!"
Disc One - "Back to the Forest"
01. Picture Of Beauty And Innocence (0:47)
02. Comiserating The Celebration (of Life) (11:13)
03. Ebony Tears (8:07)
04. Serpent Eve (8:38)
05. Soul Sacrifice (3:18)
06. Funeral Request (10:10)
07. Equilibrium (6:23)
08. Reaching Happiness Touching Pain (10:52)
Disc Two - "Bleak Winter"
01. Funeral Of Dreams (9:17)
02. Enter The Worms (6:46)
03. Upon Azrael's Wings (5:13)
04. Midnight Mountain (4:51)
05. Cosmic Funeral (6:17)
06. Carnival Bizarre (11:06)
07. Night Of The Seagulls (9:06)
08. Corpsecycle (5:51)
09. Ride (6:30)
10. The Last Spire Pt. 1 (Entrance) (3:44)
11. Vampire Sun (4:37)
12. Hopkins (7:53)
Commented Dorrian on the band's first-ever live album and the impending final live show: "The release of 'Anniversary' is both exciting and sad for us. Exciting, as it is the first-ever official CATHEDRAL live album, recorded at our 20th-anniversary show on December 3rd in London last year, where we reunited with our original lineup and performed the entirety of or debut album, 'Forest Of Equilibrium', for the first (and last) time ever. Sad, because December the 3rd this year will be the night we perform our last show ever, before calling it a day as a live band. So more than anything, we would like to dedicate 'Anniversary' to everyone who has followed and supported CATHEDRAL over the years. Your support really means and has meant the world to us. Thanks and stay heavy!"
Disc One - "Back to the Forest"
01. Picture Of Beauty And Innocence (0:47)
02. Comiserating The Celebration (of Life) (11:13)
03. Ebony Tears (8:07)
04. Serpent Eve (8:38)
05. Soul Sacrifice (3:18)
06. Funeral Request (10:10)
07. Equilibrium (6:23)
08. Reaching Happiness Touching Pain (10:52)
Disc Two - "Bleak Winter"
01. Funeral Of Dreams (9:17)
02. Enter The Worms (6:46)
03. Upon Azrael's Wings (5:13)
04. Midnight Mountain (4:51)
05. Cosmic Funeral (6:17)
06. Carnival Bizarre (11:06)
07. Night Of The Seagulls (9:06)
08. Corpsecycle (5:51)
09. Ride (6:30)
10. The Last Spire Pt. 1 (Entrance) (3:44)
11. Vampire Sun (4:37)
12. Hopkins (7:53)
According to The Peterborough Examiner, all charges against former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach were dropped Tuesday morning (October 11) in a Peterborough, Ontario, Canada court at the request of the Crown, citing no reasonable prospect of conviction.
Bach was charged assault, possession of marijuana and mischief on November 15, 2010 after he allegedly bit the hand of a bartender trying to throw him out of Riley's Olde Towne Pub in Peterborough.
A surveillance video posted on TMZ.com showed the singer smashing his wine glass on the ground morning and walking towards the entrance of the establishment after he was asked to the leave the bar due to his allegedly rowdy behavior.
A staff member reported Bach bit him on the hand while he was trying to restrain Bach until police arrived.
Bach was in Peterborough dealing with the estate of his father who passed away.
Bach's lawyer, Jim Hauraney, told The Peterborough Examiner parts of the tape, including the scuffle with Riley's owner Jim Kakouros, were inconclusive.
He said Bach would be making a $700 donation to a city charity to account for the broke wine glass.
Kakouros told The Peterborough Examiner he was never told that the charges would be withdrawn, and learned about the decision via the paper's web site Tuesday afternoon.
"I was more surprised that that's how the process worked," he said.
Bach was charged assault, possession of marijuana and mischief on November 15, 2010 after he allegedly bit the hand of a bartender trying to throw him out of Riley's Olde Towne Pub in Peterborough.
A surveillance video posted on TMZ.com showed the singer smashing his wine glass on the ground morning and walking towards the entrance of the establishment after he was asked to the leave the bar due to his allegedly rowdy behavior.
A staff member reported Bach bit him on the hand while he was trying to restrain Bach until police arrived.
Bach was in Peterborough dealing with the estate of his father who passed away.
Bach's lawyer, Jim Hauraney, told The Peterborough Examiner parts of the tape, including the scuffle with Riley's owner Jim Kakouros, were inconclusive.
He said Bach would be making a $700 donation to a city charity to account for the broke wine glass.
Kakouros told The Peterborough Examiner he was never told that the charges would be withdrawn, and learned about the decision via the paper's web site Tuesday afternoon.
"I was more surprised that that's how the process worked," he said.
Machine Head recently released 'Unto the Locust,' their follow-up to their 2007 album, 'The Blackening.' 'Unto the Locust' invaded the Billboard 200 chart by debuting at No. 22, the band's highest debut to date.
The band has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike for the album's first single, 'Locust' which was released in June. 'Locust' represents the continuous creative progression of Machine Head, who began their career nearly 20 years ago with a more simplistic groove metal sound.
Machine Head are set to headline the 'Eighth Plague' tour with Devildriver, Bring Me the Horizon and Darkest Hour. The tour will feature Machine Head playing some of the biggest and most celebrated venues throughout Europe.
Loudwire recently chatted with Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn, who shared his thoughts on the new album, the history of Machine Head and the bands that inspire him today.
What are your feelings on 'Unto the Locust' and how have your fans been reacting?
We're all just super proud. I mean we worked our butts off. I feel like we delivered something really special — something the metal world needed. We just did a bunch of listening parties in L.A., New York, Chicago and Oakland and got to get some first-hand fan reactions sitting there in the same room as them and talking to them. People seem to be really stoked.
What was the creative process like with this album and did you take a different approach to recording it?
With recording it not really, I mean we went to a new place. We went to Jingletown studios, which is Green Day's place. They just had a cool vibe. I produced it again, got a new engineer. For the most part, we recorded it the way we did the last few. We got a new jam room, which was cool. During 'The Blackening,' we moved jam rooms so we decked it out and made it more like a clubhouse than a jam room. We put up posters like Pink Floyd 'The Wall,' Maiden and Sabbath — more the album art than pictures of band members. It just gave it a vibe and made it a cool place for inspiration.
The single 'Locust' is really interesting; do you have a second single in mind?
You know, that's up to the record company. I mean if they want to put something out then cool. The record just came out … so we're still on kind of this crazy roller-coaster with that.
You guys have been around for nearly 20 years and your music continues to sound really fresh. How do you compare the amount of thought and energy you put into your music now compared to when you were just getting started?
It was a different time. Going back to when we started, we were four long-haired white dudes living in a predominantly black neighborhood. [laughs] We were sharing a rehearsal studio with four punk rock bands. It was a different vibe; it was a different mindset, too. I think that we were still figuring out where we wanted to go back then as well and along the line we found our lane and we've been riding that lane. We've been able to block the outside world out and just continue to do our thing, which is a really good place to be.
What's been the secret for Machine Head's longevity? How do you keep it going?
We don't really know anything else. [laughs] I've been playing in bands since I was 15 years old. I've been on tour since I was 18. I don't really know anything else, so I've never had a Plan B — this kind of had to work. I think when you try and tackle something with that much tenacity you make it work. A lot of people told me how I should get a Plan B, but I don't want a Plan B, this is what I want to do.
A lot of bands that started off doing groove metal and nu-metal have had a difficult time remaining relevant with their new material. What would you say Machine Head has that other bands don't?
I think a lot of those bands just came from a different place. We were coming from thrash, hardcore, punk rock … and rap as well. We're all and continue to be big rap fans. We all grew up on the classic rock and metal as well — Metallica, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath — those bands were always the forefathers to us. I mean, Sabbath grooved hard. They've got some hard grooves. So, I think those are the things we drew from more — that kind of classic element, whereas I think other bands drew from mainly hip-hop or something, which I think kind of limited them and didn't allow them to have as much of a scope or a breath to draw from.
We wanted to be really, really heavy of course, but first and foremost we wanted to push ourselves as musicians and be seen as good musicians. To a large degree, metal in general is viewed down in this kind of "Oh yeah, they're doing that kind of stuff." If you look at all the large award ceremonies here in America or even throughout the world, they don't even view metal as a relevant category. I mean, there's 10 R&B categories for people who don't even write their own music, but the guys who are out here who are truly mastering their craft and working at it hard and living a hard life on the road — that somehow isn't counted and that's lame. It makes us pissed.
Are there any new bands that you're into right now or ones that inspired the sound of 'Unto the Locust?'
I really like All Shall Perish, in particular the last record and the new one, 'This Is Where it Ends.' I just saw them play last night. They did a video shoot and they killed it; it was awesome. I really like Time of Grace — that's Adam D. and Jesse from Killswitch [Engage]. The band that really, really just blew my head off and really got me enjoying new music again. Right before we started writing 'Unto the Locust' [I listened to] Protest the Hero. Their record 'Fortress' just blew my head off – I love it. I was just getting so sick of new bands at that point and they just came along and breathed this fresh air into what I was digging. It kinda carried me through a whole tour cycle [laughs] through the last half of that tour cycle. They're amazing musicians; I've seen them live, they're awesome and funny and they're Canadian. [laughs]
Tell us about the upcoming 'Eighth Plague' tour. You'll be out with Devildriver, Bring Me the Horizon and Darkest Hour. How did this tour come to be?
We put it together. We booked a lot of large venues. We're playing Wembley Arena for the first time over in London. We wanted to get some bands that were heavy, but different realms of heavy. We did a tour about four years ago called 'The Black Crusade' and it was Machine Head, Trivium, Dragonforce, Arch Enemy and Shadows Fall. Trivium brought their own thing, Arch Enemy brought their own thing, Dragonforce brought their own thing and we found that when we're headlining to have these different elements there it made it more of an event, and that's what we wanted. So we took the same mindset for 'The Eighth Plague' tour. It's a great package and we're super stoked, man. It's a really huge moment for the band.
Without Remission, Mastodon has Cracked the Skye to beat the Leviathan and now reign supreme atop Blood Mountain, secure in their role as The Hunter. OK, not really, but what they have done is become one of the most influential metal bands of the decade. After releasing three consecutive concept albums, Mastodon decided to let their hair down and do something they hadn't done in years: write a good old-fashioned, freeform album, no concepts or themes required – but with plenty of killer riffs to spare.
