Today's Day in Rock
Rolling Stones To Announce Tour This Week?
This weekend The Rolling Stones started hinting at a big announcement via teases posted to their Facebook page with the hashtag #SatisfactionThursday, leading many to believe that the group will be announcing their North American summer tour this Thursday.
The new online teases come after guitarist Ronnie Wood said in two recent interviews that the band was planning to launch a North American tour this summer.
Over the weekend, the band made several Facebook postings including the first post that featured a video showing the members rehearsing while their classic song "Miss You" plays in the background, according to ABC.
The video and subsequent posts directed fans to a website called JustAKissAway.rocks that includes the band's lips and tongue logo above the words "Get What You Need" and the #SatisfactionThursday hashtag, as well as a signup box for email alerts asking for fan's email address and zip code.
As we previously reported, Ronnie Wood broke the news of the Rolling Stones tour plans in two recent interviews. Woods told Radio.com, "We're coming to North America in the summer."
Wood also confirmed the plans in a separate interview with GMI Rock News. "Oh yeah, we had a meeting in New York with the boys, and we're gonna come to North America again in the summer."
Read the ABC report about this week's announcement here.
Sammy Hagar, Jason Bonham, Michael Anthony Band Releasing Album
(hennemusic) The Circle, the latest Sammy Hagar supergroup featuring Chickenfoot and former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and longtime Wabos guitarist Vic Johnson, will release their debut album, "At Your Service", on May 19th.
The project captures the band in concert last year performing hits from Hagar's 4 Decades Of Rock show as well as classic tracks from the Led Zeppelin catalog.
"The Circle live has landed!," says Hagar. "I can't tell you how excited I am to share this live release from last year's tour with everyone. It's been my favorite setlist to play, covering Montrose, Solo Red Rocker, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, & Chickenfoot AND it's live as mutha!!
"There hasn't been a live rock and roll album like this in years and I know you're gonna love it." "At Your Service" will be available for preorder on iTunes starting this week. All iTunes preorders will include an instant download of the Van Halen classic, "Poundcake." See the track list here.
Megadeth Recruit Lamb of God Star For New Album?
When Megadeth recently had a lineup shakeup when two members left the group, many fans hoped that it would open the door to the return of drummer Nick Menza. But now Menza has leaked the identity of the drummer working on the group's new album and it isn't him... but it should be a name familiar to many metal fans: Lamb of God's Chris Adler.
Menza posted a video to his YouTube channel of him jamming with his new snare drum from "Sleishman," but he titled the clip "Maybe I can play on Lamb of God's new album?"
He then posted the following in the comment section, "Well since Adler is playing on the new Megadeth album. Do I get to play on Lamb of God new album ? I'm down for it .... Chris you rock ! one of my favorite drummers. good luck bro ...."
Last week, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine posted some message via twitter confirming that the band would begin recording the new album this week and they were close to finding a new guitarist.
On Tuesday of last week he tweeted, "One more week! Load in for the next record starts 3/17. So pumped!!" and also tweeted "I'm excited to be auditioning one of my final picks for my new guitarist today."
The band has not yet confirmed if Adler will indeed be playing on the new studio album. Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick left the group last fall and have since formed a new group called Act of Defiance with former Scar The Martyr singer Henry Derek and Shadows Fall bassist Matt Bachand.
Tool Legal Victory Should 'Really Speed Up Progress' On New Album
Tool guitarist Adam Jones says that the band have settled the "multi-level lawsuit" with their insurance company which contributing to delay of the band's long awaited new studio album.
Jones told Yahoo! Music that "the whole thing is finally over" and "I think having this lawsuit out of the way should really speed of the progress of getting the album done."
He explained the impact the legal battle on the band, "We would have had an album out a long time ago, we would have been taking more tours. But we've been discouraged and distracted by this major lawsuit, which is the worst thing that's ever happened to us. It reminds me of one of those ads you see on TV where a guy goes, 'Have you been in a car wreck? Call us!'"
He also revealed that there was an unusual metal connection to the outcome of the case, "I had a real feeling that things were going to go in our favor because the day the trial was supposed to start, the venue was changed on us. We moved over to a North L.A. courthouse and we had a brand-new judge, who was fantastic.
"You know what his name was? Randy Rhodes! I knew the power of metal, and my appreciation of metal was someday going to be like a guardian angel. But he was great. He came in and took over, and he's the reason the whole thing is finally over."
