The funeral for Chicago blues great Hubert Sumlin, the longtime guitar player for Howlin' Wolf who died Sunday at age 80, will be paid for by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Sumlin's partner, Toni Ann, posted the news online. "God bless the Rolling Stones," she wrote.
The Stones have long acknowledged their debt to Sumlin, who was ranked at number 43 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists list.
Richards played on Sumlin's 2006 album, About Them Shoes. "Hubert was an incisive yet delicate blues player," Jagger said today, "a wonderful foil for Howlin' Wolf's growling vocal style . . . He was an inspiration to us all."
Sumlin will be buried in a private service in Homewood, Ill., on December 13th. A public viewing will be held on December 11th and a religious service occurs the following day at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, N.J.
When Rod Stewart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1994 he was unable to make the event. An earthquake had just hit Los Angeles hard and he didn't want to leave his children. Stewart pledges to make up for that next year by heading to Cleveland to reunite with the Faces, who will be inducted next year – even if he's not exactly seeing eye-to-eye with his former keyboardist Ian McLagan.
Tell me your first reaction to the news.
I was absolutely over the moon, as one should be. I never thought that would happen. I was a little disappointed with Ian McLagan's remarks about how the two bands shouldn't be lumped in together. I think that was a little out of order. I think Mac should think himself lucky that he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know that Woody [Ronnie Wood] and I talked about it and we're over the moon. I'm in as a solo artist and now as a group member, and he being a Stone and a Face. I'll knock him into shape when I see him, McLagan. It's great. It's wonderful. Hopefully the band is going to get together. I said that I'd do it if we can get the rest of the band together. I was with Ronnie a couple of weeks ago. He came up to Las Vegas with me and he said, "I'd love to do it."
I was absolutely over the moon, as one should be. I never thought that would happen. I was a little disappointed with Ian McLagan's remarks about how the two bands shouldn't be lumped in together. I think that was a little out of order. I think Mac should think himself lucky that he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know that Woody [Ronnie Wood] and I talked about it and we're over the moon. I'm in as a solo artist and now as a group member, and he being a Stone and a Face. I'll knock him into shape when I see him, McLagan. It's great. It's wonderful. Hopefully the band is going to get together. I said that I'd do it if we can get the rest of the band together. I was with Ronnie a couple of weeks ago. He came up to Las Vegas with me and he said, "I'd love to do it."
The Faces have always been a very under-appreciated group, so it's nice they get this spotlight on them.
Yeah. We're sort of partly to blame for that. We were just always bloody drunk, to be honest with you. It was a very fleeting existence. It was all over in four years, five at the most. It would be nice to get the appreciation.
Yeah. We're sort of partly to blame for that. We were just always bloody drunk, to be honest with you. It was a very fleeting existence. It was all over in four years, five at the most. It would be nice to get the appreciation.
I can understand why both groups are getting in at the same time. The Small Faces and the Faces are basically the same band with a different singer.
Yes, it was. I can give you a rundown of history. Steve Marriott left to chase a solo career. Ronnie and I were both out of work. Was I? Yeah, Ronnie had been fired by Jeff Beck. Once he left, Jeff knew that I wasn't happy. I decided to leave anyway because I missed my mate. The Faces got together in the Rolling Stones' rehearsal room in the East End of London and they were all playing away. Ronnie Lane was singing, but it wasn't very powerful and they decided that they wanted a new singer. Kenny Jones had already spoken to Ronnie Wood about where I was. Ronnie said, "Why don't you have a listen? Stand on the top of the stairs, have a listen, and see what you think of the band." I said, "Okay." I stood at the top of the stairs and they played well, but nobody was doing any singing [laughs]. They were just doing Booker T and the MG's songs. So, Kenny came up the stairs and said, "We haven't got a singer, do you want to join?" I went, "Yeah!" And that was it. We went down to the pub and the Faces were born.
Yes, it was. I can give you a rundown of history. Steve Marriott left to chase a solo career. Ronnie and I were both out of work. Was I? Yeah, Ronnie had been fired by Jeff Beck. Once he left, Jeff knew that I wasn't happy. I decided to leave anyway because I missed my mate. The Faces got together in the Rolling Stones' rehearsal room in the East End of London and they were all playing away. Ronnie Lane was singing, but it wasn't very powerful and they decided that they wanted a new singer. Kenny Jones had already spoken to Ronnie Wood about where I was. Ronnie said, "Why don't you have a listen? Stand on the top of the stairs, have a listen, and see what you think of the band." I said, "Okay." I stood at the top of the stairs and they played well, but nobody was doing any singing [laughs]. They were just doing Booker T and the MG's songs. So, Kenny came up the stairs and said, "We haven't got a singer, do you want to join?" I went, "Yeah!" And that was it. We went down to the pub and the Faces were born.
You're definitely willing to perform with them again at the ceremony?
Oh, yeah! I'd love it. If they're all available I'll definitely make myself available.
Oh, yeah! I'd love it. If they're all available I'll definitely make myself available.
Did you mind at all that they've toured without you these past few years?
No, not at all, mate. It's something that I would want to do, but it's getting a commitment from Ronnie –who is hanging onto what the Stones are going to do. He'll suddenly say, "Hey, let's tour next week!" I'll say, "Hold on Ronnie, I've got commitments! I've got commitments for the next year." If we all sat around and said, "Let's do it next summer, or let's do it for charity" or whatever reason, I would do it. It's not totally ruled out.
No, not at all, mate. It's something that I would want to do, but it's getting a commitment from Ronnie –who is hanging onto what the Stones are going to do. He'll suddenly say, "Hey, let's tour next week!" I'll say, "Hold on Ronnie, I've got commitments! I've got commitments for the next year." If we all sat around and said, "Let's do it next summer, or let's do it for charity" or whatever reason, I would do it. It's not totally ruled out.
It's nice you'll get to attend this time, because you missed your own induction because of the [1994 Los Angeles] earthquake.
Yeah, I was supposed to leave the day after. Two of my children, Renee and Liam, they were just one and three. They were just terrified. Absolutely terrified. I just couldn't leave them, so I missed it. But I'll be there this time!
Yeah, I was supposed to leave the day after. Two of my children, Renee and Liam, they were just one and three. They were just terrified. Absolutely terrified. I just couldn't leave them, so I missed it. But I'll be there this time!
According to The Canadian Press, "Vincent Goes To Hell: An Alice Cooper Doc Opera", the upcoming documentary about the shock rocker's evolution from preacher's son to superstardom, is among five English-language and three French-language projects that are getting funds through the Theatrical Documentary Program from Telefilm Canada and the Rogers Group Of Funds.
Telefilm says the funds will support production or post-production work on the projects.
In a recent interview with Spinner.com, Canadian documentarian Sam Dunn of Banger Films ("Metal: A Headbangers Journey", "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage") stated about the Cooper documentary, "We know Alice through various projects that we've done," he said. "We interviewed Alice for 'Headbanger's Journey'. He's also featured pretty prominently in two episodes of [the new groundbreaking documentary series] 'Metal Evolution', both in [the] Shock Rock and Early Metal U.S. [episodes]. He's a pretty fascinating character, who has been through a lot in his life. He's one of those musicians that maybe he hasn't had a hit in a long time, but everyone knows who Alice Cooper is because of his influence on pop culture and the big songs he had in the '70s. . . We're in the early stages of telling the story of his career. We're probably going to focus in on his early years up to his comeback in the '80s. We're exploring a different stylist approach with this film. It won't be talking heads; it's going to be more of an archival and animated journey through his career. He's such a rich visual artist, it makes so much sense to try and do it in a different way. I think we're just a little bit sick of doing talking head interviews, to be honest [laughs], after doing 300 of them for 'Metal Evolution'. So it's really the story of Alice's career from the '60s right up to the '80s and everything he went through — the ups and the downs, battles with alcoholism, being raised in a Christian family, rebelling against that but then coming back to faith later in his career, and moving from town to town, and trying to find his place."
The Alice Cooper documentary is tentatively scheduled to premiere at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in September 2012.
Alice Cooper's new album, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart. Cooper's previous CD, 2008's "Along Came A Spider", opened with just under 10,000 copies to land at No. 53.
Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who produced the original multi-platinum "Welcome To My Nightmare" album in 1975, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.
That original album is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneering U.S. TV special and cemented Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence persists today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theater, television, film and much more.
Telefilm says the funds will support production or post-production work on the projects.