Check out what Troy Sanders had to say about the writing that went into The Hunter (out now) and his advice for young metalheads everywhere.
Mastodon evolves with each new album. How do you feel the band has evolved on The Hunter, and was it a sound the band was consciously trying to capture?
Probably a 50/50 on that. With this record, we did want this to be a bit more immediate than our previous record, Crack the Skye. Half of the songs on that record were seven plus minutes, the longest one was 14 minutes. On The Hunter, we wanted to bark up a riff, get in and get out - a little more to the point this time around. One thing that we never want to do is record the same album twice. We didn't want to make a Crack the Skye Part II, for example. We always want a fresh direction with each album. It keeps things exciting within our band and with the listener as well. We like to surprise ourselves just as much as we like to throw a curveball at the rest of the world.
Probably a 50/50 on that. With this record, we did want this to be a bit more immediate than our previous record, Crack the Skye. Half of the songs on that record were seven plus minutes, the longest one was 14 minutes. On The Hunter, we wanted to bark up a riff, get in and get out - a little more to the point this time around. One thing that we never want to do is record the same album twice. We didn't want to make a Crack the Skye Part II, for example. We always want a fresh direction with each album. It keeps things exciting within our band and with the listener as well. We like to surprise ourselves just as much as we like to throw a curveball at the rest of the world.
But as far as evolving, we're always trying to push ourselves as songwriters. That's what we're always paying attention to. Everything we write is done without any spoken predetermined ideas. We don't come down to the rehearsal space and say, OK, with this next record we should have a bunch of short, sweet songs, maybe two slow songs and maybe one sprawling epic song. Nothing is really spoken of beforehand amongst ourselves. Music comes very authentically and if someone starts jamming on an idea and the rest of us like it, we just build on it and build on it until it becomes a song. It's a very natural progression.
Ryan asks: How would you rank The Hunter alongside your other albums?
It seems cliché, but all bands will say they feel this is their best work to date. Well, we feel that way too, and we feel that way with all of our albums. I think that's a good thing because we started writing this record about nine months ago and put so much time, dedication and energy into creating songs that will hopefully become an album, so you fall in love with it. The four of us couldn't be any happier with this record. It's so refreshing to have this album out now. It breathes a fresh breath back into the band, so we're very excited about it.
It seems cliché, but all bands will say they feel this is their best work to date. Well, we feel that way too, and we feel that way with all of our albums. I think that's a good thing because we started writing this record about nine months ago and put so much time, dedication and energy into creating songs that will hopefully become an album, so you fall in love with it. The four of us couldn't be any happier with this record. It's so refreshing to have this album out now. It breathes a fresh breath back into the band, so we're very excited about it.
Jon asks: What did you mostly listen to during the recording of The Hunter?
All I did was listen to the demos we were doing for The Hunter. I'm not sure about the other guys, but I was completely immersed in the recordings and rough demos that we did. I was just trying to familiarize myself with everything we were creating and seeing where I could potentially put lyrics and vocal passages and melodies, so I listened to nothing but Mastodon for the past nine months.
All I did was listen to the demos we were doing for The Hunter. I'm not sure about the other guys, but I was completely immersed in the recordings and rough demos that we did. I was just trying to familiarize myself with everything we were creating and seeing where I could potentially put lyrics and vocal passages and melodies, so I listened to nothing but Mastodon for the past nine months.
Paul Dedik asks: How does the writing process change from when you are specifically writing for concept albums like Crack the Skye and Leviathan, to albums like The Hunter? Do you find it easier to write because you aren't constricted by an overarching theme?
Excellent question, Paul. Yes, it was much more of a freeform approach because we were not following a linear storyline with this record. With any style of a riff for a song someone came up with, we were completely open and free to explore that and not worry if it was going to fit on this album. This album was going to have no boundaries and no borders and we were going to explore any musical style and any lyrical content we chose that particular day. It was very instinctual and we were able to approach it with a freeform type mentality. But yes, it was a bit easier and I would like to say a little more fun too. It was therapeutic for our band to shed the idea of a concept record this time, which we've done for the past four albums. This is a very new and fun direction and it was very exciting to write and record this album.
Excellent question, Paul. Yes, it was much more of a freeform approach because we were not following a linear storyline with this record. With any style of a riff for a song someone came up with, we were completely open and free to explore that and not worry if it was going to fit on this album. This album was going to have no boundaries and no borders and we were going to explore any musical style and any lyrical content we chose that particular day. It was very instinctual and we were able to approach it with a freeform type mentality. But yes, it was a bit easier and I would like to say a little more fun too. It was therapeutic for our band to shed the idea of a concept record this time, which we've done for the past four albums. This is a very new and fun direction and it was very exciting to write and record this album.
Which songs are you looking forward to playing live the most?
I'm very excited to play "Creature Lives" and "Blasteroid." After touring Crack the Skye for two years, it's obviously a very exciting time for us to be able to take The Hunter material live.
I'm very excited to play "Creature Lives" and "Blasteroid." After touring Crack the Skye for two years, it's obviously a very exciting time for us to be able to take The Hunter material live.
When we last spoke with guitarist Bill Kelliher, he said Metallica was a big influence for him growing up, in addition to influencing his guitar playing now in Mastodon. Who are your main influences?
In the very early days of trying to learn the bass, I completely shut off the rest of the world and dove right into Van Halen records, KISS records and a lot of early Metallica records. That was what developed my ear for picking out the bass guitar and emulating those artists as best I could.
In the very early days of trying to learn the bass, I completely shut off the rest of the world and dove right into Van Halen records, KISS records and a lot of early Metallica records. That was what developed my ear for picking out the bass guitar and emulating those artists as best I could.
Pillow Pants asks: Have you guys been involved with any pranks while on tour?
[Laughs] There's not a whole lot of pranking or buffoonery, but we are four complete goofballs that like to joke around quite a bit, especially touring with our friends in the Dilinger Escape Plan later this month. I could see some funny stuff happening. We're not super well-known for being pranksters, but we definitely like to have a good time all the time.
[Laughs] There's not a whole lot of pranking or buffoonery, but we are four complete goofballs that like to joke around quite a bit, especially touring with our friends in the Dilinger Escape Plan later this month. I could see some funny stuff happening. We're not super well-known for being pranksters, but we definitely like to have a good time all the time.
Ryan asks: If you could have any other band open for you (besides the Dillinger Escape Plan
and Red Fang) what band would it be?
We always produce a short list of bands that we'd like to invite on tour with us when we do headlining tours. Some of the bands we have not yet been able to tour with but would like to in the future would be Monstro, Russian Circles and Ghost.
and Red Fang) what band would it be?
We always produce a short list of bands that we'd like to invite on tour with us when we do headlining tours. Some of the bands we have not yet been able to tour with but would like to in the future would be Monstro, Russian Circles and Ghost.
Auddy says: I loved the fact that you guys made a personal introduction song for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie. Will you be doing any more projects like that in the future?
Yes, we're actually going to be involved in an upcoming Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode. That's always fun to do, it's always a unique opportunity to go in and do music and voice-overs. It's such a fun way to do something that is Mastodon-ish but also unexpected. We're very fortunate that the Adult Swim family has embraced Mastodon and has tried to include us on many things. We hope to have more opportunities like that because it's such a great experience.
Yes, we're actually going to be involved in an upcoming Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode. That's always fun to do, it's always a unique opportunity to go in and do music and voice-overs. It's such a fun way to do something that is Mastodon-ish but also unexpected. We're very fortunate that the Adult Swim family has embraced Mastodon and has tried to include us on many things. We hope to have more opportunities like that because it's such a great experience.
Ryan asks: How long did it take you to grow your epic beard?
Well, I let myself go; I don't really keep up with the times. I just let it take on a life form of its own. It's actually prehistoric mammoth hair that I graft to my scalp and face. It was authentic wooly mammoth hair that I excavated from Siberia many years ago.
Well, I let myself go; I don't really keep up with the times. I just let it take on a life form of its own. It's actually prehistoric mammoth hair that I graft to my scalp and face. It was authentic wooly mammoth hair that I excavated from Siberia many years ago.
Jesus Touched Me asks: What would you say the best Mastodon song is to fight to?
I'm gonna say the new "Blasteroid" song because it's got all sorts of jump on your bed, streak around naked type energy. It's a short and sweet song too. It clocks in at about two and half minutes, so that's a small burst of energy.
I'm gonna say the new "Blasteroid" song because it's got all sorts of jump on your bed, streak around naked type energy. It's a short and sweet song too. It clocks in at about two and half minutes, so that's a small burst of energy.
Michael Miller asks: Do you have any advice for young bassists looking to get into the music industry?
Find friends that you want to create music with and that you get along well with and always create music or art that you want to create. Strive to have a good time doing it, otherwise you're shooting yourself in the foot or running backwards. Find a good group of people to make music with and do it because you love it.
Find friends that you want to create music with and that you get along well with and always create music or art that you want to create. Strive to have a good time doing it, otherwise you're shooting yourself in the foot or running backwards. Find a good group of people to make music with and do it because you love it.
On your upcoming U.S. tour, are there any cities that you're really excited to play? Do you ever get time to go out and explore when you're on the road?
We're in and out of every city so quickly that it doesn't leave a lot of downtime. We're hitting a handful of cities that we're played before. I'm just excited to hit those towns again and play for our fans that we already have there, and always looking forward to getting new fans everywhere we go. Every new place has something good to offer.
We're in and out of every city so quickly that it doesn't leave a lot of downtime. We're hitting a handful of cities that we're played before. I'm just excited to hit those towns again and play for our fans that we already have there, and always looking forward to getting new fans everywhere we go. Every new place has something good to offer.
Do you ever change your set list depending on the city you play?
Not really, we usually find a set list that all four of us are happy with and stick to that. We'll change it around here and there, but we like to stick to the same skeleton of a set list because we really get into a nice groove. Practice makes perfect, that repetition kicks in and we get on our stride right away. We do change up a song here and there. It all depends on the moment, how we feel when we wake up on that particular day.
Not really, we usually find a set list that all four of us are happy with and stick to that. We'll change it around here and there, but we like to stick to the same skeleton of a set list because we really get into a nice groove. Practice makes perfect, that repetition kicks in and we get on our stride right away. We do change up a song here and there. It all depends on the moment, how we feel when we wake up on that particular day.
