Category Archives: Bassists

A Message from FLEA regarding the Red Hot Chili Peppers Super Bowl performance

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From http://redhotchilipeppers.com:

A Message From Flea

Dear everybody,

When we were asked by the NFL and Bruno to play our song Give It Away at the Super Bowl, it was made clear to us that the vocals would be live, but the bass, drums, and guitar would be pre-recorded. I understand the NFL’s stance on this, given they only have a few minutes to set up the stage, there a zillion things that could go wrong and ruin the sound for the folks watching in the stadium and the t.v. viewers. There was not any room for argument on this, the NFL does not want to risk their show being botched by bad sound, period.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers stance on any sort of miming has been that we will absolutely not do it. The last time we did it (or tried to) was in the late 80’s, we were thrown off of ‘The Top Of the Pops’ television program in the U.K. during rehearsals because we refused to mime properly, I played bass with my shoe, John played guitar atop Anthony’s shoulders, and we basically had a wrestling match onstage, making a mockery of the idea that it was a real live performance.

We mimed on one or two weird MTV shows before that and it always was a drag. We take our music playing seriously, it is a sacred thing for us, and anyone who has ever seen us in concert (like the night before the Super Bowl at the Barclays Center), knows that we play from our heart, we improvise spontaneously, take musical risks, and sweat blood at every show. We have been on the road for 31 years doing it.

So, when this Super Bowl gig concept came up, there was a lot of confusion amongst us as whether or not we should do it, but we eventually decided, it was a surreal-like, once in a life time crazy thing to do and we would just have fun and do it. We had given this a lot of thought before agreeing to do it, and besides many a long conversation amongst ourselves, I spoke with many musician friends for whom I have the utmost respect, and they all said they would do it if asked, that it was a wild trippy thing to do, what the hell. Plus, we the RHCP all love football too and that played a big part in our decision. We decided that, with Anthony singing live, that we could still bring the spirit and freedom of what we do into the performance, and of course we played every note in the recording specially for the gig. I met and spoke with Bruno, who was a beautiful dude, a real talented musician, and we worked out something that seemed like it would be fun.

We recorded a track for the day, just banged one out from our hearts that was very like in spirit to the versions we have been playing live the last few years with our beloved Josh on guitar.

For the actual performance, Josh, Chad, and I were playing along with the pre recorded track so there was no need to plug in our guitars, so we did not. Could we have plugged them in and avoided bumming people out who have expressed disappointment that the instrumental track was pre recorded? Of course easily we could have and this would be a non-issue. We thought it better to not pretend. It seemed like the realest thing to do in the circumstance. It was like making a music video in front of a gazillion people, except with live vocals, and only one chance to rock it. Our only thought was to bring the spirit of who we are to the people.

I am grateful to the NFL for having us. And I am grateful to Bruno, who is a super talented young man for inviting us to be a part of his gig. I would do it all the same way again.

We, as a band, aspire to grow as musicians and songwriters, and to continue to play our guts out live onstage for anyone who wants to get their brains blown out.

Sincerely,

Flea

Photo by Clara Balzary

Photo by Clara Balzary

 

Great live band, I have seen them several times. Thanks Flea!

the Hellion

 

Mastodon Announce Spring Headlining Tour

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MASTODON ANNOUNCE SPRING HEADLINING TOUR

 

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH

 

BAND COMPLETING WORK ON UPCOMING NEW ALBUM IN NASHVILLE WITH PRODUCER NICK RASKULINECZ

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February 3rd, 2014 – (Burbank, CA.) – Ending weeks of speculation Mastodon have announced that they will hit the road for a headlining spring tour with support from Gojira and Kvelertak. The tour kicks off April 28th in Seattle and criss-crosses the U.S. before culminating in a performance at the Rock On The Range Festival on May 18th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 7th.

