Today's Day in Rock
Dropkick Murphys Involved In Fatal Traffic Incident
(TeamRock Radio) The Dropkick Murphys were involved in a fatal traffic incident on Sunday night in Texas, when a person ran in front of their tour bus in a suspected suicide.
They've thanked fans for understanding after being forced to cancel their show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while they deal with the aftermath of the tragedy. The Celtic punks say in a statement: "We were en route to Dallas airport to drop off singer Al Barr, who's flying home for the funeral of a lifelong friend.
"Just north of Austin a pedestrian suddenly ran onto the highway in front of our tour bus. Police suspect a suicide. We were left with a driver who's been severely shaken up, and a bus too damaged to continue." Read more here.
Slipknot's Corey Taylor Vs. Gene Simmons
(Classic Rock) Corey Taylor has urged Gene Simmons to "get out more" while once again hailing the current rock scene as alive and very much kicking. The Slipknot frontman says he's thrilled with the success of his band's latest album .5: The Gray Chapter, but insists he doesn't always believe success relates directly to sales.
Taylor points to the success of the recent Knotfest festival as a true indicator of the thriving rock and metal scene. He was responding to Kiss star Gene Simmons' controversial comment that "rock is dead," which sparked a string of musicians to defend the genre.
Taylor tells KLAQ: "I think people put too much on sales, because that doesn't relate to how many people hear it. In this day and age it's more about getting people to hear the music.
"I love the fact that we had the highest sales in the first week for a metal band the whole year, in a long time. I'm proud of that. But at the same time that doesn't relate to how many people have heard it and bought specific songs.
"We had three million views for the Knotfest live streams and you don't get awards for that. We had so many million views of The Negative One video and The Devil In I video, and you don't get awards for that.
"Just the fact that we had almost 70,000 people over the Knotfest weekend proves something. You don't always need a platinum album to relate that to success so, with all due respect to Mr Simmons, he needs to get out more." Check out the full interview here.
Malcolm Young Hasn't Heard AC/DC's New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Retired AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young hasn't heard the band's upcoming album Rock Or Bust, says brother Angus. And the health issues that caused his retirement began appearing before they'd made 2008 record Black Ice, reveals the only remaining original member.
Malcolm's family confirmed in September that his dementia had advanced to a stage that meant his career was over. Rock Or Bust was recorded with nephew Stevie Young in his place.
Angus tells Rolling Stone: "It's something that had been happening for a long time. The symptoms had surfaced even before the last project. He was still capable of knowing what he wanted to do.
"I said to him, 'Do you want to go through with what we're doing?' And he said, 'Sh*t, yeah.' He liked to finish what he started." Read more here.
Goo Goo Dolls Sued By Former Member
(Classic Rock) Former Goo Goo Dolls drummer Michael Malinin has filed a lawsuit against his two former bandmates over money he believes he's entitled to, according to reports.
He took over from original drummer George Tutuska in 1995 and left the band in 2013 after 19 years with founding members John Rzeznik and Robby Takac.
At the time he said on Twitter: "Got some news today. Just wanted to say thank you to the fans who've supported me for 19 years. Best of luck and happy travels to the band."
The following day he issued the message: "Thanks for the kind words and support. To clarify, it was not my decision to leave the band. But no grudges held. I wish them all the best."
But he's now issued his former bandmates with a lawsuit, claiming he was fired mid-tour when he took time off to see his wife Krista who was in labor with twins. Read more here.
Marilyn Manson Announces Hell Not Hallelujah Tour
Marilyn Manson has announced that they will be launching a North American tour early next year in support of his forthcoming studio album "The Pale Emperor."
Manson has dubbed the trek the Hell Not Hallelujah Tour and it is scheduled to kick off on January 21 in Washington, D.C. and will be concluding in Las Vegas on Valentine's Day.
"The Pale Emperor," Manson's ninth studio album and the follow up to 2012's Born Villain, is set to be released on January 20th, the day prior to the tour kick off. Check out the tour dates here.