Opeth recently unleashed their 10th studio album, 'Heritage,' which cracked the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. The disc features first single 'The Devil's Orchard,' a psychedelic track with an even more experimentally trippy video.
'Heritage' is the first studio album in three years for the Swedish band, and although it is not as heavy as other Opeth albums, it still has the lyrical intensity that is prominent with the band's signature sound. Check out Loudwire's review of Heritage here.
Opeth currently are on tour in North America promoting the album and will continue on the road in Europe through the end of this year. Our photo gallery of the band's New York City performance can be seen here.
Loudwire recently had the chance to chat with the band's very witty guitarist Fredrik Akesson, who shared his thoughts about 'Heritage,' the band's current tour and avoiding stinky feet on the road.
Tell me a little about the new album 'Heritage' and how it differs from past albums.
[Frontman] Mikael [Akerfeldt] started writing the album and it started off with a couple of songs, it was more or less a continuation of the last album 'Watershed' and we deleted those two tracks and we just wanted to do something different. We don't want to repeat ourselves. It's like in movies, the second one is usually crap, so we wanted to take a different sound approach, we wanted to do a really honest and free sound. There's no sound replacements on the albums, it's the real deal, no cheating.
Describe 'The Devil's Orchard' musically and lyrically.
Musically, I love it, we usually open up the shows with that song and it sparks fire. It's a very '70s psychedelic, improv-ish song, the first beat reminds me of Rush, that kind of groove. Lyrically, Mikael likes to hit on some serious questions, and the video came out cool it's pretty dark.
What inspired the video for 'The Devil's Orchard'? What made you guys decide to go with an animated video?
I think it's the best Opeth video so far; it was Mikael's idea to have inspiration, in the video, from old horror movies. I'm happy with it, it came out really trippy. It's more porn than horror, definitely.
Do you guys have any other contenders for your next single?
No, we haven't really thought about the next single yet, so I can't really say anything. I could think of one song maybe 'Folklore' could be or 'Slither' but we'll have to wait and see, we haven't decided yet about that.
Mikael decided to approach the record in a new way by doing clean vocals, what was your approach to how you handled the guitar riffs on the record?
Guitar sounding wise, we talked about what kind of riffs we wanted to play on the next pick up, we turned down the distortion a bit, so we get more of a stringy kind of sound instead of hiding behind the wall of distortion. It's more sensitive and delicate and solos, I tried to go for something that suits the song really. I tried to do something that was different for each song and I think every song on the album is very different. It was a challenging album to record actually, it was a really cool vibe in the studio, to see all of that old gear which has been kept the same since 1960, so it was cool to use all of that old, vintage gear.
You're part of all of these other musical projects and you've played for various bands before Opeth. How would you describe your experience with Opeth versus your experience playing with other bands?
Well I had to learn Mikael's style of guitar playing , he has time signature riffs and also a lot of acoustic work in his picking style. I did have to put a lot of time into that. It's easier for me now, to understand Mikael's riffs or ideas, than it was in the beginning. Of course, it was challenging but I like challenges, it's interesting to play with Opeth because it contains many different types of guitar playing as well. In a way, it brings out sides, for me, of guitar playing that I haven't really explored before.
Opeth, along with several Swedish metal bands like In Flames and Arch Enemy are achieving great international success. What do you think it is about the music coming from Sweden that has such a broad appeal?
I don't know, it's weird really, not that many people live in Sweden, only about 9 million. I guess it's because we have a lot of dark hours during the day, in winter time, it could be that people have a lot of spare time and they sit around in the dark and listen to metal.
You've inspired many bands over the years. Are there any current bands out there that inspire you.
Mastodon, I think they're really great. For this album 'Heritage' the title of the album connects with the music itself, it's about musical heritage, I think we were inspired by old Swedish folktales. The main inspiration for the new record was older stuff but I do like to check out the new bands
You guys are pretty much on tour for the rest of this year; do you know of any plans for next year?
I think we're going to have January off, more or less, then we're going to play Japan and a lot of places in Asia, maybe Taiwan, South Korea, stuff like that and after that we're going to do a South American tour and then we will go back to America in April. Then, after that we have the summer festivals in Europe, then probably another European tour, I think from now on we're looking at more or less two years of touring. So it's pretty packed, I mean this started out on the 19th of September and we're heading back home the 22nd of December but it's cool, we've been out for quite some time so it's great to be back touring.
Now with all of this touring, what is one thing you must take on tour with you (no electronics)?
Toothbrush? [Laughs] Flip flops for the bus, you don't want to be in your sneakers all day, you're foot's going to end up like a cheese doodle.
When Warrant takes the stage October 7 at Sunken Garden Theater for the first night of the South Texas Rock Fest, fans will notice a few differences from the last time they played San Antonio.
Including, one humongous life-altering change.
Robert Mason, who sang on the second (self-titled) Lynch Mob album in 1992, has been the voice of Warrant since 2008. The band released its first album with Mason, Rockaholic, in May (view the video for Life's A Song here). That means Mason will be making his San Antonio debut on classics such as Uncle Tom's Cabin, Down Boys and Cherry Pie.
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His presence came about after a reunion with original singer and chief songwriter Jani Lane lasted for only a small handful of shows. But the short-term go-round with Lane was nothing compared to the jolt the metal community received last month -- August 11 -- when Lane was found dead in a California hotel room. He was 47.
Mason is backed by original Warrant mates Erik Turner and Joey Allen (guitars), Jerry Dixon (bass) and Steven Sweet (drums). Will that support transfer to the Sunken Garden Theater faithful?
Dixon, 44, phoned me last week from Los Angeles:
Q: When was the last time Warrant played San Antonio, and do you have any special memories?
A: I think the last time we were out that way was with Whitesnake at Sunken Gardens. It's been awhile, yeah. I'm so bad with dates (laughs). Let's just say it's been a long time since I've rock and rolled. It seems like we're always drinking out there.
Q: Robert has been on vocals for three years roughly, but the South Texas Rock Fest will be the first show in San Antonio since he joined. For those not too familiar with him, what can we expect?
A: He's really, really good. He actually sounds more like the original stuff than the original stuff sounds, if that makes sense. He's just got a true sense of how those songs go. He's really powerful, and we're stoked. He's easy to work with and a great songwriter. Just close your eyes, and rock back to all the hits (laughs).
Q: You wrote or co-wrote nearly all the songs on Rockaholic. Do you have a favorite?
A: I kinda like the oddball songs like Tears in the City and Sunshine. Songs that are off the beaten path from a single. Also Life's A Song, which is the first video and single. We're pretty proud of it. It took us about three years to get it done. It's a long process. Robert lives in Phoenix, so he'd have to fly out here and work in the studio or email back and forth. Just the getting together part of it, and the actual recording, took a couple months.
Q: Anytime an established band makes a change with its original singer -- in rare instances, it's a complete success like AC/DC or Van Halen. More often than not, it's a disaster. Did you guys have any reservations, first when Jaime St. James joined, then when you went through another change with Robert?
A: Yeah, first of all, none of those choices were the band's. It wasn't us kicking anyone out or whatever. To be quite honest, it's a big, giant pain in the ass. You basically take your career and start over. Everything you've done in the past is with the original guy -- all the music, all the videos. It's a nightmare. On the other hand, we're not doing half-ass shows anymore or having singers wasted on stage. It got to be really embarrassing. Three years ago, we said, "That's it. We're done. We're going to find the best guy for this band." And almost like lightning when we said that, we ran into Robert. Honestly, this band, it's never sounded this good -- ever -- I think. It really does sound like the old days. Anyone who saw us in the past in the last 12 years, they probably saw a half-ass show in my opinion. If they see us now, they're going to get what they paid for. At the end of the day, people come to the show, we sign autographs at the merch table, and everyone goes home happy. Honestly, it's not something we deal with a lot. Thank goodness (laughs).
A: Yeah, first of all, none of those choices were the band's. It wasn't us kicking anyone out or whatever. To be quite honest, it's a big, giant pain in the ass. You basically take your career and start over. Everything you've done in the past is with the original guy -- all the music, all the videos. It's a nightmare. On the other hand, we're not doing half-ass shows anymore or having singers wasted on stage. It got to be really embarrassing. Three years ago, we said, "That's it. We're done. We're going to find the best guy for this band." And almost like lightning when we said that, we ran into Robert. Honestly, this band, it's never sounded this good -- ever -- I think. It really does sound like the old days. Anyone who saw us in the past in the last 12 years, they probably saw a half-ass show in my opinion. If they see us now, they're going to get what they paid for. At the end of the day, people come to the show, we sign autographs at the merch table, and everyone goes home happy. Honestly, it's not something we deal with a lot. Thank goodness (laughs).
Q: Likewise, when Joey and Steven were in the band originally, then left in the mid-'90s for a few years before rejoining several years ago -- how much did it mean to have them back in the fold and pretty much making the band whole again?
A: You know, I never really thought about that until we got back in a room and played again together. I was really blown away by the cohesiveness that was really lacking. You can't replace a person's feel. After about 30 seconds of jamming with them, it was like, "Wow, there's that sound!" And I didn't realize it until that second. It's more important than the singer, sometimes. Like, I'll put on a Sebastian Bach record now, and that's him singing, but it doesn't sound like Skid Row. You know, people take the instruments part of it lightly.
Q: Jani's passing hit the metal community hard and stunned a lot of people. When was the last time you had communicated with him?
A: 2008. We flew back to L.A., and he was out of his mind again. And we said, "That's it." That was that. We gave it the high school try and did about 10 shows. He just had a lot of demons. People watch "Celebrity Rehab" and see a Steven Adler-type person or some of those cats on there . . . It's just a really difficult thing to go through.
Q: What part of Jani do you miss the most? Do you have a fondest memory or story you'd like to share?
A: I think overall I'm thankful to have had him in the band. I'm proud of the music we still have and the music we created back then. It's really easy to take a song like Heaven or Cherry Pie for granted. What we did back then was magical, and that part of it I'll always cherish.
Q: How do you think Jani should be remembered by those who only knew of his music?
A: Ohhh . . . do you want the honest answer or the bullshit answer?
I want the honest, whatever-you'd-like-to-say answer.
