It’s not every day you get the chance to talk with a legend. When we were offered the opportunity to talk with Bob Kulick, I immediately thought Mike Araiza would be the perfect host for this interview. Boy was I right, you can check out the stellar interview below.
Make sure you also check out Bob’s new record “Skeletons In The Closet” which will be released on September 15 through Vanity Music.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Rock N’ Roll!!!
(Bob Kulick Style!)
-the Hellion
Had a great conversation with Frankie Banali about the new Quiet Riot release Road Rage!
Check it out here:
http://www.frontiers.shop/search?sSearch=Quiet+Riot
https://www.amazon.com/Road-Rage-Quiet-Riot/dp/B071FKGKFC/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1501808705&sr=8-1&keywords=Quiet+Riot
it’s LOUD, it’s DIRTY, it’s QUIET RIOT (so bang your head)
-the Hellion
Sometimes people cross your paths and leave a positive impact on you. I found one of those people in Marty Casey.
From first seeing him on Rockstar INXS, then meeting him when he was singing for LA Guns, and now a conversation with him, Marty has had that positive impact on me.
Please take a moment and listen to our conversation and understand who Marty is and the message he brings right here:
After listening do yourself a favor and click the link below the album cover and order the new record.
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/martycasey
Here’s a couple of videos from the new record, enjoy:
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!
-the Hellion
I had the chance to talk with Robert about the new WARRANT album LOUDER HARDER FASTER. check it out here:
it’s LOUDER, HARDER, FASTER
the Hellion
In the beginning, Rock N’ Roll was underground. It was not mainstream at all. Eventually it became widely accepted and part of our culture.
Rock radio helped to expose us to bands and music in ways like no other. There was a time when that was how we discovered new bands and songs. Record stores popped up everywhere and one could hang out and explore and find new music as well. We then had the arrival of music video channels which gave us another source to discover new bands and music.
Then radio became less user friendly and more commercial, only playing what they were told. The record stores began closing their doors. Music video channels stopped playing music videos. What happened?
The internet had come along and was added into the thick of things. Some people put the blame on that.
What happened to the music world? Is there still great new music being made? How does one find new music these days? I mean with all the music being flooded onto the web how does one find that jewel that reaches out to you?
Do you think that some of the bands we all know and love would have made it if they had just started out in today’s world?
I often wonder if the next Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, etc. etc. is out there lost in the shuffle.
Just some thoughts I was pondering… what are yours?
-the Hellion
It was a perfect Sunday afternoon as I pulled up to the Lobo Theater for the Stryper show. I was pleasantly surprised to see a line had already formed in front of the building. I made my way towards the door and sorted out my entry so I could prepare to shoot the evening’s festivities.
The people who had purchased the pre show meet and greet (there were quite a few of them) were finishing up and allowed to form a line in the lobby. The sound check was starting up and I decided to walk around and visit with the fans. I was shown various items that had been signed (one cool item was an original vinyl copy of To Hell With The Devil.
Steve Civerolo with his dad Paul
Overall there was a sense of love for Stryper. I found it very cool to see people I knew to be fans of various Hard Rock bands that one usually does not associate with Stryper, telling me how much they meant to them. One special moment for me was seeing my good friend Derek Leyba be given the opportunity to help with load in for the band. The joy in his eyes was immensely satisfying.
Derek Leyba
I went back in and found the band taking their time with the sound check to get it right. The thing that impressed me was the fact that they were willing to take that extra time to give their fans a high-quality show. Eventually everyone was satisfied with the sound check and whisked off to don the Black and Yellow.
I began my set up in the photo pit and waited for the crush of the crowd when the doors were opened. Funny thing, that didn’t happen. People were kind and civil as they packed in. I saw many friends of mine and many hugs were given. Then, the lights went down and business was about to begin.
The show began with a cool video history of Stryper which led into a countdown. When the lights came there they were, in their Black and Yellow glory, STRYPER!!!
Michael Sweet
Robert Sweet
Oz Fox
Tim Gaines
They took us back to 1986 instantly as they played through To Hell With The Devil in its entirety. The band was spot on not missing a lick of the album they had created so many years ago. Song after song was delivered and it seemed the band grew more energetic as did the crowd. After completing the album To Hell With The Devil Stryper ran through some of their crowd favorites and some more current songs. I can definitely say that they left the crowd satisfied. There was a very cool moment during the set when Michael was talking to the crowd and one guy professed his love of the band and you could hear it in his voice.
For moments here and there I actually felt like I was a 22-year-old again watching them for the first time. The playing, the vocals, the stage and the costumes were perfect. I am so very pleased to see that the years have only made them a better, stronger band. If you have the chance do yourself a favor and catch Stryper on this tour, you will NOT be disappointed!
Thanks Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, Oz Fox, and Tim Gaines for a great time and a reminder of how the music community should treat each other.
it’s the Yellow and Black Attack, it’s STRYPER!!!
– the Hellion
Grab a cold one, crank up the volume, and enjoy my conversation with the one, the only, Appalachian Apostle: ADAM JOAD from Scattered Hamlet.
After listening go to www.scatteredhamlet.com and preorder Swamp Rebel Machine!!!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it Scattered Hamlet!!!
