They say necessity is the mother of invention. Well circumstances led me to pick up a camera in September of 2012. I have since spent a lot of time learning and will always be learning to understand the art of photography. I have put a selection of my shots up on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/117375233@N02/ I would dig it if you checked them out and gave some feedback. Any feedback is appreciated as we can only learn from it. – the Hellion
The 2014 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL to Announce Cities and Venues Next Week
The world’s biggest heavy music touring music festival is back and ready to pummel in 2014. The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL is announcing this year’s cities and venues next Tuesday, February 18th.
The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL has listened to the fans and promises to answer the prayers of heavy metal crusaders everywhere, assuring the most bold and diverse line-up to date! Tune into www.rockstarmayhemfest.com on March 31st for the announcement of this year’s highly-anticipated line-up of artists, as well as some additional special surprises.
Tickets for the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL go on sale on April 5th.
This year’s odyssey will include four stages of heavy music and 19 bands. Also, look for Freestyle Motocross and a Motorsports exhibition area, as well as many other surprises and attractions.
For more information, keep tuned in to www.rockstarmayhemfest.com.
Sometimes you just happen to come across some cool stuff. Today I received an email that went to my junk file. I am glad that I look through my “junk” emails before trashing them. I saw an email from Vidar Solli telling me about his band Gain Eleven. 
He hit me up and suggested I check out the track for “Devils Child” on YouTube. I did and found that it was a pretty cool track. We befriended each other on Facebook and began a conversation. I found out that Gain Eleven was a four-piece band hailing from the west woods of Sweden. Comprised of: David Flognman (vocals & guitar), Vidar Solli (lead Guitar), Martin Andersson (bass), and Hannes Liljedahl (drums), Gain Eleven fits right in with bands like Black Stone Cherry, Royal Republic, and Foo Fighters. The band formed in September of 2012 and began gigging their way around Sweden. They self-financed a three song EP and set their sights on exposing their brand of hard melodic rock to the world. 
It is with great pleasure that the Hellion Rocks introduces you to Gain Eleven with the hopes that people get behind and supports these hard working guys from Sweden. Do yourself a favor and check out their track “Devils Child” right here:
Be sure to check them out online at: https://www.facebook.com/Gain.Eleven
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s GAIN ELEVEN!!!
the Hellion
I love when I get the chance to check out bands that I’ve never heard of before. I have to thank Shauna O’Donnell for telling me about Pavement Records artist Scent Of Remains. We had the chance to speak with guitarist Herb Himes check it out right here:
Make sure and check them out online:
https://www.facebook.com/scentofremains
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Scent Of Remains!
the Hellion
A while ago we had the chance to speak with Black Label Society/Cycle Of Pain bassist John “JD” DeServio (https://thehellionrocks.com/2013/11/29/cycle-of-pain-black-label-society-bass-legend-john-jd-deservio-on-the-hellion-rocks/). We now have the great fortune to speak with Cycle Of Pain vocalist Gregg LoCascio. We had a great chat and he’s a down to earth kind of guy. Enjoy our conversation right here:
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s CYCLE OF PAIN!!!
– the Hellion
Join Gabe Gambino and myself as we discuss the recent loss of his beloved beard:
I have no words
-the Hellion
Photo by Clara Balzary
Having been a RHCP fan since their inception in the early 80’s this topic has my attention. I have found the Red Hot Chili Peppers to be an evolutionary band, constantly evolving and never becoming stale or stagnant. I have also been fortunate to have seen them live on several occasions. Their live performances are always top notch and high energy. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have never compromised who they are and what they represent, always making the music they wanted to make and having the image that they themselves were most comfortable with.
While the band itself has varied in members at times, they have never let it set them back, delivering poignant music time and again. They have never hid who they were even to the point of publicly talking about their personal situations.
Their Super Bowl performance has been called into question regarding the “prerecorded” music and “mimed” stage antics. Flea responded with an open letter regarding it yesterday ( https://thehellionrocks.com/2014/02/04/a-message-from-flea-regarding-the-red-hot-chili-peppers-super-bowl-performance/) and I applaud him for that.
We all know of “live” performance disasters and I don’t think this was one. I think the Red Hot Chili Peppers made the best of the situation and delivered a high energy “show”. If you doubt them go see them live, you’ll see.
Bruno Mars? Well, that’s a different story….
it’s loud, it’s funky, it’s the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS!
the Hellion Rocks
RAT PAK RECORDS SET TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM FROM THE NEW SUPERGROUP “KXM” FEATURING: GEORGE LYNCH, RAY LUZIER (KORN) AND dUg PINNICK (King’s X)
A new musical force to be reckoned with is about to turn the rock world upside down with the release of their self-titled debut, KXM. KXM is comprised of dUg Pinnick of King’s X on vocals/bass, George Lynch of Lynch Mob/Dokken on guitars and Korn’s drum maestro, Ray Luzier, rounds out the powerhouse trio. The band takes its name from the combination of the member’s other projects: K from Korn, X from King’s X and M from Lynch Mob.
The self-titled debut of KXM is something truly unique and special. The songs are powerful, precise, and transcend beyond the boundaries of the imagination. In today’s overpopulated music arena, true gems become harder and harder to find, but KXM‘s unified vision rises above the normal and creates its own space. From the opening drum riff of “Stars” to the final chord on “Human Friction,” KXM is an album that is sure to resonate with fans from the band’s original projects, while garnering new ones as well. Songs like “Gun Fight,” “Faith Is A Room” and the first single “Rescue Me” are sure to be instant favorites among fans. The band shows their softer side on the ballad “Never Stop” along with their dark side on the tale of domestic violence, “Sleep.”
KXM formed in early 2013 when dUg, George and Ray spoke about trying to jam together. At the time it wasn’t clear what would come from those jams. The only thing that was clear was that these 3 musicians, at the top of their game, wanted to play together. The self-titled debut, KXM, was born from those jam sessions and is now an important piece in each band member’s musical legacy. In a world that constantly searches for new and unique music, KXM delivers all the power and punch that one would expect from these high level players! Official release date is set for March 11, 2014
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR EXCLUSIVE KXM FAN BUNDLES!
KXM “GUN FIGHT” ALBUM TRAILER
KXM “STARS” ALBUM TRAILER
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE DEBUT ALBUM FROM KXM!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s KXM!
– the Hellion Rocks
From http://redhotchilipeppers.com:
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
Great live band, I have seen them several times. Thanks Flea!
the Hellion
MASTODON ANNOUNCE SPRING HEADLINING TOUR
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH
BAND COMPLETING WORK ON UPCOMING NEW ALBUM IN NASHVILLE WITH PRODUCER NICK RASKULINECZ
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.
the Hellion Rocks 