Tag Archives: Music

A tale of two Queensrÿches

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TriRyche

A long time ago on a radio station far away…

I heard a song that caught my attention and drew me in. It was 1983, the song was “Queen Of The Reich”,  and Queensrÿche was the band. Over the years I grew to love the music and eagerly snapped up each and every release. In my humble opinion their music evolved, growing better and better which each new album.

The elements of  Queensrÿche were Geoff Tate on vocals, Chris DeGarmo on guitars, Michael Wilton on guitars, Scott Rockenfield on drums, and Eddie Jackson on bass. This lineup wrote some great, long lasting music that will forever remain in my heart.

Things were great for them until 1998 when Chris DeGarmo left the band. The salad days were over…

Various guitarists came and went in the following years, and then in 2012, the band parted ways with Geoff Tate and Todd La Torre was his replacement.

This is where the trouble started. I tried to stay out of making any statement on the whole mess but I recently read some articles on it and decided to finally weigh in on the subject.

When a band loses someone readily identifiable as their lead vocalist it is quite apparent. Some bands have managed to pull it off successfully (Van Halen, AC/DC for example). While I am familiar with Todd and his voice, he is no Geoff Tate and I feel he has been pushed into a situation where he is trying to live up to Geoff and not develop his own style. While Geoff has had to gather musicians around him to recreate the Queensrÿche sound. What are we left with? In my opinion, watered down versions.

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2013 brought us two Queensrÿche records Frequency Unknown from the Geoff Tate version, and the self titled Queensrÿche from the Todd La Torre version. Here’s where I start pissing some people off. I feel that these two records are mediocre at best, there I said it. Each record has its good points but ultimately both fall short of the mark for the Queensrÿche legacy. I also feel that the inclusion of rerecorded classic Queensrÿche songs on each record were a feeble attempt by each lineup to try and show each other up.

What to do, what to do? I think both Queensrÿches need to take note of what the current lineup of Thin Lizzy has done. The band took stock of what had been and what was to be and made the decision to rebrand themselves as Black Star Riders. This allowed the freedom to create new music under the new name and play the classic Thin Lizzy songs keeping the legacy intact. The guys in Velvet Revolver moved on and still payed tribute to their previous bands as well.

While the Todd La Torre version did briefly appear as Rising West they dropped that and returned to performing under the Queensrÿche moniker. I think that they should have stayed n that path and become a new band and moved forward with it and still honored the Queensrÿche history in their live performances.

The Geoff Tate version should have done the same thing. Geoff and his new crew should have found a new identity under a new name and moved forward as well and honored Queensrÿche in their live performances as well.

Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for all of the musicians involved and the Queensrÿche legacy,  in fact I have the Tri-Rÿche logo tattooed on my arm, but I feel all parties involved need to let it go and move forward. 20140404_062220_1

 

    ” Your heads in overload.
You’ve reached your threshold
and you’re about to explode.

Open your eyes. Just say what you want to say?
Open your eyes, you see yours isn’t the only way .
Open your eyes. To you everyone is blind.
Open your eyes and your mind.”

     Rest In Peace Queensrÿche – the Hellion

 

 

the Hellion Rocks presents: EMMURE!

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Tour-Emmure-2014

The people at Victory Records have been good to the Hellion Rocks. They recently put me in touch with Mike and Jesse the guitarists for EMMURE. We had a chance to hang out a bit before their set and we even managed an on camera interview. Thanks to my man Stevo Richardson for filling in on the camera (catch his cameo in the mirror).

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Here is the interview for your perusal:

     it’s loud, it’sdirty, it’s EMMURE!

