First I got to interview Jeff Hignite from Mindcage, and now I have the interview I did with the mastermind behind it all, Dietrick “Deke” Hardwick! Enjoy it right here:
Tag Archives: Glam
KING CREATURE – A band on the rise
Remember the first time you heard Pantera, Down, Black Label Society, or Alice In Chains? I do, and I got that same feeling the first time I heard King Creature. Hailing from the UK these lads, although young, know how to bring some serious Rock N’ Roll! Comprised of Dave Kellaway – Bass/Vocals, Matt K Vincent – Guitar/Backup Vocals, Dave Evans – Guitar, and Jack “DIRTY” Bassett – Drums.
King Creature stands poised on the brink of success. They recently made the top 25 in the Marshall Ultimate Band contest, not a small feet at all. Make sure you check this band out and keep them on your radar. They are on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/KingCreature give them a like and help a young band realize their dream of bringing hard charging Rock N’ Roll to your ears! Here’s a taste of King Creature and their official video for “Wasted Life”:
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s KING CREATURE!
-the Hellion
An interview with John Corabi
John Corabi has been one of my favorite vocalists for quite a while now. I got to have a candid conversation with him about his career past and present. Sit back and enjoy this lengthy interview:
Here is a cool video of John performing “Seasons Of Wither” with Frank Hannon. We discussed his love of this song in the interview:
thanks Jen Kowalski from Rat Pak Records!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!
-the Hellion
Even more to come!!!
at the Aria Booth – NAMM 2013 – photo by Charlie “MF'” Owens
Spent the weekend chilling with the family and enjoying my birthday weekend. Remembering the loss of Cliff on my birthday, and just slowing down for a minute. Now, looking forward: We have tons of killer interviews in the works, shows we are going to shoot and review, CD’s to write about, and new bands to put into your heads. I am amazed at the growth of this site in a year. Thanks to all who support and have given us the opportunity to do what we love. Please hit us up with bands, features you’d like to see and your take on the site, love to hear from ya! Remember, the Hellion Rocks and Bleach Bangs Radio love you all!
-the Hellion
RPR set to release “Live Fast Die Loud” featuring members of Alice Cooper!
RAT PAK RECORDS SET TO RELEASE
BEASTO BLANCO “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD”
BEASTO BLANCO “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD”
With influences ranging from White Zombie to Motorhead, Beasto Blanco’s “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD” is a full-length anthemic hard rock offering that keeps you amped on “10” from start to finish! The progeny of long time Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric, “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD” yields a powerful combination of heavy riffs, driving bass, and melodic choruses that are bound to stick in your head after just one listen! Beasto Blanco is quickly becoming a favorite of the music and movie industry’s most respected talents! Here is what just a few of them have to say about “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD”:
Johnny Depp: “What an honor to hear something as beastly and killer as this!!! It’s truly, truly great and wonderfully kind of life affirming! Makes one feel ownership of their being!”
Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden): “Chuck has got himself a ‘KIN’ blazing band here. “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD” from Beasto Blanco is a solid piece and rockin’ like there is no tomorrow! Well done me old china!”
Alice Cooper: “Beasto Blanco to me is an East L.A ‘Day Of The Dead’ kind of hard rock band. They seem dangerous – don’t stand too close, this is a band that I see exploding in the next few years. The “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD” video shows my grown daughter Calico crawling around like some sort of animal, which is of course, just how I remember her as a child!”
Bob Ezrin (Producer): “Chuck Garric is modern day monster, one of the most talented and heaviest rock musicians I’ve ever worked with!”
Mikkey Dee (Motorhead): LIVE FAST DIE LOUD is a real ass-kicker and I wouldn’t expect anything less when Chuck is at the forefront, keep slammin!
John Corabi: “I totally love “LIVE FAST DIE LOUD”! This is the real deal, it’s 100% raw energy from start to finish!”
“LIVE FAST DIE LOUD” features Chuck Garric, Calico Cooper, Glen Sobel, Jonathan Mover, Tiffany Lowe, Chris Latham and more! Official release date is scheduled for October 29 2013.
Pre-order your copy today at www.ratpakrecords.com/beastoblanco
TRACK LISTING:
Ill Nostro Spirito
Beasto Blanco
Blood Shot
California
Breakdown
Vegas
Motor Queen
Freak
Beg To Differ
Live Fast Die Loud
No More Man
PRE-ORDER LIVE FAST DIE LOUD AT www.ratpakrecords.com/BeastoBlanco
Regarding AVENGED SEVENFOLD and Hail To The King
In 2001 a band caught my ears, that band was Avenged Sevenfold. “Warmness On The Soul” from their debut release Sounding the Seventh Trumpet was the song that did it. I dug the sound and the imagery the band was trying to present. I thought to myself if this band managed to keep it together, and not breakup, they had the potential to become a great band.
