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AROUND THE HORN
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Featuring the unbridled wit and wisdom of some of the metal world's brotherhood and keeping it REAL !!





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[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, January 07, 2009 11:33:04 AM 

Haha thanks Bev, I just can't be arsed to post the news here anymore, and there's barely anything good to begin with anymore either.

Dialup is just driving me nuts now posting news. What should take about 5 or 10 odd minutes takes me like 40. And then it might not even post right by the time I get it all collected and posted!


  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Bev from Wednesday, January 07, 2009 6:23:42 AM)
[Healer] Wednesday, January 07, 2009 8:49:30 AM 
HEAVEN AND HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi (guitar), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums) — has scheduled the following dates:

May 05 - Bogota, Colombia, Coliseo el Campin
May 07 - Buenos Aires, Argentina, Luna Park
May 08 - Santiago, Chile, Velodromo
May 10 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Chevrolet Hall
May 13 - Brasilia, Brazil, Ginadsio Nilson Nelson
May 15 - Sao Paulo, Brazil, Credicard Hall
May 16 - Sao Paulo, Brazil, Credicard Hall
May 17 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Citibank Hall Rio
May 30 - Moscow, Russia, B1
May 31 - Moscow, Russia - B1
Jun. 02 - Helsinki, Finland, Icehall
Jun. 04 - Oslo, Norway, Spektrum
Jun. 06 - Sölvesborg, Sweden, Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 08 - Giessen, Germany, Hessenhallen
Jun. 09 - Berlin, Germany, Zitadelle
Jun. 10 - Bamburg, Germany, Jakoarena
Jun. 12 - Donnington, England, Download Festival
Jun. 13 - Bergum, Holland, Waldrock Festival
Jun. 14 - Karlsruhe, Germany, Europahalle
Jun. 16 - Bonn, Germany, Museumsplatz
Jun. 17 - Zürich, Switzerland, Volkshaus
Jun. 19 - Clisson, France, Hellfest
Jun. 26 - Dessel, Belgium, Graspop Festival
Jun. 27 - Milan, Italy, Gods Of Metal

U.K.'s Classic Rock has heard three unfinished tracks from the forthcoming debut album from HEAVEN AND HELL. In a world-exclusive, the magazine visited the group on the final day of tracking at Rockfield Studios in Wales, U.K.

According to a posting on the Classic Rock web site, "The songs we heard were a moody, thuddingly malevolent number called 'Rock 'N' Roll Jesus', the pacier and more anthemic 'Neverwhere', and a slice of sloth-like majesty that's likely to be titled 'Breaking Into Heaven'."

Other tracks set to appear on the album — which was co-produced by the group and engineer Mike Exeter — include "Bible Black", "Double Pain" and "Atom + Evil". A late April release via Rhino is expected.

"Each of us submitted a CD of our ideas, and we narrowed it down from there," Iommi told Classic Rock. "In some ways it was like picking up where we'd left off with 'Dehumanizer' [SABBATH's 1992 album], which was also done at Rockfield."

In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Ronnie James Dio described the material on the HEAVEN AND HELL album as "a real cross-section of everything we've done, from 'Heaven and Hell' through 'Mob Rules' and 'Dehumanizer'. I think there's a lot of 'Dehumanizer' in it, but a lot of other things, too, a real good blend of what this band has represented."
[Bev] Wednesday, January 07, 2009 6:23:42 AM 
AND IN OTHER NEWS, BLABBERMOUTH NEGLECTED TO REPORT:

January 7, 2009 - Happy Birthday, Joe ; )
[Bev] Friday, January 02, 2009 4:40:10 PM 
Planet Rock is over in another solar system.  They missed the Elvis meteor completely ... interesting (sighs)  It would be interesting to know who is on these nominating committees.
[~ MG_Metalgoddess~] Friday, January 02, 2009 3:23:11 PM 
I must say .. I hope these are-not the same people voting in the Grammy's..  Good Gawd..
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Healer from Friday, January 02, 2009 1:41:52 PM)
[adrianaec_88] Friday, January 02, 2009 3:17:34 PM 
Ok... didn't know wheter to post, to not post, to get angry, to ignore it, to what..... come on that's just simply ridiculous... let's start....  , James Hetfield is better than Glenn Huges and Dio? Jon Bon Jovi is better than Janis Joplin? Axl Rose is better than Bruce Dickinson and waaaaaaay bettar than Rob Halford?  ok it's stupid, give me a break
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Healer from Friday, January 02, 2009 1:41:52 PM)
[Head banger] Friday, January 02, 2009 2:03:52 PM 
no clue what rock is these days, let alone the great voices.
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Healer from Friday, January 02, 2009 1:41:52 PM)
[jimmyjames] Friday, January 02, 2009 1:49:30 PM 
It's all a matter of opinion i suppose but how the hell Hetfield got in there ahead of Halford and Dio I don't know. Deep Purple with two vocalists in the top 10, good result for them.
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Healer from Friday, January 02, 2009 1:41:52 PM)
[Healer] Friday, January 02, 2009 1:41:52 PM 
Well these people obviously have no clue

The "Top 40 Greatest Voices in Rock," according to Planet Rock:

01. Robert Plant (LED ZEPPELIN)
02. Freddie Mercury (QUEEN)
03. Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY)
04. Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE)
05. Roger Daltrey (THE WHO)
06. David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE)
07. Axl Rose (GUNS N' ROSES)
08. Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN)
09. Mick Jagger (THE ROLLING STONES)
10. Bon Scott (AC/DC)
11. David Bowie
12. Jon Bon Jovi (BON JOVI)
13. Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH)
14. Jon Anderson (YES)
15. Bruce Springsteen
16. Joe Cocker
17. Ozzy Osbourne
18. Bono (U2)
19. Peter Gabriel
20. James Hetfield (METALLICA)
21. Janis Joplin
22. Chris Cornell (AUDIOSLAVE / SOUNDGARDEN)
23. Roger Chapman (FAMILY)
24. Phil Lynott (THIN LIZZY)
25. Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE)
26. Steve Perry (JOURNEY)
27. Jim Morrison (THE DOORS)
28. Alex Harvey (THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND)
29. Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST)
30. Ronnie James Dio (DIO)
31. Sammy Hagar (VAN HALEN)
32. Meat Loaf
33. Alice Cooper
34. Geddy Lee (RUSH)
35. Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
36. David Gilmour (PINK FLOYD)
37. Fish (MARILLION)
38. Dave Lee Roth (VAN HALEN)
39. Biff Byford (SAXON)
40. Neil Young
[Bazookajoe_666] Friday, December 12, 2008 11:31:56 AM 
Axl Rose Interview

Reclusive GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose broke his silence last night (Thursday, December 11) by answering fan questions on the message boards of two of the most popular GUNS N' ROSES fan sites on the Web — MyGNR.com and Here Today… Gone To Hell!

BLABBERMOUTH.NET has collected some of the more interesting bits from the question-and-answer session and is re-posting them here for your reading enjoyment. (Note: Some of Axl's responses were slightly edited for clarity.)

Q: How come you always come on stage so late at gigs?

Axl: "I've been an after-midnight type since I was sneakin' out of my house in junior high [school]. With [the] old GUNS [lineup], we preferred [to take the stage at] 12:00 a.m. or so. When we moved to theaters etc., obviously that changes but it's never changed inside me. Doesn't matter what I do, so generally that's when I'm more myself. This isn't to mess with anyone that has an early schedule to keep, it's just personal preference. And in regard to the size [of] venues, I'm on record as preferring whatever venues allow for our schedule, but management and promoters can do a lot in their own interests behind the scenes that can rarely be avoided and their greed or whatever leads to a lot of double talk and ugly behind nonsense that generally eventually ruins things for everyone. Translated: once a tour is scheduled, however, it's like parting the seas to change. As far as being late, I've been that way my whole life. It drove Izzy [Stradlin] crazy but he would check himself and freely admit I was generally actually doing something that had to get done rather than watching basketball, etc."

On a video for the new GUNS N' ROSES song "Better":

Axl: "The 'Better' music video will be out in a week or so. Monumental promotion will start very soon!"

Q: Who do you listen to for hardcore blues? I'm a blues singer and I can tell from your work that you have at least got way into a couple of blues records.

Axl: "BESSIE SMITH, ZEP 1, ROBERT JOHNSON, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION, JANICE [presumably referring to JANIS JOPLIN — Ed.]."

Q: Axl, do you really have two or three other albums of material?

Axl: "For now, we'll concentrate and keep our focus on this album, but I will say I've always thought of it as a double. And no offense, but no one's trying to talk in parables. The issues are a bit more complex than anyone would like."

Q: Hey, Axl, is the [unreleased GUNS N' ROSES] song "Atlas Shrugged" as epic as the book? Who is your favorite character from the book?

Axl: "Song doesn't have all that much to do with the book other than trying to do what you believe in and a line about shoulders not being wide enough."

Q: Axl, was there ever a cover B and cover C for "Chinese Democracy"?

Axl: "Yes, there are. There are two more covers/back-cover combos and the real booklet that is all artwork that will be out shortly in some form. It's been an ugly battle that hasn't made any sense to anyone and whether anyone cares about such things the booklet or artwork has always been something I've been passionate about and to release the album with unapproved and unseen final artwork with a first work-only error-filled draft when others more recent were readily available still has not been explained but is finally getting cleared up. My fave is the 'How Are You' grenade cover."

Q: Axl, how do you feel about KANYE [WEST's new album] outselling "Chinese Democracy"? Do you like KANYE's music?

Axl: "I met Kanye at the Versace awards. He was very gracious. I love 'Gold Digger' and told him so. I'm a big fan of his stage performance as he seems to go for it physically which I relate more to. Before our release, I sent him a message that any nonsense from the media had nothing to do with us and wished him the best. I'm humbled we've done as well as we have considering."

Q: Just wanted to ask if you had any fond memories from the U.K. leg of the tour from 2006, particularly the concert in Glasgow in July?

Axl: "Glasgow was great. I think that's where I got to do a lot of slides on the stage. Was like a race track or something, right?"

Q: Axl, thanks for "Chinese Democracy", which I personally think is your best work. What's your pick for album of the year? And have you heard the new METALLICA album ["Death Magnetic"]?

Axl: "Ours, of course!! Yes, [I have heard the new METALLICA]. I like it."

Q: Axl will you tour Australia next year, and when are you looking at doing so? If you could work with [former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] Buckethead again, would you have him just in studio, or also would you welcome him in the touring lineup?

Axl: "Austrailia's great and the crowds are really alive. No plans [to tour there] yet but I'm sure there will be.

"I have no issues with Bucket. It's hard to tell what was real or not in things we were told by Merck [former GUNS N' ROSES manager Merck Mercuriadis, who was fired by Axl Rose in December 2006 — Ed.]. He's more than welcome to tour with us in some form or other provided we're both interested at the time and come to some type of reasonable terms. Personally, I have a blast with Bucket on tour and get a big kick out of the guy. A lot of feelings were hurt on this side of the fence in how things went down, and unfortunately, others used our silence and the public's not knowing for their own purposes at both Bucket's and our expense."

Q: Now that you said that, please tell us if Robin's [Finck, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist who is currently on the road with NINE INCH NAILS] out or not... because, otherwise, we'll be reading several "Axl wants Bucket back and Robin/Bumble/Richard out"-type of threads for the entire '09 year and these threads annoy us, the new lineup fans.

Axl: "It really is what it is. No decisions have been made by either him, I or us that I'm aware of. When we're touring or working in the studio, or there's social things like a friend's dinner or party, whatever, we would hang. But as people get older, they have their own lives. The STONES aren't going bowling every Tuesday, etc.

"Robin leads one of the most different lives I know of, starting with the trapeze in his backyard to the TV in his closet.

"Robin's work on the next is done so there's not lots for him to do here except the elusive promo and he'd rather be on stage. It's more about seeing where things are when GUNS decides it's right for a tour and if we're able to make agreements we both are comfortable and can live with at that time."

Q: As a native Colombian, I must ask: In 1992, while performing "November Rain" in Bogota (in November), it rained. Wait no....it poured. How weird was that, eh?

Axl: "Very surreal and religious feeling. So was being chased by the military in our plane down the runway gettin' outta Dodge there!!"

Q: Just wondering what stops you from playing more guitar live?

Axl: "Skill."

Q: Axl, I'm fixing to pack everyhting I own into my car and drive out to L.A. from Arkansas to give a career in music a shot. Any advice? Or should I just shit in my pants, dive in and swim?

Axl: "Follow your heart, don't sell out, and read every book on the bix [music business] you can find."

Q: "Catcher N' The Rye" is one of the best songs on the ["Chinese Democracy"] album. Why no Brian? [QUEEN guitarist Brian May recorded a guest appearance on the track back in 1999, but his contributions were removed from the final album version of the song.]

Axl: "There's a few reasons, and none of them all that big and definitely not in spite or to slight anyone.

"First off, obviously I knew people liked the song, but the Brian appreciation really only showed up in force publicly after we had moved on in GUNS. In fact, not many seemed to care and most comments were aimed at why Slash, in their opinions, should be here.

"Brian's solo itself is a personal fave of mine and I really couldn't understand, as he's such a rock legend, why it wasn't openly appreciated more at the time.

"In actuality, all that feel and emotion referred to now had a lot to do with Sean [Beavan, one of the producers who worked on 'Chinese Democracy'] and I and the parts I chose out of Brian's different runs, versions, practice runs, etc., to make sure we had those elements in one version. It's entirely constructed from edits based around one specific note Brian hit in a throwaway take. And though Brian seems to have warmed a bit to it, at least publicly, he was unfortunately none too pleased at the time with our handiwork. I remember looking at Brian standing to my left and him staring at the big studio speakers a bit aghast saying, 'But that's not what I played.'

"Sean Beavan and I were not in any way tring to mess with Brian, we just did what we do and then try and do our best to stand up for our decisions."

Q: Axl, are you still thinking of suing Dr Pepper's ass?

Axl: "Sure, but the actions taken so far had nothing to do with me and I was taken off guard as I had specifically told our team, 'Who fucking cares?! Right now we have a record to deal with.' My feelings are after their public response. It was cute. Maybe the guy who got it rolling originally meant well, but it turned out sour and maybe it's just me, but he seems like maybe he wants a bit too much attention so..."

Q: When [is] the [GUNS N' ROSES] online shop opening?

Axl: "I haven't been involved much in any of our merch and the reasons are it's been a mess legally for years. Unbeknownst to most of you, I was recently sued again by [former GUNS N' ROSES members] Duff [McKagan] and Slash for some murky Merckiness that I was unaware and not involved in. Fortunately that was resolved but it got ugly and took a while going into arbitration. Merck shifted our merch from some of our newer styles to incorporating more of the old with some scam that actually and surprisingly lost sales in comparison but that's old news. What I look forward to is incorporating the new artwork into our merch and getting some for myself. I think you'll like a lot of it. My vote's for the 'How Are You' grenade and the 'Sorry' automatic rifle artwork on shirts, etc."

Q: How do you feel about artists covering your songs ?

Axl: "Depends, but in general it's great."

Q: I know this is jumping the gun big time, but any tentative idea when you would like to see the next CD come out?

Axl: "No, maybe same bat time, same bat channel next year but we'll have to see."

Q: Is there anything in the past that you have now looked back on and thought, "Maybe I could have handled that differently?" Also, what are your ongoing hopes for GUNS N' ROSES in the future? I have cyclothemia and sometimes get this feeling that I can't be around people and need my own space and area. How do you find the bipolar affect you, if you don't mind me asking, that is?

Axl: "Of course, but in the world of sports and litigation....

"I've not been diagnosed as being bipolar though many misconstrue statements I made earlier as alluding to such and unfortunately there's been an abundance of misguided or unqualified speculation of various events but I definitely can relate to needing my own space.

"In my world, all bipolar means (and not to offend or make light of those suffering from a genuine condition or involved with those who are) is that someone can try to take cheap uneducated shots or try to claim I'm bipolar thus justifying why they should get paid a financial settlement for whatever nonsense they're up to. Fortunately that hasn't proved successful."

Q: What is your honest opinion on why the old lineup disintegrated? What is your honest opinion on why it took so long for "Chinese Democracy" to come out? I think that's what most people want to know but dare not ask.

Axl: "Two great but complicated questions, and I agree that people would like to know at least my take on things. Not avoiding them here, but they deserve more than I can give, as we've been at this a little while. But I'm attempting to speak out on several issues, these being a major focus over the coming weeks and months. What I can say now is you've been told a lot of things in order for others to promote themselves that factually they cannot back up in regard to either. They are complicated legally, financially and have devoured a good portion of my life.

"The record 'Chinese Democracy' you may have is nothing short of a miracle in almost each and every way that either it or I exist, in my opinion, under the bizarre and ugly conditions of the last over 15 years."

Q: I am curious as to your relationship with Mickey Rourke. He's one of my favourite actors, and I saw an interview with him recently where he said you were kind enough to give him songs for "The Wrestler". My question is: how long do you and Mickey go back, and do you have any interesting stories from "back in the day?" You guys strike me as being pretty similar in a lot of ways (I mean, as far as personalities and what you've been through in your lives) and it's cool for me to see two of my pop culture "heroes," for lack of better description, being friends, and also making similarly timed "comebacks." (Or whatever you want to call it.)

Axl: "Mickey and I haven't really hung much but have a lot of mutual friends over the years. He's always been massively supportive. I've always been a big fan of his as well. It's probably better for both of us we didn't hang directly back in the day!!"

Q: Hey, Axl, is Mickey going to pay you back for letting them use "Sweet Child O' Mine" in "The Wrestler" by starring in a new GUNS video?

Axl: "Actually, Mickey agreed to play The Shackler if we were to make a vid for [the song 'Shackler's Revenge']."

Q: Axl, have you been in contact with [original GUNS N' ROSES drummer] Steven Adler at all? Not as far as playing with him or anything, just to, like, lend him support? [Adler appeared this year on the reality television show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" during an attempt to get off drugs. He was subsequently arrested in Los Angeles on July 18, after someone called police to report he was causing a disturbance.]

