Several years ago I was invited to see Murder FM at a local venue. I had a few minutes prior to their set and was able to talk with them and found them to be focused and driven individuals. When they took the stage they owned it and let everyone in attendance know this. I thoroughly enjoyed their set and have kept them on my radar ever since.
The stars finally aligned and Norman”The Gnar” Matthew and I were finally able to schedule to time together and talk. We had a great conversation about a ton of things and you can listen in right here:
In a land before time…there were record stores, racks of magazines, radio stations that played real music, and rockstars who were like gods to us. Gods shining bright from Olympus, inaccessible to us mere mortals.
Like a tornado raging across the plains Van Halen took their place on high.
I was instantly floored and in love with their music, and style. I fancied myself in the same ilk as David Lee Roth. I had the long blond hair, I wore bandannas like him, and I was loud and boisterous like him. It wasn’t a party without me and when I entered a room, everyone there knew it.
David Lee Roth to me was the end all to be all. The force of David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, Eddie and Alex Van Halen was out of this world.
I look back now and have to ask myself “What the hell was I thinking?” I can now say David Lee Roth was not the great vocalist I thought. But, at that time, he was the vocalist we all wanted.
Now we find ourselves older and wiser, well some of us any way, and Van Halen is once again on the minds of everyone. Van Halen 2015 is, to me, an eight cylinder engine running on only six. Sure the music still sounds good but we are missing those outstanding backing vocals and the stellar stage presence of Michael Anthony. And David Lee Roth has become a parody of himself.
I have such a hard listening to the new live stuff coming out now. I cringe with embarrassment at the attempts to reclaim their status in the rock world. I will always love Van Halen now and forever, but it’s time to retire their jerseys….
P.S. STOP FIGHTING AND NAME BASHING EACH OTHER AND PASS THE TORCH ON!!! LET THE VAN HALEN LEGACY GO OUT ON A GOOD NOTE!!!
So you wanna be a promoter huh? Well you better put your big boy/girl pants on and get ready to work. If you think it’s a cool thing to do and you get to hang out with the band, you have another thing coming.
What exactly is a promoter? According to the internet it says: Tour promoters (also known as concert promoters or talent buyers) are the individuals or companies responsible for organizing a live concert tour or special event performance. The tour promoter makes an offer of employment to a particular artist, usually through the artist’s agent or music manager. The promoter and agent then negotiate the live performance contract.
Let’s be real, most bands these days deal with local “in town” promoters. This means a lot of work for the small time promoter because most don’t really have the money or staff to back them. This also means a lot of upfront money out of pocket for said promoter. First things first, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE FUCKING MONEY TO PAY THE BANDS!!!!!!! The minute you book a show you should set aside your guarantees. There is nothing more heinous than for a traveling band to get stiffed on their guarantee. Most of these bands are getting show to show on the money from the previous show. Now, let’s talk venue. Make sure you completely check out the venue and ensure load in/out locations, if there is a “green room” for the band, if there is sound equipment and a person to man it (here’s a tip: a good promoter should be able to put their hands on a PA and sound guy in a minute. ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP, AND A BACK UP BACK UP!) The MINUTE you book a show PROMOTE THE SHIT OUT OF IT!!! This does NOT mean just create a Facebook event page and sit back and expect the masses to show up. Make flyers, call people, hand out said flyers at other shows, hit up the local radio shows, HIT THE STREETS!!! Night of show, BE THE FIRST PERSON THERE!!!! You are the director of traffic for the evening, period. Make sure everything and everyone has a place and they are in it. Make the bands feel welcomed and appreciated (THEY WILL TELL OTHER BANDS HOW THEY WERE TREATED!!!) and they will do their best and will love to work with you again. The fans will come to know that your shows are well run and incredible and the word will spread. There are no excuses for putting on a lame show.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about the songs that have staying power. What makes them great? Why can certain songs be listened to over and over again, yet others drive you batshit. One of the things that has come to light in my thoughts is the alchemy between the musicians and the studio wizards. I have decided to seek out some of these wizards and try to get in their heads.
I now present to you the first of my conversations with said wizards, Mr. Sterling Winfield. If you have been living under a rock and do not recognize the name let me educate you. He has worked with: Pantera, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, Nightranger, Pissing Razors, Hellyeah, and Damageplan to name a few.
Sterling also clues us in to a new band he is working with: A Rebel Few. Check them out at: http://www.arebelfew.com/
Grab yourself a cold one, put your headphones on, and check out our interesting chat with Sterling right here:
It’s loud (and it sounds great), it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!!!
What can I say about Motörhead? Well, having witnessed them live, and meeting the immortal Lemmy, they will remain a favorite of mine eternally.
