Make sure you check out the new metal magazine called The Blacktooth that I previously wrote about here and sign up to get the print copy! There's a lot of great material already posted online.
I previously reviewed a show that featured Seven Signs, Breech and Art of the Flesh, an awesome up and coming band from Illinois. My interview with Art of the Flesh can be found on The Blacktooth website now.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
My Proudest Moment
I have two stepkids and I love them like my own. Strange thing to discuss on a rock and metal blog, right? Well, one of my proudest moments with them happened in the car. I have a guilty pleasure band. My friends and family know about it, so I guess since one of them will likely call me out on it, I'll share - I'm a sucker for Spice Girls. I know, I know. Its a horrible group with very little true talent and is the last thing a "true" metalhead should listen to. But shut up, you all know every single one of you has your own guilty pleasure in music. Anyone who says they don't is lying. Mind you, I would choose Slipknot or Megadeth over them any time.
Anyway... my stepkids both enjoy Spice Girls. I thought my stepdaughter would like it, so I let her listen to it and eventually they were both asking to listen to it every time we got in the car. In addition to that, they both love HURT, Queen, Johnny Cash and a ton of other great artists and bands (as well as some that I couldn't even begin to name). While I'm thrilled they have a diverse taste in music, the proudest day was when we were on this car ride and I hadn't "kid-proofed" my CDs in the changer. Normally I make sure nothing vulgar or inappropriate is in there, but this time I had left the Slayer album "God Hates Us All" in the changer. To my shock, amusement, and sheer joy, my stepson started singing along. He was singing Slayer! He knew a metal band and actually enjoyed it. He was probably 9 at the time, so still a little young to be bringing into the pit of a show (I'm sure both his dad and his mom would have had a problem with that), but I knew there was a future. There's a metalhead in the family and I couldn't be happier.
Anyway... my stepkids both enjoy Spice Girls. I thought my stepdaughter would like it, so I let her listen to it and eventually they were both asking to listen to it every time we got in the car. In addition to that, they both love HURT, Queen, Johnny Cash and a ton of other great artists and bands (as well as some that I couldn't even begin to name). While I'm thrilled they have a diverse taste in music, the proudest day was when we were on this car ride and I hadn't "kid-proofed" my CDs in the changer. Normally I make sure nothing vulgar or inappropriate is in there, but this time I had left the Slayer album "God Hates Us All" in the changer. To my shock, amusement, and sheer joy, my stepson started singing along. He was singing Slayer! He knew a metal band and actually enjoyed it. He was probably 9 at the time, so still a little young to be bringing into the pit of a show (I'm sure both his dad and his mom would have had a problem with that), but I knew there was a future. There's a metalhead in the family and I couldn't be happier.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Slipknot headlining the Mayhem Festival 2012
The lineup for the 2012 Mayhem Festival has been announced. Slipknot will be headlining and will be joined by Slayer, As I Lay Dying and other great bands. Check out the link here for ticket information, lineup, and anything else you could possibly want from Mayhem.
I've been to this festival before and I must say that the face-melting metal, special events, and awesome lineups are can't miss. If you have the chance to go to this tour, then GO!
I've been to this festival before and I must say that the face-melting metal, special events, and awesome lineups are can't miss. If you have the chance to go to this tour, then GO!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Featured Video: Burn To Shine - Wasted Years
Today's Featured Video is Burn To Shine's Wasted Years. Burn To Shine is an acoustic project featuring Jamison Parker and Aaron Fishel of Silence is Broken from Rockford, IL.
Visit Burn To Shine on Facebook here.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Today in the News: Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath Diagnosed with Lymphoma
Ok, ok... I know this isn't local or regional and I swear I'll get out to some more shows soon. But, as a lover of all things rock and metal, I do like to share national and international band news (both good and band) with others who might be interested. Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with lymphoma, but the plans for the first album in 33 years are still on track. Check out this article about this news (text below) and send out any good thoughts that you have for him. And since we're on the subject - anyone who wants to get me his book, "Iron Man," I would greatly appreciate it. :)
Article written by Billboard Staff
The metal pioneers are scheduled to headline Download Festival, which will take place between June 8-10 in Donington Park, England.
Since the original lineup came together in 1968, the English metal pioneers have scored album sales of 15 million, according to the RIAA. Between 1970 and 2007, Black Sabbath have had 22 entries on the Billboard 200, and their biggest-selling effort -- 1970's "Paranoid," which featured classic rock tracks like "Iron Man" and "War Pigs" -- has sold 1.6 million in the SoundScan era.
The lineup of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward released its last album, "Never Say Die," in 1978; the disc has sold 133,000 copies in the SoundScan era. Osbourne split with Black Sabbath in 1979 and went on to a hugely successful solo career, with hits like "Crazy Train," "Mr. Crowley" and "Shot in the Dark." He rejoined the band in 1997 and toured on-and-off with them through 2006, but the only new material produced was two songs tacked onto a 1998 live album.
Article written by Billboard Staff
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| Billboard.com Photo from quoted article |
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma but a new album for the legendary metal band is still on track, it was announced Monday.
