In a recent interview with Brian Aberback of Long Branch-Eatontown Patch, AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford was asked if he ever thought that the band was coming to an end because of all of the drama between lead singer Steven Tyler and the rest of the band over the past two and a half years. "We were looking at all sorts of options," Brad replied. "We were at odds with Steven. He had made it clear to us that he wanted to work on his own solo thing for a while. And then he signed on to 'American Idol'. We felt a little bit left in the lurch. We wanted to go out and make music. We felt maybe we could go out and maybe bring in someone else to sing, maybe call it a different name. We talked about it but it never panned out. Things just worked out. I always knew the band would perform again, but I didn't know when or how.
Regarding what it was like working with producer Jack Douglas again on AEROSMITH's new album, "Music From Another Dimension" (Douglas produced the band's 1970s classics "Toys In The Attic" and "Rocks"), Whitford said, "It was like putting on a pair of old slippers. It just felt so right. We got to work and the album just came out so good. Everybody in the band contributed music to the album. We're so psyched about it. It's going to blow people's minds. The band sounds and plays better than ever."
On the topic of the new album's release date, which was recently pushed back from August to November, Brad said, "It's unfortunate. We were going to have the song 'Legendary Child' as part of a movie soundtrack that was going to come out this summer and the movie ['G.I. Joe: Retaliation'] was delayed to next year, so the whole marketing campaign that went along with that and the album's release went right down the toilet. So the record company wanted time for a whole new approach and they wanted to get a slot to release the album they thought would be good for it. It'll be worth the wait."
Regarding what it was like working with producer Jack Douglas again on AEROSMITH's new album, "Music From Another Dimension" (Douglas produced the band's 1970s classics "Toys In The Attic" and "Rocks"), Whitford said, "It was like putting on a pair of old slippers. It just felt so right. We got to work and the album just came out so good. Everybody in the band contributed music to the album. We're so psyched about it. It's going to blow people's minds. The band sounds and plays better than ever."
On the topic of the new album's release date, which was recently pushed back from August to November, Brad said, "It's unfortunate. We were going to have the song 'Legendary Child' as part of a movie soundtrack that was going to come out this summer and the movie ['G.I. Joe: Retaliation'] was delayed to next year, so the whole marketing campaign that went along with that and the album's release went right down the toilet. So the record company wanted time for a whole new approach and they wanted to get a slot to release the album they thought would be good for it. It'll be worth the wait."
ECW Press has unveiled two exciting special editions of "Clockwork Angels: The Novel" (ECW Press, September 2012), the landmark literary collaboration between RUSH drummer and lyricist Neil Peart and bestselling sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson. These two numbered special editions of "Clockwork Angels: The Novel" will be available for pre-order on Friday, July 27.
The Silver Edition, slipcased and autographed by both Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart, will be a beautiful addition to any collection. This limited edition of 300 copies is available from both ecwpress.com/clockworksilver and rushbackstage.com for $74.95.
The Gold Edition is a must have for die-hard fans. Slipcased and signed by both authors, The Gold Edition is accompanied by a lithograph image from the book, signed by artist Hugh Syme, and a unique autographed page of the original "Clockwork Angels" manuscript. Both pieces are presented in an attractive frame with an engraved and numbered plate. With only 302 copies available, the Gold Edition will retail for $299.95, and is available exclusively from rushbackstage.com.
The Gold and Silver editions of "Clockwork Angels" will be available for preorder on Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. ET, while quantities last. Special editions will ship on August 31.
Kevin J. Anderson recently wrote on Facebook, "Most of you are aware of my long-standing friendship with (RUSH drummer) Neil Peart . . . For more than twenty years, Neil and I have wanted to collaborate on something MAJOR, a way we could tie together our imaginations, and at last that's happening. I'm writing the novelization of RUSH's forthcoming album, 'Clockwork Angels'."
Anderson added that he worked with Peart to "flesh out the epic story told over the course of the music," which involves "lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life."
Regarding the book cover, which can be seen below, as well as the rest of the package, Anderson said, "[It is] one of my most beautiful covers ever. The central image is from the forthcoming RUSH album, with the type and cover design by Neil Peart. ECW will publish the hardcover in September (available for preorder now), a full-color volume with paintings and complete lyrics (and the novel itself, of course).
"From the sample pages I've seen already, this will be a gorgeous book.
"The novel is a colorful steampunk fantasy, and I think it has a great deal of heart. Neil and I are very pleased with how it turned out-the creative synergy was amazing.
"'Clockwork Angels: The Novel' follows the story mapped out in the songs of the album, but the book isn't only for RUSH fans (then again, who isn't a RUSH fan???)."
The Silver Edition, slipcased and autographed by both Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart, will be a beautiful addition to any collection. This limited edition of 300 copies is available from both ecwpress.com/clockworksilver and rushbackstage.com for $74.95.
The Gold Edition is a must have for die-hard fans. Slipcased and signed by both authors, The Gold Edition is accompanied by a lithograph image from the book, signed by artist Hugh Syme, and a unique autographed page of the original "Clockwork Angels" manuscript. Both pieces are presented in an attractive frame with an engraved and numbered plate. With only 302 copies available, the Gold Edition will retail for $299.95, and is available exclusively from rushbackstage.com.
The Gold and Silver editions of "Clockwork Angels" will be available for preorder on Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. ET, while quantities last. Special editions will ship on August 31.
Kevin J. Anderson recently wrote on Facebook, "Most of you are aware of my long-standing friendship with (RUSH drummer) Neil Peart . . . For more than twenty years, Neil and I have wanted to collaborate on something MAJOR, a way we could tie together our imaginations, and at last that's happening. I'm writing the novelization of RUSH's forthcoming album, 'Clockwork Angels'."
Anderson added that he worked with Peart to "flesh out the epic story told over the course of the music," which involves "lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life."
Regarding the book cover, which can be seen below, as well as the rest of the package, Anderson said, "[It is] one of my most beautiful covers ever. The central image is from the forthcoming RUSH album, with the type and cover design by Neil Peart. ECW will publish the hardcover in September (available for preorder now), a full-color volume with paintings and complete lyrics (and the novel itself, of course).
"From the sample pages I've seen already, this will be a gorgeous book.
"The novel is a colorful steampunk fantasy, and I think it has a great deal of heart. Neil and I are very pleased with how it turned out-the creative synergy was amazing.
"'Clockwork Angels: The Novel' follows the story mapped out in the songs of the album, but the book isn't only for RUSH fans (then again, who isn't a RUSH fan???)."
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/clockworknovel.jpg
In a brand new interview with the Miami New Times, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars was asked if sex and life is different now that he has entered his 60s. "Well, yes," Mars replied. "Lots of things change. One doesn't. I'm still no gentleman. I'm still as big an asshole as ever. Lewd and aggressive."
He continued, "But honestly, there's one thing that's really different for me ... Being sober. And it's really helped. The playing is better. The songs are better. There are some people who drink their whole lives. But thankfully, I was just like, 'Ah, I'm over this shit. Over the drug thing. Over the booze thing. Over this other thing.' It's great to be clear-headed, instead of just sitting around going, 'Huh?' like a dummy.
"I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't have many vices, except playing my guitar too much. I guess I'm kind of a boring guy these days. But that's how I'm gonna keep going with MÖTLEY CRÜE as long as I can.
"And even after that, I'll just keep playing and writing for TV commercials, movies, old bands, new bands, baby bands, whatever, right until it's all over. There's no way I can keep touring for the rest of my life, because I don't wanna be 75 on the road like an old goat with his head hanging down.
"But one way or another, I'll keep rockin' 'till I fall down. Definitely."
He continued, "But honestly, there's one thing that's really different for me ... Being sober. And it's really helped. The playing is better. The songs are better. There are some people who drink their whole lives. But thankfully, I was just like, 'Ah, I'm over this shit. Over the drug thing. Over the booze thing. Over this other thing.' It's great to be clear-headed, instead of just sitting around going, 'Huh?' like a dummy.
"I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't have many vices, except playing my guitar too much. I guess I'm kind of a boring guy these days. But that's how I'm gonna keep going with MÖTLEY CRÜE as long as I can.
"And even after that, I'll just keep playing and writing for TV commercials, movies, old bands, new bands, baby bands, whatever, right until it's all over. There's no way I can keep touring for the rest of my life, because I don't wanna be 75 on the road like an old goat with his head hanging down.
"But one way or another, I'll keep rockin' 'till I fall down. Definitely."
Rock Vegas powered by Rockstar Energy Drink — Sin City's Loudest Two-Day Rock Music Festival — is set for two sin-filled days, Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29 at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. The two-day rockextravaganza will feature performances from ROB ZOMBIE, SHINEDOWN, MARILYN MANSON, and GODSMACK, plus STAIND, STONE SOUR, PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY, ADELITAS WAY, ALL THAT REMAINS, P.O.D., ART OF DYING, REDLIGHT KING, NEW MEDICINE, DEUCE, OTHERWISE and more. Tickets are affordably priced as low as $39 each, plus fees. Two-day and single-day tickets go on sale Saturday, July 28 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. VIP packages will also be available.
GODSMACK's Shannon Larkin says, "The lineup is incredible for any rock fan, and the stage and sound system will be massive! Add to that the location, Las Vegas... What more could you ask for! This is gonna be HUGE! Get your party boots on and come to the biggest spectacle in the country! You won't regret it. Vegas, baby!!!"
Rock Vegas will bring some of the hottest heavy bands to rock Vegas for this two-day bash. The festival producers chose Las Vegas for the event because it's a short drive for rock fans from many areas of Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah — and Vegas is the perfect party place for a weekend getaway for rock fans from around the country.
"Since Las Vegas is the capital of live entertainment, I can't think of a better place to stage a massive show like Rock Vegas," says Rich Best, Executive Vice President of Booking for Live Nation/Southern California. "You've got two of rock's greatest showmen in ROB ZOMBIE and MARILYN MANSON, pared with the killer anthems of GODSMACK and SHINEDOWN and so much more. Plus, Sin City's glitz and glamour makes Rock Vegas the perfect destination event for fans across the country."
"We're excited to host the first annual Rock Vegas at Mandalay Bay," says Chris Baldizan, Executive Vice President of Entertainment for Mandalay Bay. "We have one of the premier event spaces in Las Vegas and feel it will be the perfect fit for what we expect will become a perennial tradition."
Rock Vegas powered by Rockstar Energy Drink is produced by John Reese, John Oakes and CAA in conjunction with Live Nation.
To buy tickets and for all information, visit www.RockVegasFest.com.
GODSMACK's Shannon Larkin says, "The lineup is incredible for any rock fan, and the stage and sound system will be massive! Add to that the location, Las Vegas... What more could you ask for! This is gonna be HUGE! Get your party boots on and come to the biggest spectacle in the country! You won't regret it. Vegas, baby!!!"
Rock Vegas will bring some of the hottest heavy bands to rock Vegas for this two-day bash. The festival producers chose Las Vegas for the event because it's a short drive for rock fans from many areas of Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah — and Vegas is the perfect party place for a weekend getaway for rock fans from around the country.
"Since Las Vegas is the capital of live entertainment, I can't think of a better place to stage a massive show like Rock Vegas," says Rich Best, Executive Vice President of Booking for Live Nation/Southern California. "You've got two of rock's greatest showmen in ROB ZOMBIE and MARILYN MANSON, pared with the killer anthems of GODSMACK and SHINEDOWN and so much more. Plus, Sin City's glitz and glamour makes Rock Vegas the perfect destination event for fans across the country."