     -the Hellion

Jason Becker Perpetual Burn Humbucker‏ from Seymour Duncan

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Introducing The Jason Becker Perpetual Burn

The story of the Jason Becker pickup starts decades ago when Jason was catapulted to the top of the guitarist world from his work with Cacophony, as a solo artist and with David Lee Roth. As Jason explains, “I remember Bob Rock bringing in a Les Paul with a Duncan JB in it while I was recording the David Lee Roth song “A Little Ain’t Enough” and I absolutely loved it. After playing with Bob Rock’s guitar, I contacted Seymour Duncan to potentially work on a Becker pickup. We talked about what I wanted and over the course of a few months, they sent about six test pickups.” Jason wanted enough gain for singing leads and the dynamic response for complex chording and ringing clean tones. As the pickup was nearing completion his ALS was making things increasingly hard and the pickup was never released.

As to how Jason came back to completing the pickup, he writes: “A couple years ago, my buddy Michael Lee Firkins came over to test a possible Becker signature amp. We tried tons of guitars, but didn’t find any that sounded very good, or at least that sounded like me. We finally plugged in the guitar with one of my test Duncans in it, and we were all floored! It was like magic. We decided to finalize the pickup and I would say the final tone sounds like me, only way better! It has the thick beef and balls that we metal players and old Van Halen fans like, plus a sweet, clear and crisp, yet warm lead tone.”

The Perpetual Burn HumBecker has an Alnico 5 bar magnet and a 12.11k DC resistance. It has the clarity and punch for Jason’s brand of high-octane shred but is a great choice for rock, blues, and fusion as well. It’s a drop-in replacement for any humbucker-equipped guitar and requires no modification to the instrument. It’s available in black, white, zebra and can be ordered in an assortment of colors as a shop floor custom.

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THE WINERY DOGS AND VINNIE PAUL DROP BY THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF VH1 CLASSIC’S “THAT METAL SHOW”

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THE WINERY DOGS AND VINNIE PAUL DROP BY THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF VH1 CLASSIC’S “THAT METAL SHOW”

Guitar Legend Yngwie Malmsteen Returns and Shreds as Guest Musician

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(March 27th, 2014 – New York, NY) – VH1 Classic’s centerpiece in original programming “That Metal Show” returns this week with Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, and Mike Portnoy of The Winery Dogs. The band drops by to update hosts Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine on how things have been going since the release of their debut album, released last July. The band also unveils a new deluxe edition of their debut that will be released in the near future. Unfortunately, the band leaves mid-show because they were performing that night in New York City. TMS Alum, Vinnie Paul, returns for a third time to the show and finishes the show alone. Vinnie fills the hosts in on the latest Hell Yeah record, recounts tales from the road, and once again definitively states that the rumors of the possible Pantera reunion with Zakk Wylde on guitar are completely false. Vinnie eloquently states: “They call it a ‘reunion’ for a reason, it means that all original members will be returning.  Well, with Dime no longer being here, that’s not possible.  We had fourteen amazing years together, and in my humble opinion there’s no way to do that. I don’t want to tarnish the legacy of Pantera, and my brother.  This just needs to be left alone, as it is, and it’s time for us to move on, man.” Vinnie Paul also enlightens the hosts in the “Put It On The Table” segment as he answers the lightning fast Q&A portion of the show. Episode eleven of “That Metal Show” airs this Saturday, March 29th at 11:00PM ET/PT.

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Guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen returns to TMS but this time as the guest musician. Yngwie wowed the hosts, guests, and crowd with his amazing fretwork and improvisational abilities. He even takes a full guitar solo in the final segment of the show that is not-to-be-missed.

Episode eleven also features a “Metal Modem” segment with Michael Poulson, of Volbeat, checking in from his home in Denmark. Michael fills in the hosts about what is going on with Volbeat’s upcoming tour, what it was like to tour with Metallica, and how great it was to be on the road with Hell Yeah and Vinnie Paul, hoping they can do it again soon. The “TMS Top 5” tackles the Top 5 Greatest Hard Rock Trios with all three hosts only agreeing on one band, Rush. This week’s “Stump The Trunk” finds Eddie regaining his dominance over the audience’s questions. When he gets one wrong it allows a lucky fan to win one of Billy Sheehan’s basses; autographed by the Winery Dogs, which of course brings out everyone’s favorite Miss Box Of Junk, Jennifer.

