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RUSH: Trailer For ‘Clockwork Angels Tour’ One-Night Cinema Event

Manos Spanos
Together with Rounder Records, NCM Fathom Events brings a rare VIP concert experience to fans with the one-night cinema event "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" on Monday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. local time. The "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" event is a celebration for passionate and loyal RUSH fans to experience a big screen taste of the band’s upcoming, long-anticipated DVD release and relive the tour. Pre-recorded in Dallas and Phoenix on the band's extensive "Clockwork Angels Tour", the 2013 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fameinductees perform such classics such as "Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit of Radio" and "2112"alongside newly arranged material featuring the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble, which marks the first time the trio has taken additional musicians on stage. This epic fan experience also features 25 minutes of exclusive, behind-the-scenes RUSH footage that includes interviews with all three members and offers a rare glimpse into the band’s touring life. Tickets for "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" are available online at FathomEvents.com and at participating theater box offices. The event will be presented in more than 350 select movie theaters around the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events web site (theaters and participants are subject to change). Check out a trailer below. "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" will be released via Anthem/Roadrunner Records on November 19. Anthem/Zoe Vision/Rounder will simultaneously release the companion DVD. An audio recording of the song "2112" — taken from "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" — can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" was filmed and recorded last November at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, during RUSH's highly successful "Clockwork Angels" tour. The eleven month-marathon world tour crossed North America twice and ventured overseas to Europe in support of the band's acclaimed 2012 studio release "Clockwork Angels". In capturing the tour's electrifying three-hour set, "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" pairsRUSH classics ("Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit Of Radio", "2112"), with a nod to the '80s RUSHera ("The Analog Kid", "Territories", "Subdivisions") alongside newly reworked arrangements specifically for the tour featuring the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble("Headlong Flight", "YYZ", "Red Sector A"). The string section marks the first time the trio has brought additional musicians on the road with them. To showcase their latest studio release, the epic setlist also features nine tracks off "Clockwork Angels". Other highlights include tracks rarely performed and never before recorded live ("The Body Electric","Middletown Dreams"), in addition to three separate drum solos by the incomparable Neil Peart. Beyond the incredible live performances, the DVD includes a 25-minute tour documentary, featuring interviews with all three members and exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage. Titled"Can't Stop Thinking Big", the piece offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the RUSHtour machine and insight into the band members themselves. Other special features on the DVD include the trio of hilarious shorts created specifically for the tour as well as interviews and outtakes captured during their filming. Additional filmed sketches and a rare soundcheck performance of perennial favourite "Limelight" round out the exclusive offerings. "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" comes on the heels of Anthem/Atlantic's September 30 release of "Vapor Trails Remixed", a newly remixed version of the band's 2002 album "Vapor Trails" and 7-disc boxed set "The Studio Albums 1989-2007", which features every studio album RUSH recorded for Atlantic Records. "Clockwork Angels Tour" track listing:
05 min read

AVENGED SEVENFOLD: ‘Shepherd Of Fire’ Video Released

Manos Spanos
AVENGED SEVENFOLD's video for the song "Shepherd Of Fire" can be seen below. The clip was directed by Wayne Isham, who has helmed videos for such artists as METALLICA,PANTERA, GODSMACK, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI. Isham previously worked with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on the "Seize The Day", "Afterlife","Nightmare" and "So Far Away" clips. "Shepherd Of Fire" comes off AVENGED SEVENFOLD's sixth album, "Hail To The King", which sold 159,000 copies in its first week of release, giving the California band their second straight chart-topper after 2010's "Nightmare". Speaking to Kerrang!, vocalist M. Shadows stated about "Shepherd Of Fire": "If you just listen to the music, if feels you've been taken down to Hell. From the riffs, to the bells ringing, to the horns, to the drumbeat, it feels like you've been dragged down." M. Shadows said a few months back that the sound of the new CD was channeling earlier records from acts like PANTERA, METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH and others, and he told The Pulse Of Radio again just recently that the band was aiming for an older feel. "We said, 'Well, why don't we make a record that we would want to listen to today, that sounds like a late '90s or before record?'" he said. "And then we said production-wise we've got to make it sound like one of those records. We've got to have the big guitars, the huge drums that are over the top, and just like the punch that those records gave you. So what I would say is that this is a record in 2013 that reminds me of like an early '90s or before type metal record." "Hail To The King" is AVENGED SEVENFOLD's first full album written and recorded without drummer and charter member James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in December 2009 during the early stages of writing for "Nightmare".
02 min read

