According to the The Independent, singer Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) and former guitarist Bernie Tormé (OZZY OSBOURNE, GILLAN, DESPERADO), will take part a seminar, "Monsters Of Rock'n'Roll Business", on June 19 at Hilton Hotel in Dartford, Kent, England.
The event is the brainchild of Peter Cook, a former manager who who published the book "Punk Rock People Management", a guide to "hiring, inspiring and firing staff", and now lectures on the parallel lessons between business and music.
"Procurement managers are not known for throwing televisions out of windows or for their creativity," said Cook, an MBA graduate whose textbook "Sex, Leadership And Rock'n'Roll" was acclaimed by business professors. "What we're teaching them is about balancing the need for order and structure with a little bit of creative spark which gives them the edge over their competitors."
Said Tormé: "I have worked with a fair mix of Class-A rock stars. The music business is a great teacher of life skills such as negotiating, marketing, teamwork, high performance and so on, both how to do them well and occasionally the dark side of the force. Big companies are far more complex, although it's not as different as you would think."
For more information, go to this location.
The event is the brainchild of Peter Cook, a former manager who who published the book "Punk Rock People Management", a guide to "hiring, inspiring and firing staff", and now lectures on the parallel lessons between business and music.
"Procurement managers are not known for throwing televisions out of windows or for their creativity," said Cook, an MBA graduate whose textbook "Sex, Leadership And Rock'n'Roll" was acclaimed by business professors. "What we're teaching them is about balancing the need for order and structure with a little bit of creative spark which gives them the edge over their competitors."
Said Tormé: "I have worked with a fair mix of Class-A rock stars. The music business is a great teacher of life skills such as negotiating, marketing, teamwork, high performance and so on, both how to do them well and occasionally the dark side of the force. Big companies are far more complex, although it's not as different as you would think."
For more information, go to this location.
According to Live5News.com, legendary rocker Alice Cooper will throw the ceremonial first pitch for the Charleston RiverDogs-Savannah Sand Gnats game this Sunday, June 10, at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, South Carolina. Game time is set for 5:05 p.m.
"We are thrilled to have a true rock icon, Alice Cooper, as part of our fun by throwing the first pitch at Sunday's game," said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. "We encourage our fans and Alice's fans to come to Riley Park early to witness one of the most exciting first pitches of the season."
"We are thrilled to have a true rock icon, Alice Cooper, as part of our fun by throwing the first pitch at Sunday's game," said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. "We encourage our fans and Alice's fans to come to Riley Park early to witness one of the most exciting first pitches of the season."
Rocker-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie has confirmed that he has yet to complete work on his much-anticipated new film, "The Lords Of Salem". He writes on Facebook, "For those of you wondering if 'The Lords Of Salem' is finished, the answer is no. I had to take a break due to the MEGADETH tour and a few other things. I will be returning to work on the film in July to finish it up."
The first trailer for "The Lords Of Salem" was beingshown before the last song of Zombie's's set during his recent tour with MEGADETH.
Shaky fan-filmed video footage of the trailer from the concert in Scranton, Pennsylvania can be seen below.
Zombie recently told The Aquarian Weekly that "The Lords Of Salem" is "a different movie for me. I hate calling it a horror movie because it's more than that. It's very much like a psychological terror film, and it's a very different style. The other films were very in-your-face violent. This is more like a total mindfuck movie, and it's just very different, but I'm very excited about it because the fans of what I've done will love it, but it's a very different trip than I've tried before because I didn't want to just go and do the same thing again — and after doing two 'Halloween' films in a row, I wanted to break the mold of anything like that — but very, very different."
The film stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Meg Foster, Ernest Thomas, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Torsten Voges, Bruce Davison, Billy Drago, Richard Lynch, Lisa Marie, Maria Conchita Alonso, Ken Foree, Barbara Crampton, Michael Berryman, Sid Haig, Judy Geeson, and Patricia Quinn.
Filmsynopsis: "A mysterious wooden box containing a vinyl record arrives for Heidi, a gift of the Lords. She assumes it's a rock band on a mission to spread to spread their word. As Heidi and Whitey play the Lord's record, it starts to play backwards, and Heidi experiences a flashback to a past trauma. Later, Whitey plays the Lord's record, dubbing them the Lords of Salem, and to his surprise, the record plays normally and is a massive hit with his listeners. The arrival of another wooden box from the Lords presents the Big H team with free tickets, posters and records to host a gig in Salem. Soon, Heidi and her cohorts are far from the rock spectacle they're expecting. The original Lords or Salem are returning and they're out for blood."
"The Lords Of Salem" is due for theatrical release later this year.
Zombie previously said he's had the idea for the movie for years, even before he recorded the song of the same name.
Zombie, who directed all his own music videos, made his debut as a feature film writer and director with 2003's "House Of 1000 Corpses".
The first trailer for "The Lords Of Salem" was beingshown before the last song of Zombie's's set during his recent tour with MEGADETH.
Shaky fan-filmed video footage of the trailer from the concert in Scranton, Pennsylvania can be seen below.
Zombie recently told The Aquarian Weekly that "The Lords Of Salem" is "a different movie for me. I hate calling it a horror movie because it's more than that. It's very much like a psychological terror film, and it's a very different style. The other films were very in-your-face violent. This is more like a total mindfuck movie, and it's just very different, but I'm very excited about it because the fans of what I've done will love it, but it's a very different trip than I've tried before because I didn't want to just go and do the same thing again — and after doing two 'Halloween' films in a row, I wanted to break the mold of anything like that — but very, very different."
The film stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Meg Foster, Ernest Thomas, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Torsten Voges, Bruce Davison, Billy Drago, Richard Lynch, Lisa Marie, Maria Conchita Alonso, Ken Foree, Barbara Crampton, Michael Berryman, Sid Haig, Judy Geeson, and Patricia Quinn.
Filmsynopsis: "A mysterious wooden box containing a vinyl record arrives for Heidi, a gift of the Lords. She assumes it's a rock band on a mission to spread to spread their word. As Heidi and Whitey play the Lord's record, it starts to play backwards, and Heidi experiences a flashback to a past trauma. Later, Whitey plays the Lord's record, dubbing them the Lords of Salem, and to his surprise, the record plays normally and is a massive hit with his listeners. The arrival of another wooden box from the Lords presents the Big H team with free tickets, posters and records to host a gig in Salem. Soon, Heidi and her cohorts are far from the rock spectacle they're expecting. The original Lords or Salem are returning and they're out for blood."
"The Lords Of Salem" is due for theatrical release later this year.
Zombie previously said he's had the idea for the movie for years, even before he recorded the song of the same name.
Zombie, who directed all his own music videos, made his debut as a feature film writer and director with 2003's "House Of 1000 Corpses".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y6_XMwTwVms
Whip up the barbecue atmosphere with a coffin for the red wine and a bloodstained grill apron. Thrash metal legends SLAYER are now launching a fitting outfit for their red wine Reign In Blood Red.
With its dark fruitiness and spicy hints of barrels, Slayer Reign In Blood Red is a must for all the summer's grilled dishes and BBQs. To complement the wine, you can now buy a gift box in the form of a coffin and a grill apron with that true thrash metal feeling — perfect when the flames reach high into the sky from a grill with juicy steaks.
SLAYER's agent Beverages Per Minute commissioned Brands For Fans to launch Reign In Blood Red from SLAYER — the band that defined the thrash metal genre.
Slayer Reign In Blood Red must have a packaging that does it justice. The label is the cockiest in the wine world and the coffin and apron adds a further dimension to the wine and the thrash metal that SLAYER stands for. The ultimate giveaway, says Sari H Wilholm at Brands For Fans.
The wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from California, is as uncomprimising and tough as the band. After a couple of Seasons in the Abyss, the wine has an undisputed attitude and a soft nose of dark berry fruits with oak and spicy nuances. Good mouth feel with hints of fresh fruit and juicy, smooth tannins. Well structured and rounded with subtle notes of oak, showing true Divine Intervention. Enjoy it while headbanging, riffing or with food, friends and great music. Reign in Wine!
Name: Slayer Reign In Blood Red Cabernet Sauvignon
Item no.: 74527
Vintage: 2010
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California, USA
Quantity: Case of 6 bottles
Price: SEK 714 per case of 6 bottles (only for the Swedish market)
With its dark fruitiness and spicy hints of barrels, Slayer Reign In Blood Red is a must for all the summer's grilled dishes and BBQs. To complement the wine, you can now buy a gift box in the form of a coffin and a grill apron with that true thrash metal feeling — perfect when the flames reach high into the sky from a grill with juicy steaks.
SLAYER's agent Beverages Per Minute commissioned Brands For Fans to launch Reign In Blood Red from SLAYER — the band that defined the thrash metal genre.
Slayer Reign In Blood Red must have a packaging that does it justice. The label is the cockiest in the wine world and the coffin and apron adds a further dimension to the wine and the thrash metal that SLAYER stands for. The ultimate giveaway, says Sari H Wilholm at Brands For Fans.
The wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from California, is as uncomprimising and tough as the band. After a couple of Seasons in the Abyss, the wine has an undisputed attitude and a soft nose of dark berry fruits with oak and spicy nuances. Good mouth feel with hints of fresh fruit and juicy, smooth tannins. Well structured and rounded with subtle notes of oak, showing true Divine Intervention. Enjoy it while headbanging, riffing or with food, friends and great music. Reign in Wine!
Name: Slayer Reign In Blood Red Cabernet Sauvignon
Item no.: 74527
Vintage: 2010
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California, USA
Quantity: Case of 6 bottles
Price: SEK 714 per case of 6 bottles (only for the Swedish market)
Former DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell revealed in April that he is planning to join forces with three other original DIO members to play "some gigs" that will see the musicians performing material from the early DIO records that Campbell appeared on. Dubbed LAST IN LINE, Campbell, Vinny Appice (drums), Jimmy Bain (bass) and Claude Schnell (keyboards) will be accompanied by singer Andrew Freeman, who has previously fronted HURRICANE and LYNCH MOB.
In a new Facebook posting, Campbell writes, "I played with the DIO guys again [Thursday] night and we managed to get through about 12 songs, but oh, so loud! In my entire career I've never before managed to wind-up a Marshall head to 10 until last night — and I STILL couldn't hear myself! Those guys have some pent-up frustration to let out. Gonna be big fun when we take this on the road, but I'm gonna need more horsepower."
In a recent interview with the MusicLegends.ca web site, Schnell stated about Andrew's performance at the first LAST IN LINE rehearsal, "He did an outstanding job, and if he didn't, I don't believe that he'd be the one that we'd be pursuing the project with. But he did a very, very good job. His online comments about 'preparing to be the world's most hated singer notwithstanding,' I think he's going to do a very credible and very impressive job of covering this material."
On the topic of LAST IN LINE's setlist, Schnell said, "Well, it's largely gonna be material from the first three albums — 'Holy Diver', 'The Last In Line' and 'Sacred Heart' — the albums on which Viv played. I don't think we're gonna be doing any material from the albums on which Craig [Goldy, Vivian's replacement in DIO] played and the later incarnations of the band. But, fortunately, there is no shortage of material and hits on those first few records, so you can count on 'Rainbow In The Dark' and 'Holy Diver' and 'Rock And Roll Children', and so forth and so on. The list goes on and on, on and on."
Regarding LAST IN LINE's touring plans, Schnell said, "We've been putting out some feelers and getting some kind of feedback about… Actually, [there is] a very strong international interest in seeing this back on the road. Again, this is all kind of very ironic and surprising, because quite honestly, initially, the only interest in doing this is a bunch of friends getting together to have a play and socialize a little bit and kind of catch up. But, like I said, it just seemed so organic once we started playing that the notion of doing it more than once seemed inevitable. And, of course, with that being considered, then it was an obvious conclusion that, 'Well, let's see if anybody would be interested in hearing this.' Needless to say, the ears that were listening within the rehearsal hall were on fire. There was an awful lot of, 'Hey, that sounds like that band from way back when.'"