Axl: "I do wish Steven the best and in my heart hope that he finds some peace and security. As far as direct contact, no. It, unfortunately, gets too messy too quick. In Steven's mind, I'm the one who holds the keys and power over his happiness, so I'm the bad guy pretty quickly."

Q: Axl, why did you change [the title of the "Chinese Democracy" track] "The Blues" to "Street Of Dreams"?

Axl: "'The Blues' was my first working title and I was never comfortable with it in the sense that I felt that should be used with a bluesier-based song. And here in Hollywood, with the Walk Of Fame, etc., I had always seen that imagery in my head when I think of it. I also like the idea of the song having, in effect, two titles."

Q: Axl, I would like to know why you avoid the press so much. I think it's definitely hurting album sales, I mean, you haven't even done one interview. I know for sure you'd be able to get a few magazine covers. So why don't you? Why be such a hermit/recluse?

Axl: "That's your opinion and it very well could be true. What I have to say a lot of people have no desire to hear."

Q: Thanks for playing "Rocket Queen" in Melbourne. The red bike was awesome.

Axl: "I think it's in the 'Better' vid. Not sure if we cut it."

Q: I have one question for you, Axl. What is stopping the fans from seeing you Slash, Duff and Izzy back on stage together?

Axl: "You've been lied to and misled for such a long time that sorting through all that here is virtually impossible. A lot will come out over time, but the truth has been out there for a long time as well but that doesn't give you what you want, so this dance just goes on and on."

Final message for fans:

"Thanks everyone and thanks for all the support and the positive comments both tonight and over the years. I hope to do this again soon, maybe sooner than you'd think! And you didn't scare me off — I'm just burnt and would rather not mispeak on issues that may mean a lot to some. Thanks again."


Eric Singer Interview

Fury Rocks recently conducted an interview with KISS/ALICE COOPER drummer Eric Singer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Fury Rocks: In the '80s it seemed that a lot of drummers wanted to be fast and faster like Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), for example. What do you think about it?

Singer: I call it the "Drummer Olympics." It's like who can be the fastest human in the race. I gotta say, there are some amazing drummers nowadays. I think the reason is that nowadays they have much better tools to learn from than when I grew up. At that time we didn't have DVDs, videos, MTV and all these instruction tapes and private lessons. Now you can go and take lessons from some of these drummers by buying their instruction DVDs, using computer programs. Now you have all this best information available to you. These kids have a lot of great learning tools nowadays. I also realized that I never had the ambition to be faster than everybody. That is not important to me. I leave it up to the guys that enjoy it. When I see it, I am blown away by these guys' fantastic technique. I admire what they do but it is not something that I aspire to do.

Fury Rocks: You grew up during the beat generation. In that time, the drums were recorded with only two microphones and the sound was, let's say, slight. Nowadays drummers have much more possibilities. Where do you see further capabilities?

Singer: I was influenced by a lot of '60s music, but probably more by the '70s stuff. I was born 1958 so by the time the early '70s were around, I was a teenager. That's the age when music has the most impact. Well, I think everybody should explore whatever different styles and technologies that they like. For me, I still like the idea of just playing real drums and live in a band. In some bands it works good with backing tracks or loops, you know, especially in bands like those of MADONNA and BEYONCÉ. Something like this would have these really big productions on record and to reproduce it live you almost have to do it. And also they have everything with the lights synchronized with the computers and with the dancers, it is very important to keep in. To me, one of the most important things in rock 'n' roll is the human aspect. You know, playing the instruments and keeping it real and live. The beauty is, sometimes you are not having such a good night and you make mistakes. But the great thing is, when you play the next show you have the chance to make it better or try something different and experiment. And that's the beauty of playing live drums. To me, you can't reinvent the wheel. I mean, a drummer is basically a drummer. The function of a drummer in the band is to hold the beat and to provide the rhythm. A drummer like Terry Bozzio really took drumming to another level and created it more to an individual voice of an instrument, he has done some incredible things like making drums an instrument that is not just only there to keep time. But that's not the kind of drummer I am. I enjoy just playing live in a band and doing my part of creating this chemistry of sound.

Read the entire interview from Fury Rocks. 


The acclaimed history of Finnish symphonic metal superstars NIGHTWISH, "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006", will soon be available in a new, improved English edition through North American publisher Bazillion Points. Pre-orders are being accepted now for books shipping with limited metal badges on December 31.

In this remarkably revealing official biography, author Mape Ollila charts the rise from village student project to global stardom, gaining unprecedented access not just to the members of NIGHTWISH past and present; but also their families, their loyal and lewd crew, their peers, their critics, and countless other insiders from the NIGHTWISH adventure. The book lays bare the creative firepower and personal demons of songwriter Tuomas Holopainen; the unique talents and traits of guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and bassist Marco Hietala; and the true reasons behind the 2005 departure of vocalist Tarja Turunen — in the band's words and hers.

Along the way, the band struggles with religious protesters, fortune-tellers, naked crew members, health problems, shady promoters, out-of-control fans, and the growing pains of an ever-steeper rock star learning curve. Happily ever after or not, these unique Finnish personalities are brought to life in this journey. For longtime fans and newcomers seeking the backstory of how NIGHTWISH came to where they are today, this is rare public airing of the mysteries that exist... Once Upon a Nightwish.

The 352-page paperback has been revamped by Bazillion Points from earlier Finnish editions, and features extensive corrections, with 32 pages of rare color images dating back to the dawn of the band, and a complete list of international concert appearances from the entire Tarja Turunen era, all on exquisite 100gsm paper with a glossy folding cover.







Judas Priest Commited To Nostradamus Performance

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford has told FMQB.com that the band is "absolutely committed" to doing an elaborate stage show where it will play its new concept album, "Nostradamus", in its entirety, but it likely won't happen until later in 2009.

"We talk about it constantly, and that's what we’re going to do at the end of the world tour sometime next year," Halford said. "At the back end of the summer, we're going to wind up the regular tour. Then we'll go straight into production for the 'Nostradamus' show and we'll probably do a DVD to go along with that. We'll more than likely launch it in London or somewhere in the U.K., because that's our home base. Then we'll see what happens. My gut feeling tells me that once it's been delivered, everybody will want to see it and feel it live, and that might entail taking it to a lot of places around the planet. It's going to be great. It's something we've been looking forward to doing for a long time after actually making the record itself. The next step is to perform it in its entirety, which we've never done before."

Read more from FMQB.com.

[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, December 10, 2008 3:52:29 PM 
100 Greatest Songs To Air This Month

This month VH1 is paying tribute to the ultimate rock gods by counting down the "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". The five-part compilation, hosted by POISON singer Bret Michaels, will feature the most awesome guitar-driven, head-banging jams in rock history — from AC/DC to LED ZEPPELIN and everything in between. VH1 will take viewers behind-the-scenes of the greatest hard rock hits with special rarely-seen footage and brand new exclusive interviews with rock’s most famous faces. METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NIRVANA, THE WHO, VAN HALEN, and LED ZEPPELIN are just some of the legendary artists to be profiled.

Each new hour-long episode of VH1's "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" will premiere on Monday, December 29 - Friday, January 2 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series will give viewers the chance to rock out to the 100 best and most influential hard rock songs of all time. Along with the revelation of each anthem's back-story, the five-night event will also feature updates on where various rock idols are today. The countdown will allow viewers to reminisce about the glory days of guitar smashing and party crashing, roadies and groupies, and everything else hard rock stands for. Tune in to see which songs made the list and what band holds the rights to the greatest hard rock song of all time.

VH1's "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" is a production of VH1 with Chris Martin serving as senior producer, Hilary Spiegelman serving as series producer, and Jeff Olde, Shelly Tatro, Rick Hankey and Bernie Kaminski serving as executive producers for VH1. 


Glenn Tipton Interview

Ian Harvey of UK's Shropshire Star recently conducted an interview with JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On where the name of the upcoming European tour, "Priest Feast", came from:

"We just thought it had got a nice ring to it. We'd just done the Metal Masters tour in the States and we had HEAVEN AND HELL on the go with us and MOTÖRHEAD and TESTAMENT and we just felt it's great to get a classic metal bill and the audience is united and unified. It really worked in the States so we thought we'd do the same in Europe."

On whether UK fans expect a similar show to the one JUDAS PRIEST has been touring with around the world this year:

"It'll be more or less the same. We'll probably change a couple of numbers but it'll be more or less the same, because this is quite a different set for us. We've brought a couple of 'new old songs' back like 'Devil's Child', 'Hell Patrol', 'Dissident Aggressor' and 'The Sinner' and we've still got a lot of the classic songs such as 'Painkiller' and 'Hell Bent for Leather'. We've also injected some 'Nostradamus' in there. We open with 'Dawn of Creation' which is the intro tape and we play 'Prophecy' and we do a track called 'Death', so we're introducing people to 'Nostradamus' slowly and that's the way we've always done it when we have a new album. Three tracks is enough while we wait for people to really get to know it."

On "Nostradamus":

"'Nostradamus' was great album to do. It was a mammoth task and it was very ambitious but once we started to write we were very inspired by the man and his life. We didn't start out to write a two-album concept project but before we knew we were so inspired and we became so prolific that it just flowed from us. I think it was the choice of material and the man himself. Whether you believe in his prophecies or not he's still remembered vividly today 500 years on, so he was a very intelligent person. And his life was full of tragedy in the sense that he lost his wife and daughter in the plague and the church exiled him and then he found a whole new life. That combined with the alchemy and the mystery surrounding his prophecies, it made for very good inspiration."

On the talk that PRIEST might at some point perform the whole two hours-plus of "Nostradamus" in concert:

"We'd like to do that. Our intention right from day one when we started to compose it was at some point in the future to play it in its entirety in special venues around the world and that's something we've still got in mind, something we really want to do. It'll either be late 2009 or 2010."

On the fact that today's teenage metal fans are turning up to support the band:

"We've found more and more in recent years that we've got younger kids there. They've been turned on to the band by their parents or they've discovered the band themselves. A younger generation definitively are into PRIEST and that's great, it bodes well not just for us but for heavy metal and a lot of other bands out there."

Read the entire interview from Shropshire Star.

Fan-filmed video footage of JUDAS PRIEST's November 14, 2008 concert at Citibank Hall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil can be viewed below (clips uploaded by "moraismacedo").

"Painkiller":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFDM7lk9TbQ&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=2

"Sinner":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDYdZdHElnA&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=2
[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, December 10, 2008 10:36:34 AM 
Glenn Tipton Interview

Ian Harvey of UK's Shropshire Star recently conducted an interview with JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On where the name of the upcoming European tour, "Priest Feast", came from:

"We just thought it had got a nice ring to it. We'd just done the Metal Masters tour in the States and we had HEAVEN AND HELL on the go with us and MOTÖRHEAD and TESTAMENT and we just felt it's great to get a classic metal bill and the audience is united and unified. It really worked in the States so we thought we'd do the same in Europe."

On whether UK fans expect a similar show to the one JUDAS PRIEST has been touring with around the world this year:

"It'll be more or less the same. We'll probably change a couple of numbers but it'll be more or less the same, because this is quite a different set for us. We've brought a couple of 'new old songs' back like 'Devil's Child', 'Hell Patrol', 'Dissident Aggressor' and 'The Sinner' and we've still got a lot of the classic songs such as 'Painkiller' and 'Hell Bent for Leather'. We've also injected some 'Nostradamus' in there. We open with 'Dawn of Creation' which is the intro tape and we play 'Prophecy' and we do a track called 'Death', so we're introducing people to 'Nostradamus' slowly and that's the way we've always done it when we have a new album. Three tracks is enough while we wait for people to really get to know it."

On "Nostradamus":

"'Nostradamus' was great album to do. It was a mammoth task and it was very ambitious but once we started to write we were very inspired by the man and his life. We didn't start out to write a two-album concept project but before we knew we were so inspired and we became so prolific that it just flowed from us. I think it was the choice of material and the man himself. Whether you believe in his prophecies or not he's still remembered vividly today 500 years on, so he was a very intelligent person. And his life was full of tragedy in the sense that he lost his wife and daughter in the plague and the church exiled him and then he found a whole new life. That combined with the alchemy and the mystery surrounding his prophecies, it made for very good inspiration."

On the talk that PRIEST might at some point perform the whole two hours-plus of "Nostradamus" in concert:

"We'd like to do that. Our intention right from day one when we started to compose it was at some point in the future to play it in its entirety in special venues around the world and that's something we've still got in mind, something we really want to do. It'll either be late 2009 or 2010."

On the fact that today's teenage metal fans are turning up to support the band:

"We've found more and more in recent years that we've got younger kids there. They've been turned on to the band by their parents or they've discovered the band themselves. A younger generation definitively are into PRIEST and that's great, it bodes well not just for us but for heavy metal and a lot of other bands out there."

Read the entire interview from Shropshire Star.
[Bazookajoe_666] Tuesday, December 09, 2008 12:19:12 PM 
Geezer Completes Recording Tracks

The unofficial BLACK SABBATH web site Black-Sabbath.com reports that bassist Geezer Butler has finished laying down his tracks for the new album from HEAVEN AND HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Butler and Vinny Appice (drums). The group's first LP since SABBATH's "Dehumanizer" (1992) is being recorded at Rockfield studios in Wales, England (where "Dehumanizer" was also recorded) for an early 2009 release via Rhino Records. According to Butler, he is going to be filming some sort of "making-of" documentary, although it is unclear if that footage will appear on the disc, or as a DVD extra.

Two years ago, Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice reunited to record a trio of new songs for Rhino's "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" before launching a highly anticipated and greatly acclaimed world tour under their new moniker HEAVEN AND HELL. Revitalized by the reunion, the lineup is back in the studio now recording the first-ever full-length studio album from HEAVEN AND HELL. To whet the fans' appetites for the new album, HEAVEN AND HELL returned to the road this past summer for a short stint on the Metal Masters Tour, a month-long North American trek with JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, and TESTAMENT.

Regarding the band's decision to continue to operate as HEAVEN AND HELL rather than BLACK SABBATH, Iommi told Billboard.com earlier this year, "It really is BLACK SABBATH, whatever we do. We just choose to go out as HEAVEN AND HELL so everyone knows what they're getting [and] so people won't expect to hear 'Iron Man' and all those songs. We've done them for so many years, it's nice to do just all the stuff with did with Ronnie again."

HEAVEN AND HELL will hit the road in early 2009 in support of the new album. So far the following shows have been announced:

June 3-6 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock
June 13 - Burgum, The Netherlands - Waldrock
June 19-21 - Clisson, France - Hellfest

BLACK SABBATH's "The Rules Of Hell" box set — which features all three of SABBATH's Dio-era studio releases ("Heaven And Hell", "Mob Rules", "Dehumanizer") and its double live collection ("Live Evil"), each remastered for the first time — sold around 2,650 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in July 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan."The Rules Of Hell" comes packaged in a deluxe slipcase with extensive liner notes featuring all new interviews with the band.


James Hetfield Interview

Fish Griwkowsky of the Sun Media recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Sun Media: How do you react to the fact fans are saying this is the best album in years, maybe decades? You're not taking it as an insult?

James: It's kinda good. No, there's plenty of other things to consider as insults. We feel good about every record, but this one seems to be getting extra good response. With (2003's) "St. Anger", time will tell. Not to consider us like LED ZEPPELIN or anything, but the third ZEP album they were talking smack about, but now it's one of my favorite. Time will tell. It has to erase all the other stuff attached to it. Like "Load" and the (semen and blood) photos. And "St. Anger" and the whole movie about the collapse of METALLICA. This one, right out the gate. Pretty amazed.

Sun Media: How much did Rick Rubin as a producer have to do with that, bringing back the solos and long songs?

James: He had a lot to do with making us feel like it was OK. A lot of our fears about not progressing as a band were showing. Don't look back, because that's the sign of failure. Resting on your laurels, sitting fat on the couch. Along the way we forgot some of the essential tools that make us unique. He helped us embrace our past. Lars (Ulrich) and I have always been battling. I'd rather have a shorter song, say the same amount in a shorter sentence. If an eight-minute song sounds like it's 10 minutes, there's a problem.

Sun Media: I like "All Nightmare Long" the most of the new batch. Who are you hunting in it?

James: I like to keep it as vague as possible, so it can plug into your life. It almost didn't make it. The chorus is a leftover from "St. Anger". It was an attempt to get back to the H.P. Lovecraft mythos with "The Thing that Should not Be", "The Call of Ktulu". This was about the hounds of Tindalos, which was another crazy mindf--- about these wolves that hunt through their nightmares and the only way you can get away from them is stay with angels. You can't even escape through sleep.

Sun Media: Do you think people forget that you are an artist, down deep. You have something to say.

James: We're a big, easy target. 'Cause of Napster. 'Cause of the movie. Things people can easily throw darts at. I'll sit and talk about the feeling of going onstage and what a high it is for me, the new high, and the respect people pay you by coming out to see us live, in weather like this. And you get a kid on his deathbed and his one thing is he wants to meet METALLICA — and you go "F---, yeah." We do this because we feel it. People always complain about something. If you face yourself and stand up strong, you're OK. You can't go wrong.

Read the entire interview from Sun Media. 


Joe Satriani Talks About Coldplay Ripping Him Off

Legendary rock guitarist Joe Satriani has spoken to MusicRadar.com about his decision to sue COLDPLAY, accusing the Grammy-nominated stars of plagiarizing one of his songs.

According to Reuters, Satriani's copyright infringement suit, filed on Thursday (December 4) in Los Angeles federal court, claims the COLDPLAY song "Viva La Vida" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly".

The 52-year-old guitar virtuoso is seeking a jury trial, damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.

Speaking to MusicRadar.com on December 6, Joe Satriani recalled the exact emotion he felt when he first heard COLDPLAY's "Viva La Vida".

"The second I heard, I knew... I felt like a dagger went right through my heart. It hurt so much," Satriani said. "The second I heard it, I knew it was [my own] 'If I Could Fly'."

As it turned out, Satriani wasn't the only one who noticed the similarity between "If I Could Fly" and "Viva La Vida".

