Friday.
Garry Sharpe-Young, 45, events business development manager at the New Plymouth
District Council died after suffering an aneurism.
The Taranaki Daily News understands council staff became concerned when they
couldn't find Mr Sharpe-Young for a meeting and went to his home where they
found him dead. The council later released a statement saying he died from an
aneurism, or a burst artery.
His death cast a pall over the weekend for his council colleagues, many of whom
were involved in organising Womad.
Mr Sharpe-Young is credited with bringing in top line international acts and
revolutionising Taranaki as a leading events centre in New Zealand.
He joined the district council in September 2008 after two years at Venture
Taranaki.
In both organisations he secured major events for the district including TSB
Bowl performances by Sir Elton John, Jack Johnson, Fleetwood Mac, and Cliff
Richard and the Shadows, as well as TSB Stadium concerts by Motorhead, the Beach
Boys and Westlife.
Mr Sharpe-Young was the founder of G-Taranaki, the guitar festival launched in
July 2008. The festival was to take place again in August 11-15 this year with
the rumoured headline act of Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash.
"G-Taranaki was Garry's baby," Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle
said.
"He started it from scratch and convinced some of the world's best guitarists to
travel to Taranaki and take part.
Mr Sharpe-Young was in the middle of securing several big acts for the region
for next summer.
Council chief executive Barbara McKerrow said Mr Sharpe-Young was a valued
colleague and a talented individual with a passion for his work.
"This is a loss for the community and we will miss him terribly," she said.
"Our challenge now will be to build on the legacy of Garry's achievements. We
are fortunate to have a world-class venues and events team able to carry on his
work." She said everyone at the council was deeply shocked and saddened by his
death.
Mr Sharpe-Young leaves his wife Grace-Anne and children Kerr, Krystan-Grace and
Kjaric-Grace.
"Garry absolutely loved New Zealand and Taranaki, and worked tirelessly to raise
the profile of our region nationally and internationally," Mayor Peter Tennent
said.
"He achieved astounding success in attracting some of the world's best known
performers to our little corner of the world. This place is the better for his
contribution."
Ad Feedback A service to celebrate Mr Sharpe-Young's life will be held at the
TSB Bowl of Brooklands tomorrow at 2pm.
SHARPE-YOUNG LIVED FOR MUSIC
Garry Sharpe-Young was a man who knew his music.
He not only brought several great acts to Taranaki in his role as the events
business development manager at the New Plymouth District Council, but he also
penned nearly 20 books on heavy metal music and interviewed some of the best in
the business.
Mr Sharpe-Young died suddenly at his home on Friday after suffering an aneurism.
The Englishman moved to Taranaki eight years ago with his wife and three
children in search of somewhere safe, clean and green.
The 45-year-old got into showbiz by accident when he was about 14 doing artwork
on album covers. Mr Sharpe-Young worked as a journalist for British, American
and German rock magazines, wrote music reference books, biographies for Ozzy
Osborne and Black Sabbath and set up the popular encyclopedic rock music website
Rockdetector.
While working as a journalist, Mr Sharpe-Young interviewed many of the major
bands around and would often travel overseas to interview artists such as Prince
and Metallica.
When he first arrived in the region he wrote a music column for the Taranaki
Daily News then moved on to Venture Taranaki and the New Plymouth District
Council, securing major events for the region.
His biggest coup was Fleetwood Mac, who performed at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands
in December to a sell-out crowd.
Mr Sharpe-Young was also the founder of G-Taranaki, the guitar festival launched
in July 2008.
In a recent interview Mr Sharpe-Young told the Taranaki Daily News one of his
biggest goals was putting Taranaki on the world stage as "the venue" for artists
to play.
"I love working with the people here, love Taranaki, I'm absolutely dedicated to
getting this venue on the map internationally and I love it."
Engineer Rich Tozzoli recently conducted an interview with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley for Premier Guitar. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Premier Guitar: One thing I noticed working with you was the strength of your rhythm playing. How did you develop such a solid feel?
Frehley: I was really inspired by Keith Richards, but even more so by Pete Townshend. I was such a huge fan when I was a kid, and I used to sit next to the record player and figure out every WHO song. What amazed me was the way Townshend did his multiple strums. Playing a lot of WHO music really helped develop my right hand, which helped with not only my rhythm technique but my leads, too. I remember also — though I haven't thought it about in years — I used to hang out with this crazy black dude when I was a kid. I was about 15 and he was 22 or so. We used to play in the veterans hospital on Kingsbridge Avenue in the Bronx. He loved the STONES, and I would go over there with him and a drummer, and he made me play the same song over and over for like half an hour! He'd dance and sing and go crazy to the point where my hand was falling off. We weren't getting paid. We were just trying to make these guys happy. Since I was the only guitar player, I
couldn't play a lot of lead, so by the end of the set my hands hurt. But I have to thank him for that, because he pushed me and it just made me a stronger, better guitar player.
Premier Guitar: You brought Anton Fig — who played drums on a lot of your early solo work — back for this album. Does playing with him help you play better?
Frehley: I met Anton around the time I was putting songs together for my first solo album when I was with KISS. He had only been in the country for a few years, because he'd grown up in Cape Town, South Africa, and had been around that amazing beat his whole life. Eddie Kramer heard his demos and asked if he wanted to work with me. Ironically, I had another friend, Larry Russell, who also heard Anton play and came to me independently and said he had a great drummer for me. To me, that's karma, so I jumped at the chance to jam with him. We've been close friends ever since. The greatest things about Anton are his fills and the space he leaves. He doesn't try to fill up everything, and I really like the fact that he plays slightly behind the beat, à la John Bonham. A lot of drummers play on the beat, and when they get excited and the adrenaline is pumping they play ahead of the beat, which gives some songs a nervous feel. I like to have a relaxed feel, and
Anton always holds the song back with a solid rhythm. Me and Anton have been playing so long together we almost have this telepathic communication, where I'll think something and he'll do it, or I'll just look at him and he'll know what I'm thinking. Things come together so quickly, and it's just a joy to work with him.
Premier Guitar: You used some of the players in your live band on the record as well, didn't you?
Frehley: Yes. When we first started tracking at Schoolhouse Studios, Anthony was a big part of putting this all together. I developed a lot of these songs with him. He's a real strong bass player and added a lot to these songs, as did Anton Fig. Then we moved up to Ace In The Hole Studios, and it was a whole different mix. Derek Hawkins, who plays guitar with me, helped a lot when we started tracking there. He helped me think through a lot of the parts, and he showed me the dropped-D tuning for "Outer Space". Derek also did the slide runs on that song, which sound great. He laid down the original bed track of that song and really helped with it. Scot Coogan, who also plays drums with me live, sang background on "Pain in the Neck". He really helped me with "Sister", which he also played drums on and sang on. Scotty is more of a live drummer, and he really bought that track up.
Premier Guitar: How was it working with different engineers on various parts of the record?