Since the January 18th premiere of Season 13, “That Metal Show” continues to bring their audience the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal. The season 13 finale airs on April 5th at 11:00PM ET/PT with guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, comedians Artie Lange and Jim Breuer, and Yngwie Malmsteen as guest guitarist, earning the distinction as being the only repeat performer in season 13.

This season marks some monumental changes for the show as it returns to New York City for Season 13. Previously the show was taped over several days, in a course of a week, at Sony Studios in Los Angeles. The new season is now shot at Metropolis Studios on Tuesday nights, for broadcast that Saturday. Season 13 also consists of 12 new episodes making it the longest season in the series history. Fans can also catch the complete season 12 and brand new exclusive bonus clips at ThatMetalShow.VH1.com and on the new VH1 app. New episodes of season 13 launch on the web and in the app every Sunday morning following the show’s on-air premiere.

“That Metal Show” premiered on VH1 Classic in November 2008 and since has become the only place for all things hard rock and heavy metal on cable television. The show has been visited by some of the biggest names in the genres including members of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Pantera, Anthrax, Kiss, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Queensrÿche, and Heart.

“That Metal Show” is a production of VH1 Classic. Lee Rolontz, Jeff Baumgardner, and Keshia Williams serve as executive producers for VH1.

VH1 Classic brings you the best metal, rock, soul and pop from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. The channel features the gods of rock – from Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Iron Maiden to Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, and Dire Straits – in marquee concerts and music specials, and of course, tons of classic music videos. Recent big events include “National Metal Day” (11.11) and “Metal Evolution”, an 11-part documentary series on the history of metal.  When it comes down to it – all music should go to 11.

 

TOMBS Reveal New Album Title, Artwork and Track Listing and Tour Dates‏

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TOMBS Reveal New Album Title, Artwork and

Track Listing and Tour Dates

12 Jacket (Gatefold - Two Pocket) [GD30OB2-N]

Available June 10, 2014 on Relapse Records

Brooklyn, New York’s TOMBS‘ have confirmed Savage Gold as the title of the band’s third album on Relapse Records.   The album is set for a June 10threlease (North America), June 9th (UK/World), and June 6th (Germany/Benelux/Finland) and today the artwork and track listing have been revealed. The stunning artwork was created by renowned tattooist Thomas Hooper who has created the band’s previous album covers.

 

Savage Gold is one the most anticipated underground metal album of 2014 as stated by Decibel Magazine, Revolver Magazine, Noisecreep and numerous other outlets.  The band’s sophomore LP Path Of Totality unanimously topped 2011 end of the year metal lists (everyone from Decibel to Pitchfork to NPR, and more, dubbed it their top album of that year).  Savage Goldfocuses the awesome strength of TOMBS’ previous works into one brilliantly dark post-punk and extreme black-metal masterpiece.  Recorded and produced by Hate Eternal’s Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Goatwhore),Savage Gold both expands upon the moody post-punk foundations thatTOMBS’ prior albums explored while also bringing out the band’s most traditionally metal moments yet.  Once every few years a record comes along that sets a new benchmark for what can be done in heavy music.  This is that moment and this is that record.

 

In support of Savage Gold, TOMBS will hit the road for a West Coast run supporting Pelican.  The shows kick off June 12th in San Diego, CA and run through June 19th in Seattle, WA.  A complete list of dates can be found below.

