"Had a great time in Cleveland, Ohio this past weekend. First up was a quick visit to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. I have to admit, of course, I have some strong feelings about KISS being left out, and even Grand Funk, but I was there to see what is a truly amazing collection of items from some artists that have helped shaped my musical career. Some of THE BEATLES and HENDRIX and WHO items were great to see up close, and since I was always a big fan of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS that was a treat to see some of the iconic guitars they played back in the day. Photos are not allowed in the museum, but as you see I did get some in the lobby.
That same evening was the big Majic 105.7 FM Moondog Coronation Ball, which actually started many years ago with Alan Freed, who was of course one of the earliest radio pioneers back when rock was very young. The show was held at the 'Q', is a wonderful arena in downtown Cleveland, and the place was packed. We were on a bill with various classic rock bands, with Grand Funk headlining. It was great to do an arena show, and I have to say we really blew the roof off. (I did hear the PA could of been louder, but I am sure my guitar filled that place!)
The next day was the KISS Expo, and all of you know how much fun they can be. So many families are fans are KISS, it was so cool to see so many young children come out to support KISS. After all, that is was keeps KISS so iconic, the constant influx of younger generations discovering the band. I had my BK3 CD available and I was very happy to sell many, but also saw many fans who brought their copy that they had purchased the first week. I would like to thank Kiss Army Warehouse for another successful event, and of course all the fans who attended.
More news coming about future BK events, and everyone please have a safe and awesome Easter weekend."
"Sting In The Tail", the new album from German hard rock veterans SCORPIONS, has registered the following first-week chart positions:
Greece: #1
Germany: #1
Korea: #2
Czech Republic: #3
Swiss: #6
Austria: #6
Russia: #6
Finland: #6
Sweden: #14
France: #16
Portugal: #21
Canada: #22
U.S.: #23
Spain: #30
Poland: #41
Belgium: #47
Holland: #71
U.K.: #96
"Sting In The Tail" sold 18,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marks the band's highest chart debut in over 20 years. The CD also landed at No. 6 on the Rock Albums chart.
SCORPIONS' last record, "Humanity - Hour 1", opened with 10,500 units back in September 2007 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 63.
"Sting In The Tail" was released in North America on March 23 via Universal Music Enterprises. The CD was recorded at a studio in Hannover, Germany with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen (the team behind THE RASMUS' "Dead Letters" CD).
SCORPIONS — known worldwide for their mega, arena hard rock and over 100 million records sold — will travel the globe one last time on the "Get Your Sting And Blackout" tour. Kicking off the North American leg in June, the tour will take the band across the U.S. all summer and continue on around the world with special guests supporting along the way.
As previously reported, former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen performed the song "The Good Die Young" with SCORPIONS on Germany's talk show "Wetten, Dass..?" on Saturday, March 27. The song was written "about people who stand up for peace and freedom," according to singer Klaus Meine. "In a world that gets out of balance more and more every day, we try to put this feeling into music."
ZZ TOP - "that little 'ole band from Texas" - is crossing the border and taking on Canada in June. The dates are as follows:
June
5 - Vancouver, BC - Thunderbird Stadium
6 - Victoria, BC - Save On Centre
8 - Cranbrook, BC - RecPlex
10 - Grande Prairie, AB - Crystal Centre
11 - Edmonton, AB - Jubilee Auditorium
13 - Medicine Hat, AB - The Arena And Athletic Park
15 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
19 - Belleville, ON - Waterfront Festival
For more info and tickets visit this location.
Canadian metal legends ANVIL 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
ANVIL
ARCH ENEMY
AMORPHIS
ASTRAL DOORS
ATROCITY
BROILERS
BRUTUS
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
FREI.WILD
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
LIZZY BORDEN
MAD MAX
MAMBO KURT
MAROON
METSATÖLL
MÖTLEY CRÜE
NIGHTMARE
ORDEN OGAN
ORPHANED LAND
OVERKILL
PRIMAL FEAR
RAVEN
ROTTING CHRIST
SCHELMISH
SECRETS OF THE MOON
SKANNERS
SLAYER
SMOKE BLOW
SÓLSTAFIR
STRATOVARIUS
SUICIDAL ANGELS
SVARTSOT
TARJA
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
THE KELTICS
THE NEW BLACK
THE OTHER
TIAMAT
TYR
U.D.O.
UNLEASHED
VARG
VICTIMS OF MADNESS
VOIVOD
W.A.S.P.
MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has issued the following update:
"What an incredible trip these past few weeks have been for all of us, band and fans alike!
"We just finished the North American 'Rust In Peace' [20th-anniversary] tour at the Palladium in Hollywood Wednesday night [March 31] and it was an incredible homecoming. I say this because just a few blocks away Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] and I first met in our dingy little apartments on Sycamore Avenue and Hollywood Blvd. That chance meeting in 1983 spawned an incredible journey which the other night felt like a homecoming for MEGADETH. Longtime friends Kerry King [SLAYER], John Tempesta [THE CULT, ROB ZOMBIE, TESTAMENT, EXODUS] and Mikkey Dee [MOTÖRHEAD, KING DIAMOND] were hanging with us backstage. Even former managers, agents and business colleagues came down to celebrate this milestone in the band's history. We all got to re-live our memories of the original 'Rust In Peace' tour back in 1990. Those were some cool moments to embrace.