The band has also been dealing with a previously undisclosed illness. Read about that and more details about the new album and what sparked the legal battle here.
Toto Star Mike Porcaro Dead At 59
Longtime Toto bass player Mike Porcaro died early Sunday morning following his battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He was 59.
Porcaro's brother and Toto bandmate Steve broke the news to fans via Facebook. He wrote, "Our brother Mike passed away peacefully in his sleep at 12:04 AM last night at home surrounded by his family. Rest in peace, my brother."
Toto guitarist Steve Lukather paid tribute with the following Facebook post, "My brother Mike Porcaro is now at peace. I will miss him more than I could ever put into words. My deepest love to the family. God Bless".
Classic Rock reports: He was forced to retire from touring with the band in 2007 as a result of his illness, also known as motor neurone disease, which causes muscle wasting. The band continued to list him as a permanent member while original bassist David Hungate took his place on the road.
Metal Band Says Kanye West Used Their Logo
(Classic Rock) US classic metal band Christian Mistress says that controversial hip-hop star Kanye West has stolen the logo that they have been using since they formed to use on his new single.
The outfit, inspired by NWOBHM icons including Iron Maiden and Diamond Head, have been using their artwork, based on an ancient religious figure, since 2008.
But just as they gear up for the launch of their third album, West has pounced on the same idea for his single All Day. Christian Mistress singer Christine Davis tells the Village Voice: "We were very surprised and disappointed. We were worried that our artistic freedom was being taken away from us in just a moment." Read more here.
Devin Townsend Wins Metal Juno Award
(Classic Rock) Devin Townsend has been honored in his Canadian homeland with the Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year at the 2015 Juno Awards. His 2014 double album Z2 took top prize in the category ahead of nominees Kataklysm, Shooting Guns, Single Mothers and Skull Fist at the ceremony in Ontario last night.
Townsend, who's currently touring Europe, said: "On behalf of my band, management and everyone involved, thank you for the Juno. Respect to the other nominees as great company to be in. It's really nice to be involved with the Canadian scene. We're all very proud."
Rush were also honored at the gala night, receiving the Allan Waters Humanitarian Juno for "outstanding Canadian artists whose contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada." Read more here.
Motley Crue Would Rather Retire Too Early Than Too Late
(Classic Rock) Nikki Sixx has compared Motley's Crue's retirement to a boxer bowing out gracefully at the top of his game. He says their decision to end their touring career on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles is all about pride, and that the move is having the desired effect.
Sixx tells For Bass Players Only: "It started with the idea of us not wanting to be what we've seen before - people hobbling off into the sunset. We watch it in boxing. I've seen some of my favorite football players who should have gone away a couple of seasons before.
"It's human nature to want to keep going, but you have to fight when you know there's the possibility of not looking great on the way out. It's better to pull it in a couple years too early, and that's really what we're doing." Read more here.
Halestorm Releasing Photo Book
(Classic Rock) Halestorm have teamed up with photographer Rob Fenn for To Hale And Back, a photo book documenting the band's career to date. Due in May, the project presents a collection of images that tell the story of the American group's rise to superstardom.
Since 2012, Fenn has travelled the world with Halestorm and captured them during their most intimate, most vulnerable and their most triumphant moments - backstage, on stage, on the road and in the studio.
Lzzy Hale says: "Dearest Freaks, Lzzbians and Storm Chasers around the world - it's because of music I exist, and it's music that has brought us all together. Thank you for being my enablers. I have this wonderful journey that I'm on, because of you.
"Here's a collection of the moments we've shared. Hope you enjoy. Rock Forward." Read more here.
Kraftwerk Launch Legal Battle Over Mobile Device Charger
(Prog) Kraftwerk are suing an electronics company which has given the name 'Kraftwerk' to a mobile device charger. The word Kraftwerk is German for power station.
The band's co-founder Ralf Hutter has filed a trademark infringement case against Dresden-based firm eZelleron, which has created its device using advances in fuel cell technology.
The device can be recharged within seconds and provide weeks of charge for iPhones, tablets and GoPro cameras, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hutter owns a wide-reaching trademark registration on Kraftwerk and filed the complaint filed in a US federal court. Read more here.
Spooky Tooth Box Set Details Revealed
(Prog) A box set featuring all seven of Spooky Tooth's albums recorded for Islands Records will be released next month. Nine-disc set Spooky Tooth: The Island Years 1967-1974 is issued on April 27 and also features the album Supernatural Fairy Tales, recorded by pre-spooky Tooth incarnation, Art.