"We're excited to host the first annual Rock Vegas at Mandalay Bay," says Chris Baldizan, Executive Vice President of Entertainment for Mandalay Bay. "We have one of the premier event spaces in Las Vegas and feel it will be the perfect fit for what we expect will become a perennial tradition."
Rock Vegas powered by Rockstar Energy Drink is produced by John Reese, John Oakes and CAA in conjunction with Live Nation.
To buy tickets and for all information, visit www.RockVegasFest.com.
Anthrax has shaped the heavy metal movement in America. The band recently released its 10th studio album, Worship Music, which brings back the band's early sound with the re-emergence of lead vocalist Joey Belladonna. I love heavy metal guitars, so it was a privilege to speak to one of the all time metal guitar greats, Scott Ian, to preview their performance at Mayhem Fest Tuesday at Riverbend Music Center.
CityBeat caught up with Ian to discuss the highlights of Mayhem so far and how being a father has changed his perspective on life and music.
CityBeat: What has been the highlight of Mayhem Fest so far for you?
Scott Ian: For me personally it is just the overall vibe. This is the first time we have done a U.S. festival traveling tour in the summer. We kind of knew what to expect since we are friends with Slayer, Slipknot and Motorhead, but it has been so much fun to hang with our friends. The crew and everyone who works with Mayhem have been great and it really is a big family vibe out here. It is a really great place to show up for work.
CB: What has it been like having Joey back the past few tours with the band?
SI: It's been like two and a half years already. Hopefully that answers the question. It is obviously been going great. We couldn't be happier with the record we made. We couldn't be happier with the way shows have been going. I think this is by far the best version of Anthrax that we have ever had.
CB: You became a father last year for the first time. Has this changed your perspective on writing music or life in general?
SI: I haven't really written yet since he was born because we have been in touring mode. One way that my perspective overall has changed is now having this person in my life that I love beyond anything I can comprehend. It makes me hate the human race even more because of all the pressure that comes with raising a child and wanting to protect him.
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Related to:Cincinnati MusicMayhem FestAnthrax
People ask what do you have to be angry about and there is plenty to be pissed off about now. Look at what happened in Colorado last night with the guy shooting people in a movie theater. It sickens me to the pit of my stomach for a million reasons. What if that was my child in the movie theater?
CB: It is terrible and it is beyond my comprehension how that can happen.
SI: Up until he was born, I had my wife and close family but they are adults and are responsible for themselves. Now we have this person that is 100 percent helpless and relies on us to take care of him, so there is this protective instinct that showed up as soon as he was born. I think that will have a big impact on my writing in the future when the time comes.
CB: Do they come visit you on the road?
SI: Yes they are here right now and have been with me for 10 days.
CB: What is the longest you have gone without playing guitar?
SI: Probably way back in 1977 when I broke my wrist at a skateboard park and I couldn't play guitar for two months because I had a cast on. I was so bummed that I couldn't play guitar that I pretty much gave up any type of fancy skateboarding on ramps or pools. The guitar was definitely more of a priority.
CB: What is the biggest difference for you touring versus in the 1980s?
SI: Sometimes we sit around and talk about how did we ever get anything done before we had cell phones and laptops? In the '80s no one even knew what a cell phone was. I remember the first time a tour manager had that big briefcase thing with a phone in it and it was something like $18 a minute to use it. The idea that we were able to do stuff back then and everything got done is amazing. I try to think about how it got done and I have no idea how we made it through one day let alone a whole tour without the technology.
CB: What habit would you like to break?
SI: I don't know. I don't smoke. I don't drink excessively. My wife is saying talking with my mouth full so I guess I will go with that as a born and bred New Yorker.
CB: What adjectives do you hope describe you at 75?
SI: I hope when I am 75 no one has anything to say about me. I hope the only thing they say is "What ever happened to that guy?" because I am so far off the grid by that point.
CB: I doubt that will happen.
SI: No, we will probably still be playing music and people will say "I can't believe he is still banging his head."
CB: What has been your craziest fan story over the past few years?
SI: The craziest audiences in the world are in South America in Chile with the craziest fans overall. We do a signing every day at the Rockstar Energy Drink tent and we get to meet a lot of fans every day on this tour. Anyone who would get anything Anthrax related tattooed on their body is amazing to me. I can't really call it too crazy because I have Gene Simmons and Angus from AC/DC tattooed on me. I understand that point of view of being such a fan that you would be willing to make that commitment but being the guy in Anthrax and seeing an Anthrax-related tattoo makes you feel great because I know the commitment and I know how much Anthrax must mean to them.
CB: What is the best guitar solo of all time?
SI: Eddie Van Halen "Eruption."
Anthrax performs July 24 at Mayhem Fest at Riverbend Music Center. More information: rockstarmayhemfest.com.
ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has scheduled the following Guitar Center appearances:
August 9 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center - Block At Orange
20 City Blvd W Ste 907D
Orange, CA 92868
August 10 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center
7425 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90046
August 30 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center - San Jose
3677 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
August 31 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center
5925 Shellmound St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
Jackson Guitars has issued a limited edition Scott Ian ATL Soloist electric guitar. Only 250 of these will be available mid-price.
The ATL Soloist displays artwork from the Anthrax breakthrough album "Among The Living" depicting antagonist Rev. Henry Kane of "Poltergeist" fame. The body is made of basswood and features neck-thru construction for improved sustain and access to all 24 frets. The neck has a rosewood fingerboard with custom ATL and Thraxagram inlays and a compound radius for maximum playing comfort. A single, strategically-placed Duncan Designed humbucker with volume control inspires unrestrained power and tone.
Features:
* Soloist body shape
* Basswood body
* Neck thru construction
* 24 jumbo frets
* Rosewood compound radius fingerboard
* Duncan-designed humbucker
* Exclusive "Among The Living" graphic
* ATL and Thraxagram inlay
For more information, go to this location.
August 9 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center - Block At Orange
20 City Blvd W Ste 907D
Orange, CA 92868
August 10 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center
7425 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90046
August 30 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center - San Jose
3677 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
August 31 at 7 p.m.
Guitar Center
5925 Shellmound St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
Jackson Guitars has issued a limited edition Scott Ian ATL Soloist electric guitar. Only 250 of these will be available mid-price.
The ATL Soloist displays artwork from the Anthrax breakthrough album "Among The Living" depicting antagonist Rev. Henry Kane of "Poltergeist" fame. The body is made of basswood and features neck-thru construction for improved sustain and access to all 24 frets. The neck has a rosewood fingerboard with custom ATL and Thraxagram inlays and a compound radius for maximum playing comfort. A single, strategically-placed Duncan Designed humbucker with volume control inspires unrestrained power and tone.
Features:
* Soloist body shape
* Basswood body
* Neck thru construction
* 24 jumbo frets
* Rosewood compound radius fingerboard
* Duncan-designed humbucker
* Exclusive "Among The Living" graphic
* ATL and Thraxagram inlay
For more information, go to this location.
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/atlsoloist.jpg
DOWN entered the studio last October to begin recording the first in a series of four EPs, to be released over the next few years (with a year between EPs), each touching on a different aspect of the band's sound.
According to CD Universe, the first six-song EP, entitled "EP One", which heralds the sound of DOWN going back to its roots, with influences from BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS and WITCHFINDER GENERAL, will be released on September 18.
When asked about DOWN's plans to release four separate EPs, Anselmo said, "That's the idea right now, but I think that after you work on a body of music, you need to reload, you need to refresh, you need to clear your head. Get that, digest it, get it out of your system, and then decide what direction you're going to go. It's a good idea and I think we should see it through. But there's no way we can rush it. Because I think if it is a series of four, each one should be unique, and that… We've shown flexibility — we have songs like 'Bury Me In Smoke' and then we have songs like 'Stone The Crow'… acoustic pieces and what-not… We have all that. So we've touched on many, I guess, dynamics, so… I would expect each EP to have its own life."
Anselmo recently described DOWN's new EP as "very stripped down. Nothing flashy. Straight to the point… really just DOWN music. If you liked the first record, the demos… something like that… This record, we're pretty dead straight and honest and on the money as far as making it as simple and direct as possible and I think we did that. . . It has that practice-room vibe to it. We didn't really try and fucking slick it out and anything. We went the more raw route, as far as an approach."
The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Levitation
02. Witchtripper
03. Open Coffins
04. The Curse Is A Lie
05. This Work Is Timeless
06. The Misfortune Teller
Long-running metal band WILD DOGS has returned to its original four-man format after recruiting bassist Craig "Mondo" Lower. The group is rounded out by Matt McCourt on vocals, Robert Robinson on guitar and Troy Stutzman on drums.
After an appearance at Portland's three-day Black Circle metal festival with HIRAX, there has been a newfound appreciation for one of the originators of old-school shred metal.
Matt is planning a return to Europe — Germany, Holland and "whoever else will book us," he says — in the spring of 2013 with a set that is comprised of songs from WILD DOGS' first two albums (both of which were released through Shrapnel Records) and a couple DR. MASTERMIND and MAYHEM tunes. (Mondo was a memeber of the live DR. MASTERMIND group in 1986 with Deen Castronovo and Kurt James.)
WILD DOGS has released six albums, three live albums and one DVD.
The band rose to local and regional recognition in the 1980s as a pioneer of metal in the Pacific Northwest, and received international acclaim after the release of its second album.
McCourt is the only original and constant member of WILD DOGS. Several attempts to reunite most of the original bandmembers have failed, most recently in July 2010.
McCourt has kept the group active for 31 years, playing local and regional shows and international festivals with various musicians.
According to CD Universe, the first six-song EP, entitled "EP One", which heralds the sound of DOWN going back to its roots, with influences from BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS and WITCHFINDER GENERAL, will be released on September 18.
When asked about DOWN's plans to release four separate EPs, Anselmo said, "That's the idea right now, but I think that after you work on a body of music, you need to reload, you need to refresh, you need to clear your head. Get that, digest it, get it out of your system, and then decide what direction you're going to go. It's a good idea and I think we should see it through. But there's no way we can rush it. Because I think if it is a series of four, each one should be unique, and that… We've shown flexibility — we have songs like 'Bury Me In Smoke' and then we have songs like 'Stone The Crow'… acoustic pieces and what-not… We have all that. So we've touched on many, I guess, dynamics, so… I would expect each EP to have its own life."
Anselmo recently described DOWN's new EP as "very stripped down. Nothing flashy. Straight to the point… really just DOWN music. If you liked the first record, the demos… something like that… This record, we're pretty dead straight and honest and on the money as far as making it as simple and direct as possible and I think we did that. . . It has that practice-room vibe to it. We didn't really try and fucking slick it out and anything. We went the more raw route, as far as an approach."
The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Levitation
02. Witchtripper
03. Open Coffins
04. The Curse Is A Lie
05. This Work Is Timeless
06. The Misfortune Teller
Long-running metal band WILD DOGS has returned to its original four-man format after recruiting bassist Craig "Mondo" Lower. The group is rounded out by Matt McCourt on vocals, Robert Robinson on guitar and Troy Stutzman on drums.
After an appearance at Portland's three-day Black Circle metal festival with HIRAX, there has been a newfound appreciation for one of the originators of old-school shred metal.
Matt is planning a return to Europe — Germany, Holland and "whoever else will book us," he says — in the spring of 2013 with a set that is comprised of songs from WILD DOGS' first two albums (both of which were released through Shrapnel Records) and a couple DR. MASTERMIND and MAYHEM tunes. (Mondo was a memeber of the live DR. MASTERMIND group in 1986 with Deen Castronovo and Kurt James.)
WILD DOGS has released six albums, three live albums and one DVD.
The band rose to local and regional recognition in the 1980s as a pioneer of metal in the Pacific Northwest, and received international acclaim after the release of its second album.