In a recent interview with Spinner.com, Canadian documentarian Sam Dunn of Banger Films ("Metal: A Headbangers Journey", "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage") stated about the Cooper documentary, "We know Alice through various projects that we've done," he said. "We interviewed Alice for 'Headbanger's Journey'. He's also featured pretty prominently in two episodes of [the new groundbreaking documentary series] 'Metal Evolution', both in [the] Shock Rock and Early Metal U.S. [episodes]. He's a pretty fascinating character, who has been through a lot in his life. He's one of those musicians that maybe he hasn't had a hit in a long time, but everyone knows who Alice Cooper is because of his influence on pop culture and the big songs he had in the '70s. . . We're in the early stages of telling the story of his career. We're probably going to focus in on his early years up to his comeback in the '80s. We're exploring a different stylist approach with this film. It won't be talking heads; it's going to be more of an archival and animated journey through his career. He's such a rich visual artist, it makes so much sense to try and do it in a different way. I think we're just a little bit sick of doing talking head interviews, to be honest [laughs], after doing 300 of them for 'Metal Evolution'. So it's really the story of Alice's career from the '60s right up to the '80s and everything he went through — the ups and the downs, battles with alcoholism, being raised in a Christian family, rebelling against that but then coming back to faith later in his career, and moving from town to town, and trying to find his place."
The Alice Cooper documentary is tentatively scheduled to premiere at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in September 2012.
Alice Cooper's new album, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart. Cooper's previous CD, 2008's "Along Came A Spider", opened with just under 10,000 copies to land at No. 53.
Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who produced the original multi-platinum "Welcome To My Nightmare" album in 1975, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.
That original album is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneering U.S. TV special and cemented Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence persists today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theater, television, film and much more.
Some of Europe's leading rock artists — including current and former members of DEEP PURPLE, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN, GOTTHARD, MAGNUM, KROKUS and TNT — have joined a campaign initiated by singer Tommy Heart (SOUL DOCTOR, FAIR WARNING) to raise money for the victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan's northeast coast this past March. The musicians have recorded a cover version of the classic THE BEATLES song "Help" for an EP entitled "Help! For Japan", which will be released in Europe on the German label Avenue Of Allies in early March 2012. All proceeds from the sales of this project will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.
This EP includes the following four songs:
01. Help!
02. Help! (Tommy Heart Version)
03. Help! (Guitar Version)
04. Help! (Extended Version)
Recording lineup:
* Don Airey (keyboards and piano, DEEP PURPLE)
* Leo Leoni (guitar, GOTTHARD)
* Neil Murray (bass, ex-WHITESNAKE)
* Hena Habegger (drums, GOTTHARD)
Guest singers:
* Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA)
* Bob Catley (MAGNUM)
* Andi Deris (HELLOWEEN)
* Torstein Flakne (STAGE DOLLS)
* Marc Storace (KROKUS)
* David Readman (PINK CREAM 69)
* Claus Lessmann (BONFIRE)
* Oliver Hartmann (HARTMANN)
* Bernhard Weiss (AXXIS)
* Michael Kiske (UNISONIC)
* Tony Mills (TNT)
* Carsten Lizard Schulz (EVIDENCE ONE)
* Tommy Heart (SOUL DOCTOR, FAIR WARNING)
Guest lead guitar players:
* Cede Dupont (DOWNSPIRIT)
* Kyoji Yamamoto (BOWWOW)
* Helge Engelke (FAIR WARNING)
* Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN)
* Leo Leoni (GOTTHARD)
* Henny Wolter (NITROGODS)
* Robert R. Rodrigo (AIRLESS)
All "Help!" versions were produced and mixed by Tommy Heart, Tommy Remm and Rene Schostak. The cover artwork was designed by Kai Swillus.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/help.charity.
This EP includes the following four songs:
01. Help!
02. Help! (Tommy Heart Version)
03. Help! (Guitar Version)
04. Help! (Extended Version)
Recording lineup:
* Don Airey (keyboards and piano, DEEP PURPLE)
* Leo Leoni (guitar, GOTTHARD)
* Neil Murray (bass, ex-WHITESNAKE)
* Hena Habegger (drums, GOTTHARD)
Guest singers:
* Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA)
* Bob Catley (MAGNUM)
* Andi Deris (HELLOWEEN)
* Torstein Flakne (STAGE DOLLS)
* Marc Storace (KROKUS)
* David Readman (PINK CREAM 69)
* Claus Lessmann (BONFIRE)
* Oliver Hartmann (HARTMANN)
* Bernhard Weiss (AXXIS)
* Michael Kiske (UNISONIC)
* Tony Mills (TNT)
* Carsten Lizard Schulz (EVIDENCE ONE)
* Tommy Heart (SOUL DOCTOR, FAIR WARNING)
Guest lead guitar players:
* Cede Dupont (DOWNSPIRIT)
* Kyoji Yamamoto (BOWWOW)
* Helge Engelke (FAIR WARNING)
* Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN)
* Leo Leoni (GOTTHARD)
* Henny Wolter (NITROGODS)
* Robert R. Rodrigo (AIRLESS)
All "Help!" versions were produced and mixed by Tommy Heart, Tommy Remm and Rene Schostak. The cover artwork was designed by Kai Swillus.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/help.charity.
METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:
"Last week we celebrated our 30th anniversary together with fan-club members from around the world by playing four nights at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco . . . It was quite the bash each and every night!
"If you were able to join us at any or all of the parties, thanks for coming out to hang with us. And whether or not you were there, you may have heard that we added some unreleased tracks from the 'Death Magnetic' sessions to the set list — one 'new' song each night as part of the shenanigans on stage.
"This week, we're releasing those four tracks through iTunes exclusively in North America and on iTunes and additional digital retailers in other parts of the world as the 'Beyond Magnetic' EP. All four studio versions of these songs were sent to Met Club members for free immediately following their live debut on stage at the Fillmore and tomorrow they will be available to everyone via the magic of digital downloading. They are the rough mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March of 2008, and those of you with very keen senses of sound might recognize bits and pieces from the 'Mission Metallica' videos posted in the summer of 2008.
"Thanks again to everyone who visited us in San Francisco. As Lars [Ulrich, drums] mentioned at the end of the last show, we'll be back here in January with an announcement about a special interactive fan event in June of 2012 . . . we may ask you to do a little traveling again!"
"Beyond Magnetic" track listing:
01. Hate Train
02. Just A Bullet Away
03. Hell And Back
04. Rebel Of Babylon
"Death Magnetic" was officially certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 28, 2010 for shipments in the United States in excess of two million copies.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio in an October 2008 interview that he didn't understand the controversy that had broken out over the audio quality of "Death Magnetic" shortly after the LP's release. Some fans and publications had accused the group and producer Rick Rubin of mixing the album at such a loud volume that the music is distorted and difficult to listen to. But Ulrich said that he's more than happy with the way it turned out. "I listen to this record, and I listen to it every couple of days," he said. "And when I hear it, it puts a smile on my face and it blows me away, and I don't understand what people are talking about. Somebody told me the other day that there were 12,000 people that had signed a petition to remix the record. We've sold two and a half million copies [worldwide] of 'Death Magnetic'. You do the math yourself."
A number of fans said online that they prefer the versions of the CD's tracks prepared for the Guitar Hero video game, which are mixed differently.
Ted Jensen, the engineer who mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York, responded to fan complaints that the CD is too loud and the audio is pushed to distortion levels by writing, "I'm certainly sympathetic to your reaction, I get to slam my head against that brick wall every day. In this case the mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place. Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."
Mastering is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device, the "master," from which all copies will be produced.
Blame for the sound quality has been laid at the feet of the band itself, producer Rick Rubin and his recording engineer, Greg Fidelman.
"Last week we celebrated our 30th anniversary together with fan-club members from around the world by playing four nights at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco . . . It was quite the bash each and every night!
"If you were able to join us at any or all of the parties, thanks for coming out to hang with us. And whether or not you were there, you may have heard that we added some unreleased tracks from the 'Death Magnetic' sessions to the set list — one 'new' song each night as part of the shenanigans on stage.
"This week, we're releasing those four tracks through iTunes exclusively in North America and on iTunes and additional digital retailers in other parts of the world as the 'Beyond Magnetic' EP. All four studio versions of these songs were sent to Met Club members for free immediately following their live debut on stage at the Fillmore and tomorrow they will be available to everyone via the magic of digital downloading. They are the rough mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March of 2008, and those of you with very keen senses of sound might recognize bits and pieces from the 'Mission Metallica' videos posted in the summer of 2008.
