So, I have been sitting some info for a while. As most of have heard, some form of Guns N’ Roses will be performing at Coachella and a possible tour. Keep in mind this is some form of a reunited GNR. Stay tuned right here for more information to come….
You know where you are?
-the Hellion
I am sad to report to you of the death of the legendary man known as LEMMY. I had the great fortune to meet and shake his hand once, he was a VERY cool guy. I hope the afterlife is bracing itself for his arrival…
G-dspeed my friend.
-the Hellion
Wait, what? You’ve never heard of Babyjane? Don’t worry, you soon will. Imagine if you will a band steeped in Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Skid Row, Sex Pistols, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, The Cult, Faith No More, Megadeth, Pantera, KISS, Aerosmith and you will begin to understand the music of Babyjane.
Australia has given the world some great bands and now we can include Babyjane into that fold. I was excited to learn that Babyjane was doing a little bit of work with one of my favorite artists and one hell of a nice guy, Gilby Clarke. Paul Judge – Bass / Vocals recently related the story of how they came to work with Gilby:
” the song basically came to be through testing the waters to see who was out there in the States that would just record one song with us, so we could get a feel of who we wanted to do the next album with. we recorded twice with Michael Wagener so we’ve been there and done that – we didn’t want things to start getting stale by recording with him over and over again. plus, he’s all the way over in Nashville. we love it there, but it’s so far away – we wanted to spend more time on the coast. it’s a better environment for recording, at least for us.
asking Gilby to record us was a punt we took that we never thought he’d say yes to, but he jumped at the chance when he heard our demos. we sent him demo’s for 4 songs we’d been working on – You Know That Bitch Better Than Me, 23 Sins, No Enemies and Do Ya Know Who I Am. he chose Do Ya as the song – we ended up trimming the title because it sounded catchier.
recording with him was great because he was in our favourite band from our teenage years. we had to rush it – we only had a day in LA before catching 2 flights to Oklahoma to play Rocklahoma. he was supportive and really guided us into a groove when laying the song down. other producers haven’t been quite so nice in the past. being positive and patient with musicians goes a long way. but, while recording with him, Keith Olsen reared his head up again – and we were scheduled to record with him two years ago, but the funding fell through. he made us an offer which was too good to refuse this time, and since he was always our original choice, we left the Gilby things as a fun one-off experiment and went back to our original plan, which was to have Keith record the next album. we met up with him in hollywood, he bought us dinner, then came down to watch us play at the whiskey.
when we got offstage he said “absolutely fantastic – I HAVE to record you guys now… we’re gonna make this happen.” so, all we need to do now is line up WHEN we’re gonna record with him in 2016.
as for recording with Gilby, he’s so busy with Slash and Duff and all the rest of them in Kings of Chaos that we wouldn’t have had time to do any more songs with him than the one we did. but when you hear it, you’ll see it was worth it. it’s a song about not really having any relationship with yourself at times. feeling alienated from yourself, having no idea who the fuck you are. it’s the first track we’ve recorded to feature our more recent guitar player, Sav Hatzi.
we’ve been very lucky in the 7 years we’ve been a band – we haven’t taken over the world but we’ve worked with amazing people in the industry. all without having to get loads of commercial airplay too. we’ve had an idol of ours, John Corabi, sing the opening song on our second album, we’ve had Michael Wagener mix and record us from top to bottom, we’ve opened for Sebastian Bach and Paul DiAnno, we’ve been given attention on blabbermouth.net six times, we’ve been invited to play Rocklahoma, no one can ever tell us we haven’t reached some milestones. if it all ended tomorrow we’d be over the moon with what we’ve done. most importantly, we’ve made some amazing music.
but the next album is really gonna blow heads off. Whitesnake 1987 is a milestone in rock, and Ozzy’s No rest For the Wicked was one of my favourite albums growing up – Keith’s done them both, as well as Jesse’s Girl, Winds of Change by the Scorpions… he’s got an ear and sensibility for great melodies. that’s just what Babyjane need. so we’ve had the big, snappy sound of Michael Wagener leading the way on a Babyjane album, we’ve had a racy, get-it-all-done-in-one-day thrash of working with Gilby – which was great for the feel of the song – and next we’re going to have a big, planned, soundscape of rock n roll love that only Keith can accomplish at the mixing desk. in fact, when I hear him talk about the Neve console on the Sound City documentary he did, I get excited at what he’s going to bring to the album.” -Paul Judge
Andy Smith (vocals and guitar); Sav Hatzi (lead guitar); Paul Judge (bass and vocals) and Nik ‘Animal’ Kats (drums)
Babyjane, not content with just hanging around Australia, has kicked in the door to the outside world and wedged it open. With their impending new release and the people involved they will have no problem knocking it off its hinges.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Babyjane
-the Hellion
yet again we hear of mans inhumanity towards man. I am sickened and saddened at the reports of the wanton destruction in Paris. It’s ok to have different beliefs than others, just let others have their beliefs as well. I have never ever imposed my beliefs on any one else, I have also never faulted or told someone they were wrong for not believing as I do.
People out of their houses and enjoying themselves were cut down for doing so. People out and enjoying a sporting event were targeted. People who enjoy music and put aside their differences and come together to enjoy live music were executed enjoying what they love.
It is a another sad day in this world that is rapidly losing touch with its sanity…..
-the Hellion
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how can a band have back to back swansongs? Leave it to AC/DC. I was watching a documentary on the band and it got me thinking about their career. Keep in mind these are just my opinions and mine alone.