"Almost immediately, from the minute their song came out, my e-mail box flooded with people going, 'Have you heard this song by COLDPLAY? They ripped you off man,'" he said. "I mean, I couldn't tell you how many e-mails I received.

"Everybody noticed the similarities between the songs. It's pretty obvious. It's as simple as that — when you listen to a song and you say, 'Wow, that's a real rip-off.'"

Read more from MusicRadar.com.


Metallica Release Video For All Nightmare Long

"All Nightmare Long", the new video from METALLICA, can be viewed at Metallica.com. It is also available below.

METALLICA performed "All Nightmare Long" live for the first time this past Friday night (December 5) during the band's headlining appearance at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently told RollingStone.com that the band's massive world tour behind "Death Magnetic" could very well last beyond next year. "We're booked up through August of next year, and right now we're sort of laying out fall of '09 and the spring of '10," he said. "We're waiting for a few other countries to be actually formalized as nations so we can be the first band in. We're also waiting for the polar caps to stabilize so we can go play there. There's talk about some other planets too."

Regarding the band's first American arena tour in four years, Lars said, "It's great to be back indoors. We're right in the thick of it in the middle of the arena. It completely exposes every nuance and that adds a real tone of vitality and excitement."

METALLICA will wrap up the current leg of its North American tour on December 20 in Oakland. 


Gene Simmons: If I was President...

Fish Griwkowsky of the Edmonton Sun conducted an interview this past Friday (December 5) with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons during the rock star's visit to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to cut the ribbon on a new Future Shop (see video below) while simultaneously promoting his new Guitar Hero axe.

When asked what he would do if he was president of the United States, Simmons replied, "You couldn't pay me enough. Because a lot of people would try to knock me off. Because I don't give a s---. I have a Schwarzeneggerian point of view. Which is if you have enough money to say, to do ... what you think is right that you're elected for, there are no political repercussions and you don't care. Not about your party, not about anything.

"So Schwarzenegger disagrees with the Republicans down there and wants women to have the right to determine their birthing rights — and the Republicans down there go nuts.

"I (also) like guys like Joe Lieberman, a Democrat who supported John McCain. Because, 'My country, right or wrong,' is actually a foolish idea. No, my country right, and if it's wrong I gotta try and fix it. If your political party's wrong, you've got to have the integrity of self.

"So if I became president, if you deal drugs, I'd have public executions on the spot. Watch how fast drug use goes down. And [points to the Edmonton Sun photographer] if he's a drug addict, into cocaine and stuff like that, and he's been given (an ultimatum) and you're not off of it, you will find your (butt) in the tundra of Alaska chopping wood.

"Because you're not allowed to be in this society and torture everybody else, by stealing money from your mom (for example), because nobody has the guts in this permissive society to get the cancer out.

"And some of that means that individual rights have to be curtailed. Too (expletive) bad. Because nowadays, everybody locks their doors because they're afraid that, you know, crack addicts will come in and you can't even kill the guy. 'Excessive violence.' What are you talking about? The guy just broke into your home! Kill him!

"So, you don't want to put me in charge. Drug problem? It would disappear. Gangs? I'd have snipers. Ooh, take them out, fast. You won't have gangs for long. [Affects street swagger]: 'Man, we like to go shoot!' [Back to Simmons]: You'll be dead. You won't know who got you."

Read the rest of Simmons' response from the Edmonton Sun.
[Bazookajoe_666] Sunday, December 07, 2008 8:56:16 PM 

James Hetfield Interview

Graeme Wood of The Cape Breton Post recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Cape Breton Post: Are you happy with this new-old direction [on "Death Magnetic"]?

Hetfield: Yes, it feels right. It feels like the right time. I certainly know fans have forever been asking, basically telling us what to do, which for us, it doesn't work. Whether it's my Dad or a fan it never worked. I had to feel it myself, and eventually we go to the point where we were able to embrace the stuff we've done in the past and not keep running from it.

The Cape Breton Post: Talk to me about the new album and you being sober now. You went through alcohol addiction, so did that change your writing in any sense (since) thrash metal is so synonymous with drinking?

Hetfield: The fans will have to say. This new album, I think, is pretty darn good and (I'm) completely clean and sober. There's always people that worry for you, too . . . And then I write the angriest stuff of my life on "St. Anger" and everyone hates it or something. You know, you can't do it for others. You have to be the artist (who's) making the art.

The Cape Breton Post: You figured things out in terms of your private life so does that make you and the band get along more than ever before?

Hetfield: Absolutely. I think the fact is that we can read each other better because we know each other better, and want to know each other better, and we're able to communicate a lot better . . . We've been through some tough times and because (we've) walked through the fire and survived it there's almost a kind of honour that you have with each other — that we've gone through this we don't need to go there it again."

The Cape Breton Post: You've mentioned before it's important to talk about death. Maybe you can elaborate on that.

Hetfield: The band came close to calling it quits. We got to the point where egos, and resentments and things had grown so big and strong that it was almost an impossible hill to climb. So the fact that we got through that and came out with the strongest album I think in a long time is a testament to hard work and to sticking it through because you never know what's going to happen. And for us it was close to death and it's a pretty scary thought. And obviously there's life after METALLICA but is it worth it? So we started talking about that in the metaphor of life and death.

The Cape Breton Post: Are you still political in a sense?

Hetfield: Never was. lyrically I was writing from what I felt . . . A lot of the things that we do are hopefully universal (such as) plugging into emotion — it's human. Songs like "One" and "Disposable Heroes" talk about more of the ugly side of war. And there's more than just those songs. The song "Don't Tread on Me" showed the other side of that. We in the band have pretty diverse political opinions and it's best to leave that at the door. It gets in the way, it's a roadblock. Looking at the bigger picture, we all want to protect our families and there are certain ways we think it should be done. But we all have concerns about the globe and mankind and where it's going and I don't think we're the first people to have concerns about that.

Read the entire interview from The Cape Breton Post.

[hellrider 31038] Sunday, December 07, 2008 9:35:44 AM 
http://www.robhalford.com/ i totally love the way the METAL GOD changed his site totallly heavy metal and awesome (pyramid studs) he has a holiday sale on now for those that did not know and who are interested
Edited at: Sunday, December 07, 2008 9:37:29 AM
[guitardude] Friday, December 05, 2008 2:44:29 PM 
Oh yea!! I hear it...happens to be one of my favorites from Satriani.
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Vaillant 3.0 from Friday, December 05, 2008 2:32:44 PM)
[~ MG_Metalgoddess~] Friday, December 05, 2008 2:39:14 PM 
Well I do hear a simularitly..  But.. and I say But.... You could say Steve Vai, sounds like Satriani to.. but Is it because Proff SAtriani taught Vai, as he has many performers.  IDK..... 
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Vaillant 3.0 from Friday, December 05, 2008 2:32:44 PM)
[Vaillant 3.0] Friday, December 05, 2008 2:32:44 PM 

Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay for Plagiarism:

Reuters reports that legendary rock guitarist Joe Satriani has sued COLDPLAY, accusing the Grammy-nominated stars of plagiarizing one of his songs.

Satriani's copyright infringement suit, filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, claims the COLDPLAY song "Viva La Vida" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly".

The 52-year-old guitar virtuoso is seeking a jury trial, damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.

Read the entire report from Reuters.

COLDPLAY's "Viva La Vida" vs. JOE SATRIANI's "If I Could Fly":

[Head banger] Thursday, December 04, 2008 11:49:36 AM 
the mars volts?  WTF? they suck
here is hoping
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Bazooka Joe from Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:59:03 AM)
[Bazookajoe_666] Thursday, December 04, 2008 11:15:07 AM 
KK Downing Signature Guitar from KxK

http://www.kxkguitars.com/KKDV1.html
[Bazookajoe_666] Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:59:03 AM 
Visions Nominated For A Grammy

METALLICA, JUDAS PRIEST, MÖTLEY CRÜE, SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED are among the nominees for the 51th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The nominees in the "Hard Rock", "Metal", "Rock Instrumental" and "Rock" categories are as follows:

Best Hard Rock Performance:

DISTURBED - "Inside The Fire"
JUDAS PRIEST - "Visions"
THE MARS VOLTA - "Wax Simulacra"
MÖTLEY CRÜE - "Saints Of Los Angeles"
ROB ZOMBIE - "Lords Of Salem"

Best Metal Performance:

DRAGONFORCE - "Heroes Of Our Time"
JUDAS PRIEST - "Nostradamus"
METALLICA - "My Apocalypse"
MINISTRY - "Under My Thumb"
SLIPKNOT - "Psychosocial"

Best Rock Instrumental Performance:

DAVID GILMOUR - Castellorizon
METALLICA - Suicide & Redemption
NINE INCH NAILS - 34 Ghosts I-IV
RUSH - Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)
ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA - Peaches En Regalia

Best Rock Album:

COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
KID ROCK - Rock N Roll Jesus
KINGS OF LEON - Only By The Night
METALLICA - Death Magnetic
THE RACONTEURS - Consolers Of The Lonely

For the first time, nominations were announced on prime-time television as part of "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown To Music's Biggest Night". The one-hour special — broadcast live on CBS from Nokia Theatre L.A Live — featured past Grammy winners and nominees reading nominations in several categories, as well as performing songs from the Grammy Hall Of Fame in celebration of the grand opening of the Grammy Museum.

Grammy ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on December 17 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm Deloitte by January 14, 2009, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the telecast.

The 51st annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 to 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). 


Bon Scott Film in the Works

Paul Cashmere of Australia's Undercover News reports that filmmaker Eddie Martin is working on a movie about AC/DC legend Bon Scott.

The yet-to-be titled movie is in its early stages. "We've been working heavily on it for a couple of months. It's early days," Martin tells Undercover News. "We are in the writing process. We've been meeting with Gaby, Mary, Irene and THE VALENTINES crew, people like Vince Lovegrove, Bon's early friends." (Irene was Bon's former wife).

Eddie says he is still looking for people from the era who knew Bon. "It is at research stage," he says.

Read the entire article from Undercover News. 


Rob Zombie Rumored to Direct Halloween 2

The Pulse of Radio reports that Rob Zombie is rumored to be directing the sequel to his hit 2007 remake of "Halloween", according to Shock Till You Drop. A source told the horror movie web site that following the departure of French directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo from the project, Zombie had agreed to step in again as director. A representative for Zombie had no comment on the matter, while the film's producers, Trancas International, planned to issue a press release regarding the movie before the end of this week.

"Halloween", a "re-imagining" of the 1978 horror classic, was Zombie's third film as a director and biggest hit yet, grossing $31 million in its opening weekend, more than his two previous films combined.

Zombie's next film was supposed to be "Tyrannosaurus Rex", about an aging wrestler battling a vicious motorcycle gang. But Zombie himself recently stated that he had not even written the script for the film yet.

More recently, Zombie has been recording his fourth studio album for a 2009 release and issued the song "War Zone" on the soundtrack of the new movie "Punisher: War Zone". The long-awaited boxed set from his previous band, WHITE ZOMBIE, called "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie", came out last week.

John Carpenter filmed his 1978 indie chiller on a $325,000 budget. The film made roughly $47 million at the domestic box office, and still ranks among the most impressive budget-to-box office ratios in history. Zombie's studio-approved "Halloween" cost about $20 million.

The three-disc unrated collector's edition DVD of Rob Zombie's "Halloween" hit stores nationwide on October 7. According to Rob, "The set contains an all-new four-and-a-half-hour documentary about the making of the film!" 


New Doro Album Cover and Titled Revealed

German metal queen Doro Pesch has set "Fear No Evil" as the title of her new album, due on January 23, 2009 via AFM Records. The CD's cover art can be viewed below.

Pesch will release a new single, "Herzblut", on December 12 via AFM. It will feature four versions of the title track, each recorded in a different language.

"Herzblut" track listing:

01. Herzblut (Single Version)
02. Herzblut (Album Version)
03. A Fond Le Coeur - Herzblut (French)
04. Te Doy Mi Corazon - Herzblut (Spanish)
05. Eu Dou-Te O Meu Coração - Herzblut (Portuguese)
06. Share My Fate

"Celebrate (The Night Of The Warlock)", the latest single from Doro Pesch, recently registered the following chart positions:

Germany: #75
Spain: #20

"Celebrate (The Night Of The Warlock)" was released in Germany on October 31 and most of the rest of Europe on November 3 via AFM Records. The EP contains three versions of the single's title cut "Celebrate" — including one that features guest appearances by Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES), Veronica Freeman (BENEDICTUM), GIRLSCHOOL, Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER) and Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY), and another that was recorded with the help of Biff Byford (SAXON).

"Celebrate (The Night Of The Warlock)" track listing:

01. Celebrate (feat: Doro + fans)
02. Celebrate (feat: Doro + Biff [SAXON])
03. Celebrate (feat: Doro + Angela [ARCH ENEMY), Sabina [HOLY MOSES), Veronica [BENEDICTUM), Liv Kristine [LEAVES' EYES), GIRLSCHOOL and Floor [AFTER FOREVER])
04. Rescue Me (non-album version)
05. Night Of the Warlock (single version)

Pesch will celebrate her 25th anniversary as a performer with a special concert in her hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany on December 13 at the ISS Dome. Also scheduled to appear are ARCH ENEMY and LEAVES' EYES, among other acts.



[Bazookajoe_666] Tuesday, December 02, 2008 9:22:54 AM 
Metal Mike Interview: New Halford Material

Jason Price of Live-Metal.Net recently conducted an interview with guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD, PAINMUSEUM, SEBASTIAN BACH). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Live-Metal.Net: What is the current status of your band PAINMUSEUM?

Chlasciak: Well, it was interesting because I really felt that we put out a unique album in the metal world. It wasn't easily categorized and it was a kick-ass metal record. Anytime we got some shows, to be very honest, I got sidetracked. I got sidetracked into going to California to work on some HALFORD music. I got sidetracked by going on tour with Sebastian. I got sidetracked by going on tour with TESTAMENT and just living life. I don't regret any of those things because they were all really nice things to be involved with but that is what happened. The record has been out and it has become too old to really go out and tour on. That is what happened with PAINMUSEUM. I was really, really relieved because even though the music industry didn't know what to make of it, the fans really embraced it. It was a critically acclaimed album which I thought was a really nice for a band's first album. To cut to the chase, I already have a whole album done and demoed in the fashion that I mentioned earlier. There are 12 songs, some awesome music in there. I am just not sure whether I am going to make it a PAINMUSEUM type of release or if it will be my own solo album with half of it being instrumental and half having a singer on it.

Live-Metal.Net: Any idea when we can look forward to a release of that material?

Chlasciak: I am hoping to for it to see the light around the latter part of 2009. While I am working on that, I will also be working on my first heavy metal instructional DVD.

Live-Metal.Net: Any idea on when we might some activity on a new release from HALFORD?

Chlasciak: Rob's band, the musicians, are quite prolific, and probably some of the most professional guys that I have ever been on stage with. There is so much material that has been accumulated over the past few years. It is just a matter of wrapping it all up and cutting out the songs that are not as good as the others, mixing it and then releasing it.

Live-Metal.Net: Well, it sounds like we definitely have something to look forward to at least!

Chlasciak: Yes, certainly. As you can imagine, we have to be very respectful to Rob's commitment to JUDAS PRIEST because we all know what that band means to him. We would all like to have one more stab at going out and playing some new music. We all feel, and this is including Rob, that the HALFORD band was a little more than just a solo artist hiring a bunch of dudes to play cover songs. We really have something to say as a band. It was just a little unfortunate, in my eyes, to release an album like "Crucible" and not have a fair shot at promoting it. That's alright and it's all cool and we have all been busy but when the day comes that we all get together and play as a unit, it is going to be really fun! Not only for us, but hopefully for the fans as well! It seems like there are a lot of them out there.

Live-Metal.Net: What do you think about the state of metal music today?

Chlasciak: I think there are a lot of positives. I think, for one, the scene has become really strong, and two, you know the stereotypes and segregation of metal styles that we saw in the '80s and '90s is almost gone. You know, now you can have a death metal singer and a clean singer in the same band. You could break into a Sunset Strip riff and then into a SLAYER riff and no one is going to tell you that you are kinda doing it wrong. I love that because who wants to be held up in the box. Remember in the late '80s, it got as bad as "If you liked IRON MAIDEN, you can't like JUDAS PRIEST." [laughs] That is so ridiculous, that is how you kill something, by segregating it into small little underground pockets. I love that metal is strong right now. There are always going to be bands that are going to be more commercially accepted or commercially minded with the material that they put out. If that makes them happy, good for them but I really love bands who take the later route. One of my favorite bands of all time is DEATH. I thought that Chuck Schuldiner was doing such productive and great things. I really respect that. I think it is important to stand out from the pack because it is all about being individual and doing your own thing. That is really the idea behind heavy metal.

Read the entire interview from Live-Metal.Net.
[Bazookajoe_666] Sunday, November 30, 2008 5:08:53 PM 
Paul Stanley Interview

AskMen.com recently conducted an interview with KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

AskMen.com: Can fans look forward to new KISS material in the near future?

Stanley: Actually, it looks like we'll be going in the studio shortly to do the first new KISS album in 10 years. It's going to be very much a vintage, classic, '70s KISS album without much regard to what's happened since then; it's back to the roots.

AskMen.com: Back in the '80s, a decision was made in order to respect the fans that Vinnie [Vincent] and [Eric] Carr would have to wear new face makeup; why was the decision made to allow [Eric] Singer and [Tommy] Thayer to wear the makeup of original members?

Stanley: It wasn't to respect the fans; it was a misstep, if anything. The idea that we should dilute the four icons, which are world-known (not by name, but by character) and come up with like "Frog Man" or "Turtle Boy" was a big misstep. Those iconic figures are known worldwide; you show anybody in the world a photo of KISS and they'll tell you it's KISS. So, it just sold everybody short to think that when somebody left the band that they should take those characters with them. In a sense, we all created each others' characters because it was the four of us together and the synergy between the four of us that made those characters. Could we have done it on our own? I don't think so. It was all of us together that came up with it.