McCourt is the only original and constant member of WILD DOGS. Several attempts to reunite most of the original bandmembers have failed, most recently in July 2010.
McCourt has kept the group active for 31 years, playing local and regional shows and international festivals with various musicians.
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/wilddogs2012.jpg
Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, who currently resides in Hollywood, California, recently conducted an interview with former KINGDOM COME/WARRANT guitarist Rick Steier. You can now watch the chat below.
Speaking about the Lenny Wolf-fronted band whose 1988 self-titled debut album was certifield gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 copies, Steier said, "I don't know if you've heard. The buzz is that KINGDOM COME is getting back together for a reunion tour… They want the original members. Derek Shulman, who worked for PolyGram and actually signed KINGDOM COME back in the '80s, I think probably James [Kottak; former KINGDOM COME and current SCORPIONS drummer] ran into him on the road, 'cause James does the most travelling, being with the SCORPIONS. So he talked with Derek and had thrown around the idea and then Lenny got on board and said, 'It's great,' and they e-mailed me and blah blah blah. So it's in the works. If it happens, it happens. It's be fun. But if it doesn't, life goes on, right?!"
He continued, "I just ran into J.B. [Johnny B. Frank], the [original KINGDOM COME] bass player. We were at the SCORPIONS show together. It was at the Staples Center. So I ran into him. I hadn't seen him in awhile.
"So we have the nucleus [of the original KINGDOM COME lineup for a potential reunion]. [But] nobody's been able to talk to Danny — Danny Stag was the lead guitarist at the time.
"They're kind of making all the connections. I'm kind of sitting back and waiting. I think [Danny] is somewhere back where he grew up in Pittsburgh. I don't know if they've been able to get hold of him. I'm just kind of staying off to the side waiting for the word.
"What [the reunion] would entail would be doing a whole new CD featuring the original guys. And who knows?! I don't know if it would do well here, based on the musical climate here, but in Europe I think they're still into that metal sound."
The original KINGDOM COME lineup recorded and released two albums — 1988's "Kingdom Come" and 1989's "In Your Face" — before all members other than Wolf quit the group.
With a new, mostly German lineup, KINGDOM COME remains active, with several subsequent releases and tours in Europe under their collective belts.
In a March 2011 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart. KINGDOM COME singer Lenny Wolf was asked if he was hurt by the criticism that his band received early on for sounding like LED ZEPPELIN. "I was a young man, a singer who hardly spoke English and our band just exploded," he said. "We were excited and at first the press celebrated us. I remember [U.K.'s] Kerrang! [magazine] said, 'Finally, there's a band like 'the big magic Z!'' and we were all very happy. I must admit that there were some similarities, but in no way did we even get close. Every band, especially young bands, are influenced by somebody and those influences will surface when you start writing your own stuff. In the beginning, we took it as a compliment then all of the sudden some press person overheard Danny saying, 'Who's Jimmy Page?' He was saying it out of context like, 'Oh no, not this question again.' so he printed that one line: 'KINGDOM COME guitarist announces he's never heard of Jimmy Page.' This is so far out and ridiculous but the way the media works. The press loves victims. They love kicking you when you on the ground and they'll kick you even more. That's just the way it is. We also learned that bad press is better than no press and once I realized that, I just ignored it and I didn't care anymore. Fortunately, the music does all the talking and if the music gives you goosebumps and the music moves you than don't worry about it . . . We took it as a compliment and were excited. We were playing in London the night before Robert Plant was playing and we went down to see him. He was goofing with us, having fun and he was so relaxed. Robert Plant is like above all. He's really above everything. He was joking with us and it was really great. It really made me sad when I noticed Jimmy Page, who was one of my heroes, starting to whine about little KINGDOM COME who was never really a threat at all."
Speaking about the Lenny Wolf-fronted band whose 1988 self-titled debut album was certifield gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 copies, Steier said, "I don't know if you've heard. The buzz is that KINGDOM COME is getting back together for a reunion tour… They want the original members. Derek Shulman, who worked for PolyGram and actually signed KINGDOM COME back in the '80s, I think probably James [Kottak; former KINGDOM COME and current SCORPIONS drummer] ran into him on the road, 'cause James does the most travelling, being with the SCORPIONS. So he talked with Derek and had thrown around the idea and then Lenny got on board and said, 'It's great,' and they e-mailed me and blah blah blah. So it's in the works. If it happens, it happens. It's be fun. But if it doesn't, life goes on, right?!"
He continued, "I just ran into J.B. [Johnny B. Frank], the [original KINGDOM COME] bass player. We were at the SCORPIONS show together. It was at the Staples Center. So I ran into him. I hadn't seen him in awhile.
"So we have the nucleus [of the original KINGDOM COME lineup for a potential reunion]. [But] nobody's been able to talk to Danny — Danny Stag was the lead guitarist at the time.
"They're kind of making all the connections. I'm kind of sitting back and waiting. I think [Danny] is somewhere back where he grew up in Pittsburgh. I don't know if they've been able to get hold of him. I'm just kind of staying off to the side waiting for the word.
"What [the reunion] would entail would be doing a whole new CD featuring the original guys. And who knows?! I don't know if it would do well here, based on the musical climate here, but in Europe I think they're still into that metal sound."
The original KINGDOM COME lineup recorded and released two albums — 1988's "Kingdom Come" and 1989's "In Your Face" — before all members other than Wolf quit the group.
With a new, mostly German lineup, KINGDOM COME remains active, with several subsequent releases and tours in Europe under their collective belts.
In a March 2011 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart. KINGDOM COME singer Lenny Wolf was asked if he was hurt by the criticism that his band received early on for sounding like LED ZEPPELIN. "I was a young man, a singer who hardly spoke English and our band just exploded," he said. "We were excited and at first the press celebrated us. I remember [U.K.'s] Kerrang! [magazine] said, 'Finally, there's a band like 'the big magic Z!'' and we were all very happy. I must admit that there were some similarities, but in no way did we even get close. Every band, especially young bands, are influenced by somebody and those influences will surface when you start writing your own stuff. In the beginning, we took it as a compliment then all of the sudden some press person overheard Danny saying, 'Who's Jimmy Page?' He was saying it out of context like, 'Oh no, not this question again.' so he printed that one line: 'KINGDOM COME guitarist announces he's never heard of Jimmy Page.' This is so far out and ridiculous but the way the media works. The press loves victims. They love kicking you when you on the ground and they'll kick you even more. That's just the way it is. We also learned that bad press is better than no press and once I realized that, I just ignored it and I didn't care anymore. Fortunately, the music does all the talking and if the music gives you goosebumps and the music moves you than don't worry about it . . . We took it as a compliment and were excited. We were playing in London the night before Robert Plant was playing and we went down to see him. He was goofing with us, having fun and he was so relaxed. Robert Plant is like above all. He's really above everything. He was joking with us and it was really great. It really made me sad when I noticed Jimmy Page, who was one of my heroes, starting to whine about little KINGDOM COME who was never really a threat at all."
METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, CHICKENFOOT and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY are among the artists who have re-interpreted songs from DEEP PURPLE's classic "Machine Head" album for "Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head", a compilation CD which will be made available with Classic Rock magazine's upcoming DEEP PURPLE fanpack. Due on Septemer 4, the fanpack also comes with an in-depth, official, band-endorsed 124-page magazine which includes exclusive new interviews with world-class guitarists Joe Bonamassa and Steve Vai and the members of METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN and CHICKENFOOT, among others, talking about recording these classic songs, plus brand new interviews with DEEP PURPLE — one of the last interviews with the late Jon Lord — on the making of their most well-loved album and exclusive and previously unpublished photographs and artefacts from the PURPLE archives.
Hearing of Jon Lord's sad passing, Glenn Hughes assembled some friends to cut "Highway Star" last week as a tribute to his dear friend. The performance is one of the greatest performances Glenn Hughes has committed to record.
Drummer Lars Ulrich of METALLICA, who are also recording a song for the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album, previously said, "We were asked if we'd contribute to the anniversary of 'Machine Head' — we can't turn that down. We're circling the Dio and PURPLE catalogs and hopefully we'll come up with something that is worthy of these wonderful men."
"Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head" track listing:
01. Smoke On The Water - CARLOS SANTANA
02. Highway Star - CHICKENFOOT
03. Maybe I'm A Leo - GLENN HUGHES, CHAD SMITH, LUIS MALDONADO
04. Pictures Of Home - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
05. Never Before - KINGS OF CHAOS (Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, Arlan Schierbaum)
06. Smoke On The Water - THE FLAMING LIPS
07. Lazy - JIMMY BARNES, JOE BONAMASSA
08. Space Truckin' - IRON MAIDEN
09. When A Blind Man Cries – METALLICA
10. Highway Star - Glen HUGHES, STEVE VAI, CHAD SMITH, LACHLAN DOLEY (exclusive track)
Hearing of Jon Lord's sad passing, Glenn Hughes assembled some friends to cut "Highway Star" last week as a tribute to his dear friend. The performance is one of the greatest performances Glenn Hughes has committed to record.
Drummer Lars Ulrich of METALLICA, who are also recording a song for the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album, previously said, "We were asked if we'd contribute to the anniversary of 'Machine Head' — we can't turn that down. We're circling the Dio and PURPLE catalogs and hopefully we'll come up with something that is worthy of these wonderful men."
"Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head" track listing:
01. Smoke On The Water - CARLOS SANTANA
02. Highway Star - CHICKENFOOT
03. Maybe I'm A Leo - GLENN HUGHES, CHAD SMITH, LUIS MALDONADO
04. Pictures Of Home - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
05. Never Before - KINGS OF CHAOS (Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, Arlan Schierbaum)
06. Smoke On The Water - THE FLAMING LIPS
07. Lazy - JIMMY BARNES, JOE BONAMASSA
08. Space Truckin' - IRON MAIDEN
09. When A Blind Man Cries – METALLICA
10. Highway Star - Glen HUGHES, STEVE VAI, CHAD SMITH, LACHLAN DOLEY (exclusive track)
"Inside The Machine", the first biography of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD, is set for worldwide release on October 15 by Omnibus Press. The author, Joel McIver, has previously written books about and in co-operation with artists such as SLAYER, TOOL, MOTÖRHEAD, BLACK SABBATH and many other rock and metal legends, including the bestselling 2004 volume "Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica". The book features a foreword by ex-MACHINE HEAD drummer Chris Kontos, and its cover can be seen below.
McIver told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "'Inside The Machine' is an unauthorized book, but damn, I'm proud of it. I've interviewed Robb Flynn, Adam Duce, Phil Demmel and Dave McClain so many times over the years that a book had to be written sometime. The story of MACHINE HEAD's rise, fall and rise again is pretty much unprecedented in heavy music, and I've added first-hand detail to the story from interviews with band friends and associates. I've also taken a rather different approach to the band's catalogue. The usual approach that critics take is to dismiss MACHINE HEAD's late-90s and early-00s albums as watered-down nu-metal, which is a long way from the whole truth: if you're looking for a fresh viewpoint, you'll find it here."
The official book description: "Over 17 years and eight albums, heavy metal band MACHINE HEAD have sold millions of units, earned a Grammy nomination and won personal awards from various magazines. The story is a classic 'rise, fall and rise again' scenario — they exploded onto the metal scene in 1994, enjoyed a successful string of albums and then lost their way in the nu-metal era. Now they are in the middle of one of metal's most acclaimed comebacks. Joel McIver has interviewed all the band-members several times and has a unique insight into their rollercoaster story, which includes alcohol addiction, inter-band brawls and therapy, sackings, near-splits and two decades of the heaviest music known to man, delivered all over the world."