AC/DC has been hanging out in my ears since “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” caught my attention in late 1976. I was hooked from the get go. I really identified with the rebellious dirty sound of these guys. AC/DC was a band full of guys that were the type your parents warned you to stay away from and yet you couldn’t. I felt an affinity towards these guys and made it my mission to collect their music and adopt their attitude.
I earned money to buy High Voltage, T.N.T, Dirty Deeds, Let There Be Rock, and Powerage. I did my best to wear them out as they remained in constant rotation on my turntable. There was just SOMETHING about the vibe of the music.
The summer of 1979 AC/DC delivered unto the world their best work to date, Highway to Hell. This record was perfection start to finish. The songs were flawless, and the cover was every parents nightmare back then. Devil horns, pentagrams, sullen hooligans…heroes to us rebellious youths.
Then a short seven months later my hero Bon was found dead in a car, death by misadventure, taken out like he lived.
In my mind I think that AC/DC made the best album they could ever make and the pressure to top it was weighing heavy on Bon. I think it was Bon Scott era AC/DC’s swansong.
My mind was blown when in the summer of 1980 a new AC/DC record hit the stores, Back In Black. Wait, what?!?!? They had replaced Bon Scott?!?!? Turns out that yes they had.
I bought it and raced home to hear what my beloved AC/DC had done. It wasn’t bad, in fact the record kicked ass. Brian Johnson wasn’t Bon and he wasn’t trying to be, and I was ok with that. It was AC/DC and yet….not. I felt that the new stuff was good but was missing a bit of their street tough element. To me this was Brian Johnson era AC/DC’s swansong.
And that was that, the following records really did nothing for me and I felt that my beloved AC/DC had crossed into the realm of hard-pop music and even though I have consistently purchased every release the love affair was long over.
That is how to me AC/DC made back to back swansong records. They jumped the shark twice, and to me that’s ok.
AC/DC soldiers on to this day and yes I still support them and always will, but that special connection, that spark, that nod from one street tough to another is long gone…
Thanks for the history guys, I still have the denim vest, and can still smell cigarette smoke and feel the whiskey flask in my pocket, and probably always will.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s AC/DC!!!
the Hellion
In this day and age a band on the road faces numerous challenges. Stolen instruments, gas money, vehicle repairs, feeding themselves, showering, where to sleep, and yet they keep doing it in order to share their music. I am constantly seeing posts about bands getting into some heinous situations every day. Most recover and carry on, others find the situation overwhelming. I am bouncing around the idea of creating a fund based upon donations to help keep bands in need on the road.
I am thinking if we can create a network of people around the USA willing to put their heads together and figure a way to help bands out when they get into a situation in which help is required. Keep in mind this is only in the exploration stage right now and I am open to any and all ideas. We might even be able to get help from some hotel, vehicle repair/rental, food, and musical instrument and supply companies.
My tentative name for this is the Alive And On The Road fund.
If you have an interest in this and wish to provide some input please contact me at janaya@thehellionrocks.com
I can’t do this without the greater music community people so please help to keep young bands on the road.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!
-the Hellion
I would like to apologize to my loyal readers. I had to step away from social media for a minute because of the overwhelming flood of mayhem on it. I needed time to reflect on how I can help. We need more positive messages and treatment of each other. Only by looking within and deciding to make a positive impact can we make changes. Never be afraid to care.
-the Hellion
It’s always a good day to talk with Michael Sweet from Stryper. I had the chance yesterday to speak with Michael a bit about the new record and some other things. It was a heartfelt conversation and left me feeling good. Thanks again Michael, and Kevin for making it happen. Enjoy our conversation right here:
Do yourselves a favor and pick up the new Stryper release out on Frontier Records Friday, October 16th, I give it a 15 out of 10 stars!!!
Check out Stryper online:
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!
-the Hellion
I find myself beating a dead horse again with the announcement of the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
The elite few are at it again by nominating too many artists that ARE NOT IN THE ROCK N’ ROLL GENRE!!! I think it was said best by the Sex Pistols when they refuse to attend their 2006 induction and sent the following letter:
Transcript: “Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming. Were not your monkey and so what? Fame at $25,000 if we paid for a table, or $15000 to squeak up in the gallery, goes to a non-profit organisation selling us a load of old famous. Congradulations. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons. Your anonymous as judges, but your still music industry people. Were not coming. Your not paying attention. Outside the shit-stem is a real SEX PISTOL”
So what should happen? How should we recognize those worthy? Here are my thoughts: You wouldn’t see Slayer inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (if indeed there is one) or the R&B/Soul/Funk/Rap Hall of Fame (if indeed there is one of those as well) and I wouldn’t expect to either. You wouldn’t see Whiz Khalifa inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame either. So why would we see Country Music artists or R&B/Soul/Funk/Rap artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? We don’t have cross-genre radio stations so why would we have a cross-genre Hall of Fame called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
I am of the opinion that we could rename it as the Music Hall of Fame and let it become a free for all or stick to the music for what it was named for and just induct artists in the Rock And Roll genre. Now there is nothing wrong with other genres of music let’s just call it as it is.
As for the elite few that are in charge of nominations…well I think we should let the people speak. There should be criteria that bands must meet for nomination for sure but I believe the listeners should have the final word. Every year the bands that meet said criteria should be listed and a site opened where the fans have a certain amount of time to vote, and the top 16 should be the ones inducted, and the process cycles annually.
These are just my thoughts and musings. I’ll shut up now and go listen to the new Stryper record.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!
-the Hellion
the Hellion Rocks 