Spooky Tooth formed as Art and featured singer/keyboard player Mike Harrison, guitarist Luther Grosvenor, bassist Greg Ridley and drummer Mike Kellie. In 1967 they joined forces with American vocalist and keyboard player Gary Wright and evolved into Spooky Tooth.
They issued a further seven albums on Island, recorded by a variety of different lineups. Kellie says: "To be part of the Island organisation at that time was very special. Island was the first real independent record label, a flagship company. Spooky Tooth was a significant piece of that." Read more here.
Orbweaver Recruit Former Trivium Drummer Nick Augusto
(TeamRock Radio) Former Trivium drummer Nick Augusto has joined Miami metal outfit Orbweaver. Augusto was axed by Trivium in the middle of a tour last year, and replaced by his own drum tech Mat Madiro.
And last month he revealed he had formed a new band called Corrosion with members of Insense and Before The Mourning. Now he has been snapped up by Orbweaver - a band he has been friendly with for years.
The band's guitarist is Hate Eternal axeman Randy Piro. Orbweaver are working on a their second album, entitled Hexagram 23. Augusto says: "I'm happy to have been asked to be a part of Orbweaver. We have all played shows with each other's bands in the past and have been friends in this scene for quite some time now." Read more here.
Scorpions Singer Says Music Helps Us Forget World's Problems
(Classic Rock) Scorpions singer Klaus Meine believes music can help people temporarily forget the world's problems. Meine says that while it is up to politicians to deal with social issues, he loves that music can offer an escape.
Speaking to Rock Overdose about the Greek debt crisis, Meine says: "Music is only a soundtrack to our lives, and I think with our fans in Greece, when we come together, it's all about emotions and it's all about music and it's all about 'forget the real world for a moment.'
"That's what music can do - to take us away on a different trip where we forget the mess we're all in sometimes. Music is about bringing people together, and this is our part. For the rest, it's up to politicians to deal with it, and hopefully they find good ways and bring people back together.
"It's good sometimes to get away and take a deep dive in the world of emotions and the world of music, to get away from what's out there and what is happening in the real world." Read more here.
Vega Guitarist Accuses H.E.A.T Of Using Backing Tracks
(Classic Rock) Swedish AOR outfit H.E.A.T have been accused of relying on backing tracks at live shows. Vega guitarist Tom Martin has made the claim after seeing them at this weekend's HRH AOR festival, hours after his own band had played.
Martin says via Facebook: "H.E.A.T spoiler alert - I'm sorry to those of you that dig this band, but they piss myself and my fellow band members off that we work hard on real BVs and musicianship, and everything they do live is all on tape. Everything near enough.
"I'd love to see those boys without backing tracks. It would be sh*t. Very upset by it all." It's not the first time Martin has taken a pot-shot at the other group. Read more here.
Music Stars Lining Up For Joe Strummer Documentary
(Classic Rock) A documentary about Joe Strummer's 1985 trip to Spain following the breakup of The Clash is attracting some big guests for its UK premiere at London's Koko on March 25.
The Cadiz Music event includes a screening of I Need a Dodge: Joe Strummer On The Run and a launch party concert featuring an all-star band performing tunes by Strummer and The Clash.
Confirmed to appear are Wayne Kramner from the MC5, Ruts DC, Chris Bailey from The Saints, Roland Gift from Fine Young Cannibals, Norman Watt-Roy from The Blockheads, Martin Chambers from The Pretenders, Jeff Turner from The Cockney Rejects, Rob Love from Alabama 3, and Rachid Taha and Henry Padovani from The Police. Read more here.
Grateful Dead Lyricist Recalls Jerry Garcia's Last Days
(Classic Rock) Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter recalls being "alarmed" by Jerry Garcia's kind words in the days leading up to the mainman's death. The pair's collaboration on 1993 song Days Between had them both excited about what the future might hold.
But when Garcia phoned him in 1995 to set up their next writing session, there was something unusual about his tone. Hunter tells Rolling Stone: "Jerry had been into rehab again. He called me up - he was going to come over and we were going to get writing again.
"He said some wonderful stuff that was very uncharacteristic of him. He said, 'Your words never stuck in my throat.' Jerry didn't tend to talk like that. There was something possibly, slightly alarming about it - because he was dead within a week or so after that." Read more here.