Let's put it this way. It's not easy dealing with anyone in that state of mind. It's the closest thing to hell that I can imagine -- for his family, daughter, fans, and for himself. It's an utter living nightmare that that stuff brings to people. It's a shame, man. But I don't think it really kicked into him till about 12 years ago. He always held together before that. I guess we all mourn differently. I don't want to cloud anyone's memories whether they know him or don't know him. Being close to the situation, you get mad -- from canceling shows and making you lose your house, going bankrupt. But at the same time, you gotta step back and not take it personal. That's what sex, drugs and rock and roll is all about. It's not fun. Just the way it is.
Q: So they say that musicians should learn to play bass because every band needs a bass player. What made you want to start playing it, and which other bassists did you look up to the most?
A: Actually, I started playing bass for that very reason by default. We had one guy playing drums, another playing guitar, and they were like, "You're playing bass." "OK" (laughs). When I picked it up, I fell in love right there. I grew up with Geezer Butler, Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, John Entwistle. Mainly, I enjoyed the way Geezer Butler played. He didn't overplay.
Q: So how do I get my hands on a bottle of Warrant Red wine? What does it taste like?
A: Ah, the famous Warrant wine, man! (laughs) You can purchase it at warrantrocks.com. We're not allowed to sell alcohol, so that takes you to the wine maker. I'm not a wine person, but from what I'm told, it's the second-biggest wine in the country in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Q: Before I let you go, I have a couple of social media questions from my readers, if you don't mind.
A: Sure.
Q: Nevy from Miami wants to know: Do you feel you failed Jani as a friend?
Q: Nevy from Miami wants to know: Do you feel you failed Jani as a friend?
A: Absolutely not. If I failed, then his daughter failed, and all of his friends failed. I want people to know, too, that in 2008, we had a guy named Bob -- not Bob Forrest from the rehab show that worked with Dr. Drew, but a different Bob -- and we paid him and brought him on the road with us. You think back and say, "What else can you do?" But it's true that someone has to want it. We would remind ourselves, "Why do we have this guy (Bob) with us?" Lane would sneak out of his room in the middle of the night and go to a bar, and dudes were like (to Bob), "Go get him! What are you doing?" And he'd say, "I'm not going to get him. He has to want it." We thought he (Bob) was going to put him (Jani) in lockdown, but it doesn't work like that. So I would say, failing? No. Is there more we could have done? Probably. Did we try? Yes.
Q: David from Iowa asks: Do you feel there's a renewed demand for '80s music?
A: Yeah, I do. The last two years, people have come back to the '80s, you know, and it just shows where we have that enthusiasm. There's not a lot of eras in music that bring you back to a time frame in your life that you relate to. And the '80s and early '90s had such an impact on people's lives. The promoters saw that demand and started booking shows. We made it through the black years (laughs). The '90s, we call them. We came out of the dark side. What we did was very viable and an important part of people's lives.
- WHAT: South Texas Rock Fest
- WHO: (Day 1): Saxon, Warrant, Quiet Riot, and more. (Day 2): UFO, Dio Disciples, Lita Ford, Stephen Pearcy, Pretty Boy Floyd and more
- WHEN: Oct. 7-8
- WHERE: Sunken Garden Theater (3875 N. St. Mary's)
- TICKETS: $35-$250; purchase and details here.
- MORE INFO: www.southtexasrockfest.com
· As most of us know, Peter Criss, founding drummer of Kiss, survived a breast cancer scare four years ago. Thankfully, everyone's favorite "Catman" has been healthy ever since, and working hard to educate men about the importance of early detection.
· He'll be taking part in the 2011 Making Strides 3K walk in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. this Sunday (Oct. 16), and took some time to tell us how he dealt with his diagnosis and how he's helping others stay healthy. Of course, we couldn't resist talking to him about his musical career first:
· So, this is a big thrill for me. 'Hotter than Hell' is the first record I ever owned, at age eight.
· Oh, great record — and I'm glad you called it a record, cause that's what they are, although, it was a strange album, put it that way, but yeah, it was a good album.
· Back then you guys recorded so fast, I'm amazed you can separate one record from the other
· Tell me about it, it was… make a record, then you tour the record, then you write as you're touring, and then when you get off the tour you go into the studio, do another record, go back out with the record on the tour. In our day, that's how it was. The dinosaur days, I call them. But man, I wouldn't give them up for all the tea in China.
· Why is that?
· We really came up the right way, I was watching that 'American Idol' show, with Steven Tyler, and like David Letterman said, you get on there, and you're kind of a star overnight, you really passed up the journey of going up the hill. I was a poor kid in Brooklyn, my dream was to play Madison Square Garden in front of my parents, and now that's happened many many times — thanks to God, cause I'm a major Catholic kid.
· But you had to build to it, nowadays people get right to it
· Oh yeah, our journey was hard, we had to play a lot of dives, we had to go through a lot. In those days that's how you did it, it wasn't some overnight, five million dollar contract — I wish! — but, ehh, that's progress, to a degree.
· Yeah, but they'll be gone again in a few years, your music will still be here.
· Yeah, I believe so too, but I watch it, and I'm a 20th century kid, I (laughs) hate the 21st century. I'm a really old-fashioned kid with the television, I'm a late '50s kid, I grew up with 'Hoppy' and 'The Lone Ranger,' those kind of shows, with morals and integrity and honor, it seems like those are gone. I sound like my Dad! These kids today, I don't believe it, it's very sad. The messages were really pretty cool back then, but I find the stuff today, this reality stuff is appalling.
· I have to help our pop site cover the singing shows from time to time, and I whine and cry like a big baby…
· I don't blame you! Give me a break, I tell my wife, 'how much more can we take of it, and what more do I want to see or hear or know?' Then, they show these people making millions of dollars catching alligators or making moonshine, or I don't know what they're doing. What is this? They don't even have talent — God forgive me, but I don't think so — it's just a regular guy running a pawn shop, but they're huge stars, and they're making millions of dollars.
· It's a strange world.
· To me, in my life now, coming on my next birthday, I look at life in a whole different perspective these last four years…
· You're gonna be 66, right?
· Ohhhhhh, I hate it! (jokingly) We don't even talk about it, ever since I turned sixty. But three is my lucky number, and those are double threes, so I'm expecting a really dynamite year. I feel real positive about a bunch of things coming up for me. I'm not alone, I look at other rock guys, like the Stones and Zeppelin and the Who, just all these people, we're all the same age. So I'm in good company. All the guys my age were around in the great times, when music was changing, when Vietnam was happening, and the British Invasion.
· I read a lot about your love of Gene Krupa and Sinatra, but you loved things like Zeppelin, right?
· I liked it, I got to actually see them the first time they came here and performed at the Fillmore in the village, cause I was a real village kid. I used to hang with my dearest friend, who was the drummer of the New York Dolls, Jerry Nolan. Yes, I liked it, but I dug the Stones more, I was a huge Beatles fan, I loved what they were doing and think they changed the whole sound of music. And the lyrics were just — they were geniuses. As far as I felt, I lived during the Beethoven (era) of rock and roll. Their chords alone, it was brilliant. They were geniuses, they did things nobody dared, the whole world thought they were Gods. I love them the most, they were the favorite. Then I went towards bands like the Animals and the Yardbirds, bands like that I liked.
· So, you've been cancer free for more than three years now, right?
· Four years, and my checkup comes up next week. I'm real excited about it because I feel great, except for the old pains that come from drumming for fifty years. I go to the gym every day, I walk three and a half miles, I work out five days a week, I play down in the studio. My wife had cancer, too. It's an amazing story, if not for her cancer I wouldn't be living. She's feeling good too. So I just feel great and I'm looking forward to going in. They say it's five years and you're out of the water. Personally, my experience is you're never out of the water. Every day I wake up and I get a pain, I think of the big "C" immediately. Because once it's in your body, its evil, and I never thought I'd have that in my body. I even went into therapy over it all, because I just couldn't believe it. You just have that fear, it never goes away. But I'm not worried. Every day above ground, my Dad used to say, is a good day.
· Just so we can help people out, how exactly did you first notice any signs of trouble?
· It was a nodule, like a lump in my nipple and I discovered it when I got back from the gym. Look out for bumps and pain, a kind of pain where you just know — this is a kind of pain I've never had before. I've had cysts and I remember them and I remember the doctor taking them out. This was different, it hurt like hell, it got bigger as I screwed around with it.
· So you realized right away this was something very different?
· I don't know why, of all things, cause men just don't think of breast cancer, we just don't, but I swear, buddy I just knew that breast cancer had hit me for some reason. I think that was my angel speaking, and the red light went on, like, this is something more, Peter, you've got to check this out now. By the grace of God, my wife was going that day for her own cancer problems, and told her doctor about me. She checked me out, and said 'if my husband had that I would send him over to (doctor) Alex Swistel immediately, like now.
· Then what happened?
· So she calls and says, 'I got a V.I.P. here' — sometimes it's nice to be famous, it does open the door, and trust me, I'm a down to earth guy, I don't look at things like that, but boy it was a blessing. I got right in to the waiting room, and I started to get ill because I saw these beautiful women with no hair, wearing these turbans, and you could tell, the look of death was all over this room. There were other men, but they were all there with their wives. I just felt like, 'what the hell am I doing here?,' but thank God. He said, yes there's something there and we should do a biopsy.
· That must have been very scary.
· Some time went by, at first they said it was negative, but then, a few weeks pass and I was healing. Then I got a call on a Saturday morning, you know that 'are you standing or sitting' type phone call? You just know, the bottom of your stomach falls out. He goes, 'I got good news and really bad news. What do you want first?' Well, the bad, of course. 'You've got breast cancer, Peter. You have to come back in now, and I want to remove your nipple and your breast muscle and take your lymph nodes out and make sure we get this son of a bitch immediately, because I can because you came in so soon.' It's a miracle, and that's how it can be treated.
· That's the key, isn't it?
· That is the key, early detection, my friend. The minute you feel something, I don't care if it's under your arm or your leg or your testicles or behind your ear. You must tell someone or go to your doctor immediately. Just sitting around, you won't be here next year. When I went in for surgery, I was a wreck, my blood pressure must have been 300, it wouldn't come down, but after they give you the (drugs), forget about it, you're not on the planet anymore. When I woke up, he was smiling, 'there's no sign of it at all anywhere, I got everything, you're gonna be great, you don't need chemotherapy, you don't need medication.'
· That must have been quite a relief.
