Author Archives : Dana

FRAGILE MORTALS FEATURING FORMER MEMBERS OF RUN DMC AND EXODUS TO RELEASE DEBUT SINGLES “FIRED UP” AND “SUICIDE”

Fragile Mortals, the new band that combines hip-hop legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (Run DMC) with metal group Generation Kill featuring vocalist Rob Dukes (ex-Exodus) and bassist Rob Moschetti (ex-Pro-Pain, M.O.D.) will release their debut single Fired Up on July 4th, followed by the single Suicide on July 5th via Bumblefoot Music, the record label of artist/producer Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Art of Anarchy, ex- Guns N’ Roses), who also produced and added additional guitar solos to the tracks.

Fired Up is a foot-stomping, fist-in-your-face anthem, sort of like a MACK truck – crashing into a packed football stadium. Says DMC, “Fired Up is a sports inspired attitude about giving all you got in this “game of life.” And like my verse says, you must do it without cheating!”

And while the message of Fired Up is pretty straightforward, Suicide tackles darker topics, that according to DMC hits closer to home.

“Suicide is really personal to me because I was fighting depression, so I know what individuals, young and old, go through. People will always tell you that you shouldn’t feel the way you feel. Easier said than done!” DMC adds, “I discovered the first step to healing is be truthful to yourself about how you’re feeling, then look at WHO and WHAT circumstances are causing these feelings, then deal with those to remove those from your life. Me and Dukes wrote these lyrics no holds barred because that’s how we, and a lot of others felt.”

Suicide will also be featured in the audio-version of DMC’s book of memoirs Ten Ways Not To Commit Suicide, also to be released July 5th worldwide.

Both songs come from the band’s upcoming full-length release The Dark Project, set to be released later in 2016. Stemming from a chance meeting between Dukes and DMC, an initial one track collaboration for a DMC solo album turned into a full-on force, as Fragile Mortals was born. The band then recruited the ear of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal as producer, and their combined creative vision has allowed the band to grow further than expected. Lending the occasional guitar riff and solo to the tracks, Ron’s contributions earned him the title of unofficial seventh member.

Addressing issues ranging from suicide, drug abuse, prostitution, life and death, and racism, The Dark Project also offers a glimmer of hope and light at the end of a gritty tunnel, exposing the darker side of humanity without glorifying it in any way.

Fragile Mortals offers the listener an intellectual look into real world issues, as the music takes you on a journey, serving as the soundtrack to this all too real story.

SINGER JOHN CORABI DISCUSSES THE DEAD DAISIES AND NIKKI SIXX SAYING, “I HAVE NO IDEA WHY [HE] FEELS THAT I’M THE BIGGEST PIECE OF S–T TO ROAM THE EARTH?”

Ruben Mosqueda of Sleaze Roxx spoke with singer John Corabi. Excerpts from the interview appear below.

Sleaze Roxx: You’ve been in The Dead Daisies for over a year now. How did you get approached about fronting the band? I know initially you did a show in Cuba in 2015.

John Corabi: I had just gotten off the road in February [2015] and I travelled from Toronto, Canada to Miami [Florida] to meet the guys. We then travelled to Cuba and we rehearsed immediately after we arrived. We put two shows together and we did a little bit of recording while there. I kind of feel like it was an audition. I feel that they wanted to know what I was like as a person. I also think they [The Dead Daisies] wanted to see how I handled an audience. After we came back to the U.S., I got a call at my home in Nashville [Tennessee, USA]. The band wanted to know if I was interested in doing a record. Next thing you know, I’m in Australia.

Sleaze Roxx: When did you know that Dizzy [Reed] and Richard [Fortus] would depart The Dead Daisies?

John Corabi: It was after the KISS Kruise in October that we found out that they were going back to Guns N’ Roses for the huge tour. It was at that point that Richard suggested that we get Doug Aldrich. We all knew Doug so we gave him a call. He was into it and he immediately started stockpiling ideas and riffs that he had for the writing sessions. I remember that I took my wife on a vacation at the first of the year and by the end of January [2016], we were writing the next record. It wasn’t that different than the last record even though I’d never written with Doug. We basically wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered the new record Make Some Noise [out August 5th] in 35 days. Everything we do happens really quick.

[Dana’s note: To listen to the Dead Daisies new single, Long Way To Go, click here.

Sleaze Roxx: John, I remember the first time I heard you. It was on Much Music’s Power 30 when they played the music video for Believe in Me. I’m a huge fan of your work with The Scream, Union, the acoustic record, The Dead Daisies and of course the Motley record.

John Corabi: You know a lot of the fans come up to me and say “Dude, I’m a huge fan! What have you been doing since Motley?” [laughs] I’m sitting there thinking “Are you serious?!”

Sleaze Roxx: I get it. I’ve interviewed Eddie Trunk who you know. This seems to come up in our conversations and comes up weekly on his radio show when some ‘fan’ calls in asking “Whatever happened to said band?”