Doro Pesch Never Felt Different Being A Woman In Metal
(Classic Rock) Doro Pesch says she never thought of herself as one of the few women in metal - insisting it was difficult enough just to convince people to accept the genre as a whole.
The singer is celebrating 30 years in the business, and will release a live DVD package later this year. And she says she experienced nothing but support from her colleagues and from other artists from day one.
Doro tells Phoenix New Times: "People might've thought it was crazy or different, a woman in heavy metal, but I never felt different. I think you had to fight more for your music - you had to fight more to do heavy metal.
"Because in the beginning with metal, it wasn't accepted as a whole. So you had to really work your ass off, work 10 times more, to make other people feel like metal is something really beautiful." Read more here.
Soundgarden Releasing Echo Of Miles Vinyl Box Set
(Classic Rock) Soundgarden are to release their recent rarities collection as a 6-LP vinyl set. Echo Of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across The Path was issued as a 3-CD package last year, and the vinyl set will be released on May 19.
The six LPs will be housed in three separate jackets, each sporting its own unique art and housed in a slipcase wrapped in foil paper. It is available to pre-order now via the band's website at a cost of $140 (£95).
The collection was curated and hand-selected by guitarist Kim Thayil. It includes rarities that have appeared as B-sides, album bonus tracks, EPs, soundtracks, compilations and live recordings. Read more here.
Rival Sons Cover Creedence Clearwater Revival Classic
(Classic Rock) Rival Sons have released a video of their version of Creedence Clearwater Revival classic "Long As I Can See The Light" ahead of its special release later this month.
Originally featured on CCR's 1970 album Cosmo's Factory, the recording is Rival Sons' contribution to this year's Record Store Day which will be taking place on April 18th.
Long As I Can See The Light is released as a 7" single backed with a cover version of Humble Pie's Black Coffee, a track guitarist Scott Holiday learnt from UK TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test. The recording was made at Juke Joint Studio in Notodden, Norway, last July. Watch the video here.
Slipknot Now A Brotherhood Following Hardships
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot guitarist Jim Root reveals the band is so tight these days that they have turned their previous friendship into more of a brotherhood. In a new BBC Radio 1 documentary, Slipknot: Hellbound, Rock Show host Daniel P Carter hooked up with the band at the final concert of their first UK tour in six years.
Carter investigates what makes Slipknot tick in 2015 as they tour behind 2014's .5 The Gray Chapter - their first album following the death of founding member Paul Gray and the departure of drummer Joey Jordison.
Root explains the band's history has brought them closer together as a unit. He says: "I don't think any of us are really friends now, I think we're really brothers now. We don't see each other all the time, we don't call each other up, we don't go to each other's birthday parties, but we'd probably kill for each other still. We definitely would kill for each other still."
Gray's absence - and presence - are felt at the same time by percussionist Shawn Crahan, who gets emotional during a backstage tour as he opens the late bassist's wardrobe drawer.
"This is probably a pair of Paul's boxers," he says. "This is my brother, man. What can I tell you?" Read more here.
Rob Halford Reflects On Classic Judas Priest Album and Concert
As Judas Priest release a deluxe 30th anniversary edition of their "Defenders Of The Faith" album, frontman Rob Halford takes a look back at the album and live concert recording that they included in the new package.
Halford shared his memories of the Long Beach Arena concert (including as on a bonus disc of the anniversary reissue) with Classic Rock Revisited. He said, "It was Saturday night, I believe and it was kind of a summer show. It was a sold-out event. It was just absolute magic.
"That night everything was working as you hoped. The crowd was great. It is a classic Priest memory and I am really pleased we were able to have recorded it. When I listen to it now you can sense it.
"We were playing the music a million miles an hour. I don't know how we were able to play the songs that fast. I know how it happened, as we were just caught up in the energy of the moment and we were pushing it as fast as we could, so the tempo increased dramatically on some of the songs. It didn't create any detrimental effect, in fact, I think it just gave the event more ferocity.
"It is wonderful that we can marry those two things up with this release. We can marry up the live experience of what the Metal Heads were going through that night and on that tour, as well as having the studio recordings to kind of make a comparison."
Halford also discussed the up and down circumstance surrounding the recording of "Defenders Of The Faith". He said, "The tremendous reaction to Screaming for Vengeance was propelled by the way radio embraced the song, 'You've Got Another Thing Comin'' which became part of rock and roll history.