Frehley: The basic tracks were recorded at my live bassist Anthony Esposito's Schoolhouse Studios on 27th Street in New York. It's really live feeling in there, and Jay Messina did those tracks. Working with Jay is always great, because I've done so many projects with him, going back to "Destroyer" and so on. He always adds something with the way he mikes things, and his room miking technique with drums gives you more flexibility when you're mixing later on. So that was a great way to kick off the album. Then I moved everything up to my studio in New York, which is a different room sound, with different gear and so on. That's when I started working with you and Alex Salzman and Tim Hatfield. All of you guys added something special. When it came to tracking guitar solos, I thought working with you was probably the most exciting, because when I started playing great solos and getting great sounds it made you excited, which would make me more excited! It
was a good marriage there, and you kept pushing me to do more takes. Those were probably some of my best solos. Marti Frederiksen also mixed the record and did some engineering, in addition to playing bass and singing backgrounds on "Fox On The Run". He really helped the guitar parts breathe better. But everybody did a great job. I learned so much by watching you guys on Pro Tools. It's the best education I could have gotten. It's not only a good feeling to be more knowledgeable now, but it also helps me because now when I go into a studio with an engineer I've never worked with before, I know whether they're doing it right or not! When I think about editing, say back with Eddie Kramer and Bob Ezrin, it was all on two-inch tape. We'd have to slice the tape and put it back together to see if it worked. If it wasn't cut exactly where we wanted, we'd end up with little slices of tape all over the machine. It was such a nightmare. Now, it's amazing. I
really appreciate how great it is to edit with programs like Pro Tools.
"Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage" is the title of the long-awaited RUSH documentary produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn of Toronto, Ontario, Canada's Banger Films Inc. which will receive a red-carpet premier at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on Saturday, April 24. All three members of RUSH — singer/bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart — will be on hand for the event.
Singer Axl Rose stopped GUNS N' ROSES' concert last night (Saturday, March 13) at Estádio do Palmeiras in São Paulo, Brazil about two minutes into the show's opening number, "Chinese Democracy", after a member of the audience allegedly threw a bottle on stage. "Where's the little fuck over here?" Axl asked after he instructed his bandmates to stop playing. "C'mon, coward. You wanna fuck up the show for everybody? 'Cause I've got no problem — I will leave. We will all leave. You wanna play games? You can fuck yourself or we can have some fun. You guys wanna have fun? Then I don't need no little fucking pussies like we had the other night at that club. [Presumably referring to the incident Thursday night when an A-list crowd of Brazilian billionaires and supermodels rioted after waiting hours for GUNS N' ROSES to perform, and then learning Axl Rose and his band wouldn't play. — Ed.] You wanna fuck with me and my boys? We will leave."
Video footage of the incident is available below.
After that, GUNS N' ROSES resumed playing and the rest of the concert reportedly went off without a hitch.
GUNS N' ROSES began its 11-date South American tour last Sunday (March 7) in Brazil, with dates scheduled through April 1 in countries like Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia.
GUNS N' ROSES has recently played secret gigs in New York and London. The band's last South American appearance was in 2001.
GUNS N' ROSES frontman and sole original member Axl Rose has released the following statement via Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site where one can post messages longer than 140 characters:
"So I'm in the shower at the gig after r Sao Paulo show n' when I touch the faucet I get a jolt of electricity!! Wtf!! Time 2 get the fuck out da water!! Anyway! After a bunch of meds, about 2 1/2+ hrs of warmups, r show n' another hour of warmdowns we'll b headin' into Rio for r show there. This was hard comin' as all anyone bsides the band thinks about is the money. Who gives a fuck about the fans, how it sounds or if it fucks up the rest of the tour?! I don't perform for ANYONE in this industry n' no matter how nice, funny or what spin they put on things they're seemingly n' unfortunately all the same. We had a good show here in Sao Paulo n' a bunch of opportunists w/out my knowledge or consent did their best to make it about them b4 hand instead of the fans or there wouldn't have been shit in the Post but hey we got past 'em enough to do r gig. What's really crazy is these same types have the unmitigated gall to feel they're the ones who were taken
advantage of!! Fuck the bourgeoisie!! Of course that's not to say there weren't plenty in attendance the other nite who like us got duped as well but the others well... It's not for them or their kind (or stalkers or press agents etc.) It's for u. Thank you Sao Paulo!! Peace, Axl."
GUNS N' ROSES frontman and sole original member Axl Rose has released the following statement via Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site where one can post messages longer than 140 characters:
"ATTENTION: The March 14th GUNS N' ROSES show in Rio De Janeiro at Apoteose Stadium has been officially canceled for this evening due to the stage collapsing because of heavy rains. Stay tuned for more info and possible rescheduling information as we receive it. There is a possibility the show may be rescheduled for tomorrow night, March 15th or at a later date. There fortunately are no fatalities but there are injuries from both our camp and Rio crews the extent of which is not known at present. The Rio Fire Dept is evacuating crews out of the venue to avoid further injuries with the heavy rains and winds. Details are just coming in. Also a truck w/part of The Sebastian Bach Band's gear has rolled on the trip from Sao Paulo to Rio what is our understanding several times and we are awaiting details on the safety of the driver at this time. Thank you for your understanding and please be safe out there. Thank you. Axl Rose."
According to U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, METALLICA manager Peter Mensch has
revealed the band has some major plans for 2011.
"Let's just say that next year you will see a METALLICA tour that will blow your
mind. They will only play in 10 cities but it will be a huge undertaking. It
will be METALLICA's equivalent of 'The Wall'."
This revelation came up when Classic Rock writer Peter Makowski interviewed
Mensch for a feature about the most powerful men in rock and asked him to define
his role as a manager.
Mensch replied: "Coming up with ideas so that the lives shows are interesting.
Just shooting off dumb ideas and, by the way, between you and me, some of it is
recycling stuff that people did 25 years ago but no one's smart enough to know
that we recycled it.
"Saying something like: 'I have this idea for us to play an equivalent of 'The
Wall'. So here's some ideas so we can get the professionals in to they can tell
me if I'm crazy or not.' It's like plotting out a canvas so someone else can
fill it in."
Details magazine recently conducted an interview with STONE TEMPLE
PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland. A couple of excerpts from the
chat follow below.
Details: STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are releasing their first album in nine years this
June. Did you ever think of skipping the record and just doing the cash-grab
tour?
Weiland: We got back together and toured in 2008 and realized pretty quickly
that we were going to get burned-out playing the old songs every night. We have
just as much fun in the creative process as we do on the road â€" it's not like
when we were in our twenties and it was rock-and-roll hell on wheels.
Details: What does the new album sound like?
Weiland: We have a tendency to make a straightforward rock-and-roll record, then
try and spread our wings a bit. "Core" and "No. 4" were rock records â€" the
others had different touches. We went off the deep end with our last one, with
"Shangri-La Dee Da". Lived in a house in Malibu, had a film crew there. That
record caught people off guard. It was inspired by GRANDADDY and SPARKLEHOUSE
and the FLAMING LIPS. It sort of divided our audience a bit. The
meat-and-potatoes rock fans didn't really embrace it. Then we split. I prefer to
break new ground, but it gets harder and harder with the territory that's
already been walked on. We started doing demos and it became apparent that this
is a back-to-basics rock record. There's some stuff that deviates, like
"Cinnamon", which is THE BEATLES meets JOY DIVISION. It's a different sound for
us, but this is a STONE TEMPLE PILOTS rock record.
Details: You feuded with Axl Rose after you formed VELVET REVOLVER with his
former GUNS N' ROSES bandmates. Now that you've left that group less than
amicably, do you want to trade war stories with Axl?
