Author Archives: janaya64

DEATH ALLEY MOTOR CULT DRUMMER – SHAWN VAN WYHE!

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Death-Alley-Motor-Cult/276917487784?fref=ts

http://www.deathalleymotorcult.com/

Hey guys! I just got DAMC drummer to answer a few questions for us. Make sure you catch DAMC on Bleach Bangs Radio this Tuesday (10/02/12)!

1. How did you become involved in music?
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Just the love for it. To be honest, Kiss, 1975…huge influence.
2. How did you go about learning to play an instrument? Did you have formal music education?
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Loved music as a kid, Beatles and Buddy Holly but then I discovered KISS in like 1975 and everything changed. I took lessons in like 5th and 6th grade through school. Then when I was 18 I could afford real lessons and things took off from there.

3. Was it drums that hooked you, or do you play anything else?
     Shawn Van Wyhe: This may sound cliche’, but drums were EVERYTHING t o me for so long. Peter Criss, Bun E Carlos, and gene Krupa were everything to me.
4. I am a KISS fan myself (I have the Rock and Roll Over cover inked on my arm). What do you think about the new lineup with out Ace and Peter? I call it Diet KISS 50% less KISS.
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Honestly, I dig it. I think Eric and Tommy are great additions to the band. It’s unfortunate that all 4 of them could not make it work, but at least they are staying true to the music and the image.
5. Right on, I just got to see them on tour. speaking of bands, when was it you started playing in bands?

     Shawn Van Wyhe: When I was about 20. It was wild, kind of late but worth the wait.
6. Were there many? And what lessons did you take away from those experiences?

     Shawn Van Wyhe: To be honest, there were only three other bands. I learned that it is so important to put your ego aside and work as a team.
7. That is a true statement brother. Tell me about how Death Alley Motor Cult came to be?
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Well, Diablo Dave, Zero G and myself were in a band called Dead Garden. The band had run its course and we were looking to go in a different direction. More groove oriented so to speak. We looked for a bass player, and Falcon fit in perfectly. We had all known of each other forever but never played in a band together. Not to sound cliche’, but after that first practice, we all knew that what we had was very special and we needed to run with it.


8. Very cool, totally understand the “Vibe” thing. Tell us some of the recent events in the DAMC world.
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Well, we have just signed on with Eddie’s Mates and could not be happier. They are helping take us to another level that we could not do alone. We have been slowly breaking out of playing just local shows and have started to branch out to Vegas, Santa Ana, and Sacramento. With no end in sight we are totally stoked!!
9. Very glad to hear that, you guys definitely deserve it! So what are you listening to lately?
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Everything! Green Day, Testament, Lit, Accept, Texas Hippie Coalition….all over the board.
10. All great choices, listening to some of those myself. Last question: The floor is yours speak your mind about anything you want:
     Shawn Van Wyhe: Well, We all think that we have something special with Death Alley. We have so much fun and look forward to taking it to the world and sharing what we have with everyone.

“Devil Sex” video:

the Hellion

WHAT’S THAT? YOU’RE NOT LISTENING TO THESE 10 BANDS?

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1. TRIPHON

http://www.facebook.com/triphonband

http://www.triphon.com

       Euro-American symphonic metal blending elements of power, thrash, classical and metalcore. Diggin’ the sound of the blending of styles in this band. New to me but definitely staying in my ears and on my radar.

2. BULLET 

http://www.facebook.com/bulletband

http://www.bullet.nu

 Full Pull from Bullet was released on 09/25/12 here in the US. Bringing back the hard charging, balls out, in your face Rock of bands like AC/DC and Maiden . Well worth the listen, and remember, HAVE FUN!

3. HOTEL DIABLO

http://www.facebook.com/hoteldiablo

www.thehoteldiablo.com

I recently did an interview with guitarist Alex Grossi. And found out about this outstanding new band of his. The debut CD The Return To Psycho California just dropped. I’ve heard the tracks and it is KILLER!:

3. BEARD

http://www.facebook.com/beardisbullshit

I’m gonna let Beard’s facebook page say it all : “Carne Asada Fries, Hot Wings, Milwaukee’s Best and Metal! Beard is the heaviest and greatest rock band to ever emerge from New Mexico. This band is bullshit…..Crank it!”

5. ATTIKA7

http://www.facebook.com/attika7

http://www.attika7.com/

I got this CD the day it came out. Raw, aggressive, brutal, angry, all apply here. This CD is deep on so many levels. I will be seeing these guys at the UPROAR show on 09/30/12. Hopefully an interview will come out of it.

