[Classic_Rock_Forever] Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Rush, Def Leppard, Metallica, Big Four, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and tons more hard rock and heavy metal news

 

Ozzy Osbourne wasn't in Hollywood last night (Monday, August 22) for
the premiere and special MusiCares screening of his movie, "God
Bless Ozzy Osbourne", which was filmed and produced by his son Jack.
His absence was conspicuous and lends credence to the rumors that Ozzy is in England
working on material for a new BLACK SABBATH album with other members of
the band's original lineup.

Artisan News asked Ozzy's daughter Kelly at last night's
event where her dad was and she sort of let the cat out of the bag while her
brother was better able to keep the secret.

"My dad is… I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you," Kelly said. "But he's doing something that is very, very exciting. He's just
finished a tour. But he's doing something very exciting. I'm not allowed to
talk about it, though."

When asked if there is any truth to the reports that Ozzy is in England working
on a new SABBATH album, Jack replied, "I can neither confirm
nor deny who he is with or where he is."

Artisan News also asked Jack for his opinion on what made BLACK
SABBATH so special.

"I think BLACK SABBATH is legendary because they helped pioneer a
genre," Jack said. "What they we redoing at the time was
unheard of. They did something that people were scared of, and that was kind of
cool back then, and I think it really resonates with people. The music is still
very current when you listen to it."

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's
manager has refused to deny that the band's original lineup is getting back
together, according to the Birmingham Mail. The Mail was actually
the newspaper that broke the story of a reported SABBATH reunion, using
comments attributed to Iommi. But although the guitarist issued a
statement saying that his comments had been distorted, his manager Ralph
Baker admitted to the Mail, "We haven't got anything in place.
He's not denying that the guys have been talking but there's nothing in the way
that's been implied in the statements that you made."

Iommi's comments to the Mail were made back in June, with Baker telling the newspaper that Iommi "felt that he made them to you off
the record."

Baker said that the story first appeared on a metal news web site before
the Mail expanded on it, using Iommi's quotes.

Baker said, "A very insignificant little web site put something out
about SABBATH getting back together . . . When you [Birmingham Mail]
went online, that's when it went around the world because it was
official."

The Mail reported on August 16 that the original four SABBATH members — Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have already begun rehearsing and writing music
in secret for a new album.

SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, the original
lineup's first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of
songs. The original SABBATH lineup has not toured together since summer
2005.
The first annual Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout
Cancer Fund Gala will be held on Tuesday, November 1 at the world-famous Playboy Mansion (yes, there will be Playmates
that you can take photos with!!). There will be a gourmet dinner, a live
superstar band, an incredible silent auction and the Playmates will be giving
tours of the grounds, including the grotto! Single tickets are $750.00 and
tables of 10 are $10,000.

For more information, go to this location.

Ronnie James Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the
greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. The singer, who
was recording and touring with SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2009. He
underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in
April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

A free public memorial service was held on May 30, 2010 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
Cemetery in Los Angeles, attended by more than 1,500
fans, friends and fellow musicians.

This past March, it was announced that the surviving members of the final
lineup of DIO would embark on a project with former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens under the name DIO DISCIPLES.

Ronnie James Dio, real name Ronald James Padavona, was born in New Hampshire on July
10, 1942.

He moved to Cortland, New York at a young age, where he began
playing with local acts. A street
in Cortland, Dio Way, was named
after him in 1988.

He released his first single, with a band called RONNIE AND THE REDCAPS,
in 1959.

His first heavy rock act, ELF, released three albums and opened for DEEP
PURPLE, where Dio's voice caught the ear of guitarist Ritchie
Blackmore. Blackmore recruited Dio for his own band, RAINBOW,
after leaving PURPLE in 1975.

Dio recorded three studio albums and one live set with RAINBOW before exiting in 1978, including "Rising" and "Long
Live Rock And Roll".

He replaced Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven And Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums,
plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the
group 10 years later for an album called "Dehumanizer", and
again teamed with the group under the HEAVEN & HELL banner in 2006. HEAVEN
& HELL released an album called "The Devil You Know" in 2009.

He has also recorded 10 studio albums with his own band, DIO, including
a classic 1983 debut, "Holy Diver", and an equally renowned
follow-up, 1984's "The Last In Line".

Dio was also behind the HEAR N' AID project, a collection of
metal artists who recorded the track "Stars" in 1985 to raise
funds for African famine relief.
Former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans recently
spoke to Australia's long-running rock radio station Triple M about his new book, "Dirty Deeds: My Life
Inside/Outside AC/DC".

When asked for his favorite story about late AC/DC singer Bon Scott, Mark said, "We were touring Europe
and supporting BLACK SABBATH.

"If you wanna be on the road with two bands, I'd go on the road with AC/DC and BLACK SABBATH, particularly when you've got both Bon Scott and Ozzy Osbourne in front of both bands! It was entertaining.

"[Bon and I] were in Paris
having a few drinks and a few more and we had roasted ourselves pretty severely
over a couple of days. We caught up with a couple of French ladies and
everything was good in our world.

"[We're] wedged on this balcony [overlooking Paris] with a bottle of red and I give Bon an elbow into the ribs, gloating 'how good is this!' Bon's peering out
at the Eiffel Tower, rocking back and forwards. He
then turns and says 'Mark, there's a tower just like that in Paris.'"

Regarding how things ended between him with AC/DC, Mark said,
"I got fired from the band [and] it was like getting kicked out of the
gang. It was equal parts feeling betrayed but also relieved to know you were
out of the pressure cooker. So it cut both ways.

"It was a band meeting. The writing was on the [wall] when they sat me
down and said, 'Mark, this meeting is about you.' But I have a
philosophical view on it. If I was the right guy for the band, I'd still be
there."

The final cover image for the North American edition of "Dirty Deeds:
My Life Inside/Outside AC/DC" can be seen below. The first-ever book
by a member of Bon Scott-era AC/DC is due in November 2011 from Bazillion
Points books and is now available for pre-order at www.dirtydeedsbook.com.

Mark Evans recorded countless rock anthems with AC/DC on the
groundbreaking releases "High Voltage", "TNT", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Let There Be
Rock", and the '74 "Jailbreak" EP.

At nineteen years old in 1975, Mark Evans joined AC/DC, one of
the hardest-working and loudest barroom bands in Australia. In the next few years AC/DC recorded a string of bestselling albums, and Mark found himself
headlining world tours and living the life of a bona fide rock star. His memoir, "Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC", is the first
bio written by a band insider during the early years, giving insight into the
struggles and camaraderie that fueled the rise of hard rock's most successful
group. His likeable stories capture the energy and essence of Malcolm Young, Angus Young, Phil Rudd, and the late Bon Scott. Rock and
roll icons like George Harrison, Gene Simmons, Phil Lynott, Alice Cooper, Ronnie Wood, Ahmet Ertegun, and members of METALLICA feature as well.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, Alice Cooper says that "I'll Bite Your Face Off", the first single from his
upcoming "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" album, was inspired by THE
ROLLING STONES. Speaking with NME, Cooper explained that the
song "is my tip-of-the-hat to early ROLLING STONES," adding,
"This song was begging to be in the live show. We've done it in four
different continents now and no one had ever heard it. By the second chorus,
the whole audience is singing 'I'll Bite Your Face Off'. It's the
perfect little three-minute hit single."

Cooper said that the song is influenced by the STONES "like
in 1964/65 when their songs were very Chuck Berry-orientated. They just
feel so good, in the pocket."

Although it had been years since he opened for anyone, Cooper made an
exception in 2006 when he got the chance to warm up for his heroes at three U.S. shows. He
told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that opening for the STONES was a must. "The thing about opening for the STONES is that you
gotta picture me at 15 years old, seeing THE ROLLING STONES on TV for
the first time, on 'Ed Sullivan', and realizing that that's what I
wanted to do," he said. "Any time that you get a chance to be on the
same bill as THE ROLLING STONES, I mean, you, you immediately drop your
headliner status and say 'Absolutely, we'll open for the STONES.'"

The recently inducted Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer also told NME that he
has no problem revealing what other artists he gets his inspiration from,
saying, "I don't mind showing people where I get my songs from. I can
guarantee there were times when major acts took an Alice Cooper song and
said, 'We want it to sound like that' . . . I see it as a compliment."

"Welcome 2 My Nightmare", the long-awaited "sequel"
to Cooper's 1975 Top Five solo classic "Welcome To My
Nightmare", arrives on September 13.

