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TAYLOR: NEW SLIPKNOT ALBUM WILL BE ‘EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE’

Manos Spanos
Robert Herrera of FrontRowLiveEnt.com spoke to SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor on the red carpet of this past Monday's (May 12) 10th annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert, which honored BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne. Speaking about the progress of the songwriting sessions for SLIPKNOT's long-awaited follow-up to 2008's "All Hope Is Gone", Taylor said (see video below): "The album is coming along. I actually left the studio to come right down here. So it's a matter of time, trust me. It's gonna be rad… Everything is going exactly how it needs to go. So it's gonna be really awesome." Taylor also addressed the long gap between SLIPKNOT studio albums, telling FrontRowLiveEnt.com: "The good thing is we've always been writing, so there's a ton of stuff that we're pretty stoked on. It's exactly what you want it to be." As previously reported, SLIPKNOT is rumored to have recruited former MADBALL and AGAINST ME! drummer Jay Weinberg to assist them during the sessions for the band's new studio album following last year's departure of Joey Jordison. Weinberg — the 23-year-old son of Max Weinberg (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND) — was most recently a member of AGAINST ME!, having played with the Florida-based act from November 2010 until December 2012. Weinberg joined AGAINST ME! shortly after he was ousted from MADBALL and following the departure of AGAINST ME!'s previous sticksman, George Rebelo. In May 2013, Weinberg filled in for KVELERTAK drummer Kjetil Gjermundrod during the band's North American tour because Gjermundrod had to bow out of the run after experiencing significant pain in his arm. SLIPKNOT announced in December 2013 that it had parted ways with Jordison, one of the band's founding members and key songwriters. The group posted a statement at its web site which read, "It is with great pain but quiet respect that, for personal reasons, Joey Jordison and SLIPKNOT are parting ways. We all wish Joey the best in whatever his future holds. We understand that many of you will want to know how and why this has come to be, and we will do our best to respond to these questions in the near future." The statement added, "It is our love for all of you, as well as for the music we create, that spurs us to continue on and move forward with our plans for releasing new material in the next year. We hope that all of you will come to understand this, and we appreciate your continued support while we plan the next phase of the future of SLIPKNOT." SLIPKNOT has not disclosed the reasons for Jordison's exit, although the drummer issued a statement in January saying that he did not quit the band. SLIPKNOT's forthcom
03 min read

TONY IOMMI Says BLACK SABBATH’s Performance At London’s Hyde Park Could Be Band’s Last-Ever Concert

Manos Spanos
BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has told Metal Hammer magazine that the band's headlining appearance at the Barclaycard British Summer Time festival at London's Hyde Park may turn out to be the legendary heavy metal group's final gig. The July 4 event will see SABBATH perform alongside SOUNDGARDEN, FAITH NO MORE, MOTÖRHEAD and SOULFLY on the festival's main stage. "It could be the last ever SABBATH show," Iommi told Metal Hammer. "I don't want it to be, but there's nothing really planned touring-wise after that show, so for all we know that could be it, really. To be honest, I don't want to be touring to this extent too much longer, because it makes me feel so bad." Iommi has had to go back to England every six weeks for treatment ever since being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012, forcing him and SABBATH to work around both the treatments and the recovery time needed afterward. "I'm at a stage now where I have no support, which means I have to see whether the cancer is coming back or if it's still there or what," he said. "I just don't know. It's a bit of a worry. After we finish this tour, I'll go in and have scan, so we'll see what that shows up." "But the show at Hyde Park will a great way to end the European tour," he added. "It has a really great bill, with a really good mix of people. We haven't made any specific plans as the gig is a way off yet, but I think it'll be special." Last year, Iommi said that his ongoing treatments and their physical side effects could severely restrict SABBATH's activities, explaining, "I can't commit to doing another two years or anything like that. I have to play it as it comes now." Singer Ozzy Osbourne told The Pulse Of Radio that Iommi never let his treatments slow him down during the making of the recent SABBATH album, "13". "My hat goes off to him 'cause he really is Iron Man," he said. "I mean, that chemotherapy knocks you sideways, you know. I mean, when my wife had cancer a few years back, she was having three chemo things a month and it would knock the life out of — literally every time she'd have a treatment, she'd have a seizure. It's scary stuff. But he came down, plugged in and carried on. He's my hero, I swear to God he is." "13", the first SABBATH release in 35 years to feature Iommi, Osbourne and Geezer Butler playing together, was released in June 2013 and landed the band its first-ever No. 1 album in the U.S., also topping the chart in the U.K. and a number of other countries. The band also earned three 2014 Grammy Award nominations, for "Best Rock Album" for "13", plus "Best Metal Performance" and "Best Rock Song" for "God Is Dead?" The making of "13" was marked by several dramatic events, including drummer Bill Ward's withdrawal from the project over a contractual dispute. Butler told Revolver that he started writing a song for "13", called "Hanging By A Thread", that was inspired by Iommi's illness. He explained, "It was very much about dying, about giving your last breath and passing your spirit on." But the track didn't make it onto the album because, Butler said, "We never came up with the finished thing." SABBATH completed a 10-date North American run on April 26 in Los Angeles. blacksabbathhydepark2014_638
04 min read

CYNIC/Ex-DEATH Members PAUL MASVIDAL, SEAN REINERT Publicly Discuss Their Sexuality For First Time