6. SKULLDRON

http://www.facebook.com/skulldron

A HEAVY SKULL CRUSHING SOUND THAT COMES FROM 5 GUYS OUT OF THE NEW MEXICO DESERT. INFLUENCED BY BANDS SUCH AS DOWN, SLEEP, BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER, PANTERA, C.O.C. PENTAGRAM, ST. VITUS, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. PLAYING THEIR AMPS AT MAMMOTH VOLUME, SKULLDRON BRINGS THE RIFF WITH A DESERT GROOVE!!!

7. ADLER

http://www.facebook.com/adlermusic

http://www.adlerrocks.com

Steven is back with a new band, a new release and some great music. Liking the sound and here’s to Rock N’ Roll!

8. The Skull

http://www.facebook.com/troubletheskull

The Skull features original member of Trouble- vocalist Eric Wagner along with longtime bassist Ron Holzner. The Skull is here to do one thing… rock you with the sounds and spirit of Trouble -past-present-future .
Trouble was formed in 1979 by guitarist Rick Wartell and was joined by guitarist Bruce Franklin, vocalist Eric Wagner, bassist Tim Ian Brown, and drummer Jeff Oly Olson. Ian Brown was replaced by Sean McAllister in 1983 and, later, by Ron Holzner in 1987

9. David Shankle Group

https://www.facebook.com/Davidshanklegroup#!/pages/DSGDavid-Shankle-Group/228286120537860?fref=ts

http://www.davidshankle.com

David Shankle the shredding guitarist from Manowar. New stuff in the works from this great, stay tuned right here for info soon!

10. SISTERS DOLL

http://www.facebook.com/sistersdoll

http://www.sistersdoll.com

Paying homage to the glam bands of the past, Sisters Doll is a rising force in the Glam resurgence scene! Check ’em out!:

Ten more! Keep them coming! Know of a band that should be on here? Let me know!

the Hellion

 

MY 100TH POST! ON MY BIRTHDAY, MOVING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE!

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As I sit here pondering my 100th post it comes to me. Why I do what I do. There are some extremely wonderful bands out there that really have no outlet to be heard. Why is this? What can be done? How can they be heard? By us the bloggers and internet radio hosts, the internet video shows. We can can herald their cause. By us telling our peers, sharing their music on our sites, telling our friends, going to their live shows, posting their videos, and taking the time to interview them and hear what THEY have to say. I come to know a lot of these bands and they are hard working, genuine people. They usually are barely scraping by by selling their merch. I try to buy their stuff at every turn. Corporate radio and TV might not support them but WE will.

One other thing I am passionate about is not losing touch with music of the past. As with newer bands, there is really no outlet for a lot of bands from the past. So much great music has been made already. But when their marketability starts to lack they are cast away for the next big thing. By listening to these bands we keep them alive. As with the younger bands we need to support them in the same way and NOT LET THEM GET LOST!

I will leave you with this and go now to enjoy my birthday evening. ROCK N’ ROLL WILL SURVIVE!!!

the Hellion

NEW VIDEO FROM BEARD- “AMP WHORE”

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http://www.facebook.com/beardisbullshit

Congrats to Albuquerque NM band BEARD! Their new video kicks ASS!!! Check it out:

MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO – SHREDDER EXTREME

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http://www.facebook.com/michael.a.batio

http://www.angelo.com

 

Who remembers the band NITRO?  The incredible screaming vocals of Jim Gillette? The unbelievable, insane, lighting fast guitar wizardry of Michael Angelo Batio? The FOUR necked guitar? The HAIR?  Well, here’s a reminder:

Michael Angelo Batio started playing piano and writing music at the tender young age of five. At ten he started playing guitar, it is said he was playing faster than his teacher a couple of years later. He soon became a session musician and began recording music for various companies.

He started his recording career in 1984 with  Chicago-based heavy metal band Holland, an  project set up by ex-Steppenwolf singer Tommy Holland. They released one album Little Monsters released in 1985  on Atlantic Records.

Here’s “Love In On Time” :

In 1987 he joined forces with Jim Gillette to form NITRO.  The band released two studio albums – O.F.R. (1989) and Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S. (1991).

In April 1993, Michael Angelo Batio founded his own record label, M.A.C.E. Music.  He began recording his first album, No Boundaries, which he released in 1995 on this label. He then released several more solo records, Planet Gemini (1997), Tradition (1999), Lucid Intervals and  Moments of Clarity (2000), Lucid Intervals and  Moments of Clarity part 2 (2004), Hands Without Shadows (2005), 2 X Again (2007), Hands Without Shadows: 2  Voices  (2009),  In 2011, Michael debuted his multi-media show “Hands Without Shadows – A Tribute to Rock Guitar” in Las Vegas. In 2012 Michael is touring the world with this show. It is a chronological tribute to rock guitar.