"At the fans' request, we filmed the Hollywood Palladium show. More on this later....
"It's been an amazing run.
"First tour leg completed and onward we roll to Latin America. I can't wait!"
The setlist for MEGADETH's March 31, 2010 concert at the Palladium in Hollywood, California was as follows:
01. Skin O' My Teeth
02. In My Darkest Hour
03. She-Wolf
04. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
05. Hangar 18
06. Take No Prisoners
07. Five Magics
08. Poison Was The Cure
09. Lucretia
10. Tornado Of Souls
11. Dawn Patrol
12. Rust In Peace... Polaris
13. Trust
14. The Right To Go Insane
15. Head Crusher
16. Symphony Of Destruction
17. Peace Sells
18. Holy Wars (Reprise)
Check out photos from JayValena.com, Dirt Junior.
MEGADETH kicked off its "Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Tour" on March 1 at the Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington. Also appearing on the bill were TESTAMENT and EXODUS.
MEGADETH recently finished filming a video for the song "The Right To Go Insane" in South El Monte, California. According to Ellefson, the clip "has a very twisted and demented storyline. It was much different than what I thought it would be. It has no band footage at all. It's a very twisted and intriguing story."
"The Right To Go Insane" comes off MEGADETH's latest album, "Endgame", which was recorded at Vic's Garage, the band's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California. The CD was helmed by Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update:
"For just one second I wished you could feel what I felt whilst standing on the stage of the Hollywood Palladium this past Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, which was the end of our 'Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Tour' in North America.
"I was overwhelmed with a flood of emotions, ranging from complete euphoria to outrage to shyness to inebriating pride! You see, David Ellefson [MEGADETH bassist] called this one correctly when he said, "L.A. was going to be our homecoming."
"Man, I saw friends from the very beginning, our former managers, agents, lawyers, business managers, publicists, and the security pit was absolutely insane when we went out. I was told that there was 34 photographers in there and they were all top-notch photogs so we couldn't scratch any of them.
"Probably the most rewarding thing was seeing our old manager, Ron Laffitte, and our old agent, Andy Somers. They seemed genuinely happy for us, and they couldn't believe what a hunk Justis [Mustaine's son], the little boy they knew as an infant, turned out to be.
"Remember, Justis was just born when Ron and Andy handled us and now he is 18 years old, as tall as me, way better looking (but that ain't hard). I also got the pleasure of bragging about how my new manager, Mark Adelman, and my new agent, Scott Sokol, have done such a great job getting us back on top — this was not a dig — it was just a very happy kid telling his friends that he is finally happy again.
"You have no idea what I have felt like all these years knowing that these friendships were damaged by me and my behavior, and I was so blessed to see all of our old friends, and former staffers . . . and see them smiling!
"In closing, there is no closing MEGADETH! Shawn [Drover, MEGADETH drummer], Chris [Broderick, MEGADETH guitarist], and David are in a world all of their own when they get together, and I have never seen Shawn get so excited about playing with a bassist or Chris have someone else to talk all of that music theory to (Martian talk to me), and I have to tell you, David Ellefson is playing better, singing better, performing better, and I have never felt better about our relationship than I do this exact moment.
"Again, God came to the scene of the crash, pulled me out, set me in the presence of the three best friends a guy could ever want, and said, 'Just do something good with these gifts I have given you.' You will be getting to see and hear the 'gifts' yourselves too, and very soon!
"We will be releasing a video for 'The Right To Go Insane' in the near future as well as commencing on our Central and South American tour this month and next month.
"There are still three more dates to be announced, if memory serves me correctly, for our trip down South.
"Well, creatures are stirring in my head and I better get to the gym and over to the studio to get the day started off right.
"I just want to thank you today for everything that you mean to me. I will give you an update about the video and the ['Rust In Peace'] DVD [as soon as possible]!"
It isn't every day you get to speak to a certified metal legend. Philip Hansen Anselmo's pedigree and credentials have been well established via his work with Pantera, Down and Superjoint Ritual, yet what may not be common knowledge is how Anselmo's own label, Housecore Records, is currently gearing up to hit the ground running in 2010, with a slew of albums set for release in the coming months. Phil took an afternoon to bring the Metal Army up to speed with exactly what the future holds.
MAA: When did you first realize that you first had ideas which wouldn't fit within the scope of Pantera and the other bands you were doing—like Down and Superjoint Ritual—and push these other artists?
Phil Anselmo: Well, Housecore Records I think originally was going to be a lot of stuff I'd done in the past, and could not release because I was under contract with Pantera, but when you're surrounded constantly by excellent musicians and great bands, it's kind of hard not to want to help the ones who really stand out, you know? I guess we really started taking things totally seriously in 2008, and slowly built from there.