Manos Spanos
Former DEATH and current CYNIC members Paul Masvidal (guitar, vocals) and Sean Reinert (drums), who are both gay, have spoken out for the first time about their sexuality in the context of their music. Masvidal, 43, who had come out to friends and family in 1991, and later began exploring drag bars and gay nightclubs while on tour, told the Los Angeles Times, "It's one thing to make out with your bandmates and just 'play gay' because it's edgy. It's another thing to actually live it." Reinert, 42, who took a bit longer to come out, said: "I knew that, secretly, I wanted to go to those clubs too. But back then, my stereotype of how to be gay was wearing dresses and tank tops. I didn't have any masculine, metal role models who were gay." He added: "I went on a date with this one awful guy who blogged about it on his web site. So for years, if you typed my name into Google, the second thing that came up, after 'Sean Reinert Drummer,' was 'Sean Reinert Gay.'" Masvidal and Reinert admitted to the Los Angeles Times that they were nervous about coming out publicly. "There's definitely going to be a reaction, but it's important that we be truthful," Masvidal said. "Gay people are everywhere, doing every job, playing every kind of music and we always have been," Reinert added. "It's taken me years to finally be brave enough to say, 'If you have a problem with that, then throw out our records. That's your problem, not mine.'" JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford, who revealed he was homosexual during a 1998 appearance on MTV, stated at the time about his decision to publicly discuss his sexuality: "I think that most people know that I've been a gay man all of my life, and that it's only been in recent times that it's an issue that I feel comfortable to address, and an issue that has been with me ever since recognizing my own sexuality. It's something that I've been comfortable with forever, something that I feel has a moment, and this is the moment to discuss it and to go into the reasons, and the whys and the wherefores as to the statement, the so-called coming out phase." He continued: "A lot of homophobia still exists in the music world, in all kinds of music. I wouldn't say it's any more phobic in metal or rap or whatever this music is that I'm doing now, but that's just something that I think we all have to address in our own lives. If we have a problem with it, I think we should seek help and find out why we do have a problem with it." In openly discussing his sexuality, Halford said that he hoped he would be helping others to do the same. "I think it's difficult for everybody, you know, in making the decision to come forward and be who you are, based on peer pressure, especially if you're a teenager," Halford said. "That's where a lot of the anxiety begins, and so maybe people like myself and others that do step in front of a camera and let the world know, maybe it's of some help, where there's an individual that's been successful, that's been able to achieve dreams and visions and goals in life and not let the issue of sexuality be something to hold them back, so I think it's an important thing." CYNIC — consisting of Masvidal, Reinert and bassist Sean Malone — released its new album, "Kindly Bent To Free Us", on February 14 via Season Of Mist. Masvidal and Reinert are continuing to tour with DEATH TO ALL , which features former members of DEATH celebrating the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner. The band's current touring lineup includes the three surviving members of DEATH's "Human" lineup (Masvidal, Reinert and bassist Steve DiGiorgio), along with with special guest vocalist/guitarist Max Phelps of CYNIC/EXIST, performing material from DEATH's first four albums. Photo credit: ThoriumPhoto.com
04 min read

SHOULD AC/DC CONTINUE WITHOUT MALCOLM YOUNG?

Manos Spanos
On Wednesday, April 23, the sixth edition of the Revolver Golden Gods awards took place at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. Prior to the event, Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! hit the "black carpet" to ask varios metal and hard rock musicians for their opinions on whether AC/DC should continue without Malcolm Young. The following artists and music industry heavyweights appear in the video below: * Wendy Dio (Ronnie's James Dio's wife/manager) * Neil Portnow (President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation President/CEO) * Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR, ex-DOWN) * Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT) * Rex Brown (KILL DEVIL HILL, ex-PANTERA, DOWN) * Sin Quirin (MINISTRY) * Jason Hook (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) * Evan Seinfeld (ATTIKA 7, BIOHAZARD) Wendy Dio: "Absolutely. They are a legend." Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR, ex-DOWN): "No. Not this far in. I know he had a few problems with drinking years ago and his nephew or someone had to fill in for a few tours while he got sober. It's just my opinion but my God, it's AC/DC, what else do they have to prove?" Rex Brown (KILL DEVIL HILL, ex-PANTERA): "No. There's no AC/DC without Malcolm." As previously reported, AC/DC may have enlisted Stevie Young, the nephew of guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young, to take Malcolm's place in the band as they gear up to record their 16th studio album. According to The Pulse Of Radio, an AC/DC fan named Jeff Lorenz posted a photo that he took of the band in Vancouver, where they are recording, saying that Stevie was visible in the picture. Another fan tweeted back, "Ok so there we have it. Welcome #StevieYoung to @AC_DC – all the best guys, do it for Mal!" The photo was later removed. Stevie Young played with AC/DC once before during a 1988 tour, while Malcolm stepped out to deal with his dependency on alcohol. Legend has it that Stevie resembled his uncle closely enough that many fans reportedly didn’t even know Malcolm had left the tour. AC/DC confirmed widespread reports last month that Malcolm was stepping down due to an undisclosed illness, with some outlets reporting that he suffered a stroke. The legendary Australian act stated that it will "continue to make music," and began recording sessions with producer Brendan O'Brien last week. Plans for a 40th anniversary tour remain unclear.
03 min read