"Thanks again to everyone who visited us in San Francisco. As Lars [Ulrich, drums] mentioned at the end of the last show, we'll be back here in January with an announcement about a special interactive fan event in June of 2012 . . . we may ask you to do a little traveling again!"
"Beyond Magnetic" track listing:
01. Hate Train
02. Just A Bullet Away
03. Hell And Back
04. Rebel Of Babylon
"Death Magnetic" was officially certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 28, 2010 for shipments in the United States in excess of two million copies.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio in an October 2008 interview that he didn't understand the controversy that had broken out over the audio quality of "Death Magnetic" shortly after the LP's release. Some fans and publications had accused the group and producer Rick Rubin of mixing the album at such a loud volume that the music is distorted and difficult to listen to. But Ulrich said that he's more than happy with the way it turned out. "I listen to this record, and I listen to it every couple of days," he said. "And when I hear it, it puts a smile on my face and it blows me away, and I don't understand what people are talking about. Somebody told me the other day that there were 12,000 people that had signed a petition to remix the record. We've sold two and a half million copies [worldwide] of 'Death Magnetic'. You do the math yourself."
A number of fans said online that they prefer the versions of the CD's tracks prepared for the Guitar Hero video game, which are mixed differently.
Ted Jensen, the engineer who mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York, responded to fan complaints that the CD is too loud and the audio is pushed to distortion levels by writing, "I'm certainly sympathetic to your reaction, I get to slam my head against that brick wall every day. In this case the mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place. Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."
Mastering is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device, the "master," from which all copies will be produced.
Blame for the sound quality has been laid at the feet of the band itself, producer Rick Rubin and his recording engineer, Greg Fidelman.
DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED — the band led by VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan — will open for the current version of GUNS N' ROSES on the following dates:
Dec. 16 - Seattle, WA - KeyArena
Dec. 17 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
McKagan made a surprise guest appearance in October 2010 with GUNS N' ROSES at London, England's O2 arena. He told Seattle radio station KISW last year that playing in London with the current version of the band he left in the mid-Nineties was "great." McKagan came onstage during the group's October 14, 2010 gig to play on "You Could Be Mine", "Patience", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Nice Boys", sticking around to take a bow with Rose and the rest of the group at the end of the show. The gig marked the first time McKagan had performed with GUNS N' ROSES in 17 years.
It was announced on December 7 that GUNS N' ROSES will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, along with the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, THE BEASTIE BOYS, LAURA NYRO, DONOVAN and others.
Rumors of a GUNS N' ROSES reunion with the classic lineup have been swirling for years. Rose told Billboard.com in 2009 that he doesn't ever expect to play again with guitarist Slash, saying, "One of the two of us will die before a reunion. However sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is."
Rose and original GN'R rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin played a few shows in 2006.
When asked if he thinks the entire original GUNS lineup will show up at the induction ceremony, original GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler — who was thrown out of the band in 1990 — told Rolling Stone magazine, "Absolutely not," adding that the bad blood between Rose and Slash is the sole factor holding up a full GUNS reunion: "For twenty years, because of some stupid grudge, which I guarantee you that neither of them could even tell you what it was. They don't even know! . . . twenty years of great music wasn't created because of some stupid grudge."
Dec. 16 - Seattle, WA - KeyArena
Dec. 17 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
McKagan made a surprise guest appearance in October 2010 with GUNS N' ROSES at London, England's O2 arena. He told Seattle radio station KISW last year that playing in London with the current version of the band he left in the mid-Nineties was "great." McKagan came onstage during the group's October 14, 2010 gig to play on "You Could Be Mine", "Patience", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Nice Boys", sticking around to take a bow with Rose and the rest of the group at the end of the show. The gig marked the first time McKagan had performed with GUNS N' ROSES in 17 years.
It was announced on December 7 that GUNS N' ROSES will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, along with the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, THE BEASTIE BOYS, LAURA NYRO, DONOVAN and others.
Rumors of a GUNS N' ROSES reunion with the classic lineup have been swirling for years. Rose told Billboard.com in 2009 that he doesn't ever expect to play again with guitarist Slash, saying, "One of the two of us will die before a reunion. However sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is."
Rose and original GN'R rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin played a few shows in 2006.
When asked if he thinks the entire original GUNS lineup will show up at the induction ceremony, original GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler — who was thrown out of the band in 1990 — told Rolling Stone magazine, "Absolutely not," adding that the bad blood between Rose and Slash is the sole factor holding up a full GUNS reunion: "For twenty years, because of some stupid grudge, which I guarantee you that neither of them could even tell you what it was. They don't even know! . . . twenty years of great music wasn't created because of some stupid grudge."
Darryl Harrison of the New York Post recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
New York Post: Looking back on your music career, what songs or albums would you say are telling keystones of your life, that document who you were then, to who you are now?
Nikki: I analyzed some lyrics off our first album, and it was sort of like I was trying to erase my past, by saying, "Frankie died the other night, Some say it was suicide." My birth name being Frank, I was kind of trying to erase myself and invent myself because my teenage years were so painful to me — some of it brought on myself and some brought on by decisions made by my parents. You go back and look at this stuff. I hear songs and I go, "That song meant so much when I was 20, but now it doesn't really mean anything to me," or vice versa.
New York Post: So give me three that would document the growth from then to now?
Nikki: One thing as far as growth: There's growth and then there's the inbred snotty, sarcastic humor that I have, and I look back and go, I never had a problem with God, or religion, but I definitely took the Lord's Prayer and regurgitated it in a very snarky, snotty way on the song "Wild Side". At the same time I was telling stories from the streets of L.A. that I had seen and experienced. So "Wild Side" was a mixture of humor and dark poetic honesty and story telling.I look back on it and it's pretty interesting to see where I was at and where I'm at now. In a lot of ways I'm the same guy.
New York Post: It seems like you're a part of a lot of different things — MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIXX: A.M. — you're Tarzan swinging from one thing to the next, and when I read your writing, I'm thinking, "Why does it seem like he's writing to himself, not necessarily for other people to read?"
Nikki: For me, writing is a way to vent and a way to work out stuff. I've always believed that journal writing and diary writing is important to being centered as a person. I still write a journal. I've got to work it out on paper, sometimes before I work it out in my mind. I work it out and I'm always solving problems.
New York Post: What I was getting to, you do it musically, you do it in literature and now you're engrossed in your photography. What are you in search of?
Nikki: That I don't know. I think it's fair that we're putting it down, we're writing it down, we're recording it, photographing it, and it's all somehow resonating with the person that's doing it and hopefully with other people, too. I don't do stuff for anybody else first. I do it for myself first. Being an artist is somewhat being narcissistic, just the way it is. You're usually talking about yourself in one way or another. There are songwriters that are storytellers; I'm not one. If I'm going through something dark, I write a dark song. If I'm going through something happy, I write a happy, joyful song. Same thing with my photography. A lot of the stuff in "This is Gonna Hurt" is darker because I was going through a little bit of a darker period, and I was exploring that of a way of finding relief. But now I'm in a different phase: I'm really happy, I have a great relationship, my family is great, all my businesses are doing great, I love being on the radio. Now, in my photography you're starting to see something a little lighter.
New York Post: Looking back on your music career, what songs or albums would you say are telling keystones of your life, that document who you were then, to who you are now?
Nikki: I analyzed some lyrics off our first album, and it was sort of like I was trying to erase my past, by saying, "Frankie died the other night, Some say it was suicide." My birth name being Frank, I was kind of trying to erase myself and invent myself because my teenage years were so painful to me — some of it brought on myself and some brought on by decisions made by my parents. You go back and look at this stuff. I hear songs and I go, "That song meant so much when I was 20, but now it doesn't really mean anything to me," or vice versa.
New York Post: So give me three that would document the growth from then to now?
Nikki: One thing as far as growth: There's growth and then there's the inbred snotty, sarcastic humor that I have, and I look back and go, I never had a problem with God, or religion, but I definitely took the Lord's Prayer and regurgitated it in a very snarky, snotty way on the song "Wild Side". At the same time I was telling stories from the streets of L.A. that I had seen and experienced. So "Wild Side" was a mixture of humor and dark poetic honesty and story telling.I look back on it and it's pretty interesting to see where I was at and where I'm at now. In a lot of ways I'm the same guy.