Are you the sort of person who absolutely NEEDS to be busy, and to get your energies out in as many avenues as possible?
Well, I don't know about as many as possible, but yeah, man; there's no sitting around being a dullard for me, man. I just can't do it. But there's plenty of others reasons for me to do Housecore, like I said: some bands just need that push. The fact that I have the good distribution that I have; a lot of these bands' tangible CDs and material will now be available to a lot more people than if they were just playing regional shows, if you know what I mean?
I took a listen to some of the upcoming releases Housecore has down the pipeline, and I'd like to talk about that for bit. The Sursiks, for one, blew me away!
Ah, the I Didn't Know I Was Singing record, man—that is genius; ab-so-LUTE genius, man. It's David Minnick; he's the force behind The Sursiks, and he's just creative, man. His name's gonna be pretty widely known when it's all said and done. Amongst his fellow musicians, he's known as the master of reverse engineering; he can take something and just twist it and make it whatever. He took so many different phone messages and took music to them. Each one is its own piece of work, and is either sad, happy, miserable or funny; he gets it across in such a way that's just original, man. The musicianship is crazy top notch, and—knowing the guy for as long as I have—he's just insane, man. Doing some of his own drum tracks, playing several different instruments; the musicians he has working with him are great, too. I can't say enough about The Sursiks.
Yeah, they definitely stuck out to me, and I feel that haarp are going to stick out to a lot of people, as well. I hate pigeonholing something with a word like 'sludge', but I think it's definitely going to appeal to a certain crowd who appreciates that kind of atmosphere.
Yeah, and I'm glad you said something like that, because to me, haarp do play slow, but to call them just a 'slow band' isn't really fair. They're what I like to call 'resolute.' They're crushing at times, and are absolutely the epitome of what I guess 'sludge' would be, but they're musicianship is fantastic. You have to understand that if you're writing six-to-ten minute songs with all the variations they do on a riff—or a handful of riffs which become twenty different riffs—it's just impressive, man. Another thing I love about haarp is that they're great live, too. Sean Emmons is a star, man. He's a great frontman. Their lyrical concept is great, and when you ask these guys what a song is about, you better pack a lunch! You better be ready to sit down and talk for about twenty-five minutes, if not an hour! Each song is insanely detailed in story, and the way that Sean expresses these stories is incredibly impressive. I
also know that the drummer, Keith Sierra, helps with the lyrics, as well, so they're a very conceptual band; it's very much a team effort. They all have a hand in the music, I love haarp.
Donovan Punch I thought was awesome, too. It almost reminds me of the old 70s Italian horror soundtracks in parts.
In parts, but I wouldn't' say totally. He's definitely not influenced by the 70s horror stuff, but I do adore that stuff, though! Jacula, baby: all the way! What a great band. To say the 70s, though, is deadpan on, man. It's incredible when you listen to an instrumental, and it kind remind you of The Beatles, Jethro Tull, or Led Zeppelin, and have it turn into something a little more, all rolled into one. If anyone is familiar with pagan music or—in a simpler form—the original, 1972 Wicker Man soundtrack; some of his stuff is very reminiscent of that, as well.
On that, subject—given your established love of horror and soundtracks—what are some of your absolute favorites?
Oh Jesus, one of the first which leaps to mind is probably one of the most influential, but the original Halloween and Halloween 2. The synthesizer just sucks you in as a kid. I think The Changeling has an awesome soundtrack, and Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things has an even better one. I think the original Night of the Living Dead has a cool soundtrack; droning and miserable. Eraserhead has a great soundtrack, too. Let's see here…'cause I'm always talking about how music makes a movie…House With the Laughing Windows has a great soundtrack Is that enough? (laughs)
(laughing) Yeah, man! I can talk horror all day, but I gotcha! Now, how much help do you have with Housecore?
We got staff here of me and three other people, and we have tentacles out there that help out, man. So all in all it's about ten people, man. At the most. We're a very do-it-yourself label, and cut out the middleman a whole lot.
I watched the video of your speaking at Loyola University, and I was really struck about how powerful it was. With regards to your feelings on the media—and let me preface that by saying that's NOT why I'm here, I'm a fan who dislikes, I'm assuming as much as you do, the often-sycophantic nature of the media—I was wondering how you felt about the double edged sword of trying to promote Housecore, while also keeping guard against those who might want to misuse their place in the media to their own ends?
Look: I think that, when you're fortunate enough to have had the success I've had in life, and the type of success which puts your actual face in people's heads, as opposed to some businessman who lives behind closed doors, and moves to Australia, my face is in magazines, and people know who I am; they know Pantera's history. People can form an opinion. That's going to be the way it is until I hit the dirt. So honestly, it doesn't rub me one way or the other, man. I realize that people have the power to type away whatever they want, man. Go for it. Fill your life up with it. That doesn't deter me at all; it really doesn't.
