Here is the link to a very cool conversation I had with Jaxon from (həd) p.e., sit back and enjoy and then tell some friends!:
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!
the Hellion
Tag Archives: Glam
Pat Torpey from Mr. Big has a health battle in front of him
Los Angeles, CA. The rock band, MR BIG, announced today that its drummer, Pat Torpey, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and unfortunately will be unable to perform all of his normal drumming duties on the band’s upcoming World Tour in support of the band’s new album, …The Stories We Could Tell.
“ I’ve been dealing with Parkinson’s symptoms for the past couple of years and only recently received a confirmed diagnosis as symptoms worsened. I intend to fight the disease with same intensity and tenacity that I drum and live my life by and will continue recording and performing, as always, to the best of my ability. “, stated Torpey.
MR BIG intends to announce a drummer in the near future whom will handle most of MR BIG’s drumming duties on the Fall 2014 tour and expects Torpey to jump on the drums on suitable live songs as well as participating in the groups acoustic set.
We all wish Pat the best in his fight. The Hellion Rocks and Bleach Bangs Radio will kepp him in our thoughts.
With love and respect – the Hellion
Finding strength through adversity- guitarist Randy “the Arsonist” Cooper
photo courtesy of Randy Cooper’s Facebook page
I first met Randy a few years ago at a show in NM. We hit it off and have remained friends and stayed in contact ever since. In getting to know Randy and the strength and tenacity he possesses has been inspiring to say the least. While life has seen fit to try and throw roadblocks ( there have been several and they shall remain personal out of respect for Randy) at him he blasts through them like a rock n’ roll juggernaut.
When I first bore witness to the performing and playing style of Randy I was blown away. It was obvious that he was inspired by the late great Dimebag (if you look closely at his headstock you will see two dimes, message me if you don’t get the reference) and yet he remained true to his own style of playing. Straight up in your ears power coupled with thoughtful melodies are what Randy shares with us in his music.
I have seen Randy move on with his life and career in a positive way. He recently added his talent to the band Emperors And Elephants. I have really come to like this band and their straight up sound. Here’s taste for ya:
Randy you continue to inspire and give me hope, thank you my dear friend.
he’s loud, he’s on fire, he’s Randy “the Arsonist” Cooper!
the Hellion
These vocalists are top notch and they should be in your ears!!!
The power and swagger of a vocalist are often times what makes up your first impression of a band. I want to bring several of the vocalists to your attention just in case you might have missed them.
Let’s get started with a vocalist near and ear to me, Jeffery Sandoval.
photo by the Hellion Rocks
I first saw Jeffery singing in a cover band in Albuquerque, NM. I have since seen him grow and expand into several projects including: Of The Earth, Frank Hannon, and more recently his new endeavor with guitarist Mike Araiza. Jeffery is the kind of vocalist I grew up loving. Power, emotion, and soul all live within the voice of Jeffery. As a front man he is the quintessential party host who welcomes you to the show and makes damn sure you are having the time of your life. Be sure to check him out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffandMikeMusic
We next move on to John Fitterer.
Crowned By Fire hit me like a steamroller driven by a driver on acid. Vocalist John Fitterer brings a certain uniqueness to the table. The lyrics and style of John are straight out of another world. When John sings it’s like nothing you have heard before. His lyrics are deep and at sometimes seem as if from another world. On record his voice is powerful and compelling, live it is thunderous and hypnotic. As a front man he grabs you by the hand and drags you into a world of musical wonder in which you never know what is hiding around the corner to grab you. John and Crowned By Fire can be found on Facebook right here: https://www.facebook.com/CrownedByFire
And then there is Dellacóma Rio.
photo by the Hellion Rocks
Over the last few years Dellacóma has become near and dear to my heart. The first time I saw Del he was singing for the now defunct Sunset Riot. I was so blown away by his “RockStar” performance. A powerful stadium rock voice full of emotion is what Del brings to the table. Not only was he an outstanding vocalist, he was a showman extraordinaire. I knew from the get go that no stage could contain the kinetic energy of Del Rio. He has since moved on to his new project simply named, Dellacóma. Del continues to work his ass off by getting out and hustling up show after show. Del has so much class and style and definitely knows how to bring the audience into an enraptured state of well being and happiness. I often look around and see that almost everyone in the crowd is smiling and enjoying the music and performance Del Brings. Love ya my brother! This is where you can find Del on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dellacoma/timeline
The Appalachian Apostle…Adam Joad
photo by the Hellion Rocks
Ahh Adam…we go back a few years now and I am still wowed every time I see Adam and his band Scattered Hamlet. Adam sweats swagger and pisses pure testosterone. Full of cock sureness and reckless hillbilly attitude, Adam delivers it all with not only a one-two punch but a kick to the groin as well. While his voice is far from perfect and full of prettiness, I can’t imagine Scattered Hamlet sound any other way. Moonshine and razor-blades are the closest thing Adam has to a sound. Full of mountain wisdom, philosophy, and words Adam gives Scattered Hamlet a style unto itself. Imagine that band that used to play the keg parties you used to hang out at amplified to 100 and you can just begin to imagine a Scattered Hamlet show. I have become close to Adam and am very proud to consider him family. Believe you me, this is a Facebook page worth liking: https://www.facebook.com/ScatteredHamlet?ref=br_tf
There you have it, a variety of frontmen who should be heard everywhere!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!