 

In addition to their US dates, TOMBS will be taking part in the Temples Festival at Motion in Bristol, UK on May 3rd.  They will play alongside Neurosis, Conan and Moss

 

Formed in 2007 by singer / guitarist Mike Hill (Anodyne, Versoma) in Brooklyn, NY, TOMBS blends a wide array of influences including Black Metal and dark industrial music. The band went through a number of line-up changes with Hill the only remaining original member. Former members included Domenic Seita (Storm of Light) and Carson Daniel James. The band’s prior Relapse output included a self-titled EP and a split 12-inch with like-minded, Germanic darkness weavers Planks. Both records were release on Hill’s now-defunct label Black Box Recordings. The band’s first two Relapse releases, 2009’s Winter Hours and 2011’s Path of Totality both received massive reception from the press with the latter being featured prominently on many critic’s year end metal lists including Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, NPR and MetalSucks. The crowning achievement was securing the 2011 album of the year for Decibel Magazine. In addition to their critically acclaimed releases,TOMBS has become known for their captivating live performances and have toured extensively throughout North America and Europe with bands ranging from Isis, Pelican, Wolves in the Throne Room, The Secret and Kylesa.

 

Savage Gold Track Listing:

1. Thanatos

2. Portraits

3. Seance

4. Echoes

5. Deathtripper

6. Edge of Darkness

7. Ashes

8. Legacy

9. Severed Lives

10. Spiral

 

TOMBS Festival Appearance:

5/3: Bristol, UK @ Motion (Temples Festival with Neurosis, Conan and Moss)

 

TOMBS Live W/Pelican:

6/12: San Diego, CA @ The Casbah

6/13: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater

6/15: San Francisco, CA @ Slims

6/17: Portland, OR @ Branx

6/18: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw

6/19: Seattle, WA @ Neumos

 

For More Info Visit:

https://www.facebook.com/TombsBklyn

http://tombsbklyn.bandcamp.com

http://www.relapse.com

Thrash Legends EXODUS Issue First Studio Update!

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Thrash Legends EXODUS Issue First Studio Update!

 

On Tour with SLAYER and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in May 2014 + Rock On The Range + Heavy Montreal

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San Francisco’s veteran thrashers EXODUS have entered a studio in Northern California with producer Andy Sneap to record their eleventh studio album. Guitarist and songwriter Gary Holt has issued the following update:

“We are well into drum tracks; everything is going super smooth and Tom [Hunting] is just killing it! Best drum sound this band has ever laid down – sounds just simply pummeling! Only one more song and some B sides to go, then we go through things and make sure everything is up to par, and then time for guitars! Can’t wait to add the crunch to these monsters. This is gonna be so goddamned heavy it ain’t even funny! We couldn’t be more stoked and pleased with how this record is coming along! Bludgeoning!”

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EXODUS performed at Kirk Von Hammett’s Fear FestEviL in San Francisco in early February. This May, they’ll play six shows as direct support to Slayer with openers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES before joining Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, and Kid Rock at this year’s Rock On The Range festival. On August 10th, EXODUS will perform at Heavy Montreal at Parc Jean-Deapeau in Montreal, QC with Slayer, Lamb of God, Hatebreed and more.

EXODUS US TOUR with SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES:

5/9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Great Salt Air

5/10 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Auditorium

5/11 – Billings, MT @ Shrine Auditorium

5/13 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater

5/15 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

5/16 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom

5/17 – Columbus, OH @ Columbus Crew Stadium – Rock on the Range

8/10 – Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean-Drapeau – Heavy Montreal

 

EXODUS INTERNATIONAL DATES:

7/11 – Balingen, Germany @ Bang Your Head Festival

7/12 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Antwerp Metal Festival 

8/16 – Bogota, Columbia @ Rock al Parque

ABOUT EXODUS:

With a career spanning 34 years and over five million albums sold worldwide, EXODUS have not only helped shape & define the thrash metal genre for over three decades but they continually seek to raise its standards. One of the forefathers of the Bay Area scene that became known & envied throughout the world, the band’s 1985 debut album, Bonded By Blood, has since become a legacy album featuring mandatory live staples such as “Strike Of The Beast,” “A Lesson In Violence,” and the album’s title track. Formed in 1980, the band’s original members included Tom Hunting on drums, Kirk Hammett (METALLICA) & Tim Agnello on guitars, and Carlton Melson on bass. With a line-up that evolved throughout the years, the current incarnation of EXODUS has remained unchanged since 2007: Gary Holt & Lee Altus on guitars, Tom Hunting on drums, Jack Gibson on bass, and Rob Dukes on vocals. To date,EXODUS has released ten studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation. Their most recent release, Exhibit B: The Human Condition, debuted at #114 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in 2010.