As far as the thing with the media: I never said I was the greatest guy in the world. I'll let you know right now: I never said I had no faults, and that I was a perfect being. So, you heard it from me first! I'll be the first to tell ya: I have MANY faults. I've messed up MANY a situation. Do I deserve to get bashed? Who can say who deserves what, man? That's what you have no control over, and that's one of the things, in order to grow in character, as a person, and as a man…that's just the kind of stuff you have to let go, man.
On the other hand, being in the position you are—of respect and influence, being able to speak at a University such as Loyola—and having people live by your words and art you've created…is that a mindtrip to come from a heavy metal singer who idolized Rob Halford, to become this person who's had an effect on people you will never even meet, people who live their lives to some of your lyrics, and the art you've put out in the world?
Oh man, how can I put this? Well, the fact that I've touched people's lives—like you say, people I will never even meet—and will inspire them to do great things in their life, for whatever they can do in their life…that is good. God, this is tough to answer. It's almost as if I wish I could do more. I feel humbled. I feel proud, but humbled at the same time. Honestly, the way I like to put it is: without the people like that who love my music and what I do; who love one band I'm in, but hate all the rest, but give me that bit of love for that one band…the accomplishment is bigger than me. These people? I'd be NOTHING without them. The people inspire me; I can't help it.
Have you received a lot of positive feedback from them regarding Housecore?
Yeah, man. I've received a lot of positive feedback, but you're only going to get what you give out. We haven't put out that many things, but this year's a new year, and we have a bunch of stuff coming out. The more stuff we put out, the more feedback we'll get. So far it's been good, and the fact that me and you and here talking about it? It's all good, man.
So what's the status of everything regarding the label and your own projects for the foreseeable future?
This year—we're shooting for early April or early May at the least—we got Warbeast coming out with their initial record, Krush the Enemy. They're a thrash band out of Fort Worth, and they kick ass. I grew up with the guys, so I know they're top notch musicians, and do they ever bring it live! Bruce, the singer for Rigor Mortis, it's his band, and they're pure, real thrash. Alongside that, we do have The Sursiks—I Didn't Know I Was Singing record, which is brilliant—we're already talked about that. In June, we got the full length from Arson Anthem—which is me on guitar, Mike Williams from Eyehategod on vocals, Hank III on drums, and my brother Collin Yeo on bass—which is seventeen songs at about thirty minutes. It's ripping, hardcore style music, and it's awesome.
Also in June, we have Sky High, which is Donovan Punch on guitar and his daughter Azrael singing, which is great. In late August/early September, we have the haarp full length, and finally the soundtrack for Jim Van Bebber's film The Manson Family, which came out in 2006. We've had a lot of start/stop action with that project, but it's finally coming out. It has a lot of my noisier stuff that I did for the actual movie, The Disembodied, and Body & Blood as well on that record. This Saturday we start mixing a live Crowbar record, as well, so hopefully we can get that out later this year, as well!
As far as what's going on with me, I've got several different little things going on. I've spoken with the guys from Down pretty recently, and we're talking about getting together sometime after the fall of this year, and messing around with some new stuff. I'm writing a book, so I'll be heads down in that project sometime this year, man. That's going to be a big, big project. I'll just put this out there: I'll say I've been writing some different kind of music. Is it heavy? Yep…it's heavy. When will people hear it? I'm not sure…when it's done! (laughs)
According to Billboard.com, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has several TV appearances lined up around its new album's release — including NBC-TV's "Late Show With David Letterman" (May 19) and ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (May 25) — and it's scheduled for Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio show May 18. In addition, STP's March 27 concert at Chicago's Riviera Theatre will air on VH1, MTV2 and sister HD channel Palladia in late May.
A deluxe version of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' new self-titled album with expanded artwork and two bonus tracks will be available on the May 25 street date. Target will be given a CD/DVD version of the set with exclusive interview content, and Walmart will air an exclusive STP performance in stores and on its Soundcheck web site.
The group's self-titled sixth album, its first all-new effort since 2001's "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", arrives on May 25.
The self-titled effort features the following track listing:
01. Between The Lines
02. Take A Load Off
03. Huckleberry Crumble
04. Hickory Dichotomy
05. Dare If You Dare
06. Cinnamon
07. Hazy Daze
08. Bagman
09. Peacoat
10. Fast As I Can
11. First Kiss On Mars
12. Maver
The disc will be issued through Atlantic Records, although Weiland told The Pulse of Radio at the time of the band's 2008 reunion tour that he was interested in exploring other options outside the traditional music industry. "When we first talked about putting STP back together, it was do this tour and then see about doing a creative deal with another company, like an all-in deal," he said. "And, you know, if you look at even like RADIOHEAD and a handful of other bands, they make more money doing things in an unconventional fashion as opposed to doing it, you know, with the major labels."
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunited in 2008 after a six-year layoff. The band's last album, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", came out in 2001.
According to Publimetro, W.A.S.P.'s previously announced shows in Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia have been cancelled. No reason was given for the dates being called off.
Eyescream Productions, which was responsible for organizing the Mexican dates, issued a statement apologizing for the cancellation and explaining that "as the promoters of the Mexican concerts, we fullfilled all of our obligations to the band in a timely manner, so this situation is as surprising to us as it is to the general public."
