Lost your password?

News

MUSTAINE: Getting FRIEDMAN And MENZA Back In MEGADETH Makes As Much Sense As Putting Rotten Tooth Back In Your Mouth

Manos Spanos
Loaded Radio's Scott Penfold recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On the status of the songwriting sessions for MEGADETH's follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider": Mustaine: "We're taking our time with this one. The last record we've done, we felt we were really on a positive upswing with [producer] Johnny K and we were excited to get in and do the record. But looking back over time, all the records that we had a lot of success with, personally…. Because, I mean, at the end of the day, if you don't like what you're doing, then what's the point? But the ones that we really got the most enjoyment out of was the ones that took the longest to write. We would sit with the songs and let them digest and assimilate and become part of us, instead of, 'OK, that's a great song. Let's go.' Or versus, 'You know what? Would it be better if we [played] this part one more time or cut that one in half or sped this up a little bit. There's so many variables." On whether he still gets pressure to get guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza back in MEGADETH: Mustaine: "Yeah, but that makes as much sense as somebody saying, 'Put a rotten tooth back in your mouth.' Don't get me wrong, but I've seen stuff that Menza's been saying [in interviews and online postings], and it's unfortunate. And I know that Marty's happy doing what he's doing. And frankly, if I wanted to get them back in the band, I would have worked it out, but I don't want 'em in the band. I think that Shawn [Drover, current MEGADETH drummer] is, all around, if you add all the parts up, is way more what I want in my life and my band, and the same thing with Chris [Broderick, current MEGADETH guitarist]. We all have our peculiarities. I'm strange by the definition myself, and I'm sure you are too, but that's what makes us unique and awesome and cool and everything like that. Because if we were all the same, one of us would be unnecessary. I kind of like the fact that you never know what you're gonna get with these guys; they're funny, their sense of humor is really dry, and they love the fans. There's no 'I'm in it for myself' bullcrap and 'I can't wait to do my solo albums' kind of stuff that'll tear a bunch of bands apart. If you look back at my career, I've been doing this for 33 years, almost, and I've only done one thing outside of MEGADETH, and that was the MD.45 thing, and that was because I loved FEAR; I thought FEAR was one of the greatest punk bands from America ever. I'm sure people will disagree, but I don't care." On whether there has been any more talk of further "Big Four" shows with METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX: Mustaine: "The thing about reconciliation is… it kind of is like that story about the monk that was walking down the river and saw a woman out in the middle and the tide was coming and he rolled up his garment and went out and got her and set her down on the side of the river bank and continued his journey. And about a mile later, another monk standing next to him said, 'Isn't it against our vows to have touched a woman?' And he goes, 'You know, I set her down a mile ago, yet you still carry her.' And, to me, that's… a lot of these people, they're still carrying the woman when it comes down to this whole thing about us and METALLICA having some kind of a grudge. We don't. In fact, I just recently contacted James [Hetfield] when people were attacking him about the whole PETA thing. And I just told him, I said, 'Look, man, you're my brother and I love you. Just be strong and it'll blow over.' Coming from a guy that's no stranger to controversy. I still love James a lot. That's part of the reason why there was so much emotion about it… I mean, it's kind of like when you really like a girl and you go up to ask her to dance and she says 'no' and you walk away and you say, 'Well, F you.'" On joining METALLICA on stage in December 2011 at one of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the band's week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a group for fan club members only: Mustaine: "Well, they gave me an invitation and I thought it was really awesome. And I had asked them, 'Do you want me to just play rhythm?' Because, you know, Kirk's [Hammett] in the band. And Lars [Ulrich] said, 'No. Play your stuff.' And I went, 'Alright. Now we're talking.' So I went up there and I did my thing. And it was great. I imagine it must have been really awkward for Kirk watching me play the songs the way that they were supposed to be played in the beginning, but that's open for his artistic interpretation. If he doesn't wanna play it the way that I played it, hey, that's cool."
05 min read