Campbell and Ronnie James Dio worked together on the first three DIO albums 1983's "Holy Diver", 1984's "The Last in Line" and 1985's "Sacred Heart" — before Irishman Campbell left to join WHITESNAKE in 1987. Their subsequent relationship was strained, to say the least.
In a new Facebook posting, Campbell writes, "I played with the DIO guys again [Thursday] night and we managed to get through about 12 songs, but oh, so loud! In my entire career I've never before managed to wind-up a Marshall head to 10 until last night — and I STILL couldn't hear myself! Those guys have some pent-up frustration to let out. Gonna be big fun when we take this on the road, but I'm gonna need more horsepower."
In a recent interview with the MusicLegends.ca web site, Schnell stated about Andrew's performance at the first LAST IN LINE rehearsal, "He did an outstanding job, and if he didn't, I don't believe that he'd be the one that we'd be pursuing the project with. But he did a very, very good job. His online comments about 'preparing to be the world's most hated singer notwithstanding,' I think he's going to do a very credible and very impressive job of covering this material."
On the topic of LAST IN LINE's setlist, Schnell said, "Well, it's largely gonna be material from the first three albums — 'Holy Diver', 'The Last In Line' and 'Sacred Heart' — the albums on which Viv played. I don't think we're gonna be doing any material from the albums on which Craig [Goldy, Vivian's replacement in DIO] played and the later incarnations of the band. But, fortunately, there is no shortage of material and hits on those first few records, so you can count on 'Rainbow In The Dark' and 'Holy Diver' and 'Rock And Roll Children', and so forth and so on. The list goes on and on, on and on."
Regarding LAST IN LINE's touring plans, Schnell said, "We've been putting out some feelers and getting some kind of feedback about… Actually, [there is] a very strong international interest in seeing this back on the road. Again, this is all kind of very ironic and surprising, because quite honestly, initially, the only interest in doing this is a bunch of friends getting together to have a play and socialize a little bit and kind of catch up. But, like I said, it just seemed so organic once we started playing that the notion of doing it more than once seemed inevitable. And, of course, with that being considered, then it was an obvious conclusion that, 'Well, let's see if anybody would be interested in hearing this.' Needless to say, the ears that were listening within the rehearsal hall were on fire. There was an awful lot of, 'Hey, that sounds like that band from way back when.'"
Campbell and Ronnie James Dio worked together on the first three DIO albums 1983's "Holy Diver", 1984's "The Last in Line" and 1985's "Sacred Heart" — before Irishman Campbell left to join WHITESNAKE in 1987. Their subsequent relationship was strained, to say the least.
RISING WEST, the new band featuring Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren of QUEENSRŸCHE, along with powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY, made its live debut last night (Friday, June 8) at the Hard Rock Café in Seattle, Washington. The band performed rare and classic hits from the first five QUEENSRŸCHE albums — from the 1983 EP through 1990's "Empire" — as well as a cover version of the IRON MAIDEN staple "Wrathchild".
RISING WEST's setlist was as follows:
01. Queen Of The Reich
02. Speak
03. Walk In The Shadows
04. En Force
05. Child Of Fire
06. The Whisper
07. Warning
08. The Needle Lies
09. Take Hold Of The Flame
10. Prophecy
11. My Empty Room
12. Eyes Of A Stranger
Encore:
13. Wrathchild (IRON MAIDEN cover)
14. Roads To Madness
RISING WEST, will play another show at Seattle's Hard Rock Café tonight (Saturday, June 9).
Speaking to "The Men's Room" radio show, which airs on the Seattle station KISW 99.9 FM, Wilton stated about the formation of RISING WEST and the status of QUEENSRŸCHE, "We have some time off this year, so we put a project and this kind of turned into this monumental, epic band. And we're doing that as kind of a side thing away from QUEENSRŸCHE." He added, "We still very much are QUEENSRŸCHE, and QUEENSRŸCHE will be continuing on. We want to just have some fun, play some old 'RŸCHE, bring back some memories and just kick it."
Regarding his involvement with RISING WEST, Todd said, "For me to be able to come in and be asked to perform these songs is an honor. It's a lot of fun. I have personal attachment to some of these songs. When my grandmother passed away, I remember riding in my car and listening to the [QUEENSRŸCHE] song 'Roads To Madness'. I mean, these songs resonate with me in a different way. So when I sing it, it comes from my heart."
RISING WEST's setlist was as follows:
01. Queen Of The Reich
02. Speak
03. Walk In The Shadows
04. En Force
05. Child Of Fire
06. The Whisper
07. Warning
08. The Needle Lies
09. Take Hold Of The Flame
10. Prophecy
11. My Empty Room
12. Eyes Of A Stranger
Encore:
13. Wrathchild (IRON MAIDEN cover)
14. Roads To Madness
RISING WEST, will play another show at Seattle's Hard Rock Café tonight (Saturday, June 9).
Speaking to "The Men's Room" radio show, which airs on the Seattle station KISW 99.9 FM, Wilton stated about the formation of RISING WEST and the status of QUEENSRŸCHE, "We have some time off this year, so we put a project and this kind of turned into this monumental, epic band. And we're doing that as kind of a side thing away from QUEENSRŸCHE." He added, "We still very much are QUEENSRŸCHE, and QUEENSRŸCHE will be continuing on. We want to just have some fun, play some old 'RŸCHE, bring back some memories and just kick it."
Regarding his involvement with RISING WEST, Todd said, "For me to be able to come in and be asked to perform these songs is an honor. It's a lot of fun. I have personal attachment to some of these songs. When my grandmother passed away, I remember riding in my car and listening to the [QUEENSRŸCHE] song 'Roads To Madness'. I mean, these songs resonate with me in a different way. So when I sing it, it comes from my heart."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/risingwestlive2.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/risingwestlive1.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/risingwestshow.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/risingwestsetlist.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/risingwestlogo.jpg
Florida melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY have released the following statement regarding their singer Todd La Torre's involvement with RISING WEST, the new band featuring Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren of QUEENSRŸCHE:
"We are all behind Todd 100% on this. He is a brilliant, eloquent and incredibly skilled vocalist; that's why we were so happy to have him onboard with CRIMSON GLORY in the first place. It was only a matter of time before word got around and his performances were seen by the right people, that everyone would know who Todd La Torre was.
"QUEENSRŸCHE is another great example of how a band can create a legacy that is endless; we're proud to stand with them against the test of time as some of the original pioneers of progressive metal here in the U.S.
"Since we share so many of the same fans, we truly see this as a great opportunity not just for Todd, but for the fans as well.
"CRIMSON GLORY has always had a very devout following of fans, but QUEENSRŸCHE has obviously had a more far-reaching effect on the mainstream metal movement, and so we see this as a great opportunity for many of their fans to get to know our music better. Above all, Todd has been a fan of QUEENSRŸCHE for so long, and for him to have the chance to be a part of their next chapter (as RISING WEST) is a dream come true for him, and for us as as his friends as well. When he came to us with this, we supported him and encouraged him to go for it. The world deserves to have as much Todd as it can handle!
"Of course, Todd is still the singer for CRIMSON GLORY, he is a part of our family and that will never change. We are still writing the new record and we will be adding more tour dates later this year."
RISING WEST will make its live debut on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9 at the Hard Rock Café in Seattle, Washington. The band will perform rare and classic hits from the first five QUEENSRŸCHE albums — from the 1983 EP through 1990's "Empire" — and plans on hitting the studio sometime early summer to begin recording its first release.
La Torre, who says that QUEENSRŸCHE has been his favorite band since he was 15 years old, first met Wilton at this year's NAMM convention in January in Anaheim, California.
"Just for the record and for those asking about CRIMSON GLORY, I am NOT leaving CRIMSON GLORY, I am embarking on another musical endeavor with the members of QUEENSRŸCHE," Todd wrote in an online posting. "I am proud and honored to be a part of this! CRIMSON GLORY is still writing new material for our record, DO NOT WORRY This is going to be an amazing new chapter."
He added, "The media and 'fans' can be quite brutal, but I would like to say thank you for all of your amazing support.
"I have nothing but respect for what Geoff Tate has done to the genre. His voice is still amazing. The only thing that is constant is change. I hope the fans of QUEENSRŸCHE, and I'm one of them, will continue to show respect for him and all he has accomplished."
"We are all behind Todd 100% on this. He is a brilliant, eloquent and incredibly skilled vocalist; that's why we were so happy to have him onboard with CRIMSON GLORY in the first place. It was only a matter of time before word got around and his performances were seen by the right people, that everyone would know who Todd La Torre was.
"QUEENSRŸCHE is another great example of how a band can create a legacy that is endless; we're proud to stand with them against the test of time as some of the original pioneers of progressive metal here in the U.S.
"Since we share so many of the same fans, we truly see this as a great opportunity not just for Todd, but for the fans as well.
"CRIMSON GLORY has always had a very devout following of fans, but QUEENSRŸCHE has obviously had a more far-reaching effect on the mainstream metal movement, and so we see this as a great opportunity for many of their fans to get to know our music better. Above all, Todd has been a fan of QUEENSRŸCHE for so long, and for him to have the chance to be a part of their next chapter (as RISING WEST) is a dream come true for him, and for us as as his friends as well. When he came to us with this, we supported him and encouraged him to go for it. The world deserves to have as much Todd as it can handle!
"Of course, Todd is still the singer for CRIMSON GLORY, he is a part of our family and that will never change. We are still writing the new record and we will be adding more tour dates later this year."
RISING WEST will make its live debut on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9 at the Hard Rock Café in Seattle, Washington. The band will perform rare and classic hits from the first five QUEENSRŸCHE albums — from the 1983 EP through 1990's "Empire" — and plans on hitting the studio sometime early summer to begin recording its first release.
La Torre, who says that QUEENSRŸCHE has been his favorite band since he was 15 years old, first met Wilton at this year's NAMM convention in January in Anaheim, California.
"Just for the record and for those asking about CRIMSON GLORY, I am NOT leaving CRIMSON GLORY, I am embarking on another musical endeavor with the members of QUEENSRŸCHE," Todd wrote in an online posting. "I am proud and honored to be a part of this! CRIMSON GLORY is still writing new material for our record, DO NOT WORRY This is going to be an amazing new chapter."
He added, "The media and 'fans' can be quite brutal, but I would like to say thank you for all of your amazing support.
"I have nothing but respect for what Geoff Tate has done to the genre. His voice is still amazing. The only thing that is constant is change. I hope the fans of QUEENSRŸCHE, and I'm one of them, will continue to show respect for him and all he has accomplished."
RISING WEST, the new band featuring Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren of QUEENSRŸCHE, along with powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY, will make its live debut on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9 at the Hard Rock Café in Seattle, Washington. The band will perform rare and classic hits from the first five QUEENSRŸCHE albums — from the 1983 EP through 1990's "Empire" — and plans on hitting the studio sometime early summer to begin recording its first release.
Commented La Torre: "Heading to rehearsal soon, then time to get ready for metal history, as for the first time in history, the QUEENSRŸCHE musicians will be fronted by another vocalist in 30 years. I couldn't be more proud, happy, and hungry to unleash the metal fury tonight!!! My range is at its best. Bring your earplugs 'cuz they just might bleed."
Commented La Torre: "Heading to rehearsal soon, then time to get ready for metal history, as for the first time in history, the QUEENSRŸCHE musicians will be fronted by another vocalist in 30 years. I couldn't be more proud, happy, and hungry to unleash the metal fury tonight!!! My range is at its best. Bring your earplugs 'cuz they just might bleed."
Niclas Müller-Hansen of Sweden's Metalshrine recently conducted an interview with TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metalshrine: What was it that made you write [yout autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic"] and why now? Is it something you've been thinking of doing for a long time?