For more information, visit www.joelmciver.co.uk.
MACHINE HEAD's new album, "Unto The Locust", sold more than 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart — putting MACHINE HEAD in the Top 25 for the first time in the band's 17-year history.
MACHINE HEAD has consistently averaged more than 100,000 copies sold in the U.S. for each of its seven albums and has shifted double that overseas (accruing several silver records in the U.K.), resulting in cumulative worldwide sales of more than 2.4 million.
MACHINE HEAD's previous CD, "The Blackening", opened with just under 15,000 units back in April 2007 to debut at No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's 2004 effort, "Through The Ashes Of Empires", premiered with less than 12,000 copies to land at No. 88.
McIver told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "'Inside The Machine' is an unauthorized book, but damn, I'm proud of it. I've interviewed Robb Flynn, Adam Duce, Phil Demmel and Dave McClain so many times over the years that a book had to be written sometime. The story of MACHINE HEAD's rise, fall and rise again is pretty much unprecedented in heavy music, and I've added first-hand detail to the story from interviews with band friends and associates. I've also taken a rather different approach to the band's catalogue. The usual approach that critics take is to dismiss MACHINE HEAD's late-90s and early-00s albums as watered-down nu-metal, which is a long way from the whole truth: if you're looking for a fresh viewpoint, you'll find it here."
The official book description: "Over 17 years and eight albums, heavy metal band MACHINE HEAD have sold millions of units, earned a Grammy nomination and won personal awards from various magazines. The story is a classic 'rise, fall and rise again' scenario — they exploded onto the metal scene in 1994, enjoyed a successful string of albums and then lost their way in the nu-metal era. Now they are in the middle of one of metal's most acclaimed comebacks. Joel McIver has interviewed all the band-members several times and has a unique insight into their rollercoaster story, which includes alcohol addiction, inter-band brawls and therapy, sackings, near-splits and two decades of the heaviest music known to man, delivered all over the world."
For more information, visit www.joelmciver.co.uk.
MACHINE HEAD's new album, "Unto The Locust", sold more than 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart — putting MACHINE HEAD in the Top 25 for the first time in the band's 17-year history.
MACHINE HEAD has consistently averaged more than 100,000 copies sold in the U.S. for each of its seven albums and has shifted double that overseas (accruing several silver records in the U.K.), resulting in cumulative worldwide sales of more than 2.4 million.
MACHINE HEAD's previous CD, "The Blackening", opened with just under 15,000 units back in April 2007 to debut at No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's 2004 effort, "Through The Ashes Of Empires", premiered with less than 12,000 copies to land at No. 88.
U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria was professionally filmed for release as a DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD, entitled "Live In Sofia", on September 28 via AFM Records.
Commented the group: "The audience was absolutely fantastic and forced us to play for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. More than 2,000 fans welcomed back us after 7 years and pushed everybody over his personal limit. Sofia was absolutely great and we will never forget this show. To make sure all the fans can participate of this great event, we will do everything to release the DVD/CD/Blu-ray as soon as possible."
U.D.O.'s setlist for the Sofia concert was as follows:
01. Rev-Raptor
02. Dominator
03. Thunderball
04. Leatherhead
05. Independence Day
06. Screaming For A Love Bite (ACCEPT cover)
07. Heart Of Gold
08. Vendetta
09. Princess Of The Dawn (ACCEPT cover)
10. I Give As Good As I Get
11. Guitar Solo
12. Neon Nights (ACCEPT cover)
13. Break The Rules
14. Man And Machine
15. Drum Solo
16. Living On A Frontline
17. Up To The Limit (ACCEPT cover)
18. Two Faced Woman
19. Metal Heart (ACCEPT cover)
Encore:
20. The Bogeyman
21. I'm A Rebel (ACCEPT cover)
Encore 2:
22. Balls To The Wall (ACCEPT cover)
23. Burning (ACCEPT cover)
The cover artwork for the DVD can be seen below.
"Celebrator", a collection of rare tracks from U.D.O., will be released on double vinyl on August 17 via High Roller Records. It is limited to 500 copies in three different colors:
* 100 x white vinyl
* 200 x yellow vinyl
* 200 x black vinyl
"Celebrator" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 73.
The set was made available in Europe on May 4 via AFM Records and was released in North America on June 19.
U.D.O.'s latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records. The recordings for the CD took place between June 2010 and February 2011 at Roxx studios (owned by U.D.O. guitarist and ex-ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann) in Pulheim, Germany. The effort was mastered by Manfred Melchior at MM Sound Digital studios in Steinhagen, Germany. The album's cover artwork is once again a comic-like motif: but the "Dominator" character is this time "a lot more effectual and colorful," according to a press release.
Commented the group: "The audience was absolutely fantastic and forced us to play for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. More than 2,000 fans welcomed back us after 7 years and pushed everybody over his personal limit. Sofia was absolutely great and we will never forget this show. To make sure all the fans can participate of this great event, we will do everything to release the DVD/CD/Blu-ray as soon as possible."
U.D.O.'s setlist for the Sofia concert was as follows:
01. Rev-Raptor
02. Dominator
03. Thunderball
04. Leatherhead
05. Independence Day
06. Screaming For A Love Bite (ACCEPT cover)
07. Heart Of Gold
08. Vendetta
09. Princess Of The Dawn (ACCEPT cover)
10. I Give As Good As I Get
11. Guitar Solo
12. Neon Nights (ACCEPT cover)
13. Break The Rules
14. Man And Machine
15. Drum Solo
16. Living On A Frontline
17. Up To The Limit (ACCEPT cover)
18. Two Faced Woman
19. Metal Heart (ACCEPT cover)
Encore:
20. The Bogeyman
21. I'm A Rebel (ACCEPT cover)
Encore 2:
22. Balls To The Wall (ACCEPT cover)
23. Burning (ACCEPT cover)
The cover artwork for the DVD can be seen below.
"Celebrator", a collection of rare tracks from U.D.O., will be released on double vinyl on August 17 via High Roller Records. It is limited to 500 copies in three different colors:
* 100 x white vinyl
* 200 x yellow vinyl
* 200 x black vinyl
"Celebrator" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 73.
The set was made available in Europe on May 4 via AFM Records and was released in North America on June 19.
U.D.O.'s latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records. The recordings for the CD took place between June 2010 and February 2011 at Roxx studios (owned by U.D.O. guitarist and ex-ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann) in Pulheim, Germany. The effort was mastered by Manfred Melchior at MM Sound Digital studios in Steinhagen, Germany. The album's cover artwork is once again a comic-like motif: but the "Dominator" character is this time "a lot more effectual and colorful," according to a press release.
Richard Warrell of Born Music Online recently conducted an interview with former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin. A couple of excerpts from the first part of the chat follow below.
Born Music Online: One of the BLACK SABBATH albums you recorded, 1987's "Eternal Idol", was just reissued with the original vocal track by the band's previous vocalist, Ray Gillen. Have you heard that?
Tony: Yeah, I've got that. It's actually the version I used to learn the parts when I recorded it. Ray Gillan did it originally and they'd been recording it in Monserat, he disappeared, and they gave me his version to work from. They gave me eight days to do it. I quite like that version, actually.
Born Music Online: The recent BLACK SABBATH reunion has generated a lot of press recently. Has that created any interest in your period in the band? Is your upcoming show [with the band HEADLESS CROSS] an attempt to capitalize on that?
Tony: I kinda got cut out of the whole SABBATH picture. The most recent reissue is "Eternal Idol" and I didn't help write it as I came in late in the process. There was some rumour of my albums — "Headless Cross" onwards — getting put out but I can't see them doing it, to be honest. With Tony's [Iommi] illness, they'll be doing less work than usual and it won't be a priority. I just know at the moment I'm being really cut out of it. Someone recently blocked me from using "Headless Cross" on my website. They said I didn't have the rights, which isn't true — I receive royalties from Warner Brothers and everything. I don't follow it as a rule, I've got my own life to lead. You can't live in the past, you've got to move on, and I did. I'm a very different person and musician now.
Born Music Online: There has been lots of chatter about the band leaving Bill Ward out of this [BLACK SABBATH] reunion. As a man who was part of the band, what is your take on this?
Tony: I never got the fuss with this Bill Ward stuff. I spent ten years with the band and not once did they speak badly of Bill Ward. They love him, so why didn't they go the extra yard to make it work? They've got nothing bad to say about him, or at least I never heard it. It sounds a bit like a publicity stunt to me — like they're keeping him for the "real" reunion in a year's time, so they can do the reunion stuff all over again.
Born Music Online: Maybe he's just not up to going on the road again after so long?
Tony: It really doesn't matter because he was the original drummer, and they're among the few bands that age who are still all alive. They've got enough money to do anything… I don't get why they wouldn't go that extra bit and help him out if they have to hire a backup drummer or something. You kinda have to read between the lines with BLACK SABBATH. They never speak to you directly — it's either done behind your back or through other people. Not in a mean sorta way, it's just their way… It's a pain and you often miss the plot a bit. I do kinda feel where Bill's at and we always got on quite well.
Born Music Online: One of the BLACK SABBATH albums you recorded, 1987's "Eternal Idol", was just reissued with the original vocal track by the band's previous vocalist, Ray Gillen. Have you heard that?
Tony: Yeah, I've got that. It's actually the version I used to learn the parts when I recorded it. Ray Gillan did it originally and they'd been recording it in Monserat, he disappeared, and they gave me his version to work from. They gave me eight days to do it. I quite like that version, actually.
Born Music Online: The recent BLACK SABBATH reunion has generated a lot of press recently. Has that created any interest in your period in the band? Is your upcoming show [with the band HEADLESS CROSS] an attempt to capitalize on that?
Tony: I kinda got cut out of the whole SABBATH picture. The most recent reissue is "Eternal Idol" and I didn't help write it as I came in late in the process. There was some rumour of my albums — "Headless Cross" onwards — getting put out but I can't see them doing it, to be honest. With Tony's [Iommi] illness, they'll be doing less work than usual and it won't be a priority. I just know at the moment I'm being really cut out of it. Someone recently blocked me from using "Headless Cross" on my website. They said I didn't have the rights, which isn't true — I receive royalties from Warner Brothers and everything. I don't follow it as a rule, I've got my own life to lead. You can't live in the past, you've got to move on, and I did. I'm a very different person and musician now.
Born Music Online: There has been lots of chatter about the band leaving Bill Ward out of this [BLACK SABBATH] reunion. As a man who was part of the band, what is your take on this?
Tony: I never got the fuss with this Bill Ward stuff. I spent ten years with the band and not once did they speak badly of Bill Ward. They love him, so why didn't they go the extra yard to make it work? They've got nothing bad to say about him, or at least I never heard it. It sounds a bit like a publicity stunt to me — like they're keeping him for the "real" reunion in a year's time, so they can do the reunion stuff all over again.
Born Music Online: Maybe he's just not up to going on the road again after so long?
Tony: It really doesn't matter because he was the original drummer, and they're among the few bands that age who are still all alive. They've got enough money to do anything… I don't get why they wouldn't go that extra bit and help him out if they have to hire a backup drummer or something. You kinda have to read between the lines with BLACK SABBATH. They never speak to you directly — it's either done behind your back or through other people. Not in a mean sorta way, it's just their way… It's a pain and you often miss the plot a bit. I do kinda feel where Bill's at and we always got on quite well.
Jeff Niesel of CleveScene.com recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
CleveScene.com: Say SKID ROW is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Would you perform with the guys?
