The Billboard "Legend of Live" award recognizes an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and acknowledges the recipient's commitment to the art of performing live and reaching fans through the concert experience.
Previous award recipients include THE ROLLING STONES promoter Michael Cohl (2004), Cellar Door Concerts founder Jack Boyle (2005), Sir Elton John (2006), pioneering agent Frank Barsalona (2007), and the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (2008).
"Ozzy has altered the course of rock music and live performance through his work with BLACK SABBATH and as a hugely popular solo artist, and his continued commitment to playing live makes him the perfect choice for the Billboard 'Legend Of Live' award," says Ray Waddell, Billboard's executive director of content and programming, touring and live entertainment. "There is no doubt that Ozzy's impact on live music, including pioneering the multi-act rock festival touring with Ozzfest, will be felt for many years to come, and his efforts continue to shape the touring landscape in this century."
The Billboard Touring Awards honor the industry's top artists, venues and professionals for the year, based primarily on the Billboard Boxscore chart and on actual box office performance from January 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009. This awards reception will wrap the sixth annual Billboard Touring Conference taking place at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on November 4 and 5.
For more information about the sixth annual Billboard Touring Conference and Awards, visit billboardevents.com.
Legendary drummer Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, DIO, BLACK SABBATH) will perform with SIN CITY SINNERS in Las Vegas in early October:
Oct. 02 - Railhead @ Boulder Station - Las Vegas, NV (11 p.m.)
Oct. 03 - Ovation @ Green Valley Ranch - Las Vegas, NV (11 p.m.)
SIN CITY SINNERS is best known for having a special celebrity guest jam with the band each week.
SIN CITY SINNERS has been taking Las Vegas by storm in 2009. They were voted "Best Local Band," second only to THE KILLERS in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best Of Vegas" readers' poll.
SIN CITY SINNERS consists of Brent Muscat (formerly of FASTER PUSSYCAT), Todd Kerns (AGE OF ELECTRIC), Eliis, and Rob Cournoyer (RAGING SLAB).
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/scsinners.
The Pulse of Radio reports: AEROSMITH was forced to cancel its summer tour after frontman Steven Tyler fell off the stage while performing in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 6. Following the incident, Tyler had his arm in a sling and told RollingStone.com that he was taking a bunch of painkillers. Since then, we haven't heard too much from Tyler and apparently neither has his fellow band member, guitarist Joe Perry. While at the MTV Video Music Awards, The Pulse of Radio asked Perry how Tyler has been feeling these days. "You know, you're going to have to ask his manager about that," he said. "We don't have the same manager anymore. And I haven't talked to him in about a month. So I don't know what he's doing."
Perry, meanwhile, has been busy prepping his solo effort, "Have Guitar, Will Travel", which comes out October 6. The first single is "We've Got A Long Way To Go".
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley's new solo album, "Anomaly", is on track to sell between 12,000 and 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
In addition to the standard CD release, unique "Anomaly" packages were made available at Wal-Mart and Best Buy locations. The Wal-Mart version includes an Ace autographed tattoo while the Best Buy edition is printed on silver stock, like the KISS "Double Platinum" album.
Released on September 15 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform in the U.S., "Anomaly" was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.
"Anomaly" official track listing:
01. Foxy & Free
02. Outer Space
03. Pain In The Neck
04. Fox On The Run
05. Genghis Khan
06. Too Many Faces
07. Change The World
08. Space Bear
09. A Little Below The Angels
10. Sister
11. It's A Great Life
12. Fractured Quantum
13. The Return of Space Bear (Dedicated to Tom Snyder) (iTunes exclusive)
Frehley last year spent time on the road fronting a band that featured second guitarist Derrek Hawkins, drummer Scot Coogan (ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-LYNCH MOB).
Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick is coming back to Australia armed with his first new solo album in five years — "BK3" — and a brand new live show that promises to delve into the depths of material from his twelve year tenure with KISS and his work in the last thirteen years as a solo artist. "BK3" is Kulick's third solo release, hence the title.
Australian fans will be among the first to hear the album, which will be released ahead of its worldwide debut at the concerts.
"BK3" features the soaring guitars and signature riffs that Kulick is known for, along with an array of special guests that include former KISS bandmates Gene Simmons and Eric Singer, KNACK lead vocalist Doug Fielder, and Nick Simmons (Gene's son and rising star in his own right) making his vocal recording debut.
Bruce promises the shows will be worth the wait and will feature a plethora of KISS tunes from the eight albums he recorded with the band between 1984 and 1996. Hits like "God Gave Rock and Roll To You II", "Crazy Crazy Nights", "Forever" and "Tears Are Falling" will be nestled alongside many rarities never performed live by KISS themselves.
Kulick has become a regular in Australia, first visiting these shores in 1978 as part of MEAT LOAF's "Bat Out Of Hell" band, with KISS in 1995, as part of ESP (a side project featuring members of Alice Cooper's band, KISS and MÖTLEY CRÜE), and several times as a solo artist. Most recently, he conducted a whirlwind guitar clinic tour, hitting four cities during a week in April 2009.
Since departing KISS in 1996, Bruce has remained active in the music industry, forming the band UNION with former MÖTLEY CRÜE vocalist John Corabi, acting as a camp counselor at various Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp events, working with both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons on their solo projects, recording commentaries for the multi platinum retrospective "Kissology" DVDs, and, since 2001, playing with the legendary American band GRAND FUNK RAILROAD as their lead guitarist. In between all of these activities, he recorded his first solo album, "Audio Dog", in 2001, followed up by 2003's "Transformer". "BK3" marks yet another milestone for the veteran guitarist, and he is very much looking forward to beginning the journey here in his "second home" of Australia.