JOB FOR A COWBOY Recruits INTRONAUT Drummer For New Album

Manos Spanos
Arizona extreme metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY have enlisted Danny Walker to fill in as the studio drummer for the recording session for the band's new album. Walker is known for his work in INTRONAUT, as well as having performed with EXHUMED, JESU, PHOBIA, MURDER CONSTRUCT, and more. Comments Walker: "I'm thrilled to be working with these guys on this record! I look forward to challenging myself and contributing to a fresh and different outlet!" Adds JOB FOR A COWBOY bassist Nick Schendzielos: "Well, my friends, the time has come and [Jon 'The Charn' Rice] has officially decided to step off the JOB FOR A COWBOY train. Absolutely no hahd feelins or nothin! We love the dude, cherish the memories we made with him, and in all likelihood will be seeing him again very soon…which brings up the next awesome piece of news… "Our phenomenally talented friend Danny Walker is going to grace our next full-length with his decidedly delicious drum tracks! We are seriously excited to hear what it's going to turn out like. Let the anticipation build!" JOB FOR A COWBOY's fourth full-length album will be recorded this winter at Audiohammerstudios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof. This will be the band's fourth consecutive project with Suecof, having previously worked with him on "Ruination" (2009),"Gloom" (2011), and "Demonocracy" (2012). "Demonocracy" sold 4,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 87 on The Billboard 200 chart. "Ruination" opened with around 10,600 units back in July 2009 to land at No. 42.
01 min read

ONSLAUGHT Frontman Says Reactions To New Album Have Been ‘Pretty Amazing’

Manos Spanos
Jim Rowland of Über Röck recently conducted an interview with vocalist Sy Keeler of British thrashers ONSLAUGHT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Über Röck: The new album, "VI", has had a pretty amazing reaction so far. I'd imagine you're rather pleased. Keeler: Yeah, of course we're pleased. All the reviews are saying, "Best thrash album of the year." Well, I bloody well hope so. We've had comments like, "Listening to 'VI' was like hearing'Master Of Puppets' for the first time," or "The best thrash album since 'Reign In Blood'" was another one. That's a compliment, so you never get tired of hearing compliments like that. They've all been pretty amazing. Über Röck: It's a really powerful album — the production is superb. Tell us about who produced it. Keeler: Thomas "Plec" Johansson is the man behind the production. He wasn't our first choice; we were gonna go with Jacob Hansen again, who did "Sounds Of Violence", but he wasn't available. He basically blew us out, because he was offered a bigger band. I don't even think it was a metal band, actually. He was going to make more money out of it, so he said, "Sorry, I can't fit you in." So we were disappointed about that, but our record company came up with Thomas Johansson. We listened to some of his work and it was, like, "Yes, this guy is very, very good." So we just took the plunge and went for it, and we have a fantastic production on the album — it's huge! The space he has managed to create and everything is crystal clear. It's a brutal mix, yet there's so much space. Über Röck: Talking about how good the album's sound is, the drums sound awesome on it. You have a new drummer for this album. Tell us about him. Keeler: Oh, yes! Well, Steve Grice left on the eve of a European tour on the back of "Sounds Of Violence", so he left around March of 2011. Jeff, our bass player, said, "I know a drummer who would probably do it" — Mic Hourihan from the death metal band DESECRATION. So he asked Mic if he could help us out on the European tour. So he said, "Yes," and ultimately he had eight days to learn an hour-and-fifteen-minute set, and not necessarily straightforward songs either. So he worked, and worked, and worked, and on the first show it was, like, "Wow, this guy's got something special here — we've got a great guy on board here." Every night, as he got to know the songs, he was just expanding on what he was doing, and I would turn round to him with a big beaming smile on my face — "Awesome!" After four shows, we were sat in a café, and I'd already had a chat to Nige [Rockett, guitar] about it, saying we should offer this guy something, see if he would be interested in joining us. So we were sat in a café in Sweden after a show and I said, "Mic, would you be up for joining the band full time? We're really impressed with what you've done." He had a big lump in his throat, and we thought he was going to cry, or say no! He was blown away, so Mic joined on that European tour, and we haven't looked back. He's such an explosive drummer, it's amazing. When I heard the finished product of the new album, it was, "Oh my God!" I was gobsmacked. So we have an awesome drummer on board, I'm pleased to say. He's reliable, consistent, his timekeeping is second to none and every night I still find myself turning round and smiling at him, because he's done something else!
04 min read