June 16th 2015 – Grammy Award winning iconic rock band Motörhead, who are embarking on a 40th anniversary world tour in support of their upcoming release Bad Magic, have announced a US tour. These North American shows start in mid-August, with Saxon and Anthrax as special guests on select dates, before ending with the now-legendary Motörboat Cruise between Sept 28th – Oct 2nd from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. The cruise also features Slayer, Anthrax and a bumper line-up of bands including three exciting new acts, Others, Budderside, and No Words.
Bad Magic is the band’s 22nd studio album and is slated to be released August 28th via UDR Music / Motörhead Music. The album was recorded at NRG Studios in Los Angeles, CA with long-time producer Cameron Webb. Bad Magic is the follow up to the band’s highly successful album Aftershock which saw Motörhead enjoy their most successful year yet, including a fourth Grammy nomination.
Sometimes less is more. When a band puts out a release every year, year after year, the music and excitement can grow stale. Now, after a four year absence Disturbed is returning to kick our collective asses with some new music. the Hellion Rocks is really looking forward to this release!
DISTURBED ANNOUNCE RETURN FROM HIATUS WITH
NEW ALBUM IMMORTALIZED DUE AUGUST 21 WORLDWIDE
OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR FIRST SINGLE “THE VENGEFUL ONE” OUT NOW
ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER EVERYWHERE TODAY
June 23, 2015 – Burbank, CA – After a four-year hiatus, Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum hard rock titans Disturbed have announced their return with their sixth studio album, entitled Immortalized, to be released August 21 through Reprise Records. Lead single “The Vengeful One” is out now, along with the accompanying animated video from award-winning filmmaker Phil Mucci, and Immortalizedis available for pre-order everywhere today. The upcoming release follows 2010’s gold-certified Asylum, Disturbed‘s fourth consecutive #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and the group’s subsequent four-year hiatus, which gave members David Draiman [vocals], Dan Donegan [guitar], Mike Wengren [drums], and John Moyer [bass] the necessary reprieve to make this imminent and deliberate return.
Watch/share the official video for “The Vengeful One”:
“The idea was to leave when we were at our peak, which we were, and to come back when we felt reinvigorated,” asserts Draiman. “We had basically been going nonstop since 1998,” adds Wengren. “We got to do our own things. It didn’t take too long until the itch started coming back.” And Donegan agrees: “We wanted to return when we collectively had that fire underneath us. We missed it so much that we could tap into this energy and deliver the right album. We did it on our own terms.”
In January 2014, Draiman, Donegan, and Wengren met for dinner in their hometown of Chicago. Shortly thereafter, without notifying friends, families, or their label, the three began to fly back and forth to each other’s respective home studios for writing sessions, marking the beginnings of Immortalized and the first time they collectively wrote together since 2001.
“For this album, everything was written in the same room,” Draiman remarks. “It was wonderful experiencing how it used to be back in the day for us. That became apparent in the material, whether it was the passion of the performance, the power being harnessed, or the feelings evoked. We could feel the difference.”
To push themselves further, the group headed to Las Vegas’ Hideout Recordings to work alongside producer Kevin Churko [Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch]. “The goal was to find a producer we felt creatively comfortable with, but who could challenge us and spark a new evolution,” said Donegan. “Churko did that.”
The resulting record features the unshakable first single “The Vengeful One” – “Musically, it’s got that old school metal sound,” says Donegan. “It’s definitely Disturbed!” – along with an outside-the-box cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence,” unlike anything in the group’s catalog.
“I think the fans will feel like it was worth the wait,” says Donegan. “We’ve been planning this for the past year and keeping it a secret so we can’t wait to hear the response. I hope fans realize we have a lot more left in us. This album reassured me of that. To be away from it for almost 5 years, get back in a room, write together, and tap into that fire is awesome. Part of me didn’t want to leave the studio! We still have a lot more to say. We still have a lot more to do. We’re returning stronger than ever. I think Immortalized shows that.”
Formed in Chicago in 1996, Disturbed have sold 12 million albums globally, scored nine No. 1 singles at Active Rock Radio, and had four consecutive albums debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, a feat shared only with Metallica and Dave Matthews Band. Their quadruple-platinum 2000 debut The Sickness formally announced their arrival as hard rock leaders, with that status solidified by their subsequent gold-, platinum- and double platinum-certified records as well as a Grammy Award nomination in the category of “Best Hard Rock Performance” for “Inside the Fire” in 2009.