Dee Snider: No, I wasn't thinking about writing a book at all, but one of my friends, who's now become one of my managers, said, "Man, you've got great stories to tell. You should write a book!" And I said, "Yeah, people keep saying that, but no one's ever made me an offer." He goes, "I'll get you a book deal." And so he got me a major offer from a major publisher in the States. They said, "What do you wanna write about?" and I said, "Well, I'd like to write about my rise and my fall." They said, "Your rise and your fall?" I said "Yeah, I wanna tell the story of deciding I wanna be a rock star, struggling being a rock star, achieving stardom and then losing everything." And that's the story I told, which is a different story than virtually anybody else has told. I wrote it by myself and I don't know. I mean, I think there are enough books out there about sex, drugs and rock and roll and god knows what's true and what's not. I think it's important to share the real story with people. Share your struggles, share your dreams, share your pain and share your failures. It's important for heroes to be fallible and it's not to be more heroic. It's just to let people know, you know, that people fall down, people screw up and we all have dreams, it's not easy and maybe it's through your success and your failure everybody gets something out of it. They learn something, get an inspiration or maybe they go, "Whoa, I'm not gonna do that! Man, he's an idiot!" and that's OK, too. You know, I've got a brother who swears that watching me crash and burn just sort of changed him as a person. He's so cautious and he goes, "I never wanna see that happen to me. You were just so cavalier and I couldn't live with that kinda failure." Then I've done my job. [laughs]
Metalshrine: I interviewed Jay Jay [French, TWISTED SISTER guitarist] a few years ago and I've read recent interviews with you and you both keep saying that no one wants to hear a new TWISTED SISTER album, but have you heard VAN HALEN's new one?
Dee: Yes.
Metalshrine: They took a bunch of old demos and it sounds awesome. Classic VAN HALEN and couldn't you do something like that with TWISTED SISTER and give it that classic '80s sound? Not trying to be like 2012.
Dee: I don't know what VAN HALEN sold record-wise?
Metalshrine: I think it's around 400,000 copies in the U.S. so far, which is pretty good these days.
Dee: Exactly. That's VAN HALEN. They're much bigger than TWISTED SISTER, so reduce that by the proper amount and you get down to 40-60,000 copies. Not that it's all about money, but for me… I call it going back to the future. I expect the doctor, what's his name, "Great Scott, Marty! They put an '80s album in the 2010s. Let's hope they don't see each other, because it will break the space time continuum!" [All in the voice of Christopher Lloyd] I'm just so passionate about what I'm doing next that I just don't feel motivated. Even if it was the biggest-selling record in the world. Well, if it was gonna be the biggest-selling record in the world, maybe. Fans don't wanna hear a new record and then when you make an old-sounding record, they're just like, "Eh, it sounds like the old stuff." It's not timely. You're not gonna get radio airplay, you're not gonna get TV or video airplay, there's no stories to carry itself. You've got no outlet. I host an '80s retro show and we never play new music. That's not me. That's the radio station and the producers. I say, "Just give them a taste! Just play the first chorus!" We talk about the new record, saying, "Well, RATT's back in the studio and they've got a new one called "Defecator" coming out. It's a sphincter with some shit hanging out of the ass." No reflection on the writer and they say, "Nobody wants to hear it." And I've said it before, it's the bathroom song. New material has always been the fucking bathroom song, even going back to seeing ZEPPELIN do "Kashmir" before the album came out. "This one's off the new record. It's called 'Kashmir'." [Dee stands up and walks away.] "You wanna beer?" It's fucking "Kashmir"! You wanna go, "Where the fuck are you going? Sit your fucking fat as down!" I just don't see it happening.
Metalshrine: But you did the Broadway thing? What was the thought and the plan behind that?
Dee: Sheer insanity. It's one of those insane things. I got an idea and everybody said, "You're fucking nuts!" and I said, "Maybe so, but I wanna do it if somebody is willing to put up a little money to have me do it." I had more fun doing it… Again, something new, something challenging, something that allowed me to take chances and expand and you can't really do that in TWISTED SISTER. People don't wanna hear a more musical TWISTED SISTER, you know. They don't wanna hear QUEEN vocals on a TWISTED SISTER record or orchestration and I wanna be able to challenge myself. Reviews of the record have been 99% positive and 1% I think haven't even listened to it. People listening to it either love it or "I gotta admit, I like it. I'm surprised. I didn't expect to like it." And I didn't expect everybody to like it. I didn't know if anybody was gonna buy it or if they were gonna sell it or who would play it or what they'd do with it, but I wanted to do it. That was the challenge. It's just a matter of what's challenging.
Metalshrine: I was kinda wondering and it hasn't really anything to do with music, but I just celebrated 10 years this last Friday with my wife. You've been married for 31 years and you've been in the rock and roll business longer.
Dee: We've been together 36 years.
Metalshrine: How do you do that? With all the temptations and the drugs and booze and rehab and you're still there. One of few in the business I guess.
Dee: You know, actually, I have a list and I've been studying the subject and there's a long list of entertainers with long marriages and there's a commonality. One of the commonalities in this long list, which includes Bono, Bon Jovi, Brad Whitford, Dennis Dunaway from ALICE COOPER, Alice Cooper himself, but I've noticed in the entertainment industry that… Paul Newman with Joanne, Mel Brooks who was with Anne Bancroft, Kevin Bacon… 99% don't live in Las Vegas, Miami or L.A.
Metalshrine: Well, that might have something to do with it. [laughs]
Dee: They live with a degree of normalcy and they remove themselves from temptations. That is the key. Not drinking… Look, I'm a dude. We're all dogs and we all want to. It's a matter of are we domesticated enough to not? By not drinking and not doing drugs, your resistance isn't weakened by not accepting the invitation to the grotto at the Playboy mansion. You have a better chance of not fucking up. It's boring, but I've opted to say, "OK, I'm not going to that party. I'm not gonna get high, because if I do, I'm gonna fuck everything in the room and that's the end of my life." It's the end of my life, of my family, my relationship, the money I've earned, everything gone. So, I will tell you, young master, the longer you go without, the easier it gets. The less of a reality it becomes. You still see them and you still go, "Damn!" There was one at the book signing today and I turned around and said, "In another life. I'm not doing it, but in another life." It does get easier. On a marriage level, my wife says the key for her is she is my wife and my mistress and she acts like it. 36 years in, she takes care of herself and surprises me all the time. As a matter of fact, she surprised me on my cell phone earlier today. "Oh, Jesus, this is awesome!" The toughest picture I've ever deleted. Can't take a chance of that being discovered or hacked. [laughs] On your end, just say yes. It's not masochistic, it's not sexist. Women internalize, we externalize. We process and then we pronounce, they say it and wanna hear it.
Metalshrine: What was it that made you write [yout autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic"] and why now? Is it something you've been thinking of doing for a long time?
Dee Snider: No, I wasn't thinking about writing a book at all, but one of my friends, who's now become one of my managers, said, "Man, you've got great stories to tell. You should write a book!" And I said, "Yeah, people keep saying that, but no one's ever made me an offer." He goes, "I'll get you a book deal." And so he got me a major offer from a major publisher in the States. They said, "What do you wanna write about?" and I said, "Well, I'd like to write about my rise and my fall." They said, "Your rise and your fall?" I said "Yeah, I wanna tell the story of deciding I wanna be a rock star, struggling being a rock star, achieving stardom and then losing everything." And that's the story I told, which is a different story than virtually anybody else has told. I wrote it by myself and I don't know. I mean, I think there are enough books out there about sex, drugs and rock and roll and god knows what's true and what's not. I think it's important to share the real story with people. Share your struggles, share your dreams, share your pain and share your failures. It's important for heroes to be fallible and it's not to be more heroic. It's just to let people know, you know, that people fall down, people screw up and we all have dreams, it's not easy and maybe it's through your success and your failure everybody gets something out of it. They learn something, get an inspiration or maybe they go, "Whoa, I'm not gonna do that! Man, he's an idiot!" and that's OK, too. You know, I've got a brother who swears that watching me crash and burn just sort of changed him as a person. He's so cautious and he goes, "I never wanna see that happen to me. You were just so cavalier and I couldn't live with that kinda failure." Then I've done my job. [laughs]
Metalshrine: I interviewed Jay Jay [French, TWISTED SISTER guitarist] a few years ago and I've read recent interviews with you and you both keep saying that no one wants to hear a new TWISTED SISTER album, but have you heard VAN HALEN's new one?
Dee: Yes.
Metalshrine: They took a bunch of old demos and it sounds awesome. Classic VAN HALEN and couldn't you do something like that with TWISTED SISTER and give it that classic '80s sound? Not trying to be like 2012.
Dee: I don't know what VAN HALEN sold record-wise?
Metalshrine: I think it's around 400,000 copies in the U.S. so far, which is pretty good these days.
Dee: Exactly. That's VAN HALEN. They're much bigger than TWISTED SISTER, so reduce that by the proper amount and you get down to 40-60,000 copies. Not that it's all about money, but for me… I call it going back to the future. I expect the doctor, what's his name, "Great Scott, Marty! They put an '80s album in the 2010s. Let's hope they don't see each other, because it will break the space time continuum!" [All in the voice of Christopher Lloyd] I'm just so passionate about what I'm doing next that I just don't feel motivated. Even if it was the biggest-selling record in the world. Well, if it was gonna be the biggest-selling record in the world, maybe. Fans don't wanna hear a new record and then when you make an old-sounding record, they're just like, "Eh, it sounds like the old stuff." It's not timely. You're not gonna get radio airplay, you're not gonna get TV or video airplay, there's no stories to carry itself. You've got no outlet. I host an '80s retro show and we never play new music. That's not me. That's the radio station and the producers. I say, "Just give them a taste! Just play the first chorus!" We talk about the new record, saying, "Well, RATT's back in the studio and they've got a new one called "Defecator" coming out. It's a sphincter with some shit hanging out of the ass." No reflection on the writer and they say, "Nobody wants to hear it." And I've said it before, it's the bathroom song. New material has always been the fucking bathroom song, even going back to seeing ZEPPELIN do "Kashmir" before the album came out. "This one's off the new record. It's called 'Kashmir'." [Dee stands up and walks away.] "You wanna beer?" It's fucking "Kashmir"! You wanna go, "Where the fuck are you going? Sit your fucking fat as down!" I just don't see it happening.
Metalshrine: But you did the Broadway thing? What was the thought and the plan behind that?
Dee: Sheer insanity. It's one of those insane things. I got an idea and everybody said, "You're fucking nuts!" and I said, "Maybe so, but I wanna do it if somebody is willing to put up a little money to have me do it." I had more fun doing it… Again, something new, something challenging, something that allowed me to take chances and expand and you can't really do that in TWISTED SISTER. People don't wanna hear a more musical TWISTED SISTER, you know. They don't wanna hear QUEEN vocals on a TWISTED SISTER record or orchestration and I wanna be able to challenge myself. Reviews of the record have been 99% positive and 1% I think haven't even listened to it. People listening to it either love it or "I gotta admit, I like it. I'm surprised. I didn't expect to like it." And I didn't expect everybody to like it. I didn't know if anybody was gonna buy it or if they were gonna sell it or who would play it or what they'd do with it, but I wanted to do it. That was the challenge. It's just a matter of what's challenging.
Metalshrine: I was kinda wondering and it hasn't really anything to do with music, but I just celebrated 10 years this last Friday with my wife. You've been married for 31 years and you've been in the rock and roll business longer.
Dee: We've been together 36 years.
Metalshrine: How do you do that? With all the temptations and the drugs and booze and rehab and you're still there. One of few in the business I guess.
Dee: You know, actually, I have a list and I've been studying the subject and there's a long list of entertainers with long marriages and there's a commonality. One of the commonalities in this long list, which includes Bono, Bon Jovi, Brad Whitford, Dennis Dunaway from ALICE COOPER, Alice Cooper himself, but I've noticed in the entertainment industry that… Paul Newman with Joanne, Mel Brooks who was with Anne Bancroft, Kevin Bacon… 99% don't live in Las Vegas, Miami or L.A.
