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7 дек 2024
GENE SIMMONS Says KISS Avatar Show Will Blow Away 'ABBA Voyage': 'The Technology Has Advanced By Leaps And Bounds'
 During an appearance on The Zak Kuhn Show podcast, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons praised the upcoming KISS avatar show, saying "the technology has advanced by leaps and bounds" in the last few years.
The technology being used for the KISS avatars, originally developed for ABBA's "Voyage" show in London, will allow KISS to stay "on the road" in retirement.
The KISS avatars were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and were financed and produced by the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is behind "ABBA Voyage".
Using cutting-edge technology, Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, will create digital versions of KISS. The project was previewed at the final KISS concert in New York in December 2023.
Regarding his vision for the KISS avatar show, Simmons said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, you may have read or not, there's a terrific company called Pophouse who are responsible for that ABBA avatar show outside of London, which has pulled millions of tickets, actually, and is quite a thing. But even that technology is now yesterday's news.
"I don't know how to describe it, but so far we're just calling it KISS avatars," he continued. "It'll be seen around the world. And I'll try to describe it. When you put on virtual glasses, you get a 360-degree experience. Wherever you turn your head, you're in that universe; you're in a parallel universe, if you will. You could be in the land of dinosaurs or falling off a cliff or you pick your head up to the sky and you see the sky. And you lower your chin and you look like a chasm with your feet falling. So you actually believe, to the extent that you shut off your mind, that you're actually in that world. Now imagine not wearing glasses and having that experience."
Asked if the KISS avatar show will "totally blow away" "ABBA Voyage", Simmons said: "It already does, yeah. Uh-huh… Technology, I'm sure you keep up with it, is growing by leaps and bounds… The future is here. A.I. now fixes itself and teaches itself. And so the technology has advanced by leaps and bounds even where the ABBA show was. You could swear ABBA was live on stage, but you have to look straight forward. If you look to the left or right, you can see your neighbor sitting behind you or next to you. And so you have that kind of, 'Oh, this is reality. And what's on stage looks like reality.' But as you know, with 3D glasses, virtual glasses, your sense of what's real and what's not is skewed. So there's all that."
This past October, KISS frontman Paul Stanley told Steve-O's Wild Ride! podcast about the KISS avatar show: "What we'll be doing with these amazing avatars will take us to another place, another level. Now, those images [that were previewed at the end of KISS's final gig at] the Garden were really — I had mixed feelings about showing those because they're so early on, they look nothing like that. I mean, the avatars are identical. I mean, they look like us. And I think the idea was really just to show people that we're going to move on and continue, but it won't be like that. And what we're putting together with George Lucas and Pophouse, this amazing company out of Sweden, is an immersive experience that you'll come to, and there'll be heat and fire and wind and things flying around."
Stanley continued: "The idea of us making a recreation of a concert, I mean, how long can you look and go, 'Wow, that looks just like an amplifier'? That's not what we're doing. I would say it's Cirque Du Soleil meets 'Star Wars' and a KISS concert. So it's gonna be amazing."
Paul was also full of praise for "ABBA Voyage", which has been very lucrative since debuting in May 2022. In 2023, the holographic show's performances numbered 374 and attracted 1,097,597 attendees for an occupancy rate of 97.8%.
"Yeah, that lives in London, and that's sold out for four years now, I think — every night, eight shows a week," Stanley said. "And it's amazing because I've seen it twice and the audience is just thrilled and so much a part of it. It's not like, 'Oh, we're watching something that's not real.' It's real… I mean, you can see through the clothes. They move back and forth, they interact. It's unbelievable. And when I saw it the first time, at the end of the show, the curtain pulled back and [the] ABBA [members as they look] today, the four of them, came walking out. And I was, like, 'Wow, I'm here on this night to see [the four of them at the performance].' [But] it wasn't them. That's how good it is."
Paul also talked about KISS's decision to sell its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Pophouse. Asked if he and Simmons will remain involved in the way the KISS brand is promoted and marketed going forward, Stanley said: "They want us involved, which is smart. And also it's a way to ensure, I hate to say purity, but a focus.
"Look, we got it this far," he explained. "And, they had no intentions of just taking it and them riding off into the sunset. This is a collaboration, and [it's] never been done before. I mean, bands sell publishing, songwriters sell their song rights. I dare say that there's not a band I can think of where anybody wants to buy the band's likeness and the logos and everything that goes with it."
Paul added: "You have to imagine that for us to create something and nurture it through the good and the bad for 50 years and then give it to a [someone else], it's like leaving home. Yeah, it's leaving home. But I'm still who I was. If I was the Starchild before, I'm Starchild now. That doesn't change. I'm who I've been. And it's such a unique situation that I don't think anybody else can ever fathom the magnitude, because people have a hard time giving up their publishing; that's like their babies. Well, we gave up our babies and the house and the block."
When Steve-O noted that the deal with Pophouse is a way to really ensure that the KISS legacy continues the way that he and Gene want it to, Stanley concurred. "Exactly," he said. "And to keep it going, as you said, continuously. Bands — I don't wanna say shelf life, but bands only have a certain amount of lifespan. Certain bands certainly live on through their music. What are we listening to inside? [LED] ZEPPELIN or THE BEATLES. But KISS is so unique, to keep it at the level we want it to be and for the personas to live on, this was a great way to do it. I had no thoughts of selling publishing — that didn't appeal to me — but this is kind of like finding, I don't wanna say foster parents, but we researched and did our due diligence and our homework and spent a lot of time with Pophouse also, and they're great people and totally understand what we are and what we're doing and what we wanna be."
In September, Stanley was asked by Billboard's "Behind The Setlist" podcast about the reports that the KISS avatar show will debut in 2027 in Las Vegas. Paul said: "What I can tell you is that the technology that's being used, which is a furthering of the technology used on the ABBA show, has to be installed and basically a building has to be built around it. So this isn't something where you're in Kansas City today, and tomorrow you fly with your projector to do it. It demands an arena, so to speak that's really solely used for a show like this. But it's not something that can play on Wednesdays and Thursdays or Saturdays and Sundays, and then something else is in there during the week."
Regarding what other things KISS fans can expect to come out of the band's deal with Pophouse, Paul said: "Well, really with Pophouse, what we're doing is focusing on this show. That's really the main focus. Obviously, be it the music or the personas and all that goes along with KISS that's been there all along will continue and expand. I think at this point there's a lot more understanding of the possibilities, and there are people coming to the table, so to speak, who perhaps for a while saw a rock band in make-up, and clearly it's turning into so much more than that."
Asked if there is going to be a live music element to the KISS avatar show, like "ABBA Voyage" has, Paul said: "I really can't tell you the ultimate technology that we'll be using. We're sitting down in in the very near future just to start to fine-tune the show and the presentation. And then how we project the music or utilize the music, as far as technology, will be decided."
On the topic of how he feels that the KISS legacy has been treated over the years, Stanley said: "I think it's been treated — well, it runs the gamut. I think people who don't understand it or haven't understood it or for whatever self-serving reasons have looked down their nose at it have been far, far overwhelmed and eclipsed by the people who love what we do. So the people who dismissed it or haven't understood it, quite frankly, they've missed out. I find it puzzling that anybody could have a vehement response to a band or performer. It's just — that goes Psychology 101. 'Whoa, what's your problem?'"
In a recent interview with Henrique Inglez de Souza of Brazil's Rockast, Simmons discussed the band's decision to sell its music catalogue, brand name and likeness to Pophouse. A biopic, an avatar show, and a KISS-themed experience are already in the works, with Simmons and Stanley playing key roles in the development of all these projects, working closely with Pophouse.
"There will be movies, cartoon shows, all kinds of things, but the avatars are the future of KISS," Gene explained. "And to say they're concerts is too small. It's bigger than that. And I don't wanna say too much. I'm not allowed to. Not yet."
Regarding KISS's apparent willingness to fully embrace modern technology, Simmons told Rockast: "Well, everything evolves. We didn't always stand up on two legs. A few million years ago, we were on four legs. Everything evolves, and you either evolve or you become obsolete or you die. So technology is here. A.I. is here. Virtual reality is here. Everything is here. And we don't wanna be yesterday's news. So even the end of something can be the beginning of something. But we're very excited — and proud. I keep saying proud, because that's what it is."