"You get a record that goes Platinum pretty quickly in America, at least, and naturally everybody's stoked and excited and you're ready to get to that next level, whatever that might be. There is always an element of uncertainty in rock and roll. You play your heart out and you write and record the best you can, but there is no guarantee what the outcome will be. Having said that, we were completely immersed in this amazing time that we had, particularly in the States, which wound up at the now iconic and infamous US Festival. We shared the stage with our mates on 5/29/'83. Ozzy was there. [Motley] Crue was there. Triumph was there. Van Halen was there. The Scorpions were there, and Priest was there.
"In July we got on a plane to Ibiza, Spain. It is a small bunch of islands off the East coast of Spain. We're all set to go and we get to the studio, and talk about hitting your brakes… there was absolutely nothing left in the studio. There was just the building. It had been gutted. They hadn't been paying the bills and so, unbeknownst to us, they'd come in and taken the consoles out. They took the tape machines… everything that was not secured was taken.
"We basically went back to square one in the idea of getting off the plane to start making Metal. We had to wait two or three weeks before we could fire everything back up again.
"I look back now at that with kind of bewilderment and amusement, but at the same time, the thing about Metal is that whenever these difficulties or adversities are put in your face, Metal Heads deal with it. We say, 'Bring it on' and we take care of business and that's what we did. Having said that, we just started like we've done with past Priest albums and we turned the amps on and plugged in the guitars. Slowly but surely, we put together Defenders of the Faith." Read the full interview here.
Apocalyptica Stream New Song 'Till Death Do Us Part'
(Classic Rock) Apocalyptica are streaming the instrumental Till Death Do Us Part from their eighth studio album. The tune follows Cold Blood and the title track as the third preview to the album Shadowmaker, which is due for release on April 20 via Better Noise.
Cellist Eicca Toppinen explains the band has won over many fans with their live shows while mixing classical elements and string instruments in a heavy rock format.
Toppinen tells The Rockpit: "I think with people who have heard about us and they heard stories about Apocalyptica who play cellos, when they see us live, I think the way we do it the people are usually like 'Woah! What the f*** is going on? What's happened?'
"I'm happy that it's mainly positive feedback from what I have heard and what I get." Check out the stream and read more here.
Mark Knopfler Previews Documentary
(Classic Rock) Mark Knopfler is previewing documentary footage from the making of his eighth solo album. The former Dire Straits man issues Tracker this week via Virgin EMI Records. It will be available on CD, double vinyl and deluxe CD with four bonus tracks.
A box set version will include the album on CD and vinyl, with a bonus CD featuring six extra tracks, a DVD with an exclusive short film directed by Henrik Hansen, and an interview with the guitarist - plus a numbered art print and six photographic prints.
With the follow-up to 2012's Privateering, Knopfler continues to see himself as a songwriter first, ahead of his skills as a guitarist and a performer. He says: "My position as a songwriter is just to try to make a good recording of a good song. And then the song walks out the door and goes off to have a life of its own.
"And then to maybe go out and maybe play it for people to complete the circuit, and that's what keeps it exciting." Watch the preview here.
The Sanity Days Stream Song From New Album
(Classic Rock) The Sanity Days are streaming their song "Satan's Blood" from their debut album, Evil Beyond Belief, ahead of its UK release on March 16 via Candlelight Records.
The band, which features former Onslaught members Steve Grimmett, Steve Grice, Alan Jordan and Jase Stallard, regrouped in 2012 to perform their 1989 effort In Search Of Sanity and eventually began writing material.
Drummer Steve Grice sees Evil Beyond Belief as a fresh start in a more mainstream direction. He tells Metal Crypt: "I guess it does have a slight feel of the Sanity album, but that's probably just because Steve's voice is on it. In terms of the actual sound of the songs, it isn't really similar.
"We have taken a more mainstream, maybe an alternative, approach. All of us tend to listen to completely different styles of music, and I really do believe this has come across in the writing of this record." Read more and stream the song here.
Wire Streaming New Song 'Split Your Sides'
(Prog) Wire have released an online stream of their track "Split Your Sides" from their upcoming self-titled album. The veteran outfit's 13th title is released on April 13 via Pinkflag. It follows last month's unveiling of single Joust & Jostle.
The've also announced that Karen Gwyer, Tomaga, Orlando, Boothroyd and Xaviers will be the support acts for their five-night residency at London's Lexington next month, which forms part of a wider UK tour.