Visit EXODUS online at www.EXODUSATTACK.com.

Like: www.facebook.com/EXODUSATTACK

Follow: Twitter.com/_EXODUS

Watch: www.YouTube.com/EXODUS

Revolver Magazine and Guitar World Magazine Reveal RONNIE JAMES DIO “Rainbow In The Dark” Cover Track – Featuring Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci & Jason Christopher‏

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Revolver Magazine and Guitar World Magazine Reveal RONNIE JAMES DIO “Rainbow In The Dark” Cover Track –

Featuring Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci & Jason Christopher

 

Grab this Track and More — Get the RONNIE JAMES DIO “This Is Your Life” Compilation – Pre-Order via iTunes

 

Win an ASG Series Dio Guitar from GuitarWorld.com!

 

This Is Your Life is the #1 Hard Rock/Metal Album // Top 10 Overall on Amazon!

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Album Artwork by Mark Sasso

his Is Your Life Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Ronnie James Dio With Renditions of his Greatest Songs from Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio

Available April 1, 2014 via Rhino

 

 

Dual premiere alert! Today, Revolver Magazine and Guitar World Magazine have partnered up to reveal a stellar rendition of ‘Rainbow In The Dark’, performed by Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, and Jason Christopher. The track appears on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute compilation This Is Your Life, available April 1, 2014 via Rhino in physical and digital versions. Take a listen now at Revolvermag.com or GuitarWorld.com!

While visiting GuitarWorld.com, make sure to enter to win an awesome ASG Dio Vision Guitar! The guitar features a solid basswood body and set neck, a rosewood fingerboard, Mother of Pearl inlays, and more. View a full description at ArtistSeriesGuitar.com, and enter to win via GuitarWorld.com now.

Don’t be the last in line – reserve your digital copy now via iTunes here, or physical via Amazon here. As a bonus with your iTunes pre-order, you’ll get a free, instant download of Motörhead and Biff Byford of Saxon’s rendition of Rainbow’s ‘Starstruck’. In addition, all digital versions of This Is Your Life, will include a newly recorded version of Black Sabbath’s ‘Buried Alive’ re-imagined by Jasta, the side project of Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta. This track will be exclusively available on the digital versions.

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Local to New York City? Duff’s Brooklyn is hosting the official This Is Your Life east coast listening and release party this Saturday, March 29th at 10:00PM. The event is free and you must be 21+ to attend. Duff’s Brooklyn is located at 168 Marcy Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.duffsbrooklyn.com.

In other Dio event news – on March 17th, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund hosted its 3rd annual Awards Gala at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, CA, and raised in excess of $90,000 for cancer research and education. Thank you to all who attended and donated! The event included all-star performances from Halestorm, Oni Logan, Rowan Robertson, Jimmy Bain, Brian Tichy, Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob), Tim “Ripper” Owens, Craig Goldy, Bjorn Englen, Simon Wright, Scott Warren, Corey Taylor, Christian Martucci, Scott Ian, Duff McKagan, Jason Christopher, Roy Mayorga, and more – and awards were presented to distinguished honorees for their contributions to spreading awareness of Fund’s important work. The red carpet was star-studded, with appearances from Rob Halford, Pearl Aday, Vinny Appice, Mark Boals, Ann Boleyn, Dewey Bragg (Kill Devil Hill), Maxwell Carlisle, Mikey Doling (SNOT), Lita Ford, Jeff George, Rita Haney (Dimebags Hag), Kathryn Hanneman (Jeff’s/Slayer widow), Nik Kai, Sin Quirin, Jack Russell (Great White), Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Vext (SNOT), Mark Zavon (Kill Devil Hill), and more.