 

Mastodon have been in the studio in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones) working on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed album The Hunter, which entered the Billboard Top 200 Album chart in the Top 10 and found its way onto several Year End/Best Of critics’ lists, including those compiled by Rolling Stone, Spin, Revolver, Decibel and many more. More details about the new album will be announced soon. Until then, stay tuned to www.mastodonrocks.com. Details on the release of Mastodon’s anticipated 6th studio effort will be revealed soon.

 

Mastodon’s upcoming spring U.S. tour dates are as follows:

 

04/29    Portland, OR                             Roseland Theater

05/01    Oakland, CA                             Fox Theater

05/02    Los Angeles, CA                       Nokia Theater

05/03    Las Vegas, NV                          House of Blues

05/07    Minneapolis, MN                       First Avenue

05/08    Chicago, IL                               The Riviera Theater

05/09    Pittsburgh, PA                          Stage AE

05/12    Buffalo, NY                               The Town Ballroom

05/13    Washington, DC                        9:30 Club

05/15    New York, NY                           Terminal 5

05/16    Boston, MA                              The Palladium

05/17    Philadelphia, PA                        Electric Factory

05/18    Columbus, OH                          Rock On The Range

The recently released Mastodon Live At Brixton is available now. This live concert experience is available as an audio-only version and a live digital video version directed by Ryan Mackfall (Crashburn Media) (both featuring the full 97-minute performance) and is available from all digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon. The full set-list is as follows:

 

 

Dry Bone Valley

Black Tongue

Crystal Skull

I Am Ahab

Capillarian Crest

Colony of Birchmen

Megalodon

Thickening

Blasteroid

Sleeping Giant

Ghost of Karelia

All The Heavy Lifting

Spectrelight

Curl of the Burl

Bedazzled Fingernails

Circle of Cysquatch

Aqua Dementia

Crack The Skye

Where Strides The Behemoth

Iron Tusk

March of the Fireants

Blood and Thunder

Creature Lives

 Click here to order Mastodon Live At Brixton.

“It’s All I Need” – Jeff Sandoval and Mike Araiza

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Ok, so I have had this track for a few days now and can’t get enough of it. Jeff and Mike will be releasing the lyric video to the world tonight 01/31/14 at 6pm mst right here: Jeff Sandoval & Mike Araiza on their Facebook page.

Let’s talk a bit about the track and the video. While it is an acoustic track it does not come off that way at all, in fact, it’s pretty damn heavy. Let’s talk about the bass first. Kurt Arft lays down a heavy, dirty bassline that, by itself, does not seem like it belongs in this song but it fits like a puzzle piece into it. Kurt gives it that groove that this song so rightly deserves. Chris Collier, who not played drums on this but produced it as well, put all of those puzzle pieces together into one solid track.

What can I say about Mike Araiza? The guitars on here are clean, and I mean CLEAN. Mike is so full of melody and it truly shows in his playing and style. I keep forgetting that this is an acoustic track.

Ahhh the vocal stylings of Jeff Sandoval. There are not to many vocalists out there that can still give me the chills, Jeff is one of them.  You feel ALL of the emotion that Jeff is imparting into his vocals.

The video for “It’s All I Need” is an incredible piece of work as well. While it is a “lyric”video it leaves you with the images playing over and over in your head. You will find these images replaying in your mind every time you listen to this song.

Don’t miss out on the premier on 01/31/14 at 6pm mst right here: Jeff Sandoval & Mike Araiza on their Facebook page!

From the mouths of RED DRAGON CARTEL: the story

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91aNF0PvpOL._SL1500_      Frontiers Records has just released a video of Red Dragon Cartel members Jake E. Lee, Ronnie Mancuso, Darren James Smith, Jonas Fairley telling the tale of how Red Dragon Cartel came to be.  Check it out it’s pretty cool:

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     it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s RED DRAGON CARTEL!

     the Hellion

 

Kyng To Release New Studio Album Burn The Serum On April 15th On Razor & Tie; First Song Stream On Revolver Now‏