Metalshrine: Well, that might have something to do with it. [laughs]
Dee: They live with a degree of normalcy and they remove themselves from temptations. That is the key. Not drinking… Look, I'm a dude. We're all dogs and we all want to. It's a matter of are we domesticated enough to not? By not drinking and not doing drugs, your resistance isn't weakened by not accepting the invitation to the grotto at the Playboy mansion. You have a better chance of not fucking up. It's boring, but I've opted to say, "OK, I'm not going to that party. I'm not gonna get high, because if I do, I'm gonna fuck everything in the room and that's the end of my life." It's the end of my life, of my family, my relationship, the money I've earned, everything gone. So, I will tell you, young master, the longer you go without, the easier it gets. The less of a reality it becomes. You still see them and you still go, "Damn!" There was one at the book signing today and I turned around and said, "In another life. I'm not doing it, but in another life." It does get easier. On a marriage level, my wife says the key for her is she is my wife and my mistress and she acts like it. 36 years in, she takes care of herself and surprises me all the time. As a matter of fact, she surprised me on my cell phone earlier today. "Oh, Jesus, this is awesome!" The toughest picture I've ever deleted. Can't take a chance of that being discovered or hacked. [laughs] On your end, just say yes. It's not masochistic, it's not sexist. Women internalize, we externalize. We process and then we pronounce, they say it and wanna hear it.
Down Boys Records, the record label that was created in 2001 by WARRANT members Erik Turner (guitar) and Jerry Dixon (bass), has officially released the ADLER'S APPETITE "Alive" EP. There is a digital as well as a limited-edition physical release.
"Alive" EP track listing:
01. Alive
02. Stardog
03. Fading
04. Alive (bonus track instrumental)
"Alive" EP recording lineup:
Steven Adler - Drums
Chip Z'Nuff - Bass
Rick Stitch - Vocals
Alex Grossi - Guitars
Michael Thomas - Guitars
ADLER'S APPETITE in April 2011 recruited singer Patrick Stone (ACES 'N' EIGHTS) and guitarist Lonnie Paul following the departures of Rick Stitch and Alex Grossi.
"Alive" EP track listing:
01. Alive
02. Stardog
03. Fading
04. Alive (bonus track instrumental)
"Alive" EP recording lineup:
Steven Adler - Drums
Chip Z'Nuff - Bass
Rick Stitch - Vocals
Alex Grossi - Guitars
Michael Thomas - Guitars
ADLER'S APPETITE in April 2011 recruited singer Patrick Stone (ACES 'N' EIGHTS) and guitarist Lonnie Paul following the departures of Rick Stitch and Alex Grossi.
LYNCH MOB has tapped Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE) as its new touring drummer for the upcoming summer shows in support of the band's new release.
LYNCH MOB, coming off a highly praised performance at this year's M3 Rock Festival in May, entered the studio energized and ready to rock! The fruits of their labor, entitled "Sound Mountain Sessions", will be released in July, with "Slow Drag" hitting the airwaves in the upcoming weeks.
Upcoming LYNCH MOB shows:
Jun. 22 - Idaho Falls, ID - Rockin' The Falls
Jul. 06 - Lombard, IL - Taste Of Lombard
Jul. 28 - Royalton, MN - Halfway Jam
Aug. 18 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Theater (w/ CINDERELLA, SEBASTIAN BACH)
Mar 16 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Monsters Of Rock Cruise (2013)
LYNCH MOB 2012 is:
Oni Logan - vocals
George Lynch - guitar
Robbie Crane - bass
Brian Tichy - drums
On June 19, Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records will release a special three-disc audio/video deluxe collection of LYNCH MOB's "REvolution". The set features the full-length studio album "REvolution" with killer, supercharged renditions of classic DOKKEN/LYNCH MOB tracks such as "Tooth And Nail", "Breaking The Chains", "Wicked Sensation" and more. It also includes professionally filmed live performances recorded during the 2005 "REvolution" tour, mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound.
LYNCH MOB's comeback album, "Smoke And Mirrors", was released in Europe on September 18, 2009 (October 13, 2009 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records. The recording lineup on the CD included Lynch and singer Oni Logan alongside bassist Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY) and drummer Scot Coogan (BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, ACE FREHLEY).
Lynch has joined forces with fellow former/current DOKKEN members Jeff Pilson (bass) and Mick Brown (drums) in a new project called T&N (formerly TOOTH AND NAIL). The band's debut album is tentatively due later in the year. The CD will feature new original material as well as reworked versions of around five or six DOKKEN classics.
Lynch's eleventh solo album in nearly twenty years, "Kill All Control", was released last July via Rocket Science, Inc.
LYNCH MOB, coming off a highly praised performance at this year's M3 Rock Festival in May, entered the studio energized and ready to rock! The fruits of their labor, entitled "Sound Mountain Sessions", will be released in July, with "Slow Drag" hitting the airwaves in the upcoming weeks.
Upcoming LYNCH MOB shows:
Jun. 22 - Idaho Falls, ID - Rockin' The Falls
Jul. 06 - Lombard, IL - Taste Of Lombard
Jul. 28 - Royalton, MN - Halfway Jam
Aug. 18 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Theater (w/ CINDERELLA, SEBASTIAN BACH)
Mar 16 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Monsters Of Rock Cruise (2013)
LYNCH MOB 2012 is:
Oni Logan - vocals
George Lynch - guitar
Robbie Crane - bass
Brian Tichy - drums
On June 19, Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records will release a special three-disc audio/video deluxe collection of LYNCH MOB's "REvolution". The set features the full-length studio album "REvolution" with killer, supercharged renditions of classic DOKKEN/LYNCH MOB tracks such as "Tooth And Nail", "Breaking The Chains", "Wicked Sensation" and more. It also includes professionally filmed live performances recorded during the 2005 "REvolution" tour, mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound.
LYNCH MOB's comeback album, "Smoke And Mirrors", was released in Europe on September 18, 2009 (October 13, 2009 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records. The recording lineup on the CD included Lynch and singer Oni Logan alongside bassist Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY) and drummer Scot Coogan (BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, ACE FREHLEY).
Lynch has joined forces with fellow former/current DOKKEN members Jeff Pilson (bass) and Mick Brown (drums) in a new project called T&N (formerly TOOTH AND NAIL). The band's debut album is tentatively due later in the year. The CD will feature new original material as well as reworked versions of around five or six DOKKEN classics.
Lynch's eleventh solo album in nearly twenty years, "Kill All Control", was released last July via Rocket Science, Inc.
BIG NOIZE, the band featuring Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL) on drums, Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL, VINCE NEIL) on bass and Carlos Cavazo (QUIET RIOT, RATT) on guitar, will be joined by singer Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW) for their July 14 performance at the Kavarna Rock festival at Kaliakra Stadium in Kavarna, Bulgaria. Bach will be filling in for regular BIG NOIZE singer Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), who is apparently unable to make the gig.
Formed in 2007, BIG NOIZE performs classic-rock hits, has played a select number of dates over the years, including the M3 Rock Festival, domestic dates, dates as far as Europe, Spain, Brazil and even a special trip to Kuwait and Iraq, to entertain the brave men and women of our military forces.
While some classic rock musicians have formed successful "all-star" bands, what is unique about BIG NOIZE is its heritage and concept. All members have a related and connected past. The artists they are associated with have featured many of the same musicians and shared the same fans: OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, QUIET RIOT, RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE. A BIG NOIZE concert is a tribute to the bands that the members were integral parts of and a reunion for their extensive and loyal fan base. The setlist is a powerhouse of anthems that topped rock and pop charts in the '70s and '80s and reads like a classic radio playlist, including:
* "Shot In The Dark" - OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Crazy Train" - OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Smoke On The Water" - DEEP PURPLE
* "Highway Star" - DEEP PURPLE
* "Cum On Feel The Noize" - QUIET RIOT
* "Bang Your Head" - QUIET RIOT
* "Rainbow In The Dark" - DIO
* "Last In Line" - DIO
* "Mob Rules" - BLACK SABBATH
* "Long Live Rock And Roll" - RAINBOW
* "Street of Dreams" - RAINBOW
* "Stone Cold" – RAINBOW
Formed in 2007, BIG NOIZE performs classic-rock hits, has played a select number of dates over the years, including the M3 Rock Festival, domestic dates, dates as far as Europe, Spain, Brazil and even a special trip to Kuwait and Iraq, to entertain the brave men and women of our military forces.
While some classic rock musicians have formed successful "all-star" bands, what is unique about BIG NOIZE is its heritage and concept. All members have a related and connected past. The artists they are associated with have featured many of the same musicians and shared the same fans: OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, QUIET RIOT, RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE. A BIG NOIZE concert is a tribute to the bands that the members were integral parts of and a reunion for their extensive and loyal fan base. The setlist is a powerhouse of anthems that topped rock and pop charts in the '70s and '80s and reads like a classic radio playlist, including:
* "Shot In The Dark" - OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Crazy Train" - OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Smoke On The Water" - DEEP PURPLE
* "Highway Star" - DEEP PURPLE
* "Cum On Feel The Noize" - QUIET RIOT
* "Bang Your Head" - QUIET RIOT
* "Rainbow In The Dark" - DIO
* "Last In Line" - DIO
* "Mob Rules" - BLACK SABBATH
* "Long Live Rock And Roll" - RAINBOW
* "Street of Dreams" - RAINBOW
* "Stone Cold" – RAINBOW
KAMELOT's official Facebook page has been updated with a brand new interview with the band's guitarist/mainman Thomas Youngblood. The question-and-answer session follows below.
Q: So how are recordings [for the new KAMELOT album] going?
Thomas: It's going fantastic!! We just finished the choir sessions and they feature some amazing guests including Amanda Somerville [TRILLIUM, AVANTASIA] and Elize Ryd [AMARANTHE].
Q: Elize Ryd has been announced to guest on the album. Any other guests you can reveal?
Thomas: Yes, Elize has been part of the KAMELOT tour for two years now and we wanted to feature her on the new album. She sounds amazing! We have some surprises still in store for guests. Stay tuned.
Q: You signed new record deals for the new album. How did that come about?
Thomas: We were approached by many record companies. The offers were very good. In the end, we wanted to work with people that had the right vision for us now and in the future. The band is still growing and we are working with people that are 100 percent committed to KAMELOT and our fans.
Q: The new album's been announced to recall albums like "Karma" [2001] or "The Black Halo" [2005]. Can we talk about a return to KAMELOT roots or will you keep something of the dark atmosphere of "Poetry For The Poisoned" [2010]?
Thomas: The dark mood will be there, but I feel we missed some melodic aspects in the music over the last few releases. The theme of the album is quite dark and the storyline is a bit dark, so to speak. The music came out really beautiful, lush, melodic and really special. Working with Oliver [Palotai, keyboards], [producer] Sascha [Paeth; EDGUY, AVANTASIA, RHAPSODY] and our new vocalist proved to be an amazing experience.
Q: Have you heard anymore from [former KAMELOT singer] Roy [Khan]?
Thomas: Before making the final choice on the new singer, we did correspond via e-mail. I know he's in good health, working in Norway. When he quit KAMELOT, he also chose to quit the music business and seems to be very happy. A page is turned, it's a new era for KAMELOT! It's very exciting and I can already tell you it's gonna be great.
Q: Looking forward to introducing the new singer to your fans?
Thomas: First, I have to say the fans will love the new singer. We love what we hear and that was the biggest test. Of course, there will be fans that hold on to the past and I understand that, but things change and you can either move forward or live in the past. I was humbled by the amount of singers that applied for the spot, some totally unknown and others are names that every metal fan would know. In the end, we chose the guy that fits KAMELOT in terms of sound, writing and image.
Q: Can fans expect more studio videos, like with the "On The Road" series?