Cooper is in the midst of a North American tour that brings him to Scranton, Pennsylvania
on Tuesday (August 23).

"Welcome 2 My Nightmare" features original ALICE COOPER
BAND members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith,
who reunited for three tracks; current pop superstar Ke$ha, who
affectionately calls Alice "dad" — and legendary Alice and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, who is part of Alice's
current touring band and was featured prominently on the first "Nightmare" album.
The release date of RUSH DVD and Blu-ray titled "Time
Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" has been pushed back to November 8 from the previously announced October 25
(via Zoe Records). The disc will contain footage of RUSH's April
15 concert at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio filmed by the
award-winning documentary makers Banger Productions from Toronto in
Canada, who have received international critical acclaim for their previous
movies "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey", "Global Metal" and the RUSH documentary called "Rush: Beyond The Lighted
Stage".

RUSH's Cleveland performance of its "Time
Machine" show was filmed as a tribute to the U.S. city that
first played the band's music.

Cleveland is remarkable for being one of the very
first U.S.
cities where RUSH performed, in addition to being the first city to
provide American airplay. This also marked RUSH's first live full-length
filming on U.S.
soil.

The "Time Machine" tour was an evening with RUSH, where
the band performed its classics, gave a taste of the future and — for the first
time ever — featured the "Moving Pictures" album live in its
entirety.

"Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" will feature the following track listing:

01. The Spirit of Radio
02. Time Stand Still
03. Presto
04. Stick It Out
05. Workin' Them Angels
06. Leave That Thing Alone
07. Faithless
08. BU2B
09. Freewill
10. Marathon
11. Subdivisions
12. Tom Sawyer
13. Red Barchetta
14. YYZ
15. Limelight
16. The Camera Eye
17. Witch Hunt
18. Vital Signs
19. Caravan
20. Closer to the Heart
21. 2112 Overture/Temples of Syrinx
22. Far Cry
23. La Villa Strangiato
24. Working Man

The full list of supplementary and technical specifications for Zoe Records'
Blu-ray are still unknown, but the disc will feature a number of bonus
materials, such as:

* Outtakes from the intro, intermission, and outro videos from the "Time
Machine" tour
* Full clip of RUSH's 1974 Canadian Bandstand act in St. Catharines, Ontario
* 1976 black-and-white bootleg video of their performance in Passaic, New
Jersey
 
Listing
Def Leppard as an all-time favorite band might not be the coolest thing one can
do to earn music cred these days. Sure, they were at their height of mainstream
success during what's so far been one of the cheesiest eras in music
history—but what's not to love about Leppard's succinct rock cocktail of
radio-ready songs, famously big-time riffs, and tinge of hair-metal flair? They
rocked as one of the top-grossing bands of their day with hits like "Pour
Some Sugar on Me" and "Animal," with longtime lead guitarist
Phil Collen holding court as one of the few members of the band who respected
his hair during those dark days of Aquanet and rat-toothed combs. In
anticipation of Def Leppard's gig with Heart at the State Fair Grandstand this
weekend, we caught up with Collen to talk about the pop-metal era, who he felt
were poseurs, who rocked, and how he came out of it a healthy, happy
Californian.
City
Pages:How
has the tour been so far with Heart? Did you guys have a previous friendship
with that band?
Ash Newell
Phil Collen
(second from left) and Def Leppard
Phil
Collen:It's going great. We started in the U.K. at the Download Festival,
which was cool because we hadn't played for a year and a half. We had to up our
game, so now the production is just crazy—big screens, big lights, it's
awesome. As far as Heart goes, I've met them before; in fact, Nancy pointed out that we were all in the
photo together at the L.A. Forum in 1992 with our parents! And I remembered
this and found the picture at my mum's house. We'd never played with them
before. Once they start playing you go, 'Wow, I forgot how many hits they had.'
They kill it, they're amazing—Ann's voice is superb, and Nancy rocks on guitar. People are really
going to love the show.
CP:The hair-metal era
in the '80s is fascinating. Did you ever have big hair? What did you think of
the other bands around that time who were neck and neck with Leppard?
Collen:I didn't have big hair
personally, but some of the guys in my band did. I never really thought we were
part of that. Looking back, I think a lot of bands that came after that time,
like Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi, really didn't have the same essence or
motivation. All they wanted to do was look a certain way. With every kind of
successful genre, there are bands who actually get it and a million trying to
jump on the bandwagon and never really understanding what the genre's about.
With rap, with boy bands, with Britney Spears—I do love her voice but she so
desperately wanted to be Britney Spears—just do it naturally. I toured with
some of those hair-metal bands and I was like, meh. I did think Mötley were
very real; they were totally into their own thing, and a lot of bands copied
them. I decided to not go the way of peer pressure. I stopped drinking and
smoking and it was just really cool.
CP:As someone who
struggled with alcohol for a time, you probably found the '80s and '90s to be
full of life lessons for you personally.  
Collen:The biggest lessons
were after all that. At that time, you're very young and you're running around
like a chicken with its head cut off. When you get a little more experience,
you start to understand things in a different way. I used to get really fucked
up so I stopped drinking. I just hated what I would do, I hated not being in
control of myself. It really kicks in when you're a little bit older and things
make more sense. You're not just acting on impulse and the physical nature of
reaction, you're acting on experience.
CP:One of the things
you changed about your lifestyle is that you've become a vegetarian. What was
the day or the moment when you said, "No more meat"?
Collen:I always felt weird
about it as a kid. It was like Jeffrey Dahmer's fridge for me. When they opened
his fridge they found pieces of heart and head and stuff like that. And
everyone recalls it in horror, but we get used to that. When I stopped it was
'83. I kind of toyed with it and wanted to go there but I wasn't comfortable. I
was influenced too much by others' opinions. I developed a backbone and that
was it, really.
DEF
LEPPARD play with Heart on FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, at the MINNESOTA STATE
FAIR GRANDSTAND;651.642.2262
According to the New York Post, a New York business group is worried that rowdy METALLICA fans will wreak havoc on the streets when the band rocks at Yankee Stadium next
month and it has called for METALLICA to take pre-emptive action to
avoid violence.

Cary Goodman, head of the 161st Street Business Improvement District of the Bronx,
told the paper that he was moved to act after METALLICA fans, shut out
of sold-out performance venues, rioted last year in Colombia
and Chile,
leading to hundreds of arrests and damaged property.

He said: "When I read about the disturbances and riots, I thought, 'Why
don't we think proactively and put up a big screen in Macombs Dam Park?'

"Everybody's going to want to dance. I reached out to METALLICA's
management last month — but I haven't heard back."

Goodman has also called for extra police officers to be on duty on
September 14 and has doubled the number of sanitation crews on duty.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, the "West
Memphis Three" were freed on Friday (August 19) after 18 years behind bars
by a Jonesboro, Arkansas circuit court judge. The three men
— Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. — were convicted as teenagers in 1993 of the murder of three eight-year-old
boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. But the case was controversial from
the start, with accusations that the prosecution coerced a confession from one
of the men, ignored evidence in their favor and won their convictions largely
on circumstantial evidence, panic in the Bible Belt region over alleged Satanic
cult practices, and suspicion of the three teens, who liked to wear black and
listen to METALLICA.

The case drew national attention as legal challenges were mounted against the
prosecution's case. Two of the teens were sentenced to life in prison, while Echols was given the death penalty. The three men won the support of numerous
musicians and celebrities, including PEARL JAM singer Eddie Vedder, NINE INCH NAILS' Trent Reznor, METALLICA's James
Hetfield, DISTURBED, Henry Rollins, Johnny Depp and
director Peter Jackson, who reportedly helped fund the men's legal
defense for years.

The men were released on Friday after concluding a deal with prosecutors in
which they had to employ an odd legal maneuver of pleading guilty while
maintaining their innocence — all so that they would not sue the state of
Arkansas.

A hearing was scheduled for December to see if new evidence in the case
warranted a retrial. Attorneys said a hair recovered from the crime scene and
shoelaces from one of the slain boys had DNA not belonging to Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. The items were not tested in the original trial.

Eddie Vedder, Johnny Depp and the DIXIE CHICKS' Natalie
Maines were among those on hand to watch the proceedings on Friday as the
men were freed.