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KYNG TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM BURN THE SERUM ON APRIL 15TH ON RAZOR & TIE
 Hear First Track “Burn The Serum” Now On Revolver
(New York, NY) – Southern California rock trio Kyng will release their new studio album, Burn The Serum (Razor & Tie ) on April 15th.  Burn The Serum was produced by Andrew Alekel(Foo Fighters, No Doubt, Queens of The Stone Age, Clutch) and James A. Rota (Sound City) and was recorded at Grandmaster Recorders LTD and Sword & Shield in Hollywood, CA as well as at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA.
Hear the first song off the album “Burn The Serum” now at Revolver.
Kyng’s Eddie Veliz explains the song, “Burn The Serum is one of the best songs that the guys and I have written so far. It’s extremely honest in the subject matter and the riff.”
On their second full-length album and first for Razor & Tie, the band harks back to the essence of heavy rock ‘n’ roll, forging thunderous percussion to lightning hot riffs driven by a divine vocal howl. At the same time, they keep their eyes wide open towards the future. Kyng find grandiosity in simplicity. The Los Angeles outfit may only boast three members—Eddie Veliz [vocals/guitar], Pepe Clarke [drums], and Tony Castaneda [bass/backup vocals]—but their collective roar could easily tip the Southern California Richter Scale.
Formed in 2008, Kyng broke out of the City of Angels in 2011 with the group’s independent debut Trampled Sun.  The album landed shining critical acclaim for its “California Heavy” sound merging the metallic meanderings of Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age with the timeless scope of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. They hit the road with everybody from The Sword and Clutch to Trivium and Megadeth—even being picked to play at Metallica’s first-everOrion Music + More festival. Loudwire raved, “a hard hitting fusion of rocking goodness,” andUltimate-Guitar added, “if they keep churning out records as good as Trampled Sun, they will be mentioned right up there with Mastodon and the like.”
KYNG wrapped up 2013 with the Hellpop Tour with In This Moment, Motionless In Whiteand All Hail The Yeti and will hit the road in 2014 to support of Burn The Serum (tour dates below).  .

 

KYNG Tour Dates
April 26 – Fort Meyers, FL – Fort Rock
April 27 – Jacksonville, FL – Metropolitan Park
May 2 – Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live
May 3 – Concord, NC – Charlotte Motor  Speedway
May 10 – Bangor, ME – Darlings Waterfront Pavilion
May 16– Columbus, OH – Columbus Crew Stadium Rock on The Range

CROWNED BY FIRE INKS A DEAL WITH CHROME MOUNTAIN RECORDS!

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Ever since I had my eardrums punched in by Crowned By Fire and their first release ‘Prone To Destroy’ in 2011 I have been behind them. I have since become friends with John Fitterer (vocals),  Justin Manning (lead guitar), Michael Pacheco (rhythm guitar), Chris Breedlove (bass),  J.P. Paschall (drums). They are a hard working bunch of guys that deserve their shot. I am happy to pass on the following to you, my beloved readers:

Music promoter and owner of Arkansas Rocks! Entertainment, Stephanie Shaw, announced last week the launch of her new record label, Chrome Mountain Records. Chrome Mountain Records (CMR), is a fresh new Indie label with plans to blaze a new trail in today’s music industry. To set things ablaze, Chrome Mountain Records has just inked a deal with LA-based metal band, CROWNED BY FIRE, to release a 6 song EP, Space Music For Cave People, in March 2014.

Crowned By Fire has been burning down the metal scene since 2006. As fate would have it, Stephanie, booked CBF a date on their Southern Horsepower Tour back in March 2013, in Little Rock, Arkansas. “I was already a fan, I had bought all of their music on itunes, but seeing them LIVE, brought on an intense passion for their music”, states Stephanie Shaw. “In December 2013, I found out that Crowned By Fire, was playing a gig at the World famous, Whisky a GoGo, out in LA. I booked a flight and was planning my first trip to California, before I knew it! It was then and there that I knew Crowned By Fire had to be the first band signed to Chrome Mountain Records”.