As previously reported, W.A.S.P. called off the 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."
SAMMY HAGAR AND THE WABOS, CINDERELLA, PAT TRAVERS, BLACK STONE CHERRY and TONIC have all been added to this year's Moondance Jam schedule, joining the previously announced LYNYRD SKYNYRD, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR (with Neil Giraldo), BUCKCHERRY, COLLECTIVE SOUL, HOOBASTANK, former Eagle Don Felder's A NIGHT AT THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA, JONNY LANG and BLACKBERRY SMOKE.
Now in its 19th year, this year's event will take place July 14-17, 2010 in Walker, Minnesota.
Tickets are available now at www.moondancejam.com or by calling 1-877-MOONJAM.
In addition to the three-day main-stage lineup, a pre-jammin' party will be held on Wednesday, July 14 with local favorites HAIRBALL headlining on the main stage. Many more acts will play the regional stage in the saloon on all three days of the festival.
Tickets are now available in a variety of packages. Concert-goers can purchase Rockstar All Access, VIP, three-day general admission and single day tickets as well as camping and parking passes online or by contacting the Moondance ticket office. Moondance Jam has festival seating for general admission ticket holders, meaning that front row access and lawn seating is available for everyone.
Moondance Jam is held on the beautiful 300-acre Moondance Events festival grounds, situated in the middle of Chippewa National Forest near Leech Lake. The festival features thousands of campsites, well-kept facilities, two bars with regional entertainment, excellent security, many food and beverage vendors, an experienced staff and owners who have been organizing music festivals since 1992. The safe, fan-friendly atmosphere and idyllic location are just a few reasons why people return year after year to the Walker area for the Moondance music festivals.
Murderdolls — "This record is going to have two parental advisory stickers"
Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:03:04
Murderdolls' Joey Jordison (Slipknot) & Wednesday 13 invite ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino into the studio for an exclusive peek at their brand new album Women and Children Last...be afraid...
Interview: Murderdolls — "This record is going to have two parental advisory stickers"
Rock 'n' roll has become far too safe these days.
When was the last time you heard a band that made you listen closer because they really caught your attention? Where there's the danger? Where's the energy? Where's the controversy? Where's the fun?
It's definitely not hidden in Kings of Leon's beards or under emo's swoop hairdos. However, that fun is rumbling up in the Hollywood Hills right now where Murderdolls—Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison (Slipknot)—are recording their highly anticipated second record, Women and Children Last. From heavy ominous riffs to infectious throat-slashing choruses, Murderdolls are packing serious heat on this album.
In fact, Women and Children Last perfectly blends the vitriolic gutter bombast of Marilyn Manson's Portrait of an American Family with the epic arena fireworks of Motley Crue's Shout at the Devil. As anthemic as it is angry, Murderdolls have made a definitive, daring rock record that'll have you chanting its hooks in the shower, in the car and even in the coffin.
Wednesday 13 laughs, "Your parents are going to fucking hate this album!"
"You're definitely going to have to take a shower after it," adds Joey. "Power wash or something…"
Joey Jordison and Wednesday 13 are currently holed up in the hills finishing up Women and Children Last, and it's turning out to be the classic kind of ass-kicking hard rock that the world desperately needs. Joey and Wednesday invited ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino into the studio for an exclusive sneak peek at Women and Children Last. Wednesday and Joey talk about becoming more "metal" for Women and Children Last, setting a new record for the word "motherfucker" and making real rock 'n' roll…
Do you feel like you're injecting more of a metal sensibility into the new music?
Joey Jordison: Completely! This is the first time we've actually sat down and written songs. The production is a lot better, and this is the first time we've really collaborated. The first record was a mix of my old band and Wednesday's old band, and we kind of threw it all together. It was just like a demo pretty much. Women and Children Last is like eight years worth of material.
Wednesday 13: It wasn't like we got together and said, "Alright, we're doing this new record. Let's write three weeks-worth-of-songs." This is eight years of demos that I've passed back and forth to Joey. With as much stuff as Joey's done with Slipknot and I've done on my own, there was so much material to choose from. I've recorded a lot, and there's stuff that's gotten left behind. Joey digs out all this stuff. I'll say, "You like that song, really?"
Joey Jordison: At first, we didn't think we needed to do that song you just heard, and now we're like, "That's one of the best songs!" [Laughs]
Wednesday 13: It turned out great!
Does Women and Children Last preserve that classic Sunset Strip attitude?
Wednesday 13: Kind of…the title more or less exists to piss people off. Even though I'm a hair metal fan, I've become a huge Slayer fan over the years. With the way the new Murderdolls music sounds, it's everything from that Sunset Strip stuff to Slayer. It goes everywhere this time—whereas the first record was more punk rock.
Joey Jordison: I'm really excited about it. I think it's actually going to reel in a lot of the Slipknot fans because of the heaviness. We're not going to lose any fans; this album is only going to gain fans for us. We weren't like, "Okay, we're going to crank out some campy songs like we did before."