Malice Guitarist Mick Zane Has Brain Tumor
(TeamRock Radio) Malice lead guitarist Mick Zane has been diagnosed with a small brain tumor. He was taken ill in Los Angeles last week during studio sessions and was rushed to hospital in Burbank, California.
He was due to undergo surgery on Monday to remove the tumor. He explains to KNAC how it was discovred, "I went to see Judas Priest at the Nokia Theatre last Tuesday night.
"I left the show with a terrible headache, and the next day I got sick in the studio. They had to call emergency medical technicians and rush me to the emergency room." Read more here.
Machine Head Almost Broke Up
(TeamRock Radio) Robb Flynn has given more details on Machine Head's acrimonious split with sacked bassist Adam Duce. The frontman recalls he, drummer Dave McClain and manager Joey Huston all said they were going to quit the band - before realising they had to fire Duce to keep the show on the road.
Just weeks after Machine Head released their new album Bloodstone & Diamonds, Flynn says in a new blog post: "Two years ago I never thought this feeling of releasing a new album would ever happen again. On December 14 we played the last show on Dethklok tour at the Roseland Ballroom (RIP) in New York City.
"It was a disastrous day and a disastrous ending to disastrous tour. At that point in time the tension in the band was so thick you could've tried to cut it with a knife, but the f***ing thing probably would've broke your hand. Dave McClain walked off stage and said to me, 'That's the last show I ever play with Adam Duce.'
"I was talking with Dave and our manager Joey, and at one point Dave threw out that he was serious about New York, he wasn't playing with our bassist ever again, or he was quitting the band. Joey laughed and said, 'Oh no you're not, cause I'm f***ing quitting the band.' I laughed and said 'F*** you guys, because I'm quitting the band.'
"We all laughed for a minute, laughed that all three of us had just quit the band. Read more here.
Allman Brothers Band Release Classic Concert Online
(Classic Rock) The Allman Brothers Band have released a video of their 1970 Fillmore East, New York performance on YouTube channel Music Vault. It was originally filmed as part of a TV special titled Welcome To Fillmore East which featured short sets by the Allman Brothers Band, the Byrds, Van Morrison, the Elvin Bishop Group and Sha-N-Na.
The band played four tracks on the night: Don't Keep Me Wonderin', Dreams, In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed and Whipping Post and came six months before their Live At Fillmore East double album.
The performance features the original lineup of Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks, Jai Johanny Johanson and Tom Doucette. Read more and watch the concert here.
Jeff Loomis Joins Arch Enemy
(TeamRock Radio) Arch Enemy have hired Jeff Loomis as their new guitarist - replacing the outgoing Nick Cordle. Former Nevermore man Loomis joins the Swedish group ahead of their European tour, which kicks off on November 26.
Loomis says: "I'm very excited to be playing with Arch Enemy. Michael Amott and I have stayed in contact over the years since we toured together when I was playing in Nevermore.
"Not only do I admire his guitar playing and songwriting, but I also consider him a close friend. To be able to share the stage with Michael, Sharlee, Daniel and Alissa is something I'm really looking forward to."
Arch Enemy have been on the road in support of recent album War Eternal. They moved quickly to replace Cordle, who is leaving to work on other projects. Read more here.
Bruce Springsteen Launches Archival Concert Series
(hennemusic) Bruce Springsteen is launching a new archival concert series with the release of a 2012 live set from New York's Apollo Theater. The March 9, 2012 show was the opening night of Springsteen's tour in support of "Wrecking Ball."
The event also marked the singer's first show without saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who passed away June 18, 2011 at the age of 69 following complications from a massive stroke.
The Apollo concert was originally broadcast live on SiruiusXM's Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio channel. Springsteen is making archival concerts available as high-resolution 24-bit downloads, MP3s, or lossless CD-Quality downloads. Read more here.
