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.
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!)
So, so happy to report that I’ve dodged the bullet of radiation. I was due to start a course that would have sidelined me for most of the first leg of the US tour, but my brilliant doctors have steered me towards an alternative course of treatment that will enable me to rejoin the tour this Saturday night in Birmingham Alabama. Furthermore, they’ve tailored future treatments to accommodate the tour schedule so I won’t have to miss any more shows.
I’m so happy and so indebted to the wonderful physicians who have worked so hard on my behalf to make this happen.
See you Saturday!
This saddens me to hear. Thoughts and well wishes to Vivian and his family.
Vivian Campbell: Def Leppard Guitarist Pulls Out of US Tour, Says His Cancer Has Returned
I’ve been spending a lot of time with Led Zeppelin lately. I have been listening to their albums with a new ear. With an 184 mile commute round trip I have the time. My focus has been on different aspects of their albums with each listen. From Led Zeppelin to Coda a new appreciation has grown within me for a band that has been a part of my life for a very long time. I mean how many of us used to draw the four symbols on everything we had?
The production and engineering on these albums was way ahead of the time. There is a magical depth to the music Led Zeppelin gave us. The lyrical content combined with the music expands the mind and transports us to worlds far from the ordinary world.
Led Zeppelin took us from blues to hard rock to reggae, sometimes on the same record. I often hear traces of them in many other bands throughout the years.
Thank you for the journeys Robert, Jimmy, John, and Bonzo for the friendship and joys you have given me.
Ahhh keyboards in rock music. I have always been a fan of keyboards in rock n’ roll, I mean John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin, John Lord in Deep Purple, Rick Wakeman in Yes, Freddie Mercury in Queen, the list goes on and on. And then on December 21st 1983, a day that lives on in infamy to me, Van Halen released the single “Jump”, wait…what just happened? My hard rock driven guitar band released a song with a sickly poppy sounding keyboard in it? If you can’t tell I was sorely disappointed in the boys. People were labeling the song as “pop rock” or “synthrock”, I was aghast a this. I eventually overcame my lament and forgave Van Halen for this travesty (again this is my opinion).
Today on my commute home I heard “Jump” on the radio (no I still don’t like it) and thought to myself I wonder what others think about keyboards in hard rock and heavy metal. I know bands like Sonata Artica, Kamelot, and Nightwish use them, but what are your thoughts?
Some bands take themselves far too serious, and then there is Throw The Temple. Music should be fun and full of life and Throw The Temple understands that concept. Here a the Hellion Rocks we were allowed a sneak peek at their new video for “We Got It Goin’ “. This band gets it, they really get it. The video is fun and lighthearted and the song is catchy stays in your head long after the video is over. Throw The Temple is a band on the rise with the future WIDE open. Be sure and stayed tuned for the official release of this very cool video from Throw The Temple as well as their new CD, we’ll be sure to keep you all in the loop. There also might be and incredible announcement involving the Hellion Rocks and Throw The Temple!!!
There are songs that you have heard a million times and you can’t take them anymore (Post about those songs another time), and those that remain eternally epic. This is my list of those songs I consider most epic.
10. “Tombs Ov Oblivion” – Crowned By Fire
9. “Back In The Saddle” – Aerosmith
8. “Breakin’ Down” – Skid Row
7. “More Than A Feeling” – Boston
6. “Now I’m Here” – Queen
5. “Dance The Night Away” – Van Halen
4. “River Of Deceit” – Mad Season
3. “No Quarter” – Led Zeppelin
2. “Love To Love” – UFO
1. “Spirits In The Night” – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
These are the ten top songs which I could listen to over and over without them wearing out on me. I guess of I were to make a Hellion Rocks greatest hits CD these would be the ten songs that would make the cut for me. Why these ten songs? They each represent to me musical craft at its best. I can listen to these and be carried away on musical adventures in faraway lands. I encourage your feedback and responses with your own definitive top ten list.
the Hellion Rocks 