Tickets go on sale on September 21 at the venues and outlets below:
Dec. 12 - Adelaide, Australia - Fowlers
Dec. 13 - Sydney, Australia The Gaelic Theatre
Dec. 14 - Melbourne, Australia - The Corner Hotel
D.X. Ferris of the Riverfront Times recently conducted an interview with MOTÖRHEAD mainman Lemmy Kilmister. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
Riverfront Times: What does the new MOTÖRHEAD stuff sound like?
Lemmy: I don't know. We always work in the studio.
Riverfront Times: Are you free to move to a new label? Or is MOTÖRHEAD tied up in the SPV bankruptcy ?
Lemmy: SPV's on its way to the doghouse, yeah. I dunno. Maybe we'll go on the Internet. I dunno. Stuff will be released, don't worry about that.
Riverfront Times: Is the SPV bankruptcy affecting band business?
Lemmy: [Laughs a gravelly laugh] No. We got paid first.
Riverfront Times: I read an article that said you live in a little apartment in LA.
Lemmy: Yeah, a two-room apartment.
Riverfront Times: Why such a small place? I'm guessing you could afford something bigger.
Lemmy: It's near [legendary Sunset Strip rock club] the Rainbow, and it's controlled rent. I've been there since 1990, so it's pretty cheap.... I'm looking for a slightly bigger place than I've got now, but not a freestanding chateau. I'm not looking for a big house — you can only be in one room at a time.
Riverfront Times: Do you plan to stay in the United States or retire to England eventually?
Lemmy: I'll stay in America. There's more scope.
Riverfront Times: Do you ever go back to England?
Lemmy: I only go when we tour there. I was there in the summer for a couple of weeks. The attitude's a lot more upbeat [in America], you know? In England, the main emotion is resentment. They're still trying to get over losing India.
Riverfront Times: What was the band's best payday? Does "Ace of Spades" still sell?
Lemmy: The best payday was when METALLICA did some of our tracks on one of their albums.
Riverfront Times: What do you consider the band's low point?
Lemmy: Probably the Brian Robertson era [1983, when the former THIN LIZZY guitarist joined the band]. Because the things he did — you alienate whole entire families — just about all by himself.
Riverfront Times: And your high point?
Lemmy: This is one of them, for sure. Obviously, Hammersmith going straight to No. 1 was the 'igh point of that band, for sure. This band's just done three of the best songs anybody's ever done, you know?
Riverfront Times: How long do you see yourself doing the band?
Lemmy: I dunno. How long do you see yourself talking on the phone and writing? You don't know, do you? You can't tell yet. I'm sure it'll all become terribly clear suddenly one day.
DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott will support the reunited MOTT THE HOOPLE on the final night of their run of shows on October 6 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England. Elliott and his backing band — which will consist of members of THE QUIREBOYS — will appear under the DOWN 'N' OUTZ banner in what is described by the vocalist as "a one-off performance, not the start of a new project." "Though, Spike [THE QUIREBOYS singer] will be making an appearance of some sort," says Joe. "I would feel bad if he didn't!!"
He adds, "When they guys in MOTT THE HOOPLE made it known they wanted me involved somehow in their run of reunion shows, I was extremely flattered. They know I've been a fan forever, so I guess it's their way of acknowledging that".
As for the setlist, all Joe will say is that it will feature songs that the guys in MOTT THE HOOPLE were involved with AFTER they split up, so expect songs from the back catalogue of Ian Hunter, MOTT and BRITISH LIONS. "There won't be any LEPPARD or QUIREBOYS stuff at all! I'm doing this for that legion of MOTT THE HOOPLE fans who followed them after they broke up, so it all ties in nicely together."
As for how the QUIREBOYS got to be involved, Joe says, "I know Paul Guerin (guitar) from his days playing with Ricky Warwick, and I know the boys are BIG HOOPLE fans, so when someone put us in touch again, I knew it would be the perfect partnership and a great way to get in to see MOTT THE HOOPLE for free!!"
Furthermore, Joe will be special guest vocalist this upcoming Saturday (September 19) with CHEAP TRICK at their "Sgt. Pepper Live" extravaganza at the Las Vegas Hilton. Which song Joe will sing is a well guarded secret, but he says of the experience, "I'm really looking forward to jumping up with the guys and lending my love to two of my favorite bands…. it'll be a complete blast!!!"
Metallus Maximus recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metallus Maximus: "Endgame"'s production is easily the best to ever grace a MEGADETH album. On a personal level, how was it to work with Andy Sneap again?
Drover: For me, it was great working with Andy. He is all about the metal just as I am, so we were all on the same page in terms of what we wanted to achieve, both sonically and musically. Andy loves to work in the studio and be creative, as do I, so the overall vibe for me was very good. Plus, the both of us have the same ultra-stupid humor, which adds to the overall mood of the project. If you're in a good mind-frame and look forward to going into the studio each day, that is a good thing, if you ask me.
Metallus Maximus: You share a writing credit with Dave [Mustaine] for "Head Crusher", the first single and one of the heaviest tracks on the album, can you give some details on how the song came about?
Drover: I had a bunch of guitar riffs I had written going into this record, as Dave always wants to hear what we have in terms of potential riffs that could work for a song. Dave had some meetings in L.A. so he told me that if I had ideas for a song, go ahead and record them so he could hear them when he got back the next day. I wrote and recorded guitars, bass and drums for the song in three hours, so Dave could hear a studio-quality song, instead of submitting a poor-quality-sounding demo that I did at home. So, naturally, I wanted to seize the opportunity, and I did. He liked about 50% of it, so he changed the chorus and middle section of the song, re-arranged a few parts, and made the song even better. "Head Crusher" is the end result and I am really proud and happy it made it on the record.