· I was still scared. It was painful, and strange to have your nipple removed, but hey, they could have taken them both, whatever they needed to do. After a while, it started feeling better and better. Alex has this spring home near me, we became good friends, as doctor / patient relationships go. After the first year went through, Gigi (Peter's wife) and I sat down, and I asked 'Do you think I should say something, you know before this goes out and another Patrick Swayze or Farrah Fawcett thing goes down. Cause I had a run-in with them before –
· Yeah, with the impersonator, right?
· Yeah, and I sued the 'Star,' and I won, but it was a nightmare cause my mother just passed, I was going through a divorce, it couldn't have been any worse timing. I said, I don't want to go through that, I don't want reporters outside our home. We live a very private life — I'm sort of a recluse, in my own way. So I went to church and prayed on it, and Gigi and I talked about it for hours. She said, 'I think you should do it, you should just say it. Get out on 'Good Morning America' and CNN and the whole nine yards, say you beat it and let men know that they can get it and they can die from it.'
· It was very brave of you to do..
· I'm the tough kid from the streets, and I am a man I feel, but that made me more of a man, to stand up and say this to the world. I mean that; it was for me, the biggest guts I needed to have in any situation. It was pretty heavy to get on TV and talk about it, I couldn't believe I was doing it. But I did it and it felt great, I know I did the right thing, I got a lot of positive feedback from it. I started doing lectures at hospitals and getting more involved. Now, this year I'm doing the 3K again, I'm very excited, hundreds and hundreds of people show up, it's like a cool Woodstock. I feel like Ghandi, all these people around me asking all these questions, these major Kiss fans. Last year was the most spiritual moment I've ever had in my life, with the love that was going around, everybody was on the same page, wanted the same thing — to find a cure and beat this thing.
· That would be nice.
· I don't know a person in the world who doesn't know someone who has cancer, personally. Almost everyone does. My mother died from it, from smoking. I got into it, every October I get my checkup, and Gigi and I put a lot of things aside, and I do interviews and I do radio things, and I do the walk. They tell me they pull in a lot more people than they ever did. Hopefully this year they'll do ever better. Then after October, it's my time again. Trust me, it's very draining. After the walk last year, I was so moved by all the people who told me stories of such horror, of their mom or dad or their kid. My head was spinning when I left. I slept for like three days, just hearing the all the damage done by this disease. It moved me in the way music moved me, or God moves me.
· Have you heard any stories of the positive impact you've had on people?
· I've gotten some calls from doctors, about men who did come in cause they saw me, and they did have it, and they did get it right away, yeah.
· So you're pretty much saving lives!
· (laughs) Yeah! When I say that, it sounds so surreal to me, I don't believe I'm saying that, but I guess that's what it's all about!
· (We'll have more from Peter later, regarding the autobiography he's working on, the prospects of another solo album and more about how he's keeping himself healthy after this big scare. But for now let's stay focused. Please be sure to visit the Making Strides website and consider sponsoring Peter or one of the other walkers.)
"American Capitalist", the third album from Las Vegas, Nevada-based metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, is likely to sell between 85,000 and 90,000 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 October 11 via Prospect Park Records.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's previous CD, "War Is The Answer", opened with 44,000 units back in September 2009 to land at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD followed up FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's 2007 debut, "The Way Of The Fist", which has sold more than 508,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"American Capitalist" was released as a standard CD, and a limited-edition deluxe CD format complete with special packaging plus second disc containing a number of exclusive remixes, including one for "Under And Over It". Meanwhile, the iTunes version carries the bonus track "The Tragic Truth".
"American Capitalist" track listing:
01. American Capitalist
02. Under And Over It
03. The Pride
04. Coming Down
05. Menace
06. Generation Dead
07. Back For More
08. Remember Everything
09. Wicked Ways
10. If I Fall
11. 100 Ways To Hate
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will hit the road for the 48 Hours Festival in Las Vegas on October 15 before kicking off the Share The Welt tour on October 16 in San Francisco.
The tour will be the first for new FIVE FINGER bassist Chris Kael, who replaced Snell earlier this year. Kael has played just a handful of gigs so far with the group but is looking forward to his first full tour: "It's very liberating to kind of free the ties of quote-unquote real life and go up there and, you know, play the role as the new bass player for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, playing in front of thousands upon thousands of people that are into you and you really feel that vibe," he said. "I'm real excited about it, finally glad to be quote-unquote living the dream, and it's a damn good feeling."
Joining FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on the Share The Welt tour will be ALL THAT REMAINS, HATEBREED and REV THEORY.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's previous CD, "War Is The Answer", opened with 44,000 units back in September 2009 to land at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD followed up FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's 2007 debut, "The Way Of The Fist", which has sold more than 508,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"American Capitalist" was released as a standard CD, and a limited-edition deluxe CD format complete with special packaging plus second disc containing a number of exclusive remixes, including one for "Under And Over It". Meanwhile, the iTunes version carries the bonus track "The Tragic Truth".
"American Capitalist" track listing:
01. American Capitalist
02. Under And Over It
03. The Pride
04. Coming Down
05. Menace
06. Generation Dead
07. Back For More
08. Remember Everything
09. Wicked Ways
10. If I Fall
11. 100 Ways To Hate
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will hit the road for the 48 Hours Festival in Las Vegas on October 15 before kicking off the Share The Welt tour on October 16 in San Francisco.
The tour will be the first for new FIVE FINGER bassist Chris Kael, who replaced Snell earlier this year. Kael has played just a handful of gigs so far with the group but is looking forward to his first full tour: "It's very liberating to kind of free the ties of quote-unquote real life and go up there and, you know, play the role as the new bass player for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, playing in front of thousands upon thousands of people that are into you and you really feel that vibe," he said. "I'm real excited about it, finally glad to be quote-unquote living the dream, and it's a damn good feeling."
Joining FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on the Share The Welt tour will be ALL THAT REMAINS, HATEBREED and REV THEORY.
SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan has confirmed that the band has plans to record another studio album.
SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor has been ambivalent about doing a new studio album following the death in May 2010 of the group's bassist, Paul Gray, although Crahan and drummer Joey Jordison have been much more confident about the band recording again.
SLIPKNOT completed a European festival run this past summer, which marked the band's first live gigs since Gray's passing.
Asked by U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine about the band's future plans, Crahan replied, "There's plans [to make another record] but that's a way off. No one will push it, because it's going to be a big one. It'll be closer to 'Iowa', but it'll be sadder and crazier. And really thought provoking, it could even be conceptual."
He continued, "We're still taking some time to reflect on our brother [Gray]. Everybody needs to be collecting thoughts so they can get it out and no one has really had time to collect thoughts yet. But we're the fucking 'KNOT. And when we come out, you'll know your band is done."
Speaking about the prospect of recording a new SLIPKNOT CD, Taylor told Kerrang! magazine in August, "It's still too soon. At least that's how I feel. I'm not ready to make a SLIPKNOT album. I think there will be a day when we do. But for me, doing it now wouldn't make sense.
"You can't do a three-week tour then jump into the studio, especially after something like this. It makes more sense to do a few more tours and reconnect as a band first.
"If we jumped right in, it wouldn't be about the absence. It would be about the rest of us. We were the nine, but there's a piece missing. We should allow people to pay their respects before we come out with new music. We should do this right."
Jordison told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he thinks the band's next album could be its most intense. "We're a family, and losing a family member sucks," he said. "But you can't help that, but you need to move on and I think that what we're gonna do might be the most powerful thing that we've ever created."
SLIPKNOT's last record, "All Hope Is Gone", was released in 2008.
Taylor and Crahan recently confirmed that SLIPKNOT will tour the U.S. sometime next spring.
SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor has been ambivalent about doing a new studio album following the death in May 2010 of the group's bassist, Paul Gray, although Crahan and drummer Joey Jordison have been much more confident about the band recording again.
SLIPKNOT completed a European festival run this past summer, which marked the band's first live gigs since Gray's passing.
Asked by U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine about the band's future plans, Crahan replied, "There's plans [to make another record] but that's a way off. No one will push it, because it's going to be a big one. It'll be closer to 'Iowa', but it'll be sadder and crazier. And really thought provoking, it could even be conceptual."
He continued, "We're still taking some time to reflect on our brother [Gray]. Everybody needs to be collecting thoughts so they can get it out and no one has really had time to collect thoughts yet. But we're the fucking 'KNOT. And when we come out, you'll know your band is done."
Speaking about the prospect of recording a new SLIPKNOT CD, Taylor told Kerrang! magazine in August, "It's still too soon. At least that's how I feel. I'm not ready to make a SLIPKNOT album. I think there will be a day when we do. But for me, doing it now wouldn't make sense.
"You can't do a three-week tour then jump into the studio, especially after something like this. It makes more sense to do a few more tours and reconnect as a band first.
"If we jumped right in, it wouldn't be about the absence. It would be about the rest of us. We were the nine, but there's a piece missing. We should allow people to pay their respects before we come out with new music. We should do this right."
Jordison told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he thinks the band's next album could be its most intense. "We're a family, and losing a family member sucks," he said. "But you can't help that, but you need to move on and I think that what we're gonna do might be the most powerful thing that we've ever created."
SLIPKNOT's last record, "All Hope Is Gone", was released in 2008.
Taylor and Crahan recently confirmed that SLIPKNOT will tour the U.S. sometime next spring.
The cover artwork for "Under The Grey Banner", the new album from Swedish power metallers DRAGONLAND, can be seen below. Due on November 18 via AFM Records, the third part of the "Dragonland Chronicles" trilogy features musical actor Fred Johanson in the role of the antagonist, with all three singers from AMARANTHE — Elize Ryd, Jake E and Andy Solveström — also making appearances.
DRAGONLAND's fifth album was recorded at several different studios, with Jacob Hansen adding his magic touch to the mix at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark. Twelve songs were recorded during the sessions, and the music itself is based on a deep and emotional story, picking up where the band's second album, "Holy War", left off nine years ago.
"Under The Grey Banner" track listing:
01. Ilmarion
02. Shadow Of The Mithril Mountains
03. The Tempest
04. A Thousand Towers White
05. Fire And Brimstone
06. The Black Mare
07. Lady Of Goldenwood
08. Dûrnir's Forge
09. The Trials Of Mount Farnor
10. Throne Of Bones
11. Under The Grey Banner
12. Ivory Shores
"Fire And Brimstone" is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.