They released three more albums Waking The Fallen, City Of Evil, and the self titled Avenged Sevenfold. Each album brought enjoyable music and showcased their growth and talent as songwriters and musicians. And then in 2009 disaster happened, founding member and drummer James”The Rev” Owen Sullivan passed away. Was this end of a band that I was sure would rise to the top?
James “The Rev” Owen Sullivan (February 9, 1981 – December 28, 2009)
I cannot imagine their thoughts at the loss of their comrade in arms and yet, they muddled through it and released Nightmare in 2010. Pulling in Mike Portnoy (one of The Rev’s idols) to complete the drum work The Rev had started and including the vocal tracks he had laid down. Nightmare was met with critical acclaim and launched A7X into mega stardom.
Due to the fact that The Rev played a part in the songwriting process of A7X people began speculating as to the survival of the band post Nightmare. Mike Portnoy toured with the band briefly before leaving the band. Arin Ilejay was then tapped to become their permanent drummer.
2013- Hail To The King was released on August 27th and I was scheduled to shoot their performance on August 30th. What can I say about this album? My prediction from 12 years ago has come true. A7X has managed to knock everyone off the charts and put ROCK N’ ROLL back on top as it should be. Congratulations guys, your perseverance has paid off.
Now, to address the naysayers to the album. There has been postings and rumblings on how A7X has “ripped off” Metallica, Megadeth, Guns N’Roses, and Iron Maiden. Well if you give it some thought you will realize that those bands were some of the bands who inspired the members of A7X. Go through your records and listen to them again and you will hear similarities to other bands in almost all of them in some way or another. How long has it been since a hard rock act has been on top of the charts? A7X has gone to ground and pulled from those influences and made a damn good hard rock record. Thank you gentle men, thank you very much. And to the naysayers: how many records have you sold recently, and what is your tour attendance like?
Now, on a lighter note, here’s some of the pics I shot from their stellar performance on Day 1 of The Revolt On The Rio Grande powered by Rock Star Energy Drink.
M. Shadows
M. Shadows
Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates
M. Shadows
Johnny Christ
Zacky Vengeance
Arin Ilejay
A7X stage setup
Hail To The Kings indeed
the Hellion
MOTÖRHEAD to Release New Album “Aftershock” in North America on October 22, 2013
Silence, silence
Silence when you speak to me!
-Lemmy Kilmister
Like the juggernaut you prayed would keep on crushing you, like the friend that still royally pisses off your parents and like a loyal standard of crunchy, greasy, punky, bluesy, gutsy screw-you rock’n’roll, MOTÖRHEAD stride out through their 38th year brandishing more swagger and attitude then your ears could begin to comprehend.
On October 22, 2013, MOTÖRHEAD will deliver their 21st studio album, an enormous and prophetic Aftershock. Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, it is a true leveler, a crushing confirmation of everything MOTÖRHEAD stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years. There’s swagger, there’s punch, there’s speed and there’s dirty filthy grooves, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee showing clearly that MOTÖRHEAD is not simply a band, it’s a genre!
That genre, more than ever, resonates with hearty independence and swashbuckle. Whether it’s “Heartbreaker” throwing hooks and riffs into your head, the double-kick concussiveness of “Paralyzed” with Campbell’s fuelled attack, or the thunderous ride-off-the-Rickenbacker Motörcharge of “Going To Mexico”, Aftershock takes gleeful twists and turns which re-announce the Motörlegend. There’s the smoky biker bar blues in the shape of “Dust And Glass”, Lemmy’s late-night vocals evoking last-call and melancholy, the pogo-powered punk-spiked stab of “Queen Of The Damned” and the deliciously steamy, humid mournful “Lost Woman Blues” which midway through decides to kick over the stool and stomp out the saloon door.
Aftershock track listing:
Heartbreaker
Coup de Grace
Lost Woman Blues
End Of Time
Do You Believe
Death Machine
Dust And Glass
Going To Mexico
Silence When You Speak To Me
Crying Shame
Queen Of The Damned
Knife
Keep Your Powder Dry
Paralyzed
Aftershock is available in four different formats, wherever music is sold! The album can be purchased in CD (limited edition digipack), CD (jewel case), Vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP), and digital formats. A North American pre-order will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Steal it if you must, buy it if you can!” says Lemmy, who’s pride in the album is so immense that guests to his home and dressing room in the last couple of months have been treated to extremely loud airings of the rough mixes, while Phil Campbell adds, “I really think the variation on the album shows that we’ve dug deep and produced some of our best work for a long time.”
