Monthly Archives: October 2015

Alive on the Road fund

by

0

20150901_195145-02

In this day and age a band on the road faces numerous challenges. Stolen instruments, gas money, vehicle repairs,  feeding themselves, showering, where to sleep, and yet they keep doing it in order to share their music. I am constantly seeing posts about bands getting into some heinous situations every day. Most recover and carry on, others find the situation overwhelming. I am bouncing around the idea of creating a fund based upon donations to help keep bands in need on the road.

I am thinking if we can create a network of people around the USA willing to put their heads together and figure a way to help bands out when they get into a situation in which help is required. Keep in mind this is only in the exploration stage right now and I am open to any and all ideas. We might even be able to get help from some hotel, vehicle repair/rental, food, and musical instrument and supply companies.

My tentative name for this is the Alive And On The Road fund.

If you have an interest in this and wish to provide some input please contact me at janaya@thehellionrocks.com

I can’t do this without the greater music community people so please help to keep young bands on the road.

it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

-the Hellion

sadness, hatred, death and sorrow….

by

0

971415_676893142351394_1274451645_n (2)

I would like to apologize to my loyal readers. I had to step away from social media for a minute because of the overwhelming flood of mayhem on it. I needed time to reflect on how I can help. We need more positive messages and treatment of each other. Only by looking within and deciding to make a positive impact can we make changes. Never be afraid to care.

-the Hellion

Talking to Michael Sweet of Stryper about the new record ‘FALLEN’

by

0


 12122521_10153713771348420_8805801745690713917_n

It’s always a good day to talk with Michael Sweet from Stryper. I had the chance yesterday to speak with Michael a bit about the new record and some other things. It was a heartfelt conversation and left me feeling good. Thanks again Michael, and Kevin for making it happen. Enjoy our conversation right here:

     Do yourselves a favor and pick up the new Stryper release out on Frontier Records Friday, October 16th, I give it a 15 out of 10 stars!!!

12032008_10153682331278420_4039836312177946052_n

     Check out Stryper online:

www.facebook.com/Stryper

www.stryper.com

www.frontiers.it

     it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

     -the Hellion

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – the shame continues

by

0

rant

I find myself beating a dead horse again with the announcement of the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

The elite few are at it again by nominating too many artists that ARE NOT IN THE ROCK N’ ROLL GENRE!!! I think it was said best by the Sex Pistols when they refuse to attend their 2006 induction and sent the following letter:

4985477009_72b5b6d0ab_o

Transcript: “Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming. Were not your monkey and so what? Fame at $25,000 if we paid for a table, or $15000 to squeak up in the gallery, goes to a non-profit organisation selling us a load of old famous. Congradulations. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons. Your anonymous as judges, but your still music industry people. Were not coming. Your not paying attention. Outside the shit-stem is a real SEX PISTOL”

So what should happen? How should we recognize those worthy? Here are my thoughts: You wouldn’t see Slayer inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (if indeed there is one) or the R&B/Soul/Funk/Rap Hall of Fame (if indeed there is one of those as well) and I wouldn’t expect to either.  You wouldn’t see Whiz Khalifa inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame either. So why would we see Country Music artists or R&B/Soul/Funk/Rap artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  We don’t have cross-genre radio stations so why would we have a cross-genre Hall of Fame called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

I am of the opinion that we could rename it as the Music Hall of Fame and let it become a free for all or stick to the music for what it was named for and just induct artists in the Rock And Roll genre. Now there is nothing wrong with other genres of music let’s just call it as it is.

As for the elite few that are in charge of nominations…well I think we should let the people speak. There should be criteria that bands must meet for nomination for sure but I believe the listeners should have the final word. Every year the bands that meet said criteria should be listed and a site opened where the fans have a certain amount of time to vote, and the top 16 should be the ones inducted, and the process cycles annually.

These are just my thoughts and musings. I’ll shut up now and go listen to the new Stryper record.

it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

-the Hellion

Wait, they made a new record?

by

0

rant

A recent conversation I overheard: “I’m going to see Def Leppard this weekend, are you?” “No I don’t like him.” I interjected “You know, Def Leppard has a new record coming out.”  To which the response was “I only like that one song, you know, the “Sugar” song.”

After banging my head repeatedly into the wall I began to think about veteran bands and their new music.

I can recall going to several recent shows where the bands were touring on new music and yet the fans were only interested in hearing the “hits” from the past. It is this that bothers me. Why make a new album then if no one cares to hear the new stuff? I get why there are so many frustrated musicians in the world these days.

I, for one, love to hear the new music, I actually prefer it. I blame this on corporate radio (yet again, the bane of my existence). Oh yes they will play the “new” track from the more popular artists for a bit but then often times it fades away to be replaced with the classic “hit” songs.

What does this really do to the artists? I feel that it makes some of them only go through the motions when writing a new record. They put it out only because they have to contractually. It’s the “nobody cares to listen to our new music, so why bother” syndrome. I am not saying it’s always like that but I get that vibe from some.

So what is the fix? I don’t really think there is a general fix for the problem. It is up to us stalwart music lovers who go out and buy the new releases from veteran artists to turn others on to said new music. I have said in the past that Rock N’ Roll was spread by word of mouth in its beginning and it has come full circle to that today.

I am tired of seeing people at Iron Maiden, KISS, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, etc., etc., shows looking bored and distracted when they play new material. I get it, you love “that one song”, but why not give the new stuff a chance, and you might just find another song or two to love.

 

It’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

-the Hellion

Catching up with Jerry Gaskill from King’s X

by

0

     You know it’s a good day when Jerry Gaskill calls you up to talk about his upcoming solo record. Enjoy our conversation right here:

     Be sure and pick up Love And Scars from Jerry Gaskill on October 30th  preorder here:

http://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/jerrygaskill

     it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

     -the Hellion