Metallus Maximus: After playing for so many years with your brother Glen, how hard was it to see him leave [MEGADETH] and have to build a new chemistry with guitarist Chris Broderick?
Drover: It was very hard on me and I did everything to try to change his mind and stay, until I realized it was the right thing to do at the time, as his son was very young and it was taking a toll on Glen to be gone on tour for so long being away from him. Once I supported his decision, we had to get another guitar player to take Glen's place, which was not easy, as this is an extremely tough gig on guitar, and also recommending a new guitar player who wasn't full of his own ego, or an alcoholic crackhead who likes to snort his own socks, so the list was very, very short. Between Glen, myself and Glen's guitar tech (now Dave's guitar tech) Willie Gee, we decided that Chris was the best choice to recommend to Dave and management. The transition was smooth and without incident, so I guess it worked out well.
Metallus Maximus: Speaking of touring, how was it to tour with SLAYER? Did you actually talk to any of the guys despite the tension between Dave and Kerry [King] that seem blown out of proportion by certain gossip-oriented metal sites?
Drover: I enjoyed the Canadian Carnage shows with SLAYER a lot. I met and talked to all of them and they were very cool to me. I think a lot of this perpetuated stuff comes from journalists who haven't done their homework in knowing that both bands have a new record coming out, etc., so some of them resort to asking the same, redundant questions. For me, a new record and tour should be the focus, so I don't pay any mind to any of that other crap. Bottom line is that we are all here to entertain people and musically kick their asses, so I am glad to be a part of this.
Metallus Maximus: What are your thoughts on a possible tour of the "Big Four" (METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX) as it has been speculated in the press recently?
Drover: You know, I read this rumor too, and I have no idea if this is true or not, but I think it would certainly be interesting. If it were to happen, I think it would be better to do sooner than later, before we are all walking out on stage with walking canes and wheelchairs. All the bands still can deliver in a live setting, so if this was actually true and were to happen, let's go on with it. From a heavy metal fans perspective, it could be one of the biggest events in metal history, but I guess we will just have to see if this is even true or not.
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, MEGADETH's new album, "Endgame", is on track to sell between 40,000 and 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
MEGADETH's previous album, "United Abominations", opened with around 54,000 copies to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was more than the 46,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "The System Has Failed" (which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and was a bit less than the 61,000 opening number of 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" (No. 16).
"Endgame" was recorded at MEGADETH's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character. The CD was helmed by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).
MEGADETH and SLAYER will team up for the Canadian Carnage East five-date tour in November. The trek kicks off on November 8 in Moncton, NB and wraps up in Toronto on November 13. The tour will feature MACHINE HEAD and SUICIDE SILENCE, and will see MEGADETH and SLAYER alternating the closing spot. Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 18 at 10:00 a.m. local time.
MEGADETH and SLAYER laid waste to four Canadian cities earlier in June when they joined up for the first Canadian Carnage, marking the first time the bands had shared a stage anywhere in 18 years.
Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN ), Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE), Joe Perry (AEROSMITH) and Rob Zombie are among the musicians who will join VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash for Mirage hotel's 20th anniversary concert bash on Friday, October 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show, which is being billed as "Slash & Friends", will feature appearances by the following artists:
Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN)
Rocco Deluca (THE BURDEN)
Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE)
Courtney Love (HOLE)
Rick Nielsen (CHEAP TRICK)
Joe Perry (AEROSMITH)
Nicole Scherzinger (PUSSYCAT DOLLS)
Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER)
Rob Zombie
Opening act: BILLY BOY ON POISON
Hosted by: Kiefer Sutherland
VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has penned the latest installment of his weekly column, which appears every Thursday on Reverb at SeattleWeekly.com. An excerpt follows below.
"A couple of months back, I wrote that I was going to test little bits and pieces of a potential book I may write. If I do enough of these tests, who knows? I may just have the start of a larger work. To make things coherent and in context, I will present things here in a broader sense. Think of it as an outline. Here goes another installment.
"The memories I have of the mid-to-late-'80s Hollywood rock scene do not necessarily include bands that may pop into one's mind. My band, GUNS N' ROSES, and the close network of friends that we kept, were a ragtag bunch of outcasts that remained rather insulated and kept to ourselves during this period. We had little in common with the popular L.A. bands then. Though parts of this story may seem a bit dark, this period of my life was one of the funnest and most profound. It also contained many strong elements of a young man's rite of passage, including a loss of innocence in many respects and facing mortality as a result of losing close friends to overdoses. Maybe not the usual rites of passage, but at the time these life hurdles seemed normal.
"I packed my bags and cut my ties with my hometown of Seattle in September 1984. The idea of driving to New York in my beat-up 1971 Ford Maverick became moot as soon as I realized that, on a budget of $360, the East Coast was just too far away. I decided Los Angeles was a safer place for me than the heroin-infested punk scene of the Pacific Northwest. I was badly mistaken."
Former Motley Crue lead singer John Corabi will headline a benefit concert Oct. 2 for a Burlington girl with celebral palsy.
Organizers hope to raise $8,100 for an overhead track system in the Mark and Kim Edwards home.
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The track will relieve the burden of having to physically lift the Edwards' 14-year-old daughter, Brooke, to place her in a wheelchair, so she can move her about the house.
Brooke has the most severe form of cerebral palsy, spastic quadriplegia. She is unable to walk, talk or communicate. Brooke is completely dependent upon her parents for every aspect of her day-to-day life.