the Hellion
Guitarist Mike Araiza and why you should be listening to him
photo credit: Jeff Serpa
Guitar face, we have all seen it and loved it, but do we really understand it. I have seen that face on Mike Araiza many times. Mike and I have discussed it at great length on many occasions. This is my take on it and why it pertains to Mike.
The first time I saw Mike perform live was at a small bar with an even smaller stage. My wife and I were told about this great cover band called Surface that people were raving about. Mike happened to be one of the guitarist in the band. I was drawn to his playing style like a moth to a flame. Here was this bespectacled bald guy and he was playing like he was performing at the LA Forum, or Madison Square Garden. The raw emotion and soul went from Mike to his guitar, out of his amps and into my musical soul. I was FEELING every note that he was bleeding out. If he could impart that much into the songs of others I could only imagine what his original music would sound like.
I got the chance when Mike along with his musical partner Jeff Sandoval released the powerful Of The Earth EP. Mike continued to bring music that was jam packed with feeling and emotion and yet remained simple and enjoyable. This continued with the subsequent Frank Hannon Six String Soldiers release and the current Jeff Sandoval Mike Araiza Project tracks.
I grew up listening to the now iconic guitar players like EVH, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix….the list goes on and on, and they all had great guitar faces. I am proud to list Mike Araiza among those icons, and even prouder to call him brother.
Mike has a rougher time now days with the music industry being a shambles as it is. It is harder for a quality player like him to be heard on a wide scale. Trust me though, you should be listening to him and his music. It takes me back to those simpler times when you picked up your friends, cranked up the radio, and drove around getting lost in the music and good times. It’s all there again in the music Mike makes.
Do yourself a favor and listen to his music and share it with a friend, they will love you for it.
https://www.facebook.com/JeffandMikeMusic?ref=br_tf
Check out the guitar face on Mike right here:
Thank you for the music Mike, love ya my brother!
It’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Mike “Guitar Face” Araiza!!!
-the Hellion
back up soon
the Hellion Rocks will be back up and running soon from my temporary location in upstate New York…
Crowned By Fire saves Rock N’ Roll with Space Music For Cave People
1. Buried Away
2. Light Ov The Voodoo Star
3. Crowned By Fire
4. Something In Her Blood
5. Space Music For Cave People
6. Burnin’ For You
Crowned By Fire is no mediocre band. They have completely proven that with the release of Space Music For Cave People. The new EP drops July 1st on Chrome Mountain Records. There have been some quality releases as of late but this one is a game changer.
Like a defibrillator this record send a high voltage charge straight into the heart of Rock N’ Roll. Crowned By Fire comes on strong with the swagger of gunfighters walking down a street at high noon looking for trouble. Intense riffs powered by the guitar assault of the highly underrated Justin Manning, the chest crushing bass of Chris Breedlove, the powerful punch on the drums of Rocco F Paolone, combined with the lyrics and the “I just kicked you in the nuts” vocals of John Fitterer fuel the Crowned By Fire machine.
photo by Robert John
Like those famous potato chips in that bright yellow bag, once you start listening, you just can’t stop. On more than one occasion I have found myself waking up with one of the six tracks playing in my head.
While track for track the entire record is amazing there are some stand out tracks here. “Something In Her Blood” was one of the last tracks put together for the record but it is the first to stand out to me. Justin channels some guitar greats here and yet puts enough of his own spin on it to make it his own style. The title track “Space Music For Cave People” reminds me a little of the Cult on steroids. John completely owns with his vocals on this one. “Crowned By Fire” opens with some dirty from the swamp bass from Chris. Those three tracks are the ones that reach me the most.
The records on a whole is deep on so many levels. Each listen provides you with something new in its structure. In these days of “fast food music”, Space Music For Cave People is a sit down full course dinner. This is a record made the right way and with the love of making music behind it.