PEARL JAM’s EDDIE VEDDER Under Fire For Anti-War Rant

Manos Spanos
According to The Pulse Of Radio, PEARL JAM singer Eddie Vedder has come under fire for an impassioned anti-war speech he made in England on Friday night (July 11) that some fans interpreted as being aimed at Israel. Vedder's critics say that the artist has accused Israel of war-mongering in the current escalating military situation with Palestine. The Jerusalem Post called the speech an "anti-Israel diatribe" and printed reactions from fans in Israel, including rock radio DJ Ben Red, who was behind a campaign to get PEARL JAM to come perform in Israel but now has said, "Eddie Vedder, your true face is finally being revealed. You are invited not to come here. I personally do not want to see you, and I will erase the Facebook page calling on bringing (PEARL JAM) to Israel, but not before I expose who you really are." The politically outspoken Vedder told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he used to be reluctant to voice his opinion earlier in his career. "I've always been wary, you know, speaking from some kind of a podium as a singer in a rock band," he said. "First of all, I think it's ridiculous that it should be left to the singers of rock bands to have to bring up these issues. But then again, the arts are always going to reflect society, and there could be a responsibility there." Swigging from a wine bottle — as usual during a PEARL JAM show — Vedder said in his speech (see video below), "What the fuck? What the fuck? We can have this many people having a peaceful time. We can have modern technology. We can reach our friends. We know what they're thinking before they're thinking it. The advertisers know what we're thinking before we're thinking it. We have technology — all this in our hands. At the same time that something this positive is happening, at the same fucking time, not even that far away, they're fucking dropping bombs on each other. What the fucking fuck?" Vedder continued, "I swear to fucking God, there are people out there who are looking for a reason to kill! They're looking for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn't belong to them. They should get the fuck out, and mind their own fucking business... Everyone wants the same goddamn thing: to have our children, eat, procreate, draw a painting, make some art, listen to music, fuck some more, have another baby, eat, work, eat, work, love, love, love, everyone's the fuckin' same! So why are people at war? Stop the fucking shit, now! Now! Now! We don't want to give them our money. We don't want to give them our taxes to drop bombs on children! Now! No more! Now!" Vedder then dropped to his knees to beg for peace, leading the audience in a rendition of Edwin Starr's "War". Fans have both defended and attacked Vedder on his Facebook page. The band does not perform again until this fall, when it kicks off a North American tour on October 1 in Cincinnati.
03 min read

GLENN TIPTON On ‘Epitaph’ Tour Being JUDAS PRIEST’s Farewell: ‘We Lied’

Manos Spanos
JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford says that the addition of guitarist Richie Faulkner to the band's lineup largely contributed to PRIEST's decision to hit the road again four years after the legendary British heavy metal group announced its "farewell" tour. Asked if people may have misconstrued what JUDAS PRIEST said in late 2010 about not wanting to do any more extensive touring ever again, PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton said during an appearance on last week's "Rockline": "We, uh, lied. [laughs] The statement we made was we’re gonna do no more world tours. As we said before, it takes a massive chunk out of your life. It's pretty arduous out there — almost two years, the last one, playing two and a half hours every night, four or five shows a week. But we enjoyed every second of it. And we said that at the end of it, we weren't gonna do any more world tours, but we didn’t' rule out any dates. And we just got so enthused with the new album and everything that we put some dates in and we'll see where it goes from there." Asked by "Rockline" host Bob Coburn if it's fair to say retirement didn't work out for the band at all, Tipton replied: "We lied. We lied. We didn't mean to." Halford added: "Actually, it's Richie Faulkner's fault; let's blame Richie. We can't overemphasize the importance of having Richie with us at this point in our career." He continued: "When Richie joined us for the 'Epitaph' tour, extraordinary things were happening night after night after night. And that, accompanied with some of the things that Richie was doing backstage before the show, laying down licks with his little portable recording gear, it was just this energy that was just out of control. So, naturally, when you come off a tour like that and you digest everything, you're just raring to go and we couldn't wait to get into the writing mode and start making music for [the new JUDAS PRIEST album] 'Redeemer Of Souls' together." Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 following the departure of the band's founding axeman Kenneth "K.K." Downing. Prior to hooking up with PRIEST, Faulkner was the guitarist in the backing band for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris. JUDAS PRIEST's 17th studio album, "Redeemer Of Souls", sold around 32,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's 2008 double-disc concept album, "Nostradamus", shifted 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at No. 11. JUDAS PRIEST's 2005 CD, "Angel of Retribution", premiered with 58,000 copies in the U.S. to enter the chart at No. 13.
03 min read