This past April, Simmons told People magazine that KISS's decision to sell its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Pophouse was the "natural thing" to do. "Life happens while you're busy making important plans," he explained. "We were planning our respectful, proud walking off into the sunset, because we've been touring, we had been touring for half a century.
"If you take a look at Mother Nature, you either evolve or you become extinct," he added.
While terms of the Pophouse deal were not officially announced, Bloomberg and Associated Press said it was worth upwards of $300 million. However, Simmons insisted that financial gain is "not what [the sale is] about. It's about enjoying life," while adding, "I'm certainly blessed."
In a separate interview with TMZ, Simmons defended KISS's plans for an avatar concert similar to ABBA's with digital versions of the group.
"A.I. [artificial intelligence] is here to stay," he said. "Technology is here to stay. And you either join in and try to adapt and try to figure out how that works with you or you're just yesterday's news in a very real way.
"Truthfully, KISS has stopped touring," he continued. "We will never tour as KISS again. However, the end is also the beginning. We're gonna do things that will blow your socks off. But we couldn't do this without our new best friends for life Pophouse. They're really remarkable people."
When the interviewer asked if fans will embrace the concept of a concert that is A.I.-driven and consists of nothing but holograms, Gene said: "It's not just, 'Okay, they're gonna show up on stage just like they did before, but it's holograms. No. That's an archaic term. Technology has advanced so far, you won't believe it.
"We spent some time at George Lucas's place and did motion capture stuff secretly," he continued. "We didn't talk to anybody — media or anything — about it, because we wanted this to be like nothing anybody's ever seen. And I will tell you, if you've seen the ABBA show in London, which is phenomenal, this is gonna be beyond anything you've ever seen.
"So the future is here, and with our friends at Pophouse, who are visionaries, we're gonna be doing things that no band and no musical — nobody's ever done before," Gene added. "Our events are going to be multi, I wanna say multidimensional. You just won't believe your eyes. Things are gonna be so much larger than life in front of you. You won't believe it. We've already seen the first fragments of that. It's just jaw-droppingly amazing."
Working closely with KISS, Pophouse will follow its unique, value-add approach of drawing upon its world-class, in-house creative and storytelling expertise to unlock new audiences and revenue streams. Pophouse will use its proven, industry-defining playbook to create new content and experiences to enrich the KISS catalog for fans, old and new, actively seeking to enrich and add value to the brands and artists it partners with. Inclusivity and community have always been vital to the KISS experience, and Pophouse is committed to nurture the close relationship between KISS and its devoted fans moving forward.
Johan Lagerlöf, head of investment at Pophouse, said: "KISS is one of the most recognized and iconic bands in the history of music. They redefined the concept of rock shows and have always taken their artistry to new uncharted territories. The band has consistently been able to appeal to new generations of fans and our mission is to fulfill the band's vision to become immortal, and to let new generations discover and be part of the KISS journey and carry it forward. With the help of the fans' energy, the band, our expertise, and creativity we will make that vision happen."
Per Sundin, CEO at Pophouse Entertainment, said: "KISS has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has throughout their 50-year career continued to push the boundaries in popular culture. The band's enigmatic personas, unparalleled band attributes, and iconic imagery have made them a cultural force and a legendary act with multigenerational appeal. We will safeguard and enrich this legacy through future global endeavors, by breathing new life into their characters and personas while also leveraging and elevating the visual world of KISS."
As part of the partnership, Pophouse will create digital versions of KISS that will allow the band and their unique personas to live forever. The project, already underway, was previewed at the final KISS show in Madison Square Garden, New York on December 2, 2023, when, to the audience's surprise, KISS avatars closed the night with a rendition of "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" (resulting in international headlines). Through a magical combination of cutting-edge technology and unrivalled creativity, Pophouse will bring the full, authentic KISS experience to both existing and new fans for years to come. The avatar show is planned to launch in 2027.
Stanley said in a statement: "Our journey with Pophouse is fueled by the desire to eternally resonate across diverse facets of global culture. As we embark on this venture, we aim to weave our legacy into the tapestry of different worlds, ensuring that the KISS experience continues to captivate both our devoted fans and those yet to discover the thrill. This partnership is not just a chapter; it's an eternal symphony of rock 'n' roll immortality."
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7 дек 2024
Watch: BODY COUNT Performs 'Comfortably Numb' On 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'
 BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T, performed its powerful rendition of PINK FLOYD's "Comfortably Numb" on last night's ( Wednesday, December 4) episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". You can see video of the performance below.
BODY COUNT's version of "Comfortably Numb" featuring David Gilmour is a fresh take on the classic PINK FLOYD track that explores themes of detachment and introspection. Gilmour's seminal guitar work adds a haunting, authentic touch, seamlessly blending with BODY COUNT's signature intensity and Ice's profound new lyrics, making the track a fusion of rock history and raw, modern energy.
Ice-T commented: "For me, 'Comfortably Numb' is an introspective song — it's me acknowledging that I'm older now. I'm telling the younger generation, you've got two choices: you can keep the fire burning or you can give up. It's me trying to make sense of what's happening, but also pointing out that we're all in a place where we don't have to face reality. We've got flat-screen TVs and popcorn, and we can just sit back and watch the chaos of the world like it's a TV show. It doesn't feel real until it shows up at your door. I'm a little numb, too — we all are."
Gilmour stated: "BODY COUNT's version of 'Comfortably Numb' is quite radical, but the words really struck me. It astonishes me that a tune I wrote almost 50 years ago is back with this great new approach. They've made it relevant again.
"The initial contact from Ice-T was for permission to use the song, but I thought I might offer to play on it as well. I like the new lyrics. They're talking about the world we're living in now, which is quite scary.
"Ice-T and BODY COUNT played in London recently. Sadly, I couldn't make it, but if another opportunity came up to play with them, I'd jump at it."
BODY COUNT's version of "Comfortably Numb" appears on the band's latest album, "Merciless", which came out on November 22 via Century Media.
Regarding why it took four years to complete "Merciless", Ice-T told Kerrang! magazine: "We dropped 'Carnivore' in March 2020 and the pandemic dropped right on top of us. We never got to tour that album, even though we had like 40 different dates set up in Europe. Because I'm on television [as Sergeant Fin Tutuola in NBC's 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'] we only have this little two-month block where we can get out on the road. Then the label were, like, 'Give us another record!' I was, like, 'What?! You want me to just go shit out another record real quick?!' We'd just won the Grammy [2021's 'Best Metal Performance' for 'Bum-Rush'] so we were on a real high, but it was still pretty difficult to grind another album out. I needed time. When you've released an album — having written maybe 20 songs, of which 12 make it — you're all out of ideas. And you don't want to rehash those ideas again. But once we got going, we got it done."
Earlier in the year, BODY COUNT released the official music video for "Psychopath", its first new single since 2020's "Bum-Rush", which won a Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance". The new track, which features FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY vocalist Joe Badolato, shows Ice-T and crew on maximum killing overdrive and primed for the next chapter of the legendary Los Angeles-based band's 35-plus-year career. Longtime collaborator Will Putney (KNOCKED LOOSE, THE GHOST INSIDE) produced the song, which was released via Century Media Records.
Directed by Jay Scorsese, the "Psychopath" video pulls inspiration from fictional and real-life horrors, with references spanning from Jason Voorhees to Ted Bundy.
"Merciless" is the follow-up to "Carnivore", which was released to critical acclaim in March 2020, just a week before COVID shut the entire world down.
BODY COUNT's European "Merciless" tour kicked off on June 5 at Mystic festival in Poland and brought the band to some of the world's biggest festivals and venues, across more than a dozen countries. After returning to the States, they performed at Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky and Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.
For BODY COUNT, it's been a history of being both respected and feared — a barbed-wire thread that stretches back to the band's origins as a project between Ice-T and Crenshaw High friend Ernie C. Their first shot fired, the song "Body Count", was a mission statement on Ice-T's 1991 "O.G. - Original Gangster". That's the blueprint they've been running on for more than 35 years.
They touched a nerve with their first, self-titled 1991 album and its divisive track "Cop Killer", which inspired hatred, fear, and paranoia, but also inspired generations of bands to follow. What they took from growing up with BLACK SABBATH and being inspired by fellow L.A. legends like SLAYER and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES has only upped the ante for generations of homies and hardcore fans.