NIGHTWISH’s HOLOPAINEN Is ‘Super-Super Thrilled’ About FLOOR JANSEN’s Addition To Lineup

Manos Spanos
Dutch web site Lords Of Metal recently conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Lords Of Metal: First of all, congrats on the new lineup! I think I speak for the entirety of the Netherlands when I say that we are thrilled to see Floor [Jansen, vocals] stay. Tuomas: Not as thrilled as we are! I'm super-super thrilled. We've been together for little bit over a year now, and it's going better and better. We all really like her personality, and her versatility when it comes to performance. Whenever I look at her on stage; it puts a big smile on my face when I see how much she enjoys what she's doing. So she's definitely born to do what she does. Lords Of Metal: Originally you wanted to wait until 2014 to make a decision for the new singer. What changed your mind? Tuomas: One very practical thing. It happened about a month ago, when I was writing down the credits for the DVD booklet, together with the thanks list. Then I came to the part where it said "NIGHTWISH is" and I just started to think about how to present Floor and Troy[Donockley]. "Guest singer on this DVD" sounded so silly. That's when I realized it would be better to give the news now; it would make everyone's life so much easier. We could then do the interviews and talk about this out loud. It's nice to have the worries off my back. The fans' reaction to all of this could not have been better. I did not hear one negative comment. There was one person though, crying over how she could do this to her mates in REVAMP. That's just a matter of scheduling, I think. Everyone has their side projects. Anyway, it's not the death of any band. Lords Of Metal: I'm sure she will figure that out, she's a smart cookie. Tuomas: [laughs] She will. And it's not like we forced her, she wants this. We already decided in June, after a festival in Finland. We went to her and carefully asked her how she would like to continue with us after the tour. She didn't have to decide right away, but she gave us a big smile, a big hug and a big yes! So that was already decided back then. Lords Of Metal: You've done a hell of a job of keeping us in the dark then! Tuomas: I hope we did! We just wanted to tour, have a good time, not make any drastic decisions. During the spring time, it was already clear to us we wanted her to stay, we just didn't know how she felt. But since I am hyping so much about her, and about our feelings for her staying, I don't want to diminish our previous times. We all had our big glorious moments with the other singers as well. This doesn't take anything away from them. In Finland, I recently read something about why it took us seventeen years to find the right singer, blah blah blah. I can't stand this kind of writing because Tarja [Turunen] and Anette [Olzon] were both excellent in their own ways, and it's just the most naive thing to say. I'm really relieved and happy to have Floor now, but this shouldn't have happened earlier. Things happen for a reason.
03 min read

METALLICA’s KIRK HAMMETT Says CARCASS Will Perform At His ‘Fear FestEviL’ Horror Convention