The case also inspired the 1996 documentary "Paradise Lost: The Child
Murders at Robin Hood Hills", and a 2000 follow-up, "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations". A third film, "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory", is due to premiere
at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

METALLICA gave the filmmakers, Joe Berlinger and Bruce
Sinofsky, permission to use its music in the documentaries, which
ultimately led to Berlinger and Sinofsky making the METALLICA documentary "Some Kind Of Monster".

Berlinger said in a statement, "We started this journey to document
the terrible murders of three innocent boys and the subsequent circus that
followed the arrests and convictions of Baldwin, Echols and Misskelly.
To see our work culminate in the righting of this tragic miscarriage of justice
is more than a filmmaker could ask for."

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield showed his support for the West
Memphis Three, calling their release an "amazing" outcome. "The
way you dress, the things you listen to..." he said. "I can basically
speak for myself, growing up, that that was just a sign of wanting to be
creative and different."
Guitarist Gary Holt of San Francisco Bay Area
thrashers EXODUS has slammed Swedish melodic metallers HAMMERFALL for allegedly forcing his band to cut its set short by three songs at this
year's edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival.

When asked by Toby Cook of The
Quietus how Holt felt EXODUS' performance at Bloodstock — which was held August 12-14, 2011 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, United
Kingdom — had gone, the guitarist replied, "Fuck HAMMERFALL, they
can go suck a dick — they cost us, like, three songs! They can suck my balls!

"We had huge problems because HAMMERFALL's sound man rearranged the
entire input list — and you just don't do that at festivals.

"I've nothing against them musically; I think they're a great band
musically, but you're at a festival, you're not headlining you're actually
playing under us — do your job right! They fucking made it difficult for
everybody."

During the same interview, Holt also shed some light on what may have
been his major motivation for agreeing to fill in for SLAYER's Jeff
Hanneman for the recent "Big Four" Sonisphere shows.

"It was all about reconnecting with [current METALLICA and former EXODUS guitarist] Kirk [Hammett]," said Holt. "He was
my best friend when we were in [EXODUS] together, and being able to
spend time with him again and talk about the old days, that's what it was all
about. It wasn't about playing with all the other bands; it was about
reconnecting with a very good old friend. It was really, really nice."
Revolver magazine conducted an interview with METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX for a special issue devoted
to the "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal.

When asked to name his favorite ANTHRAX song, METALLICA drummer Lars
Ulrich said, "There's so many. I don't know, the cover they did of 'Antisocial' [off 1988's 'State Of Euphoria']
by [French rock band] TRUST is obviously great. 'Got The Time',
[off 1990's 'Persistence Of Time'] which is a cover originally by
[English new-wave artist] JOE JACKSON was awesome. 'Only', which
they did on the first record with [vocalist] John Bush [1993's 'Sound
Of White Noise'] was great. There's tons of them, so I don't even know
where to start. Fuck. I was up in the mountains the other day, skiing
somewhere, and PUBLIC ENEMY came and played, so I went down and saw
them. They played 'Bring the Noise', [which PUBLIC ENEMY re-recorded with ANTHRAX in 1991] which was cool to hear."
No
one really believed it anymore. First announced in May of 2009, Worship Music,
the much awaited new Anthrax album went through a lot of turbulence. We aren't
going to re-detail everything, but here's a brief summary of what happened, for
those of you who didn't follow the Anthrax' saga:
April
2005 - John Bush is quietly benched to allow for a reunion of the line-up from
the Among The Living era.
January
2007 - The band gets back to work without a vocalist. Indeed, Joey Belladonna
decided not to go any further after the reunion tour.
December
2007 - A youngster called Dan Nelson is welcomed in the band to hold the mike
and to record the album.
July
2009 - Announcement of Dan Nelson's departure for some unknown health issues,
reasons which were denied by the vocalist, and was later followed by a good old
media battle.
Late
2009/Early 2010 - Return of John Bush who might, according to some sources,
become the full-time vocalist once again.
Early
2010 - Scott Ian talks about lions and sparrows, but in the end, the lion goes
home to its savanna, and the sparrow lands back on its branch.
Did
you follow? No? It doesn't really matter, because what's important today is
that Worship Music is about to be released. Even of the powerful John Bush's
absence might make a few sad fans, it's undeniably pleasing to see the band
back on track, ready to offer an album they're really proud about. Proud to
have made it until the end, kicking and screaming across the turmoil,
uncertainties, changes, re-recordings, etc. "Even though it hasn't sold
one single album yet, for me, it's still a huge success", admits
Charlie Benante, drummer and iconic figure of the new-york-based five-piece,
clearly relieved.
The
drummer did indeed call us to explain the whole recent story of the band, and
most of all, to talk about Worship Music before it finally gets into your ears.
Interview.
"Singers,
for some reason, have this thing about them that's like "Oh, I'm the singer". I
think they immediately believe that they deserve more than anyone, and maybe
they feel like they have the hardest job in the band, but usually all they need
to do is turn around and look at the guy in the back! That guy has the hardest
job, the drummer!"
Radio
Metal: How do you feel about releasing Worship Music at last, after the release
has been postponed so many times?
Charlie
Benante (drums):How do I feel about it… I feel good. It's been a long time, and I think that
the record is finally at the point where it's presentable, and we can, you
know, put it out there for everyone.
Does
it live up to what you were expecting from this band's line-up?
Oh
you know what? At this point the record is way more than what I expected it to
be, so I'm extremely happy with it.
In
the past few years, the band's relationship with singers looked like a soap
opera to the eyes of fans. Are singers in general always so hard to manage?
(laughs)
Okay, well… if you look at a lot of bands, I think you will see that there's
always a singer problem. There's a term that lots of people use, and that's the
"lead singer disease". Singers, for some reason, have this thing about them
that's like "Oh, I'm the singer". I think they immediately believe that
they deserve more than anyone, and maybe they feel like they have the hardest
job in the band, but usually all they need to do is turn around and look at the
guy in the back! That guy has the hardest job, the drummer! (chuckles)
John
Bush was quite popular among the fans and many of those still think that it was
a mistake to let him go for a reunion tour back in 2005. Is this a feeling you
have shared at some point, or not at all?
The
hardest thing about this is choosing this guy over that guy or whatever, and
for me speaking right now, the classic Anthrax line-up is of course from the
mid eighties that created the records Spreading the Disease and Among the
Living. So it's almost obvious that's what people would want to see now. I mean
we've seen it. We've seen the difference between playing with Joey and playing
with John. There are way more people coming, and there's more excitement. So
I'm not taking anything away from John at all, I'm just basically stating a
fact.
But
just before Joey came back into the band, you at the time stated that the band
was in the process of regrouping with John. So why didn't things work out in
the end?
John
just came back to fulfill some commitments that we had, and do some shows and
that was the end of it. He was not going to stay or anything like that. And I
think around that time, everyone was scratching their heads and needed to get
away from Anthrax. I think that's why some of them went and did some other
projects. But I just think that we hit a wall at that time, and we knew John
wasn't going to be a part of the band anymore, and we needed to move on.
At
the end of the reunion tour in 2005, Joey refused to go any further and do an
album, so what's changed, according to you, in his mind for him to accept the
second time that you asked?
At
the time we were with a different organization that Joey did not really agree
with. He did not like these people that were involved in the band at the time.
And that was basically one of the basic reasons why he did not continue,
because of the organization. I don't blame him anyway for not doing it, because
we didn't want to stay with these people either. I think the reunion tour was
done for the wrong reasons, and I think this was done now with the right
intentions, and it was done in a very organic way and it wasn't forced upon us.
It was done in a very "handshake", "hey man, come on, let's try and work
this together", and that's the way we did it.
"The title itself
"Worship Music" is all about music lovers, whether they're heavy metal fans,
just hard rock fans, just music fans in general. [...] Like, for me, the
Beatles, for instance. I worship the Beatles. If it wasn't for the Beatles, I'd
not be here. And I don't say that as a joke, I mean that. And that's why
Worship Music means that much to me, it's because I understand it, and I live
my life that way."
There
was a funny thing that Scott Ian said at one point on a television program. I
don't know if you've seen this, but he was asked about John Bush and Joey
Belladonna, and he actually called John Bush a lion, and compared Joey to a
bird. So I guess a bird is what Anthrax needed in the end…
Well
I think Scott had to eat some of the words he said about that. But he only said
that because I think he left things off with Joey kind of bad, and their
relationship wasn't very well back then when he said that. And I think Scott
just harbored some ill feelings towards Joey and I think that's kind of why he
made that statement, you know?
When
Joey Belladonna rejoined the band to record the album, it was almost finished,
but you went back into the studio to work on other songs and work some more on
the existing ones. So to what extent were the songs re-arranged when Joey
Belladonna came back in the band?
Well,
a lot of the lyrics were re-written, some of the music was re-worked, and the
songs just have more excitement now. To be honest with you, we worked on a lot
of the music and the vocals on the tour, and at some point it was very apparent
that the way these songs were sounding was so much better than what they were.
There was a new excitement to it, there was a new energy. And the best thing we
could do was to go back into the studio and re-record them, to record them with
this new excitement, you know?
When
working with Joey, was there a conscious effort somehow from the band to make
the music sound a little bit more in the Joey Belladonna era of thrash metal
rather than the more modern sound of the last four albums?
No,
it sounded the way it is, because it was the way it was. When he sings on the
songs, it immediately brings you to that Anthrax sound, that Anthrax style that
we created.
So
there was no kind of nostalgia going on in the writing the album?
No.
The
title of the album is what seems to have always remained the same through the
years and the changes. Have you had any doubt at some point about whether you
had to keep the name or not?
No,
I always wanted to keep the title, because it meant a lot, especially to me.
The whole Worship Music thing… If I break it down to you, you would understand
that the title itself "Worship Music" is all about music lovers, whether
they're heavy metal fans, just hard rock fans, just music fans in general.
They're the bond that you have with you fans, and your fans pretty much worship
everything that you do. And there are certain fans out there that love maybe
three bands. But of those three bands, they will get everything from these
bands! Everything that these bands put out. And it's a full devotion and love.
It's a form of worship. And that's how I am too, with a lot of the bands that I
still love to this day. Like, for me, the Beatles, for instance. I worship the
Beatles. If it wasn't for the Beatles, I'd not be here. And I don't say that as
a joke, I mean that. And that's why Worship Music means that much to me, it's
because I understand it, and I live my life that way.
That's
actually pretty close to what the title of the previous album meant "We've Come
for You All" is actually also about worshiping the fans.
Well,
yeah, but it's not as extreme as Worship Music. We've Come for You All is
probably the start of this whole theme, which brings me to another thing, I
really want to make some sort of graphic novel that ties in a lot of these
covers for these records. It's something that's always in the back of my mind
and someday I will get around to doing it.
Dan
Nelson had already recorded some vocal parts for the album. He recently
expressed himself about Worship Music and he seems disappointed that the
versions of the tracks he had recorded will never be released. Do you think
this alternate version of the album will see the light of day one way or
another someday, or at least some of the songs?
Not
from us. I see no reason for it.
Many
fans would probably like to hear them…
Why?
Just
by curiosity.
I
don't think we would ever release it, and the record company I don't think
would be too keen on releasing it either. I feel that's a step way, way
backwards.
In
the end do you think that all this record has been through makes it a
particularly special record?
It
is a very special record because all the experience, be it bad or good, went
into the record. It's very cathartic, this whole record. For us, it's like
living through it. The end result is the greatest result because it's the
music, and the music always does something to me, it's healing. When you listen
to music, you get happy, you get excited. And that's what this record does to
me, and that's what it means to me. It means success, you know? Even though it
hasn't sold one record yet, for me it's still a very big success.
(About
Andreas Kisser) "It was really, really sad, because I didn't want to see
him go. I said "I wish you could stay with us too, and have three guitar
players on stage!" it would be killer, you know? "
The
band has lately integrated in its setlist one John Bush era song, which is
'Only'. Can we expect to hear more of these songs sung by Joey?
I
would like do to more songs from that era, but right now we're going to
concentrate on the new record and maybe slowly bring some other songs in.
Is
Joey okay for it?
Yeah.
I think Joey's main concern now is learning these new songs before we tackle
anything older.
On
to another topic, it's now been two consecutive years that Anthrax has
participated to the Big 4 shows, but Anthrax is the only band of the four to be
native from the east coast, and not from California.
Does that put Anthrax a little bit a part from the other bands of the Big 4?
Well,
of course it puts us apart from those other three bands because of the
location, you know. We're a New York band, we
were never anything but a New York band, but
if any of those bands were close to New York,
I mean, Metallica spent quite a bit of time in New York,
but Metallica is from San Francisco.
You know, they've established themselves as a San Francisco band. Slayer is definitely from
Los Angeles,
same as Megadeth. But Anthrax has this New York
way of thinking that has always been in a New York state of mind.
Lately,
Scott Ian was temporarily replaced by Andreas Kisser from Sepultura. How did it
feel not to see Scott on stage with you? He's such an iconic figure for the
band…
It
was weird, but that weirdness immediately went away once Andreas started
playing because Andreas is one of the best guitar players that I've ever seen
or had the pleasure to work with. And as soon as he started playing man, when
we had a rehearsal, Andreas knew more songs than we did. And he was so excited,
and that excitement made me so excited and I couldn't wait for that first show.
It was sad when we played our last show together. It was really, really sad,
because I didn't want to see him go. I said "I wish you could stay with us
too, and have three guitar players on stage!" it would be killer, you know?
Can't
Anthrax have three guitar players?
Sure,
of course we could! Why not, you know? He's still doing his Sepultura thing,
but if there was ever a time you know for us to have a guitar player, he would
be the guy.
You
guys have played Refuse/Resist with Andreas on stage. I know that Anthrax has
recorded a lot of cover songs in the past so have you thought about recording
this song with Andreas or having him as a guest on an Anthrax song?
That
would be cool, I've never thought about that!
Do
you have any news from Scott and his child?
Oh
yeah, he's extremely happy, everything's great and now he's started a new
chapter in his life, being a dad! Some of us in the band have had this
experience and of course are still having it, but it's a great thing when it
happens.
Do
you think it can have an impact on the band?
Oh
I'm sure it does! It has an impact on me. I try to take my daughter to as much
as I possibly could to give her that experience and see what dad does.
Last
question, what's next for Anthrax?
We
have one more Big 4 show this year, at the Yankee Stadium and then I think
we're going to do a US run,
and then we're going to go to the Far East and I think we're going to come over
to Europe sometime next year.
Phone
interview conducted the 15th of august 2011
Transcription: Stan
Anthrax
website: anthrax.com
 