Weiland: We came close to getting together one time. I had wondered if he was
the center of all their problems or if it was a mixed bag â€" and it was
definitely the latter. When VELVET REVOLVER first got together it was great. I
got to know the guys before: Met Duff [McKagan] at the gym, because he loves to
work out and I was obsessed with running. I was in rehab with Matt [Sorum]. I'd
only met Slash twice â€" he's not the most social person. We had all been
through the same experiences, and it felt like a gang. But everyone was a rock
star. There were petty jealousies. Then the wives got involved with the business
of the band, and that was the beginning of the downfall.
Is there anything Rob Zombie can't do? From music to television to movies, Zombie has proven himself to be a boundary-jumping entertainment juggernaut. In May, he returns to conquer comics with Rob Zombie Presents: Whatever Happened To Baron Von Shock? Zombie has concocted a delightfully depressing tale about the seduction of celebrity culture and its pitfalls. Baron Von Shock is illustrated by Donny Hadiwidjaja and Val Staples and published by Image Comics.
"This comic venture is very, very different in tone for me. Instead of a crazy over-the-top monster-fest like El Superbeasto, I wanted to create something that works more on a slice of life human level." states Zombie . "After El Superbeasto became a movie, I felt I had taken that style as far as I could. So, I really needed Baron Von Shock to be something fresh in writing and in art."
"After publishing The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto, we jumped at the chance to work with Rob again on Baron Von Shock," says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Baron Von Shock is darkly humorous, thrilling and uncompromising — everything fans expect a Rob Zombie story to be."
In Baron Von Shock, Rob Zombie returns to comics with a dark dramedy describing the fantastic rise and spiraling decent of celebrity. Being in the right place at the right time isn't always a good thing, as Leon Stokes aka Baron Von Shock finds out first hand. His sudden rise to fame as a local television horror host meets with unexpected results. Baron Von Shock proves to be a roller coaster of emotion that only Rob Zombie can deliver.
Baron Von Shock #1, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores May 26, 2010. Also available: Rob Zomie Presents The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto.
James Greene Jr. of Crawdaddy! magazine recently conducted an interview with former WHITE ZOMBIE guitarist Jay Yuenger. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Crawdaddy!: I understand you had no input in "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie", the WHITE ZOMBIE box set, at all?
Yuenger: Not at all.
Crawdaddy!: How did you find out it was happening?
Yuenger: They sent me and [former bassist] Sean [Yseult] mockups, like, two days before the release date. There was such little thought put into it. None of the photos were credited — we were like, "Uh, you know you have to credit photos or people can sue you?" And they were like, "Oh." There were no liner notes, which are essential for something like that. I mean, the band had such an interesting story, how could you not have liner notes? I hear about it all the time from fans. They're happy that the super rare early records are on there, that's cool for them to hear, but the packaging sucks. Sean's got all kinds cool shit — photos and flyers and stuff that they could have put in there.
Crawdaddy!: Well, that sort of answers the next question, which has to do with the comments Rob Zombie has made in recent years about WHITE ZOMBIE not getting along or communicating all that well post-"Astro-Creep: 2000". Is there anything you'd like to say about that at this point?
Yuenger: Not really. It's inevitable when people live on top each other for so many years that things will go bad, and people will drift apart. It happens with every band.
Crawdaddy!: I'm detecting an acceptance in your tone. Are there no hard feelings on your end?
Yuenger: Oh, sure there are. [Uncomfortable laughter] I would have liked to make another record, but it wasn't in the cards. On Rob's solo albums, you can see what he wanted to do, where he wanted to go. I always wanted to be in a rock 'n' roll band, where the primary instruments are guitar, bass, and drums, you know? We were living in New York City for all those years, hearing all the rap and techno coming out — my favorite bands back then were SLAYER and PUBLIC ENEMY. I was really all about sampling, and we put out "La Sexorcisto" with all those samples, and it blew people away. We were like, the first rock band to do that. And it was great, I loved it. But as time went on, the sampling and techno stuff started to dominate everything, and I really hated it. Now, you can hear how little humanity is in Rob's stuff.
Crawdaddy!: [What was the] low point [of your career]?
Yuenger: Oh man, I can tell you exactly. Our first drummer, Ivan de Prume, left us in the middle of an intensive tour, and we got this interim drummer our sound man knew who was very compulsive and had substance abuse issues. We had this giant show in L.A., and the drummer disappeared beforehand and went on a bender. He was totally fucked up, showed up five minutes before show time. So, we play this show knowing we're firing him immediately afterwards. The problem, though, was there were all these record company people backstage who wanted to take all these photos, so we had to stand around smiling for a while, pretending everything was totally cool.
Reformed German metal legends ACCEPT have been confirmed as the headliner of the
ProgPower USA Kick-Off on September 9 in Atlanta, GA. This will be the band's
first headline show in Atlanta in its illustrious thirty-year career. Also
scheduled to appear are LEPROUS, BOREALIS and SIX MINUTE CENTURY.
Commented guitarist Wolf Hoffmann: "Something amazing has happened. We seem to
have been transformed from one world into another… These new songs simply
burst out of a vault that has been locked up for too long! We're not sure where
[the forthcoming ACCEPT album] 'Blood of the Nations' and all this new
excitement will ultimately take us; we only know one thing: We never had it this
good!"
The schedule for the 11th edition of North America's premier progressive and
power metal festival is as follows:
Mid-Week Mayhem Party
Wednesday, Sept. 8:
ROSS THE BOSS (with special guest Scott Columbus): "A Night of Manowar Classics"
VANGOUGH (US)
SEVEN KINGDOMS (US)
ProgPower USA Kick-Off
Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010:
ACCEPT (Germany)
LEPROUS (Norway)
BOREALIS (Canada)
SIX MINUTE CENTURY (US)
ProgPower USA Day 1:
Friday, Sept. 10, 2010:
KAMELOT (US/Norway)
NOCTURNAL RITES (Sweden)
TYR (Faroe Islands)
SEVENTH WONDER (Sweden)
LEAVES' EYES (Norway/Germany)
STORMWARRIOR (Germany)
ILLUSION SUITE (Norway)
Progpower USA Day 2:
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010:
HAMMERFALL (Sweden)
TAROT (Finland)
DELAIN (The Netherlands)
DGM (Italy)
OCEANS OF SADNESS (Belgium)
PARADOX (Germany)
For more information, visit www.progpowerusa.com.
Tonight's (Monday, March 15) W.A.S.P. concert at the Crocodile Rock Café in Allentown, Pennsylvania was reportedly cancelled by the artist. No further information is currently available.
As previously reported, W.A.S.P. called off Thursday night's (March 11) show at the Blender Theater at Gramercy in New York City because the club allegedly sold 50 VIP tickets to the show for $50 (twice the normal admission price) to fans who wished to attend a meet-and-greet with the band. However, the band was never been told about the arrangement.
"These tickets were sold to these 50 or so fans without W.A.S.P. having any knowledge of this, let alone agreeing to this," frontman Blackie Lawless claimed in a statement posted on the band's web site. "Upon learning of this late in the afternoon of the show day, W.A.S.P. insisted that the promoter of this venue, who sold these VIP tickets to these fans, return the VIP portion of those tickets back to the fans. This meant that the promoter would have had to give each of those VIP ticket holders a refund of $25 of each ticket. W.A.S.P. demanded that this $25 be returned to each of these ticket holders in cash prior to the meet-and-greet, which W.A.S.P. was still going to do. The promoter refused. W.A.S.P. then informed the promoter unless these monies were refunded to these fans, in cash, that the band would not perform the show. Again, the promoter refused and W.A.S.P. canceled the show.