The visual artist from million-selling PC game "The Witcher", Damian Bajowski, will provide artwork for the album; not only will he be responsible for the cover, but will also make illustrations for the various locations in the saga.
Commented guitarist Olof Mörck: "To say I am excited about this album is a grave understatement!
"We were more than thrilled when both Damian Bajwoski and Fred Johanson accepted to contribute to this album. To have the album fully illustrated with majestic scenes and vistas from the story, and to have such a powerful and convincing voice in the role of the antagonist will lend a lot of credibility and depth to the final project! Our singer friends from AMARANTHE also appear in minor roles, further developing the universe the story is set in.
"We really feel that our ambition to give our fantasy story a touch of depth, credibility and maturity paid off well! Lending influences from classical mythology, the best fantasy movies, video games and books, we feel that fans of the style who normally finds fantasy power metal to be too over the top and ridiculous could wholeheartedly enjoy this. We also have some further surprises for you before the actual album release, to keep your eyes open and your senses wary!"
DRAGONLAND recently parted ways with guitarist Nicklas Magnusson and bassist Christer Pedersen. Taking over bass duties is Anders Hammer (NIGHTRAGE) and sitting behind the drums is Morten Lowe Sorensen (THE ARCANE ORDER, SUBMISSION, AMARANTHE). Previous drummer Jesse Lindskog will handle second-guitar duties in the future.
DRAGONLAND 2011 is:
Vocals: Jonas Hedigert
Guitars: Olof Mörck
Keyboards: Elias Holmlid
Guitars: Jesse Lindskog
Bass: Anders Hammer
Drums: Morten Lowe Sorensen
DRAGONLAND's fourth album, "Astronomy", was released in November 2006 via Century Media Records.
DRAGONLAND's fifth album was recorded at several different studios, with Jacob Hansen adding his magic touch to the mix at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark. Twelve songs were recorded during the sessions, and the music itself is based on a deep and emotional story, picking up where the band's second album, "Holy War", left off nine years ago.
"Under The Grey Banner" track listing:
01. Ilmarion
02. Shadow Of The Mithril Mountains
03. The Tempest
04. A Thousand Towers White
05. Fire And Brimstone
06. The Black Mare
07. Lady Of Goldenwood
08. Dûrnir's Forge
09. The Trials Of Mount Farnor
10. Throne Of Bones
11. Under The Grey Banner
12. Ivory Shores
"Fire And Brimstone" is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.
The visual artist from million-selling PC game "The Witcher", Damian Bajowski, will provide artwork for the album; not only will he be responsible for the cover, but will also make illustrations for the various locations in the saga.
Commented guitarist Olof Mörck: "To say I am excited about this album is a grave understatement!
"We were more than thrilled when both Damian Bajwoski and Fred Johanson accepted to contribute to this album. To have the album fully illustrated with majestic scenes and vistas from the story, and to have such a powerful and convincing voice in the role of the antagonist will lend a lot of credibility and depth to the final project! Our singer friends from AMARANTHE also appear in minor roles, further developing the universe the story is set in.
"We really feel that our ambition to give our fantasy story a touch of depth, credibility and maturity paid off well! Lending influences from classical mythology, the best fantasy movies, video games and books, we feel that fans of the style who normally finds fantasy power metal to be too over the top and ridiculous could wholeheartedly enjoy this. We also have some further surprises for you before the actual album release, to keep your eyes open and your senses wary!"
DRAGONLAND recently parted ways with guitarist Nicklas Magnusson and bassist Christer Pedersen. Taking over bass duties is Anders Hammer (NIGHTRAGE) and sitting behind the drums is Morten Lowe Sorensen (THE ARCANE ORDER, SUBMISSION, AMARANTHE). Previous drummer Jesse Lindskog will handle second-guitar duties in the future.
DRAGONLAND 2011 is:
Vocals: Jonas Hedigert
Guitars: Olof Mörck
Keyboards: Elias Holmlid
Guitars: Jesse Lindskog
Bass: Anders Hammer
Drums: Morten Lowe Sorensen
DRAGONLAND's fourth album, "Astronomy", was released in November 2006 via Century Media Records.
DISTURBED guitarist Dan Donegan spoke to Billboard.com about the open-ended hiatus that the band announced while it was headlining this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. "We just decided not to have a game plan — that's the first time in our career we've done that," Donegan explained. "We've always said, 'After this tour, let's do this...,' always something planning ahead. This is just the first time we're not having those discussions. We said, 'Let's finish this tour and go home.' We'll see where that takes us."
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman recently said that all four members of the group have other creative endeavors they'd like to pursue, with both he and Donegan interested in producing other acts. The guitarist, however, told Billboard.com, "We're not stopping to pursue other things — at least I'm not. We're kind of looking to just go away for a bit, give the fans a little bit of a break, give ourselves a bit of a break. There's not some great game plan or design to all of this."
As to when the group will come together again, Donegan told Billboard.com, "I don't know if it will be six months or six years or whatever. I really don't. It's kind of scary to me to think, 'What if we don't return?' That part of it bothers me."
He added, "My hopes are if we're away from it long enough we're gonna want it that much more. I like to think that as much as we've done together and how good the chemistry has been in the band, there's going to come a time — hopefully sooner than later — that we're gonna turn around and say, 'Man, I fuckin' miss this. I want to get back there.' I'll be surprised if that doesn't happen, really."
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".
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman recently said that all four members of the group have other creative endeavors they'd like to pursue, with both he and Donegan interested in producing other acts. The guitarist, however, told Billboard.com, "We're not stopping to pursue other things — at least I'm not. We're kind of looking to just go away for a bit, give the fans a little bit of a break, give ourselves a bit of a break. There's not some great game plan or design to all of this."
As to when the group will come together again, Donegan told Billboard.com, "I don't know if it will be six months or six years or whatever. I really don't. It's kind of scary to me to think, 'What if we don't return?' That part of it bothers me."
He added, "My hopes are if we're away from it long enough we're gonna want it that much more. I like to think that as much as we've done together and how good the chemistry has been in the band, there's going to come a time — hopefully sooner than later — that we're gonna turn around and say, 'Man, I fuckin' miss this. I want to get back there.' I'll be surprised if that doesn't happen, really."
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".
GWAR will be the musical guest on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Thursday, October 27. The show airs on NBC at 12:30 ET/PT and 11:30 CT.
"We are overjoyed that Jimmy had the good sense to invite us back as we had planned to return anyway," stated GWAR lead singer Oderus Urungus. "Now Fallon can do the show with his head still attached to his body."
After successfully decimating Europe this summer with multiple festival appearances and headlining shows, your lords and masters the almighty GWAR have awoken from their arctic slumber to once again create utter devastation in North America this fall. The tour kicks off October 18 at in Charlotte, North Carolina and will wrap on November 27 in New Haven, Connecticut. Providing direct support on the tour will be Buffalo, New York's EVERY TIME I DIE. GHOUL will open the first half of the tour and WARBEAST will be opening the second half.
Bassist Casey Orr (a.k.a. Beefcake The Mighty) recently announced his departure from GWAR. He explained in a statement that he could "simply . . . no longer devote the time and effort required to maintain my position within the group. I have so many projects going on now in Texas, including a new RIGOR MORTIS record in the works, that it just wouldn't be fair to everyone involved for me to stay and not be able to give 100%."
Video footage of GWAR's performance at this year's edition of Copenhell festival in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 18, 2011 can be seen below.
Metal Blade Records recently released the vinyl versions of GWAR's "Lust and Space" and "Bloody Pit of Horror" albums.
GWAR's new album, "Bloody Pit Of Horror", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Lust In Space", opened with 5,000 units to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"We are overjoyed that Jimmy had the good sense to invite us back as we had planned to return anyway," stated GWAR lead singer Oderus Urungus. "Now Fallon can do the show with his head still attached to his body."
After successfully decimating Europe this summer with multiple festival appearances and headlining shows, your lords and masters the almighty GWAR have awoken from their arctic slumber to once again create utter devastation in North America this fall. The tour kicks off October 18 at in Charlotte, North Carolina and will wrap on November 27 in New Haven, Connecticut. Providing direct support on the tour will be Buffalo, New York's EVERY TIME I DIE. GHOUL will open the first half of the tour and WARBEAST will be opening the second half.
Bassist Casey Orr (a.k.a. Beefcake The Mighty) recently announced his departure from GWAR. He explained in a statement that he could "simply . . . no longer devote the time and effort required to maintain my position within the group. I have so many projects going on now in Texas, including a new RIGOR MORTIS record in the works, that it just wouldn't be fair to everyone involved for me to stay and not be able to give 100%."
Video footage of GWAR's performance at this year's edition of Copenhell festival in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 18, 2011 can be seen below.
Metal Blade Records recently released the vinyl versions of GWAR's "Lust and Space" and "Bloody Pit of Horror" albums.
GWAR's new album, "Bloody Pit Of Horror", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Lust In Space", opened with 5,000 units to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.
ALTER BRIDGE will release a special edition of its latest album, AB III", on October 25 (October 17 in Europe). The special edition will include three additional songs — "Zero", "Home" and "Never Born To Follow" — making a total of 17 tracks on the album, as well as an extraordinary hour-long DVD documentary called "One By One".
"One By One" is a documentary by award-winning filmmaker and "Live From Amsterdam" director Daniel E. Catullo III (RUSH, CREED, GODSMACK, SMASHING PUMPKINS, CHICKENFOOT) , intended to be an intimate behind-the-scenes look into the rise of ALTER BRIDGE. Featuring brand new interviews and concert footage shot all over the world, plus special interviews with Slash, ALTER BRIDGE's management team, and dozens of fans from every corner of the globe, viewers will learn about the sacrifices made by the band to get where they are today and why they continue to do what they do so passionately.
"AB III.5" CD/DVD special edition track listing:
01. Slip To The Void
02. Isolation
03. Ghost Of Days Gone By
04. All Hope Is Gone
05. Still Remains
06. Make It Right
07. Wonderful Life
08. I Know It Hurts
09. Show Me A Sign
10. Fallout
11. Breathe Again
12. Couer d'Alene
13. Life Must Go On
14. Words Darker Than Their Wings
15. Zero (extra track)
16. Home (extra track)
17. Never Born To Follow (extra track)
Bonus DVD:
"One By One" – a full-length documentary on the story of ALTER BRIDGE.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips has confirmed that the band will take 2012 off so that the instrumental members of ALTER BRIDGE — Phillips, bassist Brian Marshall and guitarist Mark Tremonti — can return to CREED. Meanwhile, ALTER BRIDGE singer Myles Kennedy will get back to work with guitar legend Slash on his second solo album, on which Kennedy will do all the vocals.
