Singer Terry Ilous of classic rockers GREAT WHITE was interviewed for the latest episode of the Japan's "Metal Moment" podcast. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
GREAT WHITE — Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous — took a different approach for their new video, for the "Elation" album track "Shotgun Willie's": they let their audience helm the clip.
Filmed over the course of this past March's Monsters Of Rock cruise, where the band headlined the floating rock festival, the "Shotgun Willie's" video encapsulates the vessel’s high energy and the five-piece band's bond. Check it out below.
"Elation" sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on May 22, 2012 via Frontiers Records, the 12-song CD marks GREAT WHITE's first effort with Ilous following the band's split with founding singer Jack Russell.
This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL (formerly JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE), which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) on guitar, Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) on bass and Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) on drums.
GREAT WHITE released a live album, "30 Years - Live From The Sunset Strip", on February 22 in Europe and February 26 in North America via Frontiers Records.
To mark its 30th anniversary live on March 22, 2012, GREAT WHITE celebrated the only logical way — on stage. In a nod to its early days, GREAT WHITE returned to the infamous Sunset Strip, where a storied past of music's biggest fans are fused into the walls of the Key Club. GREAT WHITE delivered its entire repertoire to a packed house, pining for the band's raw energy and cheering its illustrious history track after track.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich is at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where he has done a couple of video interviews to talk about the band's movie, "Metallica Through The Never", which is due for release this fall. Ulrich is at the festival to help sell the film to international distributors.
Asked for his first impression of Cannes, Ulrich told Vulture.com: "It's insane. Everything that you thought it would be, times 10,000. I mean, it's great and it's overwhelming. Everything is just sort of accelerated and everything is exaggerated and it just moves so fast. The only bummer about the whole thing is I've come to the realization that when I leave Cannes in two days, I will not have seen a single film. And as a film fan, someone who's passionate about film, that kind of bums me out a little bit, because I was sitting with the schedule a couple days ago, like, 'I'm gonna see Noah Baumbach's new film ['Frances Ha'], I'm gonna see Lynn Shelton's new film ['Touchy Feely'], and I wanna see this film,' and it's just like, uggggghh. I wanted to see Sofia's film ['The Bling Ring'] last night. Actually had tickets for it.
"There's always something that comes up. There's another dinner I have to go to or some other interview I have to do. The one thing that I didn't realize about Cannes is that this place is basically all business. When you just hear about Cannes, you hear about movie stars walking down the red carpet. But that's not really Cannes. Cannes is business and financing and deals and distributions. The whole infrastructure of the movie business is here, and I didn't realize it was at that level, which is I guess also why I'm here, or why I was flown here. [laughs]"
Regarding METALLICA's current search for international distribution for the "Metallica Through The Never" film, Ulrich said: "What we're going for is independent distribution in each of the major territories. So we have Picturehouse [representing us] in America and then Exclusive Media representing us for the rest of the world. And what they do is go into each territory and get the best deal and hook up with the people that understand our film, that understand who METALLICA is.
"With each territory, it's different. We are fighting fiercely to keep this as independent as possible. We're financing the film ourselves. We're not taking any money, we don't owe anybody any favors or anything like that. This is as self-contained and autonomous as it gets around here, which is obviously a great thing. But because of that, then we have to micromanage more rather than just hand it over to one entity."
"Metallica Through The Never" will open on IMAX screens in the U.S. on September 27, with a wider release following on October 4. The movie stars Dane DeHaan has a member of the band's road crew who is sent on a mysterious mission while the group headlines a concert at an arena. The film is said to mix a conventional storyline with concert footage.
The latest episode of the "Dropping The Needle" podcast features an interview with brothers Carmine Appice (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROD STEWART, VANILLA FUDGE, JEFF BECK, GUITAR ZEUS, KING KOBRA) and Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL). Check it out below.
"Dropping The Needle" is hosted by Michael Brandvold from Michael Brandvold Marketing and rock journalist Mitch Lafon. It is described as "the podcast where all music from all genres is discussed. New releases, classic albums, rediscovered music, signed and unsigned. No ass-kissing, just two guys talking about music."
Legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROD STEWART, VANILLA FUDGE, JEFF BECK, GUITAR ZEUS, KING KOBRA) has enjoyed an amazing 30-year career as a rock star, music educator, and rock pioneer. He is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished showmen in rock and is the recipient of numerous awards, including dozens of gold and platinum selling records. Carmine co-wrote such monster-selling hits as "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Young Turks". He has broken new ground in every aspect of his career as a performer, as a teacher, and as a writer, and he continues to inspire drummers and listeners throughout the world with his originality and his unwavering dedication to the art of drumming.
Vinny Appice has anchored the rhythm and power live and in the studio for the music of DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, WWIII, AXIS, Rick Derringer, John Lennon, and more. He has recorded and co-written songs on over 25 albums and CDs, including many multi-platinum records. Touring the world for over two decades resulted in selling millions of records! Vinny's drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks, including "Wayne's World 2", "Heavy Metal", "Iron Eagle" and "Bedazzled". Vinny, the author of drum instruction book "Rock Steady" and DVD "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques", has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe. Numerous books have been written about BLACK SABBATH and DIO with the authors always mentioned Vinny's unique powerful drumming style!
Madrid, Spain-based symphonic metallers DARK MOOR will release their new album, "Ars Musica", on June 18 via Scarlet Records.
With the follow-up to their "Ancestral Romance" album, DARK MOOR have taken another step forward in their career, forging a more identifiable sound and expanding their songwriting in multiple directions. They still pay homage to the Spanish cultural heritage in songs such as "First Lance Of Spain", "Gara & Jonay" and "El Último Rey", but elsewhere they go more personal, still giving high priority to their trademark melodies and elaborate harmonies. Talented singer Alfred Romero offers his best performance to date, whilst orchestrations are less classical and more grandiose and epic.
"Ars Musica" was once again produced by Luigi Stefanini (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, LABYRINTH, VISION DIVINE).
A video for the song "The Road Again" was recently filmed in Madrid with El Ojo Mecánico Productions. Check out screenshots from the clip at this location.
Australian metallers PEGAZUS have announced the addition of vocalist Axel Winter to the group's ranks. Axel replaces Justin Fleming, who made an appearance by the band's latest CD, "In Metal We Trust".
Comments PEGAZUS guitarist and founding member Johnny Stoj: "Although we are laid-back Australian guys, we have always approached our music with 100% dedication, passion and loyalty. Heavy metal music and our fans deserve nothing less than that. This has always been like this for us and that will never change.
"When you are in a band, you have lots of commitments: you have to give 100% on and off stage, you have to keep improving yourself as a recording artist and entertainer, you have financial responsibilities, you have to be loyal to your bandmates and, of course, the fans, you have to be available for the band on all occasions ... I'm very thankful that we have found this all back again in Axel. He came on our path, we have been rehearsing and he fitted like a glove."
Adds Stoj: "We were already working on our next album and this process will only go faster now. So, you can expect new music and lots of touring. We are fired up, ready to go and the world will meet the Thunder From Down Under again very soon!"
British power metal mercenaries TANK recently tapped former DRAGONFORCE and current I AM I singer ZP Theart to front the band for their current shows while TANK's most recent vocalist, Doogie White (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE), is out on tour and recording in the studio with Michael Schenker (ex-SCORPIONS, UFO).
Comments TANK guitarist Mick Tucker: "We thrive on bringing fresh blood into the band. It gives us a good kick in the ass and breathes new life into our songs.
"We've worked very hard over the past few years and have been rewarded with the success of our 'War Machine' and 'War Nation' albums and the release of our first official DVD, 'War Machine Live'.
"Bringing in a world-class vocalist like ZP is a great privilege for us and a real treat for metal fans."
Adds TANK guitarist Cliff Evans: "Mick and me have been playing together for a long time. We know what we want when it comes to making good music.
"We're very proud of the albums we made with Doogie and the response we received from the fans and press has proved that we are a band that can deliver the goods when it comes to it.
"We've been rehearsing with ZP this week and we can't wait to get on stage and do what we do best. Play British rock/metal the way it should be played."
On Saturday, May 18, TANK performed at the Rock Hard Festival in Germany. Evans states: "The Rock Hard show went very well. We definitely recruited many new fans and reinforced our position as one of the best British metal bands around at the moment."
The entire performance was streamed live online by "Rockpalast". And now you can watch a track recorded on that evening. "Judgement Day" is available at this location.
According to Interbridge.com's "The Late Night TV Page", QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE will appear on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" on June 5 and June 6. Check your local listings for times and details.