BODY COUNT's current line-up includes surviving O.G.s Ice-T, Ernie C. and Sean E. Sean joined by bassist Vincent Price, drummer Will "Ill Will" Dorsey, Juan "Juan Of The Dead" Garcia and backing vocalist Little Ice.
"Carnivore" continued the path of its uncompromising and critically acclaimed predecessors, "Bloodlust" and "Manslaugther", in pairing Ice-T's impassioned and socio-critical lyrics with thick guitar riffs and nods to metal and hardcore greats like SLAYER, METALLICA, PANTERA, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. Guest musicians on the LP included Amy Lee (EVANESCENCE),Dave Lombardo (ex-SLAYER),Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Riley Gale (POWER TRIP).
BODY COUNT was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, which was held in March 2021 in Los Angeles. BODY COUNT was nominated for "Bum-Rush", a track from "Carnivore". | +5 | |
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7 дек 2024
THE ROLLING STONES Unveil Their Debut Fine Fragrance, RS No.9
 In a stunning new venture that celebrates their timeless legacy, THE ROLLING STONES have announced the launch of their first-ever fine fragrance.
A partnership between THE ROLLING STONES, world-renowned fragrance innovator Nirvana Brands and Bravado, RS No.9 is a unique scent that summons the spirit of a scene that made history, the place where it all began.
A scent that evokes London's Soho in 1962: a throbbing metropolis bustling with excitement as a new cultural era emerged; a time of discovery and freedom, when anything could — and did — happen, and the year THE ROLLING STONES played their first gig at the Marquee Club.
Bourbon-infused notes of velvet swagger onto centre stage, as warm leather brawls under electric musk while tempting patchouli and sultry oud seductively linger.
The striking bottle design is inspired by THE ROLLING STONES' iconic RS No.9 Carnaby store on London's famous Carnaby Street. It brings to life the vivid graffiti-style song lyrics that decorate the store's glass floor in a new form, adorning an elegant apothecary-style bottle. The cap features the famous tongue and lips logo created by John Pasche in 1970, as a nod to the eternal life of a band — and brand — that changed the course of culture around the world.
THE ROLLING STONES comment: "It's the perfect fragrance for those who dare to be different, and we hope it will bring some joy to our fans."
After a number of years in development, RS No.9 was brought to life by Catherine Selig, a perfumer renowned for her ability to create complex and evocative scents.
Selig said: "This was a dream project. I wanted to capture THE ROLLING STONES' timelessness — their inimitable style, rebellious spirit, and the feeling of freedom their music still inspires. Every note represents a different facet of THE STONES' legacy, from their soulful melodies to their on-stage unpredictability. This fragrance is a journey through their world, filled with richness, texture, and bold contrasts."
Ken Rushton, COO of Nirvana Brands, which has steered this project through conceptualization, creation and development, said: "THE ROLLING STONES are ubiquitous in popular culture, and their influence on personal style is all around us. So this project with the band and Bravado has been a delight. Bottling the essence of THE ROLLING STONES in a unique and bold fine fragrance has been an incredible journey — and there is a whole lot more in the pipeline to come."
David Boyne, managing director for Bravado, added: "Creating this fragrance in partnership with Nirvana Brands has been such an exciting project for us as we continue to expand the RS No.9 brand. We look forward to giving fans the chance to further deepen their love for THE ROLLING STONES."
The fragrance opens with a vibrant burst of Bergamot, a zesty breath of Lemon, and a smooth splash of Bourbon, setting the tone with bright energy and a hint of indulgence. At the heart of the scent lies the smoky richness of worn Leather and the warm, resinous glow of Labdanum, representing the sensual and textured spirit of rock 'n' roll. Deep, earthy Oak adds a mysterious, intimate layer that echoes THE ROLLING STONES' ability to captivate audiences.
The base notes bring a sensual, grounded finish with intensely seductive Oud and the electrifying energy of Musk. Patchouli adds a deep, lingering sweetness, balancing the fragrance's earthy, wild edge with an enduring sophistication that evokes London's Soho in the 1960s.
RS No.9, limited to 999 numbered bottles, is a statement of individuality, echoing the timeless allure of THE ROLLING STONES, and evoking a time when everything was there for the taking.
Each 100ml bottle is priced at $99.99 and is available to purchase in RS No.9 stores in London and Tokyo as well as online for pre-order at rsno9.com/pages/.
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7 дек 2024
VANDEN PLAS Debut Official Lyric Video For "Sanctimonarium"
 Germany's Vanden Plas are thrilled to share their new lyric video, “Sanctimonarium”, taken from their latest studio album, The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things, released back in April via Frontiers Music Srl.
Vocalist Andy Kuntz describes the new single: "'Sanctimonarium' is certainly a treasure trove of progressive metal. Over 10 minutes full of power, virtuosity, melody, vocal hooklines and effective arrangements. Can a fan of this style of music ask for more? The answer is: no!”
In this song, Vanden Plas combines all the ingredients that make progressive metal so special and fuse them with a profound allegory about life, death and all the little things between that can shake this construct.
After a hiatus of four years since their last album, the band makes a triumphant return with an enthralling assortment of tracks, showcasing their unmatched musical skill and narrative artistry.
This album signifies a significant milestone for Vanden Plas as they welcome Alessandro Del Vecchio as their new keyboardist, infusing fresh vigour and creativity into the band's dynamic lineup. Del Vecchio's addition promises to push Vanden Plas's sound to unprecedented levels while staying faithful to their distinctive style.
The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things carries on the band's legacy of pushing musical boundaries, melding intricate melodies with thought-provoking lyrics. It follows the footsteps of their acclaimed The Ghost Xperiment series, cementing Vanden Plas's status as a leading force in the progressive rock genre.
Guitarist Stephan Lill, who chiefly crafted the compositions on the previous albums, takes sole charge of the music on The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things, while Andy Kuntz contributes the lyrics and vocal lines as usual.
Vanden Plas remains faithful to their signature style: progressive rock infused with elements of elegy, melody, and metallic and epic influences. Furthermore, it's evident that Vanden Plas is embracing a "back to the roots" direction.
With its fusion of technical prowess and emotional resonance, The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things is poised to captivate audiences worldwide. Drawing inspiration from the imagery suggested by the lyrics' concept, this album could be likened to the band rediscovering a lost jewel in the music universe after navigating through challenging experiences and losses.
Order The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things here.
The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things tracklisting:
"The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things"
"My Icarian Flight"
"Sanctimonarium"
"The Sacrilegious Mind Machine"
"They Call Me God"
"March Of The Saints"
"March Of The Saints" visualizer:
"The Sacrilegious Mind Machine" lyric video:
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7 дек 2024
Official LED ZEPPELIN Documentary 'Becoming LED ZEPPELIN' To Receive IMAX Theatrical Release In February
 The official LED ZEPPELIN documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin" will be released exclusively in IMAX on February 7, 2025, in nearly 200 theatres. Ahead of the release, IMAX will hold one night only early access screenings in eighteen markets on February 5, 2025. Tickets are on sale now for both dates at imax.com/ledzeppelin.
"Becoming Led Zeppelin" is directed by the award-winning, Emmy- and BAFTA-nominated Bernard MacMahon ("American Epic"),and written by MacMahon and BAFTA-nominated producer Allison McGourty. It is produced by McGourty and Paradise Pictures in association with Big Beach, alongside executive producers Michael B Clark, Alex Turtletaub, Cynthia Heusing, David Kistenbroker, Duke Erikson, Simon Moran and Ged Doherty. Editing is by Dan Gitlin, sound supervision is by Nick Bergh, sound restoration is by Grammy Award winner Peter Henderson, with archival research from Kate Griffiths and Rich Remsberg.
"Becoming Led Zeppelin" explores the origins of this iconic group and their meteoric rise in just one year against all the odds. Powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances and music, Bernard MacMahon's experiential cinematic odyssey explores LED ZEPPELIN's creative, musical, and personal origin story. The film is told in LED ZEPPELIN's own words and is the first officially sanctioned film on the group.
The hybrid docu-concert film also unveils a huge amount of rare and unseen LED ZEPPELIN performance footage. The result is a visceral musical experience that will transport audiences into the concert halls of LED ZEPPELIN's earliest tours, accompanied by intimate, exclusive commentary from the famously private band.