AskMen.com: Is there any truth to the rumors about a "Kiss II" reality show?

Stanley: It's kind of gotten distorted into something that it really isn't. The idea that some guys are going to take our place and we're going to go home is never going to happen. Really, what it was and remains is the idea that Gene and I have created and nurtured something for 35 years… [and] as successful and consistent as we've been kind of makes people wonder what it would be like if we put together another band and gave [them] that experience. It's much closer to that.

Read the entire interview at AskMen.com. 


Black Sabbath Begin Recording New Record

HEAVEN AND HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums) — has entered Rockfield studios in Wales, England to begin recording its new album, the group's first since SABBATH's "Dehumanizer" (which was also recorded at Rockfield) in 1992. An early 2009 release via Rhino Records is expected.

Two years ago, Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice reunited to record a trio of new songs for Rhino's "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" before launching a highly anticipated and greatly acclaimed world tour under their new moniker HEAVEN AND HELL. Revitalized by the reunion, the lineup is back in the studio now recording the first-ever full-length studio album from HEAVEN AND HELL. To whet the fans' appetites for the new album, HEAVEN AND HELL returned to the road this past summer for a short stint on the Metal Masters Tour, a month-long North American trek with JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, and TESTAMENT.

Regarding the band's decision to continue to operate as HEAVEN AND HELL rather than BLACK SABBATH, Iommi told Billboard.com earlier this year, "It really is BLACK SABBATH, whatever we do. We just choose to go out as HEAVEN AND HELL so everyone knows what they're getting [and] so people won't expect to hear 'Iron Man' and all those songs. We've done them for so many years, it's nice to do just all the stuff with did with Ronnie again."

HEAVEN AND HELL will hit the road in early 2009 in support of the new album. So far the following shows have been announced:

June 3-6 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
June 19-21 - Clisson, France - Hellfest

BLACK SABBATH's "The Rules Of Hell" box set — which features all three of SABBATH's Dio-era studio releases ("Heaven And Hell", "Mob Rules", "Dehumanizer") and its double live collection ("Live Evil"), each remastered for the first time — sold around 2,650 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in July 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan."The Rules Of Hell" comes packaged in a deluxe slipcase with extensive liner notes featuring all new interviews with the band.

Fan-filmed video footage of HEAVEN AND HELL performing the song "Neon Knights" on August 31, 2008 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "rockynhome").

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o5Vj3kAqEo&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=3


Twisted Sister Release Video For "I'll Be Home For Christmas" Featuring Lita Ford

"I'll Be Home For Christmas", the third in the series of videos from TWISTED SISTER's now-classic rockin' holiday CD and DVD, "A Twisted Christmas" — featuring TWISTED versions of beloved Christmas classics — can be viewed below. The clip, which features '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford in her first video in 20 years, intersperses live concert footage of TWISTED SISTER and the TS bandmembers on their tour bus (and, of course, a hilarious twist of an ending), and it's by far the biggest production of all the "A Twisted Christmas" videos.

TWISTED SISTER recently announced the "Twisted Sister, A Twisted Christmas On Broadway" holiday extravaganza, Friday, December 5, 2008 at the Nokia Theatre Times Square in New York City.

The show will feature the band performing songs from "A Twisted Christmas", including "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Deck The Halls", "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" inspired by their biggest hit, "We're Not Gonna Take It".

Formed in 1973, TWISTED SISTER dominated the radio airwaves and MTV with such monster hits as "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock", still staples at classic rock radio and television. To date, the band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, boasts 34 silver, gold and platinum certifications from eight countries and has toured in 22 different countries. TWISTED SISTER has given over 9,000 performances in its thirty-plus-year career.

Tickets for "Twisted Sister Presents A Twisted Christmas on Broadway" went on sale to the general public in late September. For the ultimate TWISTED fan, a VIP package is available inclusive of a general-admission ticket, a personally autographed merchandise item, and a meet-and-greet and photo with TWISTED SISTER.

Tickets are available through the Nokia Theatre Times Square box office located at 1515 Broadway at 44th and/or Ticketmaster.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1EvZPPx_Es&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=3

[Bazookajoe_666] Friday, November 28, 2008 8:33:45 AM 
Final Leg Of Somewhere Back In Time

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have announced five shows in Brazil as part of the fourth and final leg of their Somewhere Back In Time World Tour.

The group's schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Feb. 13 - Dubai, UAE - Media City Amphitheatre
Feb. 15 - Bangalore, India Royal - Challenge Rock In India
Feb. 20 - Auckland, New Zealand - Mount Smart Stadium
Feb. 21 - Christchurch, New Zealand - AMI Stadium
Feb. 25 - Monterrey, Mexico - Estadio - Technologico
Feb. 26 - Guadalajara, Mexico - Arena VFG Jalisco
Feb. 28 - Mexico City, Mexico - Fero Sol Stadium Complex
Mar. 05 - Caracas, Venezuela - Estadio
Mar. 07 - Bogota, Colombia - Simon Bolivar Park
Mar. 12 - Manaus, Brazil - Sambrodromo
Mar. 14 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Apoteose
Mar. 15 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Autdromo De Interlagos
Mar. 18 - Recife, Brazil - Estadio Municipal
Mar. 20 - Brasilia, Brazil - Brasilia Camping
Mar. 22 - Santiago, Chile - Estadio Nacional

For more information, go to www.mondoentretenimento.com.br

This will be the first time that the band has ever played in the beautiful coastal city of Recife, the capital city Brasilia, and Manaus, situated on the Amazon in the very heart of the rainforest. It will also be its first visit to Rio for six years.

Following massive demand for tickets and the rapid sellout of the 40,000-capacity Palmeiras Stadium in Sao Paulo earlier this year, the band will also return there again, but this time in a much bigger venue, the famous Formula One Grand Prix circuit Interlagos, where Lewis Hamilton sealed the Formula One world championship last month. Other than Formula One racing, the only other events ever to be arranged there are a concert by KISS in 1999, Brazil's Skol Beat electronic dance festival and an appearance by His Holiness the Pope, for whom hundreds of thousands turned out. It promises to be a very special event.

Following the huge international success of their spectacular Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 08, IRON MAIDEN will be taking to the skies once again in 2009 for a fourth and final leg starting in Dubai on February 13.

Loaded up with a full complement of band, crew and twelve tons of stage set and equipment, the band's customized Boeing 757, christened Ed Force One by the fans and flown again by Astraeus Airlines captain and MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson, will once again be circumnavigating 80,000 km around the planet for concerts in 19 cities in eleven countries, making it a staggering 37 countries in total visited on this tour, playing to almost two million fans.

Taking off in early February, MAIDEN will make their first appearances in New Zealand for 16 years via Dubai and Bangalore followed by the long haul journey for a return to Mexico in some even larger venues and then finishing with an extended run through Central and South America to include countries and cities they have not visited before.

The Somewhere Back In Time tour revisits the band's history by focusing almost entirely on the '80s in both choice of songs played and the stage set, which is based around the legendary Egyptian production of the 1984-85 Powerslave Tour which was featured on the recent DVD "Live After Death". This is arguably the most elaborate and spectacular show the band have ever presented, and will include some key elements of their Somewhere In Time tour of 1986/7, such as the Cyborg Eddie.

Comments Bruce Dickinson, "This unique way of touring earlier this year with everyone and all our gear onboard the plane helped to make 2008 easily one of the most successful, exciting and fun years in the band's career. Taking Ed Force One around the planet and playing to our fans in so many different countries was an incredible experience for all of us. For me personally, flying and performing was one of the most challenging and satisfying things I've ever attempted despite the rigours and all the logistical difficulties we encountered. In fact it was so much fun we decided to do it again as a final leg of this tour All in all this will be a fantastic way to round off a tremendous year for the band before we take a bit of time off and then start work on a new studio album."

Says Steve Harris, "We will once again be loading onto the plane as much of the production and stage set as we can ram in, along with arranging plenty of pyro for all the shows!! We will also be changing round the set list and replacing some of the songs, mainly with songs from the first four albums as the Early Days tour a few years back didn't visit any of these places so we thought the fans would like to hear some of that even earlier material. This tour is likely to be the last time we play many of these songs live so we really will be giving it everything we have got!"

The IRON MAIDEN plane Ed Force One has been back in regular airline service since the end of the first leg in March this year and has been used for the "Bruce Air" fan club flying trips during the European leg of the tour, as well as Bruce flying various missions to bring troops back home from tours of duty in Afghanistan and collecting stranded British tourists in the recent major airline closures. However the Boeing 757 will be taken back into the hanger soon to be completely refitted and its MAIDEN livery restored, this having been removed due to fears of evil ju-ju spirits — Eddie! — inhabiting the plane from worried passengers on its summer route from Central Africa!

IRON MAIDEN has made arrangements with the local promoters to facilitate a special first ticket pre-sale to members of its fan club, which will mean they will be guaranteed to get a ticket, and be able buy the best seats where applicable. 


Confirmed: New STUDIO Kiss Album

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has told Jane Stevenson of Canada's Sun Media that the veteran glam rockers are writing songs for a new album that he expects they will record next year and release next summer. KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley will produce the disc. The band will follow the album's release with a limited tour.

"We'll do a handful of shows just to keep in the game (next) summer, maybe 10 (dates), some Canadian shows," Simmons told the Sun Media. "I know Halifax is one, but before you get out there and start the baseball season, they hold exhibition games, that's what we're doing. 'Cause once we go out, it's going to be for a year and a half."

As for rumblings of a co-headlining tour with QUEEN, Simmons said, "Oh, I've heard that, but we don't know until it's real. I would be happy to step up on that stage. I'd (also) love to step up on a stage with the STONES."

Read more from Sun Media. 


Yngwie Malmsteen Interview

Pat Prince of Powerline A.D. recently conducted an interview with legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Powerline A.D.: Do you ever compare yourself — competitively — with some of the other contemporary guitarists out there?

Yngwie: Never. And it's not because I'm arrogant. … It's just that I wouldn't go out and buy a record and listen to it. If I'm working on an album, I listen to that. The last thing I do is think about what other people do because I am so occupied with what I do. When I was a little kid I had my heroes that I listened to, and my biggest heroes are Bach, Vivaldi, and Paganini, but I don't even listen to that anymore.

Powerline A.D.: Well, you certainly had guitarists that influenced you, like Hendrix…

Yngwie: No. That's not true.

Powerline A.D.: No? I had read that you saw Hendrix on television when you were a kid and that's what got you interested in guitar.

Yngwie: Yes, I was seven years old and I saw him on television. On the day he died they showed a video of him lighting his guitar on fire, and that made me want to start playing guitar. I didn't hear any music. It was just a visual. That was the impact that made me want to play, but musically if you listen to my stuff, there's no Hendrix in there. Maybe, maybe, some of the ballad stuff.

Powerline A.D.: Never influenced by European guitarists like Schenker or Uli Roth?

Yngwie: When I was a little kid, really little, like seven to ten, it was Ritchie Blackmore. And there was no one else. And then after that, I stopped listening to guitar players all together.

Powerline A.D.: Back in the '80s, when you first came to America to join STEELER, there was quite a buzz about you. It reminded me about what I used to read about Clapton in the '60s, when they used to spray paint "Clapton is God" across London. How have you dealt with such high expectations over the years?

Yngwie: I learned really early on that whether it's praise or criticism, you have to take everything with a grain of salt. The one thing I know is that I'm my own worst critic anyway. No one criticizes me as hard as I do. I'm very picky and to this day, a perfectionist. And, of course, it's great that people dig what you do. All the praise is very nice and rewarding.

Powerline A.D.: What do you think of the term "shredder?"

Yngwie: Well, you can shred cheese, you can shred carrots, you can shred a lot of things, and I suppose I shred notes. I guess it's just a word because when I first came to the States many years ago as a teenager, people would come up to me and say, "Hey, dude. You shred, dude." I didn't know what they were talking about at first but then, of course, I came to understand it. I don't mind it. It's all good.

Powerline A.D.: Since being in the '80s bands STEELER and ALCATRAZZ, have you been asked to join any other established bands?

Yngwie: There have been some people that approached me but I had been in bands since I was ten years old in Sweden and I was always the leader. I was always the writer, the lead guitar player, the lead singer… I was always the guy, so when I came to America I knew I had to take the route and go through some bands til I became the leader again. When all of that was finished, I started off where I left off in Sweden, basically, with RISING FORCE. I've always made sure that I end up in a position where I have control, because to be happy in a sort of democracy, that doesn't work for me. I'm definitely a dictator. It's just the way I am with music. I guess I'm the same way a painter would be, except I'm doing this in a rock and roll fashion. A lot of people, you know, just don't understand and sometimes I give up trying to explain it.

Powerline A.D.: But, say, someone like Axl Rose came up to you and asked you to join GUNS N' ROSES — a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — would you do it?

Yngwie: Probably not. But as a guest spot, I'm always open to that. I'm always flexible to do that. When I do play on other people's records, I'm theirs to command. I will do exactly what they want. That's just being a professional. And I've done that quite a lot. But as a permanent thing, probably not. But, who knows. You never know.

Powerline A.D.: What do you prefer: life on the road and playing live, or creating music in the studio?

Yngwie: Well, they're very very different things. I love playing live and the sound, when you're in a good hall, with the band just cranking it, it's just amazing. I try to get that sound in the studio. A lot of people try to recreate their albums on stage. I try to do it the other way around... that live feeling in the studio. But the studio is also a laboratory where you can be a crazy scientist forever, and change things around. Live, it's like a battlezone, like being dropped right in the warzone for battle. I really love both of it. It's a great contrast. Doing the same thing in such different environments is cool.

Read the entire interview from Powerline A.D.

[guitardude] Wednesday, November 26, 2008 6:54:39 PM 

Let`s see,Axl is unhappy with something(what a shocker) and Yngwie is so busy he doesn`t pay attention to other guitarists(another shocker) this should have been posted in the "What makes you laugh" thread.
Axl should appreciate anyone being willing to give him some sort of promotion and Yngwie should watch his competion more to see why he is being out gunned and out sold!!

[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:40:40 PM 
GNR Letter To Dr. Pepper, They Aren't Happy.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET has obtained a copy of the entire three-page letter (see below) that was sent by GUNS N' ROSES' and Axl Rose's lawyer to Dr Pepper, accusing the soda maker of failing to deliver on its "Chinese Democracy" free soda promotion, which the band was never involved in.

According to Billboard.biz, Beverly Hills-based Alan Gutman has written to Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. president and CEO Larry Young, accusing the company of operating an online redemption scheme that was an "unmitigated disaster which defrauded customers." Gutman is demanding that Dr Pepper makes good on its offer by extending the period for the offer; he also wants full-page apologies in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Read more from Billboard.biz.

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Yngwie Malmsteen Interview


Hard Rock Hideout recently conducted an interview with legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Hard Rock Hideout: If you could give advice to any young guitar players out there, what would you tell them?

Yngwie Malmsteen: It all depends on what they want to achieve. If they want to achieve greatness and be like something that is out of the ordinary, it is a lot of hard work. There are no shortcuts to that. Obviously, if they wanted to learn how to play, they can learn bits and things and carry on. It all depends on what they want to do. If they want to be serious, there is a lot of hard work involved.

Hard Rock Hideout: There have been a lot of classic hard rock and metal acts reunite over the last few years. Ron Keel has recently announced the reunion of KEEL for several live shows next year. Can you see yourself doing a STEELER or ALCATRAZZ reunion in the near future?

Yngwie Malmsteen: I have been contacted a lot about that. I don't know. I will never say never.

Hard Rock Hideout: What is your opinion on the current guitarists of today?

Yngwie Malmsteen: I haven't really kept track of them. I am so extremely busy with what I am doing myself. When I am not playing music I am usually doing other things. Playing around with my Ferraris and playing tennis and things like that. What I understand there is a new group of kids that are very serious about playing which is great, I think that is a good thing.

Hard Rock Hideout: Why do you think hard rock/metal was able to maintain its popularity in Europe and Asia but not here in the states?

Yngwie Malmsteen: I am not even sure about that. What I do know is rock and roll and metal never goes away ever. It took the backseat in America in the '90s. In Japan and South America it was still really big. I never followed trends so I don't know the exact function of them. I think there must be somebody in league to changing things. When the glam metal thing of the late '80s became too glammy, then instead of having two bottles of hairspray in your hair, it became better not to wash your hair at all. To me it's all trend stuff. I don't follow that stuff. I just do what I feel is the right thing. I don't know what the reason is for that. It's not fashion.

Hard Rock Hideout: Did your involvement in the G3 tour with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai help get your music back out there in the U.S.?

Yngwie Malmsteen: It had some impact, sure, yeah. I think that it helped all three of us, but I think the most important thing now, that you can see nowadays are kids are being introduced to this music through video games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero. This seems to be a big influence on kids. It's a new thing to them.

Hard Rock Hideout: What do you think about the new generation of music fans being introduced to hard rock and metal through games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band?

Yngwie Malmsteen: When we were younger, it was radio and MTV. It is just a different way of getting it. If they have a game that has rock and roll in it, that is going to introduce the kids to the music. That is good. It is cool.

Hard Rock Hideout: Your son Antonio is 10 now right? Has he taken on your passion for music yet?

Yngwie Malmsteen: Yeah. Not in the same way that I did. When I grew up, there was no TV, nothing. The guitar could be my whole life. The kids today have Internet and TV and games and all that stuff. When he does pick up the guitar, he is a natural, for sure. For sure he is going to play. I was so extreme, I was playing 24/7 all my life. That was bizarre anyway, kind of like a (laughs) a circus freak, you know.

Read the entire interview from Hard Rock Hideout.

Fan-filmed video footage of Yngwie Malmsteen's October 26, 2008 concert at the Blender Theater in New York City can be viewed below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44BSupa5nqk&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


Lars Ulrich Interview

Stereo Warning has posted the third and final part of a new interview with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Stereo Warning: Let's talk about art for a bit. How did you become an art collector?

Ulrich: We had art all over the house when I was growing up. It's been a passion of mine for 20-25 years. It's one area where I can go and be myself. It's not about being in METALLICA or being the drummer in a rock band. I'm accepted for who I am in the art circles. I love going into artist spaces and galleries and auction houses. It's great because it has absolutely nothing to do with METALLICA. It's my place of sanctuary.