Thomas: Since we are recording in different studios, it's a bit difficult to do the "On The Road"-style videos. Also I feel it takes some of magic out and mystery regarding the studio sessions. We have a few clips we may feature on the bonus disc of the upcoming digipak and deluxe version of the new album. But the "On The Road" series will crank back up very soon; you will all get a sneak peek into the KAMELOT life on tour. And if you come to the shows, you will also be on video, if you want!!
Q: How many tracks on the new album?
Thomas: Looks like 10 tracks and some bonus tracks for each region. We will release a limited digipak, deluxe digipak, double-fold vinyl, and limited-edition box set with lots of goodies for the hardcore fans!!
Q: Will you play some of the new songs on summer festivals?
Thomas: We are discussing the setlist now. At the moment we have the idea to play at least one new song.
Q: At fall 2012, you will embark for a massive tour throughout North America and Europe. What can you say about it? And can we expect a world tour to follow?
Thomas: We plan to visit our favorite cities, bringing the new stage setup and lighting package. We also plan to visit new countries and regions that are not as frequently visited in 2013. Expect some serious and mega fun concerts on the horizon.
Q: Final words about the past months and the months to come?
Thomas: Thanks for the support of all KAMELOT fans, old and new, young and old and in every corner of the globe! Your trust and faith in us has been inspiring and with the new album and tour we will all celebrate together!
Q: So how are recordings [for the new KAMELOT album] going?
Thomas: It's going fantastic!! We just finished the choir sessions and they feature some amazing guests including Amanda Somerville [TRILLIUM, AVANTASIA] and Elize Ryd [AMARANTHE].
Q: Elize Ryd has been announced to guest on the album. Any other guests you can reveal?
Thomas: Yes, Elize has been part of the KAMELOT tour for two years now and we wanted to feature her on the new album. She sounds amazing! We have some surprises still in store for guests. Stay tuned.
Q: You signed new record deals for the new album. How did that come about?
Thomas: We were approached by many record companies. The offers were very good. In the end, we wanted to work with people that had the right vision for us now and in the future. The band is still growing and we are working with people that are 100 percent committed to KAMELOT and our fans.
Q: The new album's been announced to recall albums like "Karma" [2001] or "The Black Halo" [2005]. Can we talk about a return to KAMELOT roots or will you keep something of the dark atmosphere of "Poetry For The Poisoned" [2010]?
Thomas: The dark mood will be there, but I feel we missed some melodic aspects in the music over the last few releases. The theme of the album is quite dark and the storyline is a bit dark, so to speak. The music came out really beautiful, lush, melodic and really special. Working with Oliver [Palotai, keyboards], [producer] Sascha [Paeth; EDGUY, AVANTASIA, RHAPSODY] and our new vocalist proved to be an amazing experience.
Q: Have you heard anymore from [former KAMELOT singer] Roy [Khan]?
Thomas: Before making the final choice on the new singer, we did correspond via e-mail. I know he's in good health, working in Norway. When he quit KAMELOT, he also chose to quit the music business and seems to be very happy. A page is turned, it's a new era for KAMELOT! It's very exciting and I can already tell you it's gonna be great.
Q: Looking forward to introducing the new singer to your fans?
Thomas: First, I have to say the fans will love the new singer. We love what we hear and that was the biggest test. Of course, there will be fans that hold on to the past and I understand that, but things change and you can either move forward or live in the past. I was humbled by the amount of singers that applied for the spot, some totally unknown and others are names that every metal fan would know. In the end, we chose the guy that fits KAMELOT in terms of sound, writing and image.
Q: Can fans expect more studio videos, like with the "On The Road" series?
Thomas: Since we are recording in different studios, it's a bit difficult to do the "On The Road"-style videos. Also I feel it takes some of magic out and mystery regarding the studio sessions. We have a few clips we may feature on the bonus disc of the upcoming digipak and deluxe version of the new album. But the "On The Road" series will crank back up very soon; you will all get a sneak peek into the KAMELOT life on tour. And if you come to the shows, you will also be on video, if you want!!
Q: How many tracks on the new album?
Thomas: Looks like 10 tracks and some bonus tracks for each region. We will release a limited digipak, deluxe digipak, double-fold vinyl, and limited-edition box set with lots of goodies for the hardcore fans!!
Q: Will you play some of the new songs on summer festivals?
Thomas: We are discussing the setlist now. At the moment we have the idea to play at least one new song.
Q: At fall 2012, you will embark for a massive tour throughout North America and Europe. What can you say about it? And can we expect a world tour to follow?
Thomas: We plan to visit our favorite cities, bringing the new stage setup and lighting package. We also plan to visit new countries and regions that are not as frequently visited in 2013. Expect some serious and mega fun concerts on the horizon.
Q: Final words about the past months and the months to come?
Thomas: Thanks for the support of all KAMELOT fans, old and new, young and old and in every corner of the globe! Your trust and faith in us has been inspiring and with the new album and tour we will all celebrate together!
Legendary actor Christopher Lee, who has appeared in such cinematic milestones as "Lord Of The Rings", "Star Wars", "The Man With The Golden Gun" and "Dracula", has celebrated his 90th birthday by releasing a second heavy metal album.
The singer-actor's first creation, "Charlemagne: By The Sword And The Cross", which won critical acclaim, was more symphonic than the upcoming "Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death".
He told BBC Radio 5 "Up All Night"'s Jamie Stangroom how he got involved in the genre.
"I was first introduced to metal when I sang with a [band] called RHAPSODY," he said. "But what I sang was not heavy metal; I sang with a tenor. Then I worked with MANOWAR as a narrator, I think it was in Germany, and again, that was not me singing metal. I became rather fascinated by this, 'cause in terms of history of music, it's fairly recent, really. And if it's properly done and you can understand the story and you can understand what the people are singing and you have the right bands and the right singers, I think it's rather exciting.
"When I was approached to do the first 'Charlemagne' album, 'By The Sword And The Cross', it is heavy metal, of course, but what I sang was more symphonic. Now on the second one, 'The Omens Of Death', it is 100 percent heavy metal. I've done my bits and pieces, and they are heavy metal. I'm not screaming or anything like that, but it is definitely 100 percent heavy metal."
Lee also spoke about being presented with the "Spirit Of Hammer" prize by BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi at Metal Hammer magazine's Golden Gods awards in London in June 2010, Lee said, "It was a most amazing occasion for me — very exciting — and something I'd never had happen to me my whole career, my whole life, in terms of awards," he said. "I have received quite a few. But I was interviewed, actually in this room, by Tony Iommi, who founded BLACK SABBATH. And I hadn't heard them, but I made it a point [to do so]. [And] I thought it was extraordinary. And then I went to O2 [in London] in front of a fairly large crowd, I would say, all, of course, very young. And I got a greeting, which was really quite amazing. The decibel level was very high. Very high, very high."
You can listen to Lee's interview with BBC Radio 5 "Up All Night"'s Jamie Stangroom at BBC.co.uk.
The singer-actor's first creation, "Charlemagne: By The Sword And The Cross", which won critical acclaim, was more symphonic than the upcoming "Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death".
He told BBC Radio 5 "Up All Night"'s Jamie Stangroom how he got involved in the genre.
"I was first introduced to metal when I sang with a [band] called RHAPSODY," he said. "But what I sang was not heavy metal; I sang with a tenor. Then I worked with MANOWAR as a narrator, I think it was in Germany, and again, that was not me singing metal. I became rather fascinated by this, 'cause in terms of history of music, it's fairly recent, really. And if it's properly done and you can understand the story and you can understand what the people are singing and you have the right bands and the right singers, I think it's rather exciting.
"When I was approached to do the first 'Charlemagne' album, 'By The Sword And The Cross', it is heavy metal, of course, but what I sang was more symphonic. Now on the second one, 'The Omens Of Death', it is 100 percent heavy metal. I've done my bits and pieces, and they are heavy metal. I'm not screaming or anything like that, but it is definitely 100 percent heavy metal."
Lee also spoke about being presented with the "Spirit Of Hammer" prize by BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi at Metal Hammer magazine's Golden Gods awards in London in June 2010, Lee said, "It was a most amazing occasion for me — very exciting — and something I'd never had happen to me my whole career, my whole life, in terms of awards," he said. "I have received quite a few. But I was interviewed, actually in this room, by Tony Iommi, who founded BLACK SABBATH. And I hadn't heard them, but I made it a point [to do so]. [And] I thought it was extraordinary. And then I went to O2 [in London] in front of a fairly large crowd, I would say, all, of course, very young. And I got a greeting, which was really quite amazing. The decibel level was very high. Very high, very high."
You can listen to Lee's interview with BBC Radio 5 "Up All Night"'s Jamie Stangroom at BBC.co.uk.
Southern hard rockers NASHVILLE PUSSY have confirmed a hometown show in Atlanta, Georgia on June 27 at The Star Bar. The event, which has been dubbed "NASHVILLE PUSSY's first-ever summer rock n' roll showdown," sees the return of bassist Karen Cuda, who has been recovering from a neck injury. The show will feature support from THE EL CAMINOS and THE BABYHATERS.
NASHVILLE PUSSY recently released a live record recorded all over Europe in a special two-CD re-release of their last studio album, "From Hell To Texas", which was completely remixed for this edition. The band has also started work on a new album; more details are expected to be announced soon.
The band's fifth album, "From Hell To Texas" (2009), landed at No. 87 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The CD was recorded and mixed at Pedernales Studio in Spicewood, Texas with producer Daniel Rey and was engineered and mixed by Gordie Johnson and Jacob Sciba. It was mastered by Howie Weinberg and Matt Agoglia at Masterdisk.
NASHVILLE PUSSY recently released a live record recorded all over Europe in a special two-CD re-release of their last studio album, "From Hell To Texas", which was completely remixed for this edition. The band has also started work on a new album; more details are expected to be announced soon.
The band's fifth album, "From Hell To Texas" (2009), landed at No. 87 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The CD was recorded and mixed at Pedernales Studio in Spicewood, Texas with producer Daniel Rey and was engineered and mixed by Gordie Johnson and Jacob Sciba. It was mastered by Howie Weinberg and Matt Agoglia at Masterdisk.
SLIPKNOT percusionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan spoke to the Roadrunner Records web site Friday evening about how the band's two-day, two-state festival, Knotfest, came together. The question-and-answer session follows below.
Q: How long has this been in the works, and how did it finally come together?
Crahan: Well, because it's been in the works for a long, long time, I've been explaining it like this: there's certain things we've been wanting to do since the very beginning. I think after the very first time we went to Europe and we saw how Europeans do festivals in the summer — I mean, some of them begin on Thursday and end on Sunday, having a different genre headline every night, and there's all these tents, so it looks like a refugee camp, with all these people. It's always raining over there, so there's all this mud, but they don't care, they prepare for it and it looks like Woodstock, you know? The very first time we were a part of that, we were like, it would be great if America had this philosophy, but I don't think we're there yet. So over the span of our 12 years, we've been concentrating on our culture, our fans and ourselves: the music we write, the lyrics Corey [Taylor, vocals] writes, the art I make, our stage presence, our performance, our stage. And you know, it all came together because of one thing. We had something go on that was unexpected [referring to bassist Paul Gray's passing in May 2010], and that really affected the band, and we were beginning to think that maybe we might just take the time off for ourselves and deal with it the way we needed to, and then we realized, well, our fans are the most important things to us, they're the reason we're here, so we should tour. So last summer we toured Sonisphere, and we shared in that thought process with them. They consoled us, we consoled them, we went through it together and the healing process could begin. And we went and did one show, direct support for METALLICA at Rock In Rio, 150,000 people at once, same thing. Two, three months back, we did Soundwave Australia, plus a couple of shows ourselves in Sydney and Melbourne, but in other territories it was for Soundwave, and again shared in that thought process. Then there were a couple of months off, and now we're coming back to the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which we were on the very first one and now we're coming back to headline this one, and it's cool because we're ending it with the American kids, where we're from. And this is a great way of finishing something that we want to celebrate our way. Our way of life, our way of thinking, what we want to bring to rock 'n' roll and the way we see things. So we were like, let's do a couple of our own shows called Knotfest. We are what we are and we do what we want, as much as we want, the way we want to do it. That's the SLIPKNOT philosophy. And right now it seems like everything we've been going through the last two years, it seems perfect to end it with something really special. Now's the time; we've been thinking about it for a while and finally pulled the trigger and said yeah, we can do this, it'll be a blast. [Thursday] night at midnight, I went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and I gave out tickets. Kids bought tickets and they didn't have to pay a service charge to Ticketmaster or whatever, and Clown handed you your ticket, and I signed it, and then I took a picture with you. In the old days, I used to stand out at Midnight Madness, you know, my favorite bands would come out with records and I'd stand outside until 12:01 like everybody else and get a copy of the disc and go home and worship the band that I loved, and those days are pretty few and far between now. But Knotfest is so special to me that I said, I'm going. And there was a huge turnout, even with just one member [of the band] going and barely any preparation to advertise it. And that's what it's about. Our culture, our people, our fans, no matter what the age. And one thing I can tell you about Knotfest is you're gonna smell it, you're gonna taste it, you're gonna hear it, you're gonna see it, and most importantly you're gonna feel it.