Wednesday 13: There are a few songs on the record that are going to appeal to that. However, it's a new sound for us. Women and Children Last is exciting because it sounds different. It's got that element of the old rock 'n' roll we grew up on, but we're down-tuned and it's got a new groove.
There's almost an old school Marilyn Manson vibe to some of it.
Wednesday 13: Manson came out in like 1994 and took over the fucking world [Laughs]. That was awesome.
Bringing in those heavier influences, do you feel like your personalities shine through the music even more?
Joey Jordison: Yeah, the first record has the fast fills, but with this, there's more double bass. One song is so heavy that people are going to say, "That can't be them." [Laughs] But it is…
Did you envision these songs as a whole while you were writing?
Joey Jordison: Wednesday had a lot of ideas that we'd been working on, and I'll take them, re-adjust them and I'll get the frame.
Wednesday 13: The way I'll do demos is I will record a verse and chorus—just like a minute and ten seconds. If it's a good up to that point, I'll say, "Is it worth finishing?" Then Joey adds all of his magic.
Joey: It works perfectly. I'm writing a lot, and Wednesday's constantly writing. I usually always have an idea in my head, but I don't necessarily record it. It's like what I do with Slipknot; I have it in my head and I go to practice and start rehearsing. With this, it's always good because I'm on the road and Wednesday has all of these ideas. He'll email them to me, and I'll start mapping it all out.
Wednesday 13: We were sending demos back and forth up until the time Joey got on the plane to come to the studio [Laughs].
Joey Jordison: Yup! He sent me these ideas, and I thought, "These are great!" He said, "Really?" It's because he's lived with these ideas for awhile, and when I hear them with fresh ears, I'm like, "That's great! Let's work on this." Then we go from there.
If Women and Children Last were a movie what would it be?
Wednesday 13: Falling Down! For the first Murderdolls record, I was 18 or 19 when I wrote most of that stuff.
Joey: Me too!
Wednesday 13: It had that teenage angst to it. Now, we're in our 30s, and we're fucking pissed the fuck off [Laughs]. That's what this record is breathing. It's pissed the fuck off. We like it—we love it.
Joey Jordison: You can pay us now [Laughs].
Kids these days really need that though…
Wednesday 13: Yes! That's another reason we wanted to do this now. Everything is so fucking boring now with the music scene. Everyone is just trying to be the fastest, and I can't tell half of these bands apart. Joey asked me, "What are you listening to?" I was like, "Bob Seger!" [Laughs] We were listening to old '70s rock. That's what we mainly listen to when we're not playing. This record took on a whole new fucking life. It's angry. Falling Down would be a good movie title…just getting out of your car in traffic and saying, "Fuck it!"
How intertwined are horror and hard rock?
Wednesday 13: Seeing Alice Cooper and KISS tied it together for me. I played with GI JOE's and watched horror movies as a kid and I didn't care about music. Then I would see KISS and Alice Cooper and I'd say, "Wow, you can put music to this, cut your head off and electrocute yourself. This is great! "That's where the whole theme and image came for me. Over the years, every band's been fascinated with death or something. It's all about horror movies. It's always metal.
Joey Jordison: On this record, we've actually toned a lot of that down.
Wednesday 13: It's just really violent shit this time [Laughs].
Joey Jordison: The topics are going to surprise a lot of people. We'll listen to a song and say, "That's a total radio song" and then we'll get to the lyrics and be like, "Nope, not now!" [Laughs]
Wednesday 13: I think I might've went over the limit this time.
Joey Jordison: Yeah, there are some bad ones on there!
Wednesday 13: I think this might be the most "motherfuckers" on an album in my history—ever. It's going to have two advisory stickers on it. It's just bad. Your parents are going to hate you.
Joe Jordison: It's going to have the typical parental advisory sticker and the second one is going to say, "We're serious. Fucking advisory!"
Wednesday 13: We're going to have a scratch-n-sniff that smells like shit too. It's going to be great [Laughs]. This is just thinking out loud…This record is dripping so much sleaze and dirtiness. It's happening! That's the best part. We're not coming here trying to create this, it just happens. We've got skeletons with pencils and shit hanging out of them in the studio. We created a vibe in here. It's good! We've got x-ray goggles, a Gremlin head…
Joey Jordison: I'm going to do the rest of the interview with x-ray goggles.
Wednesday 13: Look out, America! He can see right through you!
Joey Jordison: "Can you imagine if we had these when we were five?"
Wednesday 13: "Better yet, we've got them when we're 30!" [Laughs]
Is that Step Brothers?
Joey Jordison: Yup! All we do is reference movies all the time!
Has your guitar playing evolved?
Joey Jordison: I've been playing guitar for a really long time. I'm more of a songwriter than a noodler. I can do it, but only to a certain point. I'm more of a rock 'n' roll guitar player. With Slipknot, the stuff that I write is basically rhythms. It's stuff that I hear in my head. Something will inspire me, and I'll just go and it flies out. I've got to be hungry or want to do it. Otherwise, I'll get writers block and I'll have to sit on it for awhile.