Bach: I don't see how SKID ROW could get into the Rock Hall when KISS and RUSH aren't in the Rock Hall. If that happens, it'd be pretty wacky. I went to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and I was pleased because they had a set of SKID ROW drumsticks in the building. I was very excited since they have four floors devoted to Laura Nyro. Once I got past the escalator, it was all Laura Nyro and the HOLLIES. When you're competing against Laura Nyro, you know you're in hallowed halls.
CleveScene.com: Do you think Axl [Rose] made the right decision by not singing with GUNS N' ROSES at the induction?
Bach: I just played with Duff [McKagan] and Matt Sorum with a band called the Rock 'N' Roll Allstars with Gene Simmons and Joe Elliott. I'm also friends with Axl, and I don't want to piss off either side. When I stick up for Axl, Duff gets mad at me. When I stick up for Duff, Axl gets mad at me. It's totally true. It seemed like Axl was getting railroaded into doing something he didn't want to do. If you're an artist, someone can't tell you how to make your art. People are like, "Why did it take you so long to make a record?" Well, how many records did you make and are you going to go up to Picasso and say, "Hurry up and finish painting, godammit." Music isn't on a time limit. When it's done, it's done. "Kicking & Screaming" was easy for me to do because my guitarist Nick [Sterling] came in with all these ideas. It was easy because I liked all the music he presented. But the record company wants another record right now. It's going to take a long time. You have to hear something that comes over the speakers and put your name on it for life. You're going to have interviews about it for life and play it on stage. It's a heavy thing, at least for me. I make sure I can't make it any better before I'm done.
CleveScene.com: Did you try out for VELVET REVOLVER?
Bach: Yeah, it wasn't really a tryout. It was during rehearsals for "Jesus Christ Superstar", and they wanted me to sing for them, and we cut five songs in the studio. But "Jesus Christ Superstar" went on the road and they were paying me and VELVET REVOLVER was not. I don't know why [the guys in VELVET REVOLVER] would pick a guy who shoots heroin to be in charge of everything.
CleveScene.com: Are you on good terms or bad terms with SKID ROW?
Bach: I'm not on any terms. We were offered two big reunion shows in Europe. One of the guys in the band didn't want to do it. The other four of us were totally into doing it, but that's just the way it goes.
CleveScene.com: Say SKID ROW is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Would you perform with the guys?
Bach: I don't see how SKID ROW could get into the Rock Hall when KISS and RUSH aren't in the Rock Hall. If that happens, it'd be pretty wacky. I went to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and I was pleased because they had a set of SKID ROW drumsticks in the building. I was very excited since they have four floors devoted to Laura Nyro. Once I got past the escalator, it was all Laura Nyro and the HOLLIES. When you're competing against Laura Nyro, you know you're in hallowed halls.
CleveScene.com: Do you think Axl [Rose] made the right decision by not singing with GUNS N' ROSES at the induction?
Bach: I just played with Duff [McKagan] and Matt Sorum with a band called the Rock 'N' Roll Allstars with Gene Simmons and Joe Elliott. I'm also friends with Axl, and I don't want to piss off either side. When I stick up for Axl, Duff gets mad at me. When I stick up for Duff, Axl gets mad at me. It's totally true. It seemed like Axl was getting railroaded into doing something he didn't want to do. If you're an artist, someone can't tell you how to make your art. People are like, "Why did it take you so long to make a record?" Well, how many records did you make and are you going to go up to Picasso and say, "Hurry up and finish painting, godammit." Music isn't on a time limit. When it's done, it's done. "Kicking & Screaming" was easy for me to do because my guitarist Nick [Sterling] came in with all these ideas. It was easy because I liked all the music he presented. But the record company wants another record right now. It's going to take a long time. You have to hear something that comes over the speakers and put your name on it for life. You're going to have interviews about it for life and play it on stage. It's a heavy thing, at least for me. I make sure I can't make it any better before I'm done.
CleveScene.com: Did you try out for VELVET REVOLVER?
Bach: Yeah, it wasn't really a tryout. It was during rehearsals for "Jesus Christ Superstar", and they wanted me to sing for them, and we cut five songs in the studio. But "Jesus Christ Superstar" went on the road and they were paying me and VELVET REVOLVER was not. I don't know why [the guys in VELVET REVOLVER] would pick a guy who shoots heroin to be in charge of everything.
CleveScene.com: Are you on good terms or bad terms with SKID ROW?
Bach: I'm not on any terms. We were offered two big reunion shows in Europe. One of the guys in the band didn't want to do it. The other four of us were totally into doing it, but that's just the way it goes.
MONUMENT, the British classic heavy metal band featuring former members of WHITE WIZZARD, BIOMECHANICAL and THE MORE I SEE, will release its debut EP, "Rock The Night", on August 6. According to a press release, the CD "compris[es] of five stunning tracks, fuelled by massive twin guitar attack, catchy hooks and powerful tenor vocals."
The "Rock The Night" title track features a solo guest performance from JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner.
MONUMENT will celebrate the release of its EP with a special show at Islington's O2 Academy in London, England, supporting the official Ronnie James Dio tribute band DIO DISCIPLES. MONUMENT frontman Peter Ellis says, "It's a true privilege to open for the band of my late, great hero Ronnie James Dio! Bring on the good times!"
MONUMENT is:
Peter Ellis - Vocals
Lewis Stephens - Lead Guitar
David del Cid - Lead Guitar
Jim Ramses - Bass guitar
Matt C - Drums
The "Rock The Night" title track features a solo guest performance from JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner.
MONUMENT will celebrate the release of its EP with a special show at Islington's O2 Academy in London, England, supporting the official Ronnie James Dio tribute band DIO DISCIPLES. MONUMENT frontman Peter Ellis says, "It's a true privilege to open for the band of my late, great hero Ronnie James Dio! Bring on the good times!"
MONUMENT is:
Peter Ellis - Vocals
Lewis Stephens - Lead Guitar
David del Cid - Lead Guitar
Jim Ramses - Bass guitar
Matt C - Drums
"It's Not Because Of You", a brand new song from Swedish doom metal kings WITCHCRAFT, will be made available via the band's Facebook profile on Monday, July 30. The track will released digitally via iTunes as well as on limited seven-inch vinyl on Friday, August 17. The single will also include a special non-album cut called "Take Me With You When You Die". The vinyl version will be issued in at least three different-color versions — black, copper and green — and made available via Nuclear Blast mailorder only.
"It's Not Because Of You" comes off WITCHCRAFT's fourth album, "Legend", which will be released on September 21 via the band's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "The Alchemist" was recorded with renowned producer Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (KREATOR, OPETH, AMON AMARTH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden. The CD marks the recording debut of the band's new members Simon Solomon (guitar), Tom Jondelius (guitar) and Oscar Johansson (drums). Going forward, WITCHCRAFT leader Magnus Pelander will focus on his unique vocals without playing guitar anymore.
"Legend" track listing:
01. Deconstruction
02. Flag Of Fate
03. It's Not Because Of You
04. An Alternative To Freedom
05. Ghosts House
06. White Light Suicide
07. Democracy
08. Dystopia
09. Dead End
Limited digipack + LP bonus track:
10. By Your Definition
Commented Pelander: "A friend of mine had an idea about a cover for 'Legend'. I developed the idea and gave it back to my friend who then passed it on to another friend who happened to be a designer. The designer then pushed it in a new direction. The result is already legendary."
Added bass player Ola Henriksson: "The album cover is meant to reflect the music and I think it does that with its heavy, dark and clean design."
WITCHCRAFT, who formed in 2000 in tribute to band heroes Roky Erickson and Bobby Liebling (PENTAGRAM), create heavy, blues-based rock augmented with touches of psychedelica and late '60s pop flourishes. The quartet's first-class songs reference the darker side of hard rock while remaining surprisingly accessible. Flying largely under the radar of the popular music landscape previously, WITCHCRAFT is a hallowed name in underground circles and has found itself championed by a diverse cross-section of distinguished music adherents including American actor Elijah Wood, who publicly called the band "amazing," and DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo, who in 2009 proudly proclaimed WITCHCRAFT as his "new favorite band."
Recorded 100% pro-tools and digital free at Stockholm's UpandRunning studios with producer Tom Hakava and using only vintage amplification, WITCHCRAFT's latest album, "The Alchemist", showcases a group of musicians at ease with their playing and songwriting. Addictive melodies flow simultaneously with catchy, heavy riffs, while maintaining a relaxed and laid back feel throughout. Among its many highlights, the album features the standout songs "Walk Between the Lines" and "Hey Doctor" as well as the record's plat du jour, the three-part progressive rock odyssey of the title track "The Alchemist".
"It's Not Because Of You" comes off WITCHCRAFT's fourth album, "Legend", which will be released on September 21 via the band's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "The Alchemist" was recorded with renowned producer Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (KREATOR, OPETH, AMON AMARTH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden. The CD marks the recording debut of the band's new members Simon Solomon (guitar), Tom Jondelius (guitar) and Oscar Johansson (drums). Going forward, WITCHCRAFT leader Magnus Pelander will focus on his unique vocals without playing guitar anymore.
"Legend" track listing:
01. Deconstruction
02. Flag Of Fate
03. It's Not Because Of You
04. An Alternative To Freedom
05. Ghosts House
06. White Light Suicide
07. Democracy
08. Dystopia
09. Dead End
Limited digipack + LP bonus track:
10. By Your Definition
Commented Pelander: "A friend of mine had an idea about a cover for 'Legend'. I developed the idea and gave it back to my friend who then passed it on to another friend who happened to be a designer. The designer then pushed it in a new direction. The result is already legendary."
Added bass player Ola Henriksson: "The album cover is meant to reflect the music and I think it does that with its heavy, dark and clean design."
WITCHCRAFT, who formed in 2000 in tribute to band heroes Roky Erickson and Bobby Liebling (PENTAGRAM), create heavy, blues-based rock augmented with touches of psychedelica and late '60s pop flourishes. The quartet's first-class songs reference the darker side of hard rock while remaining surprisingly accessible. Flying largely under the radar of the popular music landscape previously, WITCHCRAFT is a hallowed name in underground circles and has found itself championed by a diverse cross-section of distinguished music adherents including American actor Elijah Wood, who publicly called the band "amazing," and DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo, who in 2009 proudly proclaimed WITCHCRAFT as his "new favorite band."
Recorded 100% pro-tools and digital free at Stockholm's UpandRunning studios with producer Tom Hakava and using only vintage amplification, WITCHCRAFT's latest album, "The Alchemist", showcases a group of musicians at ease with their playing and songwriting. Addictive melodies flow simultaneously with catchy, heavy riffs, while maintaining a relaxed and laid back feel throughout. Among its many highlights, the album features the standout songs "Walk Between the Lines" and "Hey Doctor" as well as the record's plat du jour, the three-part progressive rock odyssey of the title track "The Alchemist".
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/witchcraftsingle.jpg
According to The Pulse Of Radio, SMASHING PUMPKINS founder and frontman Billy Corgan has a message for young musicians who want to be the next Trent Reznor or Kurt Cobain: forget about it. Corgan told the Daily Beast that most alternative acts will never escape that scene because influential sites like Pitchfork.com set the rules. He explained, "If you're 20 years old and you aspire to be like me or Kurt Cobain or Courtney Love or Trent Reznor, you're not going to make it that way. You won't succeed. Let's say you're the next Kurt Cobain. You will be appropriated on your first album by the Pitchfork community. Your record company will rally round that idea because that's your marketing platform. But the minute you're in that world you're frozen."
Corgan continued, "Those Pitchfork people are very much about social codes, about whether you're wearing the right t-shirt. That orthodoxy is no different than the rigidity of the football team at school. You can't break the social order if you're preaching to the choir — and the choir already has cool haircuts!"