Phillips told the Fay Observer, "We've got a few more weeks on this tour, then we'll recharge for bit before heading to Europe for some shows . . . Myles is working with Slash next year, while we'll be working with CREED next year. Then we'll have some tours, and then come back as ALTER BRIDGE. Look to 2013 for new material."
ALTER BRIDGE has been on the road since last year in support of its third album, "AB III".
CREED will record a new album and tour next year, while singer Scott Stapp has also been working on a new solo disc.
Kennedy contributed vocals to two songs on Slash's 2010 solo debut and was the frontman for the ex-GUNS N' ROSES axeman's touring band. He will now sing all the songs on Slash's sophomore set.
"One By One" is a documentary by award-winning filmmaker and "Live From Amsterdam" director Daniel E. Catullo III (RUSH, CREED, GODSMACK, SMASHING PUMPKINS, CHICKENFOOT) , intended to be an intimate behind-the-scenes look into the rise of ALTER BRIDGE. Featuring brand new interviews and concert footage shot all over the world, plus special interviews with Slash, ALTER BRIDGE's management team, and dozens of fans from every corner of the globe, viewers will learn about the sacrifices made by the band to get where they are today and why they continue to do what they do so passionately.
"AB III.5" CD/DVD special edition track listing:
01. Slip To The Void
02. Isolation
03. Ghost Of Days Gone By
04. All Hope Is Gone
05. Still Remains
06. Make It Right
07. Wonderful Life
08. I Know It Hurts
09. Show Me A Sign
10. Fallout
11. Breathe Again
12. Couer d'Alene
13. Life Must Go On
14. Words Darker Than Their Wings
15. Zero (extra track)
16. Home (extra track)
17. Never Born To Follow (extra track)
Bonus DVD:
"One By One" – a full-length documentary on the story of ALTER BRIDGE.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips has confirmed that the band will take 2012 off so that the instrumental members of ALTER BRIDGE — Phillips, bassist Brian Marshall and guitarist Mark Tremonti — can return to CREED. Meanwhile, ALTER BRIDGE singer Myles Kennedy will get back to work with guitar legend Slash on his second solo album, on which Kennedy will do all the vocals.
Phillips told the Fay Observer, "We've got a few more weeks on this tour, then we'll recharge for bit before heading to Europe for some shows . . . Myles is working with Slash next year, while we'll be working with CREED next year. Then we'll have some tours, and then come back as ALTER BRIDGE. Look to 2013 for new material."
ALTER BRIDGE has been on the road since last year in support of its third album, "AB III".
CREED will record a new album and tour next year, while singer Scott Stapp has also been working on a new solo disc.
Kennedy contributed vocals to two songs on Slash's 2010 solo debut and was the frontman for the ex-GUNS N' ROSES axeman's touring band. He will now sing all the songs on Slash's sophomore set.
KILL RITUAL, the new band featuring former members of IMAGIKA, DARK ANGEL and ELDRITCH, has finished mixing its debut album, "The Serpentine Ritual", at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's's Sonic Train Studio in Varberg, Sweden. La Rocque also plays a guest guitar solo on the track "Coat Of Blood". Guitarist Steve Rice engineered the CD, which was tracked at Fang Studios in San Mateo, California and Fossil Studios in San Jose, California.
According to a press release, "The Serpentine Ritual" "finds KILL RITUAL unleashing 10 tracks of straight-up metal that is both modern and classic while retaining the legacy of their past bands."
"The Serpentine Ritual" track listing:
01. The Serpentine Ritual
02. Torn Down
03. Time To Kill
04. Ambush
05. Old School Thrasher
06. Coat Of Blood
07. Cold Hard Floor
08. Law Of The Land
09. The Day The World Dies
10. Prisoner Of The Flesh
KILL RITUAL is looking for a suitable label to release "Serpentine Rituals". Interested parties can contact the band at killritualmetal@gmail.com.
Formed in late 2010 by former IMAGIKA lead guitarist Steven Rice and drummer Wayne De Vecchi, KILL RITUAL is completed by former ELDRITCH guitarist Roberto Proietti, former DARK ANGEL bassist Danyael Williams and Bay Area vocalist Josh Gibson.
Commented Steven: "After the demise of IMAGIKA, Wayne and I decided to form a new band that would bring life to the music we had been working on after IMAGIKA called it a day. We had a goal in mind of writing music that reflected our influences from thrash, classic, progressive, power, whatever-kicks-ass metal and this required bringing in experienced players that have been there and done that. We were lucky enough to come in contact with Roberto and Danyael, who had the kind of pedigree and experience we were definitely looking for.
"Having both been in bands that have released numerous albums worldwide and toured extensively, they are a perfect fit for this new band. The missing element was, of course, vocalist Josh, who came into the band with the work ethic, experience and attitude that is essential as a vocalist to help the songs take on a life of their own. His unique and identifiable vocal style is the change we needed from our past projects as we definitely had the idea of KILL RITUAL taking a new direction from our collective past bands and I think we have achieved that. I mean, what's the point of rehashing what you've already done? I feel the four rough demo tracks [we have released] show this and are only a hint of what's to come."
According to a press release, "The Serpentine Ritual" "finds KILL RITUAL unleashing 10 tracks of straight-up metal that is both modern and classic while retaining the legacy of their past bands."
"The Serpentine Ritual" track listing:
01. The Serpentine Ritual
02. Torn Down
03. Time To Kill
04. Ambush
05. Old School Thrasher
06. Coat Of Blood
07. Cold Hard Floor
08. Law Of The Land
09. The Day The World Dies
10. Prisoner Of The Flesh
KILL RITUAL is looking for a suitable label to release "Serpentine Rituals". Interested parties can contact the band at killritualmetal@gmail.com.
Formed in late 2010 by former IMAGIKA lead guitarist Steven Rice and drummer Wayne De Vecchi, KILL RITUAL is completed by former ELDRITCH guitarist Roberto Proietti, former DARK ANGEL bassist Danyael Williams and Bay Area vocalist Josh Gibson.
Commented Steven: "After the demise of IMAGIKA, Wayne and I decided to form a new band that would bring life to the music we had been working on after IMAGIKA called it a day. We had a goal in mind of writing music that reflected our influences from thrash, classic, progressive, power, whatever-kicks-ass metal and this required bringing in experienced players that have been there and done that. We were lucky enough to come in contact with Roberto and Danyael, who had the kind of pedigree and experience we were definitely looking for.
"Having both been in bands that have released numerous albums worldwide and toured extensively, they are a perfect fit for this new band. The missing element was, of course, vocalist Josh, who came into the band with the work ethic, experience and attitude that is essential as a vocalist to help the songs take on a life of their own. His unique and identifiable vocal style is the change we needed from our past projects as we definitely had the idea of KILL RITUAL taking a new direction from our collective past bands and I think we have achieved that. I mean, what's the point of rehashing what you've already done? I feel the four rough demo tracks [we have released] show this and are only a hint of what's to come."
KILL RITUAL is:
Josh Gibson - Vocals
Steven Rice - Lead Guitar
Roberto Proietti - Guitar
Wayne De Vecchi - Drums
Danyael Williams – Bass
Josh Gibson - Vocals
Steven Rice - Lead Guitar
Roberto Proietti - Guitar
Wayne De Vecchi - Drums
Danyael Williams – Bass
t would be something of an understatement to say that the last twelve months has been tough for Ohio's Chimaira. After scoring a US Top 30 hit with The Infection in early 2009, in late 2010 long-serving bassist Jim LaMarca left the band, drummer Andols Herrick was apparently dismissed or resigned a short time later and following the recording of The Age of Hell is was announced that keyboards player Chris Spicuzza had also departed the line-up. Indeed, the album itself was recorded entirely by vocalist Mark Hunter and guitarist Rob Arnold, with producer Ben Siegel on drums. It must have left fans wondering what was to become of a band that had come so close to a true breakthrough. The album, released a few weeks ago to wide acclaim, including a glowing review on this very site, makes it pretty clear they aren't about to give up and die. Just announced on the line-up for next year's Soundwave Festival and with a new record label behind them, Mark Hunter talks to Loud Online.
Q: The Age of Hell must almost seem like the story of the last year for Chimaira.
A: Yeah, or our whole career! (laughs).
Q: Really, half the band has changed in the past twelve months.
A: It's a pretty difficult time for all of us. It's just one of those things. Some people wanna get married, some people don't wanna deal with the stress of touring anymore and some people just wanna move on with their lives, you know. And as difficult as that is, my heart is still 100 per cent into it and as difficult as it was to enjoy... the misery? The challenge! I enjoyed the challenge.
Q: It seems like that's all been chanelled into an extremely heavy and aggressive album.
A: Exactly. That's all you can do. When you've met with adversity, we could have sat there and said, "Well, what the hell are we gonna do?" Or do what we always do, and that's write great music and get together and hammer it out and channel all that emotion through the music and honour what those guys helped bring into the music as well, and make sure it's worthy of being called Chimaira.
Q: Does it feel a lot more comfortable having a single label behind you once again?
A: Yeah. It's definitely good to have record labels, and I have a lot of appreciation to be able to keep doing this. It helps to pay for things like this: the opportunity for me to talk to somebody in Australia. That's a big deal.
Q: The album is quite surprising considering what the band was going through at the time.
A: Well it's a testament to the listener that no matter how shitty things are, you can go forward. You can create your own roadshow. And if you want it bad enough, you'll get it. So I mean we wanted to make the best album we could, we wanted to make it worthy of the name Chimaira and everything that happened sucks but you gotta move forward.
Q: Chimaira seems to be a band that's always moving forward in any case. Comparing the first couple of albums to the most recent ones, there is definitely a lot of progression there.
A: I think a lot of it comes from playing every night and touring and life experience. I think that we've always been one to put our soul into the music and our soul into the live performance. We don't ever half-ass it. And we might disagree on the bus and have some tiffs and have some bullshit going on, but all that stuff is a distraction. Our eyes are always on the prize of making a great album, play the best concert you can, and the fans will appreciate that. That's it.