RUSSELL ALLEN And JORN LANDE To Release Fourth Collaborative Album ‘The Great Divide’ In October

Manos Spanos
Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X, ADRENALINE MOB) will release the fourth ALLEN / LANDE collaborative album, "The Great Divide", on October 17 in Europe and October 21 in North America via Frontiers Records. The CD was produced by Timo Tolkki (TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON, STRATOVARIUS) and features the following track listing: 01. Come Dream With Me 02. Down From The Mountain 03. In The Hands Of Time 04. Solid Ground 05. Lady Of Winter 06. Dream About Tomorrow 07. Hymn To The Fallen 08. The Great Divide 09. Reaching For The Stars 10. Bittersweet A trailer for the album is available below. ALLEN / LANDE's previous albums were written and produced by Swedish guitarist/songwriter Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR, STARBREAKER, LAST TRIBE). The third ALLEN / LANDE collaborative CD was released in November 2010 via Frontiers. Entitled "The Showdown", the CD was mixed by Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER, SILENT FORCE). In a February 2012 interview with Rock Sins, Allen was asked if it was likely that he would ever do anything else with Lande in the future. "Maybe tour," he said. "I don't know if we're going to do another record. I think we should tour first and get to know each other and all that good stuff and see if we've got something. I think it would be fun. I don't know what he's up to. We don't talk, we have no relationship, really, so I don't know what he's up to, but I think it would be a good idea for some touring. I do like doing records with him, because it's easy, the songs are great and his voice is great, and I always look forward to doing it. 'It's Allen and Lande time' [laughs], so I can just get in the studio and do my thing and it's a lot of fun. But there's nothing currently on the slate coming up that I know of. We finished our contract run with that, and I haven't talked to Frontiers about it." allenlandegreatdividecd
02 min read

GUS G. Teaches You How To Play ‘Summer Days’ (Video)

Manos Spanos
The "Gus G. Tutorials" are a series of guitar lessons from Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, where he shows you how to play step-by-step riffs and solos from the tracks off his debut solo album, "I Am The Fire". In the third episode below, Gus teaches you how to play "Summer Days". "I Am The Fire" entered the official chart in Greece at position No. 27. The CD sold around 700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. "I Am The Fire" track listing: 01. My Will Be Done (featuring Mats Levén) 02. Blame It On Me (featuring Mats Levén) 03. I Am The Fire (featuring Devour The Day) 04. Vengeance (featuring David Ellefson) 05. Long Way Down (featuring Alexia Rodriguez) 06. Just Can't Let Go (featuring Jacob Bunton) 07. Terrified (featuring Billy Sheehan) 08. Eyes Wide Open (featuring Mats Levén) 09. Redemption (featuring Michael Starr) 10. Summer Days (featuring Jeff Scott Soto) 11. Dreamkeeper (featuring Tom S. Englund) 12. End Of The Line (featuring Mats Levén) "Summer Days" tutorial: "Long Way Down" tutorial: "I Am The Fire" tutorial:
02 min read

DAVE GROHL Blasts Singing Competition Shows

Manos Spanos
According to The Pulse Of Radio, FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl blasted singing competition shows like "American Idol" and "The Voice" when he appeared at a press event for TV critics last week to promote his upcoming documentary series on HBO. Grohl told journalists at the event, "I don’t want my kid to think that the only way you can be a musician is to stand in line at a song contest audition, and then wind up having a bazillionaire tell you you’re not a good singer. Don’t get me started. To me, that’s not what music’s about." Grohl is not adverse to TV itself, having guest-hosted "Chelsea Lately" and done numerous musical performances over the years on late-night shows. Grohl produced and directed the new series, "Sonic Highways", which follows the FOO FIGHTERS as they journey to eight states and eight studios during the sessions for their next album. The process of visiting historic studios had an impact on the music the FOOs made for the record, with Grohl telling the Hollywood Reporter, "I couldn’t just write a three-and-a-half-minute long KROQ jingle and film it for the finale of an episode about the history of music in New Orleans, ya know? We really had to step up what we do." "Sonic Highways" and the still-untitled FOO FIGHTERS album will both arrive this fall.
01 min read