John Corabi: Absolutely! [laughs]

Sleaze Roxx: Last thing, for years Nikki Sixx said nothing but complimentary things about the Motley Crue ’94 album. Seems like somewhere along, the way his feelings changed. He’s done this before when at one point he asked fans to burn the Theatre Of Pain album. You think he really feels that way about the album you worked on with the band or is he simply doing it to stir up some controversy?

John Corabi: The the life of me, I have no idea. It’s funny, I was hanging out with Vince. We did a festival together called “Farm Rock” and we were talking. I was like “Vince, what the f–k is up Nikki’s ass right now? 22 years later, he decides that it’s a ‘very unfocused record’, there’s no choruses and John Corabi couldn’t write and he had to do everything?! Where does that come from Vince?!” He laughed. I think he wanted to say something but he came back with “Dude, you know Nikki. Whatever, f-k it!” If my phone didn’t start blowing up with calls and texts regarding that comment, I would have never known it. I am so far removed from that record. Let me be clear. I love that record. I’m very proud of that record. I’m good with Tommy [Lee]. I’m good with Mick [Mars] and I’m good with Vince [Neil]. I have no idea why Nikki feels that I’m the biggest piece of shit to roam the earth?

Sleaze Roxx: Thank you John and we didn’t even get to touch on the work you’ve done with Mick Mars for his solo album.

John Corabi: Yeah. I did those two tracks that he posted snippets of online. I’d love to help Mick in any way possible as long as I can give him 100% attention. Right now, my schedule is so full that I haven’t been able to do that. So those two songs are all I have contributed to the album.

[Dana’s note: To read more about Corabi’s work with Mick Mars, please go here.

Read more at Sleaze Roxx.

source: sleazeroxx.com

ANTHRAX SINGER JOEY BELLADONNA SAYS RECORDING HIS VOCALS WITH HIS BANDMATES PRESENT IS “TOUGH”

Anthrax frontman Joey Belladonna has revealed that he prefers to record his vocal parts without the interference of his bandmates.

The singer insists on being alone in the studio with producer Jay Ruston and sending his vocal takes to the band via email for approval, rather than having them around while he works.

Belladonna tells Metal Wani, “It’s just me and Jay Ruston in the studio and it’s awesome to be able to do a record that way. With nobody there, that’s my favourite thing. No-one interjecting what I’m doing.

Long ago I never even got to the next thing that I could have without having someone interfering. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but a lot of the time it’s tough.

It was almost like getting beat down. Like, ‘What do you want me to do? I’ve tried.’

The producer’s cool, me and him don’t push each other to a point where it’s frustrating. But the band, there was a lot of opinions around. It was a lot of hours and it was tough. It’s not easy to sing over this stuff, it’s very challenging.”

Anthrax released their 11th album For All Kings earlier this year. Belladonna says the results show that the band are still evolving, partly thanks to the addition of new guitarist Jon Donais.

He adds, “We’re evolving musically too. We’re writing some really interesting, newer Anthrax style but the same vibe. We have more room to be explorative. We have the capabilities of playing a wider range of music versus that one style. I like that.”

Drummer Charlie Benante recently said the band might have recorded their last album in For All Kings, but mainman Scott Ian moved quickly to assure fans that wasn’t the case.

Anthrax have a number of tour dates still to come in 2016. See dates below.

Anthrax remaining tour dates:

Jul 2: Tuska Open Air, Finland
Jul 3: Wroclaw Stadium, Poland
Jul 5: Bergen USF Verftet, Norway
Jul 6: Alesund Terminalen, Norway
Jul 7: Oslo Parkteatret Scene, Norway
Jul 9: Jalometalli Festival, Finland
Jul 11: Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark
Jul 12: Cologne Live Music Hall. Germany
Jul 13: Munster Skaters Palace, Germany
Jul 15: Gavle Gefle Metal Festival, Sweden
Jul 16: Dynamo Metalfest, Netherlands
Jul 17: Barcelona Rock Fest, Spain
Jul 19: Vigo Catrelos, Spain
Jul 20: Madrid Sala Arena, Spain
Jul 22: Majano Area Concerti Festival, Italy
Jul 23: Bagnatica Fosch Fest, Italy
Jul 24: Rock In Roma, Italy

Aug 11: Villena Leyendas Del Rock, Spain
Aug 14: Bloodstock Open Air, UK
Aug 21: Auburn Pain In The Grass, WA