Batio is ambidextrous, a skill he taught himself. He is able to play two guitars at the same time either in synchronization or using separate harmonies. This includes playing completely different parts at once, as shown while playing his famous Double-Guitar. Though naturally left-handed, he plays as right-handed when playing one guitar. Batio invented and often demonstrates the “Over-Under” technique, which involves flipping his fretting hand over and under the neck rapidly, playing the guitar both regularly and like a piano.

Here MAB pays tribute to our man Dime:

 

Thanks for the playing Michael you are an ICON!

the Hellion

BLEACH BANGS RADIO 09/25/12 – HERETIC AND CRY WOLF! REBROADCAST LINK

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW:  show_3807385.mp3

TRACK OF THE WEEK 09/25/12- BLACK SPIDERS “KISS TRIED TO KILL ME”

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I just love this band PERIOD! This video and song KILLS me. I wonder how KISS feels about it? You’ve gotta see this:

STEVIL HELMER – A MAN WITH A MISSION

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I have been getting to know Stevil recently. I have found him to be a very interesting and kind person. We are in tune to a lot of the same things. I would like you to get to know him as well. Let’s see what he has to say:

As a child music was always an important part of my life and a constant friend, tell us a little about how music entered your life.

 Stevil: My Dad got a 58 Kay Acoustic for a wedding present in 1965, he really wanted to play guitar but finding the time was hard since he was always working. In 1971 when I was five years old he taught me “I Walk the Line” from Johnny Cash. I think it wasnt just that song but the profound lyrics in that song really meant a lot to me. Here I am 41 years later still playing the guitar ! That many years of pickin’ and a grinnin’ would be a novel. There isn’t much I havent played in all those years. I’m known for playing metal because I’ve been playing metal since 1982 live but I’ve jammed in a lot of different types of bands from rock to reggae to outlaw country to blues to metal. Cover bands included. It’s all influenced me. Listening to a lot of music is important to I think. I love bootleg live recordings and the more raw the better ! Both of my little brothers jam and my mom plays hand bells in the church handbell choir. It’s safe to say I knew I wanted be a musician since I was five years old.

My mom was always exposing me to new artists as a child shoe I would cite her as my biggest musical inspiration as a child, who was your biggest musical inspiration in your youth?

 Stevil: JC is always be on that list but Roy Clarke really has a place in my youth for sure. He was so fast ! I always loved his banjo playing too. Hee Haw was a regular thing in our house growing up in Sun Prairie WI. I basically grew up in a corn field. Hendrix really played a large part. The Beatles Complete was one of my first music books. Sabbath turned it all metal for me. Master of Reality in particular. I liked raunchy bands. Areosmith and ZZ Top. I grew up in the 70s so all of those bands from that time.

Most people never get beyond the dream of being a musician phase, why did you choose to start playing music?

 Stevil: Oh I definitely started playing music because all the girls loved musicians hhaha…um Music was the escape. A form a meditation for me really. I used to spend a lot of time in music books but now I mostly play a lot of blues when im just sitting around the house.I’ve always believed “feeling” the music was really important. There are two kinds of musicians I think. One kind reads a lot of books. The other kind is trying to write their own book in their own words. I’m the second kind for sure. Writing songs every day is important to me. I’m always trying to out do myself and play every style of music I can. I love hybrid picking. Steve Morse is a master of that.
Some people never get the chance to have music lessons, did you have any formal musical training?

   Stevil: Betty Scrivner was my 7th grade guitar teacher, studied with Richard Farber in WI who is a classical guitarist, Timothy Ball in Ventura CA from the Tempo Cats is a big influence too. He plays latin jazz and blues. I’ve jammed with anyone who would LET me jam and in always jamming with a ton of other players I learned a lot !. Troy Stetina books are cool. Mel Bay. There are so many great players out there no one ever heard of but they have great skills and insight into songwriting that can be learned just by watching them and listening carefully. I love go to really small bars and watch local bands play. Some great players are found playing to 10 people every Saturday night. It’s a lesson in itself every time to see any live show really.Watching fingers and listening carefully. Somewhere along the way I became more concerned with the song than the guitar solo. I love the solo for “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Stones but the song is awesome too. A great solo wont save a poorly crafted song ever..so writing the riffs was more important. The goal is always to serve the song, not myself.

The path of being a musician is full of lessons. What are some you have learned in your early bands?