The PUMPKINS mainman added, "You've got to want to subvert the social order of the high school. That's why NIRVANA was so fucking dangerous. They had the jocks listening to them. Kurt Cobain used to talk about how weird it was to be performing, and see the people who used to beat him up cheering along."
Corgan concluded by asking, "Where's the rebellion right now? There's almost no music about what's going on politically, which is crazy because this is the craziest political time I've ever lived in . . . Where are the bands of dissent?"
Corgan and the PUMPKINS released their seventh studio album, "Oceania", in June. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week of release.
The PUMPKINS have yet to announce tour plans behind the new disc, although they are expected to tour the U.S. this fall.
Corgan continued, "Those Pitchfork people are very much about social codes, about whether you're wearing the right t-shirt. That orthodoxy is no different than the rigidity of the football team at school. You can't break the social order if you're preaching to the choir — and the choir already has cool haircuts!"
The PUMPKINS mainman added, "You've got to want to subvert the social order of the high school. That's why NIRVANA was so fucking dangerous. They had the jocks listening to them. Kurt Cobain used to talk about how weird it was to be performing, and see the people who used to beat him up cheering along."
Corgan concluded by asking, "Where's the rebellion right now? There's almost no music about what's going on politically, which is crazy because this is the craziest political time I've ever lived in . . . Where are the bands of dissent?"
Corgan and the PUMPKINS released their seventh studio album, "Oceania", in June. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week of release.
The PUMPKINS have yet to announce tour plans behind the new disc, although they are expected to tour the U.S. this fall.
Texas-based metal veterans HELSTAR will release "30 Years Of Hel", a DVD containing footage of the band's March 24, 2012 30-year-anniversary hometown show at Warehouse Live in Houston, on August 31 via AFM Records. The DVD+2CD set will include footage of the band performing songs spanning its entire career, including material from the often-overlooked "Multiples Of Black" release. The package will also feature interviews with each bandmember, as well as with the entire group, conducted by "Robb's MetalWorks" and focusing specifically on this milestone.
Robb Chavez of "Robb's MetalWorks" conducted an interview with Larry Barragan, guitarist and co-founding member of HELSTAR, on March 24 at the 30-year-anniversary show. The chat, which can be seen below, covers a variety of topics, including the significance of the 30-year milestone, that evening's 20-song set list, the history of Texas metal and Jackson guitars.
HELSTAR released its latest album, "Glory Of Chaos", in November 2010 via Germany's AFM Records.
Formed in Houston in the early '80s, HELSTAR cut its teeth playing backyard parties and small club gigs. It soon became apparent that HELSTAR had much more to offer then its contemporaries. Combat Records snapped up the band and released HELSTAR's debut, "Burning Star", in 1984. Next came "Remnants of War", followed by HELSTAR's breakthrough album, "A Distant Thunder", in 1988. The success of "A Distant Thunder" ultimately set up HELSTAR's most critically acclaimed album, 1989's "Nosferatu".
Robb Chavez of "Robb's MetalWorks" conducted an interview with Larry Barragan, guitarist and co-founding member of HELSTAR, on March 24 at the 30-year-anniversary show. The chat, which can be seen below, covers a variety of topics, including the significance of the 30-year milestone, that evening's 20-song set list, the history of Texas metal and Jackson guitars.
HELSTAR released its latest album, "Glory Of Chaos", in November 2010 via Germany's AFM Records.
Formed in Houston in the early '80s, HELSTAR cut its teeth playing backyard parties and small club gigs. It soon became apparent that HELSTAR had much more to offer then its contemporaries. Combat Records snapped up the band and released HELSTAR's debut, "Burning Star", in 1984. Next came "Remnants of War", followed by HELSTAR's breakthrough album, "A Distant Thunder", in 1988. The success of "A Distant Thunder" ultimately set up HELSTAR's most critically acclaimed album, 1989's "Nosferatu".
German thrashers FINAL DEPRAVITY have just entered Zeche Carl in Essen, Germany to begin recording the follow-up to their 2010 debut album, "Nightmare 13". Entitled "Thrash Is Just The Beginning", the CD will be produced by the band's sound engineer Sascha Risseler (THE VERY END, NIGHT IN GALES, WORDS OF FAREWELL, NINNGHIZHIDDA) and mixed and mastered by Dennis Koehne (SODOM, EXUMER, THE VERY END). A release date for the effort has not yet been confirmed.
FINAL DEPRAVITY recently introduced their new drummer Jerome Reil, son of KREATOR drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil. Video footage of his debut show in Oberhausen can be seen below.
FINAL DEPRAVITY has played over 60 live shows since the release of its debut album, including those with ARCH ENEMY, ACCU§ER and WARRANT. FINAL DEPRAVITY also supported ONSLAUGHT and SUIDAKRA on the "Scream For Violence" European tour (20 shows) and performed at last year's Metalfest in Germany.
FINAL DEPRAVITY's next live appearance is scheduled for October 4 when they will support ONSLAUGHT at the "The Full Force 2012" tour show at Turock in Essen.
FINAL DEPRAVITY recently introduced their new drummer Jerome Reil, son of KREATOR drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil. Video footage of his debut show in Oberhausen can be seen below.
FINAL DEPRAVITY has played over 60 live shows since the release of its debut album, including those with ARCH ENEMY, ACCU§ER and WARRANT. FINAL DEPRAVITY also supported ONSLAUGHT and SUIDAKRA on the "Scream For Violence" European tour (20 shows) and performed at last year's Metalfest in Germany.
FINAL DEPRAVITY's next live appearance is scheduled for October 4 when they will support ONSLAUGHT at the "The Full Force 2012" tour show at Turock in Essen.
Finnish heavy metal singer Timo Kotipelto (STRATOVARIUS, CAIN'S OFFERING, KOTIPELTO) and guitarist Jani Liimatainen (CAIN'S OFFERING, ex-SONATA ARCTICA) are putting the finishing touches on an acoustic album, "Blacoustic", to be released later in the year under the KOTIPELTO & LIIMATAINEN banner. Timo says, "Matias [Kupiainen, STRATOVARIUS guitarist] mixed the album in his studio and now he is mastering it (final tuning, making each tracks into a complete album). It sounds veeery good! We still need to work on the artwork, etc. Jani and Matias did a brilliant job!"
CAIN'S OFFERING, the band featuring Kotipelto and Liimatainen, released its debut album, "Gather The Faithful", in 2009 via Frontiers Records.
Liimatainen was previously in SONATA ARCTICA and ALTARIA. In 2007, Jani parted ways with SONATA ARCTICA, a band he co-founded in 1996 and to which he devoted his time and energy for more than 10 years.
CAIN'S OFFERING, the band featuring Kotipelto and Liimatainen, released its debut album, "Gather The Faithful", in 2009 via Frontiers Records.
Liimatainen was previously in SONATA ARCTICA and ALTARIA. In 2007, Jani parted ways with SONATA ARCTICA, a band he co-founded in 1996 and to which he devoted his time and energy for more than 10 years.
KORN has joined the lineup as co-headliner — with GODSMACK — for the fourth annual ShipRocked, the ultimate rock music cruise vacation which sails November 27 - December 1. Other lineup additions for ShipRocked 2012 include POP EVIL, HELMET, THE HALO METHOD (featuring Ben Moody, ex-EVANESCENCE/WE ARE THE FALLEN; Dave Buckner, ex-PAPA ROACH; and Lukas Rossi, winner of "Rockstar Supernova"), DEAD SARA, WRITE THIS DOWN and ANDY WOOD & THE AMALGAM.
"I did a cruise last year DJing as J Devil, and it was a fucking blast — such a great time," says Jonathan Davis of KORN. "We're really looking forward to doing it this year as KORN with Monster Energy and all these great musicians. This is going to be an unbelievable event."
The current ShipRocked 2012 lineup is as follows:
GODSMACK
KORN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
P.O.D.
SEVENDUST
FILTER
FUEL
BLACK STONE CHERRY
POP EVIL
LIT
HELMET
IN THIS MOMENT
GEOFF TATE
THE HALO METHOD
GILBY CLARKE
DEAD SARA
WRITE THIS DOWN
ANDY WOOD & THE AMALGAM
ShipRocked embarks from and returns to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, providing guests with four days and nights of music and parties, along with a little relaxation, onboard the MSC Poesia. Ports of call are Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas (subject to change).
For full details and to purchase tickets, go to www.GetShipRocked.com.
"I did a cruise last year DJing as J Devil, and it was a fucking blast — such a great time," says Jonathan Davis of KORN. "We're really looking forward to doing it this year as KORN with Monster Energy and all these great musicians. This is going to be an unbelievable event."
The current ShipRocked 2012 lineup is as follows:
GODSMACK
KORN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
P.O.D.
SEVENDUST
FILTER
FUEL
BLACK STONE CHERRY
POP EVIL
LIT
HELMET
IN THIS MOMENT
GEOFF TATE
THE HALO METHOD
GILBY CLARKE
DEAD SARA
WRITE THIS DOWN
ANDY WOOD & THE AMALGAM
ShipRocked embarks from and returns to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, providing guests with four days and nights of music and parties, along with a little relaxation, onboard the MSC Poesia. Ports of call are Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas (subject to change).
For full details and to purchase tickets, go to www.GetShipRocked.com.
Phil Freeman of Roadrunner Records recently conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Roadrunner Records: You perform behind a mask, so do you write SLIPKNOT lyrics as that character in some ways? Are lyrics for SLIPKNOT qualitatively different from lyrics for STONE SOUR?
Corey: That's a good question. I don't know, per se. First off, there's no playing a character when you're trying to tap into something as gnarly and unhinged as SLIPKNOT. You're tapping a valve that you have within you — you either feel these things, or you don't. You've either lived through this pain, or you haven't. There's no way to make this stuff up. So for me, it's basically letting that part of me off the leash a little bit. 'Cause I've got a very, very dark side to my history, my personality, my creativity, my infatuations, basically. And SLIPKNOT allows me to let those go and indulge them, but then pull them back. STONE SOUR, there's a hint of that there, but with STONE SOUR, it's much more mellow. It's a different kind of passion. There's definitely a little more light in STONE SOUR than with SLIPKNOT, although they both have very positive messages at the end of the day. And that's where it becomes important. So when I put the mask on for SLIPKNOT, it's actually revealing that side of me that I keep in check, that I keep a little closer to the chest, because if I just let that guy go, oh, God, it's messy. It'd be really bad. So for me, it's a very positive way of working out some serious issues. And over the years I've been able to let go of a lot of stuff and figure a lot of stuff out.
Roadrunner Records: Now, you're saying the early songs were therapy for you, but there's eight other guys to contend with. Have you ever written a lyric that other bandmembers told you they couldn't stand behind?
Corey: You know, the interesting thing is that the guys have always really had my back. They've really given me carte blanche to get whatever I need to off my chest. Clown [percussion] and Joey [Jordison, drums] go out of their way to let me know that they support whatever I'm saying, no matter what. It feels good to know that your bros have your back when it comes to that. I've had the guys in the band come up to me individually and tell me what their favorite lyrics are. So it's a trust thing. They trust where I'm coming from with these lyrics. They trust that my heart's in the right place and I'm really trying to help people instead of hurt people, and that just gives you so much confidence as a singer and a writer that you can explore so many different things. I've been really lucky.
Roadrunner Records: Are there any songs that, when you sing them today, in 2012, you think, "Wow, I was really 25 years old when I wrote that?"