“It is,” says Mikkey Dee, “a really, really strong MOTÖRHEAD album, one that really does define everything this band stands for.”
He’s not wrong. Because MOTÖRHEAD are MOTÖRHEAD are MOTÖRHEAD…and their Aftershock will be felt worldwide…
Learn more about MOTÖRHEAD at these websites:
Official Lemmy Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialLemmy
Official MOTÖRHEAD Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialMotorhead
Official MOTÖRHEAD Twitter: @MyMotorhead
Official MOTÖRHEAD Website: www.imotorhead.com
it’s MOTÖRHEAD, just buy it
-the Hellion
Revolt On The Rio Grande Day 1 – Charlie “MF” Owens
Friday. Day 1 of Revolt on the Rio Grande. Not getting press passes until 4:00 P.M. made for a very rushed and chaotic afternoon. Unfortunately no interviews on this day but in return– main stage photo opportunities were full on. I arrived in time to catch the main stage acts put on one hell of a show.
Halestorm— What can I say? I was every bit pleased with their performance that I thought I would be, and a bit more. Lzzy Hale, Arejay Hale, Joseph Hottinger, and Josh Smith really gave all. This band is powerful in every sense of the word. Whether it’s a hard rocker like “Daughters of Darkness” or a more mellow “Here’s to us”, they make you FEEL every word and riff right down to the bone. I’ve been a fan of Halestorm for a couple of years now, and that was solidified by finally seeing a live performance. If you are not board yet, I highly suggest you jump on before they leave you in the dust. Halestorm Played a few songs from “The strange case of… Halestorm”, Giving something in their show that some bands just don’t…. diversity. Young or old, there is something here for everyone.
It’s been a few years since Korn was in my life in a live setting. The last time I saw them they were “Headless”. The return of Brian “Head” Welch has come with major fan approval. Korn’s set at this years Revolt on The Rio Grande was phenomenal!! There is no middle ground with this band. You either love them, or haven’t heard of them. I was lucky enough to be front and center for this bombastic set. I tell you… from the first note played… goosebumps!! Jonathan Davis owns any crowd he is in front of still to this day. Not only was the bands sound so incredibly loud, the audience was deafening as well. Just another tribute to how relevant this band was and still is. But was there ever any doubt? Not likely. Korn… One of the most important bands of the last 20 years, if not ever.
Charlie Owens!
Nuns, Crossbows, and the Devil…An interview with Charming Liars at Revolt On The Rio Grande Day 2/Rock Star Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2013
photo courtesy of Charming Liars
Charlie Cosser, the Hellion, Mike Kruger, Charlie “MF” Owens, Gabe Gambino – photo by Mrs. Hellion
One of the caveats to covering a show like Revolt On The Rio Grande Day 2/Rock Star Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2013 is sometimes when you have several interviews scheduled you sometimes miss other bands sets. This, unfortunately, was the case with Charming Liars. We were off interviewing The Dead Daisies during their set so we do not have live photos or a review of their set. We do, however, have a kick ass interview with Charlie and Mike. I will also post a link to the video for “New Disorder” which is where the nun/crossbow/devil reference is from. Here is the interview:
Really digging this band ad their music. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/CharmingLiars and at http://www.charmingliars.com
Check out their video for “New Disorder” :
Charming Liars, pretty kick ass band, great attitude and we wish them all of the success in the world!
Team HellBangs
Team HellBangs correspondent Gabe Gambino gives his perspective of Revolt On The Rio Grande Day 2/Rock Star Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2013
The Hellion here, We tried something different this with our coverage of the Revolt On The Rio Grande Day 2/Rock Star Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2013. We asked a local New Mexico musician to be a guest correspondent and give us his perspective of covering the show, we even gave a camera to him. We are proud to announce Gabe Gambino as a member of Team HellBangs. What is Team HellBangs you ask? Well, as you know, I co-host an internet radio show called Bleach Bangs Radio with Charlie Owens and Randy Norris. There are times when Charlie and I (who live near each other) have the opportunity to cover shows and do on camera interviews with artists. We do this a joint venture between the Hellion Rocks and Bleach Bangs. This team was dubbed HellBangs by Mr. Charlie “MF” Owens and it has stuck. Now here is his perspective along with some shots from the “Gambino-cam”:
Ryan Johnson – Lead Vocals, Guitar: The Chuck Shaffer Picture Show – photo “Gambino-cam”
How do you summarize a day as amazing as Day 2 of the Rock Star Energy Drink Uproar Festival? I ask because I’ve been asked to do so. It’s hard because the good times seem to scream out at me all at once. Either way, as the local music ambassador to Team HellBangs, I’m proud to say I got to experience this day with my buds Charlie “MF” Owens and The Hellion and see a different side of things.