Director Bernard MacMahon said: "The cinematic power of IMAX paired with the film's authentic sound creates an immersive and transportive viewing experience letting audiences feel like they are there, in the venues with the band."
"Becoming Led Zeppelin" is a movie that almost didn't come to fruition — the filmmakers were up against epic challenges, including the fact that hardly any footage from the band's early period existed. MacMahon and McGourty embarked on a global detective search for material to illustrate the band's story.
"We spent five years flying back and forth across the Atlantic scouring attics and basements in pursuit of rare and unseen film footage, photographs and music recordings," writer/producer Allison McGourty said. "Then we transferred each piece of media with custom techniques, so that in IMAX, these 55-year-old clips and music would look and sound like they came out of the lab yesterday."
"We couldn't be more excited to be partnering with IMAX and Sony Pictures Classics to bring this film to big screens for all audiences, ZEPPELIN fans, of course, but also all music lovers and anyone looking for an inspiring, uplifting story with amazing music," McGourty added.
Tom Bernard, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, said: "I had a mind-blowing experience seeing LED ZEPPELIN for the first time in August 1969 at the Texas International Pop Festival in Grapevine, Texas and it has stayed with me ever since. This legendary group merits a spectacular North American theatrical release of this incredible film! I cannot think of a single movie that more brilliantly draws you into an artist's story, shows you how their music was made, and makes you experience it as if it was brand new. I know it will be inspirational to young people and legacy defining for generations to come."
A "work in progress" version of "Becoming Led Zeppelin" screened at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy in September 2021, and the "now completed" cut features "a brand-new sound mix (and) newly unearthed material from the archives of all four band members," according to the Sony Classics announcement.
The first clip from "Becoming Led Zeppelin", as well as a short interview with LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page about the documentary (conducted by FRED [Film Radio Entertainment & Dialogue]),can be seen below.
Speaking about his original goal for LED ZEPPELIN, Page said: "I was looking for a band with four… I didn't want to have a band with just the guitarist and the other guys are bit players. There was a lot of bands like that. I wanted each and every musician in it to be equally as strong. So then when they came together, they would feel the contribution by the others and up their game; everybody is upping their game. I believe that the first album, the musicians — Robert Plant, John Bonham… Certainly John Bonham, but Robert Plant, myself and John Paul Jones had never played at that level of intensity as to the quality of how good they could play. But it all joins together into something really special. And that never stops."
MacMahon previously directed the Emmy-nominated music documentary series "American Epic" about the early American roots music recordings of the 1920s. Page praised the film back in 2019, saying: "When I saw everything Bernard had done both visually and sonically on the remarkable achievement that is 'American Epic', I knew he would be qualified to tell our story."
Plant added: "Seeing Will Shade and so many other important early American musicians brought to life on the big screen in 'American Epic' inspired me to contribute to a very interesting and exciting story."
Jones stated: "The time was right for us to tell our own story for the first time in our own words, and I think that this film will really bring this story to life."
An official LED ZEPPELIN book, "Led Zeppelin By Led Zeppelin", came out in October 2018.
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7 дек 2024
SCARDUST – New Single / Video “My Haven” Streaming
 Progressive symphonic metal band Scardust are excited to share their new single and accompanying official video “My Haven”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.
Discussing about the theme of the song, Scardust say:
“My Haven” is a tribute to the spaces we call home - perfect in all its imperfection. A safe haven can be a person, a place or a feeling and can mean different things to different people.
It could be a grandmother’s warm kitchen, your family’s faces, a lover’s safe embrace, your community and your friends. It can be your house, your workplace, or your hometown, or anywhere where you feel like you can truly be yourself and feel accepted - it can be the quiet place within yourself where no one can reach you.”
“In this video, each band member plays the entire song in a setting that represents their idea of a haven. It’s a celebration of individuality and the universal need for a safe space, no matter who we are or where we come from,” they add.
2023 was the biggest year for Scardust so far, with festivals in Germany and Belgium, the release of Game of Now, a cinematic piece that takes viewers into a futuristic, dystopian live show, and culminated with 2 weeks on tour with power metal originals Blind Guardian and signing with Frontiers Records.
Hellscore, the metal choir founded by vocalist Noa Gruman has been gaining significant recognition in the metal music scene. Known for their unique a cappella renditions of metal classics, Hellscore have collaborated with many well-known artists and bands such as Therion, Amorphis and Alestorm.
Noa Gruman is also much in demand as a vocalist and the already-impressive list of her recent guest vocal a | +1 | |
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7 дек 2024
Former OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist JOE HOLMES Releases New Song 'Cross Eyed Stare' Feat. ROBERT TRUJILLO, MIKE BORDIN
 Former OZZY OSBOURNE and DAVID LEE ROTH guitarist Joe Holmes has shared a new single called "Cross Eyed Stare". The track, which was made available under the Joe Holmes name, features a recording lineup that is similar to the one that tracked the debut album from Joe's FARMIKOS project, with Holmes on guitar, Robert Locke on vocals, and Holmes's former OZZY OSBOURNE bandmates, bassist Robert Trujillo (now in METALLICA) and drummer Mike Bordin (also of FAITH NO MORE) on drums. Also contributing melodies and lyrics to the song was Brent Hoffort.
"Cross Eyed Stare" is available across all streaming platforms.
FARMIKOS's self-titled debut album was released in 2015 to critical acclaim. The disc contained ten original songs written by Holmes and Locke, with writing contributions on eight songs by Hoffort. Some of "Farmikos" featured Brooks Wackerman (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ex-BAD RELIGION) on drums.
FARMIKOS was Holmes's first venture under his own flag since first attaining local notoriety with TERRIFF, an L.A. band he formed after taking guitar lessons as a teenager from none other than original Ozzy axeman Randy Rhoads. Holmes eventually went on to replace ALS-stricken Jason Becker on the 1991 David Lee Roth "A Lil' Ain't Enough" world tour.
In 1995, Holmes was brought to the attention of Ozzy Osbourne who was looking for a new guitarist to take over Zakk Wylde's spot for the "Ozzmosis" album touring cycle. Holmes would go on to co-write three songs, "Facing Hell", "Junkie" and "That I Never Had", which appeared on Ozzy's 2001 album, "Down To Earth".
Holmes began collaborating and creating material with Hoffort and then joined forces with vocalist and Arkansas native Locke in 2011 to put together ideas for what would become FARMIKOS.
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7 дек 2024
ZAKK WYLDE Looks Back On First Time He Saw PANTERA Live: 'The Sheer Power Of Them Playing' Was 'Undeniable'
 During an appearance on the December 2 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Zakk Wylde spoke about his involvement with the reformed PANTERA, in which he is joined by the band's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),alongside ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante. Asked what the plans are for PANTERA going forward, the guitarist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I guess we're getting ready to roll, I guess, in January, late January. Then we go out January, all throughout February, we're doing some shows over there [in Europe]. Then obviously we've got the METALLICA shows coming back around. And I think we're gonna be doing some more shows — I mean, all throughout 2025, it's gonna be all PANTERA."
Asked if he looks at PANTERA as more of "a tribute" to the late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott, Zakk said: "Well, how can anybody look at it as anything other than celebrating what they achieved and what they created? I think it's a beautiful thing. You have the PANTERA faithful going at it, and they can go, 'Man, I saw 'em when they were playing a club in front of eight people.' And then you have all the younger kids that were, like, 'My older brother went and saw them back in the day,' and so they know about the legend of PANTERA and what the band was. I mean, it was just an unbelievable, unstoppable wrecking ball… So to bring everybody together, I think it's a beautiful thing, 'cause you're celebrating — with St. Dime, St. Vinnie and, obviously, Phil and Rex created this amazing thing. So it's more than just a band. It's more of a cultural thing as well. So everybody just gets a chance to hear these songs again live. And you're celebrating Dime's greatness. For me, it's like celebrating, when I do to 'Experience Hendrix' [tours paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix]. We're all up there paying tribute to Jimi's greatness and what he created. And then the same thing when I'm playing with Ozz [Ozzy Osbourne], when I'm playing what Randy [Rhoads] wrote with Ozzy. And then I'm playing the Jake [E. Lee] stuff too — you're celebrating 'Bark At The Moon' and 'Shot In The Dark' and all this cool stuff. So, yeah, to me, it's win-win. I mean, how could it be bad? You're celebrating this amazing thing that the guys created."