Corey: Not really, man. I've always been really — the great thing about the way I write is, I don't put anything out there until it's done done. There's maybe a handful of lines here and there I wish I could have maybe explored a little further, and maybe I just kind of went with what was on the top of my head, but you've gotta stand behind it. And I can't think of one song or one line or one chorus that I can't say I support. I can listen to recordings and hear how young I sound, and I'm like, "Whoa, Jesus, what's up, 12-year-old?" But for the most part, the lyrics have really — I think they've held up really well. I never want to feel dated when I'm writing something, so I really try to make it as timeless as possible.
Roadrunner Records: You perform behind a mask, so do you write SLIPKNOT lyrics as that character in some ways? Are lyrics for SLIPKNOT qualitatively different from lyrics for STONE SOUR?
Corey: That's a good question. I don't know, per se. First off, there's no playing a character when you're trying to tap into something as gnarly and unhinged as SLIPKNOT. You're tapping a valve that you have within you — you either feel these things, or you don't. You've either lived through this pain, or you haven't. There's no way to make this stuff up. So for me, it's basically letting that part of me off the leash a little bit. 'Cause I've got a very, very dark side to my history, my personality, my creativity, my infatuations, basically. And SLIPKNOT allows me to let those go and indulge them, but then pull them back. STONE SOUR, there's a hint of that there, but with STONE SOUR, it's much more mellow. It's a different kind of passion. There's definitely a little more light in STONE SOUR than with SLIPKNOT, although they both have very positive messages at the end of the day. And that's where it becomes important. So when I put the mask on for SLIPKNOT, it's actually revealing that side of me that I keep in check, that I keep a little closer to the chest, because if I just let that guy go, oh, God, it's messy. It'd be really bad. So for me, it's a very positive way of working out some serious issues. And over the years I've been able to let go of a lot of stuff and figure a lot of stuff out.
Roadrunner Records: Now, you're saying the early songs were therapy for you, but there's eight other guys to contend with. Have you ever written a lyric that other bandmembers told you they couldn't stand behind?
Corey: You know, the interesting thing is that the guys have always really had my back. They've really given me carte blanche to get whatever I need to off my chest. Clown [percussion] and Joey [Jordison, drums] go out of their way to let me know that they support whatever I'm saying, no matter what. It feels good to know that your bros have your back when it comes to that. I've had the guys in the band come up to me individually and tell me what their favorite lyrics are. So it's a trust thing. They trust where I'm coming from with these lyrics. They trust that my heart's in the right place and I'm really trying to help people instead of hurt people, and that just gives you so much confidence as a singer and a writer that you can explore so many different things. I've been really lucky.
Roadrunner Records: Are there any songs that, when you sing them today, in 2012, you think, "Wow, I was really 25 years old when I wrote that?"
Corey: Not really, man. I've always been really — the great thing about the way I write is, I don't put anything out there until it's done done. There's maybe a handful of lines here and there I wish I could have maybe explored a little further, and maybe I just kind of went with what was on the top of my head, but you've gotta stand behind it. And I can't think of one song or one line or one chorus that I can't say I support. I can listen to recordings and hear how young I sound, and I'm like, "Whoa, Jesus, what's up, 12-year-old?" But for the most part, the lyrics have really — I think they've held up really well. I never want to feel dated when I'm writing something, so I really try to make it as timeless as possible.
Chicago-based hard rockers SOIL will join metal heavyweights FOZZY on a nine-date U.K. tour launching November 27 in Stoke, England and wrapping up December 6 in Brighton, England. The tour marks both bands' first return to the United Kingdom since highly successful appearances at this year's Download festival. The tour will also feature the U.K.'s own BREED 77.
"The U.K. has always been FOZZY's second home, and after the amazing experience we had rocking Download 2012, we couldn't wait to return to the U.K.," states FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho. "That's why this tour with SOIL is so huge for us. To be able to come back to England, Scotland and Wales with a band of their stature is going to blow away our fans, their fans, and make new fans for both of us! Mark my words... for excitement, energy and pure value, FOZZY vs. SOIL is going to be THE tour of the fall!!"
"It will be great to have FOZZY joining us for the tour," says SOIL bassist Tim King. "We had the pleasure of playing a few shows with them this spring and the two bands fit perfectly together."
"I've known the SOIL guys for over 15 years and even have a copy of their first demo," says FOZZY guitarist Rich Ward. "It's always great to tour with a band that you like, but it's even better when the band are your friends. Don't miss an opportunity to see this tour — and bring a helmet!"
The upcoming tour will be SOIL's last before entering the studio to record their long-awaited new album featuring the return of original frontman Ryan McCombs.
FOZZY will release its new album, "Sin And Bones", on August 14 (one day earlier internationally) via the group's new label, Century Media Records.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 27 - Stoke, UK - The Underground
Nov. 28 - Manchester, UK - Moho Live
Nov. 29 - Birmingham, UK - Academy 2
Nov. 30 - Glasgow, UK - The Arches
Dec. 01 - Leeds, UK - Cockpit
Dec. 02 - Hafan Y Mor, UK - Hard Rock Hell Festival
Dec. 04 - Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
Dec. 05 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom
Dec. 06 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
"The U.K. has always been FOZZY's second home, and after the amazing experience we had rocking Download 2012, we couldn't wait to return to the U.K.," states FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho. "That's why this tour with SOIL is so huge for us. To be able to come back to England, Scotland and Wales with a band of their stature is going to blow away our fans, their fans, and make new fans for both of us! Mark my words... for excitement, energy and pure value, FOZZY vs. SOIL is going to be THE tour of the fall!!"
"It will be great to have FOZZY joining us for the tour," says SOIL bassist Tim King. "We had the pleasure of playing a few shows with them this spring and the two bands fit perfectly together."
"I've known the SOIL guys for over 15 years and even have a copy of their first demo," says FOZZY guitarist Rich Ward. "It's always great to tour with a band that you like, but it's even better when the band are your friends. Don't miss an opportunity to see this tour — and bring a helmet!"
The upcoming tour will be SOIL's last before entering the studio to record their long-awaited new album featuring the return of original frontman Ryan McCombs.
FOZZY will release its new album, "Sin And Bones", on August 14 (one day earlier internationally) via the group's new label, Century Media Records.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 27 - Stoke, UK - The Underground
Nov. 28 - Manchester, UK - Moho Live
Nov. 29 - Birmingham, UK - Academy 2
Nov. 30 - Glasgow, UK - The Arches
Dec. 01 - Leeds, UK - Cockpit
Dec. 02 - Hafan Y Mor, UK - Hard Rock Hell Festival
Dec. 04 - Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
Dec. 05 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom
Dec. 06 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Guitarist Izakar has announced his departure from the French metal band DAGOBA. He says in a statement, "Irreconcilable differences with one of the bandmembers have prompt my decision, but after thirteen years playing together, I wish them the best for the future. I now give priority to my private life and to the development of my projects, BLAZING WAR MACHINE and the Full Metal Studio. I thank all the fans for all the great moments on stage and for the full support they give to the band."
DAGOBA's fourth album, "Poseidon", entered the official chart in France at position No. 41. Released on August 30, 2010 via the French label XIII Bis Records, the CD was recorded at Hyperion Studio in Marseille, France with "Brew" Varea and was mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio in the U.K.
DAGOBA's fourth album, "Poseidon", entered the official chart in France at position No. 41. Released on August 30, 2010 via the French label XIII Bis Records, the CD was recorded at Hyperion Studio in Marseille, France with "Brew" Varea and was mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio in the U.K.
Slovenian occult heavy metal act VIGILANCE has inked a deal with Metal Tank Records. The band's follow-up to 2011's "Steeds Of Time" "will crush everything in [its path] with its excellent mixture of genuine traditional speed heavy metal filled with profound devotion for primordial and ritualistic occultism," according to a press release.
Commented the band: "We are thrilled to announce that we are returning to Zalokar studios. The time is at hand to record the successor of our debut album, 'Steeds Of Time'. We have been working harder than ever before so you can expect nothing but fast, dark and untamed heavy metal."
Commented the band: "We are thrilled to announce that we are returning to Zalokar studios. The time is at hand to record the successor of our debut album, 'Steeds Of Time'. We have been working harder than ever before so you can expect nothing but fast, dark and untamed heavy metal."
Erik Lindmark, a founding member of the California extreme metal band DEEDS OF FLESH, has issued the following update:
"As many know, a couple years back we did a drastic member change where I decided to go from doing both vocals and guitar to just guitar and backing vocals and adding Corey Athos (FLESH CONSUMED) to the lineup. Corey was going to take over, basically, all of the vocal duties, allowing me to concentrate more on just playing guitar and doing some backups here and there. We thought this would be a good move, allowing the vocals to be more aggressive and in-your-face, like on our last release, 'Of What's To Come'. We made the decision while writing this album, which is why you hear the progression in both vocals and guitar work from our previous releases. This would also allow myself to get a bit more technical and crazy on the guitar work as you hear with the added leads and over writing on 'Of What's To Come'.
"Unfortunately, the years of playing has taken its toll on my left or fret arm and I have been diagnosed with a severe level of tendonitis. Recording is not an issue, because songs are broken up into small sections and I am still recording on the new release, 'Portals To Canaan', but live is an issue. If I play for more then about two minutes straight, I get an overwhelming amount of pain in my fret arm and can no longer put any pressure on the neck and have to stop. This, in turn, live would leave nothing for me to do if Corey is doing vocals and I need to be replaced on guitar. So what we have decided is I will be doing all vocals live, but not playing guitar. Might be a bit weird, but it's either that or quit, which I do not want to do. On future releases I will still contribute to the writing process and recording, so I won't be completely out of the loop as far as guitar work goes. Inevitably, this means Corey will not be part of the current lineup. He put in a tremendous amount of effort on the lyrics for 'Portals To Canaan' and will get writing credits in the release. We wish him the best with FLESH CONSUMED and all other future projects.
"This was a very difficult decision for me, but I feel it is the only decision to move forward with DEEDS OF FLESH. I am trying to remedy the situation, but we are planning on touring for the new release next year and didn't want this to be a surprise, so thought this should be brought on now rather then later."
The cover artwork for "Portals To Canaan", the forthcoming ninth album from DEEDS OF FLESH, can be seen below.
Due on January 29, 2013 via Unique Leader Records, "Portals to Canaan" will feature "amazing artwork and numerous conceptual pieces" by Raymond Swanland.
A pre-production teaser for "Portals To Canaan" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
Commented the band: "This is only guitar one and drum mapping (no second guitar, leads or vocals) to give the fans an idea of whats to come."
DEEDS OF FLESH's last CD, "Of What's to Come", came out in November 2008 via Unique Leader. The label previously described the follow-up to 2005's "Crown Of Souls" as "nothing short of a masterpiece, combining the usual DEEDS OF FLESH sound with many added new elements, twisted and memorable guitar riffs and lead work, blistering drums, powerful vocals and mind-blowing bass lines."
"As many know, a couple years back we did a drastic member change where I decided to go from doing both vocals and guitar to just guitar and backing vocals and adding Corey Athos (FLESH CONSUMED) to the lineup. Corey was going to take over, basically, all of the vocal duties, allowing me to concentrate more on just playing guitar and doing some backups here and there. We thought this would be a good move, allowing the vocals to be more aggressive and in-your-face, like on our last release, 'Of What's To Come'. We made the decision while writing this album, which is why you hear the progression in both vocals and guitar work from our previous releases. This would also allow myself to get a bit more technical and crazy on the guitar work as you hear with the added leads and over writing on 'Of What's To Come'.