Stereo Warning: What was the first painting you bought?

Ulrich: The first piece that I got was a Warhol. It's a lithograph of three apples that my parents had when I was growing up. My parents sold it when they divorced and I chased it down and bought it back. So I have the apples that were hanging in the dining room when I was growing up.

Stereo Warning: How did you get into Basquiat?

Ulrich: Basquiat is just so incredible in his rawness and he was the last great American painter who got a lot of his inspiration and influence from a lot of guys that I really like, like Jean Dubufett and Asger Jorn. I really like paintings. I'm not much into conceptual art. I respect it but it's not something that does a lot for me.

Stereo Warning: Do you feel any nostalgia for the paintings?

Ulrich: Yes, but it's also an exercise that I force myself to go through because you don't own art. The artists own art. You just hold on to it to enjoy it for a while. It becomes a revolving door, and I have to continue to put those paintings out there. There is very little art that I hoard. I've had 10-15 great years with some of these paintings and now it's time to get some other ones.

Read the entire interview from Stereo Warning.

According to The New York Times, Lars Ulrich found a buyer for "Untitled (Boxer)" (see image below), a 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat, in a sale of contemporary art at Christie's on November 12. Depicting a victorious black boxer against a richly painted background filled with the artist's signature graffiti scrawl, it was estimated at $12 million to $16 million, and a buyer on the telephone bought it for $12 million, or $13.5 million including commission.
[guitardude] Friday, November 21, 2008 7:26:11 PM 
I prefer Coca-Cola!!
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Bazooka Joe from Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:21:05 PM)
[Return_of_Darth_Painkiller_0870] Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:37:21 PM 
It's not just you MG.  The song sucks.  It doesn't sound like a G'n'R tune, but rather the Axl Rose Band.  F-Axl Rose!!!!!
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by MG_Metalgoddess from Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:48:19 PM)
[Bazookajoe_666] Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:21:05 PM 
Dr. Pepper To Hold Up There End of the Bargain.

Don't cry, GUNS N' ROSES fans. The agonizing wait for the 17-years-in-the-making masterpiece "Chinese Democracy" will finally be over (fingers crossed) on November 23, 2008. Sure, there have been more rumored release dates than the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper, but if "Chinese Democracy" hits stores as announced, it's going to be so easy, easy for every American to get a free Dr Pepper as promised.

"We never thought this day would come," said Tony Jacobs, vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Dr Pepper is ready to give out free soda coupons to every American when the album releases on November 23, 2008. If you're out to get a free Dr Pepper just follow these simple steps:

How to get your free Dr Pepper:

1. On the Nov. 23, 2008 release date, go to www.drpepper.com
2. Register your information to receive a coupon for one free 20-oz. Dr Pepper.
3. When your coupon arrives, redeem it wherever Dr Pepper is sold.
4. Drink your Dr Pepper slowly to experience all 23 flavors. Dr's orders.

Coupons will be available for 24 hours, starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 23, 2008. Allow 4-6 weeks for coupon to arrive. Coupons will expire on February 28, 2009. Limit one coupon per person. Full terms and conditions available at www.drpepper.com.


Rob Zombie Interview

SpookyDan of Bloody-Disgusting.com conducted an interview with Rob Zombie about his new track "War Zone", which is now available on iTunes and Lionsgate's soundtrack for "Punisher: War Zone". During the interview, Zombie also talked a bit about the new WHITE ZOMBIE box set, his forthcoming solo album and the status of his animated feature project, "The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the new song "War Zone":

"It came about like most movie songs do, you get a call asking to do a song for a film. Usually there is not a lot of time, which is why you usually submit a remix or an old song. But in this case I was already in the recording studio, and there was enough time. I haven't seen the movie yet, they gave me the script, so I knew the vibe of the movie and I tried to incorporate that into the song. I was happy to have that come up because what it really did was give us a nice kick in the ass, to HAVE TO finish a song. We had been recording for a while, but we really had not finished any songs yet. That really became the domino effect to finish all of the songs."

On the WHITE ZOMBIE box set "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie":

"I didn't want anyone to think that it was the beginning of something, but rather the end of something. Putting the box set together really made me appreciate what I am doing now even more. It was time to get the box set when I found a window of time available, I just figured if not now, when? CDs probably wont even exist for much longer. What good is a box set without the box? We were always a band that was slightly out of time and out of step, so it has aged pretty well. I think we did a lot of good stuff in the beginning, very groundbreaking, but you know it just became this painful situation most of the time as it went on. I haven't spoken to any of the WHITE ZOMBIE band members since our last show."

On the upcoming ROB ZOMBIE album:

"We will probably be finished with the new CD by the end of the year. The unique thing about this record is that this is the first time since WHITE ZOMBIE that I actually recorded with the band. In the sense that these are the guys I tour with and that I hang out with were a band and we recorded as a band. It's got a much more solid vibe, more intricate and interesting record just due to the fact that there are always four people in the room at all times, contributing and working. For me it's great, because my solo records have always been a bit disjointed due to the changing roster of musicians. Great things come out of situations where you feel a great vibe, and that is what's going on here. This is the first full thing with us together."

Read the entire interview at Bloody-Disgusting.com. 
[~ MG_Metalgoddess~] Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:48:19 PM 
I dont maybe its just mee... But the song they play from the New Guns-n-Roses  cd on the radio   Sucks... 
I guess I will have to hear the whole things before I make a final judgement...  Axel  Rose is such an asshole. 
I feel he really ruined it for a band that had alot of talent working together....
[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:23:12 PM 
Whole Chinese Democracy Available For Streaming
GUNS N' ROSES' new album, "Chinese Democracy", will be available for streaming in its entirety on the band's official MySpace page starting tomorrow, Thursday, November 20 until the LP's release date, November 23.

Dutch retailer vanLeest has posted 30-second samples of all the tracks that appear on "Chinese Democracy". Check them out at this location.

The song "Better" off "Chinese Democracy" received its world premier Monday morning (November 17) on a number of U.S. stations, including Q104.3 FM, which is currently streaming the track at this location.

"Chinese Democracy" will be released in the U.S. exclusively through Best Buy. The 14-song set will be available on CD, vinyl, and as a download. While singer Axl Rose has remained silent, co-managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould said in a statement, "The release of 'Chinese Democracy' marks a historic moment in rock n'roll. We're launching with a monumental campaign...that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. GUNS N' ROSES fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning."

One new song, "Shackler's Revenge", debuted on September 14 through the Rock Band 2 video game, while another, called "If The World", can be heard in the new film "Body of Lies".

"Chinese Democracy" is the first album of new material from GUNS N' ROSES since 1991's "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II".


Rob Zombie Interview

RollingStone.com recently conducted an interview with Rob Zombie. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RollingStone.com: How long have you actually been working on putting together [the new WHITE ZOMBIE box set] "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie"?

Rob: I haven't really been working on it for very long. I've been talking about it for a long time. A couple of years ago we started compiling tracks and tracking down all the different WHITE ZOMBIE members to get them to sign off on it. Then I made a movie and went on tour, so it's been dragging on for a couple of years. When I finally focused on it, I whipped the whole thing together in a couple of weeks.

RollingStone.com: Was there anything you came across that you forgot existed?

Rob: All the songs on the box set were actually released, but a lot of the early stuff on vinyl I barely remembered. Every time I heard one of those songs I thought, "What is this song?" Back then I was never happy with the records. I'd make it, listen to it once and never listen to it again. I'm sure there are tons of demos lying around too, but I didn't want to get into that.

RollingStone.com: So with the box set done, are you working on a new movie or a new record?"

Rob: I just finished the sound mix on "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto". After three and a half years, it's finally done.

RollingStone.com: What sort of release will that get?

Rob: We're trying to figure that out. It's the Astro Creep of animated films. I look at it and say "This could be fucking huge!" But everybody else could say, "Who the fuck is going to get this?" So in the meantime, I'm in the studio making a new record.

RollingStone.com: Do you know when it might be ready?

Rob: It's almost done. We're hoping to finish by the end of December, but it's probably too early to talk about a release date.

RollingStone.com: Are you trying anything new?

Rob: It's the first full-fledged band I've had since WHITE ZOMBIE. I've always had a revolving roster of studio and touring musicians, but the three guys in my band now have been on tour with me for years. So we're making it as a band. It's called ROB ZOMBIE, but we're treating it like a band.

RollingStone.com: Is it weird getting back into the band mentality?

Rob: I never liked being solo. I just did that because WHITE ZOMBIE became an unworkable situation. But you want to be in a band. The comaraderie is what's fun about it. There's nothing fun about a guy by himself in a studio.

Read the entire interview from RollingStone.com. 


James Hetfield Interview

Andrew Dansby of the Houston Chronicle recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Houston Chronicle: Do you feel sobriety changed the way you write?

Hetfield: I can say I've taken off the black-cloud glasses. It's pretty amazing and continues to be. I'm not here to preach about it, to say it's got to be this way for everyone. But it feels like things happened where I didn't get the full effect, and now I do. Better late than never.

Houston Chronicle: Yet you have a death-filled album titled "Death Magnetic" . . .

Hetfield: Well, you can't turn that off. (Laughs.) We stick to pretty core stuff. When I try to tell a story tell or explain history or something it always comes out wrong. When I can get dark and universal with it, it's a little more real. But we've heard a lot of things like, "I caught you smiling. How're you going to write songs?" It happens, man. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life trying to sort out the first half of it. It's a work in progress.

Houston Chronicle: "St. Anger" gets beaten to death in print, even by you guys. Is it safe to say you don't love your albums equally?

Hetfield: I would love to love them all equally. They all have their own heart and history. I love the "Death Magnetic" record. And I guess you're kind of trained to bad-mouth the record before. "St. Anger" was a statement. It was more a statement than a collection of songs.

Houston Chronicle: More than any other it seemed to have the least distance between singer and narrator.

Hetfield: It sounds fragmented and angry, which is how we were. I still think it'll have its time. Certain albums they rise and fall. There are so many records that I listen to now that I didn't as kid; I thought were crap. I listen now and go, "That's a really good album."

Houston Chronicle: You guys have an uneasy history with GUNS N' ROSES. Have you heard Axl Rose's new record? Do you even care?

Hetfield: I'll certainly listen to it. But I haven't lost sleep waiting for it. I thought we took a long time to make an album. But you know he's late for everything so it makes total sense. We saw him play at a festival in Germany two years ago. He's a good frontman. He's eccentric, but all artists are. If they don't show that they're quirky, they're lying to you. They're either pretending they're not or they're pretending they're an artist.

Read the entire interview from Houston Chronicle. 


Kirk Hammet Interview

Bam of NewsOK.com recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

NewsOK.com: One of the things I obviously noticed about this album ["Death Magnetic"] is all those super-fast thrash solos that we haven't heard in a few albums: Was that fun to do and was it a conscious choice or just how the album developed?

Hammett: It was totally conscious, you know, I kind of looked back at what I used to do in the past, and took cues from that same sort of approach, that same sort of attitude, and how it could fit in with the music we're doing now. You know, in retrospect, when I kind of like glance over all the guitar solos … over the course of the album, I kind of realized, that I just really, like I said, I went for the jugular. I mean, there's absolutely no subtlety whatsoever. (laughs) I pretty much went in there with the attitude of just doing the fastest, most aggressive, loud, raunchy-sounding solos that I could possibly dream up for the material, and yeah, you know, it really suits the songs well I think. There's a level of energy that guitar solos have that really just kind of like amplify what the music is doing at that point in time. You know, a lot of the albums that we made in the '90s, a lot of guitar solos were much more melodic, and much more blues-based, and much more laid back, which is fine, but for this album, that approach really didn't work so well. So, like I said, just kind of went for it and let it rip.

NewsOK.com: Was there more pressure coming back after such a long period? It had been five years since you'd had album, so was there that pressure to really hit one out of the park, so to speak?

Hammett: You know, we kind of feel that a little bit. You know, whenever we go into the studio to make an album, there's always a little pressure to just come up with what we do best, which is write the best songs that we can possibly write at that point and just try to make the best album that we possibly can. And we follow through with that. You know, a lot of the times, the concepts are just different. Like for "Load" and "Reload", the concept was to kind of like play more laidback, more groove-oriented, kind of blues-based sort of heavy rock, heavy metal. For me, I mean, "Load" and "Reload" are kind of like subconscious tributes to the classic hard rock we kind of grew up on when we were all teenagers. And you know, with this album, the concept was just again to make a really heavy album with progressive flavors here and there, a lot like the stuff we did in the '80s. And to make the best album we possibly can. I guess to answer your question, there's pressure to do the best we can, under whatever circumstances and to follow through with whatever we're thinking conceptually.

NewsOK.com: You guys are on the short list for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Is that gratifying? Is that exciting? Is it kind weird that so much time has passed so fast?

Hammett: You know, it is pretty cool to be nominated and to be acknowledged by the industry. It kind of vindicates all the blood, sweat and tears and sacrifice and long hours, all the traveling, and all the ups and down that you've experienced over the course of 25 years or so. And it kind of makes me feel that wow, you know, it's been a great, great journey, and now the industry's actually recognizing it and considering us for the Hall Of Fame. And that's a great feeling. I mean, it really is exciting, and I really hope we win, obviously. (laughs) In fact, you know, I was just thinking today, "Oh my God, I gotta start working on my acceptance speech 'cause I want it to be perfect." (laugh)

NewsOK.com: Is it really gratifying to be cited as an influence, because a lot of hard rock, metal and thrash bands cite you as an influence. Is that pretty thrilled? Is it something you never considered when you started this?

Hammett: When we started doing this, we just wanted to make music that we wanted to hear. We wanted to play music that was fun to listen to and fun to play and exciting for us and that was the intention. … And you know, it's … inspired a lot of bands and continues to inspire bands, generations of bands now, and it's super, super flattering. And you know, again, it's very gratifying to know that you've helped other musicians to kind of like help set them on their paths and set them in a direction that you kind of forged. And it's great to know, I mean, because to be known as a band that's had an impact on musical culture, I mean, that's great to me. Because I know what sort of influence a band like LED ZEPPELIN had on my life — just to like name one band among many — and to know that we mean that same sort of thing to a bunch of people out there of all ages, denominations, whatever, you know, again, it's very, very gratifying. It's very cool to know. …

NewsOK.com: It has been 25 years now, are you really just glad and grateful that the band came knocking on your door? Have you looked back with the recent success and Rock Hall nomination? Are you happy with where you are?

Hammett: Oh, yeah, absolutely. I'm absolutely thrilled that 25 years into it we're still able to like put out an album that's relevant and that mends people and that we're able to go out on tour, especially at a time like this when the economy's all shot to hell and there's just a lot of things wrong in the world. You know, it just feels good to be able to go on tour and that people are spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to see us, to have a good time. I have no regrets whatsoever. You know, we've done some pretty dodgy things in the past careerwise, but I don't regret any of it because it's been an amazing learning experience and a lot of great music has come out of it. You know, that's what I pretty much think about that.

Read the entire interview at NewsOK.com. 

[Bazookajoe_666] Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:49:58 PM 
Lemmy Interview

MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister is featured in the December/January issue of Inked magazine (on newsstands today, November 18). Lemmy, after a long night of partying until after dawn on tour in Las Vegas, sits down with Jon Wiederhorn for an in-depth question-and-answer session about the band's new record, "Motörizer", his tattoos, politics, strippers, porn stars, ghosts, UFOs, Nazi memorabilia, speed, acid, and other things that keep his world rocking. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Inked: When did you get your first tattoo?

Lemmy: In 1973 when I was in HAWKWIND. We were in Dayton, Ohio, on a Sunday, and the tattoo shop was the only place open. We were totally fuckin' bored, so we all went down there and got a derisive hippie tattoo. Mine was a marijuana leaf, which I've since had covered up because it looked like a pizza with wings.

Inked: What's your favorite tattoo?

Lemmy: The Ace of Spades one, but you can't read that anymore. It says "Born to Lose, Live to Win" around it, but the words have bled into each other. That was done in 1979 in Holland.

Inked: You've probably seen some wild MOTÖRHEAD tattoos over the years.

Lemmy: No shit, man. A friend of ours in Germany has his entire back covered with the logo and he's got us tattooed on the sides of his head and chest. He's got our faces on the calves of his legs.

Inked: Is it strange to see your face tattooed on someone?

Lemmy: If it's a good picture, I don't mind, but if I look like a pig with a goiter, then it's not so good. I've seen both.

Inked: "Motörizer" has some fairly political lyrics.

Lemmy: Yeah, one of 'em's about Iraq, "When the Eagle Screams". I wrote that because I know the history of war. I've studied it, and this is a prime example of money sending boys to their deaths. The interest's winning over the logic. Everybody knew there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq because we sold them everything they had. I'll tell you a funny story. You know when the British invaded Iraq with you guys? We didn't have any desert uniforms. We only had the green and the khaki because we sold all the desert uniforms to Iraq three years before. Isn't that great? I just hate all politicians. They're all bastards.

Inked: Your signature song is "Ace of Spades". Are you a big gambler?

Lemmy: No, not really, I just like to play. Like it says in the song, "The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say." No gambler ever wins, not in the long run. The most I've lost at any one time is three grand. I won nine grand on one pull of a lever seven years ago at the Venetian in Vegas. I put two grand back and took seven grand home. That's very good for me.

Inked: You often go to strip clubs. Are you a fan of the lap dance?

Lemmy: Sure. It's a tease, but you can sometimes talk them into it, you know? And you can only talk them into it if you have a lap dance. You can't convince them to go home with you from the bar.

Inked: Ever hook up with a porn star?

Lemmy: Five of them over the years, actually.

Inked: Anyone we'd recognize?

Lemmy: I don't kill and tell.

Inked: Are porn stars better in bed than regular girls?

Lemmy: No, they're just the same, but then again I'm not as good in bed as the people I usually fuck, so I suppose it evens out.

Inked: Any hobbies?