In addition to Corabi, the Gibbs Brothers, the Sean Costanza Band and Rivertown will play at the event, set for 5 to 11 p.m. at Whitey's Bar & Grill, 2601 Madison Ave.
There also will be live and silent auctions, in which donations will be auctioned to raise the needed funds. There will be a hog roast and drinks sponsored by Fleck Sales.
The average lifetime cost of cerebral palsy, for a single child, is $921,000, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes. That does not include hospital visits, emergency room visits, residential care and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Karagiannidis Panagiotis of Metalpaths recently conducted an interview with W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Metalpaths: So let's start with the new [W.A.S.P.] album ["Babylon"], of course. What we have here is once more a concept album, right? Would you like to share with us a few things about the album?
Blackie: Well, it's not a concept album. It all started with "Babylon's Burning", the first song I wrote for the record, and that's really why I called it "Babylon", but, it really started when I was watching TV about a year ago and I saw some of the leaders from the European Union and from the other countries around the world talking about this global financial crisis we're going through, and they were talking about maybe it was time for a one world government and a one-world system, maybe a one-world currency, and I thought to myself, I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I thought, "Do these guys understand what they're talking about here?" It's like they've been reading the Bible, because they're talking about Bible prophecy here. So I went back and I started reading Revelation and the Bible and other places in the Bible are talking about the prophecy and I was amazed to how accurate the prediction, the prophecy and the Bible was, talking about a
one-world system and a one-world government. I heard just recently one of the leaders in Brussels say that they believe that by the year 2018 they could have everyone in the European Union microchipped. Now, you understand what that means, right? It's very, very scary, and I thought to myself, "These guys are talking about having people microchipped", and I'm thinking "Do they understand what they're saying?" I mean, what they're talking about, this is potentially 666! So really that's where the idea of Babylon came from.
Metalpaths: So the album is not based in Apocalypse, as I thought?
Blackie: No, it's not a concept, but the whole idea of a potential one-world government, but that's only one song in the album. There's other songs like "Crazy", which when you listen to "Crazy", it sounds like a man talking to a woman, but in reality, what I'm saying is it's more of a performer talking to the audience, the performer saying, hey, it's OK to admire what I'm doing but if it gets to be too much and it becomes idol worship, this is what happened to Elvis Presley, this is what happened to Michael Jackson, it's what happened to Kurt Cobain, you end up, the audience ends up, you end up killing these people! Because they all commit suicide, because when they get so big, life has no meaning anymore. And that's what fame does, because fame can be a very destructive thing. I've known a lot of people in this business, and they got very big and it destroyed a lot of them, so it's very, very dangerous when the audience starts putting the performers on
a level that is too high.
Metalpaths: And what about the cover of the album? I thought that it's referring to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Blackie: That's part of the idea of "Babylon's Burning". You know, I wrote about this twenty years ago, when I did "Headless Children". There is a line in "Headless Children" that says, "Four horsemen sit high up in the saddle and waiting and ride the bloody trail of no return." So, really, I'm revisiting the idea of what that was, because when I heard these European Union leaders talking about a year ago, it made me think about that and I thought, "Are we closer to that Apocalypse now than we were twenty years ago?" And from the things they're saying it seems that we may be, because what they were saying was really frightening! When governments get too big, they have too much power over people, and I understand the European Union and all that, but I think Greece was doing fine on its own; I don't think Greece needed the EU, I don't think Germany needed the EU. It's kind of like America, it's the United States of America. Well, when you look at our
constitution, the only thing that the federal government was ever supposed to do was to create army and print money; that's what all the government was ever supposed to do. But the problem is when the federal government gets bigger and bigger and bigger, you lose freedom every day! So that's, really, a lot of what I'm trying to say here.
"Here Waits Thy Doom", the new album from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. (Note: Internet/digital sales **ARE** included in the SoundScan totals.) The CD landed at position No. 8 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.
3 INCHES OF BLOOD's previous album, "Fire Up The Blades", opened with 5,300 copies to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 147.
"Here Waits Thy Doom" was released on September 8 via Century Media Records (August 31 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Seattle's London Bridge Studios with renowned producer Jack Endino (HIGH ON FIRE).
3 INCHES OF BLOOD recently shot a video for the song "Battles and Brotherhood" with producer/director Rick Podd, who has worked on such movies as "The Watcher" and "Hellraiser". The band also performed a very special headlining, one-off CD-release show at The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on September 9.
3 INCHES OF BLOOD guitarist Shane Clark previously stated about the band's new CD, "Much like our last record, it is a step beyond the album that precedes it. We've again taken what we do a step further and not made 'Fire up the Blades Part 2', we've stuck to our formula — no formula. We are true metal fans and we've made an unapologetic metal record. I think this our most focused record to date, from writing all the way to mixing there was no unnecessary drama or too many cooks in the kitchen. This is 3 INCHES OF BLOOD at its most punishing, epic and mighty."
The Pulse of Radio reports: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will play a hometown record release party on Friday night (September 18) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, as the band prepares for next Tuesday's (September 22) arrival of its sophomore album, "War Is The Answer". The group has also revealed that the deluxe edition of the new disc will include a bonus DVD, a locker-sized poster, a decal, special digipak artwork, two bonus tracks, and a fan club membership.
Meanwhile the video for the album's first single, "Hard To See", has surfaced online (see below). Founding guitarist Zoltan Bathory and new axeman Jason Hook told The Pulse of Radio that they picked the video concept just to make life hard for singer Ivan Moody. "When we shot the video for this particular song, you know, we were getting the treatments from all kind of directors, right?" Bathory said. "So we were reading all the treatments and one of the treatments started with, like, 'The lead singer gets hit with a shovel and falls in a grave,' and we were pretty much..." Hook, added, "Sold, sold, we'll go with this one." Bathory continued, "'This is the one!' (laughs) To tell you the truth, I don't really know what that video is about, I still don't really understand, but he did get hit with a shovel, so..." Hook said, "So we're like, 'Good.'"