CHICKENFOOT/ex-VAN HALEN vocalist Sammy
Hagar, who pretty much threw guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex
Van Halen under the bus in his recent memoir, told Billboard.com in a brand new interview there's no love lost
with the VAN HALEN camp.

"I'm so disappointed in those guys," Hagar said. "I'm not
even angry. I'm just disappointed. I really don't like them anymore, and I
can't tell you how sad it is to me that what we had as creative guys, and as a
friendship, how it just went away. Mike [Anthony, former VAN
HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT bassist] and I had the biggest laugh
when they canceled [the Soundwave Revolution festival in] Australia. He
was like, 'I thought you told me they had canceled a couple months ago,' and I
was, 'No, no, I told you they announced it.' 'Oh, they announced it,' and we
just cracked up. They kill me."

Even though Hagar says he's happy in CHICKENFOOT, he admitted to The
Pulse Of Radio that he still has feelings for his time in VAN HALEN.
"You know, I miss VAN HALEN," he said. "I don't like them
fuckers and fuck those guys for what they did to Mikey especially, not
me. Unnecessary. Bad guys. But I miss 'em, you know. [laughs] I miss that
musicianship and that creative spark and that friction that made it all work,
you know. So CHICKENFOOT's got all that, without the friction."
Roadburn has announced the curator for the 17th
edition of the festival: VOIVOD. After the band's widely acclaimed and
artistically inspiring performances at the 2011 festival, VOIVOD has
agreed to curate our festival on Friday, April 13, 2012.

As curator, VOIVOD will personally select the bands that will play
during their special event at Roadburn and perform a special headline
show.

Commented the organizers: "We had a revelation this year: namely, that VOIVOD and Roadburn are not only kindred spirits musically and artistically,
but also on the same wavelength in other ways, too. VOIVOD personifies
the laidback Roadburn vibe. Respected by fans and bands that span the
festival's sonic spectrum, VOIVOD is the ideal pick as Roadburn's
fifth curator. The band will carry on a tradition that began in 2008 with David
Tibet, followed by NEUROSIS in 2009, TRIPTYKON's Tom
Gabriel Warrior in 2010 and SUNN 0))) aka Greg Anderson and Stephen
O'Malley at this year's festival. After VOIVOD agreed to curate the
Friday, we could not resist asking them to stay for a second show. It's
on!"