Manos Spanos
Lifelong horror enthusiast and METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammettrecently spoke to Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about his first annual horror convention, dubbed Kirk Von Hammett's Fear FestEviL, which will take place February 6-8, 2014 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California. You can now watch the chat below. Created to honor the weird, the wonderful, the eclectic, and the things that make your hair stand up on end, the heavy doors of collector/curator/historian/guardian Kirk Von Hammett's crypt will be opened to the public to display the finest acquisitions in his extensive collection of horror memorabilia which includes rare movie posters and props, costumes, models, masks, and toys from various eras. "I've always loved horror, I've always loved collecting, I've always loved weird and macabre things and I've always loved conventions," confessed Hammett. "So what could be better than having your own Fear FestEviL where ALL those great and crazy things can be enjoyed by like-minded people under one pretty cool roof?! Nothing!!! And because I've seen some conventions turn from back-room gatherings of like-minded dorks into mainstream hipster extravaganzas, rest assured that it's my intention to make this a great experience where all things horror, weird, and nerdy are celebrated! So come one and all!!!" Already confirmed to attend as panelists will be Slash, makeup FX legend Greg Nicotero ("The Walking Dead"), Tom Savini ("Dawn Of The Dead"), and John A. Russo ("Night Of The Living Dead"). Private "Crypt" tours, signing sessions, and musical performances by Nuclear Blast artistsCARCASS, DEATH ANGEL and ORCHID will also be included in the three-day event. Visit www.FEARFESTEviL.com for the latest information on horror's newest and coolest fan convention. In 2012, Hammett released "Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection", an oversized 228-page hardback book documenting his love of all things related to the horror genre and features more than 300 photos of items from the collection of horror memorabilia he has accumulated over the years. The book also included three lengthy interviews withHammett, who also wrote the captions for many of the photos. Hammett told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I've been into [horror] stuff since I was five years old . . . My love for this stuff is insane and totally obsessive-compulsive. It's just one of those things. I'm still waiting to outgrow it or get tired of it or get bored with it. But it does not seem to happen." Hammett, who has been collecting items and watching horror movies since he was a child, told Loudwire why he thinks the genre is so popular. He explained, "They're just fun. They're a fun experience. It's not unlike a roller coaster ride, you know? A good horror movie should have peaks and valleys, a good horror movie should move you emotionally, a good horror movie should be exciting to watch and energizing in a weird kind of way . . . horror movies deliver that." Hammett added, "I've always been attracted to the darker things in life. I was never one to go for light, airy stuff, even as a child. My whole aesthetic has always been one of the darker side. That rings true also in my tastes in music."
04 min read

MANOWAR Joins Forces With Hollywood Sound Design Specialist HAMILTON STERLING

Manos Spanos
After recently working with movie and theater legend Brian Blessed ("Hamlet", "Flash Gordon"), MANOWAR has teamed up with another Hollywood veteran, sound designer Hamilton Sterling, for the song "The Warrior's Prayer MMXIV" from the band's forthcoming album, "Kings Of Metal MMXIV". Blessed had recorded the epic narration earlier this year and called it "a brilliant piece of writing" and the collaboration with MANOWAR "completely miraculous and life changing." "Brian did a sensational job! He didn't just narrate the story. He performed it." said MANOWARbassist and producer Joey DeMaio. "When you listen to the narration, you feel like you are watching a short Hollywood movie. We instantly knew that we had to complement Brian's outstanding performance with sound effects of the same quality. We searched for another Hollywood heavyweight, and Mr. Hamilton Sterling was the perfect choice!" Sterling is a sound effects specialist with numerous credits, including action blockbusters like"The Dark Knight", "Men In Black 3", "War Of The Worlds" and "Master And Commander: The Far Side of the World", two of which won Oscars for Best Sound Editing. "My friend, the Grammy Award-winning audio engineer Rich Breen contacted me regardingMANOWAR's soundscape project 'The Warrior's Prayer MMXIV'," said Sterling. "In this case, a previously recorded narrative framework was in place, spoken by the excellent actor Brian Blessed, who I had seen as a young man in Robert Graves' 'I, Claudius'. His evocative performance was a marvel of emotion, and its dynamic range allowed me the space to move from the most quiet and ethereal sounds to full-on battle. His imaginative performance was an excellent guide, as was Mr. DeMaio's sense of story and direction." MANOWAR's "Kings Of Metal" album, a milestone in metal history, was first released on November 18, 1988, followed by a world tour in 1989. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of these events, MANOWAR will release a brand new special version of the album, "Kings Of Metal MMXIV", followed by t
02 min read