Iommi, 63, is currently working with his doctors to determine the best course and "remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery," a statement said.
In November, the group -- Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward -- announced album and tour plans. While the statement does not indicate whether live dates will be affected, the band continues to write and record their first album in over three decades. Rick Rubin will produce the group's comeback album, which is expected to be released in fall 2012 through Vertigo/Universal.
Since the original lineup came together in 1968, the English metal pioneers have scored album sales of 15 million, according to the RIAA. Between 1970 and 2007, Black Sabbath have had 22 entries on the Billboard 200, and their biggest-selling effort -- 1970's "Paranoid," which featured classic rock tracks like "Iron Man" and "War Pigs" -- has sold 1.6 million in the SoundScan era.
The lineup of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward released its last album, "Never Say Die," in 1978; the disc has sold 133,000 copies in the SoundScan era. Osbourne split with Black Sabbath in 1979 and went on to a hugely successful solo career, with hits like "Crazy Train," "Mr. Crowley" and "Shot in the Dark." He rejoined the band in 1997 and toured on-and-off with them through 2006, but the only new material produced was two songs tacked onto a 1998 live album.
Iommi, who wrote extensively about the band in his recent book "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven & Hell With Black Sabbath," told Billboard.com that he regrouped with Osbourne, bassist Butler and drummer Ward at Osbourne's California home in early 2011 to play some music "for a bit of fun, and to see if we could all play. It was good, but it was just purely, 'Let's have a go and see what happens.'"
Friday, January 6, 2012
Metallica's Black Album is the Number 1 Selling Album of the Last 20 Years (News Reprint)
(Reprinted from Loudwire - please note that I did not write this and you can find the original link here)
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| Photo from Gibson.com |
Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan have just released a list of the top-selling albums of the SoundScan era (1991-2011). Coming in at No. 1 with more than 15 million units sold to date is Metallica‘s self-titled 1991 disc, aka The Black Album.
The Black Album topped the charts in eight countries and delivered some of metal’s most legendary tracks such as ‘The Unforgiven,’ ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and ‘Enter Sandman.’
Metallica recently celebrated their 30th anniversary as a band by four small club dates for their fan club members in San Francisco. Some of the biggest names in metal came out to share the stage with Metallica during the four-day celebration such as Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Halford as well as former Metallica members Jason Newsted and Dave Mustaine.
Metallica are set to release a B-sides album of songs recorded during the ‘Death Magnetic’ sessions on Jan 30. titled ‘Beyond Magnetic.’Top 10 Highest-Selling Albums of the Nielsen SoundScan Era
TOP 10 SELLING ALBUMS | ||||||||||||||||||
(1991 – 1/1/2012) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Artist | Units Sold | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | ‘Metallica,’ Metallica | 15,735,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | ‘Come On Over,’ Shania Twain | 15,513,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ Alanis Morissette | 14,714,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | ‘Millennium,’ Backstreet Boys | 12,168,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | ’1,’ Beatles | 11,985,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Soundtrack, ‘Bodyguard’ | 11,829,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | ‘Supernatural,’ Santana | 11,772,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | ‘Human Clay,’ Creed | 11,574,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | ‘No Strings Attached,’ N Sync | 11,122,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 | ‘Falling Into You,’ Celine Dion | 10,790,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
In Memory of... Paul Gray
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| Photo from this news article |
Paul Gray (Slipknot) April 8, 1972 – May 24, 2010
Paul Gray, co-founder, bassist, and songwriter of Iowa Los Angeles , California but later relocated to Des Moines , Iowa
As Slipknot's bassist, Gray was the only member who remained in the same role in the band for the entire time that he was a member. He also sang back up vocals for some of Slipknot’s songs, especially when lead singer Corey Taylor’s voice and throat got tired and hoarse. He was well known for his pig face mask, thus the nickname The Pig, and the black death mask he occasionally also wore.
In addition to Slipknot, Gray was also in VeXX, Body Pit, and Anal Blast and has toured with Unida and Reggie and the Full Effect as a substitute bassist. Albums released by Slipknot include Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat (1996), Slipknot (1999), Iowa
Known for his awesome stage presence and amazing charisma both on and off stage, Gray was an icon in the metal world. His death on May 24th, 2010 in a hotel room in Des Moines, Iowa shook up the metal world, leaving many of us wondering if The Nine would ever be the same without him, or if Slipknot would even continue. Autopsy reports later confirmed that his death was caused by an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl and he also had signs of significant heart disease. Gray had a history of drug problems, including an arrest after a car accident in June 2003.
No matter what the cause of death, the loss of Paul Gray was devastating to his family, his fans, and his brothers in Slipknot. Even the band Mushroomhead, which had a long standing feud with Slipknot, stepped up to express their sadness and ask for an end to the feud. Former Slipknot guitarist Donnie Steele has stepped up to try to fill #2’s shoes as the touring bassist beginning in 2011. I haven’t seen Slipknot since the loss of Paul Gray, but hopefully will have the chance soon. One man doesn’t make the band and I love this band, but I’m sure it won’t ever be quite the same.
See the video below of the press conference with Slipknot following Paul Gray's death.
Check out Slipknot's website here.
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