New York Post: It seems like you're a part of a lot of different things — MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIXX: A.M. — you're Tarzan swinging from one thing to the next, and when I read your writing, I'm thinking, "Why does it seem like he's writing to himself, not necessarily for other people to read?"
Nikki: For me, writing is a way to vent and a way to work out stuff. I've always believed that journal writing and diary writing is important to being centered as a person. I still write a journal. I've got to work it out on paper, sometimes before I work it out in my mind. I work it out and I'm always solving problems.
New York Post: What I was getting to, you do it musically, you do it in literature and now you're engrossed in your photography. What are you in search of?
Nikki: That I don't know. I think it's fair that we're putting it down, we're writing it down, we're recording it, photographing it, and it's all somehow resonating with the person that's doing it and hopefully with other people, too. I don't do stuff for anybody else first. I do it for myself first. Being an artist is somewhat being narcissistic, just the way it is. You're usually talking about yourself in one way or another. There are songwriters that are storytellers; I'm not one. If I'm going through something dark, I write a dark song. If I'm going through something happy, I write a happy, joyful song. Same thing with my photography. A lot of the stuff in "This is Gonna Hurt" is darker because I was going through a little bit of a darker period, and I was exploring that of a way of finding relief. But now I'm in a different phase: I'm really happy, I have a great relationship, my family is great, all my businesses are doing great, I love being on the radio. Now, in my photography you're starting to see something a little lighter.
GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell has released the following statement:
"To all my friends:
Just wanted to announce that I will be coming back with my band, GREAT WHITE, and a BRAND NEW lineup.
"My new bandmates are some of the most incredible musicians I have ever had the privilege to play with: Matthew Johnson, former guitarist for GREAT WHITE; Derrick Pontier, former drummer for GREAT WHITE; Dario Seixas, former bassist for FIREHOUSE and the Stephen Pearcy band; and Robby Lochner, former guitarist for Rob Halford's band and Cherie Currie.
"I am very excited about this new beginning.
"I am feeling better than ever, despite any rumors you may hear to the contrary.
"Unfortunately, and as confusing as it will be, my former bandmates and their manager have decided to continue to tour next year under the name I created, GREAT WHITE. I will be touring under the name GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL to try avoid any confusion.
"So now the true fans will know the difference.
"I will be announcing tour dates as soon as they become available.
"Our first performance will be at the pre-NAMM Jam on January 14, 2012. Only shows advertised as GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL will include myself on vocals.
"I have missed all of you terribly and look forward to seeing you all on the road. You have no idea how much your love and devotion has meant to me during what has been one of the hardest periods of my life.
"Happy holidays! Much peace and love to you and your families. Have a blessed New Year.
"Yours, as always, Jack Russell, founder and lead vocalist, GREAT WHITE
"P.S.: JACK IS BACK!!!!!!!!"
Russell spent time earlier this year recovering from major surgery after suffering a perforated bowel (a medical emergency in which a hole in the bowel opens to allow its contents to empty into the rest of the abdominal cavity). Singer Terry Ilous of XYZ stepped in to replace Russell on lead vocals.
In an August 2011 interview with Belgrade News, GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall stated about the band's lead-singer situation, "[Jack] is recovering. Any time you have your midsection cut into — they had to reach a section of his large intestine — any time you open up your body that far, it takes quite a while to rehab the body to reanimate the nerves and all the muscles and stuff. As far as a projected date, it's really more often than not up to Jack. I hear, and I've talked to him a couple or three times a week, he's working, very, very hard to get back. He misses it terribly. He misses all of us. And we'd like him to come back when he's 150 percent ready, if you follow my line of thinking. Because I'd hate for him to come back too soon and realize, "Oh, wow, I really should have done rehab for another month before I tried to come back. Now I gotta take more time off." I want him to be just so ready to go that he just blows people's minds. So we're all being very supportive of him. And the great thing is he's being very supportive of our scenario by endorsing us to go out and do what we're doing. And giving Terry Ilous [XYZ], who's filling in for Jack, encouragement. He calls him a couple a times a month, and says, 'I'm hearing great things about you, thanks for singing my songs so well.' We're having a great time with Terry, so it's a win-win situation. By like I said, I will reiterate, I don't want him coming back to soon. I want it to be right, so when he's back he's back all the way."
"To all my friends:
Just wanted to announce that I will be coming back with my band, GREAT WHITE, and a BRAND NEW lineup.
"My new bandmates are some of the most incredible musicians I have ever had the privilege to play with: Matthew Johnson, former guitarist for GREAT WHITE; Derrick Pontier, former drummer for GREAT WHITE; Dario Seixas, former bassist for FIREHOUSE and the Stephen Pearcy band; and Robby Lochner, former guitarist for Rob Halford's band and Cherie Currie.
"I am very excited about this new beginning.
"I am feeling better than ever, despite any rumors you may hear to the contrary.
"Unfortunately, and as confusing as it will be, my former bandmates and their manager have decided to continue to tour next year under the name I created, GREAT WHITE. I will be touring under the name GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL to try avoid any confusion.
"So now the true fans will know the difference.
"I will be announcing tour dates as soon as they become available.
"Our first performance will be at the pre-NAMM Jam on January 14, 2012. Only shows advertised as GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL will include myself on vocals.
"I have missed all of you terribly and look forward to seeing you all on the road. You have no idea how much your love and devotion has meant to me during what has been one of the hardest periods of my life.
"Happy holidays! Much peace and love to you and your families. Have a blessed New Year.
"Yours, as always, Jack Russell, founder and lead vocalist, GREAT WHITE
"P.S.: JACK IS BACK!!!!!!!!"
Russell spent time earlier this year recovering from major surgery after suffering a perforated bowel (a medical emergency in which a hole in the bowel opens to allow its contents to empty into the rest of the abdominal cavity). Singer Terry Ilous of XYZ stepped in to replace Russell on lead vocals.
In an August 2011 interview with Belgrade News, GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall stated about the band's lead-singer situation, "[Jack] is recovering. Any time you have your midsection cut into — they had to reach a section of his large intestine — any time you open up your body that far, it takes quite a while to rehab the body to reanimate the nerves and all the muscles and stuff. As far as a projected date, it's really more often than not up to Jack. I hear, and I've talked to him a couple or three times a week, he's working, very, very hard to get back. He misses it terribly. He misses all of us. And we'd like him to come back when he's 150 percent ready, if you follow my line of thinking. Because I'd hate for him to come back too soon and realize, "Oh, wow, I really should have done rehab for another month before I tried to come back. Now I gotta take more time off." I want him to be just so ready to go that he just blows people's minds. So we're all being very supportive of him. And the great thing is he's being very supportive of our scenario by endorsing us to go out and do what we're doing. And giving Terry Ilous [XYZ], who's filling in for Jack, encouragement. He calls him a couple a times a month, and says, 'I'm hearing great things about you, thanks for singing my songs so well.' We're having a great time with Terry, so it's a win-win situation. By like I said, I will reiterate, I don't want him coming back to soon. I want it to be right, so when he's back he's back all the way."
A mere 71 days after announcing Dilana Robichaux as the band's new lead singer, L.A. GUNS has already parted ways with the former "Rock Star: Supernova" reality-TV show contestant and has replaced her with former BLACKLIST UNION frontman Tony West.
Although no reason was given for Robichaux's departure, she insisted on her Facebook page that she never quit L.A. GUNS. "Tracii [Guns, L.A. GUNS guitarist] walked out saying, 'Thank you, it was fun while it lasted,'" she said, before calling the band "a fucking joke" and claiming that she has already secured a publisher for a planned tell-all book that would include her version of what happened during her short-lived stint as the group's lead vocalist. "I have all the notes written n some recorded about this very fucked up L.A. GUNS tour," she wrote. "One day, you will understand!"
Commenting on Dilana's time with L.A. GUNS, Tracii tweeted, "It was truly the best L.A. GUNS I ever heard on stage, hands down. Sometimes the greatest art comes from the madness and this was the case here. I know Dilana is ripping on every aspect of the situation and I know that's how she vents, so I am OK with it."