VOIVOD will perform on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Commented VOIVOD drummer Away: "We are truly honored to
curate the Roadburn VOIVOD day on April 13, 2012. We will make sure that
the whole spectrum of experimental music influential to VOIVOD is
represented. Thanks to the Roadburn folks for inviting us; we're already
counting the days in anticipation of the event !!"

Roadburn festival is a tribute to the open-mindedness of its bands,
curators and audience. The joy comes from expanding musical horizons and
looking at familiar territory from new angles.

Roadburn Festival 2012, including VOIVOD's special event, will
run for four days — from Thursday, April 12 to Sunday, April 15 (the
traditional Afterburner) at the 013 venue in Tilburg,
Holland.

Pre-sales will start Saturday, November 26, 2011.

For more information, please visit www.roadburn.com.
CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED — the project led by
acclaimed metal drummer Richard Christy (ICED EARTH, DEATH, LEASH LAW, CONTROL DENIED, BURNING INSIDE) — has set "Cold
Winds On Timeless Days" as the title of its sophomore CD, due on
October 11 via Metal Blade Records. Audiohammer's Jason Suecof produced and Mark Lewis mixed, while mastering was handled by Alan
Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York. Christy states, "It's 12
songs of crushing heavy metal and I CAN'T WAIT for everyone to hear it.

"I'm VERY proud of this album — everyone worked so hard on it and when you
listen to it, it definitely shows."

The writing process for "Cold Winds On Timeless Days" actually
began while the band was mixing its 2010 debut. Christy used his
experience on the first album to write songs that catered not only to each
member's playing style, but to Jason Suecof's production style. The result:
demos that turned out nearly identical to what ended up on the album.

With 12 songs clocking in at 58 minutes, fans are getting a lot more music this
time around. Recording twelve songs in a short amount of time is no easy feat,
but one that was accomplished because of the stellar talents in the band. Christy elaborates further: "I wanted to get a natural sound out of this album, I
wanted everyone to be well rehearsed, not that I wanted the album to be rushed,
but I wanted the spontaneous live feel and not over think anything too
much." Christy describes "Cold Winds on Timeless Days" as a "perfect storm of producing."

"Cold Winds On Timeless Days" track listing:

01. Timeless Days
02. Ashes Falling Upon Us
03. Zerospan
04. Cold Winds
05. Lead The Way
06. Forever Marching On
07. Guiding Me
08. The Beast Outside My Window
09. On Unclean Ground
10. Bloodworm
11. Admire The Heroes
12. Avoid The Light

Fans can hear the first single, "Zerospan", in the YouTube clip below.

Christy previously stated about the new CHARRED material,
"If you liked the first album, you're definitely going to love this album!
It's going to be super-melodic, have plenty of blast beats, plenty of
super-catchy vocal parts, heavy guitars, and insane bass parts!"

Fans got a chance to watch Christy and vocalist Tim
"Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED
EARTH) perform the songs from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's debut
album during a July 2010 tour that included stops in Chicago, Detroit,
Montreal, Toronto, New York, Cleveland and Pittsburgh before wrapping up in
Worcester, Massachusetts as part of a massive show with DREAM THEATER.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's touring lineup made its live debut on July
1, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Stepping in for the concerts were Cleveland guitarists John
Comprix and Matt Sorg. Comprix is Owens' bandmate in
several projects, and Sorg plays with Comprix in RINGWORM.

The self-titled debut album from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED sold around
2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD
landed at No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists
the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who
have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's recording lineup:

* Richard Christy - Drums
* Jason Suecof - Guitar, Producer
* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED
EARTH) - Vocals
* Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT) – Bass
Former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams has
released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding his
departure from the band:

"I'd just like to say for the record, playing in NEVERMORE consumed
a huge part of my life from the time we got signed together back in '94 up
until just a few months ago. During this time, the band has shared a lot of
blood, sweat, tears and beers together, good times, bad times, and made some
pretty cool music along the way, in my opinion, and I am proud to have been
part of that with Warrel [Dane, vocals], Jeff [Loomis,
guitar], Jim [Sheppard, bass] and all the great guitar players
we've had in between.

"About Warrel's comment [in a recent interview] ('I mean, I could give a shit about
our drummer — we never got along anyway'), It's unfortunate to hear that after
all we've been through, but a statement like that really just verifies that I
made the right decision in leaving. And so I move on, I wish all luck in your
future endeavors... and yes, even 'the singer.' :)

"With that being said, you know what they say: 'It's onward and upwards!'
...or sideways..."

Greece's Rock
Overdose recently conducted an interview with SANCTUARY/NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane. You can now listen to the chat using the audio
player below.

When asked about NEVERMORE's recent split with Jeff Loomis and Van
Williams, Dane told Greece's Rock
Overdose, "Well, I didn't separate from Jeff; Jeff separated from me — that was his choice. And he, I think, wants to focus more
on being a guitar hero and doing solo records. And this whole thing, this split
with Jeff…. I mean, I could give a shit about our drummer — we never got
along anyway — but Jeff was one of my best friends. And it's like going
through a very painful divorce. I'm still very upset about the way it happened,
because I didn't know that they were quitting the band until I saw on Blabbermouth.
And that's not the way you treat your friends. We could have talked. And that
was really, really shitty. I still talk to Jeff sometimes, but he's in
his own world right now, so good luck to him. I love him — he's like my
brother, but… There's not a whole lot I can say about that."

Regarding NEVERMORE's future, Warrel said, "NEVERMORE is still a band. We're still going to use Attila [Vörös], the
guitar player that was playing with NEVERMORE when all this happened.
And I think we have a new drummer — I'm still deciding. The guitar players that
are submitting their YouTube videos to me for auditions, some of them
are just fucking phenomenal. And I'm kind of humbled by all this, because I
didn't realize that they are so many talented kids out there. Replacing Jeff is hard, so it's gonna be a slow process. And I will not replace Jeff until find the perfect guitar player — someone that can write songs and someone
that can play solos. Sometimes there is somebody that can really compose good
music and sometimes there's another one that can really shred on the guitar, so
there has to be a balance. I'm gonna approach this carefully, because I don't
want to stain the legacy of the band. NEVERMORE was my baby and has
always been my passion for years. I'm still hurt over the way things fell
apart, but you pick yourself up and just focus on what you're doing in the
moment. But NEVERMORE is still a band; there was just two people that
quit."

Loomis and Williams announced their departure from NEVERMORE in April. In a joint statement, the two musicians blamed their decision to quit
on "internal struggles and ongoing issues within the band."

Loomis and Williams had been with NEVERMORE since the
band's self-titled first album, which came out in 1995.

NEVERMORE tapped Dagna Barrera to play bass on the band's recent "Power
Of Metal" European tour with SYMPHONY X, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ, MERCENARY and THAUROROD after the group's regular bassist, Jim
Sheppard, underwent surgery on February 16 to remove a benign brain tumor.

Dagna previously played bass in NEVERMORE singer Warrel Dane's
solo project and is also a member of the Seattle-based progressive rock band ONE
UNDONE.

NEVERMORE's latest album, "The Obsidian Conspiracy",
sold around 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut
at position No. 134 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1
on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling
albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared
in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
It's been just over a year since AVENGED SEVENFOLD released its fifth album, "Nightmare", and the band can see
the end of the touring and promotional cycle for it approaching sometime in the
first half of 2012. But singer M. Shadows told The Pulse Of Radio that making a follow-up to the group's first No. 1 disc is the furthest thing
from their minds right now. "We're not really thinking about it," he
said. "I think bands burn themselves out. I mean, look what happened to DISTURBED.
You get caught up in the 'do a record, tour for two years, do a record, tour
for two years.' We just need to make sure everybody's mentally in the right spot
before we start writing and doing a new record. Right now, I think we're gonna
tour, go back to Europe in February, maybe finish up with a couple of things in
Europe in the summer, and then take six, seven months and just sit around. If
we decide to write, we will, if we decide not to, we won't."

DISTURBED announced earlier this month that it was going on
"indefinite hiatus" after five studio albums and more than a decade
on the road.

AVENGED bassist Johnny Christ admitted in a recent interview that
writing the band's next album without late drummer James "The Rev"
Sullivan is going to be "a very different process without having Jimmy around."