Chrome Mountain Records is setting a March 2014, release date for the new 6 song EP, Space Music For Cave People, recorded at Zakk Wylde’s THE BLACK VATICAN studio. Crowned By Fire are the only band besides Wylde’s Black Label Society, to have recording privileges there, to date. Crowned By Fire’s lead guitarist/founding member, Justin Neil Manning, was Wylde’s guitar tech/personal assistant off and on for 14 years, honing his craft from a very young age, under the guidance of Zakk’s watchful eye. Lead singer/founding member, John Fitterer, fronted the LA-based psyche metal band, Transultra, through the 90’s, before joining up with Manning and starting Crowned By Fire, in 2006. Fitterer’s unique and powerful vocals, paired with Manning’s phenomenal shredding, define the classic American metal sound. Chris Breedlove-Bass, Michael Pacheco-rhythm guitar, and JP Paschall-drums, round out the heavy-hitting line up ov doom.

Crowned By Fire are currently putting finishing touches on a couple of songs with Engineer, Chris Collier. The 6 song EP will be mixed by Pantera’s famous producer, Sterling Winfield, of Lewisville, Texas. Chrome Mountain Records has plans for this release on vinyl, CD and digital download, in March 2014. Actual release date will be announced soon. Shaw states that she is looking forward to this next step up the Chrome Mountain with Crowned By Fire, and invites everyone to, “come burn with us!”

“Chrome Mountain Records, shiny chrome on the outside, molten metal on the inside!”

Check out this cool video montage from their last tour the “Southern Horsepower Tour 2013” you might catch the Hellion in some of the pics! Thanks to CBF Lindz for putting it together:

     You can find Crowned By Fire online @

https://www.facebook.com/CrownedByFire

 http://www.crownedbyfire.com

 https://twitter.com/CrownedByFire

   Chrome Mountain Records is at

https://www.facebook.com/ChromeMountainRecords

http://chromemountainrecords.com

     it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s CROWNED BY FIRE!!!

the Hellion

Black Label Society – “My Dying Time” from the upcoming release ‘Catacombs Of The Black Vatican’

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Ok I admit it, I am biased when it comes to Black Label Society. I also admit to purchasing the new track “My Dying Time” the minute it became available. I have taken some time to absorb the track and see what the public thought of it as well. Give it a listen and we’ll talk about it:

     So, some say it is a departure from the traditional BLS sound, I say it just reflects the progression of Zakk as a performer and a person. We cannot expect an artist to become pigeonholed by a “sound”. If we do, we get the same record over and over again.

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     “My Dying Time” imparts a heavy groove that combined with the hypnotic vocals takes us on a doom laden trip into the Catacombs Of The black Vatican. The track is nicely layered with great production quality. It reminds me of early Sabbath or a song from times gone by when music meant something.  The naysayers have come out of the woodwork to cast their aspersions on Zakk and co. To the naysayers I say this: How many records have you sold? Where are you playing tonight? What have you done for the music world? What is stopping you from proving your point? Bring it on and I, for one, would love to hear it and give it a chance without prejudice. As Zakk would say GI/FD!

     Thanks Father Zakk and we’re waiting patiently for the rest of the record!

     it’s loud, it’s full of ‘roids, it’s laced with Viagra, it’s BLACK LABEL SOCIETY!!!

     SDMF my BLS Family!

     -the Hellion

An interview with Derrick Brumely of CONQUEST!

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Another cool band I have recently been turned on to is CONQUEST (thanks Dave Tedder). I recently was given the chance to speak with lead guitarist/vocalist Derrick Brumely. Here’s the interview and enjoy:

     Check them out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Conquestmetal/169329849774574

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it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s CONQUEST!

the Hellion

A conversation with guitarist Mike Araiza

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I have known Mike Araiza for several years now. In fact I remember sitting in the parking lot of the Owl Cafe with him and Jeff Sandoval listening to the freshly minted tracks from the Of The Earth project they had just completed.

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They moved on in their journey and the next step was an album of songs they had written that turned out to be the frank Hannon Band ‘Six String Soldiers. Which featured appearances by legendary guitarists Dickey Betts, Dave Meniketti, Rick Derringer, and Pat Travers.