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's 2007 debut, "The Way Of The Fist", has sold over 350,000 copies.
The band will begin "The Shock And Roar Tour" next Tuesday in San Francisco, finishing up sometime in early November. Joining them on the bill will be SHADOWS FALL, OTEP and 2 CENTS.
Direct Metal Music recently conducted an interview with vocalist Brian Fair of New England metallers SHADOWS FALL. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
Direct Metal Music : On [the new SHADOWS FALL song] "King Of Nothing", Randy Blythe from LAMB OF GOD joins you guys. How did that come about?
Brian Fair: We've known Randy since pretty much the beginning of both bands, really. We even played with his old band, BURN THE PRIEST, which was LAMB OF GOD before they were LAMB OF GOD. So, we've just been friends; we go way back. We recorded the vocals together in Virginia, pretty close to where he lives. So he came down to cook us dinner one night. He made a veal marsala for the non-vegetarians and a tofu marsala for myself. And while we were there, we were like, "Ya gotta sing," ya know? "You can't just make dinner and leave." So, we had him sing a couple lines on that one song since that's what we were working on that day and it just worked out perfect. We had sung together before live on stage, but it was really cool to hear him in the studio on a SHADOWS FALL song. That was our first guest appearance ever, so it was pretty cool that it was him.
Direct Metal Music: This is also the first album that you are on your own label, Everblack. How does that compare with working with such a major label like Atlantic, and Century Media before that?
Brian Fair: Yeah, it was kinda the perfect transition, because it's kind of a unique situation that hopefully a lot of bands will start looking into. We are basically still with Warner on a distribution level. So we stayed with the major label for actually distributing the CD, but we retained all the ownership of the album and make every business decision on our own as far as where money is spent for promotion, video, and all the little stuff that before the label would take care of. But we know how we work and we wanted to be able to call the shots on that stuff, but we still wanted the power of a major label to get it into stores and all that. And then they [Atlantic] hired Ferret Records out of their share to do the day-to-day promotion and all that. So, it's kind of the best of both worlds — major label distributor, independent label doing the day to day work, but every decision is made final by the band. I know some other bands that are doing a
similar type of thing. DOWN did it on their most recent record, and I think it's pretty cool. As the music industry changes, a lot of bands are looking for ways to try and be able to control as much as they can. Now that you can connect with your audience on such a personal level through social networking sites and just being on the road, you might as well just make the label the label that way, too, and take back everything.
Direct Metal Music: So would you say you weren't pleased with your last album, "Threads of Life"? That was your only release with a major, and also your only album that Zeuss didn't produce. Did you feel pressure from Atlantic to make a slicker-sounding album?
Brian Fair: We were really psyched about the last record. The people at Atlantic were great it was just that things changed so quickly that within one year most of the staff that we signed on with were gone. So that made it kind of easier to leave as well. We had just signed a one-album deal with the option for another one and then we just felt it would be better to restructure it and work on our own distribution deal that we did.
Direct Metal Music: Right, but "Threads of Life" did have a recognizably different sound from your earlier albums. Would you say that was from getting a new producer [Nick Raskulinecz] and pressure from Atlantic?
Brian Fair: No, it was really just where we were out. As far as the label having any influence, they didn't even hear the record until it was finished. So at that point it was too late for them to put any input into it. We made the record we wanted to make. And yeah, it had some more melodic moments in it than some of the past albums, but we always had even acoustic ballad moments going back all the way to our first album, so it was just pushing those ideas a little bit further. And me and Zeuss mixed that album, so Zeuss still had input in that one, too. It was just a matter of that being where we were at the time. We had just come off tour with IRON MAIDEN, so we were coming straight out of that more melodic vein of metal. The new album is a little more aggressive, a little more uptempo, but it still has some of those melodic moments also.
MTUK Metal 'Zine recently conducted an interview with German heavy metal legend Udo Dirkschneider (ACCEPT, U.D.O.). A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: [The new U.D.O. album] "Dominator" was again produced, mixed and mastered by Stefan Kaufmann (guitars). You obviously like working with him on both sides of the studio. How do you think his approach differs from previous producers?
Udo: [Laughs] Yes, I do. Oh, you know, he has been doing my vocals since 1982, so he knows me very well! We are in a very good situation; Stefan has his own studio so we don't have to book anything. Also he can record me someday and say to me, "Today is not a good atmosphere, let's record another day." So we can then have a glass of wine or something and talk about the recording. It's a very lucky situation. But on the other hand, I can never be my own producer. I need somebody to tell that this was right, this was wrong, change this, add more range here etc.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: What does he bring to your sound?
Udo: Honesty, you know, he will sometimes say, "Come on, you're an assehole. This was completely wrong," which is good for me, because he knows I can do things better. So we have had a long time together, so far we have never felt that we have to use a producer or something like that.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: The production on the album is both classic metal-sounding but with a very modern edge.
Udo: We were all going back to our roots, and on the other hand, the mix was good. This album was recorded digitally for the first time; Stefan got all-new equipment because the older equipment broke down completely, so it was all stripped out and replaced.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: Did you do anything different during this recording process to, say, that of "Mastercutor"?
Udo: The only thing really different is that we took more time with this album. We started working on this album in June 2008 and we always thought first with the lyrics and the melody. That I feel is the best way to do things, I always have. Once we had done the lyrics, we had a holiday in the summer and then we started rocking again. So then to June this year, we had finished the recording.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: Do you write everything yourself on the album, or do the other guys have input?