Q: And just how are the new guys (Emil Werstler - bass, Sean Zatorsky - keys, Austin D'Amond - drums) working into the band?
A: Excellent. There's always going to be a bit of energy to have new faces around. Life is just a series of relationships you know. Male or female you get together, you've broken up, you get a new lover and whoa! this is new, this is exciting, I've never experienced this before. There's so many pros to bringing in new people and to us it was important that we brought in guys that were our friends. You gotta live with these people for over a year-and-a-half, so that can be difficult.
Q: You said earlier that your career could be called the age of Hell, but what would you say would be a clear highlight that stands out for you?
A: To be honest, we have accomplished every goal we've ever set out for. To look back on that is truly mind-blowing. We have played with every single band we grew up listening to, with the exception of maybe a few that weren't around anymore. Sharing the stage with Metallica, Maiden, Anthrax, Megadeth... Every band we grew up with. Sabbath, Ozzy, Sabbath with Dio, Sabbath with Ozzy. I've seen Robert Plant walking in backstage. I've lived the dream you know! Lived the dream and got to see the world.
Q: So is there a goal that Chimaira hasn't yet acheived?
A: Maybe make money from it! (laughs) Maybe make a living? To be honest with you, I don't know. I just think to maintain a loyal fanbase and have it increase slow and steady is good for us. The ability to be able to travel and tour and play and create music... to me, like I said, everything else is a distraction and/or icing on the cake. So hey if Metallica calls and says, "Hey, we wanna take you out", I tell you what, I'll be jumping up and down and crying and whatever else emotion you wanna put in. But other than that I'm not gonna be too impressed (laughs).
Q: Do you hear from fans in places of the world you haven't yet played, and where would you like to take Chimaira that you haven't been yet?
A: Oh I was just thinking about this the other day. It's kind of a long list, let's go for it: India, all of Asia, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, South America... there's still a lot of territory we haven't hit yet. South Africa. I love playing the States and Europe, but it seems to be that's where you go the most, so if we're gonna go to Europe again, let's go to some places we haven't been to. Maybe Croatia... anywhere we haven't been, I guess.
Q: And you would have to notice now with the Internet that there are people catching up to your music who would have never had access to it before.
A: That's correct. Exactly. We're seeing more and more folks from South America demanding we come there. I can't post anything without somebody saying, "Come to Venezuela!" "Come to Argentina!" We hear that loud and clear, and we'll get there. I'll tell you one thing too, Australia has always been, since the beginning, big supporters of our band and there is never going to be a moment where you have to twist my arm to go there.
Q: Well I think I can guess when you'll be down here next. What have the tours been like when you've been here before?
A: Really fun. The first time we came down we were with In Flames, supporting them in 2004, and it was just awesome. We got a chance to see all the sights. Then we came with Korn, and that was just huge! We got to play really cool, big shows in front of thousands of kids. And then we came on our own and headlined, and that was the first time. We had a really, really good time doing that, and our fans were so manic. The first show in... Oh man, they're gonna kill me - I think it was Perth! I just remember them being on the stage and it was just a real hardcore vibe. Manic. That means the world to us. There's nothing worse than going and playing in front of crowds that, yeah they're there to see you, but they stand there like they're watching... I don't know, not a heavy metal band! (laughs)
Q: What music are you listening to at the moment?
A: I'm listening to a lot of weird shit, honestly. I listened to the new Machine Head today. I just came out here today. I listened to the new Mastodon, so I try to keep up with our peers and hear what they're up to. But I'm more into the more instrumental, beat-driven, some weird dark jazz. It's been like I've fallen in love with music and with books these days. I just kinda go through cycles. We had just finished the album and that kinda drained me. When we go back out on tour, that's when I listen to a lot of music and catch up.
Q: When does the touring cycle begin?
A: Two weeks, and we'll be out for nine weeks in the States. So pretty much the rest of the year and we'll have January off and then we may or may not be coming to Australia! (laughs)
Q: You must be really ready to get back out on the road, having been cooped up for so long.
A: Yes, exactly. Been home for a year and kinda being domestic and all of that... it's nice, lemme tell you. This is the first summer I've had off in years. Being able to go to the beach with my girlfriend... well, I'm not complaining. But also, I've gotta go put more steaks in the fridge so it's time to go to work.
A: Yeah, or our whole career! (laughs).
Q: Really, half the band has changed in the past twelve months.
A: It's a pretty difficult time for all of us. It's just one of those things. Some people wanna get married, some people don't wanna deal with the stress of touring anymore and some people just wanna move on with their lives, you know. And as difficult as that is, my heart is still 100 per cent into it and as difficult as it was to enjoy... the misery? The challenge! I enjoyed the challenge.
Q: It seems like that's all been chanelled into an extremely heavy and aggressive album.
A: Exactly. That's all you can do. When you've met with adversity, we could have sat there and said, "Well, what the hell are we gonna do?" Or do what we always do, and that's write great music and get together and hammer it out and channel all that emotion through the music and honour what those guys helped bring into the music as well, and make sure it's worthy of being called Chimaira.
Q: Does it feel a lot more comfortable having a single label behind you once again?
A: Yeah. It's definitely good to have record labels, and I have a lot of appreciation to be able to keep doing this. It helps to pay for things like this: the opportunity for me to talk to somebody in Australia. That's a big deal.
Q: The album is quite surprising considering what the band was going through at the time.
A: Well it's a testament to the listener that no matter how shitty things are, you can go forward. You can create your own roadshow. And if you want it bad enough, you'll get it. So I mean we wanted to make the best album we could, we wanted to make it worthy of the name Chimaira and everything that happened sucks but you gotta move forward.
Q: Chimaira seems to be a band that's always moving forward in any case. Comparing the first couple of albums to the most recent ones, there is definitely a lot of progression there.
A: I think a lot of it comes from playing every night and touring and life experience. I think that we've always been one to put our soul into the music and our soul into the live performance. We don't ever half-ass it. And we might disagree on the bus and have some tiffs and have some bullshit going on, but all that stuff is a distraction. Our eyes are always on the prize of making a great album, play the best concert you can, and the fans will appreciate that. That's it.
Q: And just how are the new guys (Emil Werstler - bass, Sean Zatorsky - keys, Austin D'Amond - drums) working into the band?
A: Excellent. There's always going to be a bit of energy to have new faces around. Life is just a series of relationships you know. Male or female you get together, you've broken up, you get a new lover and whoa! this is new, this is exciting, I've never experienced this before. There's so many pros to bringing in new people and to us it was important that we brought in guys that were our friends. You gotta live with these people for over a year-and-a-half, so that can be difficult.
Q: You said earlier that your career could be called the age of Hell, but what would you say would be a clear highlight that stands out for you?
A: To be honest, we have accomplished every goal we've ever set out for. To look back on that is truly mind-blowing. We have played with every single band we grew up listening to, with the exception of maybe a few that weren't around anymore. Sharing the stage with Metallica, Maiden, Anthrax, Megadeth... Every band we grew up with. Sabbath, Ozzy, Sabbath with Dio, Sabbath with Ozzy. I've seen Robert Plant walking in backstage. I've lived the dream you know! Lived the dream and got to see the world.
Q: So is there a goal that Chimaira hasn't yet acheived?
A: Maybe make money from it! (laughs) Maybe make a living? To be honest with you, I don't know. I just think to maintain a loyal fanbase and have it increase slow and steady is good for us. The ability to be able to travel and tour and play and create music... to me, like I said, everything else is a distraction and/or icing on the cake. So hey if Metallica calls and says, "Hey, we wanna take you out", I tell you what, I'll be jumping up and down and crying and whatever else emotion you wanna put in. But other than that I'm not gonna be too impressed (laughs).
Q: Do you hear from fans in places of the world you haven't yet played, and where would you like to take Chimaira that you haven't been yet?
A: Oh I was just thinking about this the other day. It's kind of a long list, let's go for it: India, all of Asia, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, South America... there's still a lot of territory we haven't hit yet. South Africa. I love playing the States and Europe, but it seems to be that's where you go the most, so if we're gonna go to Europe again, let's go to some places we haven't been to. Maybe Croatia... anywhere we haven't been, I guess.
Q: And you would have to notice now with the Internet that there are people catching up to your music who would have never had access to it before.
A: That's correct. Exactly. We're seeing more and more folks from South America demanding we come there. I can't post anything without somebody saying, "Come to Venezuela!" "Come to Argentina!" We hear that loud and clear, and we'll get there. I'll tell you one thing too, Australia has always been, since the beginning, big supporters of our band and there is never going to be a moment where you have to twist my arm to go there.
Q: Well I think I can guess when you'll be down here next. What have the tours been like when you've been here before?
A: Really fun. The first time we came down we were with In Flames, supporting them in 2004, and it was just awesome. We got a chance to see all the sights. Then we came with Korn, and that was just huge! We got to play really cool, big shows in front of thousands of kids. And then we came on our own and headlined, and that was the first time. We had a really, really good time doing that, and our fans were so manic. The first show in... Oh man, they're gonna kill me - I think it was Perth! I just remember them being on the stage and it was just a real hardcore vibe. Manic. That means the world to us. There's nothing worse than going and playing in front of crowds that, yeah they're there to see you, but they stand there like they're watching... I don't know, not a heavy metal band! (laughs)
Q: What music are you listening to at the moment?
A: I'm listening to a lot of weird shit, honestly. I listened to the new Machine Head today. I just came out here today. I listened to the new Mastodon, so I try to keep up with our peers and hear what they're up to. But I'm more into the more instrumental, beat-driven, some weird dark jazz. It's been like I've fallen in love with music and with books these days. I just kinda go through cycles. We had just finished the album and that kinda drained me. When we go back out on tour, that's when I listen to a lot of music and catch up.
Q: When does the touring cycle begin?
A: Two weeks, and we'll be out for nine weeks in the States. So pretty much the rest of the year and we'll have January off and then we may or may not be coming to Australia! (laughs)
Q: You must be really ready to get back out on the road, having been cooped up for so long.
A: Yes, exactly. Been home for a year and kinda being domestic and all of that... it's nice, lemme tell you. This is the first summer I've had off in years. Being able to go to the beach with my girlfriend... well, I'm not complaining. But also, I've gotta go put more steaks in the fridge so it's time to go to work.
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