Bush Launching North American Tour
(hennemusic) Bush have announced dates for a North American tour in support of their latest album, "Man On The Run." The band will be joined by Theory Of A Dead Man and Stars In Stereo for the 6-week trek, which starts January 30 in San Francisco.
Prior to the tour's launch, Bush will perform a string of select shows in St. Louis, Detroit, Tulsa, Chicago, Nashville and Los Angeles; the latter will see them joining Linkin Park and System Of A Down at the L.A. Forum for KROQ's Almost Acoustic Xmas.
"Man On The Run", the band's sixth release, was produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, Mastadon) at Studio 606, the Northridge, California-based studio owned by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.
The project is follow-up to 2011's "The Sea Of Memories", the group's first record in a decade. Check out the tour dates here.
Dan Lilker Considered Joining Metallica After Cliff's Death
(TeamRock Radio) Former Anthrax bassist Dan Lilker has revealed he considered the possibility of joining Metallica when Cliff Burton died. The bassists had been friends until the tour bus tragedy that killed Burton in 1986 - and other contacts and colleagues had noticed a similarity in their musical styles when Metallica began looking for a replacement.
Lilker tells Songfacts: "People came up to me, saying with a wink, 'Dan, you joining Metallica?' But I never got a call about it." And he's not sure if he'd have enjoyed working with James Hetfield and co because of the way the band is set up.
"Who knows if I would have lasted?" he says. "That's a band where two dudes make all the money and they pretty much dictate exactly what they want to do. Most of the bands I've been in, I'm one of the main songwriters and direct the nature of the music.
"And that first Metallica album that came out after Cliff died, that had Jason Newsted on it - there's no bass on it at all." Read more here.
Dokken Made 'Crazy Money' For Chicken Commercial
(Classic Rock) Don Dokken says his band were paid "crazy money" for their appearance in a Norton Internet Security commerical. Dokken were filmed in a huge warehouse and portrayed as a computer virus which was attacking a PC - represented by a chicken.
The bizarre advert was only ever shown online, but Dokken says the band were paid a small fortune for it. He tells Inside Metal: "A friend of mine, Ryan Ebner, was actually staying in my Beverly Hills house, and I had a guest house. And he says, 'I'm doing this commercial and one of my bands pulled out. Do you wanna do a commercial?'
"I said, 'Yeah, I'll do a commercial.' He's, like, 'It'll be you and the chicken.' And I went, 'No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not gonna punk myself.' And then he told me how much he'd pay me. And I went, 'Really?' He goes, 'Dude, it's Norton Antivirus.' I said, 'For that kind of money, I'll wear a chicken suit. I will be the chicken. I will flap my wings and I will cluck.'" Read more and watch the funny ad here.
Prog Pioneers Lucifer's Friend Return After 20 Years
(Prog) German prog rock pioneers Lucifer's Friend have announced their comeback - which will be launched with a career-spanning compilation. Awakening will include some of their biggest hits as well as new material.
The band released their debut, self-titled album in 1970 but suffered a blow when singer John Lawton left to join Uriah Heep. After splitting in 1982, they briefly reformed in 1994 and released ninth album Sumo Grip.
Twenty years on, they are back, with Awakening due out in March 2015 and available now for pre-order via Cherry Red Records. They have been lined up to appear at Sweden Rock Festival in June next year. Read more here.
Joe Lynn Turner Says Fans Deserve A Rainbow Reunion
(TeamRock Radio) Rated X frontman Joe Lynn Turner would love a Rainbow reunion - to allow the band to go out in a "blaze of glory." Singer Turner has his hands full with supergroup Rated X, but he feels Rainbow still has a lot to offer fans and says he would be open to a reunion.
Turner still performs Rainbow songs live, as do fellow former Rainbow singers Graham Bonnet and Doogie White. Bonnet replaced Ronnie James Dio in the band in 1979.