Udo: We usually have the vocal or the melody and work from there. It's a group thing. Let's just say that not everyone can write songs. But on "Dominator", two songs — "The Bogeyman" and "Mistress in the Dark" — maybe 60%-70% was written by our bass player (Fitty Wienhold). But it doesn't matter that people can write or cannot write. When you have all these songs that you want to record, the whole band thing. Igor (guitar) came up with most of the leads on this album, but then he would also change the arrangement, the vocals and really it's a group thing.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: Thanks for not reforming with ACCEPT again this year! What was your reason for this? Why the original reunion in 2005?
Udo: In 2005, we only did songs up to the "Russian Roulette" album. I think, for me, I did this because I wanted to see if there was any chemistry between us again to maybe go forward and write more albums. I have no problem in saying there was, and is, nothing left musically between me and ACCEPT. I mean, I still talk to the guys, which is good, but nothing musically. I had a lot of fun, but I felt that it just did not work. The decider for me was one day I played Bang Your Head!!! [festival in Germany] with U.D.O. and the next day Graspop [Metal Meeting in Belgium] with ACCEPT, and then I knew which band to choose. I did these all of these festivals with ACCEPT, but in reality, I was not looking for a reunion. A lot of people were asking the original lineup to play, so I did this. And more recently, I got a call to ask if I was interested. Of course, I was, but I laid some terms down. Unfortunately, they would not meet those terms, so I had to say no.
Then two weeks later, they announced a new lineup and singer. Come on — in two weeks?! They must have already had a plan B in action. I did not want to just do one album and a tour, I wanted more than that, but that is that. I could not risk losing U.D.O., as I think this is a great band.
MTUK Metal 'Zine: If you were not a musician, what do you think you would have done as a day-to-day job?
Udo: Ah, that is easy. My parents owned a factory in Germany that makes tools. But I really have to say thank you very much to my parents; they were very supportive and checking that I was happy and doing the right thing as parents do, but in a way without that and them, I don't think it would be so easy. Of course, money-wise and time-wise, it was easier than for most. When you work for your parents, you tend to take more time than is usual for leisure time.
Southern California's heavy fuzz rock legends FU MANCHU will launch the first leg of its U.S. "Signs of Infinite Power" headlining tour on October 20 in San Jose. Support on the trek will come from by North Carolina's ASG and the Los Angeles duo IT'S CASUAL. The band is expected to announce a separate, second U.S. leg imminently.
The dates are as follows:
Oct. 20 - San Jose, CA - The Blank Club
Oct. 21 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
Oct. 23 - Portland, OR - Dante's
Oct. 24 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
Oct. 26 - Salt Lake City, UT - Club Vegas
Oct. 28 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
Oct. 30 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
Oct. 31 - Chicago, IL - Double Door
Nov. 02 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot
Nov. 04 - Dallas, TX - The Door
Nov. 05 - Houston, TX - Red Room
Nov. 06 - Austin, TX - Red Seven
Nov. 08 - Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad
Nov. 11 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
FU MANCHU will release its eleventh full-length album, "Signs of Infinite Power", on October 20, 2009 via Century Media Records.
Recorded at Maple Studios in Santa Ana, California by the band and producer Sergio Chavez (MOTÖRHEAD, HELMET) and mixed by Andrew Alekel (FOO FIGHTERS, DANZIG), "Signs of Infinite Power" could well be dubbed "a reawakening" of FU MANCHU as the record delivers monstrous doses of the group's punk energy, hard rock drive and psychedelic crunch in spades. From the instant the album's lead track "Bionic Astronautics" soars from the speakers, it is undeniably evident that FU MANCHU is as primed and hungry as ever before. The record holds the sound of a band rocking purely for the sheer joy of rocking; amps cranked to 11 and revved to maximum overdrive.
"Signs of Infinite Power" track listing:
01. Bionic Astronautics
02. Steel.Beast.Defeated
03. Against the Ground
04. Webfoot Witch Hat
05. El Busta
06. Signs of Infinite Power
07. Eyes x 10
08. Gargantuan March
09. Take It Away
10. One Step Too Far
"We're stoked to unleash 'Signs of Infinite Power' because we feel that it's the best record that we've ever made," states FU MANCHU vocalist/guitarist Scott Hill. "We're can't believe that we're going into our twentieth year as a band. The excitement and energy levels that we're feeling right now are as high as they've ever been."
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, FU MANCHU has a number of very special events planned for 2010. The band will unveil a host of plans that include rolling out both one-of-a-kind live events and extra special vinyl releases. Additionally, the VIRULENCE (pre-FU MANCHU) recordings will be remastered and packaged with the band's "1985-87 demos" and both live songs and video footage from 1987-89 under the title "If This Isn't A Dream…1985-1989". The package will be made available on both CD and LP and is slated for a winter 2009 release via Southern Lord Records.
Originally formed in 1985 as a BLACK FLAG-influenced hardcore punk band called VIRULENCE, FU MANCHU has since become one of hard rock's most celebrated names. The band released its first single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990 and in the years following, helped give rise to a celebrated style of heavy music tagged "stoner rock" alongside peers such as KYUSS, MONSTER MAGNET and SLEEP. Since its inception, the quartet has built itself a fanatical army of loyal enthusiasts all drawn to the group's ridiculously catchy, unpretentious music, guitar-driven sound and carefree lyrics centered on "old muscle cars, choppers, vans, skateboarding and science fiction."