Lemmy: Mostly chasing women, I suppose. Actually, no, that's a career. The music's the hobby.

Inked: You told Maxim you've slept with 2,000 women.

Lemmy: No, I said 1,000 and I think they inflated it a bit. But I'm not keeping count, you know?

Inked: You wrote one of Ozzy Osbourne's biggest ballads, "Mama I'm Coming Home". How did that happen?

Lemmy: Just after I moved to the States, Sharon [Osbourne] rang up and said, "Can you write four songs for me," and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. One of them was "Mama I'm Coming Home". I made more money out of those four songs than I did in 15 years with MOTÖRHEAD. And then I wrote two more for "Ozzmosis".

Inked: You seem to have a love/hate relationship with Sharon.

Lemmy: No, it was just she took over our management for a month in 1991. And when we went to Japan, she sent a tour manager over with us and he fucked up all the money and then said it was our fault. She trusted his word over ours, which is fairly natural because she was his guy. But I never forgave her until last week when she finally said, "Okay, I believe you."

Inked: Are you at all religious?

Lemmy: I'm an agnostic, really. I'll wait and see … and I can wait. But I'm not afraid of dying. What's the point of being afraid of the inevitable. I just hope it won't be in a hospital surrounded by assholes and tubes up your nose, you know? My ethic is, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." You can be as careful as you want, but you're gonna die anyway, so why not have fun.

Inked: The world is at war and the economy and the environment are a mess. Is mankind doomed?

Lemmy: Don't kid yourself. It is too late. We're done. Pretty soon we'll all be extinct or living in hermetically sealed caves because we're poisoning the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Any questions? And it's not like we haven't known this, but businesses wanted the money more than they wanted their children to live. Isn't that wonderful? You can count on mankind every time.

For the full interview, go to www.inkedmag.com.

[Head banger] Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:16:35 PM 
the right to reunite.
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Bazooka Joe from Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:37:07 PM)
[Bazookajoe_666] Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:37:07 PM 
Keel Reunion

2009 will mark '80s hard rock band KEEL's 25th anniversary and the passing of two decades since the original lineup played on stage together.

Unlike most of their contemporaries, none of the members has ever performed as KEEL since 1989.

Ron Keel, guitarists Marc Ferrari and Bryan Jay, drummer Dwain Miller along with Geno Arce (Ron's longtime bassist) are preparing to perform again for the first time in 20 years.

With the high volume of requests for the band to reunite, the members felt the time is right to deliver the show fans everywhere have been demanding: a KEEL reunion.

"It would not have been right without these guys," says Ron Keel.

Plans are for KEEL to reunite at a select number of festivals and showcase dates in 2009 to perform all their hits and classic favorites in celebration of 25 years of rock 'n' roll history. The KEEL debut reunion concert will take place in Hollywood on Saturday, January 31. The location for this historic event will be Club Vodka at The Knitting Factory.

In 1985, KEEL's "The Right To Rock" became the fastest-selling debut in A&M Records' history and the band was proclaimed the "Best New Band" by Metal Edge and Circus magazines. The album's title track was a hit on radio and MTV and remains a staple on VH1 Classic, in addition to the group’s subsequent hits "Tears Of Fire", "Because The Night", "Somebody's Waiting" and "Rock & Roll Outlaw". The group developed a reputation as one of the genre's most entertaining live acts, opening for heavyweights like BON JOVI, AEROSMITH and VAN HALEN, among many others.

For more information, visit KeelReunion.com.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HphiFz5t6JU&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=109107


George Lynch Interview

Blogs N' Roses recently conducted an interview with legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Blogs N' Roses: You're a pretty disciplined musician, what percentage of your life is dedicated to just playing the guitar?

Lynch: A very, very small percentage, unfortunately. I wouldn't say small, that probably isn't accurate, but I spend a lot more time on the business of music rather than the playing of music. My obligations to play are so heavy that I've got a guitar in my hands a lot of the time, but as far as sitting around and doing disciplined practicing and tearing stuff apart and reading and expanding my knowledge base, I unfortunately don't get to do much of that.

Blogs N' Roses: You are an actual guitar hero, what do you think about the Guitar Hero games?

Lynch: I think it inspires a lot in interest in guitar but I don't think it's relative to guitar. I think it might be a transitional thing, it could introduce people to the idea of wanting to play real guitar, but I haven't met anybody that's good at one and good at the other. I know lots of shreddy guitar players that couldn't play a note on Guitar Hero, including myself, and lots of kids that can get to the DRAGONFORCE level with one hand tied behind their back, blindfolded and couldn't play a C chord. I know Best Buy is starting to sell musical instruments and I think that makes sense because you get these people that are Rock Band and Guitar Hero and they are going to want to make the transition to real music.

Blogs N' Roses: A couple of months ago I read an an excerpt of an interview and you were talking about DOKKEN and you were saying basically that you and Don [Dokken] wouldn't have a problem with it (a reunion) and you're pretty much just waiting until the right time. Is that the situation, are you guys still on hold?

Lynch: Well, there's no dialogue there, so I don't know. That's really an unanswerable question. I mean, I'm totally fine with it but to get four people at our age, at our points in our careers where everybody's really busy... Mick Brown's [drums] in TED NUGENT working his ass off, Jeff [Pilson, bass] has been in FOREIGNER for four years making tons of money, having tons of success... Why? You know, what's the point? I think the problem has always been...people go, "It's personalities." It's not. It's really money. It's always behind all of it.

Blogs N' Roses: It's management behind it saying, "Hey, you guys should hook up so we can make some money."

Lynch: Uhh, no. It's within the band. There's certain components of the band that are very much thinking that it's all about them. My position is, and I think most of the rest of the guys is, that unless it's going to be an equitable situation like it was for most of the time we were together, that it just isn't going to happen. I think Don enjoys having the control of his DOKKEN tribute band, so good for him.

Blogs N' Roses: So if it happens, it happens and if not that's cool also?

Lynch: Oh yeah, I'm down. If they gave me my 25%, we go and do a real record; no games, no bullshit, no lies, everything's up and up and transparent and go out and create some closure for the fans and ourselves, I think that would be a wonderful thing for everybody. Everybody wins, why not? But uh, a lot of egos there... The thing is, you get bands that achieve some success and then they break up and there's always this one-upmanship thing going on, you know.

Blogs N' Roses: Yeah, it's kinda like Humpty Dumpty, right? It's never the same.

Lynch: "I don't need you guys!" "No, well, I don't need you either!" Well, maybe the people that we worked so hard to get to, that we sold them on our music and they loved the band and the personalities... maybe we should give them this and it wouldn't be a bad thing for anybody. It's music, it's a lot better than having a day job!

Blogs N' Roses: Yeah, it is!

Lynch: They're offering us millions of dollars to go back! Your own TV show, your own record, giant tour all around the world... "Nah!" Fuck! That shit pisses me off. I try to do everything I can. I work as hard as I can. I say no to very little; thus, why I'm here tonight. I don't necessarily have to do this, but it keeps my chops up and keeps me busy. I never ever try to pretend I'm a rock star, I don't give a fuck because you go up, you come down and meet the same people on the way down, then you gotta live with yourself. Try to stay humble…and play the best I can and stay relevant, and that's all you can do. But when you get involved with other people that don't think that way, you get the conflicts.

Read the entire interview from Blogs N' Roses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wom-O1hBIPk&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


New Rush Compilation Artwork Revealed

The cover artwork for RUSH's forthcoming "Retrospective 3" set can be viewed below.

Due on January 27, 2009, "Retrospective 3" will reportedly fulfill the band's obligation to Atlantic Records. Although denied by a spokesman for RUSH in a statement to Classic Rock magazine, it has been rumored that RUSH is negotiating a future contract with Rounder Records, who released the "R30" DVD in 2005.

"Retrospective 3" track listing:

CD:

01. One Little Victory (remix)
02. Dreamline
03. Workin' Them Angels
04. Presto
05. Bravado
06. Driven
07. The Pass
08. Animate
09. Roll the Bones
10. Ghost of a Chance (live)
11. Nobody's Hero
12. Leave That Thing Alone
13. Earthshine (remix)
14. Far Cry

DVD:

01. Stick it Out
02. Nobody's Hero
03. Half the World
04. Driven
05. Roll the Bones
06. Show Don't Tell
07. The Pass
08. Superconductor
09. Far Cry
10. Malignant Narcissism
11. The Seeker (live)
12. Secret Touch (live)
13. Resist (live)




Vince Neil To Do Solo Album

RollingStone.com recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RollingStone.com: If you could go back and see MÖTLEY from the early days, how do you think you'd react to them as a new band?

Vince: I'd probably go, "What the fuck are these guys thinking about, man!" Bands don't do what we used to do. Bands don't have the theatrics. We were lighting ourselves on fire. I had a chainsaw and cut a nun's head off. You don't see that shit at all anymore, which is kind of sad.

RollingStone.com: MÖTLEY CRÜE is an active band now, but you've gone through periods where you've stopped, split up, done different things.

Vince: Yeah, there was a breakup a long time ago, but give us a break. You can't put out a record and tour every single year. People like to talk about us, and the press makes more of what happens with MÖTLEY than it really is. Me and Tommy [Lee] have been friends for 30 years. How many people can really say they still have a friend from 30 years ago? Not very many. And if they did, I'll bet you fought with the guy. I'll bet you had an argument.

RollingStone.com: Any more solo projects in the works?

Vince: I'll be recording my record in April, when MÖTLEY's off, before Crüe Fest 2 starts. Then I'll probably release it in early November, when MÖTLEY's finishing this tour.

RollingStone.com: Are you in the same state of mind with the solo projects?

Vince: No, it's a different set of guys, a different style of music. It's a little more aggressive than MÖTLEY, more like an AC/DC vein. Obviously, we play smaller places, which is cool with me. I get the best of both worlds. I love playing in theaters, and I don't mind opening for somebody else. It's very humbling but it's cool.

Read the entire interview from RollingStone.com.


Geddy Lee Comments On New Live DVD

Gary Graff of Billboard.com reports: For its new DVD, "Snakes & Arrows Live", RUSH took a somewhat different approach than on its last two video releases, 2003's "Rush in Rio" and 2005's "R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour".

"With this one we wanted to focus on the playing," singer/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee tells Billboard.com. "So a lot of the camera work features the interaction between Neil (Peart), Alex (Lifeson) and myself, a lot of the details that you don't normally cover in a DVD performance. So for fans of the music who love to see what everybody's fingers are doing and how we interact back and forth with each other, that became the overriding focus on this one."

Read more from Billboard.com. 

[Bazookajoe_666] Monday, November 17, 2008 9:50:47 PM 
Tom Araya Interview

Austrian heavy 'zine Stormbringer.at conducted an interview with bassist/vocalist Tom Araya of the California thrash metal veterans SLAYER prior to the band's November 16, 2008 concert in Vienna, Austria. Watch the 24-minute chat below.

During the interview, Araya was asked if he has heard METALLICA's new album, "Death Magnetic", and what he thinks of it. "You don't wanna know," Araya replied. "I heard the album. That's all you wanna know. I heard the album… That's why when they [the SLAYER management] said, 'We wanna release this [new SLAYER song], 'Psychopathy Red'.' And this is after listening to the [METALLICA] album. I'm like, 'Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let's release this song and give it away, because at least the fans will know what they're getting with our album.' [Laughs] I'm being serious. When I heard the METALLICA album, it didn't appeal to me at all. And all I could think about was, 'Man, what happened?' And then they wanted to record three songs to help sell the tour, that we're working on new material, and I'm like, I thought it was a great idea to release this song. Because people then can have something to compare something to — [show them] that Rick [Rubin, SLAYER and METALLICA producer] still has it. It wasn't Rick. And that was kind of a way to show people, 'Hey, it's not Rick Rubin. It's the band. It's what the band brings to the table. People are always comparing albums. So now they have something that they can compare it to. And they know that this is what they're gonna be getting with our record. You're gonna be getting SLAYER."

On the topic of Barack Obama's election victory and whether he thinks Obama will be able to deliver on all the promises he has made, Araya said, "I think that he'll be able to do whatever it is that the House of Representatives and the Senate allow him to do. He's only the President — they're the ones who vote on things. So if he says, 'I want this to pass' and he gives it to them. And, say, some of them don't agree with him. They don't really like what he's doing anyways. 'You know what? I'm gonna vote 'No' on this.' You know what I mean? And the Democrats have the majority in both the Congress and the Senate — they have the majority. Now we're gonna find out who's on his side or not. Because if the majority are all Democrats and he wants to pass a bill, it should pass — 'cause they're all Democracts and they all feel the same way and they all agree. But that's not how it works. Everybody has their own agenda; everybody wants their piece of the pie. So in order for them to get their piece of the pie… or in order for the President to get his piece, I wanna write this in because I want my piece. So they start adding things to bills. This will tell [us] if the Democrats are really with him — if this was all really because they wanted change or was it just because they wanted to vote a black man in as President. I can tell you this: he's not dumb; he's a pretty smart guy. It really depends on the people on the Congress and the Senate, whether they're gonna allow him to do the things that he wants to do. I can tell you what's really freaky and weird about him — everybody was celebrating that he won, [but] nobody knows him. All over the world, all over the world — people were celebrating that he won. But nobody knows him. He's been a Senator for two years. Never really accomplished much as a Senator. He has done stuff, but never really accomplished something as a Senator, [for people] to say, 'Oh, yeah, he did this,' and everybody would know him for that. But the whole world was celebrating. Why? Nobody knows him. But everybody was happy that he became President. Can you explain that to me? Can you explain to me why people here in Vienna would be happy that Barack won, that he won the presidency? Or what would give them reason to celebrate. I can understand in Kenya, I can understand them celebrating, because he's their blood. It doesn't matter how much blood you've got, your Dad's from Kenya, your blood is from Kenya, so they're happy as shit, and I don't blame them. I think that's great. Because that's part of their blood who's now President of the United States. That's their connection to them. But why everybody else? Everybody around the world celebrated that he won, but nobody can tell you why they celebrated. You have to have a reason to celebrate something . . . I found that very strange. The whole world is celebrating [that] this guy [won], and nobody knows him. I read an article [from] a journalist who was with him for 21 months, on the plane with him during the [campaign] — 21 months! — and at the end of the article, [the journalist] said that after traveling with Barack Obama for 21 months, 'I still don't know what kind of a presidency this man will have.' You ever been with someone for roughly two years and not known about them? That was the final statement in that article. He's been with this person for 21 months, and after 21 months, he still couldn't tell you what kind of a president he would be. It's scary. [In two years], you would know. You would have some idea of what kind of person this person is or how he will be as something. That's the strangest thing about this guy — that everybody is celebrating, but nobody knows him."

A non-CD-quality version of SLAYER's new track "Psychopathy Red" — which is set to appear on the band's forthcoming album, due out summer 2009 — has surfaced on YouTube and can be streamed below. The Jeff Hanneman-penned song gives a chilling look into the twisted mind of Andrei Chikatilo, a notorious Russian serial killer.

The members of SLAYER spent a couple of weeks in a Southern California recording studio last month tracking three new songs, including "Psychopathy Red".

SLAYER kicked off the European "Unholy Alliance Tour: Chapter III" on October 27 at the Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England. The trek is scheduled to wrap in Helsinki, Finland on November 27. The band plans to return to the studio early next year to finish recording the new album.

Fans who attend any of the upcoming European "Unholy Alliance Tour: Chapter III" dates, will receive "Psychopathy Red" via an exclusive download card that will also include special material from the entire tour's lineup — SLAYER, MASTODON, TRIVIUM and AMON AMARTH. The download card, along with a limited edition "Unholy Alliance Tour" clothing patch, will be given away free only to ticket holders when they arrive at their local venue the night of the show.

"The Unholy Alliance Tour" first launched in fall 2004 with a European edition that featured SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, MASTODON and HATEBREED. The venture was so successful, the first North American trek, dubbed "The Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter II: Preaching to The Perverted", kicked off in summer 2006 with SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MASTODON, and THINE EYES BLEED stomping and screaming its way to 30 U.S. and Canadian cities. The European run of "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter II" took place in fall 2006, featuring SLAYER, IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, LAMB OF GOD, and THINE EYES BLEED.

Interview:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=46660022

"Psychopathy Red" stream (studio recording):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub2RGIWw5cM&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


Motley Crue Footage at Reopening of the Hollyood Palladium

MÖTLEY CRÜE returned to Sunset Blvd., the place where it all began 27 years ago, this past Friday, November 14 for a show at the newly renovated Hollywood Palladium. The band joined JAY-Z, GYM CLASS HEROES, THE ROOTS, JONAS BROTHERS, RISE AGAINST, MUDVAYNE, ONEREPUBLIC, BACKSTREET BOYS and others at the reopening of the legendary venue.

Watch fan-filmed video footage of the concert below (clips uploaded by "lisapolisa").

MÖTLEY CRÜE has revealed the dates and venues for its upcoming North American arena tour, which will begin on February 9 in San Diego and finish up on March 18 in Portland, Maine. The bill will also include HINDER, THEORY OF A DEADMAN and THE LAST VEGAS, winners of the first "Guitar Center On-Stage: Your Chance to Make Rock History" contest. Tickets for the road trip go on sale Friday (November 21) in most markets, with prices ranging from $25 to $75. This will be the CRÜE's first North American trek since this past summer's Crüe Fest package.

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx told The Pulse of Radio that the band always has one goal whenever it goes onstage. "If we're the greatest we can be, that's exciting, and that's what I believe that Mick (Mars, guitar) and Tommy (Lee, drums) and Vince (Neil, vocals) all want too," he said. "They want to be the greatest rock band that MÖTLEY CRÜE can be. That's why we always try to come up with new, twisted versions of our production, and I think our shows are so potent and, I think, contagious. It's fun and it's horrifying all at the same time."

Many of the dates on the new tour will be in cities that Crüe Fest did not reach. Another edition of Crüe Fest is in the works for next summer.

MÖTLEY CRÜE is hitting the road in support of its latest studio album, "Saints of Los Angeles", which has sold 236,000 copies since coming out last June.