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's new album, "...Like Clockwork", is due out June 4 on Matador Records.
"...Like Clockwork" track listing:
01. Keep Your Eyes Peeled 02. I Sat By The Ocean 03. The Vampyre Of Time And Memory 04. If I Had A Tail 05. My God Is The Sun 06. Kalopsia 07. Fairweather Friends 08. Smooth Sailing 09. I Appear Missing 10. …Like Clockwork
Described by QUEENS principal Joshua Homme as "an audio documentary of a manic year," "...Like Clockwork" is the band¹s first full-length collection of all new material since 2007's "Era Vulgaris", as well as its debut release on new label partner Matador. The record can be pre-ordered on CD and vinyl. iTunes pre-orders will immediately receive "My God Is The Sun", which has been generating some early heat.
"…Like Clockwork" features guest appearances from Trent Reznor, Dave Grohl and other luminaries, including the legendary Elton John. The Pulse Of Radio asked QUEENS frontman Josh Homme how he snagged the iconic singer/songwriter to play on the record. "It actually stemmed from an old roommate of mine, who drives really high-end folks around now, and Elton was in the car listening to THEM CROOKED VULTURES, I guess," he said. "And his assistant was saying, 'Oh, you've got to hear QUEENS, the other band of this guy,' you know. And because my old roommate was driving the car, it was like, 'Do you want to talk to him?' And I just got a phone call at my house on a Sunday. You know, he said, 'The only thing missing from your band is an actual queen,' and I said, 'Honey, you have no idea.'"
The track that Elton plays on is called "Fairweather Friends".
Although it was initially reported that Dave Grohl played all the drum tracks on the new CD, Grohl only appears on selected songs. The rest of the drums are handled by Joey Castillo and Jon Theodore.
Other guests on the record include SCISSOR SISTERS singer Jake Shears, ARCTIC MONKEYS frontman Alex Turner and one-time QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE members Mark Lanegan and Nick Oliveri.
Get ready, New York City! Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp is bringing the rock to the city that never sleeps for Campalooza 2013. Don't miss out on this special east coast edition of Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp!
Ever daydreamed at work about shredding next to guitar legends Yngwie Malmsteen and Johnny Winter? Maybe bangin' on the drums with original KISS drummer Peter Criss? Or how about getting funky with American blues, jazz and rock guitarist Robben Ford? Or do you want to jam with Leslie West of MOUNTAIN?
Campers will get the opportunity to jam and perform next to Grammy winners and epic guitar legends, as well as record with one of the most significant producers to work with the unforgettable John Lennon. You will take the stage at the legendary BB King's in Times Square, in front of screaming fans and your family! You will perform your original songs on the stage that YARDBIRDS, and BB King himself have performed on!
The fantasy continues when you write and record next to your favorite rock stars at Gibson Rehearsal Studios, formerly The Hit Factory. The Hit Factory has had amazing artists record at their New York City facilities. Hits that have been recorded there include Michael Jackson's "Thriller", as well as Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" and Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life"!
On Saturday Night, you will play at The Cutting Room. The Cutting Room has hosted huge rock stars in the past. You will get the opportunity to stand and perform on the same stage that rockers David Bowie, Kid Rock, and John Mayer have all performed on!
If that's not enough, there will be special guests and speakers from the world of music.
If you join our recording package, you can work with Grammy Award winner Jack Douglas in Avatar Studios (formerly The Power Station) in New York City for an exclusive recording session. The Power Station is where heavy hitters AEROSMITH, Jon Bon Jovi, Iggy Pop, Madonna, BLONDIE, Joan Jett, JOURNEY, and so many more have recorded. Acoustically, this is undeniably one of the great recording facilities in the world.
To register and get more information, go to this location.
Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST recently spoke to Artisan News about his collaboration with Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on the first single from their upcoming album, called "Lift Me Up". Check out the clip below.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH introduced "Lift Me Up", via a live appearance at the Revolver Golden Gods on May 2 in Los Angeles. The performance featured a special surprise guest appearance by Halford, who also appears on the studio version of the track.
The studio version of the song premiered on May 13 on U.S. radio stations and the official lyric video for the track can now be seen below.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's fourth studio effort will be a double album that the band will release in two installments. The first volume, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1", will arrive on July 23, with the second half, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2", to surface sometime later this fall.