Q: Why the locations? Iowa is obvious, but why Wisconsin/Minnesota?
Crahan: Well, when I was growing up... Des Moines is not an A market for bands, so we'd have to drive to Minneapolis or Wisconsin to check things out. It's just under the drive to Chicago, which is the furthest. Depending on the time of year it can be — you know, five and a half hours doesn't seem like much, but coming back that night, basically getting there, experiencing everything you need to experience, then having to get back for the next day at work, I mean, it can kill you, you know? But you do it for rock 'n' roll. So this was the philosophy, this was how we had to do it. We wanted to keep it Midwest, keep it what it is that we are and what makes sense. And a lot of tickets have been bought from Chicago, which is cool — people from Chicago are buying tickets for the Somerset show, which is the direct opposite of when I would go as far as Chicago to go to a show because it's not coming to Des Moines. They're buying tickets for Somerset, because it's not coming there. That's why. It's important to remember where we're from, and where it all started, and more importantly, what did we do when we were young and loved music? What were the sacrifices we made to enjoy what we loved, what I consider God, which is music? I would always have to go to Chicago to see the bands that I loved, and it was hard as hell. Also, Somerset is a place where camping is allowed, and that was important to us. We wanted to bring that European philosophy to this. You can bring a tent, and we're starting that refugee camp culture. That's a big deal for us, because that's what we've been doing our whole career, is going over there — Reading, Leeds, Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, Graspop, Download, Knebworth, it goes on and on and on over there. I can remember going to Norway and driving further and further into the woods and just seeing tents everywhere in the trees. It was like being in a movie, and I was like, God, can you imagine growing up this way? Where this is the way it is, and your parents know that you're gonna be gone for four days, enjoying culture and life and meeting new people? That is important to us. That is a definite start on what we're trying to accomplish.
Knotfest, Pacific Junction, Iowa – August 17 lineup:
SLIPKNOT
DEFTONES
LAMB OF GOD
DETHKLOK
SERJ TANKIAN
THE URGE
PRONG
DIRTFEDD
Knotfest, Somerset, Wisconsin – August 18 lineup:
SLIPKNOT
DEFTONES
LAMB OF GOD
DETHKLOK
SERJ TANKIAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
PRONG
GOJIRA
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
To view all ticket and VIP options for both dates, visit www.knotfest.com.
Q: How long has this been in the works, and how did it finally come together?
Crahan: Well, because it's been in the works for a long, long time, I've been explaining it like this: there's certain things we've been wanting to do since the very beginning. I think after the very first time we went to Europe and we saw how Europeans do festivals in the summer — I mean, some of them begin on Thursday and end on Sunday, having a different genre headline every night, and there's all these tents, so it looks like a refugee camp, with all these people. It's always raining over there, so there's all this mud, but they don't care, they prepare for it and it looks like Woodstock, you know? The very first time we were a part of that, we were like, it would be great if America had this philosophy, but I don't think we're there yet. So over the span of our 12 years, we've been concentrating on our culture, our fans and ourselves: the music we write, the lyrics Corey [Taylor, vocals] writes, the art I make, our stage presence, our performance, our stage. And you know, it all came together because of one thing. We had something go on that was unexpected [referring to bassist Paul Gray's passing in May 2010], and that really affected the band, and we were beginning to think that maybe we might just take the time off for ourselves and deal with it the way we needed to, and then we realized, well, our fans are the most important things to us, they're the reason we're here, so we should tour. So last summer we toured Sonisphere, and we shared in that thought process with them. They consoled us, we consoled them, we went through it together and the healing process could begin. And we went and did one show, direct support for METALLICA at Rock In Rio, 150,000 people at once, same thing. Two, three months back, we did Soundwave Australia, plus a couple of shows ourselves in Sydney and Melbourne, but in other territories it was for Soundwave, and again shared in that thought process. Then there were a couple of months off, and now we're coming back to the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which we were on the very first one and now we're coming back to headline this one, and it's cool because we're ending it with the American kids, where we're from. And this is a great way of finishing something that we want to celebrate our way. Our way of life, our way of thinking, what we want to bring to rock 'n' roll and the way we see things. So we were like, let's do a couple of our own shows called Knotfest. We are what we are and we do what we want, as much as we want, the way we want to do it. That's the SLIPKNOT philosophy. And right now it seems like everything we've been going through the last two years, it seems perfect to end it with something really special. Now's the time; we've been thinking about it for a while and finally pulled the trigger and said yeah, we can do this, it'll be a blast. [Thursday] night at midnight, I went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and I gave out tickets. Kids bought tickets and they didn't have to pay a service charge to Ticketmaster or whatever, and Clown handed you your ticket, and I signed it, and then I took a picture with you. In the old days, I used to stand out at Midnight Madness, you know, my favorite bands would come out with records and I'd stand outside until 12:01 like everybody else and get a copy of the disc and go home and worship the band that I loved, and those days are pretty few and far between now. But Knotfest is so special to me that I said, I'm going. And there was a huge turnout, even with just one member [of the band] going and barely any preparation to advertise it. And that's what it's about. Our culture, our people, our fans, no matter what the age. And one thing I can tell you about Knotfest is you're gonna smell it, you're gonna taste it, you're gonna hear it, you're gonna see it, and most importantly you're gonna feel it.
Q: Why the locations? Iowa is obvious, but why Wisconsin/Minnesota?
Crahan: Well, when I was growing up... Des Moines is not an A market for bands, so we'd have to drive to Minneapolis or Wisconsin to check things out. It's just under the drive to Chicago, which is the furthest. Depending on the time of year it can be — you know, five and a half hours doesn't seem like much, but coming back that night, basically getting there, experiencing everything you need to experience, then having to get back for the next day at work, I mean, it can kill you, you know? But you do it for rock 'n' roll. So this was the philosophy, this was how we had to do it. We wanted to keep it Midwest, keep it what it is that we are and what makes sense. And a lot of tickets have been bought from Chicago, which is cool — people from Chicago are buying tickets for the Somerset show, which is the direct opposite of when I would go as far as Chicago to go to a show because it's not coming to Des Moines. They're buying tickets for Somerset, because it's not coming there. That's why. It's important to remember where we're from, and where it all started, and more importantly, what did we do when we were young and loved music? What were the sacrifices we made to enjoy what we loved, what I consider God, which is music? I would always have to go to Chicago to see the bands that I loved, and it was hard as hell. Also, Somerset is a place where camping is allowed, and that was important to us. We wanted to bring that European philosophy to this. You can bring a tent, and we're starting that refugee camp culture. That's a big deal for us, because that's what we've been doing our whole career, is going over there — Reading, Leeds, Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, Graspop, Download, Knebworth, it goes on and on and on over there. I can remember going to Norway and driving further and further into the woods and just seeing tents everywhere in the trees. It was like being in a movie, and I was like, God, can you imagine growing up this way? Where this is the way it is, and your parents know that you're gonna be gone for four days, enjoying culture and life and meeting new people? That is important to us. That is a definite start on what we're trying to accomplish.
Knotfest, Pacific Junction, Iowa – August 17 lineup:
SLIPKNOT
DEFTONES
LAMB OF GOD
DETHKLOK
SERJ TANKIAN
THE URGE
PRONG
DIRTFEDD
Knotfest, Somerset, Wisconsin – August 18 lineup:
SLIPKNOT
DEFTONES
LAMB OF GOD
DETHKLOK
SERJ TANKIAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
PRONG
GOJIRA
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
To view all ticket and VIP options for both dates, visit www.knotfest.com.
British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have issued the following update:
"Due to diary clashes, we are sorry to say Adrian Erlandsson [drums] won't be playing with the band when they appear at Costa De Fuego on the 20th July, and also Wacken [Open Air] on the 4th August. However, we didn't want to let anyone down, so we are pleased to welcome back the lovely Jeff Singer as special guest drummer for both these shows!!"
Commented Singer: "Really looking forward to getting back in the driving seat with my PARADISE LOST pals for a couple of shows. I was really pleased to be asked and am currently removing the cobwebs before winding the shit out of [Nick] Holmes [vocals] for a couple of weeks. Bring on the inconvenient flights and expensive airport food. I can't wait. The 'Moanometer' is being charged. See you on the road!"
PARADISE LOST's new album, "Tragic Idol", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 32 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Released on April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.
PARADISE LOST's new video, "Honesty In Death", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in the United Kingdom with director Matt Green, who previously helmed the "Cathedrals Of Dread" video for Mackintosh's death metal side project VALLENFYRE.
"Due to diary clashes, we are sorry to say Adrian Erlandsson [drums] won't be playing with the band when they appear at Costa De Fuego on the 20th July, and also Wacken [Open Air] on the 4th August. However, we didn't want to let anyone down, so we are pleased to welcome back the lovely Jeff Singer as special guest drummer for both these shows!!"
Commented Singer: "Really looking forward to getting back in the driving seat with my PARADISE LOST pals for a couple of shows. I was really pleased to be asked and am currently removing the cobwebs before winding the shit out of [Nick] Holmes [vocals] for a couple of weeks. Bring on the inconvenient flights and expensive airport food. I can't wait. The 'Moanometer' is being charged. See you on the road!"
PARADISE LOST's new album, "Tragic Idol", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 32 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Released on April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.
PARADISE LOST's new video, "Honesty In Death", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in the United Kingdom with director Matt Green, who previously helmed the "Cathedrals Of Dread" video for Mackintosh's death metal side project VALLENFYRE.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/plosttragic.jpg
Italian power/progressive metallers VISION DIVINE, founded by guitarist/songwriter Olaf Thorsen (LABYRINTH) and singer Fabio Lione (RHAPSODY OF FIRE), has inked a deal with Germany's earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based rock branch of Edel Group. The band's seventh studio album, "Destination Set To Nowhere", will be released on September 14.
"Destination Set To Nowhere" is a melting pot, a perfect mix of all the styles the band has crossed and experimented with over the years. The concept album is kept in their well-known style, spiced up with a futuristic twist. The high-class production adds up to the unbelievably driven sound.
The concept of "Destination Set To Nowhere" takes place in space, starting from the social-political troubles everybody is experiencing in every-day life. It follows a man on his journey through open space, after having left the earth together with like-minded people. They set out to search a new home, a new planet to make everything better, to live their vision of peace. Finally, after a long journey, a new planet to call home has been found. But slowly, the crew falls back into the same old routines. The new found heaven has turned into the same hell they all wanted to leave behind. The only way to escape is to set out again, one man leaving alone – destination set to nowhere.
