Tag Archives: Richie Kotzen

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.

 

the Hellion Rocks top 16 (started at 10, then 16) CDs of 2013!!!

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Well it’s rapidly approaching the end of 2013 and time for my top releases of the year. While there were so many fantastic records from both new and established artists, there are a few that just burrowed into my brain and I couldn’t shake them. There are 16 that I am going to mention here and they are in no particular order as they are all incredible in my book. To those bands who aren’t listed here, relax I have another post planned to address you.

     KILL DEVIL HILL – REVOLUTION RISE

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When you have a CD from a band that has members like Vinny Appice, Rex Brown, Mark Zavon, and Dewey Bragg you know your’re in for a treat. This CD kicks ass on so many levels. The music of KDH sounds familiar and distinctly unique, giving you a feeling that this band has been around for years but yet remaining fresh. Do NOT miss out on this CD, here’s a taste:

SCATTERED HAMLET – SKELETON DIXIE

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Scattered Hamlet – Skeleton Dixie CD cover

My boys in Scattered Hamlet deliver on their full length release and then some. Remember when music made you feel something? Skeleton Dixie gets right in and touches your musical soul. Throughout the years these guys have become family to me and I have the great fortune of being mentioned in this CD as well. You WILL love it! Get some:

THE WINERY DOGS

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     When Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy, and Richie Kotzen get together you know you’re gonna get something great. There was a lot of buzz around this project and when it came to fruition it delivered in spades. Great straight up rock n’ roll, there needs to me more records like this one. Check it:

TOM KEIFER – THE WAY LIFE GOES

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     Tom Keifer has always been one of my favorite vocalists. The gritty soulfulness of his voice is iconic. It has been quite a while since we have had new music from Tom and it has been worth the wait. Bluesy with a razors edge is what you find on this record. Take a listen:

STRYPER – NO MORE HELL TO PAY

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     I find it funny that I have included Stryper on this list. I’ll admit that I was not really the biggest Stryper fan back in the day, I have found a new respect for them in this record. They have a tenacity that will not quit. Strong in their beliefs, and strong in their musical passion is what landed them here. (On a side note, I recently interviewed Michael Sweet and have one coming up with Oz Fox). Here’s the title track:

BLACK WATER RISING – PISSED AND DRIVEN

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     Black Water Rising has been honing this record for a few years, and it shows. These guys have been in my ears for a few years now and I finally got to see them live and hear some of these songs live. BWR brings powerful rock n’ roll and here is some for ya :

ADRIAN GALYSH – TONE POET

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     Adrian Galysh is one of hidden talents that the world has yet to discover. I received this CD for review and was completely amazed by it, and I believe you will be too. listen to this CD and hear a mans passion transferred to his music.

KORN – THE PARADIGM SHIFT

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     Korn has welcomed Head back into its fold and released one of their best CDs to date. I believe that their life experiences has caused this band to grow and mature and that growth is reflected in The Paradigm shift. “Never Never” has become one of my favorite tracks. Check out the video and see why:

DEATH ALLEY MOTOR CULT – THE OUTLAW CHRONICLES

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     Death Alley Motor Cult is one of those bands that you want to hang out with but you remember what your mom said to you about the company you keep. Their music is like that too, when you listen to it you feel dirty, dangerous, and cool, very very cool. The Outlaw Chronicles needs to be played at 11 and in a conspicuous place so you can “enlighten” those in need of a visceral experience.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – HAIL TO THE KING

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     Sometimes I catch grief for listening to A7X, but this band gives me hope for newer music. upon the heels of suffering the loss of their founding drummer “The Rev” they have come back with strong music that has shaken up the pop laden music charts. Hail To The King pays homage to the bands that inspired these guys. Hail To The King:

CLUTCH – EARTH ROCKER

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     Clutch is one of those bands that will always remain just under the radar. Earth Rocker is a great album that unfortunately many people will not get to hear. Clutch is a band that gets ignored by the mainstream and yet I think they are happy with that. Great band, great show, great record. Do yourself a favor and listen to Earth Rocker and then dig into the music of Clutch. Here’s “Crucial Velocity”:

ADRENALINE MOB – COVERTA

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     Adrenaline Mob put out this CD of covers that is just incredibly awesome. They cover Van Halen’s “Romeo Delight” with the power and aggression that I think it deserved from the beginning. I usually do not put cover albums on my list, but this one has a place. Check this out:

MONSTER MAGNET – LAST PATROL

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     Last Patrol takes you on a psychedelic journey into the mind of Dave Wyndorf. Monster Magnet is back on their game with their latest release. Just caught these guys on tour in support of Last Patrol and the songs kick ass live!