I’ve played a few music festivals personally, but I never understood or was part of anything like the Rockstar. This time, I was behind a camera and asking some of these musicians the questions that help get my fellow musicians names out there.
The day started out with the late-August heat attributed to this arid desert we live in. As we navigated through the venue in the hot sun, we headed backstage to meet up with the guys from Chuck Shaffer Picture Show. The guys led us through the back and got us into the catering room, where I shared a beer compliments of Pabst Blue Ribbon with drummer Adam Gilbert. We entered the room and the gravity of the day hit me. A table over, my music hero, Jerry Cantrell, was enjoying some lunch with Duff McKagan and some members of Jane’s Addiction. Big and small bands alike were enjoying food and each other’s company here in this tour and a feeling of camaraderie was spread throughout the back.
Chuck Shaffer Picture Show are a three-piece band with a huge sound. The vocalist/guitarist used some great effects to make their sound really big. As a three-piece, they sound bigger. The rhythm section (bass and drums for the unfamiliar) really held it down and helped give them the big sound they had. They had a very powerful heavy pop-rock sound.
Jon Stevens – Vocals :The Dead Daisies – photo “Gambino-cam”
One band we got to interview as well was The Dead Daisies. What a band! The singer rocked out despite an injured hand and a broken leg due to a crocodile-related fishing accident that occurred right before the Uproar Tour. The guy was a class act and had one of the best voices I’ve heard in a live setting.
Honestly, there wasn’t a bad band all day on the supporting stages. My local friends in Port Alice took the stage and put on a great sounding show on the Coldcock Whiskey stage. This festival kicked ass.
The Hellion here, We were not fortunate enough to have obtained photo access to the main stage so there are no pictures.
As far as the main stage, I was very impressed with Circa Survive and Coheed and Cambria. I hadn’t been that into Coheed and Cambria before but I feel I left a fan of their music. They put on a great show and sounded amazing.
Enter Jane’s Addiction. I honestly felt the most disappointed by Jane’s Addiction. I found the fact that they suspended a couple of models up pretty interesting as well as their dancing, but Perry Farrell just doesn’t sing like he used to. You can hear that they had to use lower tunings and Farrell still struggled with many of the notes. The rest of the band was kind of the saving grace for Jane’s Addiction, they were tight but Perry Farrell’s tone-deaf performance really left a lot to be desired. I don’t feel that the direct supporting band should’ve been out-shined by the band before it, and Coheed really put on a better show with less special effects or performance aspect than Jane’s did.
The main event of the night was Alice in Chains. I’m by far biased to Alice in Chains as Jerry Cantrell is my favorite musician and the man I look up to most when it comes to songwriting. I’ve heard complaints of their live show but they far surpassed my wildest expectations. Everything about it, from the songs they played to the cool video effects that correspond to the songs was really cool.
Very impressive was William DuVall, the oft-complained-about vocalist that took the spot of Layne Staley. He truly did every song justice, from the old stuff to the new stuff. He passionately sang “Nutshell” in tribute to fallen Alice in Chains members Layne Staley and Mike Starr, during which the letters “LSMS” were lit up on Sean Kinney’s kick drum. I really enjoyed their set list, they played new headbangers “Stone” and “Hollow” while reaching far back into the band’s storied history and played classics like “Man in the Box”, “Down in a Hole” and “We Die Young”. The band played these songs with perfection and really set a mood in the venue. One of the biggest moments was the band closing with “Rooster”, before which Jerry Cantrell, Sr., the focus of the classic song, took to the stage and was applauded by the thousands in the venue. Prior to AiC’s set, he accepted a guitar signed by all of the bands and came out again before they played “Rooster” to give the band members a hug. It was an extremely emotional moment, When Jerry, Sr. left the stage, they went right into Rooster and rocked it out. After they finished, there were no encores or anything, but the entire audience left satisfied with Alice’s very solid performance. Again, I’m biased, but I felt as if there was a religious experience personally. I truly enjoyed that show and I’d easily put it on top as far as concerts I’ve been lucky enough to go to.
I’d like to thank Charlie and the Hellion for dragging me along and getting a local musician’s perspective on the show. I really took in a lot of the sights and sounds of the show and really felt like a kid again, before that point in a musician’s life when they become jaded and take the things at a big concert for granted. It was a great experience. – Gabe Gambino
There you have it! Enjoy!
Team HellBangs
the Hellion Rocks 