Regarding when he first saw PANTERA live, Zakk said: "The first time I saw PANTERA was when we did [U.K.'s Castle] Donington in —what was it? — '93, '94. And it was just, like, 'Wow. This music is custom made for this environment.' I mean, it was just completely built for it. So, yeah, just the sheer power of them playing, it was just, like, 'Wow, this is really special.' It was undeniable. It's like hearing Adele sing. If we were in a Holiday Inn and her sitting there, a guy playing a piano and her singing, it's just, like, 'Wow, this is pretty amazing.'"
This past August, Zakk was asked by "The Rich Shertenlieb Show" on Boston's 100.7 WZLX radio station what his immediate thought was when he was first approached about taking part in the PANTERA tour. Zakk said: "Phil called me up and he was, like, 'Zakk, would you wanna…?' I've always told Rex and Phil if they ever wanted to do it, since day one, when [Vinnie Paul] was still alive, and they would always talk, there'd be rumblings of talking about it, it was, like, 'Guys, whatever you wanna do, you know I'm always here. Allied forces. I'm always here to support you.' So, and then it never came about, but I was just like always… I remember I was telling [JUDAS PRIEST's] Rob Halford, 'cause Rob saw one of the [recent PANTERA] shows, he was like, 'Zakk, it's really a beautiful thing you guys are doing.' And I was telling Rob, I said, it was never a matter of if I'll do it, it's a matter of when I'll [do it], you know what I mean? It's just like one of those things with your parents. If they ask you to come home, you don't say… you just go home. If they need help around the house, you just do it. So, yeah, to me it's the same thing."
Regarding the challenge of reproducing Dimebag's parts in a live situation, Zakk said: "I always tell everybody, with Dime's, his legacy and his greatness. aside of his great chops and his technique and everything like that, it was a Dime's writing. Where [BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi created a whole genre, pretty much with PANTERA, it's its own entire genre. So I always put Dime, status-wise, just like Tony Iommi. As far as creating a genre, they're the benchmark of that music, for LAMB OF GOD and all those guys that play in that genre. They're THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, the SABBATH, the [LED] ZEPPELIN of that genre."
Back in February, Zakk told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the possibility of the reformed lineup of PANTERA making new music: "I think you would have to call it something else. You know what I mean? PANTERA is those four guys [Philip, Rex, Vinnie and Dimebag]. So, yeah, you can't replace that."
Pressed about whether he would want to do it under an altered name rather than calling it PANTERA, Wylde said: "Yeah. If that was ever a bridge we crossed, we'd have to wait until we get there. But right now, it's just the four of us celebrating what the fellas [from the classic lineup] created."
Zakk went on to say that he was open to making new music with Anselmo, Brown and Benante, provided that it was presented differently than just PANTERA. "Yeah, of course," he said. "I mean, how could you call it PANTERA unless it was just pre-existing material and we were gonna record it — stuff that was in demo state or whatever, and it is songs that the guys wrote. But as far as new songs, it would have to be — you'd call it something else."
Earlier in August, Wylde was asked by The Mistress Carrie Podcast how his opinion of Dimebag as a guitar player has changed as a result of having to dissect his parts, Zakk said: "I already knew my buddy was great. I already knew Dime was great. But then the more I was learning this stuff, I was, like, he's even greater than I ever thought. But, no, learning all the stuff or going through actually learning the songs, it's just, aside of Dime's great technique and his chops and everything like that… I mean, to me, his legacy is — I put it more like Tony Iommi, where what Tony created with SABBATH was basically its own entire genre of music. So PANTERA, they're the gold standard of that genre of music, whether it's 'power groove' or whatever, what Dime called it. The LAMB OF GOD guys are amazing, but they're cut from that cloth, that style of music that PANTERA forged, and all the bands that come after that. I mean, it's just kind of like PANTERA, what PANTERA created in their genre is the same thing as THE BEATLES, THE STONES, ZEPPELIN and SABBATH, all the bands that we love, where they're the benchmark of that style of music. So, yeah, that's why I always tell everybody, it's not so much how fast Dime was and everything like that; it's what he wrote. And that's his legacy, to me."
Asked what it's like to play the opening riff of the classic PANTERA song "Walk" every night, Wylde said: "It's truly amazing. Phil always says it every night. When we're, doing the shows with METALLICA, he goes, 'I think a lot of people don't know who we are, don't know who PANTERA is, he goes, 'but once that riff starts. They go, 'Oh, yeah, I've heard this song before.' It's an iconic riff, for sure. Totally."
In a separate interview, Zakk was asked by Joshua Toomey of the Talk Toomey podcast what goes through his mind when the curtain falls down as he and his bandmates launch into the opening riff of "A New Level" every night, Zakk said: "Oh, it's awesome. I love every second of the show — from the beginning to the end, man. Obviously, when we're doing 'Floods', I get pretty choked up doing that one, especially the end bit, the outro of Dime's, 'cause it's just me by myself. I don't see the video screens that are behind me, but, obviously, when I've seen the footage of it, it's just, like, 'Wow.' There's just pretty much not a dry eye in the house on that one. Yeah, I definitely get choked up doing that one, when we do 'Floods'.
"Everybody in the camp, everybody's just all great people," Zakk continued. "I mean, we've all known each other — the fellows in the band, we've known each other, but as far as the whole camp and the crew, we've all known each other from various tours and things. So it's like one gigantic family out there. So, I mean, the whole vibe, it's just a beautiful thing."
Regarding whether there were any PANTERA songs or parts that took him longer to figure out than the rest, Zakk said: "What I just found really awesome was Dime's… I mean, the reason why we're still talking about Dime's greatness and everybody, and all the guys that we love, whether it's King Edward [Eddie Van Halen], St. Rhoads [Randy Rhoads], Jimi Hendrix, I mean, all the guys, it's what they wrote. Aside of Dime's great technique and how amazing he was and how fast he could play and everything like that, it's what he wrote, just like with Randy and Eddie and everybody. I mean, all the guys that we love. But Dime's writing, like his chord choices and everything like that, it's just, like, 'Oh, wow. That's definitely really cool.' So, a lot of unexpected pre-choruses and things like that. It's, like, 'Oh, wow. I wonder what made him go there,' like really interesting chord choices. But, yeah, for sure.
"Going through, learning the whole catalog and learning deeper cuts and everything like that, I was, like, 'Wow. This one's pretty cool,'" he continued. "I mean, even the pre-chorus to 'Walk' or just the opening riff — a lot of a lot of the chord choices would end up becoming… They're dissonant, where that's obviously what Dime's going for, is the dissonance, whereas opposed to something would be like if it was a more ear-pleasing chord choice, but it would sound routine, and you could just tell Dime was going for… 'No, that's what everybody expects us to go. So, let's go here. Everyone expects us to make a left turn. So, let's make a right.' So, it's, like, oh, 'Wow, that's definitely interesting.' So, yeah, that's what I found, learning all the material and everything like that. So, for sure. So that, to me, is what puts Dime in that league with all the guys we love, whether it's Jimi Hendrix, whether it's Eddie and Randy. It's his writing."
This past April, Zakk told Ultimate Guitar about touring with the reformed PANTERA: "I feel [Dimebag] all the time. Even when we were getting ready to do the [PANTERA tour in 2022], [the early] rehearsals, and they were just figuring out how we were gonna do this, there'd be signs all over the place, whether [it was] a license plate that would be, like, '333' [three being Dimebag's favorite number], or I'd run into like a Dimebag license plate in the middle of nowhere. It was just, like, him just pushing this thing along, willing it to happen. So he's just always around. When we were in New York, just like signs, when we just did [a headlining show at] the [Madison Square] Garden [in February 2024], my wife Barbaranne was, like, Check this out.' Something came up and it just reminded us of Dime, and I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy.' Or we would look on our phone and it would be '333'. It's just these signs everywhere. And I could see Dime just doing it, going, 'I hope these idiots realize it's me sending these signs.' [Laughs]"
The reformed PANTERA is headlining a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and staging some of its own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 2025.
It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.