CRÜE's classic album "Dr. Feelgood" is now available in its entirety for Rock Band. The album is available now for Xbox 360, and October 16 for PS3. The complete download includes ten songs and will be available for $15.99 (1280 Microsoft Points) or $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track.

Originally released on September 1, 1989, the CD, along with all of the band's studio albums, has just been re-released by Motley Records/Eleven Seven Music. "Dr. Feelgood" was recorded by all four original band members and is the band's highest-charting CD to date. It was the first album the band recorded after their quest for sobriety and rehabilitation in 1989 and the band has stated in various interviews that they view it as their most musically solid album due in no small part to their new sobriety. To date, "Dr. Feelgood" has sold more than 6 million copies in the U.S. alone.

"Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ-qHc02L0E&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Looks That Kill":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVCm_AmfVo&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Home Sweet Home":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP_3BfcbWYY&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

Mick Mars solo + "Live Wire":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY-D0q9fFvo&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Shout At The Devil":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anUknVEy81E&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


Rammstein In The Studio Footage

Video footage of Christoph Schneider from German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN laying down tracks for the group's new CD earlier this month at a studio in Los Angeles can be viewed below.

RAMMSTEIN is recording the initial tracks for the new album in Los Angeles with b>Jacob Hellner and the production team of Ulf Kruckenberg and Florian Ammon. A studio has been rented near San Francisco for the bulk of the main recording work, which will be completed before the end of the year. An early 2009 release is expected.

RAMMSTEIN's "Völkerball" DVD was released in North America in September 2007. The disc features performances from France, England, Japan and Russia. The DVD was released in three different formats. The standard two-disc DVD/CD package contains a 140-minute live video and 75-minute live CD. The special-edition package also includes a tour documentary and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Reise, Reise". Finally, the limited collectors' edition contains four discs packaged in a 190-page book with photos from the tour.

RAMMSTEIN's last album, "Rosenrot", received its long-overdue U.S. release in March 2006 via Universal Music. The CD, which was certified platinum in Germany for sales in excess of 200,000 copies within two weeks of release in October 2005, topped the official album chart in Germany, Austria and Finland, and landed at No. 2 in Sweden and Denmark, No. 4 in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, No. 5 in France, No. 6 in Mexico, No. 11 in Italy and No. 29 in the U.K. In addition, "Rosenrot" achieved gold status in Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtNIE76lpTs&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


Motorhead's New Video, Rock Out, Available Now

"Rock Out", the new video from MOTÖRHEAD, can be viewed below.

According to MyCentralJersey.com, the "Rock Out" clip features an appearance by Luke Painton, a 10-year-old boy from South Plainfield, New Jersey.

"The kids in school didn't believe me when I told them," Luke Painton said. "I'm going to put it on my iPod and bring it to school."

One of the video's producers, Wes Orshoski, was pleased with Painton's performance.

"Luke was very nervous at first, but he killed it in the end," said Orshoski. "It was probably my favorite part of the video."

Luke and his 15-year-old brother Tanner, who both play guitar, went to a Masters of Metal concert in August with their parents, Jim and Dale.

"These guys were heroes of mine since I was Luke's age," Jim Painton said of MOTÖRHEAD. "I used to watch their videos in the early 1980s on UHF, the 'Heavy Metal Power Hour'. I'm probably as excited as Luke about this."

Read the entire report from MyCentralJersey.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4b3MBkOx5k&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=2

[Bazookajoe_666] Monday, November 17, 2008 1:03:13 PM 
Official Studio Version Debut of "Better"

Another song off GUNS N' ROSES' long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy", "Better", received its world premier this morning (Monday, November 17) on a number of U.S. stations, including Q104.3 FM, which is currently streaming the track at this location.

"Chinese Democracy" will be released in the U.S. on November 23 exclusively through Best Buy. The 14-song set will be available on CD, vinyl, and as a download. While singer Axl Rose has remained silent, co-managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould said in a statement, "The release of 'Chinese Democracy' marks a historic moment in rock n'roll. We're launching with a monumental campaign...that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. GUNS N' ROSES fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning."

One new song, "Shackler's Revenge", debuted on September 14 through the Rock Band 2 video game, while another, called "If The World", can be heard in the new film "Body of Lies".

"Chinese Democracy" is the first album of new material from GUNS N' ROSES since 1991's "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II".
[Bazookajoe_666] Friday, November 14, 2008 4:36:02 PM 
Lita Ford Interview

Jason Price of Live-Metal.net recently conducted an interview with '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Live-Metal.net: You recently announced that you will be working on a new album for a 2009 release, what can you tell us about the project?

Lita: Heavier than ever, nastier than ever, more sexual than ever… Very personal lyrics — yeah me and Jim [husband Jim Gillette; ex-NITRO] are freaks! There will be no denying that when everyone hears the new songs!

Live-Metal.net: Would the new material be "Classic Lita" or more of a departure? Sonically, what can we expect?

Lita: Raunchy filth with a touch of class and a whole lotta ass!

Live-Metal.net: What do you hope that people come away with after listening to your music or seeing your live performance?

Lita: Listening to my music — I guess high on the list would be that chicks can rock a guitar! Also, with these songs I tried to show that you can be a mom, have a family, make dinner and still be a FREAK with your man when the kids go to sleep! Just because we're getting older and have real lives doesn't mean we have to get boring! Actually, we're getting freakier and freakier! When you hear the songs, you'll know what I'm talking about! The live show is all about forgetting everything and having fun. I want the audience to forget all their problems and responsibilities for an hour and just rock. Feel that intense energy that I did when I was 13. Hopefully I can cause the same kind of impact that my first concert had on me!

Live-Metal.net: Is their something that jumps out at you in your mind as the defining moment of your career?

Lita: A tidal wave coming at me and it's happening right now! Actually, I do kind of have something. Sometimes when I'm walking through an airport or having a bite to eat at a restaurant someone will come up to me and tell me how they started playing guitar because of me. Or a girl will start crying and tell me that my music really helped her through some rough times. I'm so glad to know that I've touched so many people's lives. It's a wonderful feeling to know you've helped people. People that you don't even know. I love that.

Read the entire interview at Live-Metal.net.


New Limited Edition Motley Crue Boxset

MÖTLEY CRÜE has released a limited-edition box set which includes: a 12" x 12" "Shout At The Devil" lithographic print, hand signed by the band, and 180-gram vinyl reissues of six classic MÖTLEY CRÜE albums, taken from the original analog masters of "Too Fast For Love", "Shout At The Devil", "Theatre Of Pain", "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Dr. Feelgood" and "Saints Of Los Angeles".

This strictly limited-edition collectible, individually numbered (1/500), is packaged in a black leather box with gold leaf lettering.

Pre-order at this location. Your limited-edition MÖTLEY CRÜE deluxe vinyl box set will ship within six weeks after placing your order.



[Bazookajoe_666] Monday, November 10, 2008 4:58:11 PM 
Final Leg of "Somewhere Back In Time Tour"

Following the huge international success of their spectacular Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 08, IRON MAIDEN will be taking to the skies once again in 2009 for a fourth and final leg starting in Dubai on February 13.

Loaded up with a full complement of band, crew and twelve tons of stage set and equipment, the band's customized Boeing 757, christened Ed Force One by the fans and flown again by Astraeus Airlines captain and MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson, will once again be circumnavigating 80,000 km around the planet for concerts in 19 cities in eleven countries, making it a staggering 37 countries in total visited on this tour, playing to almost two million fans.

Taking off in early February, MAIDEN will make their first appearances in New Zealand for 16 years via Dubai and Bangalore followed by the long haul journey for a return to Mexico in some even larger venues and then finishing with an extended run through Central and South America to include countries and cities they have not visited before.

The dates are as follows:

Feb. 13 - Dubai, UAE - Media City Amphitheatre
Feb. 15 - Bangalore, India Royal - Challenge Rock In India
Feb. 20 - Auckland, New Zealand - Mount Smart Stadium
Feb. 21 - Christchurch, New Zealand - AMI Stadium
Feb. 25 - Monterrey, Mexico - Estadio - Technologico
Feb. 26 - Guadalajara, Mexico - Arena VFG Jalisco
Feb. 28 - Mexico City, Mexico - Fero Sol Stadium Complex

March 1 – March 29th March 2009 - South and Central America: details to be advised soon.

The Somewhere Back In Time tour revisits the band's history by focusing almost entirely on the '80s in both choice of songs played and the stage set, which is based around the legendary Egyptian production of the 1984-85 Powerslave Tour which was featured on the recent DVD "Live After Death". This is arguably the most elaborate and spectacular show the band have ever presented, and will include some key elements of their Somewhere In Time tour of 1986/7, such as the Cyborg Eddie.

Comments Bruce Dickinson, "This unique way of touring earlier this year with everyone and all our gear onboard the plane helped to make 2008 easily one of the most successful, exciting and fun years in the band's career. Taking Ed Force One around the planet and playing to our fans in so many different countries was an incredible experience for all of us. For me personally, flying and performing was one of the most challenging and satisfying things I've ever attempted despite the rigours and all the logistical difficulties we encountered. In fact it was so much fun we decided to do it again as a final leg of this tour All in all this will be a fantastic way to round off a tremendous year for the band before we take a bit of time off and then start work on a new studio album."

Says Steve Harris, "We will once again be loading onto the plane as much of the production and stage set as we can ram in, along with arranging plenty of pyro for all the shows!! We will also be changing round the set list and replacing some of the songs, mainly with songs from the first four albums as the Early Days tour a few years back didn't visit any of these places so we thought the fans would like to hear some of that even earlier material. This tour is likely to be the last time we play many of these songs live so we really will be giving it everything we have got!"

The IRON MAIDEN plane Ed Force One has been back in regular airline service since the end of the first leg in March this year and has been used for the "Bruce Air" fan club flying trips during the European leg of the tour, as well as Bruce flying various missions to bring troops back home from tours of duty in Afghanistan and collecting stranded British tourists in the recent major airline closures. However the Boeing 757 will be taken back into the hanger soon to be completely refitted and its MAIDEN livery restored, this having been removed due to fears of evil ju-ju spirits — Eddie! — inhabiting the plane from worried passengers on its summer route from Central Africa!

IRON MAIDEN have made arrangements with the local promoters to facilitate a special first ticket pre-sale to members of their fan club, which will mean they will be guaranteed to get a ticket, and be able buy the best seats where applicable. 


Ozzy In Cellphone Commercial

Samsung Mobile has teamed up with Ozzy Osbourne to promote the Samsung Propel, a fun and trendy messaging phone with a full QWERTY keyboard available in multiple color options. In the 30-second commercial, which can be viewed below, Ozzy gets around the marbles in his mouth by texting, according to USA Today. When Osbourne tries to order coffee, hail a cab or talk to his shrink, he's often misunderstood, until he texts with the new Samsung Propel phone.

"The guy does mumble," says Samsung chief marketer Bill Ogle, adding he still has wide appeal. "Older folks like him because of his BLACK SABBATH days, but kids like him even more."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZIqXXlMlA&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

[guitardude] Sunday, November 09, 2008 4:37:20 PM 
Well done Deep Freeze!!!!
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Deep Freeze from Sunday, November 09, 2008 11:28:39 AM)
[~ MG_Metalgoddess~] Sunday, November 09, 2008 11:37:33 AM 
LOL...   You guys are a trip.....  LMao
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Deep Freeze from Sunday, November 09, 2008 11:28:39 AM)
[Deep Freeze] Sunday, November 09, 2008 11:28:39 AM 

JUDAS PRIEST.COM/ HEAVY METAL NEWS!!!

Heavy Metal artists Faithful Defenders made things official today when they announced that they are indeed heading into the studio to begin recording their much anticipated second album! Much speculation has been offered over the past few weeks but the band made it official with this interview with vocalist Deep Freeze and guitarist Metal Meltdown;

JPCHMN- So, you guys are finally going to do it? How are you feeling?
DF- Yes! At last! It has been over two years since Raw Steel and we finally have all the pieces in place, as it were! I am still hurting, but I am excited!
MM- yeah, we decided the time had come and there was just no excuses. We are ready!

JPCHMN- What should we expect from this album? The first one was pretty straight-forward. Any surprises this time?DF- I think there will be one or two surprises. We plan to do a much better job this time. Better equipment. Better songs.
MM- Right! We have some really nice , new digital sound equipment. This album will be far better. I know that! The song choices are a bit more complicated, too.

JPCHMN- And you have added a new member, we hear. Any other personnel changes?
MM- Well, Jim Gleason will be back behind the drum kit and we are REALLY happy about that. Apart from Scott Travis, there is not a better man for Priest music than him. Hands down, he's the best. Mick (Fallacaro) was not available and neither was Eric (Popovich) so we had to replace them. The big news is we now have Rick 'Metallark'. He will be sharing vocal duties with Freeze.
DF- Yeah! We are very excited about Rick. It is hard to lose a guy like Mick, though. Hard indeed. he is just SO talented. When all is said and done, the music will still stand out. We are certain of that. Having a guy like Jim is really special. I don't think I have ever worked with a better drummer.
JPCHMN-  That's a pretty strong endorsement. 
DF- And I mean every word! There is no better drummer. None. He is, by far, a genius.

DPCHMN- Rumor has it that this album will be a bit 'darker' than the first one. Care to elaborate?
DF- I think the song choice is the real story. Yes, we are doing a song or two that are a bit of a departure for us. Demonizer, for example. Very dark, I think. Not just in a lyrical sense, but in the way I plan to sing it. Very dark. 
MM-  I think it is more of a complicated album. Not so much dark as just more complicated. And of course there are the originals this time. I am putting out some stuff that I think really captures the essence of this band.

JPCHMN- So this all begins in a week, huh?
MM- Yeah. Jim will actually be starting tomorrow but Rick and Mike are coming next week.

JPCHMN- And when can we expect the release?
DF- HA!!!!!!!!!!!! You in a hurry?? (laughing)
MM- We are shooting for the first part of January. The artwork for the cover isn't even done yet! There is a lot to do before we can turn it loose!! I think January '09 is a safe bet.

JPCHMN- Well, we are all looking forward to it! Don't take too long!!! 

 

[hellrider 31038] Friday, November 07, 2008 5:04:45 PM 
i watched a couple seconds of the breaking the law video but was immediatly turned off.the guy better watch his mouth 
  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Bazooka Joe from Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:49:15 PM)
[Bazookajoe_666] Thursday, November 06, 2008 4:15:06 PM 
Downhell Cover Into the Pit

DOWNHELL, the Korean band featuring drummer Mike Terrana (MASTERPLAN, TARJA TURUNEN, RAGE), has posted a live version of its cover of FIGHT's "Into The Pit" on MySpace.

DOWNHELL recently released the video for the song "Karma" (see below). The clip was shot in Kyunggi-do, Korea with director Cho Byung Ho, who has previously worked worked with some of Korea's top artists, including Lee Hyo Ree. The track comes off the group's "Karma" EP, which was released last month via Dope Entertainment. The CD was recorded at MOL Studio in Seoul, Korea with engineer Cho Sang Hyun (VASSLINE, CRASH) and features cover artwork by Gustavo Sazes (FIREWIND, SERENITY, KRISIUN). The logo was designed by Travis Smith, who will also create the art for the band's forthcoming album, "A Relative Coexistence".

"Karma" track listing:

01. Karma (English Version)
02. Karma (Korean Version)
03. Electric Soul 2
04. Into The Pit (FIGHT cover)
05. Hwadu (English Version)

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/downhellmetal.


THIS Guy is REALLY Obsessed With Nostradamus!

Friday, November 7, 2008 will mark the 145th straight day Cleveland, Ohio JUDAS PRIEST fan Jim Bartek has listened to PRIEST's "Nostradamus", a double-disc concept album based on the mysterious, world-known 16th century French prophet Nostradamus, in its entirety from start to finish since the initial release. To put his obsession in better perspective, this translates to approximately 249 hours or one-and-a-half weeks of his life listening to the album. There have even been some days when Bartek has listened to the entire album multiple times so the numbers are higher than reported. He owns all the various configurations released and mixes between listening to the 2-CD and 3-LP sets.

Asked why this album has made such an impact in his life, Bartek responds, "I wish I could answer that! I don't know, it just grabs me and I enjoy listening to it. I honestly wish I could pinpoint and give a rock solid answer but I can't." Bartek adds "The flow of the record and the way you can just feel what the guy (Nostradamus) was going through from the way PRIEST play and sing it. Rob's [Halford] vocals tell you exactly how the guy is feeling at a particular moment. It all just fits perfectly. I'm not tired of it yet. It's an epic record about a very interesting subject."

Bartek is holding hopes the band fulfills its promise to perform the album in its entirety and says if the dates are limited he promises to travel to be there. He has become a popular cult icon in the Cleveland area with PRIEST fans and is asked often while out in public, where he can be seen sporting his "Nostradamus" t-shirt (see below), if the streak is still going. He is a true "fan" in every sense of the word.

Both "The Classic Metal Show" and Cleveland's WJCU "Metal On Metal" radio programs have interviewed Bartek.

Bartek returns to the "Metal On Metal" show this Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. (EST) to tell his story and give an update on the listening streak. You can listen to the program live via the Internet at www.wjcu.org.

To listen to an audio archive of his interview on "The Classic Metal Show" in September, click here.

In a recent interview with UGO.com, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford stated about the fan response to "Nostradamus", "I think we've still got a long way to go with 'Nostradamus', as far as settling into the psyche of the listeners — it's a big piece of work. It has to be understood from the beginning to the end — although you can pull tracks out and listen to them separately. It's like watching 'The Lord of the Rings' — you have to watch all three to get the whole story. It's the same with 'Nostradamus' — you've really got to be able to delve into it and fully understand the story, musically, and where the message is, to grab the concept of it. So it's still in the early stages, and we're still on this wonderful world tour — primarily to be back out amongst our metalhead fans all over the world, who we haven't seen for two years. We're still continuing to take the music around the world, and play some bits from 'Nostradamus' and mix up the rest of the set. It's just 'left the gate,' so to speak, so I can't wait to see where we're at with it in two or three years' time."