Commented Thorsen: "We are sure this album will finally give us the chance to show all of our potential, and we worked hard on it in order to give the best possible album. In the end, we went even beyond our expectations, and I must admit it's also thanks to the excitement and the good vibes we got from starting this adventure."
Added Lione: "We almost couldn't believe our eyes when, a few weeks ago, we understood we would become label-partners with so many great bands we have deep admiration for... it's simply an honour to have become part of this great family and to work with some of the best guys around."
"Destination Set To Nowhere" track listing:
01. S'io Fosse Foco
02. The Dream Maker
03. Beyond The Sun And Far Away
04. The Ark
05. Mermaids From Their Moons
06. The Lighthouse
07. Message To Home
08. The House Of The Angels
09. The Sin Is You
10. Here We Die
11. Destination Set To Nowhere
"Destination Set To Nowhere" is a melting pot, a perfect mix of all the styles the band has crossed and experimented with over the years. The concept album is kept in their well-known style, spiced up with a futuristic twist. The high-class production adds up to the unbelievably driven sound.
The concept of "Destination Set To Nowhere" takes place in space, starting from the social-political troubles everybody is experiencing in every-day life. It follows a man on his journey through open space, after having left the earth together with like-minded people. They set out to search a new home, a new planet to make everything better, to live their vision of peace. Finally, after a long journey, a new planet to call home has been found. But slowly, the crew falls back into the same old routines. The new found heaven has turned into the same hell they all wanted to leave behind. The only way to escape is to set out again, one man leaving alone – destination set to nowhere.
Commented Thorsen: "We are sure this album will finally give us the chance to show all of our potential, and we worked hard on it in order to give the best possible album. In the end, we went even beyond our expectations, and I must admit it's also thanks to the excitement and the good vibes we got from starting this adventure."
Added Lione: "We almost couldn't believe our eyes when, a few weeks ago, we understood we would become label-partners with so many great bands we have deep admiration for... it's simply an honour to have become part of this great family and to work with some of the best guys around."
"Destination Set To Nowhere" track listing:
01. S'io Fosse Foco
02. The Dream Maker
03. Beyond The Sun And Far Away
04. The Ark
05. Mermaids From Their Moons
06. The Lighthouse
07. Message To Home
08. The House Of The Angels
09. The Sin Is You
10. Here We Die
11. Destination Set To Nowhere
U.S. power metallers VIRGIN STEELE are recording their new album for a tentatively late 2012 release. According to vocalist David DeFeis, the band is also recording the various bonus tracks that will be made available with the upcoming reissues of the group's catalog. David says, "We are really working on what will be the next three albums, because there are quite a lot of songs. We are trying to capture everything as the inspiration comes. As regards what the new album will be all about, I prefer to wait a bit to give you more information, as I am still writing, and I am waiting to see how the latest music develops. Once I know exactly what tracks it will contain, I will then be in a better position to describe it to you. But I can tell you that at the moment there are three different… let's call them 'song cycles' or song collections. Two of them could be conceived as conceptual, while the third consists of separate unrelated material. We are essentially trying to record everything before committing completely to what we will release first. It will all come out… it's just a question of what will be first."
SPV/Steamhammer will re-release VIRGIN STEELE's "Life Among The Ruins" on June 18 in Europe and July 17 in North America. This two-CD digipak reissue comes with massive bonus tracks and a huge booklet with new liner notes and previously unseen photos by the band's lead singer, David DeFeis.
VIRGIN STEELE's fifth full-length studio album, "Life Among The Ruins" was originally released in 1993 and was the band's first album to feature bassist Rob DeMartino, who replaced Joe O'Reilly, retired from the scene.
Commented DeFeis: "This 2012 version will be in digipak form and contain not one but two discs with a large amount of extra ingredients. On the first disc, we include five rare and unvarnished acoustic recordings, plus a full band bonus track. On disc 2, we have included 20 tracks. These tracks consist of a large amount of newly recorded material completed just this week, as well as alternate mixes of some of the album's original tracks. And, in addition, we have also included a never-released track from somewhere around that period of time. All the material has been remastered, and the package will feature copious liner notes, photos and unique packaging."
SPV/Steamhammer will re-release VIRGIN STEELE's "Life Among The Ruins" on June 18 in Europe and July 17 in North America. This two-CD digipak reissue comes with massive bonus tracks and a huge booklet with new liner notes and previously unseen photos by the band's lead singer, David DeFeis.
VIRGIN STEELE's fifth full-length studio album, "Life Among The Ruins" was originally released in 1993 and was the band's first album to feature bassist Rob DeMartino, who replaced Joe O'Reilly, retired from the scene.
Commented DeFeis: "This 2012 version will be in digipak form and contain not one but two discs with a large amount of extra ingredients. On the first disc, we include five rare and unvarnished acoustic recordings, plus a full band bonus track. On disc 2, we have included 20 tracks. These tracks consist of a large amount of newly recorded material completed just this week, as well as alternate mixes of some of the album's original tracks. And, in addition, we have also included a never-released track from somewhere around that period of time. All the material has been remastered, and the package will feature copious liner notes, photos and unique packaging."
Los Angeles, California-based traditional power metallers AXEHAMMER have inked a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records. The band's new album, "Marching On", will be released in September.
AXEHAMMER has been around since the early Eighties, writing all original material.
Jerry Watt and Joe Aghassi are the original members of AXEHAMMER who have shared the stage with some of today's top metal bands, including SLAYER, MALICE, and AGENT STEEL. Bill Ramp was the original singer of AXEHAMMER that gave the band that distinctive sound. Unfortunately, Bill stepped aside due to personal health complications. Mark Stewart was his temporary replacement until Kleber Freitas became AXEHAMMER's new lead vocalist.
AXEHAMMER is:
Vocals - Kleber Mandrake
Guitar - Jerry Watt
Drums - Joe Aghassi
Bass - Horacio Colmenares
AXEHAMMER has been around since the early Eighties, writing all original material.
Jerry Watt and Joe Aghassi are the original members of AXEHAMMER who have shared the stage with some of today's top metal bands, including SLAYER, MALICE, and AGENT STEEL. Bill Ramp was the original singer of AXEHAMMER that gave the band that distinctive sound. Unfortunately, Bill stepped aside due to personal health complications. Mark Stewart was his temporary replacement until Kleber Freitas became AXEHAMMER's new lead vocalist.
AXEHAMMER is:
Vocals - Kleber Mandrake
Guitar - Jerry Watt
Drums - Joe Aghassi
Bass - Horacio Colmenares
ALTER BRIDGE and CREED guitarist Mark Tremonti's solo band will make its live debut on July 17 at The Social in Orlando, Florida. The venue is VERY intimate, so fans will literally be right next to the band! Only 400 tickets are available and they will go fast!
"You Waste Your Time", the new performance video from Mark Tremonti's solo group, can be seen below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). According to the group, the clip "was shot live with no tricks so it is different from the single and you will see how Mark sings in a live setting."
"You Waste Your Time" jumped straight up to Number 10 on the iTunes Rock Singles chart shortly after being released. Tremonti said in a statement, "I am overwhelmed by the positive response the song has already received. I never imagined it would hit the Top 10 so quickly and that is a testament to the amazing fans I have. I couldn't have gotten anywhere in my career without them and want to thank each and every one of them for their support. I can't wait until they hear the rest of it."
"You Waste Your Time" is taken from Tremonti's debut solo album, "All I Was", which is due for release on July 10 via Fret 12 Records, a company Mark started with his brother, Daniel Tremonti, and Tom Stanley.
With two bands and a solo career, The Pulse Of Radio asked Tremonti how he knows which project the songs he writes are best suited for. "I've just gotten this filter, this intuition that tells me what songs go to which band, and with my solo stuff, the rhythm section is so different from the other bands, I think it really stands apart," he said. "I think it's a little more aggressive than both the other bands, but you just have to hear it, I guess."
His solo band, also billed TREMONTI, features ALTER BRIDGE and CREED bassist Brian Marshall in the lineup along with guitarist Eric Friedman and drummer Garrett Whitlock.
"All I Was" track listing:
01. Leave It Alone
02. So You'e Afraid
03. Wish You Well
04. Brains
05. The Things I've Seen
06. You Waste Your Time
07. New Way Out
08. Giving Up
09. Proof
10. All I Was
11. Doesn't Matter
12. Decay
"You Waste Your Time", the new performance video from Mark Tremonti's solo group, can be seen below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). According to the group, the clip "was shot live with no tricks so it is different from the single and you will see how Mark sings in a live setting."
"You Waste Your Time" jumped straight up to Number 10 on the iTunes Rock Singles chart shortly after being released. Tremonti said in a statement, "I am overwhelmed by the positive response the song has already received. I never imagined it would hit the Top 10 so quickly and that is a testament to the amazing fans I have. I couldn't have gotten anywhere in my career without them and want to thank each and every one of them for their support. I can't wait until they hear the rest of it."
"You Waste Your Time" is taken from Tremonti's debut solo album, "All I Was", which is due for release on July 10 via Fret 12 Records, a company Mark started with his brother, Daniel Tremonti, and Tom Stanley.
With two bands and a solo career, The Pulse Of Radio asked Tremonti how he knows which project the songs he writes are best suited for. "I've just gotten this filter, this intuition that tells me what songs go to which band, and with my solo stuff, the rhythm section is so different from the other bands, I think it really stands apart," he said. "I think it's a little more aggressive than both the other bands, but you just have to hear it, I guess."
His solo band, also billed TREMONTI, features ALTER BRIDGE and CREED bassist Brian Marshall in the lineup along with guitarist Eric Friedman and drummer Garrett Whitlock.
"All I Was" track listing:
01. Leave It Alone
02. So You'e Afraid
03. Wish You Well
04. Brains
05. The Things I've Seen
06. You Waste Your Time
07. New Way Out
08. Giving Up
09. Proof
10. All I Was
11. Doesn't Matter
12. Decay
On June 6, Aniruddh Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with vocalist Maurizio Iacono of Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Assault: Your new DVD, "The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined", is coming out on June 19th. What can fans expect from it? It seems to be quite a complete package and everything about the band's 20-year history is in there.
Maurizio: Well, it's something that we've been planning for a long time. We knew that the 20th anniversary was coming and we wanted to do something very special. The whole idea started with me wanting to write a book about the music industry and my own personal experiences, and what I've been through with KATAKLYSM. But then, as it turned out, withe everything that I've got going on, I just couldn't put the book together on time and so we decided to hire a director and the record label decided to do this type of in-depth-style documentary about our entire career. I think it kind of represents a lot of the working-class type of metal bands out there, that are either struggling or making it, just both ends of it. So, it's very very detailed. People that have seen it have said that it's the most complete documentary they've ever seen, so that's very good to hear. It's five and a half hours and comes with our complete 20th-anniversary show in Germany, which we did last summer. We headlined that show in front of almost 20,000 people. It also has the "best-of" record and the CD version of the concert, too. So it's a very complete package for sure. It's very worth the money.
Metal Assault: So, while putting together this documentary, did you guys look at any other band documentaries to kind of study how to do this thing, or was it just like completely natural and you just put in whatever you filmed?
Maurizio: Well, two things. First of all, we didn't want this to be like a sob story. It wasn't meant to show the band in a way like, "Oh, look at us. We're fucked up and we struggled and it was hard." It wasn't like that. We didn't want to do that. It's a good story, it's the story of a band that's been on its way to get recognition at some point. We've taken a huge risk because it's so long, and in the beginning we were a little bit worried because we had decided to do something nobody had done before, and it's a very, very detailed documentary. The only band that did anything close to it was CANNIBAL CORPSE, but theirs was four hours and ours is five and a half. There is also a lot of footage that's not even in there, that we just couldn't put because it was already too long. And also, we tried to do it in a different way as well. If you watch it, you'll see that it's not just somebody talking. There's a lot of footage and there's a lot of stuff where it's comical. It's a very emotional roller coaster, the whole thing. The director, Tommy Jones, has done an excellent job with this thing. It was a massive job to put together and we're very happy with the fantastic job he's done. So far the reviews are killer, and we couldn't ask for anything more.