Turner - who also fronted Deep Purple for a spell - tells Metal Forces: "In my opinion, for Rainbow it would be one last shot and then going out in a blaze of glory so to speak. I think the fans deserve it, and to honour all of the members of Rainbow, past and present.
"I always feel that in my sets, I play Rainbow, Purple, and things like that because no-one else is doing it. I play Ronnie's songs and all that stuff, Graham's, whatever - I have no compunction about doing that material." Read more here.
Guitarist Concerned About Bret Michaels' Health
(Classic Rock) Bret Michaels' guitarist Pete Evick says he finds it hard to watch his boss fight through illness onstage. Evick has given another road update on Poison frontman Michaels' solo US tour. Michaels has suffered a series of health scares this year, most recently resulting in him undergoing kidney surgery.
He has been taking painkiller Dilauded and anti-inflammatory Prednisone to help get him through the shows. And while Michaels "killed it" at a gig in Florida on November 13, ahead of a second Florida show, Evick said he wishes the singer would take a break.
Evick says: "Most people take weeks to heal from stuff like this and he should as well. Offstage I can tell he's still hurting, but he killed it last night and I suspect tonight will be exactly the same." Read more here.
Entombed AD Frontman Talks Split With Alex Hellid
(TeamRock Radio) Entombed AD frontman Lars Goran Petrov says the band's split with guitarist Alex Hellid had to happen. The fallout from the lineup change led them to alter their name from Entombed, and they finally released their album Back To The Front earlier this year - seven years after previous outing Serpent Saints: The Ten Amendments.
Petrov tells RevolutionMusic (via Blabbermouth): "It had to be done. There was too much bullsh*t, crying and whining about things. Some people are comfortable staying at home.
"We did what bands should do - release an album and go on tour, and that's what it's all about. We added two letters, but it's still the same band, only without people that want to stay at home or take millions of years over a riff." Read more here.
Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Thought He Would Crash and Burn
(Classic Rock) Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx says he expected to crash and burn at a young age. And he reveals the reason he threw himself into music and the accompanying hedonistic lifestyle was because he didn't have a stable family life and never thought he'd make it through the other side.
He tells The Guardian: "I never had a template of what a family was. I never really thought I would ever make it to that place in my life. I thought I'd be one of these crash and burn kids.
So I threw myself headlong into music and that lifestyle - I never really figured I'd get out of the other side. A few years later, when I got sober and was able to become a father and have a family, that was when some of the greatest lessons came." Read more here.
Muse and Marilyn Manson Added As Download Headliners
(Classic Rock) Muse have been confirmed as the Saturday night main stage headline act for download 2015. Their set will follow Faith No More at Donington on Saturday, June 13 next year.
Also confirmed in the second batch of acts to be announced for the festival is Marilyn Manson, who will headline the second stage on Saturday. Making up the second batch of acts to be announced are pop punk heroes A Day To Remember. Yesterday, festival bosses revealed Slipknot, Judas Priest, Black Stone Cherry and Five Finger Death Punch were set to play on Friday.
Muse's appearance will be their first ever set at Download. The band say: "We're really looking forward to Download. We've never played the festival before so it's going to be really special." Read more here.
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Lands Role In Upcoming Film
(TeamRock Radio) Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has landed a role in upcoming music drama Geezer. He'll also write and perform new tracks for the film which also stars Judy Greer, Fred Armisen and Selma Blair.
The movie focuses on the mid-life crisis of a husband and father who revisits his punk past by throwing a lavish party. Here, he comes face-to-face with his ex-girlfriend and former bandmates who have all moved on with their life.
And director Lee Kirk reckons Armstrong is a perfect fit for the role. He tells Variety: "Billie Joe Armstrong brings an exciting authenticity to the film. He's a dad, a musician and an incredible talent." Read more here.
AC/DC Release New Song Rock Or Bust
(hennemusic) AC/DC have released the title track to their forthcoming album, "Rock Or Bust", as the project's second single. The tune follows "Play Ball" as the band prepare to launch their first album in 6 years on December 2.