MINDCAGE – OUR OWN DEVICES

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     Mindcage came out of left field and socked me in the head with this one. Our Own Devices creates a magical world with their powerful music. I have said that is transports you away from the mundane and I stand by that statement. Here you go:

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – UNBLACKENED

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     Those of you who know me knew this one would end up on here. Zakk and co. have always and will always be one of my favorites. Unblackened gives new life to some of the most iconic BLS tracks. While the members may change, Black Label Society will remain STRONGER THAN DEATH.

TRACII GUNS’ LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN – THE FIRST RECORD

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     Of all of the great and wonderful 2013 releases on my list, this is most magical for me. Having considered Tracii Guns one of my favorite guitarists for years and years I was supremely stoked when I caught wind of this project. When I finally had it in my  hands it was all that I expected and then some. Trippy , ethereal and full of passion, and soul the music found on here is the kind we grew up listening to. Thank you Tracii!

     its loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

     the Hellion

PHIL SOUSSAN – A ROCK LEGEND SPEAKS

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     We got ROCK LEGEND Phil Soussan to get with us on some questions. You know him from his stellar bass playing and songwriting with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Vince Neil, Johnny Hallyday and John Waite, as well as a membership in Beggars & Thieves. Soussan has also played in bands featuring Jimmy Page, Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter and Richie Kotzen. Let’s check out his interview:
     I am thankful to my mother for being instrumental in exposing me to various forms of music. Was there someone who opened your ears to music?
     Phil: Yes, my Mom used to play the radio all day and sing along to songs. I was bought a kid record player at about 4 years old, and I used to sit in front of it changing records and singing along. About that time, my Mom’s musical cousins – two brothers who played just about every instrument, bought me a real 1/4 size acoustic guitar. The rest is history!
      When was it that you decided to learn music? Were you formally educated or self-taught?
     Phil: Both. I was self-taught on the guitar, melodicas, recorders – anything that made a sound! At about 8 I started taking proper recorder lessons and at 11 began classical violin and music theory studies.
      I think all of us at one time cranked up some music and played air guitar to our heroes music, what were some of the bands you jumped around in your bedroom to?
     Phil: The Carpenters… NOT!!   David Bowie, T-Rex, Sweet, Slade, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Move, Wizzard, the Yardbirds, the Stones and of course the Beatles – all of these the first time round!
      What were some of your early bands experiences? Did you take any lessons learned from those experiences and they are still relevant to you today?
     Phil: I had a lot of American friends growing up in London and they placed a lot of importance on the quality of sound and their technique, compared to UK musicians that were not very polished. I started to practise a lot by watching in the mirror and I was able to see my technical faults better.  I knew how it should look. I still do this today.
      I’ve talked to a lot of musicians who have been “starstruck” by other musicians, has that ever happened to you?
     Phil: Very few times… when I first had a chance to meet Jimmy Page, once I got to know him the familiarity kicked in and we became friends.
      If there was any performer alive or not you could work with who would that be?
     Phil: Elvis during the Sun Sessions era, Hendrix, Zeppelin during the LZ III years.
      I love the idea of one-off “supergroup” projects, what would your ideal project be?
     Phil: Big Noize with Sebastian Bach!
      Is there a singular moment in your musical career that you are most proud of?
     Phil: Walking on to the Stage at Wichita for my first US gig with Ozzy, and at Donnington in 1986.
      I love your solo work and have a copy of “NO PROTECTION” can you tell us about the CD?
     Phil: Thank you! I played and recorded virtually all the instruments on the record. I wanted to do a record where I performed and arranged the entire record. I first heard McCartney do it with “Maybe I’m Amazed”  and I wanted to try the challenge of doing it myself. It was tough but I learned so much about imagining arrangements in my head. Some people think it’s because you want to be able to control everything, but it’s not. I think I wanted to do it is because I wanted to really get inside of music, from every perspective. And it was very difficult to do. But when you come through it, you are a better musician for it: you understand arrangements better, you understand all the instruments better. It takes four times as long to change one part, and I don’t have three other guys to say, “Hey, let’s change this”. I had to change it, record it, change that, record this, and then listen and realize, “No, it’s not working. I think I’ll do something else”. But what I got out of it was a sense in my head that, when I hear an idea now, I can imagine exactly how it should be arranged. And that’s something that I was not doing very well before. So it’s an amazing exercise. My last album “Vibrate” was fun to do but it was what I would call a compilation, a compilation meaning songs one written there, one written here, one written there, and every song put together into a collection written over a long period of time. This album was written at one time from beginning to end, all songs written around the same time, and there’s a thread of continuity that goes through it. As I started recording it, I was in my studio and I started coming up with arrangements.The record itself is really a snapshot of my life at the moment, at a point where I had to go through a lot of realizations and changes in the you cannot stop life from taking its course.
Here is “Free My Soul” from NO PROTECTION:
      Are you still involved with the Grammy’s and how did that come about?
     Phil: Yes, I am Vice President. I have been a member for many years and about 6 years ago a put myself on the ballot to run as a Governor, which I did. I wanted to find a way to give back to the musical community and the Grammys was the best way. I became involved in advocacy issues, fund-raisers for MusiCares and education issues. I wanted to do something for MusiCares as they were the entity that did so much for by best friend Randy Castillo when he became so ill.
      What does the future hold for you? New recordings, touring, etc….?
     Phil: All of the above, We just got back from doing a festival in Bulgaria with Big Noize and we had a change of singer from Joe Lynn Turner to Sebastian Bach; it was awesome and we are now looking to book more shows with this line up.  I really want to do more shows out of the Los Angeles area with my solo band doing material from this new album and some of my other hits written for other artists, but it is proving difficult to tie down local promoters as most of the agents are closed off to new projects. Maybe I shall try to approach local venues myself.
 