During a recent appearance on "Drinks With Johnny", the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, Zakk was asked how he, Philip, Rex and Charlie all "came together to decide that this was the right time, the right group to pay homage to the mighty PANTERA". The guitarist said: "Well, BLACK LABEL [SOCIETY] and DOWN, we did some shows together in 2014, we did a tour, and it was great. 'Cause I've known Phil [who also sings for DOWN] and Pepper [Keenan, DOWN guitarist] and all the guys, and Jimmy Bower [DOWN drummer], Father Bower Power, over there for a while. It was just a bunch of friends going out doing shows together. And we did some PANTERA stuff then, and then Father Rex came out and we jammed 'I'm Broken' and stuff like that, and it was a lot of fun. And it's always been rumored for years. I just said that's always on the fellas. Me and Charlie are buds, and we'll be here to support our friends, whatever they wanna do. So when Phil called me up one day, he was, like, 'Zakk, you wanna get together and do this? We're thinking about me, Rex and Charlie and yourself, and we'll go out and pay tribute to Dime and Vinnie.' I was, like, 'Of course. I always said I would be there for you guys when you felt the time was right to do it.'"
He continued: "But, yeah, we just got together and did the rehearsals down in New Orleans and then we've been rolling ever since. We just did the [Madison Square] Garden and everything like that, with LAMB OF GOD and the guys and everything like that. So it was great. So just looking out every night and seeing people taking a trip down memory lane, the people that have seen the original PANTERA… When Phil says every night, he's just, like, 'How many people, this is their first time ever seeing PANTERA?' And all the younger people that never got a chance to see 'em [raise their hands]. It just really is a beautiful thing.
"I always say it every night, when we were playing the Garden, it's just like if Dime and Vinnie were right there on the side of the stage, I'd go, 'Look at what you guys created.' So it's really special. I think it's just a beautiful thing every night paying honor and tribute to Dime and Vinnie every night, Phil and Rex and Dime and Vinnie, this thing that they created that brings so many people joy. So, I just think it's a beautiful thing every night."
Zakk previously discussed his involvement with PANTERA in a February 2024 interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights. At the time, he said: "Everybody in the whole camp, it's all great people. And it's crazy, because we've known each other for years, but you end up knowing, even with the crew and everything like that, all these people you've known for years — I mean, people that I've been with when I started with Ozzy [Osbourne] and everything like that. So, it's just a great time out there, man, for sure. And then, obviously, celebrating Vinnie and Dime every night, it's just awesome.
"The beautiful thing about music is, all the bands that we love, whether it's ZEPPELIN or [BLACK] SABBATH, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS or Elton John or PANTERA or whatever, everybody has their connection to that music," he continued. "That's the most powerful thing about music. I mean, you hear stuff, it just transports you back to when you were 13 years old, 14 years old, where you were and what you were doing when that music was going on. So, for so many people — it's amazing 'cause Phil always does it at like almost every night, he's just, like, 'How many people saw PANTERA back in the day?' And everybody, obviously, you have all the PANTERA faithful. And then he goes, 'How many people, this is their first time seeing PANTERA?' It's mind-blowing. I mean, I'd say it's almost like 60-40, 70-30 sometimes, where it's, like, 'Wow. That is amazing.'
"I never got a chance to see ZEPPELIN back in the day, so to see… When I went and saw the [Jimmy] Page and [Robert] Plant thing with the orchestra and everything, that was just amazing, because I never got a chance to see them back in the day. So, just the power of the music, to see it live was just… I saw 'em at Brendan Byrne Arena [in East Rutherford, New Jersey in April 1995] when we were working on [Ozzy Osbourne's 1995 album] 'Ozzmosis'. I got tickets and we went down to the gig that night, and it was amazing — 'cause I never I never got a chance to see it back in the day. So, it's pretty much the same, 'cause I know I was getting chills when I was watching it. So, yeah, it's a beautiful thing, man."
Zakk was also asked if he would be open to working on new material with PANTERA. He said: "Nah, I don't think so. Whenever Phil says that and all the younger kids are screaming and yelling, when they put the house lights on and everyone's got their fists up in the air 'cause that's the first time [they're seeing PANTERA live], I just look at like Vinnie and Dime, if they were on the side of the stage, and go, 'See what you guys created.' So it's just, like, yeah, it's awesome. It truly is, man. But, no, I don't think [the plan is] to record [as PANTERA]. I mean, it'd be like if [Eric] Clapton was playing with [drummer] Mitch [Mitchell] and [bassist] Noel [Redding], honoring Jimi [Hendrix], they're not gonna go in and record [and call it] THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE with Eric Clapton. [Laughs] I don't think anything like that. Obviously, if we were ever to do anything, it would be under a different name. Like Jimmy Page, if he was playing with Paul Rodgers and everything, it's THE FIRM; they're not going out as LED ZEPPELIN."
Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.
Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.
Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer. | +1 | |
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7 дек 2024
STREETLIGHT – New Single / Video “Sleep Walk” Streaming
 AOR/melodic rockers Streetlight unveil their new single and accompanying official video “Sleep Walk”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.
Vocalist Johannes Häger comments on the new single: “We are really thrilled to finally share what we have been working on in the studio lately! In classic AOR fashion, we feel that ‘Sleep Walk’ is a good taste of what Streetlight is all about, infectious music with a blend of ‘80s and modern production.”
Streetlight is an AOR/melodic rock band from Jonkoping, Sweden. The band is staying true to the genre, delivering distinctive melodies, punchy choruses and strong hooks, all in the likeness of bands like Journey, Toto and Kansas.
The debut album Ignition was released in 2023 by Frontiers Music, digitally and on CD. The music video of their single “Hit The Ground” has got over 140k views on YouTube. Since the release of Ignition, Streetlight have gained fans from over the world, and the album reviews have been stellar.
Streetlight is meant to be experienced live, and the band is taking their music on the road, playing both in clubs and on festivals, among others the Swedish AOR festival Malmö Melodic.
The music of Streetlight is melodic and guitar driven, with a sound that reminds you of the times when AOR was at its peak. And Streetlight wants to mediate music that is fun to listen to, as well as fun to play.
The debut album showed the world that Streetlight is a band to reckon with, represented by their d | 0 | |
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7 дек 2024
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7 дек 2024
ARMORED SAINT's JOEY VERA Undergoes Surgery For Posterior Vitreous Detachment
 ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera underwent a successful surgery for posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on a day off during the band's ongoing North American tour as the support act for W.A.S.P. Posterior vitreous detachment is a common age-related eye problem that occurs when the gel that fills your eyeball (vitreous gel) separates from your retina.
Earlier today (Tuesday, December 3),ARMORED SAINT singer John Bush shared the following update via the band's social media: "After going out to Thanksgiving dinner in New Orleans with the band and our crew, and then a hang with a couple guys from WASP and their crew, Joey Vera went to sleep. When he woke up in the morning in Houston he realized his left eye was impaired. His vision looked like it was only at 60% and he had several huge floaters in his sight. Hoping it was just fatigue he went on with his day and SAINT played Houston, the first of three dates in Texas. The next day when he woke up in San Antonio the eye was not better and obviously worse. He became extremely concerned and found an Ophthalmologist. The doctor was not a specialist but did various tests and said it was very possible this was something called PVD, Posterior Vitreous Detachment. The doctor recommended seeing a Retinal specialist but it was too late in the day to do that. Joey explained the situation to the band but the show had to go on. So Joey subdued himself onstage (which is not a natural state for him as a performer) and we rocked the house at the Aztec theatre.
"By Sunday in Dallas even though he didn't show it, his anxiety had grown extremely high. Because it was Sunday there were few options to see a doctor. He decided after the show (he performed again mind you) to go to the Baylor University emergency hospital. Unfortunately there was little they could do test wise other than an ultrasound which again confirmed PVD but not much else. The band reluctantly contacted a couple of bass player friends in case he would have to go home so we could continue the tour.
"Finally having an off day on Monday, the band stayed in Dallas (our next show is in Little Rock, Arkansas tonight) and Joey found a Retinal specialist in Fort Worth. The Specialist confirmed he had PVD with a tear on the retina and confirmed the blurry eyesight he was seeing in his eye was blood. He recommended immediate laser surgery. He had about ten minutes to make a decision. After considering the limited options he decided what to do. 'Gotta do it!'
"The surgery went well and other than an Uber ride from hell Joey returned to the band bus feeling more relieved physically and emotionally. It will take several weeks before his sight will return to normal and follow up doctor visits are on tap.