Pre-order the album, including deluxe limited edition bundles:
I have been hearing lately that guitarist Vinnie Vincent has gone missing. I did a Google search and found a couple of atricles regarding this but nothing concrete. Interesting how a former member of “The Hottest Band In The World!” can just fall off the earth. Is it a conspiracy? Did people from the planet Jendell abduct him on Ace’s command? Did Gene and Paul stash him with Jimmy Hoffa? Has fallen under the spell of the Cat People? Or is he just done with the limelight and rat race and just living life? I’m gonna keep digging and will keep you updated.
CHILDREN OF BODOM Pre-Orders For I Worship Chaos Start 06/19/15!
I had the great fortune to meet and hang out with Alexi a little while back. We had a great discussion about life, music and the intense New Mexico sun. I’m looking forward to this new release and VERY interested in hearing their cover of the Kenny Loggins song “Danger Zone”, it should be interesting. Keep CHILDREN OF BODOM making music and pre-order yours TODAY!!!
Finnish Metal heroes CHILDREN OF BODOM will release their ninth studio album, I Worship Chaos, worldwide on October 2nd, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check out a message from the studio from Alexi and Janne :
Pre-orders for I Worship Chaos are available beginning today!
I Worship Chaos will be available in following formats:
– CD + DVD digibook (incl. bonus DVD and three bonus tracks!)
Mastodon remains a band that continues to impress and entertain me. They have just released a new video for the track “Asleep In The Deep” off of their 2014 release Once More ‘Round The Sun.
MASTODON PREMIERES NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ASLEEP IN THE DEEP”
Mastodon teams up once again with Once More ‘Round The Sun‘s cover artist Skinnerto push the boundaries of psychedelia as far as they can. Skinner is the mastermind behind “Asleep in the Deep” The video tells the psychedelic and epic journey of a house cat who unknowingly travels into a bizarre gypsy catacomb where it encounters a giant bullfrog, a three-headed evil rat king, cat gnomes, cheese slaves and a warrior squirrel. ‘Asleep in the Deep’ is directed by Atlanta-based director, Video Rahim, and co-directed by Special FX guru, Shane Morton (Head of SPFX Make-Up on Adult Swim’s Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell) and Skinner. Hey Beautiful Jerk, a NYC-based design and visual effects boutique, provided creative direction and all post production services. The creator and co-director of “Asleep in the Deep”, Skinner, has this to say about the video:
“This concept was birthed out of my curiosity about what a cat really does at night while we are asleep,” says Skinner. “Where do they go? Cats have a very mysterious myth to them and I thought it would be cool to explore that, as little nocturnal heroes. I decided to put a sort of Joseph Campbell hero myth spin on it and add some Jodorowsky psychedelia as well. I’m more than excited about the way it came out! I love it!”
Mastodon is excited to have a limited webstore exclusive bundle to celebrate the video premiere, which includes the “Asleep in the Deep” t-shirt and larger-than-life 24″x36″ old school movie-style poster printed on 100# text paper. Both the “Asleep in the Deep” shirt and poster feature the exclusive art by Skinner. This is a pre-sale item. Bundles will begin shipping by July 1st.
Order your limited web store exclusive bundle today:
Mastodon will spend their summer overseas performing at all the major European and South American festivals, including Belgium’s Pukkelpop, the prestigious Reading and Leeds Festival in England, and Brazil’s Rock in Rio Festival. They will also support Metallica for two shows in Russia.Please see below for of Mastodon’s upcomingtour dates.
June 19 Clissonm FRA Hellfest
June 20 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SPA Azkena Rock Festival
June 22 Pratteln, SWI Konzertfabrik Z7
June 24 Luxembourg, LUX Rockhal Club
June 26 Dublin, IRE Olympia
June 27 Cork, IRE The Savoy Theatre
June 28 Belfast, N. IRE Ulster Hall
July 1 Malmo, SWE KB Hall
July 2 Roskilde, DEN Roskilde Festival
July 3 Turku, FIN Ruisrock
Aug 7 Montreal, QC Heavy Montreal Fest
Aug 12 Oslo, NOR Oya Festival
Aug 14 Dinkelsbuehl, GER Summer Breeze Fest
Aug 15 Hamburg, GER Elb-Riot Festival
Aug 16 Dornbirn, AUT Bregenz Conrad Sohm
Aug 18 Cologne, GER Essigfabrik
Aug 19 Berlin, GER Kesselhaus
Aug 20 Charleville Mezieres, FRA Cabaret Vert
Aug 21 Hasselt, BEL Pukkelpop Shelter Marquee
Aug 25 St. Petersburg, RUS SKK Arena (w/ Metallica)
Aug 27 Moscow, RUS Olympysky (w/ Metallica)
Aug 29 Reading, ENG Reading Festival (The Pit Stage)
Aug 30 Leeds, ENG Leeds/Reading Festival (The Pit Stage)
the Hellion Rocks 