FU MANCHU's most recent album, "We Must Obey", was released in February 2007 via Century Media/Liquor and Poker. The CD was recorded at Hollywood's Grandmaster Recorders studio (TOOL, NINE INCH NAILS, BLACK CROWES). Finishing touches were added by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering (VELVET REVOLVER, PENNYWISE, REV. HORTON HEAT).
In addition to the songs "Hung Out To Dry" and "Between The Lines" — both also available on the limited-edition "Hung Out To Dry" EP — the album includes a cover of THE CARS classic "Moving In Stereo".
FU MANCHU's video for the song "Hung out to Dry" can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in Los Angeles with director Lucas Heyne (MASTER P, TSAR, SWITCHFOOT).
THE COMPANY BAND — featuring vocalist Neil Fallon (CLUTCH), drummer Jess Margera (CKY), guitarists Jim Rota (FIREBALL MINISTRY) and Dave Bone with bassist Brad Davis (FU MANCHU) — will release their full-length debut on November 10 via Restricted Release. The self-titled effort was recorded earlier this year in Los Angeles and teamed the band with renowned producer/engineer Andrew Alekel (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, FOO FIGHTERS). A special digital-only single will precede the full-length CD, featuring the album track "It's A Confusing World" with an exclusive cover of BTO's "Not Fragile". The single will be available for download via various digital service providers in early October.
"It was pretty awesome to get everyone into a studio together and make this record," reveals Margera of the album's recording process. "I never thought it would happen given that everyone has insanely crazy touring schedules. But, sure enough, the results turned out amazing."
He adds, "It was a strange reality for me, personally, as I am a huge fan of FIREBALL MINISTRY, CLUTCH and FU MANCHU. So to be in a room playing drums with members of all those bands was kind of unbelievable."
"It's not very often that one gets to write and play music with people that they respect as well consider family," says Jim Rota. "This band is a dream come true."
"Good times and great friends made this music that we are proud to bring you," adds Dave Bone. "So pick up your balls and load up your cannons for the 21 gun salute!"
Founded by Margera, Rota and Bone in 2006, THE COMPANY BAND originally got together to jam among friends. Their initial recordings were laid down for the band's 2008's mini-album "Sign Here, Here, And Here". It quickly sold through its limited pressing and has continued to be a popular digital seller via CDBaby.com and others since release. Restricted Release has now pressed it on a special 10-inch available now exclusively through the label's Amazon store. The vinyl pressing features exclusive artwork and is hand-numbered; limited to 1,000 copies.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thecoband.
SCUM OF THE EARTH, the band featuring former ROB ZOMBIE guitarist Riggs, has scheduled the following dates:
Oct. 30 - The Back Bar - Janesville, WI
Oct. 31 - McGuffy's House of Rock - Dayton, OH
Nov. 01 - Annies Entertainment Complex - Cincinnati, OH
SCUM OF THE EARTH's latest CD, "Sleaze Freak", was released on October 23, 2007. The explicit (PA) version of the album was made available at most retailers containing an added DVD video. The DVD consists of footage filmed while recording and mixing the album documenting the recording and mixing process and many hijinks of the band around town, in the studio, and on the road.
SCUM OF THE EARTH's first studio album of all-new material since the critically-acclaimed debut "Blah…Blah…Blah…Love Songs For The New Millennium" (2004), "Sleaze Freak" contains 13 brand new songs described by Riggs as "heavy-as-hell grinding, stripper-rock." "It's a much more intense collection of material than 'Blah…Blah…Blah…'" said Riggs. "We did everything we wanted to do this time around, which allowed us to really embody the whole red-light-district sleazy vibe into the material."
Los Angeles traditional metal heroes WHITE WIZZARD putting the finishing touches on the as-yet-untitled full-length follow-up to the "High Speed GTO" mini-album with producer Ralph Patlan (MEGADETH, UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER). According to WHITE WIZZARD bassist Jon Leon, the new CD will contain "10 songs that will rip your head off. The screaming demon (singer, Wyatt Anderson) just finished his vocal tracks and he did an amazing job."
He added, "We are taking a week off and then next week we will go to mix.
"We will be mixing the record at legendary Prairie Sun Recording in Northern California.
"I cannot wait until this record is released, expecting to have it out in early 2010 and then we will tour like mad. We are all excited for next year."
Early versions of two songs that are expected to appear on WHITE WIZZARD's 2010 album — "40 Deuces" and "Over The Top" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
WHITE WIZZARD formed in 2007 and shortly afterwards recorded its "High Speed GTO" demo, which only made it into the hands of a few select fans. Following a brief period of inactivity, the demo fell into the hands of Earache Records and the "High Speed GTO" song was included on "Heavy Metal Killers", a compilation featuring 13 tracks from the best new traditional-sounding heavy metal bands. Earache Records released the "High Speed GTO" tracks as a mini-album this summer.
"High Speed GTO", the debut music video from WHITE WIZZARD, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Dave Vorhes for Airborne Pancake Productions.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/whitewizzard.