       If you were asked to give a lecture to musicians looking to start their careers, what advice would you have for them?
     Phil: Ask yourself if this is really what you want to do and if it is then go for it, never say die and never give up.
      What era appeals to you the most and why is that?
     Phil: The era before digital music – I loved making records and selling records was the way in which we made our money. Today everyone feels that music should be free and it has become such a s challenge to be able to pay your bills and continue making music for people with no income. It is not as if recording equipment manufacturers give you free equipment!
      Being a veteran of the music industry what are your thoughts of the sate of things today?
     Phil: We are getting back in to the T-Shirt business. We use music to invite people to a gig and if you sell them merchandise then you walk away from the deal with some income. If not then you come up zero.
      If we were hanging out and I plugged your MP3 player into my stereo would I be surprised at what was on it?
     Phil: Just a varied assortment of music.
      This last one is open, tell us anything you want to:
     Phil: Listen to my record, enjoy the songs and if you like them please join my mailing list at www.philsoussan.com and write! I try to reply to everyone as much as I can. Please follow me on Twitter at @philsoussan and although I have a Facebook “page” I am not on Facebook anymore – I hate Facebook as I don’t know anyone on it who is not made miserable/ jealous or had their friendships and relationships compromised… and I want to make people feel good – My music makes people feel good!
     Thanks so much for considering this. I know there are some questions you have answered a million times over the years, I’m just hoping to bring them to a new audience!
     Phil: You’re welcome!  Rock on!
Let me know if you are tied in to any local promoters or radio stations and perhaps I can arrange to come out to NM and do some shows!
     Phil
     Thanks Phil!
     I am gonna leave you with Phil’s version of the classic “Shot In The Dark”:
     the Hellion