Singer Colin Newman says the band have resisted calls to reunite their classic lineup, saying: "The point where our personal narratives meet is all about change - moving on and keeping it interesting for ourselves. We're in it for the long haul and this is a one-way trip." See the dates and stream the song here.
The Gentle Storm Inspiration Revealed By Lucassen
(Prog) Arjen Lucassen has revealed the inspiration behind The Diary, his collaborative album with Anneke van Giersbergen, to be released under the name The Gentle Storm.
The title will be launched on March 23 via InsideOut and it's available to pre-order in a variety of bundles via Lucassen and van Giersbergen's websites.
In the exclusive video interview, the Ayreon mastermind discussed how he wanted to create a contrast to the work he's best known for. He says: "I asked the fans on Facebook, 'What would you guys want to hear from me next?'"
The resulting opinions led him to ask the question: "Why don't I split it up - do 10 songs in two completely different versions?" He also explains how he chose van Giersbergen from a "very short list" of singers. Watch the video here.
Korpiklaani Stream New Song 'Lempo'
(TeamRock Radio) Korpiklaani are streaming the song "Lempo" as a preview to their ninth album Notia. Due May 4 via Nuclear Blast, the follow-up to 2012's Manala features new accordionist Sami Pertulla, who played an active role in the folk arrangements along with fiddler Tuomas Rounakari.
Rounakari says: "Lempo is a fiery God of fertility and the song is about the spells designated to Lempo in order to guarantee a success in one's personal love life. The Finnish mythology is very unique in its approach to sexuality. We do not have spells to improve procreation like most of the cultures do. But the spells to gain more luck in love life or to increase ones stamina are numerous for both men and women.
"The song is a prime example of the new Korpiklaani sound with a lead guitar like violin solo and more prominent folk arrangements. It takes a step towards progressive rock balancing the folk and metal in a way band founder Jonne Jarvala has always dreamed it to be." Stream the song here.
Singled Out: LouderThanQuiet's Red Gemini (Feat. Jonny Craig)
Today Ali "Alireza" Rezghi from LouderThanQuiet tells us about their new single "Red Gemini," which features Jonny Craig (Slaves/Dance Gavin Dance) and comes from their forthcoming album. Here is the story:
I (Ali) only had half of the writing credit even though its very personal for me. I had the idea to mix Post hardcore and Melodeath a while before the song was created. But I didn't have any idea of how to make the sound cohesive as far as the guitars. I had a knack for making Melodeath but post hardcore was always hard for me. It wasn't until we met Danny that this song was possible. He had a knack for making post hardcore and he didn't even know it yet. His chord choice and knowledge was uncanny. I got him into bands like hail the sun and la dispute and the rest was history. The thing that tied this song together was the switch from the beginning chords into the chorus. Danny's clean arpeggio reminded me of old Emarosa and gave me an opportunity to sing to the best of my ability. When the blast beat and chorus comes in I gave off that Killswitch Engage vibe that kids in our hometown love and the song became something special instantly. The Black Dahlia Murder, Wretched, and Dethklok definitely inspired the melodic death metal parts in the song but the post hardcore part in the middle was inspired by Dance Gavin Dance and Hummanequin by The Color Morale. It was a Huge blend of sounds. by the time the song was done we had made the second breakdown with the intent of letting Danny solo because this is the first solo he has ever recorded for the band and we wanted to let him shine.
Lyrically we wanted to write from the heart for this one. We wanted it to mean something to someone out there going through the same thing. Its kind of cliche but its one of the easiest forms of therapy for a broken musician. When the crowd sings your therapy song with you, that's when you feel the most alive.
Vocally Rico also did something for the first time by using a shout/mid range scream. he literally walked up to the mic tired from lack of sleep one day and decided to yell but it sounded so good that me and domo recorded him and those are the actual tracks we recorded on the first verse of the song. that first verse of shouts is the only part of vocals that wasn't recorded with Jamie King.
And getting the legendary Jonny Craig on the track was the icing on the cake. Needless to say, he killed it. But this song was about my relationship. It ended tragically because I had known she was never gonna be strong enough to be faithful. What I didn't expect was the countless lies and deceit from someone i had known so many years. Jonny knew exactly how i felt and made sure to give the song an extra push. I thought the song was complete and actually gave Jonny something specific to sing but he heard something special and just added on top of what I already had making the song fuller and more emotional than it previously was. That moment when i heard our voices together made me feel like I had achieved my goal.