[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, November 05, 2008 9:25:31 PM 
Kerry King Interview

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King told music web site The Quietus backstage at the London stop of the band's current "Unholy Alliance" European tour said that he would like to record two more albums with SLAYER before the group finally calls it quits. "We're talking of going in the studio next February and getting the next record out, so if we do things in a timely manner, I don't see there's any reason why we can't have more than one album out [before SLAYER packs it in]," he said. "So if we do get a record out next year — and everything's pointing to yes — before the summer time when we tour, then I'd want to start working on another one because we're all having a good time. I think the time's gonna come when somebody just says, 'I'm done. I don't wanna do this anymore.' Because we've been doing it more than half of our lives. [Laughs] But I'm having a blast! You saw the show yesterday — I had a blast yesterday. I'm going to have more of a blast today because I'm more familiar with the set we're doing."

King also revealed that if SLAYER did split up, he could pretty much play with "anybody who is anybody," but he wouldn't consider becoming a producer or working with another band at the same level as SLAYER. "I don't have the patience to be a producer," he explained. "I don't know how those people do that because I'll get it really close to good, and it sounds great, but I know it's not good enough, really. I mean, I get tired of playing the songs, so I would also get tired of telling someone to play it again. I would say, 'Fuck it. Get the fuck out of here. We're done.' [Laughs] You know, I'd be the asshole producer! But I've got so many friends in this business — more than anyone else [in SLAYER] because I hang out more, so I've got a lot of options and I could just about play with anybody who is anybody. I wouldn't have to start over but I'm certainly not going to start another career as long as this one."

Read the entire interview at The Quietus.
[guidogodoy] Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:57:38 PM 
NOT a fan of that BTL cover. What a douche. "This guy is a friend of mine" then makes great (to quote Revenge of the Nerds) "limpwristic" movements. Freakin' tool. No voice and the only reason the crowd was cheering was because of the TRUE Metal Gods.


  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Bazooka Joe from Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:49:15 PM)
[Bazookajoe_666] Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:49:15 PM 
Paul Di'Anno is Back! With a Lot of Covers!

Video footage of ROCKFELLAS — the Brazil-based band featuring Paul Di'Anno (IRON MAIDEN), Jean Dolabella (SEPULTURA), Marcão (CHARLIE BROWN JR) and Canisso (RAIMUNDOS) — performing covers of several hard rock clasics on September 25, 2008 at Manifesto Bar in São Paulo, Brazil can be viewed below.

Paul Di'Anno will return for his first U.S. tour in 15 years in November-January. So far the following dates have been confirmed:

Nov. 28 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Nov. 29 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Nov. 30 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
Dec. 03 - Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey
Dec. 04 - Yonkers, NY @ The Haunt
Dec. 05 - Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
Dec. 06 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
Dec. 07 - Toronto, Ontario @ Kathedral
Dec. 09 - Cleveland, OH @ Jigsaw Saloon
Dec. 11 - Mt. Clemens, MI @ Emerald Theater
Dec. 13 - Murfeesboro, NC @ Zakks
Dec. 14 - Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11
Dec. 19 - El Paso, TX @ Uncle Paulies Pub
Dec. 20 - San Antonio, TX @ Roadhouse Pavilion
Dec. 26 - San Juan Capistrano, CA @ Coach House
Dec. 27 - Redondo Beach, CA @ Brixton
Jan. 02 - San Marcos, CA @ Jumping Turtle
Jan. 03 - West Hollywood, CA @ Key Club
Jan. 08 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
Jan. 09 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Jan. 12 - Aurora, CO @ Iliff Park Saloon
Jan. 16 - St. Petersburg, FL @ The Garage

Di'Anno recently entered the studio with German producer Deiter Roth to begin recording his new album for a 2009 release. Di'Anno stated in June 2008, "I have already fully recorded five of the songs in Germany (at Dieter's studio) and I will have the whole album finished by the end of this year. The album is very different to anything else I have ever recorded and I am so very excited about this album as it really is the business."

Di'Anno in 2006 re-released his 2000 effort, "Nomad", with a few tracklist alterations, under the title "The Living Dead" (Cleopatra Records). The package comes with a bonus DVD that contains the music video for "The Living Dead" and an exclusive in-depth, tell-all interview in which Di'Anno discusses his days with IRON MAIDEN.

"Ace of Spades" (MOTÖRHEAD):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHW3mhiY-eE&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Highway To Hell" (AC/DC):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y03EnYi8mRA&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Ain't Talking About Love" (VAN HALEN):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osBoXudqzQc&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Rock And Roll" (LED ZEPPELIN):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6yxPtQbYdM&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Detroit Rock City" (KISS):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKiTgZEqmCM&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Breaking The Law" (JUDAS PRIEST):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS2NWqfmjsI&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

"Message In A Bottle" (THE POLICE):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlggWxyPJzE&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/
[Bazookajoe_666] Sunday, November 02, 2008 6:19:40 PM 
Two James Hetfield Interviews

Aaron Beck of The Columbus Dispatch recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Columbus Dispatch: You've been doing this since you were a teenager. What do you physically and mentally still get out of playing METALLICA music?

Hetfield: When I don't pick up the guitar, I get depressed. When I'm at home and starting to get bummed out, my wife will point it out: "Well, you haven't played guitar in a couple of weeks." Then I'll sit down and play. It's my weapon; it's my pacifier; it's kind of everything just to write one riff and then feel good about myself: "Oh, yes! I'm still relevant!" But just using different amps, different guitars — I truly believe, finding an older guitar that might cost some crazy amount of money, you get this thing, and there's something living in it. It's still got riffs in it, and I think they're grateful that you have the guitar. I think the souls of these guitars speak.

The Columbus Dispatch: You've had to be onstage and singing a few times without a guitar, most notably after you were burned onstage in Montreal in the early '90s. What does that feel like?

Hetfield: It sucks. You're up there and you're singing, but a lot of our songs have some pretty long instrumental bits and it's, like, "What the hell am I going to do here? Head backstage, do some laundry?" You can only be a cheerleader for so much, and it looks kind of silly. I did not like it. It is kind of job security when you can play guitar and sing.

The Columbus Dispatch: What is in your mind when you go onstage now versus, say, 1990?

Hetfield: We get pretty inspired when we go in the tuning room beforehand and jam together and maybe write a riff. We bond that way, then we hit the stage. I don't know if it's us against them anymore; it's more just us. In the old days, it was us against them: "Let's kill 'em! Let's smash it!" Now it's more "Let's go out there and show them what a force to be reckoned with we are and see how many new fans we can disease with METALLICA and see if they'll come back."

The Columbus Dispatch: How did having children change your approach to your job?

Hetfield: At the beginning, it was a big struggle, me being the first one having kids and drummer Lars (Ulrich) soon after. Trying to separate the two was hard, you know? "I have to carve out time for family," and it wasn't well-received. Then it became more of a normal thing for us. We have to balance these two things and have them live together. We have to get everyone knowing each other. There's really a lot of fear for the wives — "What's going on out on the road?" and "Why don't they want us coming out?" Sometimes it is what it is, and sometimes it's "I need my space." But as soon as you invite 'em, sometimes it's, like, "No, I don't want to go" (laughs). But the kids have brought such a joy to all of us. I think it inspires us, and it's made us happier so we can be even more "metal" (laughs), if that makes any sense.

Read the entire interview from The Columbus Dispatch. 

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield recently spoke to Rolling Stone magazine about the band's nomination for induction into the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in its second year of eligibility, with the band qualifying because it has been recording for 25 years. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Rolling Stone: Most likely, METALLICA will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame next April. Who will be onstage with you?

Hetfield: "Everyone that played on a record should be there. You're considered for the Hall 25 years after your first recording, not after you formed."

Rolling Stone: That would omit Dave Mustaine [former METALLICA guitarist and current MEGADETH mainman].

Hetfield: "He wasn't on a record. Jason Newsted [former METALLICA bassist] should be up there — he was in the band for 14 years and played on quite a few records. And so should Robert [Trujillo; current METALLICA bassist]."

Rolling Stone: Will it be weird to be there with Jason?

Hetfield: "There's no reason for it to be weird. We don't want to be part of the soap opera of the Hall of Fame. Everybody wants a train wreck, like with BLONDIE onstage arguing over crap [in 2006]. That really cheapens the moment."

METALLICA got the largest number of votes in the Cleveland Plain Dealer's ninth annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame poll, which asked both print and online readers to pick which nominees on the latest Hall of Fame ballot are the ones they feel most worthy of induction. More than 250 ballots were cast, with RUN-DMC, WAR, THE STOOGES and LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS rounding out the picks. Only five acts are inducted each year, with this year's list of hopefuls also including JEFF BECK, CHIC, WANDA JACKSON and BOBBY WOMACK.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told the Plain Dealer about the results, "That's really nice to hear," adding, "It's been a great year for METALLICA. There's a lot of love and goodwill from the fans, from the critics, from the peers, from all the sixth-graders over at my son's school. There's a lot of love everywhere I look. It's amazing to be able to say 27 years into your career that you actually feel like you're on top of your game."

The inductees will be announced this month, with the ceremony scheduled for the Hall of Fame in Cleveland next spring.

METALLICA is currently on the road in support of "Death Magnetic", which entered the Billboard chart last month at No. 1. 

[guidogodoy] Saturday, November 01, 2008 8:43:55 PM 
WoooHOOOO!!!! "Another leg of the tour" in the US come spring! YEEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!!
[Bazookajoe_666] Saturday, November 01, 2008 3:48:51 PM 
Rob Halford Interview

Greg Prato of UGO.com recently conducted an interview with JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

UGO.com: How has the tour in support of "Nostradamus" been thus far, and what has the fans' reaction been to the new material?

Rob Halford: I think we've still got a long way to go with "Nostradamus", as far as settling into the psyche of the listeners — it's a big piece of work. It has to be understood from the beginning to the end – although you can pull tracks out and listen to them separately. It's like watching "The Lord of the Rings" — you have to watch all three to get the whole story. It's the same with "Nostradamus" — you've really got to be able to delve into it and fully understand the story, musically, and where the message is, to grab the concept of it. So it's still in the early stages, and we're still on this wonderful world tour — primarily to be back out amongst our metalhead fans all over the world, who we haven't seen for two years. We're still continuing to take the music around the world, and play some bits from "Nostradamus" and mix up the rest of the set. It's just "left the gate," so to speak, so I can't wait to see where we're at with it in two or three years' time.

UGO.com: It's been a little over ten years since you told the public you were gay. Looking back now, what prompted you to make it publicly known at that point, and not earlier?

Rob Halford: When you're a public figure, I think there's an expectation of knowing everything about a person. That's just the world that we live in. It was just becoming increasingly uncomfortable for myself to need — if the need was there - to hide that part of my person. So I did it primarily for myself — to set myself free of this wall that you put around. When you break that wall down, you're a different person to a great degree in the public's eye — you just remove all the innuendo and all of the comments, and remarks become futile. It's like spent ammunition. So you expose yourself even more to everything that you are as a person. For me, it was just a very important mental thing, more than anything else. Beyond that, it was just really incredible to see and feel the response back from the metal community, who basically said, "I don't give a fuck — as long as you keep singing metal, I don't really care." I think that was a great testimony to the openness and the human aspect of the metal community — being able to take that as it was. That's great. It was a good thing, and there was a lot of peripheral feedback that you never even consider. People saying, "Because of what you did, it gave me that extra push to do it myself." Wonderful, wonderful emails and so forth — even now when I meet people at meet-and-greets, that thank me for whatever it was that helped them through that moment themselves. You don't think about that — it just happens. So a lot of good came out of it.

UGO.com: Have any other metal musicians subsequently thanked you or said you inspired them to come to terms with their sexuality, as well?

Rob Halford: No — it would be ridiculous to think that the people that you know of, that there isn't at least one other gay metalhead out there. But then again, it's a personal choice — whether you want to step forward or not. I'd like to think that what I did, and that it didn't affect my career, is an encouragement. But then again, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. It's very much a private/personal choice to make.

UGO.com: What's in store for you and PRIEST in the future?

Rob Halford: We're finishing up this last part of the world tour with Mexico and South America, then we'll take a holiday break. And then we're back out on the road in February — we start a UK/European tour with MEGADETH and TESTAMENT. I don't know who we'll be working with in the States, but we'll do another leg in the States in the spring. And then, we're going into full-on "Nostradamus" preparation mode, to perform all of that mighty opus live on stage towards the end of the year. So we'll probably be DVDing that, and at the same time, there should be the HALFORD "Crucible" CD/DVD — much like we've done with this "Resurrection" package. So, there's a lot more metal to come…

Read the entire interview from UGO.com.
[Bazookajoe_666] Wednesday, October 29, 2008 9:21:10 PM 
Details on The New Queensryche Album Revealed
QUEENSRŸCHE is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its twelfth studio album, "American Soldier". The concept effort, due this spring from Rhino/Atco, finds the band once again tackling some heavy subject matter, this time focusing on telling the story of war from a firsthand perspective. Singer and chief songwriter Geoff Tate has spent the last few years conducting extensive interviews with veterans and has crafted their thoughts into this epic tale. "American Soldier" examines American wars from World War II through Iraq from the viewpoint of those in the trenches and on the frontlines. Following the album's release, QUEENSRŸCHE plans to present tracks from the album live on an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The first date of the tour will be a hometown gig at Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino on April 16.

"QUEENSRŸCHE has always had incredible support from members of the Armed Services," says Tate. "It seems like after every show, I'd end up speaking with a fan that was or had been involved with the military. The more and more I began to hear their accounts and feelings, the more I really felt a conviction to tell their story. Over the last two years, I've conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews with veterans of many different American wars. I listened to their amazing and moving recounts and did my best to examine war through their eyes." 


AC/DC Photos and Footage

High-quality photos of the first show of AC/DC's "Black Ice" world tour, which kicked off last night (Tuesday, October 28) at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennylvania, can be found at this location. More pictures are available at AC/DC Italia.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Rock 'N Roll Train
02. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
03. Back In Black
04. Big Jack
05. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
06. Thunderstruck
07. Black Ice
08. The Jack
09. Hells Bells
10. War Machine
11. Anything Goes
12. You Shook Me All Night Long
13. TNT
14. Whole Lotta Rosie
15. Let There Be Rock
----------------------
16. Highway To Hell
17. For Those About To Rock

Video footage of the opening cartoon video followed by the "Rock 'N' Roll Train" performance from last night's concert can be viewed below. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAsBGbHpmKg&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


New Slayer Song Available

A non-CD-quality version of SLAYER's new track "Psychopathy Red" — which is set to appear on the band's forthcoming album, due out summer 2009 — has surfaced on YouTube and can be streamed below. The Jeff Hanneman-penned song gives a chilling look into the twisted mind of Andrei Chikatilo, a notorious Russian serial killer.

The members of SLAYER spent a couple of weeks in a Southern California recording studio earlier this month tracking three new songs, including "Psychopathy Red".

SLAYER kicked off the European "Unholy Alliance Tour: Chapter III" Monday night (October 27) at the Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England. The trek is scheduled to wrap in Helsinki, Finland on November 27. The band plans to return to the studio early next year to finish recording the new album.

A couple of short video clips of SLAYER in the studio recording the new track "Psychopathy Red" can be viewed below.

Fans who attend any of the upcoming European "Unholy Alliance Tour: Chapter III" dates, will receive "Psychopathy Red" via an exclusive download card that will also include special material from the entire tour's lineup — SLAYER, MASTODON, TRIVIUM and AMON AMARTH. The download card, along with a limited edition "Unholy Alliance Tour" clothing patch, will be given away free only to ticket holders when they arrive at their local venue the night of the show.

"The Unholy Alliance Tour" first launched in fall 2004 with a European edition that featured SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, MASTODON and HATEBREED. The venture was so successful, the first North American trek, dubbed "The Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter II: Preaching to The Perverted", kicked off in summer 2006 with SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MASTODON, and THINE EYES BLEED stomping and screaming its way to 30 U.S. and Canadian cities. The European run of "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter II" took place in fall 2006, featuring SLAYER, IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, LAMB OF GOD, and THINE EYES BLEED.

SLAYER won a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 50th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. SLAYER was nominated for the track "The Final Six", from the band's 2007 limited-edition "Christ Illusion". The song, written by Araya and guitarist Jeff Hanneman and produced by Josh Abraham, is a chilling look at a hypothesized end of the world. The track made its debut in July 2007 as the "Single of the Week" on MySpace where it had accumulated more than 750,000 plays, an astounding number for a song that received no commercial airplay.

"Psychopathy Red" stream:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub2RGIWw5cM&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

Behind the scenes - "Psychopathy Red" recording sessions part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjqKnz0NnwI&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

Behind the scenes - "Psychopathy Red" recording sessions part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HlevdByOaI&eurl=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/


Rob Zombie Interview

Blender.com recently conducted an interview with Rob Zombie. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Blender.com: Your next movie, "Tyrannosaurus Rex", is shrouded in mystery, but we do know that it's not about dinosaurs. What can you tell us about it?

Zombie: Well, it's not about anything at the moment because I'm not actually working on it yet. It's become one of those projects that got announced way too early. The movie I'm actually working on is "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto". I've been working on that for three years, and I'm actually in the last weeks of it — I'm mixing the sound this week. I'm not sure of the release date yet, but that'll be out probably early 2009. It's a full-length adult animated comedy. I don't even want to talk about "Tyrannosaurus Rex". I hate talking about projects that are that far in the future. Things change so often.

Blender.com: There's a WHITE ZOMBIE box set coming out next month. When will we hear any new music from you?

Zombie: You'll never hear any music from WHITE ZOMBIE. And as far as me, I'm finishing up a record that should be done around Thanksgiving. I don't know the release date yet, but in early 2009 I should have a new record. It's the first record that I've made with the [touring] band that I've had for a while now. Really, this is the first time since WHITE ZOMBIE that I've actually made a record with a band. Usually it's myself with sort of a rotation of musicians. And I think that for that reason the new record has a really solid vibe to it. There's something to be said for a band of guys who are really playing and working things out rather than a person all by himself.

Read the entire interview from Blender.com. 
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