SLIPKNOT: First Teaser Images, Video For Forthcoming Album

Manos Spanos
SLIPKNOT's official web site, Slipknot1.com, and Facebook page have been updated with creepy images and sounds in preparation for the release of the band's long-awaited new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Roadrunner Records. In addition, there are all-new graphics, including a new version of the nonagram. SLIPKNOT has announced that the second edition of its Knotfest event will take place on October 24-26 in San Bernardino, California. The Iowa-based band will headline two of the three days, Friday and Saturday, playing a completely different set on each night. More than two dozen other acts are scheduled to appear, including FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, VOLBEAT, OF MICE & MEN, DANZIG, ANTHRAX, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, IN THIS MOMENT, HELLYEAH, ATREYU, SUICIDE SILENCE, MISS MAY I, TESTAMENT and many others. Friday night's show will be exclusively for fans who buy VIP or camping packages. With the long-awaited new SLIPKNOT album nearing completion, singer Corey Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio that the band did not want to announce any new live dates until the record was almost done. "After everything that happened last year, you know, we just basically said okay, what are we gonna do?" he said. "And everybody wanted to make an album. So we basically just cleared the slate and started looking at touring after we've got the album done. It's gonna be with new content, with new music, with new everything, basically." Fans who purchase tickets to Knotfest will receive a digital copy of SLIPKNOT's new album when it's eventually released. The band will also stage Knotfest Japan on November 15-16 in Tokyo. Taylor said that the new SLIPKNOT album is "98 percent done" in an interview posted by Loudwire. Taylor revealed, "It is very close. The next step is the mix, and we’re going to try to get it out very soon. There will be big announcements soon." The band's first all-new album since 2008's "All Hope Is Gone" will be its first since the 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray and the late 2013 dismissal of drummer Joey Jordison, both founding members and primary songwriters in the group. SLIPKNOT is rumored to have recruited drummer Jay Weinberg to play on the new album. Weinberg is the son of Max Weinberg, longtime BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND drummer.
03 min read

Blues Legend JOHNNY WINTER Dead At 70

Manos Spanos
Blues legend Johnny Winter has died at the age of 70. The news was first reported by American Blues Scene and Jenda Derringer, wife of Winter's former bandmate Rick Derringer. Jenda wrote on Facebook: "[Johnny] passed early this morning in Zurich, Switzerland." She added: "He was not in good health and was very frail and weak." Johnny — elder brother of fellow music legend Edgar Winter — has always been one of the most respected singers and guitar players in rock and the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock. Throughout the '70s and '80s, Johnny was the unofficial torch-bearer for the blues, championing and aiding the careers of his idols like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. The Blues magazine editor Ed Mitchell said this morning: "It's no secret that Johnny has battled with ill health for many years — but he seemed to transcend that struggle when he played live. No one's slide tone was as sweet, searing, stinging or fiery. Johnny Winter blazing away on a Gibson Firebird is an iconic blues image. "He was the greatest slide blues guitarist that ever lived. We'll always have him to thank for pulling Muddy Waters out of his funk in the Seventies and helping him record some of his greatest work: 'Hard Again', 'I'm Ready' and 'King Bee'. All essential."
01 min read

Dustynation’s singer Cons Marg on “Theater Equation”