"Arriving in Little Rock on Tuesday Joey and the band are ready to resume playing our last 10 shows of this 7 week tour with WASP.
"If Joey is a little more tame than he usually is onstage, I know you'll all understand why. Although I'm sure it will be difficult for this bad ass mother fucker to contain himself."
ARMORED SAINT is working on material for the follow-up to the band's eighth full-length album, "Punching The Sky", which came out in October 2020 via Metal Blade Records.
This past June, ARMORED SAINT released a rendition of "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)". The classic track was originally written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and was first released by PEOPLE in 1970. Additional covers include THE FOUR TOPS (1974),SANTANA (1978) and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (1989).
"One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)" was produced by ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera, mixed by Jay Ruston and mastered by Maor Applebaum.
ARMORED SAINT released the "Symbol Of Salvation Live" CD/DVD in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. The release came in celebration of the seminal album's 30th anniversary. "Symbol Of Salvation Live" was a combination live album and video of the band playing the album in its entirety at New York City's famed Gramercy Theatre during its 2018 tour.
In July 2023, ARMORED SAINT was inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
In May 2023, ARMORED SAINT's long-awaited documentary, Armored Saint: Band Of Brothers", had its world premiere in the band's hometown at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood, California.
Earlier in the year, ARMORED SAINT wrapped up a successful North American tour with QUEENSRŸCHE.
After going out to Thanksgiving dinner in New Orleans with the band and our crew, and then a hang with a couple guys...
Posted by Armored Saint on Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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7 дек 2024
DAVID ELLEFSON Says 'Rock Is Dead In America': 'I Know People Will Lambaste Me For Saying That, But It Is'
 In a new interview with Ernest Skinner of Canada's Border City Rock Talk, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson spoke about his recent "Basstory" and "Bass Warrior" tours which saw the now-60-year-old musician performing cherished classics, deep cuts and providing insightful storytelling from his illustrious career. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wrote my memoir, 'My Life With Deth' back in — I think it came out in 2013 or something. And a friend called me and said there was a promoter who wanted to bring me to Australia to do a spoken-word tour. And I thought spoken word was, like, Mike Myers and that movie 'So I Married An Axe Murderer', where everybody's sitting around in the coffeehouse and they're drinking coffee and reading poetry… So I thought, 'Well, let me take my bass with me 'cause maybe, if worse comes to worse and it all falls apart, I can play some basslines and everybody will be happy.' So I created this thing ultimately called 'Basstory'. So it was a little bit of a performance, it was a little bit of storytelling, it was all this kind of stuff. So, as time moved along, I did that around the world, actually, a whole world tour of that. And then last year I created this thing called 'Bass Warrior', which is really more of a performance. My band's Italian, my solo records that I make under the ELLEFSON name, with Ellefson and Jeff Scott Soto, ELLEFSON SOTO, we do all of that with Andy Martongelli there in Verona, Italy. So we've got a nice little group of Italians that we write and produce the music [with], and they're my touring band as well. And we can go out. We'll kind of dip into my catalog, my body of work of all my stuff. And it's fun, man. And we go to some places — kind of like what we just did with KINGS OF THRASH. We go over into the Balkans area. We go into kind of Eastern Europe, we go into Poland, Prague, bits of Germany, et cetera."
Addressing the reason he has taken his solo tours out on the road in Europe and other parts of the world more frequently than he has in his home country, Ellefson explained: "Rock is dead in America — it really is. And I know people will lambaste me for saying that, but it is. When [KISS's] Gene Simmons said it, everybody hated him for it, but he's right. Unless you're an established band, unless you're LINKIN PARK and METALLICA and KISS and SLAYER, whatever, to start a new rock band — kids aren't into that shit. They're into Facebook and Tesla. Yeah, their lives are on their phones. Being a rock star is not cool anymore, like it was for us growing up. So, if you've got it established, you can keep it working.
"So, for me, I enjoy South America, Latin America, [where] they love rock and roll," he continued. "Asia, Australia. So you leave America and, man, rock and roll is very much alive and well. They champion the legacy stuff, they like new stuff. There's a lot more… I did a record for Napalm Records, and they had a bunch of new groups. JINJER had just come out. There's all this cool new stuff, as well as me and K.K. Downing, and legacy artists were putting records out. So I just find that it's more supportive. And you look at the statistics, like the Spotify numbers, you look at that globally, outside of America, and it's just stronger. It's just a different culture. It is what it is.
"So I play here in America, of course, too, but I find that outside of the USA, sadly, is where kind of the bread and butter is for that, as far as the bigger interest and the abilities to still keep playing and touring," Ellefson added. "And they appreciate it. Especially going to a lot of these places in Eastern Europe, the bigger bands, even MEGADETH, you'd play Warsaw, you'd play Bucharest, but you can't go kind of deeper into the interior to some of these smaller places. And so when I do some of these smaller things, like 'Bass Warrior', I can be a lot more nimble and I can kind of go through the cracks and crevices and really go. People, yeah, they love it, man. Where we are here in North America, you get in your car, you drive down a freeway, you go to another town far away to see a concert. It's not that easy for other people in other cultures. So I feel a privilege to be able to take my music to them."
Last month, Ellefson announced his "Bass Warrior" tour across Europe for spring 2025. The trek will feature Ellefson and his solo band performing select cuts from his well-known catalog of MEGADETH hits, solo material and other hard rock and metal favorites which inspired him during his 40-year music career.
To coincide with the announcement, Ellefson teamed up with "American Idol" contestant James Durbin to release a powerhouse version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Metal Gods". The song also features Ellefson's solo band of musicians, including his longtime friend and musical director Andy Martongelli. The song is now available across all digital platforms.
James Durbin was a contestant on the tenth season of "American Idol" and performed alongside JUDAS PRIEST during the show’s finale that year.
Ellefson's version of "Metal Gods" was produced by Ellefson and his solo band guitarist Andy Martongelli and mixed by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Recording Studios in Wembley, U.K.
Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH more than three years ago after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.
David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.
In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the MEGADETH leader shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.
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6 дек 2024
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6 дек 2024
DUFF MCKAGAN And SLASH Join Forces On New Charity Single 'I Can Breathe'
 GIBSON BAND, a revolving collective of musicians who join together to make music and raise funds and awareness for worthy causes, has released a hard-hitting new rock song, "I Can Breathe". The benefit single features rhythm guitars and piano from Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson, with special guests and GUNS N' ROSES members Duff McKagan on lead vocals and lyrics, and Slash on lead guitar and solos.
Gueikian says: "I am grateful for the collaboration from Slash, Duff, and from my friend Serj Tankian's [SYSTEM OF A DOWN] participation with cover artwork. I'm thrilled we are donating all proceeds from the song to a great and relevant cause."
McKagan adds: "It was such a pleasure to work with Cesar and his whole crew on this tune. The musical slant and progressive rock-ness of this huge epic pushed me in a whole new direction. I love a challenge and Cesar killed it! Most importantly, to be of service for mental health issues and awareness is super important to me at this time. Let's rock!"
Slash states: "Cesar and Duff came to me with a really cool piece of music. I loved the riff idea, and Duff's vocal, so I felt right at home on the track."
Gibson Records, McKagan, Slash and Gueikian, will donate 100% proceeds from the sale of "I Can Breathe", in addition to all auction funds raised to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),through Gibson Gives. NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health resource organization that is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI's mission is to create a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.
The cover artwork for "I Can Breathe" is based on a large-scale original painting by Tankian titled "They're Coming". The original painting by Serj will be auctioned off alongside a one-of-a-kind Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar which also features the hand-painted artwork as part of Julien's Auctions' forthcoming global auction.
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6 дек 2024
URIAH HEEP Will Continue Playing Shows, Even After Completion Of 'Farewell' Tour
 This past September, British progressive rock legends URIAH HEEP announced the U.K. leg of their farewell tour, dubbed "The Magician's Farewell". The seven shows, which will launch on February 19, 2025 in Birmingham, will feature very special guests, Canadian legends APRIL WINE and U.S. melodic hard rockers TYKETTO.