Comments FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH singer Ivan Moody: "First and foremost, just to work alongside an icon like Rob Halford, THE Metal God, was absolutely surreal.
"The song itself was originally written about overcoming everyday obstacles and less-than-perfect situations.
"Most of us weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouth, but if life dealt you all the wrong cards, you still have to play.
"The song's intent is to inspire; if you play that hand right, you might just come out on top anyway."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory said, "We came off the road after a couple of great years of touring and were really amped up to write the fourth record . . . (we) found ourselves 12-13 songs deep fairly quick but were still coming up with better and better material so we looked at each other and said, 'OK, why stop there? Let's keep going.' Once we passed the 24th song, we knew we're going to have to do a double album."
Bathory added, "We had this massive amount of music that's very dear to us, possibly the best material this band has ever created. At that point there was no way to decide which songs to leave off the album. So we made the decision to release them all."
The guitarist told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that everyone in FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is capable of coming up with music. "You know, it's important to write songs," he said. "There was a time when people couldn't be in a band if they couldn't write songs or they couldn't play their instruments. In this band, that's how this band was kind of assembled, like everybody's a top shelf musician. Everybody can really kick ass, and we have a singer who can sing. And then we write songs."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will co-headline the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival this summer alongside ROB ZOMBIE, with the tour kicking off in San Bernardino, California on June 29.
The new double disc follows up 2011's "American Capitalist", the group's third studio album and its third consecutive release to reach gold status for sales of half a million copies or more.
Fan-filmed video footage of the current touring lineup of Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE — which includes bassist John Moyer (DISTURBED, ADRENALINE MOB) and backing singer Sass Jordan (who sings the duet with Tate in "Suite Sister Mary") — performing on May 16 at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin can be seen below.
"Frequency Unknown", the new album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, sold around 5,500 copies in its first week of release in the United States to land at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart.
As previously reported, Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records is making available the "new and improved" mixes of "Frequency Unknown" to any customers who have purchased the original mix version and are dissatisfied with the audio. Simply e-mail the label a scan of your actual receipt for the physical CD to Queensryche@cleorecs.com and they will happily send you a replacement disc — at no charge whatsoever. No questions asked!
"Frequency Unknown" was released on April 23. The CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.
Asked about the decision to remix "Frequency Unknown" shortly before the album's release, Tate told "The Continental Breakfast With James & Raina": "We were a little rushed on the mixing end of it, so after listening to it back, we're having some of the songs remixed now before the album comes out. But that's typical with records — you have to have them in on time. So sometimes you compromise in areas. Luckily, with this situation, we get to go back and correct some areas in the sound where we thought it was kind of lacking. So that's fine. I've done that on… gosh… probably three quarters of the records I've ever made. It's no new thing, but it's a luxury when you get to fix it."
"Frequency Unknown" is packaged with bonus tracks — four QUEENSRŸCHE classics, newly recorded, including the smash hit single "Silent Lucidity". Guest musicians on the CD include K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST), Chris Poland (MEGADETH), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS), Lita Ford, Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), Dave Meniketti (Y&T) and Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN).
Although a lineup for Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band now features Tate along with guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).
WHITESNAKE/ex-DEEP PURPLE singer David Coverdale recently answered a number of questions for listeners of the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock. Check out the footage below.
Regarding WHITESNAKE's upcoming touring plans, Coverdale recently told the Coventry Telegraph, "I absolutely love being at home with my family, so it has to be something exciting to get me out of my house. I enjoy performing, but the travelling sucks on ice. I am treated very nicely when I'm on the road these days, but if you could beam me to Birmingham or wherever, I would love it."
On the topic of WHITESNAKE's upcoming co-headlining tour with JOURNEY, whose hits include "Don't Stop Believin'", "Any Way You Want It" and "Faithfully", with the added attraction of English hard rockers THUNDER, Coverdale said: "JOURNEY I have known for decades. The difficulty of having a co-headliner is to find someone with an equal number of familiar songs, so that you give audiences more bang for their buck. In these difficult times, the more you can offer for the price of a ticket the better, I feel. And JOURNEY have a lot of great songs. As for my dear friends THUNDER, (guitarist and songwriter) Luke Morley has put the band back together specially for this tour."
Frontiers Records will release WHITESNAKE's "Made In Britain/The World Record" in Europe on July 5 and in North America on July 9. The album will be released in Japan on June 19 via Ward Records.