"We are saddened that it had to result in the cancellation of our performance for this evening, but we believe this unfortunate situation amounts to nothing more than our fans being ripped off," Lawless added. "We have never charged a fan for an autograph and will never charge any fans for an autograph.
"To all the fans that came to the show and were turned away, please accept our sincerest apologies," Lawless continued. "W.A.S.P. cannot and will not ever stand by and watch or be involved in their fans being ripped off."
Sleaze Roxx recently conducted an interview with RATT/ex-QUIET RIOT guitarist
Carlos Cavazo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Sleaze Roxx: Shortly after John Corabi left RATT, your name was mentioned as a
potential replacement. How did you land the gig and did you have to audition?
Carlos Cavazo: I did go through an audition process. I think the guys just
wanted to check me out, as you can probably guess I got to know the guys during
my time in QUIET RIOT. Anyway, they just wanted to see what I looked like these
days. I hadn't seen them in about ten years and I could have been 500 pounds for
all they knew. Funny story about the audition: As I wrapped my audition the
first day, George Lynch and Zakk Wylde were in the studio too! I thought they
were there to audition. We were trying to keep it quiet that I was auditioning
and I run into those guys. As it turned out they were there rehearsing with
their respective bands and they happen to be there at the same time as us.
Sleaze Roxx: Did you have to think twice about getting involved with RATT?
Carlos Cavazo: Not really. I mean I know there's problems coming into a band
that has been around for twenty plus years. To be honest, I was actually hoping
that I'd be picked up by a band from the same era as QUIET RIOT. In my mind it
would be a great fit to be in a band with guys that are from my era and my
group. There's really no problems, I seem to fit in better with RATT than I ever
did in QUIET RIOT, I think. To tell you the truth, there are way less problems
in this band than with QUIET RIOT.
Sleaze Roxx: QUIET RIOT and RATT came up around the same time, where you
friendly with them? They were the competition after all.
Carlos Cavazo: Yeah, I met Robbin Crosby and got to know him way before I got to
know any of the other guys, oddly enough. I used to hang out with Stephen Pearcy
a lot in the '80s, I didn't meet Warren DeMartini until the early '90s, I think.
Warren was actually the guy that called me about the vacancy. He got my number
from Vinny Appice at some club in L.A. that they hung out at. So I knew all the
guys and got to know them throughout the years."
Sleaze Roxx: What's your current relationship with Frankie Banali and Rudy
Sarzo?
Carlos Cavazo: I've always had a great relationship with Rudy; I love Rudy, he's
like my best friend. I had a falling out with Frankie and Kevin DuBrow there at
the end, and Rudy as well. I don't wish anyone any ill will, they've been my
friends for 25 years, they're like my family for half my life. I just felt, for
me, it was time to move on. I hadn't spoken to this guys... I hadn't spoken to
Kevin for four years prior to his death. Last I spoke with Frankie was at
Kevin's funeral service. We're not on speaking terms, Frankie and I. I do wish
him the best, you know.
Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has issued the following update:
"I am extremely happy to report that last night in Sao Paulo was absolutely one of the biggest, most important shows of my whole 25-year career so far. We played to approximately 60,000 people last night in Sao Paulo with GUNS N' ROSES. I have played to (slightly) more people a couple of times, but never had a crowd response as vociferous , passionate and heartfelt as the concert last night.
"It was a very very important night for me, for one heavy reason. Sao Paulo, Brazil was the very last concert the original SKID ROW ever played. Fact is, Sao Paulo is the city where I have played my worst ever show... and 14 years later, last nite, quite possibly my best ever show. That's show biz!
"The last SKID ROW show was in 1996, with MERCYFUL FATE, BIOHAZARD, MOTÖRHEAD and IRON MAIDEN . Needless to say, it was not the bill for us and the crowd let us know it.
"Driving to the show last night I was filled with trepidation, not knowing what to expect after the 1996 show. I was not prepared in any way for the reception we received last night.
"I have played Wembley Stadium. Giants Stadium. Tokyo Dome. Skydome. Carrier Dome. Tacoma Dome. Lenin Stadium. I can honestly say last night's show kicked ass over all of those. No question.
"For those of you out there clinging to nostalgia, asking me, 'When is the old band getting back together ?' ad nauseam, I'm telling you, that ain't gonna happen. Last night's show was the culmination of 14 years of me being a solo artist and trying to establish my band in its own right. Last night's show really showed us that our band, plainly put, fucking rules.
"To play the same city where the old band died and the new band took over is all I need. The fact is, my new band plays better. With 'Angel Down' and the new songs I am working on with Nick Sterling and John 5, we have our own material that is goin' over just as well as the old songs. Fact.
"Last night was the perfect show for us... and the crowd let us now it. From the bottom of our hearts, we cannot thank you enough Sao Paulo and Brasil, for your unbelievable support. You have erased a bad memory in my head and replaced it with making my dreams come true.
"Ti amo. Obrigado!!!
NWOBHM legends CLOVEN HOOF have been forced to delay the release of their new five-song EP, "Throne Of Damnation", due to the recent departure of vocalist Russ North. According to the band, Matt Moreton is officially the new CLOVEN HOOF vocalist, and he will be singing on the new EP."
Matt was the powerhouse vocalist on the critically acclaimed "Eye Of The Sun" album.
Fans can expect delivery of the new EP in the first week of April.
"Throne Of Damnation" will contain three new songs — "Prime Time", "Running Man" and "Freak Show" — along with reworked versions of "Whore of Babylon" and "Night Stalker", the latter of which is featured on the Brütal Legend game.
Russ North announced in October that he was leaving CLOVEN HOOF to pursue a solo singing career away from heavy metal.
CLOVEN HOOF members Lee Payne (bass), Jon Brown (drums) and Ben Read (guitar) are in pre-production for their next album with producer Tom Galley (PHENOMENA). It is scheduled for release later in 2010 and will be CLOVEN HOOF's "darkest and most epic-like opus yet," according to a posting on the band's web site.
CLOVEN HOOF last year announced the addition of guitarist Mick Powell to the group's ranks. He made his live debut with the band at the Rock of Ages festival in Belgium on October 17, 2009.
CLOVEN HOOF re-recorded 24 of its classic songs for a two-part "best-of" compilation, "The Definitive Part One" and "The Definitive Part Two".
SEVENDUST — Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Morgan Rose (drums/vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar/vocals), Vince Hornsby (bass/vocals), John Connolly (guitar/vocals) — will release its eight studio album, "Cold Day Memory", April 20 on the band's own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The CD — produced by Grammy Award winner Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, 3 DOORS DOWN, PLAIN WHITE T'S) — is the group's first new album with its original lineup back together with Lowery's return after his departure in 2003.
The LP's first single, "Unraveling", is already getting a great reaction at rock radio and is currently #20 on the Active Rock chart (it's jumping to #18 next week).
The song is currently available on iTunes and is can be streamed on the band's MySpace page. A video is also in the works.
With back-to-back double-digit add weeks at Active Rock before its actual add date, this is the best-received SEVENDUST track in the last decade.
While SEVENDUST's last few efforts were mainly heavy and rhythmic, the new songs balance brutality with textural passages and infectious counter-melodies. There are even fleet-fingered guitar solos. But whether confronting the listener with double-bass drums and staccato power chords or using melodic arpeggios and soft brush strokes to sweeten the sound of Witherspoon's multi-faceted vocals, SEVENDUST sounds excited, energized and ready to take on the world.