 Stevil: I don’t drink booze at all anymore. The greatest lesson I learned was drinking way too much at rehearsals was a party and not a rehearsal at all. I don’t have anything against people who drink but I know focus on music can’t be obtained very well after consuming a fifth of Jack Daniels. Safe to say I partied hard back in the day haha…now I just practice hard ! I also learned playing in as many bands at one time is good too. Things fall through, people change and give up. I always want to play music so I have several bands going on at once to make damn sure I’m always jamming ! The best lesson for me is to always practice 4-6 hours a day like religion. I’m convinced no-one becomes a better musician just by talking about it but rather just doing it !

If you could write/perform with any musician from history who would that be?

 Stevil: this is an easy one. Kirk Windstein for sure. Kirk has written some of the most bad ass riffs of all time in my opinion. It’s not just the riffs either, it’s the content of his lyrics that have carried me through some very tough times in my life. He writes about strength to over come the pain life throws at us all and the courage to carry on no matter what curves come our way. It a very positive thing. 20 years ago when I first started listening to him that’s when I started tuning my guitars way down too. I tune to B now on a six string….it all began with listening to very old Crowbar records.
     I know you are a producer, if you could produce for anyone who would you love to work with?
     Stevil: Randy Cooper is a favorite guitarist Id like to work with. Aside from working with him I really like to work with bands no one ever heard of. They will send me mp3s of horrible recordings BUT I can hear they write great songs ! A bad recording of great song ? is still a great song !!!!! I spend a lot of time answering email questions from unknown bands and do that for free. It’s a “pay it forward” sort of thing for me. I wish i had me 20 years ago so helping up and coming and struggling bands to get a little further down the road is always my goal. I’ve never been sorry I got an engineering degree from MMI. I’m not the worlds greatest engineer but I’ve been playing music forever and ever so I think that helps to find taste in sounds and production. I’m very fond of rockin’ raw recordings that aren’t too over produced. The first Down record sets a standard for me. It’s an awesome and very real recording of what the band actually sounds like ! It still got a little modern feel to the mix though in contrast to old Sabbath recordings.

I have been listening to a lot of new bands, are there any  who have caught your ears?

Stevil: I’m a big Crowned By Fire fan. Justin Manning is the guitarist and has some serious skills. I’m digging All Hail the Yeti,Double Wide out of Ireland, Jon Joe rocks !. Doomdogs in Sweden, Christer has been a friend for years, and the new Klank record is super creative too. Klank has a guest appearance on his new release from Dug Pinnick from Kings X by the way. All these bands are friends except I don’t really know All Hail the Yeti at all….im just really digging what they are doin’ ! It’s a pet peeve of mine when musicians wont acknowledge the greatness of other players. I’m anxious to hear the solo records from Tony Vaughn and the project my buddy Kurt Arft is doing too. I’m sure they will both shine ! I am in awe of these bands mentioned and have great respect for their abilities ! Haters are really just the village idiots…ya know ?

I f you were hired to give a lecture to young musicians trying to break in to the business, what advice would you give them?

   Stevil: Invest your OWN money. Invest your OWN time and keep both eyes on the money at all times. Always be cost-effective and never waste money if you don’t have to. best advice ever. Once a band loses control of its assets ? they lose control of the profit too. Just my opinion but I live by it these days. Income for a business is directly related to advertising. Bands can buy their own advertising ! there ya go ! pretty simple ! The minute you let someone else put their hands in the cookie jar ? more often than not they take the cookies and the whole damn jar for themselves ! So protect your shit at all costs. The other thing is ASK ! No band has anything to lose just by ASKING for interviews, reviews,shows, and publicity. Be nice and ask nice. Most of all have genuine appreciation for your fans. I spend hours every day just talking to fans…some of the greatest people on earth ! the fans make the band famous. for sure ! No label ever made a band. THE FANS did ! best advice: love your fans like they are family.

Do you listen to music that would seem “outside” of your genre?

     Stevil: I’ve listened to every thing under the sun. Ive tried to play it all too. I wont say im a master of any genre but being a swiss army knife never hurts. im not a big rap guy. everything else is listenable to me though as far as genres go. I may listen to Norah Jones on Sunday morning and Slayer on Friday night. I’m not always pissed off ya know ? sometimes im happy. I love the Presidents of the United States. good happy jams ! Monster Magnet..you get the idea. I started re visiting all the old country I listened to when I was a kid because of him and his killer banjo playing. It’s not outside my genre though. Its my roots ! I even recorded a version of “I’m so Lonesome I could Cry” from Hank Sr. Its on the Hillbilly and Helmer Project. Some of my best guitar playin’ I think. All instrumental version..Old country is something most folks can’t really see me playin’ but I did it for ten solid years of my life BEFORE I played metal. It’s all a part of who I am.
The floor is open, discuss what ever you want:

     Stevil: In our third year of doing a huge metal show for animal rescue for Villalobos and Texas. This show takes at least fifty people who all work together to make it happen. Dallas Texas bands donate their time and music to play this show. It truly means the whole world to me. It all began with me and my dog Ace who is a pit bull. Now thousands know about the show. So please take a moment to go support this page. A very special thanks to my great friends Lindsey Thompson and Starla Biage at Turning Key Productions ! The show would never ever be what it is today with out those two ! IN THE PIT FOR THE PIT III HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/371403499594386/

I really want THANK YOU for doing this interview and for supporting music in general ! Id like to add that its awesome that you have two rescued Pit Bulls of your own ! Your support of the show is very greatly appreciated too!

Thanks for the kind words and giving us some insight into your world. Keep your ears open for Stevil and his multitude of projects.

 

the Hellion

 

 

 

JASON BECKER – A MUSICAL SOUL

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www.jasonbecker.com

http://www.facebook.com/jason.becker.1253

 

Jason Eli Becker was born July 22, 1969,  and at the age of 16 with Marty Friedman put together Cacophony. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988.

 

Here’s a taste of “Speed Metal Symphony” :

Jason released his first solo record in 1988. Perpetual Burn is an amazing album.

 

Sadly Cacophony broke up in 1989. Jason then went on to play for David Lee Roth for his A Little Ain’t Enough (1991) record. Jason  was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) a week after joining the band. He managed to finish recording the album, but was unable to tour in support of the album, as his condition left him with little strength in his hands.

 

Here’s Jason with David Lee Roth on “Drop In The Bucket”:

 

 

After his diagnosis he was given two to three years to live. Due to his illness, he eventually lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. Although his ALS gradually robbed him of his ability to play guitar, to walk, and eventually even to speak, he still remains mentally sharp and, with the aid of a computer, continues composing. In the back of the Perspective CD case, Becker states “I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It has crippled my body and speech, but not my mind.” His medical condition has remained stable since 1997. In 2003, Becker posted on his website that he was feeling better and had gained some weight, while the folder for his 2008 album Collection also mentions an upcoming book.

Admirably Jason is still with us today and still composing music. In 1996, Becker released an album entitled Perspective, an instrumental album composed by him (with the exception of Bob Dylan’s song “Meet Me in the Morning”). The writing of the music had been started before ALS completely crippled his abilities. By using guitar, and, later, when he was unable to use both hands, a keyboard, he continued to compose while his disease worsened. However, when Becker could no longer physically play even a keyboard, his friend and music producer Mike Bemesderfer helped him with a music-composing computer program which could read the movements of his head and eyes, enabling Becker to continue to compose after he lost control of the rest of his body.

Several years later, Becker released Raspberry Jams (1999) and Blackberry Jams (2003); the first contained various unreleased demo-tracks, and the latter contained demo-tracks and alternate versions of songs that were later reworked and published into other albums.

Collection is a great album to start with if you want to experience the music of Jason Becker.

 

Here is one of the newer tracks that I cherish “Electric Prayer For Peace”

Thank you Jason for all you have given to the music world. Much love and respect to you.

the Hellion

 

 

JOHN 5 – A GUITARIST FOR THE NEW AGE

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A lot of people have recently become aware of John 5 through his guest appearances on That Metal Show and as the guitarist for Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. His career however, is quite impressive. He has done studio work with Matt Ball, Avril Lavigne, Rob Halford, k.d. lang, Garbage, Meat Loaf, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, FeFe Dobson and has written and recorded with southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. One of my favorite projects he has done was RED SQUARE BLACK. Featuring: Mark Binder – Vocals, John Lowery (later to become John 5) – Guitar, Randy Castillo – Drums, Angelo Barbera – Bass they released one EP in October of 1994 entitled “SQUARE”.

 

With tones of metal, and industrial this band was ahead of its time. Sadly they only had the one release and the members moved on to other projects. Here’s a listen to “Violent Pause” from the EP:

John 5 also co-wrote  “The Monster Is Loose” with Nikki Sixx and Desmond Child for Meat Loaf’s 2006 release Bat Out Of Hell III. 

 

Currently John 5 is playing with Rob Zombie, a new record and tour are in the immediate future. Here’s “Foxy, Foxy” from the 2010 release Educated Horses:

 

John recently released his sixth solo record God Told Me To on May 8th of this year.

 

A great release full of smoking and innovative licks I HIGHLY recommend getting this. Here is the video for “Welcome To Violence”:

 

If I had to sum up John 5 in one word it is, AWESOME!

 

the Hellion