Although no reason was given for Robichaux's departure, she insisted on her Facebook page that she never quit L.A. GUNS. "Tracii [Guns, L.A. GUNS guitarist] walked out saying, 'Thank you, it was fun while it lasted,'" she said, before calling the band "a fucking joke" and claiming that she has already secured a publisher for a planned tell-all book that would include her version of what happened during her short-lived stint as the group's lead vocalist. "I have all the notes written n some recorded about this very fucked up L.A. GUNS tour," she wrote. "One day, you will understand!"
Commenting on Dilana's time with L.A. GUNS, Tracii tweeted, "It was truly the best L.A. GUNS I ever heard on stage, hands down. Sometimes the greatest art comes from the madness and this was the case here. I know Dilana is ripping on every aspect of the situation and I know that's how she vents, so I am OK with it."
DEATH ANGEL guitarist Rob Cavestany says that he "doesn't really like" playing the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio because it conjures up images of late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN axeman "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was shot to death on stage while performing at the venue in December 2004.
Cavestany and his DEATH ANGEL bandmates played at the 37-year-old club on November 16, 2011 on an "off" date during the band's recent tour with ANTHRAX and TESTAMENT.
Speaking to Joe Zelek of Steubenville Herald Star/Weirton Daily Times' "The Metal Corner", Rob stated about the experience of performing at the club, "It's actually the second time we played there since that unfortunate incident happened. And, to be honest with you, that has to have something to do with it, because it's a weird feeling playing there; it just doesn't feel normal. And I don't wanna say anything negative in the fact of… of course, we're fucking stoked to come and play in Columbus, [for] the fans and just to be there and play. But I don't really like playing there; it's too much of a thing. It's in your fucking mind the whole time, and it's a real dark and negative thing. And it's hard to feel festive there when that had happened there. And me, being the lead guitar player, to top it off, so I'm, like, tripping on, thinking about…. It's not like you're sitting there fucking freaking out paranoid or scared like it's gonna happen again, but it makes you think of that and fucking the whole thing, and it's just a bummer, that whole thing."
He continued, "We're a real festive kind of a band; we like to have a fucking good time. We play heavy and violent shit, but it's, like, in a fun way — we're fun kind of guys and we don't just get up there and be all [makes growling sound]. I mean, we take out aggression in a fun, rock and roll night, and it just seems weird celebrating that kind of fun hoopla in a place that seems like it needs to be respected in a more serious way for what happened."
He added, "So it's a mixed feeling, but for that matter, we had a fucking ripping show last [month]. Because of that, I just fucking sunk into my playing and just fucking let it loose, like, really, really, really heavily; I fucking had an amazing show last [month]. I played really well, too. Sometimes you just play better on some nights than other nights, and I'm thinking of that, too. I'm like, 'OK, Dime… Let's play fucking good tonight.' So it was cool."
You can hear an audio clip of Cavestany talking about playing at the Alrosa Villa using the SoundCloud player below.
In 2007, Dimebag's estate reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Alrosa Villa over the guitarist's murder.
Darrell's family members claimed in their suit that the owners of the Alrosa Villa were negligent in allowing 25-year-old Nathan Gale to enter the club with a gun and reach the stage, where he killed four people and injured several others before he was shot dead by an off-duty police officer.
The case was resolved when the Abbotts agreed to a "nominal settlement."
In a statement, club manager Rick Cautela said, "What happened here on December 8, 2004, was a tragedy for everyone and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. There is nothing we could have done to stop it."
Cavestany and his DEATH ANGEL bandmates played at the 37-year-old club on November 16, 2011 on an "off" date during the band's recent tour with ANTHRAX and TESTAMENT.
Speaking to Joe Zelek of Steubenville Herald Star/Weirton Daily Times' "The Metal Corner", Rob stated about the experience of performing at the club, "It's actually the second time we played there since that unfortunate incident happened. And, to be honest with you, that has to have something to do with it, because it's a weird feeling playing there; it just doesn't feel normal. And I don't wanna say anything negative in the fact of… of course, we're fucking stoked to come and play in Columbus, [for] the fans and just to be there and play. But I don't really like playing there; it's too much of a thing. It's in your fucking mind the whole time, and it's a real dark and negative thing. And it's hard to feel festive there when that had happened there. And me, being the lead guitar player, to top it off, so I'm, like, tripping on, thinking about…. It's not like you're sitting there fucking freaking out paranoid or scared like it's gonna happen again, but it makes you think of that and fucking the whole thing, and it's just a bummer, that whole thing."
He continued, "We're a real festive kind of a band; we like to have a fucking good time. We play heavy and violent shit, but it's, like, in a fun way — we're fun kind of guys and we don't just get up there and be all [makes growling sound]. I mean, we take out aggression in a fun, rock and roll night, and it just seems weird celebrating that kind of fun hoopla in a place that seems like it needs to be respected in a more serious way for what happened."
He added, "So it's a mixed feeling, but for that matter, we had a fucking ripping show last [month]. Because of that, I just fucking sunk into my playing and just fucking let it loose, like, really, really, really heavily; I fucking had an amazing show last [month]. I played really well, too. Sometimes you just play better on some nights than other nights, and I'm thinking of that, too. I'm like, 'OK, Dime… Let's play fucking good tonight.' So it was cool."
You can hear an audio clip of Cavestany talking about playing at the Alrosa Villa using the SoundCloud player below.
In 2007, Dimebag's estate reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Alrosa Villa over the guitarist's murder.
Darrell's family members claimed in their suit that the owners of the Alrosa Villa were negligent in allowing 25-year-old Nathan Gale to enter the club with a gun and reach the stage, where he killed four people and injured several others before he was shot dead by an off-duty police officer.
The case was resolved when the Abbotts agreed to a "nominal settlement."
In a statement, club manager Rick Cautela said, "What happened here on December 8, 2004, was a tragedy for everyone and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. There is nothing we could have done to stop it."
British progressive metallers THRESHOLD have set "March Of Progress" as the title of their new album, due early next year via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will mark marks the return of the band's original vocalist Damian Wilson (HEADSPACE, STAR ONE) who rejoined the group in 2007 following the departure of Andrew "Mac" McDermott, who sadly passed away in August.
"March Of Progress" is being produced at Thin Ice Studios and Eightspace Studio in the U.K. by Karl Groom and Richard West.
Provisional songtitles set to appear on the CD include:
* Ashes
* Return of the Thought Police
* Colophon
* Staring at the Sun
* Liberty Complacency Dependency
* Divinity
* The Hours
* Don't Look Down
* That's Why we Came
* The Rubicon
* Coda
THRESHOLD will perform a handful of pre-release shows in April 2012 to promote the album.
THRESHOLD's last studio CD, "Dead Reckoning", was released in 2007 and featured guest vocals by Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH). The CD entered the charts at position 64 in Germany, 95 in The Netherlands and 37 in the U.K. (rock chart).
THRESHOLD is:
Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten – Guitar
"March Of Progress" is being produced at Thin Ice Studios and Eightspace Studio in the U.K. by Karl Groom and Richard West.
Provisional songtitles set to appear on the CD include:
* Ashes
* Return of the Thought Police
* Colophon
* Staring at the Sun
* Liberty Complacency Dependency
* Divinity
* The Hours
* Don't Look Down
* That's Why we Came
* The Rubicon
* Coda
THRESHOLD will perform a handful of pre-release shows in April 2012 to promote the album.
THRESHOLD's last studio CD, "Dead Reckoning", was released in 2007 and featured guest vocals by Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH). The CD entered the charts at position 64 in Germany, 95 in The Netherlands and 37 in the U.K. (rock chart).
THRESHOLD is:
Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten – Guitar
MassConcerts has announced that the 14th annual New England Metal & Hardcore Festival will take place the weekend of April 20-22, 2012.
The New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, the largest and most successful metal festival in the United States, has presented some of the biggest and up-and-coming artists in the metal and hardcore music genres over the past 13 years.