Sullivan, who died from an overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol in
December 2009, was a major songwriting force in AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

The band's current drummer is Arin Ilejay, who began playing with them
earlier this year.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has been overseas for most of this summer but is now
home to headline the Rockstar Uproar Festival tour, which kicks off on
Friday (August 26) in Camden, New Jersey.
Former IRON MAIDEN and current WOLFSBANE frontman Blaze Bayley will have his September 23 solo concert at De Rots
in Antwerp, Belgium professionally filmed for a
forthcoming DVD.

Commented Blaze: "I have chosen to record the show at The Rots as
it is one of the smallest gigs on my European tour, the people are crazy, and
every time I have played there it has been a real event.

"My last two DVDs have been great but they were big shows. This time I
want to capture the intimate vibe, up close and personal with my fans. So it is
made by my fans, for my fans and with my fans in mind.

"I will be performing one brand new song at the gig! After, we will be
staying at the Rots to sample the collection of Belgium's finest beers.

"Feel free to join us at the after-party.

"Everyone who sends in a picture of themselves with me from the show will
be mentioned in the credits and your picture might end up in the booklet of the
DVD.

"The whole show will be recorded with professional equipment.

"If you want to bring your own camcorders or phones to help us make this a
really special DVD, send us your recordings as we will try to include it
somewhere on the double DVD that will be released in March 2012.

"The DVD will have extras like interviews, backstage footage, acoustic
songs and many other things."

Bayley and his solo band played a "secret" warm-up show on May
12, 2011 at De Verlichte Geest in Roeselare, Belgium to
prepare for their recent festival appearances. Check out video footage of the
performance below.

Blaze's band at the show consisted of the following musicians:

Blaze Bayley: Vocals
Steve Deleu (GWYLLION, DOUBLE DIAMOND, FIREFORCE): Guitar
Nick Meganck (NATIVE INSTINCT): Bass
Dave Andrews: Guitar
Claudio Tirincanti: Drums

Blaze recently parted ways with the rest of his band in order to pursue
a career as a solo artist and the lead singer of WOLFSBANE. He explained
the decision by saying that "the mental, financial and emotional strain of
keeping the BLAZE BAYLEY band together has proven to be too much for me
and has taken a terrible toll on my mental health. . . It has been an
upsetting, frustrating and sad time because the BLAZE BAYLEY band will
not be going on any more, but it is also for me a huge relief and a time to
look forward."
According to the the New York Post, BLACK WATER RISING — the New
York-based band featuring former members of STEREOMUD, BOILER ROOM and DUST TO DUST — has filed a multi-million dollar copyright
infringement lawsuit against the New Jersey Devils ice hockey team
claiming that the NHL franchise refused to pay up for using the group's
song "Rise" in a video.

Wallace Collins, the attorney for BLACK WATER RISING guitarist
and frontman Rob Traynor, told the New York Post that the Devils "are stubbornly stuck on offering an insultingly small amount of money to
settle the case."

Traynor has released the following statement on the matter:

"Around September 2010, I received a text message from a friend of mine
who was at a New Jersey Devils game informing me that the team was using
our song 'Rise' as their entrance/introduction music. I immediately
assumed that this was a random play probably spun by the stadium DJ and really
thought nothing of it. I gave my friend a return call and he explained the context
in which it was used so I decided to do some investigating.

"First, I posted the news on Facebook and got a bunch of responses
from Jersey fans that informed me they, too,
witnessed the same at a Devils game. It seemed that 'Rise' was
being used as their 2010, 2011 intro music for their 'Devil's Army Rise Up!'
campaign to rally the fans and team. The band and I were excited, to say the
least, but we were also a little shocked because no one ever reached out to the
band to inform us that they were interested in using the song.

"I am well aware of the laws of copyright, and being a member of ASCAP,
I know about 'blanket licenses' that are given to large public venues like the
Prudential center where the Devils play, who pay a yearly sum of money
to play music from the ASCAP catalogue of which BLACK WATER RISING is a part. The music gets played and ASCAP pays the artist a royalty for
the public performance of the music — this is basically how it works. But, upon
further investigation into the matter, I found a video on their official
website that also used the song to promote the team, and it was this
promotional video that was playing above the ice on giant screens every night
the game began, and gave the band no credit at all. This type of usage is not
covered under any blanket license and needed to be cleared by the copyright
holder — me. The use of a song in a video/movie format needs to be covered by
what is called a sync license for a 'dramatic performance.'

"The song 'Rise' is being used as part of their marketing campaign
of which they make millions of dollars without so much as a phone call to ask
if BLACK WATER RISING wanted to be a part of it! This constitutes
blatant copyright infringement. Besides total disregard for permission to use
the song, the band was not even given credit in the stadium, so no one but a
few fans knew who the music was by. Hence, BLACK WATER RISING had
nothing to gain from its use and this upset me, to say the least.

"Yes, I was excited and honored that a big corporation would want to use
my music. But I was angered that it was used without my permission, in defiance
of copyright law, and for monetary gain. I guess they assumed that since we
weren't a famous band they could do what they wanted with the song and us little
saps would scurry away with our tails between our legs, just happy that they
were using it. Wrong!

"At first, we decided to approach this situation in a positive way by
trying to reach out to the Devils camp and by putting out a press
release letting people know they were using the song 'Rise'. After all,
they weren't even giving us credit in the stadium and we wanted people to know
who the song was by. I attempted to reach out to the New Jersey Devils camp in good faith with numerous phone calls, but got the runaround over and
over again. Finally, after about a month and a half of phone calls, I decided
to get a lawyer involved who served their legal department with our complaint
(cease-and-desist [order]). To this, they responded. I was put in contact with
one of their attorneys and we discussed how we could make this a mutually
beneficial situation. After agreeing on what seemed at the time a 'fair
promotional package' for the band, I was told that their marketing department
needed to review the terms and they would draft a license within the week for
me to review.

"One week turned into two, two into a month, one month into two months,
and so on. All the while still using the song and ignoring the numerous phone
calls I was leaving trying to find out where this 'agreement' was. The hockey
season was drawing to a close with still no response. After 10 months, I
decided to get another attorney (Wallace Collins) involved, and this
time took the situation to another level by filing a suit to defend my copyright.

"My music was basically stolen and put to work by a corporation for their
monetary gain. They used my song to rally their team and fans before every home
game and didn't even bother to credit the band. They dismissed and ignored my
honest attempts to rectify the situation in the hopes that I would just go
away. They banked on the hope that I would become discouraged and lack the
means to file a suit against them, and they would get a free song out of the
deal.

"To me, this is actually rather sad, that a corporation as big as the New
Jersey Devils would show such blatant disregard for the copyright of a
struggling artist and treat us as if we were insignificant pests, unworthy of
their attention, after they basically stole my music. I wonder if METALLICA would have a problem like this? It seems to me just another example of
corporate greed. I'm not going away and I will defend my rights.

"The ironic part about this whole thing is that the song 'Rise' is
about standing up to those that would hold you down.

"Life imitating art?

"We would also like to make it clear that this statement is in no way
directed at the players of the New Jersey Devils team, who, we are sure,
had absolutely no involvement or knowledge concerning this matter.

"We appreciate the support of our fans and wanted to make a personal
statement on this matter as it goes to the press and the public."
 