The best kind of rock 'n' roll is natural.
Joey Jordison: Yeah! I hate feeling like I have to write something. I just can't do it.
The world needs a record like this right now.
Joey Jordison: We think so too. Our stuff is a lot heavier now and has a lot of metal influence on it. Thing are starting get boring out there; it's time for us to make a new record.
Wednesday 13: When we came out the first time, the nu metal thing was going on. Every band had done that, and it was boring. We were something new that came out. It's like right now, everything's gotten boring. To us, this sounds fresh. It's a different style. This is a dirty, dirty record.
It sounds like this is an album you two have been itching to make your whole lives…
Wednesday 13: We're having fun doing it too! It sounds awesome.
Joey, you've played with everyone from Korn and Ministry to Satyricon and Metallica, how has playing with all of those other artists influenced your songwriting and playing?
Joey Jordison:The thing is, I listen to pretty much everything. I'll even listen to stuff that I don't like just for education. I've always said, "You never learn to play at all but always strive to." That's why I like to play different styles from black metal to when I played with Biohazard. Playing with Rob Zombie now is awesome! Today was the first day Rob came in. It was funny—during one of the breaks he turned around and said, "It's never sounded that fucking heavy!" I'm having a lot of fun with that. Korn was great! It's always good to play with other people. You learn more that way.
Wednesday 13: I'm going to turn you on to some outlaw country on this tour. It's coming on [Laughs].
It's all rock 'n' roll at the end of the day.
Wednesday 13: Everyone wants to make music to go play it live, and that's your life. You spend all of this time writing songs, and you want people to be as into it as you are. Everything comes from that same spirit. You want to go out and fucking play for people.
Do you guys have a favorite Zombie record?
Joey Jordison: That's really hard! [Laughs]
Wednesday 13: La Sexorcisto is my favorite. That was huge influence on me.
Joey Jordison: Sexorcisto is awesome. I loved Astro Creep 2000 too. That's got some heavy songs on it.
Wednesday 13: I got Sexorcisto when I was 15. I wasn't driving or anything [Laughs]. That was big for me.
Joey Jordison: Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is great, and Sinister Urge is awesome! It's cool we're doing "Scum of the Earth." I like all of it.
Wednesday 13: Let's go bowling or something—drop this interview [Laughs].
—Rick Florino
04.02.10
Are you stoked Murderdolls are back? Let us know! Who should they tour with?
KOBRA KAI, the '80s metal cover band featuring current and former members of SHADOWS FALL, FATES WARNING, ALL THAT REMAINS and DARK DAY SUNDAY, has scheduled the following dates:
Apr. 03 - Mill St. Brews - Southbridge, MA
Apr. 09 - The Raven - Worcester, MA
Apr. 10 - City Ale House - Danbury, CT
Apr. 17 - The Brass Cat - Easthampton, MA
Apr. 22 - The palladium - Worcester, MA
Apr. 27 - Mohegan Sun Wolf's Den - Uncasville, CT
Apr. 30 - The Rte. 63 Roadhouse - Millers Falls, MA
May 01 - City Sports / Northampton Bowl - Northampton, MA
May 21 - Club Hell - Providence, RI
May 22 - The Waterfront Tavern - Holyoke, MA
KOBRA KAI's mission is simple: '80s metal covers done the way the way a metal show truly was back then — a party! The group says, "The way we see it, our time would usually consist of heading out to a bar, checking out a band and having many, many, many drinks… So why not get on stage and have a good time as well?! And you are not going to see the typical '80s cover-band bullshit. Just kick-ass, drunken '80s metal madness!"
KOBRA KAI is:
Mark Lopes (DARK DAY SUNDAY, HELLSPEAK) - Vocals
Jon Donais (SHADOWS FALL) - Guitar
Frank Aresti (FATES WARNING, DARK DAY SUNDAY) - Guitar
Matt Bachand (SHADOWS FALL) - Bass
Mike Bartlett (ex-ALL THAT REMAINS) – Drums
Long-running Italian power metallers SECRET SPHERE entered the new Authoma Studios on December 6, 2009 to begin recording their sixth album, "Archetype". The band spent two months working on the CD, which was produced by guitarist Aldo Lonobile and Federico Pennazzato. The album was mastered at Massive Arts Studio, while the artwork was handled by Gustavo Savez.
Commented the band: "'Archetype' will feature 10 songs in the typical vein of the band trademark! All the songs has been arranged by Aldo Lonobile and Antonio Agate.
"We have special guest in this new album, like Trevor from SADIST singing along with Ramon in the opening track and Alessandro Conti from TRICK OR TREAT and Damnagoras from ELVENKING singing all the choirs with Ramon.
"Well, we can't say will be like this or this, for sure will be SECRET SPHERE, some songs is very closed to 'A Time Nevercome' era, some other closed to 'Sweet Blood Theory', some is completwly new also for us. But all the CD has been composed during the greatest year of our carreer. Some arrangements had been decided on the road during the GAMMA RAY tour!
"We really think you will enjoy the music!!!"