The following artists will perform at next year's event:
Friday, April 20
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
THE ACACIA STRAIN
OCEANO
ALL SHALL PERISH
NILE
SKELETONWITCH
LIONHEART
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE
FIRST BLOOD
MOLOTOV SOLUTION
THE CONTORTIONIST
REIGN SUPREME
CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY
INCENDIARY
PALEHORSE
HOUR OF PENANCE
LEGION
RELENTLESS
Saturday, April 21
[Headliner to be announced January 2, 2012]
OVERKILL
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE
PROTEST THE HERO
PERIPHERY
BANE
SHIPWRECK
CRUEL HAND
ABORTED
BLACKGUARD
THE MONGOLOIDS
BELGARDOR
SYSTEM DIVIDE
NAYSAYER
THE GREENERY
DIAMOND PLATE
ROTTING OUT
EXPIRE
ELITIST
TRUMPET THE HARLOT
MANNERS
MALEFICE
Sunday, April 22
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
EVERY TIME I DIE
VANNA
FOR TODAY
CHELSEA GRIN
SLEEPING GIANT
STICK TO YOUR GUNS
ATTILA
ON BROKEN WINGS
MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE
FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS
TEXAS IN JULY
UPON A BURNING BODY
VOLUMES
LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES
HUNDREDTH
NO BRAGGING RIGHTS
COUNTERPARTS
GIDEON
Commented KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones, "Yup, trouble's brewing.
"It's been great to have time off, but now it's back to business.
"All the guys in KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are truly excited to be playing New England Metal & Hardcore Festival again. It's like old times: hanging out with your friends, but they have mustaches now.
"Come on out, bring a friend and let's make some sweat!"
Tickets for the festival will go on sale Friday, December 16 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices are: $40 (Friday), $45 (Saturday), and $40 (Sunday) or $115 (three-day pass).
For more information, visit www.metalandhardcorefestival.com.
The New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, the largest and most successful metal festival in the United States, has presented some of the biggest and up-and-coming artists in the metal and hardcore music genres over the past 13 years.
The following artists will perform at next year's event:
Friday, April 20
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
THE ACACIA STRAIN
OCEANO
ALL SHALL PERISH
NILE
SKELETONWITCH
LIONHEART
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE
FIRST BLOOD
MOLOTOV SOLUTION
THE CONTORTIONIST
REIGN SUPREME
CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY
INCENDIARY
PALEHORSE
HOUR OF PENANCE
LEGION
RELENTLESS
Saturday, April 21
[Headliner to be announced January 2, 2012]
OVERKILL
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE
PROTEST THE HERO
PERIPHERY
BANE
SHIPWRECK
CRUEL HAND
ABORTED
BLACKGUARD
THE MONGOLOIDS
BELGARDOR
SYSTEM DIVIDE
NAYSAYER
THE GREENERY
DIAMOND PLATE
ROTTING OUT
EXPIRE
ELITIST
TRUMPET THE HARLOT
MANNERS
MALEFICE
Sunday, April 22
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
EVERY TIME I DIE
VANNA
FOR TODAY
CHELSEA GRIN
SLEEPING GIANT
STICK TO YOUR GUNS
ATTILA
ON BROKEN WINGS
MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE
FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS
TEXAS IN JULY
UPON A BURNING BODY
VOLUMES
LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES
HUNDREDTH
NO BRAGGING RIGHTS
COUNTERPARTS
GIDEON
Commented KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones, "Yup, trouble's brewing.
"It's been great to have time off, but now it's back to business.
"All the guys in KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are truly excited to be playing New England Metal & Hardcore Festival again. It's like old times: hanging out with your friends, but they have mustaches now.
"Come on out, bring a friend and let's make some sweat!"
Tickets for the festival will go on sale Friday, December 16 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices are: $40 (Friday), $45 (Saturday), and $40 (Sunday) or $115 (three-day pass).
For more information, visit www.metalandhardcorefestival.com.
Cradle of Filth vocalist and lead creative force Dani Filth has been crafting his brand of gothic and black metal to the masses for 20 years. Filth has also developed a vocal style consisting of high shrieks, low gutturals and borderline throat singing, which has been said to span five octaves.
The band released the 'Evermore Darkly' EP just in time for Halloween this year, including a live DVD and exclusive documentary. Cradle of Filth also plan to release two albums in 2012, a new full-length record and an orchestral re-imagining of the band's early work.
In addition to telling Loudwire about his religious beliefs, Dani Filth gave us the inside info about the history of Cradle of Filth, his thoughts about the current black metal scene and his fascination with all things horror.
Tell us about Cradle of Filth's new EP 'Evermore Darkly'
It's kind of a fan edition thing. It's two discs and it's split between a DVD, which contains a lost video, a documentary about our travels around Russia and Europe earlier in the year and a live show when we headlined Graspop this year. On the other side of things, there's an audio CD with a new track. We reworked demos that were for 'Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa record, a remix and a couple other things on there including a foretaste of our forthcoming classical album, which is full of tracks from my first four albums, but re-imagined, big orchestral cinematic pieces.
That's going to be called 'Midnight in the Labyrinth' right?
That's right. That's looking at about an April release, which is the time we're due to go in to start working on our new album, which we've been tentatively writing over the last few months. We're about three or four songs into it – it's going really well. It's a bit hard to describe in so many words. Its very good, very Cradle of Filth and it's moving on from where we left off on the previous record. 'Evermore Darkly' is more like an interim release. It's something for our fans at Halloween.
What can fans expect to see in the documentary on the 'Evermore Darkly' EP?
It's like a behind the scenes of a band touring and I guess its brought to norm. You can see the band tired and stressed at certain points [Laughs] with a lot of traveling and waiting around in airports and things like that, but its informative. It gives another viewpoint to life in Cradle of Filth – and its not all doom and gloom. I think its about a 45-50 minute long documentary specifically for the fans.
You've said that your next album is going to bring back the female vocal parts that Cradle of Filth is so well know for.
I think it's going to have elements of some of our earlier stuff, but it's not really going back to it – more just incorporating ingredients that made Cradle of Filth what we were. I think we'll be taking elements from parts of those records, but trying to push the boundaries even further with what we do.
Is there any chance that we're going to hear former Cradle of Filth vocalist Sara Jezebel Deva collaborate with you again?
Possibly, but not on the next album – we have someone who is working with us on the next record, but it may be a possibility in time. It's certainly not ruled out by any means.
Is Cradle of Filth planning on touring in 2012?
Yeah. Obviously, it would be with the release of our album, which should be at around Halloween strangely enough. We'll be going straight out on the road. We just wanted to get back into the studio really at this point in our careers. This one does follow quite swiftly on the heels of our previous album, 'Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa.' We're obviously utilizing 'Evermore Darkly' as a sort of final nail in that album's coffin and as a springboard to future material. But yeah definitely, once we're out of the studio we're straight back out on the road.
You've been around for nearly 20 years now…
Don't make me feel old. [Laughs]
[Laughs] You're constantly putting out new music and its always sounding really fresh. How do you compare the amount of thought and energy you put into your music now compared to when you were getting started?
I think its pretty much the same – other than we were a bit more naive back then, but naivety can sometimes be better because I usually find that a lot of band's first couple of albums to be their better, but its just the way things are you know? That's when that new, kindled energy comes from. Nowadays you're a little bit older, a little bit wiser, but it's only been, like you say, 20 years. Our first album came out in 1994, so we're talking like 17 years as what I call a "professional band." I've never really had time to look back, henceforth why we've done nine albums and three EP's and a couple of DVD's and a movie and a book and a fluffy toy. [Laughs]
Cradle of Filth were one of the pioneers to bring black metal to a large audience. Are there any new black metal bands that you're into at the moment?
Yeah, I like Nachtmystium. I like Ghost. Eastern Front, who are funnily enough from our town. Wolves in the Throne Room… there are quite a few cool bands out there. The new God Seed will be really good – its not actually released yet. Craft are an amazing band, so yes there are a few.
You're somewhat of a horror movie buff. It seems like a lot of new horror movies don't resonate with people today. Are there any newer horror films you've enjoyed?
I went to see one last week actually; well I've seen quite a few recently. Not too much of horror but films like 'The Others' and things of that ilk, like 'The Haunted.' I just saw one called 'The Awakening' and it was all set in this big boarding school between the first and second World War. It was really evocative, really creepy, very gothic, very spooky and that was a really good film. I also really like the recent spurt of gore in particular. I like the French movies like 'Frontiers.' I've got precedence for all kinds really. It depends, sometimes I like really cheesy no-brainers and sometimes I like really flamboyant movies.
Do you tend to gravitate to any era of the horror genre like the silent films or the black and whites or the '80s?
Recently since its been Halloween I've gravitated back to John Carpenter's stuff and I'm really looking forward to the remake of 'The Thing' although I know they'll probably crap it up like they do with most remakes nowadays. [Laughs] Just because it's been Halloween I've watched the original 'Halloween' and 'The Thing' and 'They Live' and 'The Fog' and stuff like that.