All five band members contributed to the lyrics on "Cold Day Memory", and the songs were works in progress up until the moment they were recorded. In the end, the band crafted songs that encapsulated their experiences with the world and one another. Witherspoon, who recently became a father, penned some lines about commitment and responsibility, while Rose, who was going through a painful divorce, wrote lyrics about heartbreak and disillusionment. The album's first single, "Unraveling", was co-written by Lowery and Dave Bassett (SHINEDOWN, PUDDLE OF MUDD) and is about the collapse of a relationship, while "Confession" indirectly addresses Lowery quitting and returning to the band.
"Since we all write, it's hard to tell exactly what each song is about, but we like to leave it up to the listeners to decide for themselves," Rose says. "It's funny because in the end you almost don't know what you wrote. I remember telling John one time, 'Dude, that was an amazing line you wrote,' and he went, 'What are you talking about? You wrote that.' We wanted to change the template completely from what we did with our last album, 'Hope And Sorrow'. We were going, 'Let's bring back those other elements Clint brought in that made us what we were.' So we sort of made a silent agreement that we were going to let Clint run wild. We said we'll jump in when it's time, but if you've got an idea let's go with it."
There's something almost intangible about a band with strong chemistry. When the guitarists vibe off each other just right, the bassist is lock in step with the drummer, the music almost transcends the musicians. And when the vocalist is feeding off the power of the other players, almost anything is possible. It's something SEVENDUST learned early in its career when guitarist Clint Lowery joined forces with the eclectic Atlanta group.
"I knew once I got him in there that he could definitely change the band fully," says Rose. "His background vocals and his writing style and guitar playing were the final ingredients for us to become the band that we needed to be."
With Lowery as a major contributor, SEVENDUST released four albums that stretched the limits of hard rock and metal, combining elements of thrash, classic metal, southern rock and soul into songs that were both sinfully tuneful and ruthlessly aggressive. Then in 2003, after the release of "Seasons", the guitarist quit to focus on his other band DARK NEW DAY. SEVENDUST continued for three more albums, and enjoyed considerable success, but something was clearly missing. So, when the band reunited with Lowery in early 2008, it was like the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle was finally reinserted and the picture was again complete.
"This record personally has been one of the most difficult, but most rewarding records I've ever worked on," explains Lowery. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to contribute good material to the guys after being gone for last three records and that helped me focus more than I ever had." Adds Lajon Witherspoon: "I feel this album shows new growth for the band. We're very happy to have Clint back and are looking forward for everyone hearing the magic that's made when we're all together!"
Northwest Tennessee Kids Hunting for a Cure has announced that Roadrunner Records modern rock band BLACK STONE CHERRY will take part in an acoustic performance for the event's Saturday night (March 26) music entertainment in Huntingdon, Tennessee. This widely popular band are country boys from nearby Edmonton, Kentucky who are carving a name for themselves in all of Europe and have recently started to make a huge splash in the USA. Their European success has come not only from their wonderful music but also their Southern American image.
The guys from BLACK STONE CHERRY have huge hearts and a strong desire to help children to need to laugh, smile and experience some goodness in life.
Don't miss a big chance to be a part of the special performance, meet some truly special children and tons of volunteers from across the nation who have volunteered to make a difference to this wonderful cause. Also riding shotgun with BLACK STONE CHERRY will be drummer John Fred Young's father Richard Young of the KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS.
John Fred and Richard are avid outdoor sportsman and huge supporters of outdoor events such as this.
For more information, visit nwtnkidshuntingforacure.com.
Peter Atkinson of KNAC.COM recently conducted an interview with guitarist Gary
Holt of veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS. A few excerpts from the
chat follow below.
KNAC.COM: There's gonna be a lot of thrash metal nostalgia on this tour [with
MEGADETH and TESTAMENT]?
Holt: At first we didn't want to do that, because we've never considered
ourselves a nostalgia band. We play a lot of classics live, "Bonded By Blood",
"Strike of the Beast", "Piranha", "Toxic Waltz", crap like that, but we play a
lot of new shit. We're usually very focused on our new record when we're out on
tour. But for this tour we figured what the hell, why not just dust off the old
stuff. We've got a new album coming out in a couple months and we can focus on
that then and play a lot of new stuff when we go out to support that.
KNAC.COM: There's been a lot of buzz about "The Big Four" lately, since
METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX are playing together for the first time
at some festivals in Europe. This tour's kinda like "The Big Fourth, Fifth and
Sixth?"
Holt: (Laughs) Yeah, something like that. EXODUS and TESTAMENT were on that
plateau just below "The Big Four." We sold a lot of records and had pretty
good-sized audiences of our own back in the day, but they were definitely on
another level. Being in "The Big Six" or the "Top 10" or whatever, it doesn't
really matter. There's a whole lot of bands from when we came up that are long
gone and forgotten. We're still chugging along and a lot of people still like
us. That's pretty cool.
KNAC.COM: What's your take on these new re-thrash or retro-thrash bands that
have been getting so much attention?
Holt: I'm a big supporter and a big fan of these young thrash bands. I do
anything I can to help them out. Some of these young bands are enamored with
1985 with the look and sound and all. When they start out, they sound like
thrash metal karaoke, like if you took your old KREATOR, EXODUS, TESTAMENT demos
and threw them in a blender. But as they advance it becomes less based on their
love of a particular music or band and more based on their desire to work on
their craft as musicians. If they do that, they'll just naturally start
evolving. And you've already seen that with bands like WARBRINGER and EVILE,
they've been able to put their own stamp on it and that's important if you want
to craft some kind of career out of it. They play longer, get better at it, they
get more creative and start writing their own riffs. And that fact that people
are digging it is great because it would be a lot tougher for old dogs like us
if they didn't. The new fans that
are getting into these new bands are becoming our fans as well, and that's good
for everyone.
KNAC.COM: Since you've been around for both, does this new wave of thrash
compare at all to the first wave back in the day?
Holt: There's no comparison. I think it's great that people are enjoying what we
do and there's other bands making great records and there seems to be genuine
excitement about the music, but then it was the birth of a genre. There was a
whole movement, it was purely underground. You couldn't buy our crap or anything
like it at Walmart or Hot Topic. It was dangerous and it was aggressive. It was
a whole different vibe. A lot of these kids now, it's like they were born in the
wrong era. In 2010, you see kids wearing the clothes that they saw us wearing in
1985. But that was our uniform back then, now it's like shopping for vintage
clothes. You may like the look of vintage ball gowns, but it was a lot different
when they actually wore them in Versailles. There's nothing wrong with that, but
there's only one original. We were creating it. Us, METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX,
MEGADETH, a bunch of other bands. You can't compare the two, but it's great that
people
are embracing the spirit of it.
KNAC.COM: To move on to your own stuff, is the new album supposed to be a
continuation, counterpoint or companion to "Exhibit A"?
Holt: It's definitely a companion, but it's definitely different. It's
super-fast, super-aggressive, but it's a little more melodic at times but really
brutal and a little bit more back to the roots. Not back to 1985 "Bonded By
Blood", but it's definitely got the catchy choruses of songs like "Fabulous
Disaster". It's a little less progressive in a lot of ways, but it's also more
progressive, if that makes any sense (laughs). This album is a masterpiece.
People are going to shit when they hear this album, it's so good from front to
back. People always say this sort of shit, but I'll say it anyway, I think it's
the best thing we've done since "Bonded By Blood". It's awesome. I love all the
albums that we've done, "Force of Habit"'s not my favorite, but out of the last
three that we've done with this line-up, this one takes it to a new level.