"Unfortunately, the years of playing has taken its toll on my left or fret arm and I have been diagnosed with a severe level of tendonitis. Recording is not an issue, because songs are broken up into small sections and I am still recording on the new release, 'Portals To Canaan', but live is an issue. If I play for more then about two minutes straight, I get an overwhelming amount of pain in my fret arm and can no longer put any pressure on the neck and have to stop. This, in turn, live would leave nothing for me to do if Corey is doing vocals and I need to be replaced on guitar. So what we have decided is I will be doing all vocals live, but not playing guitar. Might be a bit weird, but it's either that or quit, which I do not want to do. On future releases I will still contribute to the writing process and recording, so I won't be completely out of the loop as far as guitar work goes. Inevitably, this means Corey will not be part of the current lineup. He put in a tremendous amount of effort on the lyrics for 'Portals To Canaan' and will get writing credits in the release. We wish him the best with FLESH CONSUMED and all other future projects.
"This was a very difficult decision for me, but I feel it is the only decision to move forward with DEEDS OF FLESH. I am trying to remedy the situation, but we are planning on touring for the new release next year and didn't want this to be a surprise, so thought this should be brought on now rather then later."
The cover artwork for "Portals To Canaan", the forthcoming ninth album from DEEDS OF FLESH, can be seen below.
Due on January 29, 2013 via Unique Leader Records, "Portals to Canaan" will feature "amazing artwork and numerous conceptual pieces" by Raymond Swanland.
A pre-production teaser for "Portals To Canaan" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
Commented the band: "This is only guitar one and drum mapping (no second guitar, leads or vocals) to give the fans an idea of whats to come."
DEEDS OF FLESH's last CD, "Of What's to Come", came out in November 2008 via Unique Leader. The label previously described the follow-up to 2005's "Crown Of Souls" as "nothing short of a masterpiece, combining the usual DEEDS OF FLESH sound with many added new elements, twisted and memorable guitar riffs and lead work, blistering drums, powerful vocals and mind-blowing bass lines."
Vocalist Aaron Lewis of Massachusetts rockers STAIND has revealed to Billboard.com that the band is planning to take a break next year.
The group, which released its self-titled latest album in September 2011, is preparing for the August 17 launch of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, where they will be joined by SHINEDOWN, GODSMACK and PAPA ROACH, among others.
"The touring that we've done this year has been good," Lewis told Billboard.com. "We've got this next tour and we might do something next year and then we're going to take a little break for a second. We're not breaking up. We're not gonna stop making music. We're just going to take a little hiatus that really hasn't ever been taken in our career. We put out seven records in 14 years. We've been pretty busy."
"Staind" sold 47,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. Produced by Johnny K — known for his work with 3 DOORS DOWN, DISTURBED, and SEVENDUST, not to mention his Grammy Award-nominated collaboration with STAIND, 2008's "The Illusion Of Progress" — and mixed by the legendary Chris Lord-Alge, the marked the end of the group's deal with Atlantic Records.
"There's so many options these days, and we won't really know until that time comes," Lewis told Billboard.com about how STAIND might release its future recordings. "I think it would take a ridiculous, ridiculous check for me to be willing to sign a label deal again, but there's many other ways to do it. Everything is changing so much; every time you close your eyes and then open them again, the business has changed a little bit. So we'll see when we get there what we're gonna do."
Lewis' first full-length solo album, "The Road", will be released on September 11. The CD follows up Lewis' 2011 debut solo EP, "Town Line", which entered the Billboard Country Albums chart at No. 1 and featured the hit single "Country Boy". The new album, produced by Nashville hitmaker James Stroud, is likely to follow in the same musical vein as the EP.
The group, which released its self-titled latest album in September 2011, is preparing for the August 17 launch of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, where they will be joined by SHINEDOWN, GODSMACK and PAPA ROACH, among others.
"The touring that we've done this year has been good," Lewis told Billboard.com. "We've got this next tour and we might do something next year and then we're going to take a little break for a second. We're not breaking up. We're not gonna stop making music. We're just going to take a little hiatus that really hasn't ever been taken in our career. We put out seven records in 14 years. We've been pretty busy."
"Staind" sold 47,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. Produced by Johnny K — known for his work with 3 DOORS DOWN, DISTURBED, and SEVENDUST, not to mention his Grammy Award-nominated collaboration with STAIND, 2008's "The Illusion Of Progress" — and mixed by the legendary Chris Lord-Alge, the marked the end of the group's deal with Atlantic Records.
"There's so many options these days, and we won't really know until that time comes," Lewis told Billboard.com about how STAIND might release its future recordings. "I think it would take a ridiculous, ridiculous check for me to be willing to sign a label deal again, but there's many other ways to do it. Everything is changing so much; every time you close your eyes and then open them again, the business has changed a little bit. So we'll see when we get there what we're gonna do."
Lewis' first full-length solo album, "The Road", will be released on September 11. The CD follows up Lewis' 2011 debut solo EP, "Town Line", which entered the Billboard Country Albums chart at No. 1 and featured the hit single "Country Boy". The new album, produced by Nashville hitmaker James Stroud, is likely to follow in the same musical vein as the EP.
Los Angeles-based progressive melodic death metallers DREAMING DEAD have announced the addition of guitarist Chris McCarthy to the group's ranks. The band states, "After many tiring years of continuous search, we are very pleased to announce the addition of guitar guru and long time friend Chris McCarthy to DREAMING DEAD's lineup. We feel his contribution will take the band's live sound and songwriting to new and exciting levels. Expect devastating new material in 2013."
DREAMING DEAD's sophomore album, "Midnightmares", was released on April 20. The follow-up to 2009's "Within One" "showcases DREAMING DEAD's ability to meld elements of black, death, thrash and Chuck Schuldiner-inspired progressive metal into one thought-provoking and intense sonic assault," according to a press release.
"Midnightmares" was recorded in part at DREAMING DEAD's home studio, with vocals, drums and mixing completed at North Hollywood's Architeuthis Sound. The cover artwork for the CD was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (OPETH, KING DIAMOND, DEVIN TOWNSEND).
DREAMING DEAD is:
Elizabeth Schall - Vocals/Guitar
Juan Ramirez - Bass
Michael Caffell - Drums/Vocals
Chris McCarthy - Guitar
DREAMING DEAD's sophomore album, "Midnightmares", was released on April 20. The follow-up to 2009's "Within One" "showcases DREAMING DEAD's ability to meld elements of black, death, thrash and Chuck Schuldiner-inspired progressive metal into one thought-provoking and intense sonic assault," according to a press release.
"Midnightmares" was recorded in part at DREAMING DEAD's home studio, with vocals, drums and mixing completed at North Hollywood's Architeuthis Sound. The cover artwork for the CD was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (OPETH, KING DIAMOND, DEVIN TOWNSEND).
DREAMING DEAD is:
Elizabeth Schall - Vocals/Guitar
Juan Ramirez - Bass
Michael Caffell - Drums/Vocals
Chris McCarthy - Guitar
Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Dutch death metallers ANTROPOMORPHIA. The band's new album, "Evangelivm Nekromantia", will be released on October 22 in Europe (one day later digitally in North America).
ANTROPOMORPHIA was created under the influence from bands such as HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, INFERNÄL MÄJESTY and BATHORY in a tiny town in Holland in 1989.
Over the years, they became more and more brutal, released several demos and the "Necromantic Love Songs" MCD in 1993, but went on a hiatus in the late '90s since their other bands became more important.
Fast forward to 2009 when other projects moved into the background and ANTROPOMORPHIA was reactivated. The lineup is still the same — original members Ferry Damen (vocals, guitar), Marc van Stiphout (bass) and Marco Stubbe (drums).
In early 2011 ANTROPOMORPHIA made its first live appearance since 2001 at the Neurotic Deathfest, where they put up a convincing brutal show.
At the end of 2011, most of the new album was recorded, resulting in "Evangelivm Nekromantia", a CD consisting of nine tracks, divided into three chapters of each three songs. Lyrically, it is driven by nekrophilae, murder, necromancy and necrolesbian lust. It was mastered at Necromorbus Studios by Tore Stjerna.
Comments ANTROPOMORPHIA on the deal with Metal Blade and what to expect from "Evangelivm Nekromantia": "We are very proud to have our album coming out through such a renowned metal label as Metal Blade. Metal Blade has a rich history and houses some amazing bands so to become a part of that family feels great. We've been working on this conception for almost a year. Dedicated to composing a new sort of disturbing death metal darkness exceeding most of the one-dimensional releases you got to hear most of these days!"
ANTROPOMORPHIA is:
Ferry Damen (vocals, guitar)
Marc van Stiphout (bass)
Marco Stubbe (drums)
ANTROPOMORPHIA was created under the influence from bands such as HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, INFERNÄL MÄJESTY and BATHORY in a tiny town in Holland in 1989.
Over the years, they became more and more brutal, released several demos and the "Necromantic Love Songs" MCD in 1993, but went on a hiatus in the late '90s since their other bands became more important.
Fast forward to 2009 when other projects moved into the background and ANTROPOMORPHIA was reactivated. The lineup is still the same — original members Ferry Damen (vocals, guitar), Marc van Stiphout (bass) and Marco Stubbe (drums).
In early 2011 ANTROPOMORPHIA made its first live appearance since 2001 at the Neurotic Deathfest, where they put up a convincing brutal show.
At the end of 2011, most of the new album was recorded, resulting in "Evangelivm Nekromantia", a CD consisting of nine tracks, divided into three chapters of each three songs. Lyrically, it is driven by nekrophilae, murder, necromancy and necrolesbian lust. It was mastered at Necromorbus Studios by Tore Stjerna.
Comments ANTROPOMORPHIA on the deal with Metal Blade and what to expect from "Evangelivm Nekromantia": "We are very proud to have our album coming out through such a renowned metal label as Metal Blade. Metal Blade has a rich history and houses some amazing bands so to become a part of that family feels great. We've been working on this conception for almost a year. Dedicated to composing a new sort of disturbing death metal darkness exceeding most of the one-dimensional releases you got to hear most of these days!"
ANTROPOMORPHIA is:
Ferry Damen (vocals, guitar)
Marc van Stiphout (bass)
Marco Stubbe (drums)
Belgian melodic black metallers SAILLE have entered Shumcot Studios in Aartrijke, Belgium with producer Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album for a January 2013 release via Code666 Records.
Commented SAILLE keyboard player Dries Gaerdelen: "When creating our new album, I did research on and was inspired by several ancient destruction rituals. The new songs are therefore darker, faster, more aggressive and create a feeling of unease. The lyrics, written by frontman Dennie Grondelaers, explore the history of those death rites. With the drums being recorded a while ago, we've all got a 'recording state of mind' and have a feeling we're creating more than just songs. We're looking forward to unleashing our creations on the audience, both on CD and live!"
The artwork for the new SAILLE CD will be created by Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz who also developed the band's previous artwork. Mastering will be done by Tom Kvålsvoll, who has worked with 1349, DIMMU BORGIR and KEEP OF KALESSIN.
SAILLE's debut album, "Irreversible Decay", was released in March 2011 via Code666 Records.
Commented SAILLE keyboard player Dries Gaerdelen: "When creating our new album, I did research on and was inspired by several ancient destruction rituals. The new songs are therefore darker, faster, more aggressive and create a feeling of unease. The lyrics, written by frontman Dennie Grondelaers, explore the history of those death rites. With the drums being recorded a while ago, we've all got a 'recording state of mind' and have a feeling we're creating more than just songs. We're looking forward to unleashing our creations on the audience, both on CD and live!"
The artwork for the new SAILLE CD will be created by Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz who also developed the band's previous artwork. Mastering will be done by Tom Kvålsvoll, who has worked with 1349, DIMMU BORGIR and KEEP OF KALESSIN.
SAILLE's debut album, "Irreversible Decay", was released in March 2011 via Code666 Records.
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