Did you hear that they're remaking the first 'Hellraiser' movie?
Yeah, I've known that for a while. Strangely enough Doug Bradley (Pinhead) is a friend of mine and he won't be in it, which is odd, but then I suppose it's the same thing they did to Freddy Krueger, which they f—ed up.
Being a father, has it become more difficult to tour and be away from your family, as your daughter is getting older? Or was it more difficult when she was younger?
It's about the same, really. It can be difficult – the Ozzfest was a pretty hard one because that was 10 or 11 weeks and that's enough on anybody's body, liver or state of mind. [Laughs] Of course it's difficult, but I see the band as a beast of two halves anyway and our lifestyle also mimics that by the fact that if you add up all the days you're probably at home for half the year and away for half the year. It's just not as cut and dry as being six months away and six months at home, so by the time you get bored with one half, you move into the other one, so it's a nice balance.
What bands have you been listening too the most lately?
I've been listening to a load of soundtracks, that's for a start. I actually bought the soundtrack for 'The Awakening' because I thought it was so cool. Aside from that, the new Misfits album, the last Bad Religion record, some of those bands I mentioned before like Craft and a whole bunch of '80s stuff. Anything from W.A.S.P. right through to German thrash like Destruction and Kreator.
I'm still addicted to that new Bad Religion album, 'The Dissent of Man.'
I've always been a fan of them. I don't know why, I just really dig what they do. I'm a big fan of dark sounding music, but there's something about Bad Religion that has a real edge – there always has been and I'm one of those people who just don't want them to change. I know all their albums sound a bit like the last record, but that's to the untrained ear. To everybody else who is a big fan of Bad Religion – keep doing what you're doing.
SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has slammed actress Lindsay Lohan's 10-page nude pictorial in Playboy magazine, claiming that she looks "like a series of toll booths."
Taylor has been on a solo tour for the past few weeks, combining acoustic performances with audience interaction and readings from his book "Seven Deadly Sins".
During a recent stop on the trek, Taylor said, "If anyone hasn't seen the Lindsey Lohan Playboy shots yet, save your fucking money. She looks like a series of toll booths. She looks like somebody has fucking tossed their fucking change into it, and you're just like… ugh. I didn't know you could airbrush that much — I've gotta be honest — because her body is, like, it's okay, but her face but her face is, like, [gives look of disgust]. It's like somebody opened the Ark Of The Covenant at the end of [the] 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' [movie], you know what I'm saying?! That one dude who's just melting like a motherfucker. He's like [extends face with his mouth wide open]. Boo [gives one thumb down]."
In a 2007 interview, Taylor has blasted the media for devoting coverage to troubled stars, including Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. The singer claimed that he was fed up with the publicity given to the likes of "pig" Spears.
Taylor said, "[Britney is] a pig and needs to give it up.
"People have this fascination with mediocrity and gross displays of bullshit. It's everywhere. People are intrigued by popular people, but that shit is so precarious it can be gone tomorrow.
"The fact that the public are mesmerized by Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and all these miserable people makes me laugh, because those celebrities are more miserable than the people reading about them for escapism."
Taylor recently raised eyebrows on his solo tour by calling STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland a "lazy piece of shit " at one stop and bashing legendary producer Rick Rubin (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SLAYER, AUDIOSLAVE, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, METALLICA) — with whom he worked on SLIPKNOT's 2004 album, "Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)" — as "overrated" and "overpaid" at another, saying he'd never work with Rubin again "as long as I fucking live."
The singer will tour Australia and North America with SLIPKNOT next year, and also plans to head into the studio with STONE SOUR.
Taylor has been on a solo tour for the past few weeks, combining acoustic performances with audience interaction and readings from his book "Seven Deadly Sins".
During a recent stop on the trek, Taylor said, "If anyone hasn't seen the Lindsey Lohan Playboy shots yet, save your fucking money. She looks like a series of toll booths. She looks like somebody has fucking tossed their fucking change into it, and you're just like… ugh. I didn't know you could airbrush that much — I've gotta be honest — because her body is, like, it's okay, but her face but her face is, like, [gives look of disgust]. It's like somebody opened the Ark Of The Covenant at the end of [the] 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' [movie], you know what I'm saying?! That one dude who's just melting like a motherfucker. He's like [extends face with his mouth wide open]. Boo [gives one thumb down]."
In a 2007 interview, Taylor has blasted the media for devoting coverage to troubled stars, including Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. The singer claimed that he was fed up with the publicity given to the likes of "pig" Spears.
Taylor said, "[Britney is] a pig and needs to give it up.
"People have this fascination with mediocrity and gross displays of bullshit. It's everywhere. People are intrigued by popular people, but that shit is so precarious it can be gone tomorrow.
"The fact that the public are mesmerized by Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and all these miserable people makes me laugh, because those celebrities are more miserable than the people reading about them for escapism."
Taylor recently raised eyebrows on his solo tour by calling STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland a "lazy piece of shit " at one stop and bashing legendary producer Rick Rubin (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SLAYER, AUDIOSLAVE, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, METALLICA) — with whom he worked on SLIPKNOT's 2004 album, "Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)" — as "overrated" and "overpaid" at another, saying he'd never work with Rubin again "as long as I fucking live."
The singer will tour Australia and North America with SLIPKNOT next year, and also plans to head into the studio with STONE SOUR.
OUTLOUD — the Athens, Greece-based hard rock band featuring Chandler Mogel (TALON) on vocals and Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND) on guitar and keyboards — has just released a Christmas-themed single titled "Last Days Of December". The song was written and produced and mixed by Katsionis at Sound Symmetry Studio in Athens, Greece, while the vocals were recorded at PJB Productions in Verona, New Jersey. The drums were laid down at Basement Studio in Athens.
Commented Katsionis: "People are getting so much negativity from everywhere these days. It's like someone is trying to make the world feel empty and helpless, facing the problems of each country's economy, criminality etc. At the same time, what you get from the social networks is mostly negative comments, trolling, absurdity, violence and people being more rude day by day. This is reflected on music as well. Bands are trying to be harder, heavier, meaner and more evil like there's some short of hate contest going on.
"What we tried to do with this song is to bring the rock and heavy metal world some melody, some peace, remind people that love is the power that makes this world go round and contribute to the soundtrack of the Christmas holiday season with a song that we hope it will stand the test of time.
"Christmas time doesn't necessarily mean shopping and spending but also quality time with friends and family and the people we love and share some positive energy which is definitely missing nowadays."
"Last Days Of December" features a guest guitar solo by "one of Greece's best-hidden secrets," Achilleas Diamantis, who will fill in for founding member Tony Kash at OUTLOUD's upcoming shows.
Commented Katsionis: "People are getting so much negativity from everywhere these days. It's like someone is trying to make the world feel empty and helpless, facing the problems of each country's economy, criminality etc. At the same time, what you get from the social networks is mostly negative comments, trolling, absurdity, violence and people being more rude day by day. This is reflected on music as well. Bands are trying to be harder, heavier, meaner and more evil like there's some short of hate contest going on.
"What we tried to do with this song is to bring the rock and heavy metal world some melody, some peace, remind people that love is the power that makes this world go round and contribute to the soundtrack of the Christmas holiday season with a song that we hope it will stand the test of time.
"Christmas time doesn't necessarily mean shopping and spending but also quality time with friends and family and the people we love and share some positive energy which is definitely missing nowadays."
"Last Days Of December" features a guest guitar solo by "one of Greece's best-hidden secrets," Achilleas Diamantis, who will fill in for founding member Tony Kash at OUTLOUD's upcoming shows.
Long-running Swedish metallers DESTINY will enter DRS studio this week to begin recording their 30th-anniversary album, "The Incompatibility Of Philosophical Terminology", for a 2012 release. The group's previously announced new CD, "Global Warming", is still under production but is temporarily put on hold and will be made available at a later date.
A teaser trailer for "The Incompatibility Of Philosophical Terminology" can be seen below. Also available is the album's projected cover artwork.
DESTINY's most recent release was the "Beyond All Sense 2005" CD, a re-recorded version of DESTINY's debut album (originally issued in 1985).
DESTINY has not yet announced a new singer following the departure of Kristoffer Göbel at the end of 2006.
DESTINY is:
Stefan Björnshög - Bass
Birger Löfman - Drums
Micke Åberg - Guitar
A teaser trailer for "The Incompatibility Of Philosophical Terminology" can be seen below. Also available is the album's projected cover artwork.