KNAC.COM: I spoke with you after "Exhibit A" came out and you mentioned having
four other songs already in the bag, did they end up making it onto "Exhibit B"?
Holt: Oh yeah. We recorded so much stuff for the last album that there wasn't
enough room to put it all, so we picked the stuff that we thought would fit best
on "Exhibit A" and saved the others for "Exhibit B". And it wasn't easy, it
wasn't like these were crappy throwaway tracks, they were as good as anything on
the last record. We just picked what we felt worked best as a cohesive record
and kept these in the can so they were ready to go. Then we wrote new songs to
go with them. And this album is very cohesive front to back as well. It doesn't
focus on religion as much as the last one did, this one is more about violence,
death and man's unhumanity to man. It's heavy as hell. There's a couple of epics
on there, a couple of long ones, but there's a couple short, fast, vicious ones
on it as well. EXODUS is a super-violent animal and we just want to feed, we're
hungry. We put everything we got into this record.
STONE SOUR has been confirmed for this year's Sweden Rock Festival festival, set
to take place June 9-12, 2010 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AEROSMITH (US)
ALDO NOVA (CAN)
ALESTORM (UK)
ANVIL (CAN)
BACHMAN & TURNER (CAN)
BEHEMOTH (PL)
BIGELF (US)
BILLY IDOL (UK)
BLACKBERRY SMOKE (US)
CINDERELLA (US)
D-A-D (DK)
DAMN DELICIOUS (S)
DANZIG (US)
DEATH ANGEL (US)
DUNDERTÅGET
F.K.Ü. (S)
FATES WARNING (US)
GARY MOORE (UK)
GRAVE DIGGER (D)
GUNS N' ROSES (US)
JORN (N)
MAGNUM (UK)
MASTODON (US)
MICHAEL MONROE (FIN)
MOTHER'S FINEST (US)
NAZARETH (UK)
OPETH (S)
PENDRAGON (UK)
POINT BLANK (US)
RATT (US)
RAVEN (UK/US)
RICK SPRINGFIELD (AUS/US)
SABATON (S)
SAGA (CAN)
SATOR (S)
SLAYER (US)
STEEL PANTHER (US)
STEELWING (S)
STONE SOUR (US)
STRATOVARIUS (FIN)
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (US)
THE ITCH (S)
THE QUIREBOYS (UK)
U.D.O. (D)
UNISONIC (D)
W.A.S.P. (US)
WATAIN (S)
WINGER (US)
Y&T (US)
Last year's festival was attended by 35,200 people, but in 2010 the maximum
number of visitors will be limited to 33,000.
For more information, visit www.swedenrock.com.
U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST have parted ways with singer Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to "musical differences." According to the band, "the split was amicable and everyone in the POWER QUEST family wishes Pete and Ben all the very best in their respective musical endeavors. "
A new vocalist has already been found and the band is hard at work rehearsing new material with him.
In the meantime, POWER QUEST is looking for a new guitarist to join the lineup. Dedication, commitment and drive are essential, as is the ability and desire to tour and rehearse (one weekend per month in the U.K.) as required. Experience is obviously an advantage but is by no means essential.
If you are a guitarist familiar with POWER QUEST and influenced by melodic metal and hard rock, here's what you have to do to apply:
E-mail stevekeys@power-quest.co.uk with your biography, contact details and links to audio and video examples of your playing both in the studio and in the live arena. Those who are shortlisted will be invited to attend an audition in Derby (U.K.) in late April/early May 2010. The successful candidate will of course be joining the band to record the new album in Italy in July/August this year. Please note no applications will be considered after April 10.
POWER QUEST's latest album, "Master of Illusion", was released in 2008 via Napalm Records/Avalon Marquee (Japan). Guest musicians on the CD include keyboardist Richard West from the U.K. progressive metal band THRESHOLD, Jorn Viggo Lofstad from the Norwegian power metal act PAGAN'S MIND and FOURWAYKILL singer Chris Neighbour.
HAKEN, a virtuosic progressive rock/metal band from London, England, comprising some of the country's finest young musicians, will release its debut album, "Aquarius", in the U.S. on March 29 via Sensory Records.
According to a press release, "Aquarius" is "a 72-minute, larger-than-life conceptual sci-fi/fantasy work filled with bombastic keyboard flourishes, stunning vocals, and lethal guitar work. The album was recorded in The Netherlands at Spacelab Studios (DELAIN, EVERON, WOLVERINE ) and mastered in Germany at Eroc's Mastering Ranch. Graphics were created by Dennis Sibeijn at Damn Engine to tie in with the 'Aquarius' story."
An extended preview of the album is avaialble in the YouTube clip below.
Formed in 2007, HAKEN features members of TO-MERA and LINEARSPHERE. The band melds metal with progressive rock, drawing influences from contemporary acts like DREAM THEATER and IQ as well as "old-school" icons GENESIS and QUEEN.
In July 2007, HAKEN showcased its music for the very first time to a packed out London bar with a great response, followed the next week by a sold-out show at The Peel in Kingston. Within months of this double-debut performance, the band was billed in support of RIVERSIDE at Camden's prestigious Underworld. HAKEN continued performing sets to packed houses throughout London and on U.K. tours in support of cult metal bands KING'S X, BIGELF, and TO-MERA and continues to extend its fan base. One of the band's demo tracks was featured on the cover CD for the second issue of "Classic Rock presents Prog" magazine in 2009.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/hakenmusic.
After a long hiatus, BABYLON A.D. has regrouped with all the original members and is in pre-production mode for its sixth studio release. 2010 also brings BABYLON A.D. full circle with a new, heart-pounding production of the band's hit song "Bang Go The Bells". The newly recorded version has the same sense of explosive energy from vocalist Derek Davis, and the killer melodic riff made memorable by guitarist Ron Freschi.
"Bang Go The Bells, Redux 2010", the new release from BABYLON A.D. on Apocalypse Records and produced by Derek Davis and Ron Freschi at Hatrix Media, is available at CDBaby and iTunes.
Formed in 1988, BABYLON A.D. hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Original members Derek Davis (vocalist/songwriter), guitarists and music writers Dan De La Rosa and Ron Freschi, drummer Jamey Pacheco, and bassist Robb Reid were all in rival childhood bands. In 1989, BABYLON A.D. caught the attention of Arista Records president and industry music mogul Clive Davis. He signed them at a live showcase in Los Angeles, thanks to their impressive three-song demo and a homemade video. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1990, and included hard rock hits "Bang Go The Bells", "Hammer Swings Down", "Desperate" and "The Kid Goes Wild". The latter song was featured in the trailer and music video for Orion Pictures' "Robocop 2". The band scored three number one songs at metal radio and reached gold on its first release. Their sophomore effort, "Nothing Sacred" (released in 1992), produced two more metal rockers, "Bad Blood" and "So Savage the
Heart". Constant touring throughout the early 1990s, along with several MTV videos, made them one of hard rock fans' favorites.
After spending several years with Arista, the band signed with Apocalypse Records in 1999 and released "Live In Your Face", a compilation of live tracks recorded in various cities throughout the United States. The band's next release, "American Blitzkrieg", followed in 2002, and both CDs were well-received by critics and fans alike. In 2006, the band released "In The Beginning..." on Apocalypse/Perris Records. The album featured songs from the original demo tapes that secured them their record deal with Arista Records.