Mary Ouellette, Loudwire
With his larger than life personality, his herculean vocal range and his
honest, in your face approach to music, Sebastian Bach is the embodiment of
rock. While he will forever be coined the 'former lead singer of Skid Row',
Bach has transcended his time spent with Skid Row with successful runs on
Broadway, becoming a reality TV staple and most importantly to him, his
thriving solo music career. Bach summed it up best in his own words, 'I'm
just going to keep making kick-ass rock 'n' roll 'til the day I die'.
His new disc, 'Kicking & Screaming,' is due out on Sept. 27 and offers
up surprises around every corner.  Produced by Bob Marlette of Black
Sabbath and Shinedown fame, the CD is a collection of heavy hitters true to the
sound that Sebastian Bach helped mold throughout his career. Bach has admitted
that he didn't try to reinvent the wheel on 'Kicking & Screaming,'
recognizing that his fans expect a certain sound and he aims to please. His
signature vocals reign supreme and are perfectly complemented by the tasty
guitar licks powered by guitar virtuoso Nick Sterling throughout.
With the disc's title track and its video making its recent debut, Loudwire
caught up with Bach to talk about the new album, how it all came together and
if we'll see him on a new reality show any time soon!
So, let's talk about your upcoming CD 'Kicking & Screaming.'  It
was two years in the making; what can you tell us about pulling it all
together?
We started recording in February and we ended up finishing in April. A lot
of the songs started with ideas from Nick Sterling, the guitar player. He came
in with so many killer ideas. I also sat down and wrote a couple of songs with
him. We wrote a couple songs with Bob Marlette, the producer, including
'Kicking & Screaming,' which was one of the last songs we wrote. We wanted
a really kick-ass intro song for the whole record.
We were going to call the record 'As Long As I Got The Music,' which is
another song on the CD, but it had too many words in it. The way I write is
that I'm constantly jotting down ideas so I went back to my list of ideas and
the name 'Kicking & Screaming' was a title that I had written down awhile
back and it sounded like the music we had written. I said I was going to really
scream the chorus, and that's about as high as I can go singing-wise; I really
went for it.
'Kicking & Screaming' is the first single and it's also the album
title, do you feel like this song and sentiment are indicative of the album
sound as a whole?
I always try to make every song sound different so no I don't think so. All
the songs are very different. There are three ballads on the record. It wouldn't
be a Sebastian Bach CD without the ballads; I like singing like that. 
There's some fast tempo rock, there's some dirty sleazy rock and there's some
metal too, I tried to make the whole album have dynamics with different feels
and tempos.
Guitar god and all around cool guy John 5 makes an appearance on the album;
how did that collaboration fall into place and what can you tell me about the
song 'TunnelVision'?
That came together through our producer, Bob Marlette. John 5 has been a fan
of mine and Skid Row for a long time actually. He told me that he was in the
Skid Row 'Piece of Me' video before he was John 5. He was a rock 'n' roll fan
and he lined up outside for the Skid Row video shoot and he's one of the guys
that actually takes a stage dive during the video. Go check that
out on YouTube; I never knew that.
Can you tell me a little bit about the song 'As Long As I Got the Music'?
Nick Sterling wrote that song with a one of the singers on the TV show
'Rockstar: Supernova.' She wrote the song with Nick and he played it for me and
I wanted to sing it, I thought it was great. If it's a good song, it's a good
song and I don't care if my next door neighbor writes it. I'm not one of these
musicians who has to tells people that I'm the only one allowed to write; I
don't work like that. We work with whoever has the best idea. Good songs are
rare and I really liked it; it's poppy but it feels like a Kiss tune — it's got
a big arena rock sound.
You worked with Bob Marlette on the album and he's known for his work with
bands like Black Sabbath and Shinedown; what did he bring to the process for
you?
He's a good songwriter. We wrote the song 'Kicking & Screaming' with Bob
along with a song called 'Dirty Power,' so that's number one. The sound is just
really high quality sound. I sing quite high a lot of the times and there's a
lot of low end on the CD which compliments my singing. He's just a brilliant
guy. He knows all about guitar tones; he helped me out with some harmonies, so
he was a very smart guy to work with.
You've been very honest about what you've been going through recently with
your divorce. Did you draw from those experiences for the writing on this new
album?
A lot of the songs have to do with breaking up and relationships and some of
them have to do with finding a new love, that's what the song 'Kicking &
Screaming' is about. The album cover is a girl with eight arms and knives
dragging me into hell; that has a lot to do with what I've been going through,
as well.
Since you brought up finding new love, is that your new lovely lady we see
in the video for 'Kicking & Screaming?'
Yes, that's Minnie Gupta, she's been my girl since December. She's quite
young and crazy and I'm quite old and crazy. I'd like to move in with her but
she's a Hollywood chick and not really into
domesticity. I'll take as much of Minnie as I can get. She's so beautiful and I
love spending time with her. It was an amazing experience to meet her and be
with her during the recording of this record. It made it a lot easier for me.
You've described the sound of this CD as following in the footsteps of your
last solo album, 'Angel Down', and your releases with Skid Row and not wanting
to "reinvent the wheel."
The thing is, the music that I made  — '18 and Life', 'I Remember You',
'Youth Gone Wild' — those songs are still played on the radio and on VH1 as
much as they ever were. They're always on and they're always in my face. I'm
not doing anything different on 'Kicking & Screaming' than I did on the
first Skid Row album. I'm doing exactly the same thing because those songs have
lasted the test of time so I figure if I like the music and I make it, the fans
will like it too because it's worked my whole life.
I like bands like Rush, AC/DC and Neil Young that just keep putting out
solid albums. I know what my voice sounds like and I know what music my fans
expect from me so I'm just going to keep making kick-ass rock 'n' roll 'til the
day I die and that's good enough for me. That should be the name of your
article.
[Editor's note: See the above title of
this article.]
I saw some recent photos of you rocking out at Warped Tour to Asking Alexandria's set. You
performed with them at the Revolver Golden Globe Awards and are also in their
new video. How did you become so close to them?
Asking Alexandria
actually does two Skid Row songs on their album; they do 'Youth Gone Wild' and
'18 & Life' and that's incredible. That album debuted at No. 9 on the
Billboard chart, so it's unbelievable. They're passing on the music to a whole
new generation because they're young kids. I'm really good friends with them
and hopefully we get to do some touring with them at some point. I'm also
buddies with this new band called Black Veil Brides.
Yes, Black Veil Brides have cited you as an influence. It's nice to see
these new young bands carrying on that rock torch. Do they come to you asking
for your advice on things?
Well, one of those bands likes to party and drink a lot and they asked my
advice about that. People seem to think that I'm wasted all the time. Sometimes
I am, but not all the time. He told me he lost his voice and I asked him why he
thought that might happen and he said he was drinking before he went on stage.
I told him that never once in my life have I gone onstage drunk; I might make
up for it afterwards but I never play messed up. I'm always straight as an
arrow when I play and in the studio. He was kind of in shock when I told him
that, but now he's straight when he goes onstage. I said something good for
once!
Awhile back you posted that you were filming a scene for the upcoming 'Rock
of Ages' film adaptation of the successful Broadway musical.  Can you tell
us what kind of roles you and Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt played in the movie?
We were in a huge scene with Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom
Cruise. You're going to freak out when you see it; that's all I can say. I
became friends with Russell on set. He's a very nice and hilarious guy. 
Tom Cruise was very very nice, he told me that he's followed my career forever,
which blew me away. Sean Penn told me the exact same thing and I could never
imagine that but they love rock 'n' roll and they like me — they really, really
like me!
Speaking of movies, and TV, it's been awhile since we've seen you on TV. Do
you see any new reality or sitcom adventures in your future, maybe a 'Dancing
With The Stars' stint?
I really hope not but people keep asking me when I'm going back to TV. TV is
such a disposable art form, nobody cares. For example, the show 'Supergroup'
that I was on. People still listen to the music I made with Skid Row more than
20 years later but TV is so forgettable. I've done so many TV shows that I've literally
forgotten about whole series that I've contributed to. I did one show called
'Never Mind the Bollocks' and there was an article in Rolling Stone and they
had a picture about the show and it said 'VH1 Never Mind the Bollocks – Nobody
Did'.  Rock 'n' roll is what lasts. Once people get a hold of a song they
love, they love it for their whole lives.
I was recently shared a pretty touching story about a big fan of yours, who was
diagnosed with cervical cancer, and you performed at her bridal shower. How did
this experience impact you?
What is music for really? Music is an emotional thing. The thing is, when I
went to go perform there, I didn't even know that she was sick. No one told me
that. I thought she was just a fan and she wanted me to come jam. I didn't know
that she was sick and while I was performing, something in my head told me to
stare into her eyes the whole time. It was very compelling. I sang right to her
the whole time and she was crying. I found out later that she was going in for
chemotherapy the very next day. I'm glad I didn't know because I wouldn't have
made it through the performance; it would have been too sad. It was an
incredible experience. She's a very nice girl and she's going to kick this
thing in the ass — definitely.
I noticed you're on the West Coast these days, did you officially make the
move?
Right now I'm actually sleeping on Jinxx' couch (from Black Veil Brides).
I'm looking for a place out here.  When I look for houses I compare to my
house back in New Jersey.
I love my house in Jersey but there's no love
in it anymore so it's kind of creepy. It's very weird walking around a big big
house with no one in it, it's kind of like Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining.'
You've ruled out a Skid Row reunion many times. Do you ever see yourself
being a member of a band again or do you prefer solo work?
I definitely prefer the solo work. I only have one life and I'm not getting
any younger. I gave 10 years of my life to that band and then they kicked me
out. I'm not into that at all. That's why the albums are released under the
name Sebastian Bach; I want you to know what you're getting. You know what
you're getting with me and I'm not going to let you down. I would not want to
think up a new band name and sell everyone on Hammer Head or Velvet Hammer or
Motor Hammer or Sound Hammer.
Or Savage Animal?
YEAH! I'm not into all of that. I just want to get the job done. I'm more
interested in the content than the form. A lot of people are more interested in
the form of something. If it has the name they'll go and see it even if the
members of the band are different. I'm more interested in the content — when
you press play does it kick your ass and the answer is yes, my CD kicks ass.
 