WMMR's Pierre Robert conducted an interview with reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN at the annual MMRBQ on May 18 at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.
SOUNDGARDEN released the music video on January 29 for "By Crooked Steps", the second single from the quartet's new album, "King Animal".
The "By Crooked Steps" clip was directed by FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl, who submitted a treatment for the video on his own initiative after hearing the song.
"King Animal" came out last November and was SOUNDGARDEN's first set of all-new material in 16 years.
SOUNDGARDEN reunited in 2010 after a 13-year break, releasing a retrospective collection called "Telephantasm" and a concert album titled "Live On I-5".
WMMR's Matt Cord conducted an interview with ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney at the annual MMRBQ on May 18 at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.
ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", is due out May 28 and features the singles "Stone" and the chart-topping "Hollow". The group's fifth studio effort is its second with William DuVall on vocals and follows up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", ALICE IN CHAINS' first all-new collection of material in 14 years and first since the 2002 death of original singer Layne Staley.
Guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Revolver about the new album, "I don't think you'll be surprised by anything you hear. It's us. But it's also really unique. It's got all the elements of any record we've put out, but it's unlike any record we've put out."
ALICE IN CHAINS began working on new material in 2011, but the sessions for the album were delayed when Cantrell had to undergo shoulder surgery.
ALICE IN CHAINS kicked off a tour to promote the new disc on April 25 in Miami Beach. The band will also headline the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival later this summer.
99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with Lzzy Hale of Pennsylvanian rockers HALESTORM at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which took place May 17-19 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
HALESTORM has released a new version of the song "Here's To Us", featuring an all-star lineup of guest performers. Joining the band on this edition of the song are guitarist Slash, SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith, ALTER BRIDGE vocalist Myles Kennedy, Tyler Connolly from THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DEVICE/DISTURBED singer David Draiman and IN THIS MOMENT's Maria Brink. HALESTORM is also offering fans a chance to record their own shout-outs for the song, and the band intends to take some of the best ones and work them into a new "fan edit" of the track.
The original version of "Here's To Us" is featured on HALESTORM's 2012 album "The Strange Case Of…"
The song was previously covered on a February 2012 episode of the hit television show "Glee". Lzzy Hale told The Pulse Of Radio at the time why the band let it happen. "It's pretty much the strangest thing we've done so far as a band and also, I think, the most exciting," she said. "There's a little bit of controversy because, obviously, 'Glee' is very pop culture, it's very kind of Broadway, and personally I think it's really good for us, only because here's an outlet for us that it's gonna expose us to so many people that would not normally be seeking us out."
HALESTORM is currently on the HardDrive Live tour with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and YOUNG GUNS. The trek will wrap up on May 22 in Milwaukee.
99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which took place May 17-19 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
IN THIS MOMENT professionally filmed its May 21 concert in Madison, Wisconsin for the group's first-ever live DVD. IN THIS MOMENT has partnered up with longtime supporter, radio station WJJO, as part of their Mayday Maylay concert series. The band had a bunch of surprises in store for this show, including rarely played songs from their catalog and an all-new stage show created specifically for this concert.
IN THIS MOMENT's DVD is being directed by Brad Golowin who is known for his work with MISS MAY I and 10 YEARS, to name a few.
IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink told The Pulse Of Radio that before the band had a bigger stage production, she used to go out into the crowd and get the fans to form a pit around her. "I don't have to do it all the time anymore, 'cause now we have so much of a live performance and we're kind of upping theatrical everything onstage," she said. "But once in a while it's such an adrenaline rush. The other day I went out there and the funniest thing — I didn't realize it in the moment, but they told me afterwards that I said as I was walking through the crowd, 'Nobody touch me! I get anxiety!' 'Cause I spread the crowd open and walked through, and I said that! [laughs] And it works! I mean, they part the way!"
IN THE MOMENT has followed up its first-ever Top 10 rock radio hit, "Blood", with a new single called "Adrenalize". Both tracks are taken from the group's fourth album, also called "Blood", which debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard album chart and has sold more than 140,000 copies since coming out last August.
"Blood" was reissued as a double-disc set through Hot Topic last December. The special package contained the full original album on one disc, plus a second disc that featured a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Closer", as well as four additional new remixes of songs from "Blood".