AC/DC filmed videos for both songs in London early last month without drummer Phil Rudd, who made headlines following his recent arrest in New Zealand.
On November 6, Rudd was charged with attempting to procure a murder by New Zealand police after he allegedly tried to have two men killed, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill. Authorities dropped the charge of attempting to procure a murder the next day due to lack of evidence.
Rudd does appear on "Rock Or Bust", which was recorded this past spring at Vancouver's Warehouse Studio with producer Brendan O'Brien (Aerosmith, Pearl Jam) and engineer Mike Fraser.
Guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young's nephew, Stevie, handled rhythm guitar on the album after Malcolm stepped away from the group to deal with ongoing health issues related to dementia, according to his family; he is now officially retired from AC/DC.
Listen to the song here.
Ice-T Gives 'Turn Down for What' A Metal Makeover
(Radio.com) You've heard the Star Wars version. You've made it through the voting awareness video. Now, you can enjoy the inevitable metal version of "Turn Down for What" with the release of Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 6, the long-running series from Fearless Records featuring rock bands of many dispositions covering the pop songs of today, along with other compilations of country, classic rock and even Christmas covers.
And perhaps the song to get the most attention is Upon a Burning Body's version of "Turn Down for What," which also features rapper and Body Count frontman Ice-T.
Upon a Burning Body's "Turn Down for What" doesn't deviate too much from the source material. The electronic blips of DJ Snake and Lil Jon's original are replaced with grooving metal riffs that ape the original, while frontman Danny Leal's screams mix with Ice-T's rhymes. There's even a quick insert of Metallica's "Sad But True" toward the end, in case you needed a song to try to mash up with "Turn Down for What" in the future.
In other words, if your "Turn Down for What" needed less Lil Jon shouting and more guttural growling (and a lot more profanity), you've found your match. Check it out here.
Foo Fighters Cover Jane's Addiction With Perry Farrell and Joe Walsh
(Radio.com) Over the past few days or so, Foo Fighters have made more headlines for frontman Dave Grohl's comments on Taylor Swift and Spotify and bands who play one classic album live.
But Friday night, the attention shifted back to their new album and HBO show of the same name, Sonic Highways. During a release party for the Los Angeles episode of Sonic Highways at Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip, the band played tracks from their new album and brought out a couple of surprise guests: Joe Walsh and Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction.
Together, they covered Jane's Addiction's 1988 single "Mountain Song," from Nothing's Shocking, with Farrell on vocals and Walsh on guitar duty, plus Walsh's own "Rocky Mountain Way," from his 1973 album The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get.
Check it out here.
Billy Idol Previews TV Special
(hennemusic) Billy Idol is sharing a preview of his appearance on the next episode of Guitar Center Sessions. Idol can be seen rocking classics "Dancing With Myself" and "White Wedding", along with "Can't Break Me Down", the lead single from his new album, "Kings & Queens Of The Underground."
Guitar Center Sessions with Billy Idol will air Friday, November 21 at 9pm on DIRECTV's AUDIENCE (channel 239). Currently on tour in Europe, Idol returns to the States next month to play a series of radio station-sponsored Christmas concerts before launching a North American theatre tour at the House Of Blues in New Orleans on January 21.
Last month, Idol published his self-written memoir, "Dancing With Myself." The autobiography delivers a brutally honest account of his journey to fame - from his early days as frontman of the pioneering UK punk band Generation X to his international solo career.
Watch the preview here.
The Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song Tiberius
(Radio.com) The Smashing Pumpkins continue to debut new music from their upcoming Monuments to an Elegy album; after premiering "One and All" two weeks ago, now comes "Tiberius."
The three-minute track features quite the juxtaposition of Pumpkins sounds, going from 0 to 100 in a matter of moments. After beginning with piano, a guitar riff mimicking the piano melody roars forth over crunching rhythm guitar.