DESTINY's most recent release was the "Beyond All Sense 2005" CD, a re-recorded version of DESTINY's debut album (originally issued in 1985).
DESTINY has not yet announced a new singer following the departure of Kristoffer Göbel at the end of 2006.
DESTINY is:
Stefan Björnshög - Bass
Birger Löfman - Drums
Micke Åberg - Guitar
To honor Chuck Schuldiner's (DEATH, CONTROL DENIED) legacy as a death metal pioneer, an inimitable vocalist and one of the best guitarists to thoughtfully shred the six-string on the 10th anniversary of his death, Lars Gotrich of NPR's "All Songs Considered" blog asked eleven metal musicians to pick their favorite DEATH song, and write what it and Schuldiner has meant to them. For Paul Masvidal (CYNIC), Gene Hoglan (FEAR FACTORY) and Richard Christy (CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) — all former members of DEATH (and there have been a lot) — it's telling that all three chose songs from 1991's watershed album, "Human". In the modern metal scene, younger musicians like Arthur von Nagel (CORMORANT), Elizabeth Schall (DREAMING DEAD) and John Dyer Baizley (BARONESS) all grew up with the legend of DEATH and have taken its heavy lessons to heart.
The latest reissue from DEATH's legendary catalog, 1993's "Individual Thought Patterns", was made available on October 25 in North America; October 28 in Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany; and October 31 in the rest of Europe via Relapse Records. The effort was remixed by Alan Douches and has been re-packaged to include a second and third bonus disc worth of previously unreleased demos and a full live set recorded in Germany during a 1993 European tour. Also included on the third bonus disc exclusive to this reissue are rare riff tracks from the Chuck Schuldiner archives.
"Individual Thought Patterns" follows the recent reissues of "The Sound Of Perseverance" and "Human". Like those reissues, "Individual Thought Patterns" is available as a deluxe three-disc set, a two-disc standard set, and deluxe digital.
Chuck died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.
"Individual Thought Patterns" follows the recent reissues of "The Sound Of Perseverance" and "Human". Like those reissues, "Individual Thought Patterns" is available as a deluxe three-disc set, a two-disc standard set, and deluxe digital.
Chuck died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.
French brutal djent metal mongers OUTCAST have inked a deal with Listenable Records. The band's third album, "Awaken The Reason", will be released in Europe on February 20, 2012. According to a press release, the CD will be the group's "strongest and most solid recording so far," which "genuinely capture[s] the band's musical madness." It features "a modern-sounding-yet-organic production spiced up by some frenzy extreme guitar and drums assaults."
Commmented OUTCAST: "'Awaken The Reason' was recorded between January and September 2010 at The Artist The Office Studio. It was mixed at Split Second Sound Studio by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) in October/November 2010 and then mastered at West West Side Music by Alan Douches (MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). The album was composed between 2006 and 2009, mixing various influences, [including] Steve Vai, GOJIRA, DREAM THEATER, DEVIN TOWNSEND, TEXTURES and SIKTH. Our main goal was to stay away from traditionnal death music and produce a progressive album with personnal signature. Eighty percent of the album was composed by Nicolas [Soulat, guitar] but everyone was at work to improve melodies and songwriting. That's why the album sounds like a concept album even if it's not. This way of thinking music mixed with several aproaches of riffing and soloing constitute, in our opinion, the main guideline and would confer strong marks to the listener. So our minds were opened and focused on originality using old and new references in the whole metal industry."
Regarding how the new album compares to OUTCAST's earlier efforts, the band said, "The more obvious difference between 'Awaken The Reason' and 'Self Injected Reality', our previous album, is the production, which gives more space and organic feelings to the composition. The composition and songs themselves are more colored and progressive, more subtle in the ambiences are not just full-rooted in death metal."
OUTCAST's second album, "Self Injected Reality", was released in September 2008 via Thundering Records. The follow-up to 2005's "First Call / Last Warning" was recorded at Unmuted Studio with producer Aurélien Mauro (SKELETON CREW) and features guest appearances by Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) and Filip Leo (CORPORATION 187).
OUTCAST is:
Mathieu Santin: Drums
Clément Mauro: Bass
Wilfried Fagnon: Vocals
Nicolas Soulat: Guitar
Jean-François Di Rienzo: Guitar
Commmented OUTCAST: "'Awaken The Reason' was recorded between January and September 2010 at The Artist The Office Studio. It was mixed at Split Second Sound Studio by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) in October/November 2010 and then mastered at West West Side Music by Alan Douches (MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). The album was composed between 2006 and 2009, mixing various influences, [including] Steve Vai, GOJIRA, DREAM THEATER, DEVIN TOWNSEND, TEXTURES and SIKTH. Our main goal was to stay away from traditionnal death music and produce a progressive album with personnal signature. Eighty percent of the album was composed by Nicolas [Soulat, guitar] but everyone was at work to improve melodies and songwriting. That's why the album sounds like a concept album even if it's not. This way of thinking music mixed with several aproaches of riffing and soloing constitute, in our opinion, the main guideline and would confer strong marks to the listener. So our minds were opened and focused on originality using old and new references in the whole metal industry."
Regarding how the new album compares to OUTCAST's earlier efforts, the band said, "The more obvious difference between 'Awaken The Reason' and 'Self Injected Reality', our previous album, is the production, which gives more space and organic feelings to the composition. The composition and songs themselves are more colored and progressive, more subtle in the ambiences are not just full-rooted in death metal."
OUTCAST's second album, "Self Injected Reality", was released in September 2008 via Thundering Records. The follow-up to 2005's "First Call / Last Warning" was recorded at Unmuted Studio with producer Aurélien Mauro (SKELETON CREW) and features guest appearances by Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) and Filip Leo (CORPORATION 187).
OUTCAST is:
Mathieu Santin: Drums
Clément Mauro: Bass
Wilfried Fagnon: Vocals
Nicolas Soulat: Guitar
Jean-François Di Rienzo: Guitar
Swedish deathcrust ensemble BOMBS OF HADES has inked a deal with Pulverised Records.
Spawned in 2002 as a crustpunk act, BOMBS OF HADES quickly mutated into a gristly old-school Swedish death metal direction, while still retaining a strong d-beat/crust vibe. Fronted by Jonas Stålhammar (GOD MACABRE, UTUMNO) who recently served briefly with legendary Swedish thrashers THE CROWN, the band is now geared up for its second full-length, entitled "A Serpent's Redemption". The follow-up to 2010's "Chambers Of Abominations", which was released via Blood Harvest Records, is expected to drop sometime next year.
Commented Stålhammar: "BOMBS OF HADES are psyched to have the next album released through Pulverised.
"'A Serpent's Redemption' will satisfy souls starved for some true old-school death metal and will be unleashed before the summer of 2012."
Added Pulverised Records A&R manager Calvin Chiang: "BOMBS OF HADES are one band that have been on our radar for some time now. We finally thought it was time to seize the opportunity to grab them for a brand new record. To further confirm that our gut feeling was correct, our good old friend Ayong (founder of Pulverised Records) coincidentally recommended the band and strongly insisted we get BOMBS OF HADES on our roster by hook or by crook! Expect full-blown death metal abomination!"
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/bombsofhades.
Spawned in 2002 as a crustpunk act, BOMBS OF HADES quickly mutated into a gristly old-school Swedish death metal direction, while still retaining a strong d-beat/crust vibe. Fronted by Jonas Stålhammar (GOD MACABRE, UTUMNO) who recently served briefly with legendary Swedish thrashers THE CROWN, the band is now geared up for its second full-length, entitled "A Serpent's Redemption". The follow-up to 2010's "Chambers Of Abominations", which was released via Blood Harvest Records, is expected to drop sometime next year.
Commented Stålhammar: "BOMBS OF HADES are psyched to have the next album released through Pulverised.
"'A Serpent's Redemption' will satisfy souls starved for some true old-school death metal and will be unleashed before the summer of 2012."
Added Pulverised Records A&R manager Calvin Chiang: "BOMBS OF HADES are one band that have been on our radar for some time now. We finally thought it was time to seize the opportunity to grab them for a brand new record. To further confirm that our gut feeling was correct, our good old friend Ayong (founder of Pulverised Records) coincidentally recommended the band and strongly insisted we get BOMBS OF HADES on our roster by hook or by crook! Expect full-blown death metal abomination!"
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/bombsofhades.
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