Songtitles set to appear on the new SECRET SPHERE album include "Mr. Sin", "All In A Moment" and "The Scars That You Can't See".
"Sweet Blood Theory", the last album from SECRET SPHERE, was released in October 2008 via Dockyard 1. The CD was recorded between December 2007 and February 2008 at Authoma Studios by Federico Pennazzato and mixed in March 2008 at Germany's Indiscreet Audio by Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, BRAINSTORM).
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
TARJA TURUNEN, BLOODBOUND, FATAL SMILE, CARNAL FORGE and CRAZY LIXX are among the newly confirmed bands 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 (in alphabetical order):
ABRAMIS BRAMA
ANNIHILATOR
ASTRAL DOORS
BLOODBOUND
BONAFIDE
CARNAL FORGE
CRAZY LIXX
DANGER DANGER
DAWN OF SILENCE
DEEP PURPLE
ELECTRIC BOYS
FATAL SMILE
FOUREVER
GASOLINE QUEEN
HELLSINGLAND UNDERGROUND
LIONS SHARE
LUCY SEVEN
M.A.N
MAMA KIN
MIMIKRY
MY DYING BRIDE
NO APPROVAL
OBITUARY
OVER THE RAINBOW
PAUL DI'ANNO
ROCK N ROLL ALLSTARS
SAXON
SEPULTURA
STATUS QUIZ
SURVIVING THE CHARADE
TARJA
THE COUGARS
THE MURDER OF MY SWEET
TWISTED SISTER
UNLEASHED
VENOM
ZZ ROCK
For more information, go to this location.
BÖRN AGAIN, the brand new female-fronted multi-national power metal band featuring current/former members of CRYSTAL VIPER, STORMWITCH and MAJESTY, has announced the addition of guitarist Alex Guth (of STORMWARRIOR fame) to the group's ranks.
"Neverending Fire", the first official video from BÖRN AGAIN, can be viewed below. The song is the title cut of the group's debut single, which was produced by Bart Gabriel (CRYSTAL VIPER, LONEWOLF), and recorded at the MP Studio with Mariusz Pietka (CRYSTAL VIPER, PATHFINDER).
BÖRN AGAIN is currently working on its full-length debut for a late 2010 release.
BÖRN AGAIN is:
** Marta Gabriel (CRYSTAL VIPER) - Lead And Backing Vocals, Keyboards
** Martin Albrecht (STORMWITCH, MYSTIC PROPHECY, VALLEY'S EVE) - Bass Guitar And Backing Vocals
** Björn Daigger (MAJESTY, CIVILIZATION ONE, IRONY, DAWNRIDER, R:I:P) - Guitars And Backing Vocals
** Tom "Golem" Danczak (CRYSTAL VIPER, DRAGON, DARZAMAT, ADRENALINA) - Drums
** Alex Guth (STORMWARRIOR) - Guitar
BÖRN AGAIN's musical direction style is described as a mixture of '80s heavy metal (DIO, STORMWITCH, WARLOCK) and modern power metal (EDGUY, HAMMERFALL, EPICA).
BÖRN AGAIN has signed a management deal with Hard Rocker Management, which also represents WIZARD, WILD KNIGHT, LONEWOLF and CRYSTAL VIPER.
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metallers DEGRADEAD have entered Peter Tägtgren's (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW) to begin recording their third album for a late 2010 release.
The first in a series of video clips containing behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions can be viewed below.
DEGRADEAD's sophomore album, "Out Of Body Experience", entered the national chart in the band's home country at position No. 48. The CD was released on February 27, 2009 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and March 2, 2009 in the rest of Europe via Dockyard 1 Records. The follow-up to 2008's "Till Death Do Us Apart" was recorded primarily at Abyss studio in Sweden with Kjellgren. Mixing and mastering took place at Dugout Productions (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) in Uppsala, Sweden.
DEGRADEAD is:
Mikael Sehlin - Vocals
Anders Nyström - Guitar
David Szücs - Guitar
Michel Bärzén - Bass Guitar
Kenneth Helgesson – Drums
BLOOD MORTIZED, the Swedish death metal band featuring former AMON AMARTH guitarist Anders Hansson (who played on AMON AMARTH's first two albums, 1996's "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds" and 1998's "Once Sent From The Golden Hall") and CRYPT OF KERBEROS drummer Mattias Borgh, has parted ways with guitarist Benny Moberg "due to personal matters." The group states, "This has nothing to do with the band, the material or the current members.
"Benny started BLOOD MORTIZED along with [vocalist] Mattias Parkkila back in 2007 and contributed with some heavy riffs on the early demos and debut album.
"BLOOD MORTIZED will replace Benny for the forthcoming brutal release.
"Benny will continue focusing on writing and producing music and is currently working on mixing BIRCH MOUNTAIN's future debut album release. As of now in the planning phase is to reinstate the old beast machine MALFEITOR as a brutal, demo sounding, blood'n violence explosion!"
BLOOD MORTIZED's self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 through Singapore's Vrykoblast Productions.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/bloodmortized.
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