Manos Spanos
Great news straight from Holland. Ayreon's most popular release "The Human Equation" is transformed into a theatrical show under the name "The Theater Equation". Arjen Lucassen and his creative team have been organizing this event quite some time now, with three performances booked for September 2015 in Holland. -James LaBrie(Dream Theater), Marcella Bovio (Stream Of Passion), Devon Graves (Psychotic Waltz / Dead soul tribe) and Irene Jansen are some of the names that participated on "The Human Equation" and are already confirmed for the shows. A special 20 members' choir is also confirmed including female and male vocalists from around the globe specially chosen by Arjen and his team to perform under the name "Epic Rock Choir" Greece is to participate as well with Cons Marg (Costas Margaritis) -Singer/guitarist of the progressive metal bands Dustynation and Gallows Tree- that was chosen after auditioning with the rest of the choir in Dordrecht / Holland. More news for this great effort soon. Currently Dustynation have been preparing and recording demos for the follow up of their debut "Echoing Lullabies" and Gallows Tree are collecting material for their yet untitled debut release...Stay tuned!!! Videos: Epic Rock Choir Auditions [youtube id="-4ydPQIF6D0" width="620" height="360"] Dustynation - Crossed We Are [youtube id="XVGduj8JTwI" width="620" height="360"] Gallows Tree - Each Eleventh Hour (ep) [youtube id="a8RCxHVjXjk" width="620" height="360"] Band links: Dustynation GallowsTreeBand Thetheaterequation
01 min read

New ALICE COOPER Guitarist NITA STRAUSS Says She Received ‘Unofficial’ Offer To Pose For PLAYBOY

Manos Spanos
Jay Nanda of San Antonio Metal Music Examiner conducted an interview with THE IRON MAIDENS guitarist Nita Strauss, who recently joined Alice Cooper's touring band. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: How much of an influence was [Alice Cooper] on you growing up, musically? Nita: Alice Cooper, I think, transcends anybody's influence. The cool thing about him is that, even today, there's not that many artists from that generation that are still so relevant and touring so much. Alice now tours with IRON MAIDEN and MARILYN MANSON and ROB ZOMBIE. He's touring with these artists that are a little bit newer. And definitely, also, Steve Hunter was, of course, a huge influence on me as a guitarist as well. I think their influences are more far-reaching than any of us really know. San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Having been in all-female bands THE IRON MAIDENS and with the revamped FEMME FATALE, your talent speaks for itself. But do you find yourself sometimes battling within some circles of the music industry to get people to focus on your guitar playing and musicianship. Or is it a case of, "Hey, the sex appeal doesn't hurt the cause"? Nita: I think it's always going to be a give-and-take with the image thing. I had an interesting conversation yesterday about dressing to avoid people talking about your image and only focus on the guitar playing versus dressing to use your image as an asset. And I don't really see myself as doing either/or. Because first of all, I'm not going to dress myself; other people dress… [laughs] I'm a total tomboy at heart. If I don't have to be on stage or doing anything that day, I'm always in band t-shirt and yoga pants and sneakers. But at the end of the day, I'm a girl. I'm from Santa Monica. I'm going to look how I want to look and play how I want to play, and if people don't like it, then they don't like it. The awesome thing about this great country of America that we live in is that they're absolutely free to not like it. But I like it. If I go on stage and I think I look cool and I think I'm playing well, that's what it's all about, I think. San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: You recently did an interview for Playboy Radio, so I'd be remiss if I didn't ask — did they offer you a pictorial? Nita: They joked about it a lot. They didn't put an official offer on the table. But they definitely threw it out there. My joking response was, "Maybe with a strategically placed guitar." [laughs] I don't think it's actually in the future, but it's fun to joke about. San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Well, if you did something like that — with a strategically placed guitar — that wouldn't be too different from the Revolver [magazine] "Hottest Chicks" type of thing, would it? Nita: Yeah. You know, for photos, we talk about the word "objectify." And, you know, it's subjective. If you want to look at the photos in Revolver and think, "This girl's trying to get attention because she looks the way she does," then that's fine. I'm still going to do my same practice regimen, and I'm still going to get on stage and do all my guitar set-ups and swap out my own pickups. I'm still going to do all that stuff too. People are always going to talk. Read the entire interview at San Antonio Metal Music Examiner.
04 min read