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Now, I am excited to say, Mike and Jeff are taking the next step in their musical evolution. They are going to be releasing a series of new tracks as single releases over the next year. The first of which is tentatively called “All I Need” or “It’s All I Need”. This first track features mutual friend Kurt Arft on bass guitar and Chris Collier pulling double duties on drums and production duties.

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bassist Kurt Arft

bassist Kurt Arft

drummer and producer Chris Collier

drummer and producer Chris Collier

 

Mike and I had a nice conversation about all of these events and would love to invite you to listen to it right here:

 

Make sure you got to Mike and Jeff’s Facebook page and give them a like and show your support: https://www.facebook.com/JeffandMikeMusic!!!

 

it’s loud, it’s tonerific, it’s Jeff and Mike!

the Hellion

 

 

 

 

STEEL PANTHER DEMONSTRATES “THE BURDEN OF BEING WONDERFUL” IN NEW MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY KIRKER BUTLER

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STEEL PANTHER DEMONSTRATES “THE BURDEN OF BEING WONDERFUL” IN NEW MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY KIRKER BUTLER

Video Premieres On Vevo Worldwide With New Album

All You Can Eat Out April 1st

 

(January 21st, 2014 – New York, NY) Steel Panther is releasing their second music video from their upcoming album,  All You Can Eat. The latest track being brought to the screen is “The Burden Of Being Wonderful.” It will premiere worldwide on Vevo at http://www.vevo.com/watch/steel-panther/party-like-tomorrow-is-the-end-of-the-world-explicit/GBWWP1300151. The video was directed by Kirker Butler, who is best known for his work as a writer and producer on Family Guy and The Cleveland Show. Butler explains what drew him to direct the video, “I grew up on heavy metal videos. They were the best things on MTV (along with the Duran Duran videos with the naked girls).  I wanted to make a heavy metal video the way they used to make them, but with better production values and less Tawny Kitaen.” Comedian Matt Braunger, who has been seen on MadTV and NBC’s “Up All Night”, plays the lead in the video that follows an average Joe throughout his day as he sees himself in situations that make him seem as wonderful as Steel Panther. All You Can Eat is slated for release on April 1st in the United States on Open E Records via Kobalt Label Services (KLS). The album is available for pre-order at http://steelpantherrocks.com/presale. Longtime Steel Panther producer Jay Ruston produced All You Can Eat.

From the opening acoustic riff of album opener “Pussywhipped” to final chord hit in the album closer “She’s On The Rag,” it is clear Steel Panther is back and better than ever.  Songs like “Gloryhole,” “Gangbang At The Old Folks Home” and “BVS” all showcase Steel Panther’s incredible musicianship and ability to write memorable and sometimes educational songs. The band, comprised of Michael Starr on vocals, Satchel on guitar, Lexxi Foxx on bass and Stix Zadinia on drums, have made a name for themselves as one of the most entertaining acts out today.

COVER - SP All You Can Eat copy

The track listing for All You Can Eat is:

 

1.   Pussywhipped

2.   Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World

3.   Gloryhole

4.   Bukkake Tears

5.   Gangbang At The Old Folks Home

6.   Ten Strikes You’re Out

7.   The Burden Of Being Wonderful

8.   F@#king My Heart In The Ass

9.   BVS

10. You’re Beautiful When You Don’t Talk

11. If I Was The King

12. She’s On The Rag

 

Steel Panther was, for a long time, rock’s best-kept secret: a cult legend on the LA scene. But in recent years due to the success of their albums (both debuted at #1 on the Billboard Comedy Album Charts), and live shows, the band has enjoyed huge acclaim from fans and peers alike. Steel Panther has been joined on stage by rock and roll icons such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Paul Stanley of KISS, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Green Day to name a few.  Steel Panther has also been seen on Dancing With The Stars, Bad Girl’s Club and most recently in a national web campaign for Warner Brothers Pictures hit film, Rock Of Ages.

http://www.steelpantherrocks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/steelpantherkicksass

https://twitter.com/Steel_Panther