Further into the song, Billy Corgan and co. are flanked by towering orchestral backing. The tune is far more classic Pumpkins than original single "Being Beige," sliding more in line with "One and All" earlier this month.
It's off Monuments to an Elegy, Smashing Pumpkins' 10th studio album, due out Dec. 9. The record will be followed by another album, Day for Night, that's scheduled for release sometime in 2015.
Listen to the song here.
Wayne Coyne Relives Armed Robbery In Animated Clip
(TeamRock Radio) Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne is the subject of the latest Blank On Blank animated interview, which focuses on the moment he thought he was going to be shot dead during an armed robbery when he was 17 years old.
The PBS Digital Studios series seeks to enhance the power of words by presenting audio recordings with original artwork. In the interview, which took place in 2002, Coyne says the experience changed him because it forced him to face up to the fact that life doesn't last for ever - and that it freed him to explore the concept in his music.
"We all laid on the ground and I thought, 'F***, this is it. I'm 17 and this is how it ends,'" he says. "You're just working one second, the next second you're laying on the ground and some guy puts a bullet in your head."
But the robbery ended with no shots fired. Coyne continues: "I remember the elation. We couldn't stop laughing and crying and jumping up and down. We were celebrating like we'd won a million dollars. I think it changed me.
"The idea of confronting the always-present idea makes living better. I hate the notion that I'd ever forget how temporary this whole thing is. Life is worth living, even though we're all headed to the same hole at the end of the day. Without coming to terms with it, you're not coming to terms with the joys of life."
Watch the clip here.
The Defiled Tribute Fans and Lost Loved Ones In New Video
(TeamRock Radio) The Defiled have posted a video for the song Five Minutes, which originally appeared in acoustic form on their third album Daggers. The video includes footage shot on the band's recent tip to Greenland, as well as tributes from fans who have lost loved ones.
Five Minutes is probably our most emotional song, and the one most personal to me" says The AvD. "We didn't originally plan to film a video for this, but when we were out in Greenland we had the opportunity to film the performance part. Despite the breathtaking beauty of our surroundings, that wasn't enough to really convey the deep emotions of this song, so as a song that deals with loss, we asked our fans to share their stories with us, and offered them the chance to pay tribute to their lost loved ones. The feedback was overwhelming - in more ways than one - and you couldn't help but be touched reading all the stories the 'defilers' shared with us.
"The day of filming was an emotional rollercoaster - bittersweet. So much sadness in the air, but also therapeutic at the same time. I think everyone there felt the same. It's easy to look at people like us - metalheads, goths, whatever you want to call us - and think we are morbid people obsessed with death, that death is something we welcome, but just 'cos we wear black it doesn't make us immune to grief. The pain one feels when losing someone close is universal, and something no one is exempt from.
"I want to thank all of the defilers who came along to take part in this. You are all beautiful, brave and have helped us make our best video yet - thank you""
Watch the video here.
Nightingale Streaming New Song On Stolen Wings
(Prog) Swedish prog-metal outfit Nightingale are streaming the track On Stolen Wings from their latest album Retribution. It was released last week via InsideOutMusic and is their first record in seven years. Now they've issued a stream of the opening track to support the record.
Mainman Dan Swano says: "After all the demos were done for the album, we gathered in the rehearsal room and gave them all a thorough spin. It took some time to get the arrangements right for On Stolen Wings and during the intense rehearsals there were a few happy accidents that completely changed the vibe of the song into something that I had been searching for all along.
"The lyrics deal with the kind of person that sucks the lifeblood out of creative people, that doesn't know how to bring their vision to the real world and then steals their ideas and takes full credit for it."
Read more and check out the song here.
Osada Vida Release Sky Full Of Dreams Video
(Prog) Polish prog-metal outfit Osada Vida have released a music video for the track Sky Full Of Dreams. The song is taken from fifth album The After Effect.