 

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This Is Your Life is a tribute album created to raise funds for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund(www.diocancerfund.org), which features an all-star group of his friends and fans performing 13 of their favorite Ronnie James Diotracks. The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention, and was co-founded by Dio’s longtime manager and wife, Wendy Dio. 100% of the monies received from this album by the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund goes directly into cancer research.

Produced by Wendy Dio, widow of Ronnie James Dio and Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer FundPresident/Founder,  This Is Your Life includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as Metallica, Scorpions, Anthrax, Glenn Hughes and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years. See below for a full tracklisting, chock full of renditions by today’s most stellar classic, heavy metal and hard rock artists!

Ronnie James Dio This Is Your Life Track Listing:

  1. “Neon Knights” – Anthrax*
  2. “The Last In Line” – Tenacious D*
  3. “The Mob Rules” – Adrenaline Mob
  4. “Rainbow In The Dark” – Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher*
  5. “Straight Through The Heart” – Halestorm*
  6. “Starstruck” – Motörhead with Biff Byford*
  7. “The Temple Of The King” – Scorpions*
  8. “Egypt (The Chains Are On)” – Doro
  9. “Holy Diver” – Killswitch Engage
  10. “Catch The Rainbow” – Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren*
  11. “I” – Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy*
  12. “Man On The Silver Mountain” – Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren*
  13. “Ronnie Rising Medley (Featuring A Light In The Black, Tarot Woman, Stargazer, Kill The King)” – Metallica*
  14. “This Is Your Life” – Dio

Digital Bonus Track: “Buried Alive” – Jasta*

* Previously unreleased

 

Updated Statement From GWAR Regarding The Passing of Dave Brockie

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Jack Flanagan, manager of GWAR has issued this official statement:

On behalf of Dave Brockie’s family, Slave Pit Inc. and GWAR, we would like to thank all the loyal fans worldwide for the outpouring of love and support shown to us over the past few days.  Knowing that we have such amazing family, friends and fans is truly helping us all get through this tough time.

 

We are awaiting a toxicology report from the medical examiners office to confirm the cause of death. The medical examiners office has informed us that the results can take one to three months to be processed. Standard protocol exists that a toxicology procedure be performed.

 

We have made funeral arrangements and a private memorial has been scheduled for close friends and family.

 

As Dave and Oderus would have wanted, this year’s GWAR-B-Q scheduled for August 16th at Hadad’s Lake (7900 Osborne Turnpike Richmond, VA) will still take place as planned. We have scheduled the Dave Brockie public memorial to take place the day prior to the GWAR-B-Q, Friday August 15th, also at Hadad’s Lake.

 

More information shall be released as the details are confirmed.

 

 

Help support the Hellion Rocks with a T-Shirt!!!

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Help the Hellion Rocks by purchasing a T-shirt at the link below! Thanks for all of your support!!! – the Hellionfront-big

 

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https://www.booster.com/thehellionrocksfundraiser

Emphatic sign to Pavement Entertainment

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Emphatic

 

Pavement Entertainment welcomes Nebraska’s Emphatic to the roster. Emphatic’s brand of melodic hard rock has gained them much acclaim by fans and critics alike with their albums “Damage” and “Another Life”, along with 4 singles charting in the top 40 active rock charts.
The band is currently playing select live shows while writing their new album slated for a late 2014 release. “With some welcomed changes that have occurred with Emphatic, we felt it necessary to get back into the studio and make an album that reflects the current vision of the band” states guitarist Justin McCain who will also be producing the new album. “We are excited about this new opportunity and look forward to the road ahead”.
The band has suffered through some changes in its past but according to Pavement’s Director of A&R Tim King, “Any band that has longevity and is in it for the long haul had to suffer through ups and downs. This includes changes with labels, management, and sometimes even band members. There are so many bands that just pack it in and call it a day when things get tough. Bands like Emphatic separate the men from the boys. The band’s determination and great songwriting is a key factor as to why I signed them to Pavement. We have many great things planned for these guys”