-the Hellion
Had the chance to chat with Justin Manning about some stuff…so check it out:
-the Hellion
I recently received the new Monte Pittman record Inverted Grasp Of Balance for review. Little did I know that it would cause me to have a profound revelation to a question I have been seeking an answer to. Over the years of recorded music people have been trying to answer the question: What makes a record good? There has been a myriad of answers that run the gamut of the music industry. The problem is most of the answers that have been provided are subjective to the answerer and biased to their own opinions. For me, at least, I feel that I have finally answered said question. A good record is one that when you put it on you find yourself turning it up, tapping your foot or nodding your head to the beat, and when it’s over you find yourself feeling as if you just got back from…somewhere.
I was excited to review this record as I have spoken with Monte before and have enjoyed his previous work. I didn’t realize that I would spend the rest of the day and the next listening to it on repeat and still humming the songs long after. There is a level of craftsmanship to this record that is hard to find these days (one other is the work of Jeff Sandoval and Mike Araiza). There is no doubt that music flows through the soul of Monte Pittman and I hear nods to so many musicians in his playing and writing. When a record is made for the purpose of sharing what one feels in their minds ear, it is profound and beautiful.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance features Monte on guitars and vocals, Richard Christy (Charred Walls Of The Damned, Iced Earth, Death) on drums, and…..wait for it….Billy Sheehan, yes I said Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, just to name a few) on bass. Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther) handled the production duties and the record sounds clean and crisp. I read somewhere that Monte recorded his guitar parts while on the road, but this record feels so organic to me and it feels like someone turned on a mic in a jam room and captured some live magic.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance gives us twelve tracks which flow together beautifully and I guarantee you will NOT find yourself reaching for the skip button, in fact you WILL find yourself reaching for the repeat button.
If you have to pin me down for stand out tracks I would have to say “Skeleton Key” just reaches out to me the most. This track, in my opinion should be on every radio station across the planet, period. It’s just good rock n’ roll that gets in your head.I find myself just humming throughout the day. “California” opens with bass that just drips with cool and is pure Billy Sheehan and then paints a picture in your mind of being on a cool road trip with the radio blasting, the wind in your hair, and your best friends at your side. “New Blood Keeps Us Alive” is an epic track that, again, I feel should be blasting out of every speaker across the world. It begins with some wonderfully beautiful acoustic work that grows to some powerful rock n’ roll worthy of note. This song opens up the mind and makes you reflect on life.
Monte’s guitar work is across the map on Inverted Grasp Of Balance, taking from gentle acoustic to balls out shredding, and it all works in connection with each other. Not only is there stellar guitar work here Monte’s vocal work is strong and epic as well. The songwriting on Inverted Grasp Of Balance is something else. Monte has reached deep within and written some deep compositions that I believe were truly from the point of artistry. Combine all of that with great drumming and legendary bass playing this is a music lovers wet-dream.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance drops on Sept 23 on Metal Blade Records make sure you do NOT miss out on this record.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance track-listing
1. Panic Attack
2. Arisen in Broad Daylight
3. Guilty Pleasure
4. The Times Are Changing
5. Double Edged Sword
6. Cadabra
7. Pride Comes Before the Fall
8. California
9. Be Very Afraid
10. Obliterated
11. Skeleton Key
12. New Blood Keeps Us Alive
Pre-order “Inverted Grasp of Balance” at metalblade.com/montepittman/
Monte Pittman online:
http://www.montepittman.com
https://www.facebook.com/MontePittman
http://www.youtube.com/MontePittmanMusic
https://soundcloud.com/montepittman
http://twitter.com/montepittman
http://www.instagram.com/montepittman
https://montepittman.bandpage.com
https://myspace.com/montepittman
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Monte Pittman
-the Hellion
A very long time ago a friend of mine who was always on the cutting edge of music played a for me called “Jocko Homo”. I asked him “what the hell did I just listen to?” He said, “it’s a band called DEVO, take the record and really listen to it.”
I listened to the record which was Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! And I grew to love it and appreciate it. Keep in mind this album came out in 1978 and songs like “Jocko Homo”, “Uncontrollable Urge”, “Gut Feeling”/ “(Slap Your Mammy)” and their cover of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” were so off the normal track.
I kept listening and watching the “evolution” of DEVO throughout the years maintaining a constant affair with them. It was kind of like a guilty pleasure for me. My then current flock of metal heads would have revoked my metal card at that time.
Eventually the love of music outweighed being “cool” or “accepted” and I learned to just embrace the music I loved and throw away the genres.
DEVO continued to deliver eclectic music and imagery that attracted me. The music was complex and interesting in its composure. Electronic, analog, all mixed together with often times frantic vocals, it was all in there. The world caught up with DEVO with the success of “Whip It” and other tracks like “Freedom of Choice”, “Beautiful World”. I continued to listen and appreciate their diversity. And then they fell off of my radar. There was no reason they had just got away from me.
I found myself a parent for the first time in 1990 when my son was born. One of the first television shows I watched with him was the Rugrats. I was completely surprised to see that Mark Mothersbaugh from DEVO was involved with the music of Rugrats. I then realized the genius of Mark and DEVO.
I went on a musical history trip through the halls of DEVO and fully came to appreciate their creativity and tongue-in-cheek and yet somehow, not, humor. There were messages woven into the tapestry of their songs that you could pick up on if you were really paying attention. There are a lot of bands out there whose music just doesn’t stand up over time and grows old and tiresome to me, DEVO is not one of those bands. I still find new things to enjoy from their rich musical history.
Never be ashamed of the music you like, period.
“He’s a man with a plan
His finger is pointed at Devo
Now we must sacrifice ourselves
That many others may live
Okay we’ve got a lot to give” …DEVO
-the Hellion
the Hellion Rocks 