Metal Assault: You said that the way things are done in the States is not healthy for bands. What are some of those things?
Maurizio: There's a lack of interest for small bands. America is based on the really big and the really small, and there's not enough of the in between. There's problems with the way the costs of developing bands is going, because there's so little money for them to tour that bands are just breaking up before having a chance of going towards pursuing metal as a living. In Europe, they have tour buses that can accommodate up to four bands, and when we put four bands on a tour, we save on the cost of gas and hotels, and it gives bands the chance of spreading their fan base. That's how KATAKLYSM did it, and I know that if I had to pay all of my way through when I was a teenager, there was no way I would have survived. Even at the beginning, when we were kids, we were used to be being put on a bus, and we were like, hell yeah, we don't have to pay anything and we just go and play. That's how we built our fan base and this is one thing America has to learn. It all has to come together and things need to be done in a different way than before, because I'm very worried about how the industry is going. There's been no new bands that are breaking out there and making a big noise. Like I've said this before, PANTERA, to me, was the last rock-star band. There hasn't really been anything since then that has made a huge impact or changed the industry, unless you want to say SLIPKNOT. But other than that, there hasn't been anybody. We're still worshiping all the really old-school bands and there's nothing new that's making an impact — in my opinion, at least.
Metal Assault: Your new DVD, "The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined", is coming out on June 19th. What can fans expect from it? It seems to be quite a complete package and everything about the band's 20-year history is in there.
Maurizio: Well, it's something that we've been planning for a long time. We knew that the 20th anniversary was coming and we wanted to do something very special. The whole idea started with me wanting to write a book about the music industry and my own personal experiences, and what I've been through with KATAKLYSM. But then, as it turned out, withe everything that I've got going on, I just couldn't put the book together on time and so we decided to hire a director and the record label decided to do this type of in-depth-style documentary about our entire career. I think it kind of represents a lot of the working-class type of metal bands out there, that are either struggling or making it, just both ends of it. So, it's very very detailed. People that have seen it have said that it's the most complete documentary they've ever seen, so that's very good to hear. It's five and a half hours and comes with our complete 20th-anniversary show in Germany, which we did last summer. We headlined that show in front of almost 20,000 people. It also has the "best-of" record and the CD version of the concert, too. So it's a very complete package for sure. It's very worth the money.
Metal Assault: So, while putting together this documentary, did you guys look at any other band documentaries to kind of study how to do this thing, or was it just like completely natural and you just put in whatever you filmed?
Maurizio: Well, two things. First of all, we didn't want this to be like a sob story. It wasn't meant to show the band in a way like, "Oh, look at us. We're fucked up and we struggled and it was hard." It wasn't like that. We didn't want to do that. It's a good story, it's the story of a band that's been on its way to get recognition at some point. We've taken a huge risk because it's so long, and in the beginning we were a little bit worried because we had decided to do something nobody had done before, and it's a very, very detailed documentary. The only band that did anything close to it was CANNIBAL CORPSE, but theirs was four hours and ours is five and a half. There is also a lot of footage that's not even in there, that we just couldn't put because it was already too long. And also, we tried to do it in a different way as well. If you watch it, you'll see that it's not just somebody talking. There's a lot of footage and there's a lot of stuff where it's comical. It's a very emotional roller coaster, the whole thing. The director, Tommy Jones, has done an excellent job with this thing. It was a massive job to put together and we're very happy with the fantastic job he's done. So far the reviews are killer, and we couldn't ask for anything more.
Metal Assault: You said that the way things are done in the States is not healthy for bands. What are some of those things?
Maurizio: There's a lack of interest for small bands. America is based on the really big and the really small, and there's not enough of the in between. There's problems with the way the costs of developing bands is going, because there's so little money for them to tour that bands are just breaking up before having a chance of going towards pursuing metal as a living. In Europe, they have tour buses that can accommodate up to four bands, and when we put four bands on a tour, we save on the cost of gas and hotels, and it gives bands the chance of spreading their fan base. That's how KATAKLYSM did it, and I know that if I had to pay all of my way through when I was a teenager, there was no way I would have survived. Even at the beginning, when we were kids, we were used to be being put on a bus, and we were like, hell yeah, we don't have to pay anything and we just go and play. That's how we built our fan base and this is one thing America has to learn. It all has to come together and things need to be done in a different way than before, because I'm very worried about how the industry is going. There's been no new bands that are breaking out there and making a big noise. Like I've said this before, PANTERA, to me, was the last rock-star band. There hasn't really been anything since then that has made a huge impact or changed the industry, unless you want to say SLIPKNOT. But other than that, there hasn't been anybody. We're still worshiping all the really old-school bands and there's nothing new that's making an impact — in my opinion, at least.
Canadian extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY will release their new self-titled album later in the year. The cover artwork was created by Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (MNEMIC) and can be seen below.
"Cryptopsy" track listing:
01. Two-Pound Torch
02. Shag Harbour's Visitors
03. Red-Skinned Scapegoat
04. Damned Draft Dodgers
05. Amputated Enigma
06. The Golden Square Mile
07. Ominous
08. Cleansing The Hosts
CRYPTOPSY debuted a brand new song, "Amputated Enigma", during their April 29 concert at The Dominion House in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.
CRYPTOPSY in January tapped bassist Olivier Pinard (NEURAXIS, VENGEFUL) as the replacement for guitarist-turned-bassist Youri Raymond.
Raymond left CRYPTOPSY in December, explaining in a statement that "it's in the best interest of both the band and I to part ways." He added, "As a musician, moving from guitar to bass was a great challenge, but honestly, I never really felt comfortable in that position and my motivation in general was stagnating."
Lead guitarist and songwriter Jon Levasseur rejoined CRYPTOPSY in May 2011.
"The Unspoken King", CRYPTOPSY's sixth full-length and first to feature new vocalist Matt McGachy, was released June 24, 2008 to a wide array of reactions. Drummer Flo Mounier explained his intention in reshaping the dynamics of the band to Decibel magazine: "I'm a fan of different sorts of music, and I think it's most fun when a band puts out an album that has elements of everything; you get this thing called diversity, not boredom. That's what we're trying to do. Still, I think people are going to be surprised how brutal this album is."
"Cryptopsy" track listing:
01. Two-Pound Torch
02. Shag Harbour's Visitors
03. Red-Skinned Scapegoat
04. Damned Draft Dodgers
05. Amputated Enigma
06. The Golden Square Mile
07. Ominous
08. Cleansing The Hosts
CRYPTOPSY debuted a brand new song, "Amputated Enigma", during their April 29 concert at The Dominion House in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.
CRYPTOPSY in January tapped bassist Olivier Pinard (NEURAXIS, VENGEFUL) as the replacement for guitarist-turned-bassist Youri Raymond.
Raymond left CRYPTOPSY in December, explaining in a statement that "it's in the best interest of both the band and I to part ways." He added, "As a musician, moving from guitar to bass was a great challenge, but honestly, I never really felt comfortable in that position and my motivation in general was stagnating."
Lead guitarist and songwriter Jon Levasseur rejoined CRYPTOPSY in May 2011.
"The Unspoken King", CRYPTOPSY's sixth full-length and first to feature new vocalist Matt McGachy, was released June 24, 2008 to a wide array of reactions. Drummer Flo Mounier explained his intention in reshaping the dynamics of the band to Decibel magazine: "I'm a fan of different sorts of music, and I think it's most fun when a band puts out an album that has elements of everything; you get this thing called diversity, not boredom. That's what we're trying to do. Still, I think people are going to be surprised how brutal this album is."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/cryptopsy2012cd.jpg
Metal Army recently conducted an interview with vocalist Alissa White-Gluz of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based melodic death metallers THE AGONIST. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Army: How would you characterize the evolution of the band from the "Lullabies For The Dormant Mind" Album to ["Prisoners"]?
Alissa: It's hard to say, because the album is so new. I still think "Lullabies" is the best. On "Once Only Imagined", Danny [Marino, guitar] was the sole instrumental songwriter. On "Lullabies", Simon [McKay, drums] wrote a little bit because he also plays guitar. On this album we also had Paco [Pascal Jobin, guitar] writing. So it was Danny, Simon and Paco; though mostly Danny. I have always written all the lyrics and vocals. I think the difference for this album from the last is that our musical influences have diverged. Rather than having a really coherent idea of what we all wanted to do, it was more of a struggle. That is why it took so long. The result is "Prisoners".
Metal Army: What does Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY) as a co-producer bring to the band that you continue going back to him?
Alissa: Oh he's amazing! It's convenient since he's in Montreal and he's a friend of ours, really understands us and he's very efficient. For me personally, I love recording vocals with him. I would go with someone else, and I have recorded with other people for guest vocals, this and that. He's a really patient person. He picks up on things quickly. He's also a really musical person, so it's great to have that person who understands what you are trying to do and be able to guide you in the right direction. We did want to go with someone else just to get a different feel, but Christian does such a good job it was enough of a reason to go back with him.
Metal Army: What made you want to be a writer and a singer in the first place?
Alissa: I can't actually, really cite anyone. I was just talking to my drummer about this a few minutes ago. I never really sat around as a teenager and admired bands and said I want to be like that or do that. I had friends with bands who needed a singer and I just sort of fell into it. I had done some plays and theater so I was like, "Okay, whatever. I'll give it a shot." After I joined my first band is when I started listening to metal. I thought, "This kind of sounds like what we are doing, so I will try to do this or that." Writing wise I just never really studied anyone. Honestly, I just kind of do it. I've never planned anything out. If the result is good, that's really lucky. I definitely didn't train for it the way that maybe some other people have.
Metal Army: How would you characterize the evolution of the band from the "Lullabies For The Dormant Mind" Album to ["Prisoners"]?
Alissa: It's hard to say, because the album is so new. I still think "Lullabies" is the best. On "Once Only Imagined", Danny [Marino, guitar] was the sole instrumental songwriter. On "Lullabies", Simon [McKay, drums] wrote a little bit because he also plays guitar. On this album we also had Paco [Pascal Jobin, guitar] writing. So it was Danny, Simon and Paco; though mostly Danny. I have always written all the lyrics and vocals. I think the difference for this album from the last is that our musical influences have diverged. Rather than having a really coherent idea of what we all wanted to do, it was more of a struggle. That is why it took so long. The result is "Prisoners".
Metal Army: What does Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY) as a co-producer bring to the band that you continue going back to him?
Alissa: Oh he's amazing! It's convenient since he's in Montreal and he's a friend of ours, really understands us and he's very efficient. For me personally, I love recording vocals with him. I would go with someone else, and I have recorded with other people for guest vocals, this and that. He's a really patient person. He picks up on things quickly. He's also a really musical person, so it's great to have that person who understands what you are trying to do and be able to guide you in the right direction. We did want to go with someone else just to get a different feel, but Christian does such a good job it was enough of a reason to go back with him.
Metal Army: What made you want to be a writer and a singer in the first place?
Alissa: I can't actually, really cite anyone. I was just talking to my drummer about this a few minutes ago. I never really sat around as a teenager and admired bands and said I want to be like that or do that. I had friends with bands who needed a singer and I just sort of fell into it. I had done some plays and theater so I was like, "Okay, whatever. I'll give it a shot." After I joined my first band is when I started listening to metal. I thought, "This kind of sounds like what we are doing, so I will try to do this or that." Writing wise I just never really studied anyone. Honestly, I just kind of do it. I've never planned anything out. If the result is good, that's really lucky. I definitely didn't train for it the way that maybe some other people have.
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1 comments:
Just for accuracy, it is Bernie Torme and NOT Ian Gillan that is attending this event. Mind you, I wish he was ! That would be awesome.
Full details at
http://www8.open.ac.uk/business-school/alumni/news-and-events/forthcoming-events/2012-06-19/riffs-and-myths-leadership
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