Asked in a new interview with Planet Rock's Paul Anthony how he will cope with not being on tour anymore because he has lived his life on the road for so many years, URIAH HEEP guitarist Mick Box said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it'll take two to three years to go around [laughs], and then once we've done that, we'll still be doing festivals and weekend work and stuff like that, but the long arduous tours we're not gonna do anymore. And I don't think it's logistically possible now with the way things are with carnets for equipment to get through territories. Bus prices tripled. And we did 11 flights the other month and five of them were cancelled, so it's getting really hard to make those things work."
As for what he is planning on doing with his time once URIAH HEEP has completed its farewell tour, Mick said: "I guess we'll do [some] writing and go in the recording studio and do other aspects of the of the game, but as I say, we're still gonna be touring, still gonna be playing. It's just that we're not doing the really long stuff. We'll do it in sections rather than a whole long splurge."
As for the setlist for "The Magician's Farewell", Mick said: "I guess a setlist really writes itself to a degree, because there's so many songs that people expect to hear — you know, the 'Easy Livin'' to 'July Morning' and stuff like that and 'Stealin'' and whatever — so we kind of use that as the template. Then we'll add in some of the latest-album songs, and then build it from there. And maybe revisit something that we haven't revisited for a while, or even something we haven't played before. So we kind of just put it in the mixing pot, really. But it kind of works itself out because the popularity of the songs we've got, which is marvelous."
After Anthony noted that URIAH HEEP still records new music and is not known as "just a heritage act" which doesn't perform its more recent songs live, Mick concurred. "Well, yeah," he said. "I mean, when you look at it, we've got a lot of classic rock songs. And the new songs are soon to be classic, because it's only time that gives them that title. [Laughs] So, yeah, we look at it like that. And they merge very well, because it's the band doing what the band does, using the same template we had from day one, musically, and that's the Hammond organ, the wah-wah guitar, five[-part vocal harmonies], all that sort of stuff. We just apply that to each song and it's URIAH HEEP."
URIAH HEEP's farewell tour will run for approximately two or three years and will include performances in all parts of the globe.
In November 2023, Box was asked by Metallerium how he and his URIAH HEEP bandmates have managed to retain their trademark sound despite having gone through so many lineup changes over the years. He responded: "Well, I think, I think, basically, as long as I'm there, the band's gonna sound like URIAH HEEP. Because we created a template on how we sounded back in 1970 with our first album, '...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble'. So, we've continued with that all the way along the line. And I think a lot of the credit must go to Jay Ruston, our producer, because he understood where we come from, what we're all about, but he managed to make the album sound really fresh and today, and I think that's a marvelous achievement. So really, as long as we keep playing and writing good songs and doing good performances, and we get someone like Jay Ruston recording it, I think it will always sound fresh and exciting."
Regarding what has kept URIAH HEEP going for so long, Mick said: "I think the only thing that drives us on, it's only one word — it's called passion. And if you've got passion for what you do, then eventually you'll achieve it."
URIAH HEEP's 25th studio album, "Chaos & Colour", was released in January 2023 via Silver Lining Music. The LP was recorded during the summer of 2021 at Chapel Studios in London with the aforementioned Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, COREY TAYLOR, BLACK STAR RIDERS) at the helm.
"Jay was completely on board with what we are trying to achieve in the studio," Box previously said. "We're a band that has a fantastic heritage and to carry on that tradition it was vitally important that the band recorded in the studio all playing at the same time. Jay understood that and he pulled out the best of us as a band, as well as individual players, while getting us some amazing sounds."
URIAH HEEP's current lineup includes Box, frontman Bernie Shaw, bassist Dave Rimmer, drummer Russell Gilbrook and keyboardist Phil Lanzon.
URIAH HEEP debuted in 1970 with the release of one of hard rock's milestones, "Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble", and has since sold in excess of 40 million albums worldwide. They have constantly toured the world, playing up to 125 shows a year to more than 500,000 fans. The band's live set features the classic tracks from the '70s and is a musical journey from the band's beginnings to the present day.
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6 дек 2024
MICHAEL MONROE Breaks Ribs At U.K.'s PLANET ROCKSTOCK Festival; Finnish Shows Postponed
 Legendary HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe was forced to postpone two shows in Finland after breaking his ribs at this past weekend's Planet Rockstock festival in Trecco Bay, South Wales, United Kingdom.
Earlier today, the following message was posted on Michael's social media: "We regret to announce that this weekend's Michael Monroe shows in Helsinki & Tampere have been postponed.
"Michael was injured this past weekend at Planet Rockstock, resulting in broken ribs. His doctors have said that he will need at least 6 weeks to recover.
"Tickets for both shows will be valid for the new dates. If you are unable to make it to the rescheduled dates, refunds will be available from point-of-purchase."
The rescheduled dates are as follows:
March 5, 2025 – Tampere, Finland @ Tavara-Ssema
March 6, 2025 – Helsinki, Finland @ Kulttuuritalo
* New venue. Tickets remain valid.
As previously reported, Monroe will return to the U.S. West Coast for three very special shows in 2025.
After nine long years, the 62-year-old Finnish-born singer, who has been performing as a solo artist for the past four decades, will perform at the following venues:
April 11 - Count's Vamp'd - Las Vegas, NV
April 12 - Whisky A Go Go - Hollywood, CA
April 13 - Rainbow Bar & Grill - Hollywood, CA
The April 13 concert at the Rainbow Bar & Grill will be extra special as it celebrates the 53rd anniversary of the world-famous bar on Sunset Boulevard. Admission is free with a two-drink minimum. Also appearing on the bill at the Rainbow Bar & Grill will be FASTER PUSSYCAT, ODIN, BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and more.
In a September 2019 interview with Love Is Pop, Monroe was asked if there was any chance of him touring the United States anytime soon. He responded: "Well, we'd love to play the States and we've done some tours there and stuff. New York and L.A. are always great, but the rest of the country… We've come to the conclusion that unless you get to be an opening act for a stadium-sized band, you're just banging your head against the wall, playing to a couple of hundred people a night. We can do that forever and not get anywhere in the Midwest and all that.
"I like the audiences in America — they appreciate good, authentic rock 'n' roll — but unfortunately, the situation is such," he continued. "Especially now because the mainstream is like country and hip-hop. Rock 'n' roll isn't happening there, so far as I know. So, unless you get to play to a big amount of people every night for about a year or two opening for a stadium-sized band, then it's kind of not worth it. You're just wasting money and time. Unfortunately."
The Monroe band's all-star lineup features former HANOI ROCKS and NEW YORK DOLLS bass player Sami Yaffa, who has played with Michael since the '80s. On guitar duties are Rich Jones (formerly of the Ginger Wildheart band) and Steve Conte (best known as the guitarist who filled the void left by Johnny Thunders in the NEW YORK DOLLS, as well as playing guitar with many other name acts such as Suzi Quatro, Eric Burden and many more) and drummer Karl Rockfist (who has played with notable acts such as DANZIG).
Monroe's latest solo album, "I Live Too Fast To Die Young", came out in 2022 via Silver Lining Music.
Monroe celebrated his 60th birthday in September 2022 at the Helsinki Ice Hall (Helsingin Jäähalli) in Finland. As the grand finale of the concert, the original lineup of HANOI ROCKS, one of Finland's most significant rock bands of all time, took the stage: Monroe, Andy McCoy, Sami Yaffa, Nasty Suicide and Gyp Casino. The "support band" for the show was the reunited DEMOLITION 23. Led by Monroe, the band rose to great cult fame, although they only released one album ("Demolition 23") in 1994 and broke up shortly afterwards. This was DEMOLITION 23's first performance since the band's breakup in 1995.
Monroe and McCoy founded HANOI ROCKS in the late 1970s and the band's original lineup was established in 1980. HANOI ROCKS, the first Finnish rock band to make an international breakthrough, recorded their first three albums with the original lineup: "Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks" (1981),"Oriental Beat" (1982) and "Self Destruction Blues" (1982). Casino was replaced in 1982 by Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley who became an integral member of HANOI ROCKS. Razzle died in a tragic accident in 1984. Unfortunately, this led to the band's untimely demise in early 1985.
HANOI ROCKS did reform once before in 2002, albeit with only Monroe and McCoy from the band's classic lineup, and released a comeback album, "Twelve Shots On The Rocks". The reunion lasted until 2009.
Posted by Michael Monroe on Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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6 дек 2024
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6 дек 2024
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Sarkasm