For more information, visit www.babylonad.com.
Following his departure from AVENGER last fall, vocalist Ian Davison Swift has recruited four pious men under the moniker CARDINAL SYNNE.
According to a press release, "CARDINAL SYNNE has one goal in mind.....to locate heretics and by the improper application of the force of rock, ensure that they repent and dedicate themselves to the true faith. The CARDINAL dictates that true initiates display their demotion in the correct manner! Men wear denim , leather and stained t-shirts, and women wear everything a size too small. It may be a painful experience... but CARDINAL SYNNE is here to save you!!! Recant, heretics, or face rock 'n' roll damnation!"
CARDINAL SYNNE is:
Brother Ian: Vocals/Master of the service
Brother Huw: Bass & Chief Inquisitor
Brother Antony: Guitars & Chief Witchsmeller
Brother John: Guitars & Religious Dogma
Brother Dave: Drums & Curator of the Communion Wine
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/cardinalsynne.
Italian thrash metal band HYADES has parted ways with bassist Jerico Biagiotti and has temporarily replaced him with Rob Orlando (who was previously a member of HYADES from 2003 to 2008).
Commented the band: "We are definitely thankful to Jerico for being with us from May 2008 to nowadays; he did a great job on the album 'The Roots of Trash' and we spent good time together on stage. But times are changing and we now need to go back to roots and be again a real band, inside and outside the rehearsal room.
"We are now trying a few bass players, living around here and not 600km far, and we've probably found the right man for us."
HYADES' latest album, "The Roots of Trash", was released in 2009 via Mausoleum Records.
For more information, visit www.hyadesmetal.com
A mere few weeks removed from inking a deal with EMI Label Services, Jim Kaufman's American Voodoo Records has launched its brand new, comprehensive, state-of-the-art web site. The site features detailed artist pages, news updates, event listings, staff bios and all new media (audio and video) spanning the entire roster. However, the most in-depth section of the site has to be the virtual tour of Kaufman's impressive Laurel Canyon Studios where all of the American Voodoo releases were tracked.
Acclaimed producer Jim Kaufman is also excited to announce the signing of HELLFLOWER, featuring JANE'S ADDICTION's legendary drummer Stephen Perkins. Kaufman will be tracking drums with Perkins in Studio A from March 15 through March 17. Mikey Doling (ex-SNOT guitarist) will also be mixing his newest recording project, THE GEMINI SYNDROME, in Studio A later this month.
Commented Kaufman: "I am very excited to get the opportunity to work with Stephen Perkins and HELLFLOWER. Drum recordings have always been my specialty and my favorite part of producing. Collaborating with an icon such as Perkins is a dream come true for me.
"The new label website will provide a very unique inside view of what happens daily at the American Voodoo label and studios. Jason Lee and his team from B.S.S. are true professionals and the websites they have created for our company are cutting edge and top of the line.
"GEMINI SYNDROME is an exciting new project and we are happy to have the opportunity to have their debut record mixed at our facility. I have always been a fan of Mikey Doling's work and look forward to working with him at the American Voodoo studios."
U.S. metallers KILLING MACHINE have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ALICE COOPER
ARCH ENEMY
AMORPHIS
ASTRAL DOORS
ATROCITY
BROILERS
CALIBAN
CANDLEMASS
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
DEAD MEANS NOTHING
DEBAUCHERY
DEGRADEAD
DELAIN
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DIE KASSIERER
EDGUY
EQUILIBRIUM
END OF GREEN
ENDSTILLE
ETERNAL LEGACY
EVILE
FEAR FACTORY
FIDDLER'S GREEN
GHOST BRIGADE
GOJIRA
GRAVE DIGGER
HACKNEYED
HANGGAI
HELLS BELLES
HOLY GRAIL
IHSAHN
ILL NINO
IMMORTAL
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ
IRON MAIDEN
JOB FOR A COWBOY
KAMPFAR
KATAKLYSM
KILLING MACHINE
LAKE OF TEARS
LETZTE INSTANZ
MAROON
METSATÖLL
MÖTLEY CRÜE
NIGHTMARE
ORDEN OGAN
ORPHANED LAND
OVERKILL
PRIMAL FEAR
RAVEN
SCHELMISH
SECRETS OF THE MOON
SKANNERS
SLAYER
SMOKE BLOW
SÓLSTAFIR
STRATOVARIUS
SUICIDAL ANGELS
TARJA
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
THE NEW BLACK
THE OTHER
TIAMAT
TYR
U.D.O.
UNLEASHED
VARG
VOIVOD
W.A.S.P.
DEVILDRIVER, THE HAUNTED, RAISED FIST, THE CROWN, AC4, CRAZY LIXX, SNAKESTORM, AMY'S ASHES, DREAMLAND and AMARANTHE have been confirmed for this year's Getaway Rock festival, set to take place July 8-10 in Gävle, Sweden.
Comments festival manager Tomas Jernberg: "As we have mentioned before, it's of importance for us to offer broad and quality acts.
"Our ambition has been to create a festival we'd like to visit ourselves. We now know that a lot of people out there share our belief in what's of interest to see at a festival stage in Sweden 2010.
"We have received amazing feedback on bookings, suggestions through our website.
"The announced acts today with DEVILDRIVER, THE HAUNTED and RAISED FIST are all examples of bands whom has been frequently requested."
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AC4
ADEPT
AGGRESSIVE CHILL
AIRBOURNE
AMARANTHE
AMY'S ASHES
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
CORRODED
CRAZY LIXX
CRESCENDOLLS
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
DARK TRANQUILITY
DEATHSTARS
DEGRADEAD
DEICIDE
DEVILDRIVER
DREAMLAND
ENGEL
EUROPE
EXODUS
GRAND MAGUS
HEAVEN'S BASEMENT
ISOBEL & NOVEMBER
JORN
LAVETT
MEGADETH
MOTÖRHEAD
MUSTASCH
OVERKILL
RAISED FIST
RAUBTIER
SNAKESTORM
SONIC SYNDICATE
SURVIVING THE CHARAD
SWITCH OPENS
THE CROWN
THE GENERALS
THE HAUNTED
THE QUIREBOYS
THERAPY?
VADER
WOLF
The festival will host three stages and over 60 bands.
For more information, visit www.getawayrock.se.
SCAR FOR LIFE — the Portuguese project led by Alex S (VYRUZ, REDSTAINS) — will enter the studio on April 10 to begin recording its second album, "It All Fades Away", for a summer release. It will feature guest appearance by such musicians as Tó Pica (RAMP, ANTI-CLOCKWISE), Bruno A (VERTIGO STEPS) and Sophie (UNDERSTREAM). The drums and vocals will be laid down at UltraSoundStudios by Daniel Cardoso while the guitar and bass will be tracked at Pressplay Productions by Alex S.
"It All Fades Away" track listing:
01. My Darkest Journey
02. Cold Blood
03. Never Smile Again
04. Lost
05. This Empire
06. It All Fades Away
07. Between Us
08. Glimpse Of Hope
09. The Newborn
10. Narcolepsy
11. Here Comes The Night
SCAR FOR LIFE is:
Rez - Vocals
Alex S - Guitars
André "Pisgos" - Bass
Daniel Cardoso - Drums
SCAR FOR LIFE's "My Last Words" video can be viewed below. The clip was shot on November 26-27, 2008 at the Hospital de Bonecas (Doll's Hospital). The song comes off the band's self-titled debut album, which was recorded in June/July 2008 at UltraSoundSystem studio with Daniel Cardoso handling the mixing duties. According to Alex, "each track is like a recollection of something that was already lived, a sound memory. Ethereal, melancholy, deep and touching, vehicled in a varied and layered taste, yet always intertwined with a strong heavy riff drive, hard indeed it will be not to be scarred by this adventurous new project."