DEF LEPPARD Guitarist VIVIAN CAMPBELL: ‘I’m Officially In Remission’ From Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Manos Spanos
51-year-old DEF LEPPARD and LAST IN LINE guitarist Vivian Campbell, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier in the year, has posted the following message on his Facebook page: "For anyone who gives a toss, after doing another PET scan and all the other follow-up tests, then getting a second opinion, etc., I'm officially in remission from Hodgies. That's the good news. The bad news is: I no longer have an excuse to not go to the gym." Campbell, who joined LEPPARD in 1992 after stints in DIO and WHITESNAKE, had been receiving chemotherapy since April. "I feel fortunate that my cancer sent me an alarm call in the form of 'the cough that wouldn't quit,'" Campbell said earlier in the year. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system characterized by the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or immune tissue. "I did kind of want to not go public with it at first, because it is a weird kind of thing,"Campbell said in a June radio interview. "You've got to kind of learn to deal with it on your own terms before you can address the rest of the world about it. So, you know, I feel very comfortable going public about it. For the first couple months, I even tried to keep it from my children, because they were still in school and doing exams and stuff and I didn't want to add to their concerns. But after a while, it's inevitable that you, you know, something's going on and you have to kind of come out with it and kind of explain what the situation is. But I'm very comfortable with it. I'm very comfortable with the treatment. I'm very comfortable with how my body is reacting to it." Last month, DEF LEPPARD's recent Las Vegas extravaganza hit the silver screen for two nights. NCM Fathom Events together with AEG Live and Network Live brought DEF LEPPARD "Viva! Hysteria" concert to over 250 theaters across the country with a full front-to-back performance of 1987's multi-platinum "Hysteria" album — along with a healthy dose of the band's greatest hits.
02 min read

UFO Drummer ANDY PARKER Says He Misses Former Bassist PETE WAY

Manos Spanos
Mark Kadzielawa of Illinois Entertainer recently conducted an interview with UFO drummerAndy Parker. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Illinois Entertainer: Since guitarist Vinnie Moore joined UFO in 2003, there's been a stability in the band. You're releasing an album every two years, and are very visible on the road. How did the dynamics change within the band since he's joined? Andy Parker: I wasn't in the band when he joined; I didn't come back until 2005. The last thing I did with UFO was the "Walk On Water" album, which was in 1994, and that was a great experience. I loved the album, but I didn't feel the band was stable enough for me to risk touring with them. I had other things going in my life. The thing about Vinnie is that he's a great guitar player, but he's a great stand-up guy. He's got kids. And if he says he's gonna go something, he goes ahead and does it. You can rely on him. If you go on tour with him, you pretty much know you're gonna finish the tour. And so many other people rely on you to pull through. It's not just the audience, but there's crew, the managers, the agents. With Vinnie, it's never been a problem, he does his thing, and he's a great player. Illinois Entertainer: UFO enjoys a very special relationship with Chicago audiences. What memories do you have from you very first appearance in the Windy City? Andy Parker: I think the first time we played in Chicago was at the Aragon Ballroom. We were opening the show, and it was T.REX and KISS. T.REX in the middle and KISS headlined. That's a crazy bill, but it was a great show. KISS were really nice, even though they scared the crap out of me. Gene Simmons is, like, 9 feet tall, and I didn't really know much about KISS until that time. They were very nice guys, and very welcoming. There was a real nice feel backstage, and it was a great gig. It was first of many great shows in Chicago. Illinois Entertainer: Many fans, myself included, miss bassist Pete Way in the band. His charisma was simply one of a kind. Pete left UFO back in 2008 due to illness and substance abuse. Now there are reports circulating that he's sorted himself out. Is there a chance to seePete again in UFO? Andy Parker: It's a difficult thing. Pete has been doing things. He's actually done a solo album recently. But what we need from Pete, and what he feels he can do, are two different things. When we parted company in 2008, he was sick, he had liver problems, and had serious substance-abuse problems. I for one would like nothing better than to see Pete clean up his act and come back. And if he did, and he proved it to Phil that he's really serious about it, there will be a place for him in the band. And I miss him. How could you not miss him? He's like a brother to me. And I do hear good things about Pete, but there is always two sides to every coin. The band is so good right now, and it's nice to know that we're gonna go out and play, and there's not gonna be any problems. Read the entire interview at Illinois Entertainer.
03 min read