Here’s the lyric video for the title track “Space Music For Cave People”:
Stay up to date with CBF online:
https://www.facebook.com/CrownedByFire
https://www.facebook.com/ChromeMountainRecords
http://chromemountainrecords.com
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s CROWNED BY FIRE!!!!
-the Hellion
Well now, thoughts anyone?
Here is a recent article on a BMI lawsuit I found interesting:
-the Hellion
Pop Evil, a great show, a great friend, and an interview with Matt DiRito
Pop Evil rolled into Albuquerque, NM this Monday and kicked some serious ass. It had been a bit since I had last seen them so it was an event I was looking forward to. It was even better because this go around I was going to get to shoot their set AND get to interview bassist Matt DiRito. When I found out about scoring the interview I remembered my very good friend guitarist Mike Araiza (Of The Earth, Frank Hannon Band, the Jeff Sandoval and Mike Araiza Project) telling me about getting to hang with them the last time they were in NM. I called him up and asked him to co-host the interview with me.
We met Matt at the tour bus and it was good to see Matt and Mike great each other like old friends. It was then down into the basement of the iconic Sunshine Theater to have our candid conversation with Matt. After some “mood lighting” adjustments we got around to our raw, unedited, casual conversation with Matt which you can check out right here:
Very cool, very relaxed, friends and musicians talking amongst themselves. After a few more minutes of friendly talk we snapped a few pics and walked Matt back out to the tour bus and said our “see you laters”.
Matt DiRito and the Hellion
Matt DiRito and Mike Araiza
After the interview Mike and I went for a quick bite and some stimulating conversation. A brief walk back to the venue and the Rock N’ Roll merriment was on. We enjoyed sets from Glamour Of The Kill, Avatar, and Escape The Fate. The evening, however, was owned by Pop Evil. From the minute they took the stage to the minute they walked off of it it was a 100 miles per hour adrenaline rush. A blistering set of songs from a set designed to give the fans a maximum Pop Evil experience filled our ears. Here is the setlist:
“Flawed”
“Hero”
“100 in a 55”
“Behind Closed Doors”
“Divide”
“Monster You Made”
“Boss’s Daughter”
“Last Man Standing”
“Goodbye My Friend”
“Sick Sense”
“Torn To Pieces”
“Deal With The Devil”
“Trenches”
Leigh Kakaty
Matt DiRito
Chachi Riot
Dave Grahs
Nick Fuelling
Pop Evil is a band on the move, in all of the right ways. They present an image, a sound that pays homage to their influences and yet remains original, they deliver a live show worthy of seeing. If Pop Evil roll into a venue near you make sure you go and see them. Thanks guys!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Pop Evil!
the Hellion
RANT INSIDE!!!! PROPER SHOW ETIQUETTE!!!
I’ve spoken upon this subject before and an event that occurred last night has fired me up again. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE ROCK N’ ROLL COMMUNITY?!?!?!
Let me set the stage: Last night I was fortunate to have been granted coverage of the Saint Vitus show here in NM. The venue does not have a photo pit so you have to shoot from the crowd. I usually shoot and move and work with the crowd to shoot the event. Well last night there was this cat to my immediate left who was flailing about like a man possessed knocking into people and making a general nuisance of himself. Now, I don’t mind someone getting totally lost in the music at all but one should realize there is a world outside of their five foot space. This guy continued bumping, elbowing, and knocking into people with complete disregard and then it got worse. Dave Chandler, the guitarist for Saint Vitus, posed in front of my camera for some choice shots and this idiot next to me shoves into me and starts throwing his hands in front of my camera thus ruining any chance of a good shot. I politely said “Hey man, I’m working here” his response was “FUCK YOU” he then continued to thwart every shot by reaching and flipping the bird in front of my lens. An altercation was imminent when my security bros came and confronted his guy who fronted on them as well. The girl he was with was begging him to chill but he was having none of it. They grabbed this guy gave him and his girl the boot. The crowd cheered his ejection as they were tired of him as well, we all enjoyed the rest of the show and I was able to get back to shooting a kick ass show.
We all know show attendance is down across the board and completely sucks. I heard several people make comments after that guy was thrown out. “And that I why I don’t go to shows much anymore.” “Who needs to go out and see shit like this?” “Fuck it, people suck. I knew I should have stayed home.”
What happened to the world? The Rock N’ Roll community used to be about being cool and having a good time, not about fighting and being an idiot. Sure there were hose occasions but they weren’t that common. Come on people if we want to revive the music scene we need to look within ourselves and our own actions.
be the community, be the music, BE COOL!
the Hellion
the Hellion Rocks 