According to The North Royalton Post, a hundred or so family and friends
remembered former WARRANT singer Jani Lane last Saturday (August 20)
in an 85-minute service at Crossroads Community Church
in Doylestown, Ohio.

Lane, born John Kennedy Oswald, was separated from his third
wife, the former Kimberly Nash, at the time of his death. He is survived
by a brother, Eric; three sisters, Marcine Williams, Michelle
Robinson and Victoria Oswald; a daughter from his first marriage, Taylar
Lane; a daughter from his second marriage, Madison Lane; and two
stepdaughters, Ryan and Brittany.

"He had a demon, which was alcohol," said Lane's first cousin, Adam Gable, who said he last saw Lane in 2010. "I think the
drinking just got the best of him."

"My father was Jani Lane's
biggest fan ever," Lane's sister Marcine Williams said.
"He communicated with metal magazines and writers and was at his concerts.
My parents could always separate Jani from John. They were never
embarrassed by him."

Lane's sister Michelle Robinson said she hadn't spoken to her
brother in eight or nine months but said she knew his lifestyle could one day
catch up with him.

"I just think in general the lifestyle that anyone chooses in that kind of
industry, you're always taking that kind of risk," she said. "Really
it's who you choose to have around you. That's the bottom line."

Robinson, who was the last person in her family to see Lane,
said, "Heroes are remembered and legends never die. And that's true. He
always enjoyed being the star and being the frontman. He would enjoy
this."
According to TMZ.com, a note saying "I am Jani Lane"
was found in the former WARRANT singer's pocket on the day he died.
However, Jani, who had no official ID on him when his body was
discovered at a Los Angeles
motel on August 11, isn't believed to have written the note himself.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ.com that the note contained a phone
number for a person close to Jani, and police contacted that person
after Jani's body was discovered.

Investigators have confirmed to TMZ.com that the note was written by one
of Jani's friends who had placed a similar note on Jani in the
past.

According to the site, members of Jani's family are furious over the
fact that the person who wrote the note didn't help Lane seek treatment
for the singer's substance-abuse problem instead of simply tucking a piece of
paper into Jani's pants.

It's unclear if the same person who wrote the note also checked Jani into the Comfort Inn since it appears the room where Jani was discovered
was not purchased by Jani himself.

An autopsy performed on Lane proved inconclusive pending the results of
toxicology tests, according to the Los Angeles County
coroner's office.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter says it may take several weeks to
finalize the cause of death.
U.K.
progressive metallers TESSERACT have announced the addition of vocalist Elliot
Coleman to the group's ranks. Elliot's huge range, distinctive
character and brutal roars demonstrated on his work with OMNOM, SKY
EATS AIRPLANE and ZELLIACK made him the perfect replacement for
former vocalist, Dan Tompkins.

TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams makes the introduction:
"We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce somebody special, Elliot
Coleman. Some of you may know him as a member of ZELLIACK, SKY
EATS AIRPLANE and OF LEGENDS, or maybe from OMNOM, or HAUNTED
SHORES. Well, now he's part of TESSERACT!

"We're very excited about working with Elliot as we feel he has a
great talent and personality, as well as, and most importantly, a voice that
transcends the norm and continues the TESSERACT tradition of taking
things to the next level."

Elliot's catalogue of work is as impressive as it is extensive,
including numerous appearances with HAUNTED SHORES and a guest spot on PERIPHERY's
track "Race Car". He most recently played bass in Washington D.C.
tech metallers OF LEGENDS, but as a passionate vocalist, he jumped at
the chance to front TESSERACT.

Commented Elliot: "I'm very much excited to be a part of the
juggernaut that is TESSERACT. I know I have big shoes to fill, as Dan is a fantastic vocalist, but I'm confident that we'll be producing some great
new music in the coming year and I'll be adding some new flavors to this
ever-evolving machine."

Tompkins left TESSERACT in July due to other life priorities. He
explained in a statement, "This has been the most difficult decision I
have had to make in my career as a singer. My priorities in life have changed
and as such I can no longer continue with the band. Our friendships are strong
and I wish to thank Acle, Mos, Jay and James for
all their support and dedication over the past few years. We have achieved
great things, travelled the world and met many incredible people and I stand
proud to say that I have been a part of the band's success and helped to carve
a wonderful album. I will hold onto these memories for the rest of my life. It
has been an incredible journey and it is certainly not the end for myself or TESSERACT.
I look forward to new beginnings and wish my good friends all the very best for
the future."

Added Amos: "You know, when you travel so far and spend so much
time together, as well as achieving as much as we have over the past three
years, you become like family. And it is precisely because of that close bond
that we fully understand and respect Dan's choice to no longer be a part
of TESSERACT. We are and will always be close friends, and hope there
will be a time in the future when we will work together again. Thank you,
buddy, for being part of the TESSERACT journey; we will always have fond
memories of the Dan Tompkins years!"

Approaching the lineup adjustment as a progression rather than a setback, TESSERACT is already hard at work writing the follow-up to the critically acclaimed album "One" with Elliot.

TESSERACT will headline the "Lowering The Tone" European tour in September and October before heading to the U.S. for the "Saints And
Sinners" trek in November and December with ANIMALS AS LEADERS and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.
Swedish female-fronted heavy rockers SISTER SIN will
release their cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Rock 'N'
Roll" as a single on September 13. The track features guest vocals
from the German metal queen Doro Pesch and will be made available on all
digital platforms worldwide via Victory Records. It was produced by Chris
Snyder at Standstraight Studios and was mastered at Abbey Road
Studios in London, England.

SISTER SIN will head out as main support on the upcoming U.D.O. European tour starting on September 21 in Poland.

SISTER SIN's second album, "True Sound Of The Underground",
landed at position No. 97 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart,
which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as
those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

SISTER SIN in November announced the addition of bassist Andreas
Strandh to the group's ranks.

"True Sound Of The Underground" was released in North America
on June 22, 2010 via Victory Records and was issued in Europe
on July 23, 2010 through Metal Heaven Records. It was produced by Henrik
Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos
Studios.

In a 2010 interview with Sleaze
Roxx, Liv Jagrell stated about SISTER SIN's current sound,
"We are a heavy metal band. On past records we have been more of a rock
band, but on the new album I think we definitely got a lot heavier. You can
hear a lot of MÖTLEY CRÜE on our last two albums, but on this one we
went heavier. To me this is the sound that SISTER SIN had been searching
for on previous recordings but we didn't achieve until 'True Sound Of The
Underground' . . . Now we're going for more of a JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD and ACCEPT kind of sound. I think we are aiming for a more '80s
traditional heavy metal sound."

For more information, visit www.sistersin.com.
DEVILDRIVER's Mike Spreitzer and Jeff
Kendrick will take part in a guitar clinic this Thursday, August 25 at West
LA music in Los Angeles, California. The event, which will run from
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., will be streamed live through the Ustream page of AllAxess.com, the guitar-based web site web site launched by Kendrick and Spreitzer. The site focuses on instructional videos from
professional guitarists and has an emphasis on learning the songs that made the
guitarists well known and taught by them. The page also contains a biographical
database of many of the world's well-known and not so well-known guitar players
as well as blogs on the science of guitar playing and a celebrity blog focusing
on celebrities discussing guitars and guitar playing.

For more information, go to this location.

Spreitzer was forced to sit out DEVILDRIVER's recent South
American tour after suffering a seizure.

DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick (ex-BURY
YOUR DEAD) suffered a back injury last month but was able to recover in
time to perform with the rest of the band at the Heavy T.O. and Heavy
MTL festivals in Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
respectively.

Bubble joined DEVILDRIVER as the replacement for Jonathan
Miller, who quit DEVILDRIVER in March, calling it "the most
difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for
myself."

"Beast", the fifth album from DEVILDRIVER, sold a
little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to
debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart.

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