LAMB OF GOD and JOB FOR A COWBOY will join forces for a European tour in February/March 2010. Confirmed dates are as follows:
Feb. 09 - Birmingham (UK) - Academy
Feb. 10 - Newcastle (UK) - Academy
Feb. 11 - Glasgow (UK) - Barrowlands
Feb. 12 - Manchester (UK) - Academy
Feb. 13 - London (UK) - Brixton Academy
Feb. 15 - Paris (France) - Batclan
Feb. 16 - Brussels (Belgium) - AB
Feb. 17 - Amsterdam (Holland) - Melkweg
Feb. 18 - Köln (Germany) - Live Music Hall
Feb. 19 - Stuttgart (Germany) - Zapata
Feb. 21 - Bologna (Italy) - Estragon
Feb. 22 - Milan (Italy) - Alcatraz
Feb. 23 - Rome (Italy) - Alpheus
Feb. 25 - Vienna (Austria) - Arena
Feb. 26 - Zurich (Switzerland) - Volkshaus
Feb. 27 - Munich (Germany) - Backstage Werk
Feb. 28 - Wiesbaden (Germany) - Schlachthof
Mar. 02 - Berlin (Germany) - Columbia Club
Mar. 03 - Hamburg (Germany) - Grosse Freiheit
Mar. 04 - Copenhagen (Denmark) - Vega
Mar. 05 - Stockholm (Sweden) - Klubben
Mar. 06 - Umea (Sweden) - House of Metal Festival
Mar. 08 - Helsinki (Finland) - House of Cultre
Mar. 10 - Oslo (Norway) - Centrum Scene
Mar. 11 - Gothenburg (Sweden) - Tragarn
Mar. 12 - Lund (Sweden) - Mejeriet
GOD FORBID guitarist Doc Coyle is filling in for LAMB OF GOD's Mark Morton on the Richmond, Virginia metal band's current U.S. tour with METALLICA (as well as LOG's headlining "off" dates), which kicked off on September 14 in Nashville and will conclude on November 15 in New York City.
Morton did not perform with LAMB OF GOD at the last six shows of the group's summer European tour as his wife was expecting a baby. UNEARTH six-stringer Buz McGrath stepped in for these dates, which included an appearance at U.K.'s Sonisphere festival.
QUEENSRŸCHE — who have been touring since late March in support of their newest effort, "American Soldier" (Atco/Rhino) — will be taking The Queen of Heavy Metal, Lita Ford, on the road with them for over two dozen dates beginning October 15.
Ford will hit the stage during the QUEENSRŸCHE set to perform three songs including her Top 10 Billboard hit (performed with Ozzy Osbourne) "Close My Eyes Forever", which she will duet with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate.
For all songs, Lita will be backed by QUEENSRŸCHE — Geoff Tate on vocals, Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren on guitars, Eddie Jackson on bass and Scott Rockenfield on drums.
"We're elated to have Lita Ford performing with us," comments Geoff Tate. "I have been a fan of Lita's as long as I can remember and look forward to the upcoming tour with her."
The feeling is mutual as Lita comments, "I'm so excited about how we're doing this tour. It's a really cool way to do a show. I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing my fans again as well as meeting QUEENSRŸCHE's fans. It should be a real fun time for all."
Earlier this month, the video for QUEENSRŸCHE's new single, "Home Again", made its worldwide debut on Military.com (the largest military and veteran membership organization) and can now be seen on the band's official web site. The video features photos submitted by service members from all over the world.
As for the song, itself, it's become a fan favorite along the tour. Performed by Geoff Tate and his 11-year-old daughter Emily, "Home Again" examines the emotional toll of war from two perspectives — Geoff singing from the soldier's point of view and Emily singing the point of view of the child left behind.
Prior to the performances with Lita Ford, QUEENSRŸCHE will be joining CHICKENFOOT (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Chad Smith) beginning Friday, September 25, for three consecutive California performances in Berkeley, Valley Center and Universal City, respectively.
Also on the QUEENSRŸCHE horizon is the forthcoming ShipRocked Cruise, which sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida (to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman) on November 15 for a five-day music festival on the sea. Those on the cruise will have an opportunity to be a part of a private QUEENSRŸCHE-hosted wine gathering and drink Geoff Tate's wine, Insania. For an advance donation of $20, fans will have access to the special onboard event. All proceeds of the wine party will benefit the National Military Family Association, an organization that QUEENSRŸCHE has been involved with since the inception of "American Soldier".
Swedish metallers CLOUDSCAPE have issued the following update:
"CLOUDSCAPE will visit ProgPower Europe [festival] in Baarlo (The Netherlands) to perform live on Friday, October 2. They will perform a setlist with a running time around 75 minutes and this is the second time CLOUDSCAPE will perform live at ProgPower Europe. The first time was in 2005 and that gig was the first gig CLOUDSCAPE did outside of Sweden so, they are really happy to be back on stage at venue Sjiwa (Baarlo). Björn Eliasson (guitar) has recovered from his injuries so, it will be a 100% complete CLOUDSCAPE that will enter the stage on October 2."
ProgPower Europe final festival billing:
AKPHAEZYA
ANDROMEDA
CHAOS DIVINE
CIRRHA NIVA
CLOUDSCAPE
ENOCHIAN THEORY
EVERGREY
HACRIDE
KNIGHT AREA
NAHEMAH
NEVERLAND
PROSPECT
SEVENTH WONDER
VANITY
For more information, visit www.progpower.eu.
Finnish progressive death metallers PRESSURE POINTS have inked a deal with Firebox Records. The band's full-length debut, "Remorses To Remember", will be released in January/February 2010.
Formed in 2004, PRESSURE POINTS has released two demos and played over 50 gigs. Drummer Vili Auvinen states, "There are lots of elements in our music . We have not limited it to certain boundaries or borders. We are just being honest to ourselves — you cannot go terribly wrong by doing what feels right. This way music should feel genuine, not superficial. We do not have to think about making compromises in our work because almost everything fits in. The toughest part is to make it whole and intertwined. However, metal is where it all begins and it is the most recognizable style in our music."
PRESSURE POINTS is:
Kari Olli - Vocals, Guitar
Juho Suortti - Guitar
Janne Parikka - Bass
Vili Auvinen - Drums
Veli-Matti Kyllönen - Keyboards
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/pressurepointsband.
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