It's the follow up to 2013's Particles and their first record with guitarist Janek Mitoraj and drummer Marek Romanowski. They replaced Bartek and Adam Podzimski respectively.
They previously said of the album: "All the changes Osada Vida has undergone lately gave us new energy, enthusiasm and a drive to create new music. Music-wise, the new songs constitute a harmonious combination of our distinctive style with what we presented on the Particles album."
Watch the video here.
Sammy Hagar Guest Judge On TV Series On The Menu
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar was the featured guest judge on the new TNT-TV series, On The Menu, on the November 14 episode and video clips have been posted online.
Hagar joined his friend, legendary Chef Emeril Lagasse, and host Ty Pennington for the program during the first season of their new show. In the episode, the competitors - four everyday cooks - were tasked to impress Hagar and create a new Mexican dish for both of his restaurants, the Cabo Wabo Cantina and Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill.
Hagar recently released his first acoustic album, "Lite Roast." The project sees the singer teamed with Waboritas guitarist Vic Johnson to deliver stripped-down versions of tunes from Hagar's career.
Check out videos from the TV episode here.
Scott Ian Reacts To Former Anthrax Singer's Criticism
(Classic Rock) Anthrax mainman Scott Ian has thanked former vocalist Neil Turbin for comparing his autobiography to The Lord Of The Rings. The singer, who left the band in 1984, recently called Ian's autobiography I'm The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax a "new work of fiction" as he was unhappy about the way he was portrayed in the book.
"I find it very sad that somebody I've had no contact with for 30 years feels that it's necessary to fabricate lies about me in order to draw attention to themselves," He said. "I wish them all the luck in the world on their new work of fiction. I'm sure it must be as good as The Lord Of The Rings."
Ian has now responded to Turbin's comments and insists he doesn't care what he or anyone else from outside the group thinks. He tells BackstageAxxess: "It's my book and I look at it in the same way as Anthrax looks at writing songs. When Anthrax writes songs, we don't care what anyone has to say about anything - good or bad - outside of the five guys in the band.
"And it's the same way I look at my book. I don't care what anybody has to say - good or bad. It's never changed the way I approach anything, so it doesn't matter to me.
"I will take the compliment of comparing it to The Lord Of The Rings, though. It's one of my favorite books of all time. I have to thank him for that." More including a full stream of the interview here.
Singled Out: Leon Alvarado's Red Like Blood
Today Prog musician Leon Alvarado tells us about the song "Red Like Blood" from his brand new album "2014, Music From An Expanded Universe". Here is the story:
The idea behind many of my instrumental pieces is to take the listener through a musical adventure of sorts. Having that in mind, my music can often be broken in parts or movements. Red Like Blood being no exception, can be broken in three distinct parts or movements.
The first movement starts with an esoteric ambient sound that slowly keeps evolving as it creates a "floating" atmosphere, somewhat calming but mysterious.
The second part or movement of the song is pretty much a crescendo beginning with a faint Mellotron playing a series of repeating chords. Throughout the duration of the second movement, more instruments keep being added to the mix until it becomes a very powerful rocking piece. By the time the second part reaches its climatic end, there are dual drum kits and dual guitar solos going on all at once.
The guitar solos intertwine with one another whilst the two separate drum kits mimic each other creating a massive percussive background. There are many subtle complexities being played by Trey's masterful control of the Warr guitar that aren't usually caught by the listener during first hearing the piece. The bass line is absolutely brilliant and the solid drumming guide the crescendo to it's climatic point as a train with no breaks would.
The last movement brings the listener to the return of a calmer state. It is an array of soft keyboards landscapes with a sprinkling of very ethereal guitar sustains. A sort of "calm after the storm" closing section to balance the previous portion's hectic pace. It also completes the circle of the musical adventure by ending closer to how it began. The title for the instrumental is a sort of tongue-in-cheek reference to King Crimson's double trio era.