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/scarforlifeband.
U.K.-based experimental/progressive extreme metallers XERATH have announced the addition of bassist Chris Clarke (ex-HOLLOW EARTH THEORY) to the group's ranks. According to XERATH, "Chris made his live debut with the band supporting VADER in London and recently played Hammerfest in Wales to a huge metal hungry crowd."
A photo of the new lineup can be viewed below.
XERATH last year parted ways with guitarist Andy Phillips. The group's bassist, Owain Williams, has since taken over guitar duties for the band.
XERATH released its debut album, "Xerath I", on May 25, 2009 via Candlelight Records. The CD was mixed in France by Brett Caldas-Lima (CYNIC).
An e-card for the album is available at this location.
According to a press release, XERATH is "a new, cutting-edge band combining crushing MESHUGGAH-style riffs with epic orchestral composition. Their sound can be described as taking influence from STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, MESHUGGAH and DIMMU BORGIR to create a distinctive sound they call 'orchestral groove metal' (or chug-score!)."
The band was formed in 2007 by guitarist Andy Phillips, drummer Michael Pitman and bassist Owain Williams, and was later joined by Richard Thomson on vocals.
Originally started as an experiment to combine film-score scounds with syncopated guitar rhythms, XERATH evolved into a full-fledged gigging band with a clear direction.
Swedish industrial goth metal band DEATHSTARS has announced the following U.K. dates:
June 19 - London, UK @ 02 Academy Islington
June 20 - Birmingham, UK @ 02 Academy 2
June 21 - Liverpool, UK @ 02 Academy 2
June 22 - Newcastle, UK @ 02 Academy 2
June 23 - Glasgow, UK @ 02 ABC
"Night Electric Night", the third album from DEATHSTARS, landed at position No. 51 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Released in Europe on January 30 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Night Electric Night" registered the following first-week chart positions:
Sweden: #10
Germany: #36
Austria: #43
Switzerland: #69
U.K.: #153
The CD , which was mixed at Toytown studios in Stockholm, Sweden with Stefan Glaumann, was made available in a deluxe package called "Gold Edition" featuring bonus tracks as well as a bonus DVD featuring six video clips, "making-of" footage and more. The "Gold Edition" was released as a digibook with new cover artwork.
Commented guitarist, songwriter and producer Emil "Nightmare Industries" Nödtveidt: "This album is the very mirror of our last years and our struggle through this time up until now. It deals with a whole spectrum of emotions, but without losing that straightforward nerve of raw dark feverish rock music a la DEATHSTARS. Even though the songs vary more now, from the ripping 'Night Electric Night' to the seriousness in 'Via the End', which I wrote the very night I found out about my brother's suicide [Emil's brother was DISSECTION frontman Jon Nödtveidt — Ed.], it holds an honest consequence right through the album."
According to a press release, "Night Electric Night" is about DEATHSTARS' "lives and their experiences, their personal issues and the action/horror drama which represents the manic environment that the band exists within. It deals a lot with reflections of situations right then and there."
Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Rockweekend festival, set to take place July 8-10 in Kilafors (two hours north of Stockholm), Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
TWISTED SISTER
DEEP PURPLE
SAXON
ANNIHILATOR
MY DYING BRIDE
SKID ROW
SEPULTURA
OBITUARY
ROCKWEEKEND ALLSTARS
DANGER DANGER
OVER THE RAINBOW
ELECTRIC BOYS
UNLEASHED
PAUL DIANNO
BONAFIDE
ABRAMIS BRAMA
ASTRAL DOORS
LIONS SHARE
MIMIKRY
M.A.N
THE MURDER OF MY SWEET
MAMA KIN
GASOLINE QUEEN
DAWN OF SILENCE
LUCY SEVEN
NO APPROVAL
HELLSINGLAND UNDERGROUND
ZZ ROCK
ROCK N ROLL ALLSTARS
STATUS QUIZ
THE COUGARS
For more information, go to this location.
THE JASSER ARAFATS, a five-piece "deathrash machine" from Tampere, Finland, will release its debut album, "Condemnation", on April 14 via Violent Journey Records.
The track listing for the CD — which contains "12 tracks of pure death/thrash metal with a modern twist" — is as follows:
01. Crawl To...
02. Condemnation
03. Empty Horizon
04. Gun=Life
05. Price
06. Diseased
07. Checkmate
08. Ritual Of Justice
09. Stillborn
10. Alone
11. Axis Reborn
12. Kaos
Check out the cover artwork below.
THE JASSER ARAFATS "was formed in late 2007 and, after couple of lineup changes, was ready to destroy the local scene with their uncompromising modern death/thrash mayhem," according to a press release. "In 2008 the band recorded couple of demos and played a handful of gigs. In 2009 THE JASSER ARAFATS did a small tour through Finland, Sweden and Norway with a Mexican death metal band INTO SICKNESS."
THE JASSER ARAFATS is:
J. Kurki - Vocals
M. Pekkonen - Guitar
J. Tasala - Guitar
L. Antila - Bass
J. Helle - Drums
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thejasserarafats.
Topeka, Kansas-based death metallers ORIGIN have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Party.San Open Air festival, set to take place August 12-14, 2010 in Bad Berka, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AURA NOIR
CANNIBAL CORPSE
DEMONICAL
DESASTER
DEVOURMENT
DYING FETUS
KETZER
LIVIDITY
LOCK UP
MÅNEGARM
MERRIMACK
MILKING THE GOATMACHINE
MONSTROSITY
NAPALM DEATH
NECROPHAGIST
OFERMOD
ONHEIL
ORIGIN
SARKE
SUFFOCATION
SUICIDAL ANGELS
THE CROWN
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
TRIBULATION
UNDER THAT SPELL
VARG
WATAIN
EVEMASTER — the Finnish "dark metal" band which features in its ranks BATTLELORE's Tomi Mykkänen — has inked a deal with
Supernova Records, a division of Bonnier Amigo. The group's new album, "III", will be released later in the year. A single release will precede the full-length effort.
"III" track listing:
01. Enter
02. New Age Dawns
03. Humanimals
04. Losing Ground
05. The Great Unrest
06. Sweet Poison
07. Harvester of Souls
08. Fevered Dreams
09. Absolution
The following musicians have contributed to the making of the album:
* Jarno Taskula: vocals
* Tomi Mykkänen: guitars, synths, vocals
* Enrico Annus (KHERT-NETER): drums
* Ville Sorvali (MOONSORROW): bass
* Dan Swanö: clean vocals
* Ismo Monola (MY SWEET SORROWS): synths
* Markus Vanhala (OMNIUM GATHERUM): lead guitar on two songs
* Harri Hyytiäinen (AVATHAR): vocals
Death-Illustrated is working on the cover artwork for the CD .
According to Mykkänen, "III" is "a concept album revolving around a dystopian dream or a fall of this one pitiful man... Musically this album is the third part of the trilogy. Next album will be musically different going deeper in the emotions and darker side of human mind."
More acts will be announced soon.
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