Sep 9: Cleveland Jacob’s Pavilion, OH
Sep 10: Detroit Freedom Hill Amphitheatre, MI
Sep 11: Travers City Ground Zero, MI
Sep 12: Toronto Sound Academy, ON
Sep 13: Montreal Metropolis, QC
Sep 15: Pittsburgh Stage AE, PA
Sep 16: Rochester Anthology, NY
Sep 17: Mashantucket Revolution Rock Fest, CT
Sep 18: Chester Rock Allegiance Festival, PA
Sep 20: Indianapolis Egyptian Room, IN
Sep 21: Chicago Concord Music Hall, IL
Sep 22: St Louis The Pageant, MO
Sep 24: Houston Open Air Festival, TX
Sep 25: Knotfest, CA
Sep 27: Orlando Hard Rock Live, FL
Sep 28: Miami Fillmore, FL
Sep 29: Destin Club LA, FL
Sep 30: Tunica Horseshoe Casino, MS

Oct 1: Louisville Louder Than Life Festival, KY
Oct 3: Norfolk Norva, VA
Oct 4: Ashveille Orange Peel, NC
Oct 5: Atlanta Tabernacle, GA
Oct 6: Baton Rouge Varsity Theatre, LA
Oct 7: Dallas Gas Monkey Live, TX
Oct 8: Austin ACL At The Moody Theatre, TX
Oct 10: Denver Fillmore, CO
Oct 11: Salt Lake City The Complex, UT
Oct 12: Boise Rev Hall, ID
Oct 13: Missoula The Wilma Theatre, MT
Oct 14: Idaho Falls The Hill Event Center, ID
Oct 15: Garden City Revolution Concert House, ID
Oct 16: Spokane Knitting Factory, WA
Oct 17: Lethbridge Enmax Center, AB
Oct 19: Penticton South Okanagan Events Centre, BC
Oct 20: Abbotsford Centre, BC
Oct 21: Portland Hawthorn Theatre, OR
Oct 22: Elverta Discovery Park, CA
Oct 23: Reno Events Center, NV
Oct 24: Sacramento Aftershock Festival, CA
Oct 25: Flagstaff Orpheum Theatre, AZ
Oct 26: Famington Top Deck, NM
Oct 27: El Paso County Coliseum, TX

additional source: Classic Rock Magazine via teamrock.com

TESTAMENT TO RELEASE “BROTHERHOOD OF THE SNAKE” IN THE FALL

Testament guitarist Eric Peterson has confirmed that their 11th album Brotherhood Of The Snake will be released in October.

He says they finished recording the album before they headed out on their current European tour and reports fans can expect an “epic” record.

Peterson tells Metal Maniac Video Magazine, “The new record will be out on October 28th. It’s finished, recorded, done and now on its way to Andy Sneap to get mixed.”

Asked what fans can expect from the follow-up to 2012’s Dark Roots Of Earth, Peterson says, “Really good metal – it’s going to be a really good record.

It’s very diverse, epic – there’s nothing on there that breathes commercial and I think for 30 years of recording music and trying different formulas, I think we’ve found a formula that is very metal.”

Earlier this year, Testament frontman Chuck Billy said the Brotherhood Of The Snake was inspired by the connection between religion and aliens.

additional source: Metal Hammer via teamrock.com

SLIPKNOT FRONTMAN COREY TAYLOR RETURNS TO THE STAGE AFTER NECK SURGERY

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor played his first show last night since undergoing emergency spinal surgery-and he admitted it was strange to be performing with a neck brace.

The band were forced to postpone the first shows of their North American tour with Marilyn Manson, after Taylor was told he’d broken his neck without realising it.

Their June 28th show at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville included 17 songs, performed while the vocalist remains under orders to avoid his trademark stage antics.

Taylor told the crowd, “Let’s address the elephant in the room-I f–king broke my neck. But there was no way I wasn’t coming to Nashville to do this show.”

He later added, “It sure is weird playing with this pillow on my neck.”

His black brace wasn’t highly visible as it blended into his mask and costume. Bandmates Shawn “Clown” Crahan and Sid Wilson were seen to be offering more support than usual, while the audience displayed some concern at the beginning of the show – but the frontman delivered a powerful performance despite his restrictions.

Before the show he tweeted, “First day back. Haven’t smoked in two months. Broken neck, weird scar. Not enough coffee.”

Slipknot and Marilyn Manson continue on the road until the end of September.

additional source: Metal Hammer via teamrock.com

GUITARIST JOE PERRY DISCUSSES THE HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, AEROSMITH AND SOLO ALBUMS

James Wood of Guitar World spoke with guitarist Joe Perry. Portions of the interview appear below.

Guitar World: How did you become involved in the [Hollywood Vampires]?

Joe Perry: The original stuff on the record was pretty much done by the time I showed up. I came in while they were laying down tracks and was literally working right down from the studio they were in. I remember they kept calling me up and asking me to come over and sit in and play. One time they said, “Hey, tomorrow we’re going to be cutting a track with Paul McCartney. Do you want to come over?”—and I was like, “Um, yeah! OK!” [laughs].

Guitar World: Do you see the Hollywood Vampires as more of a long-term project?

Joe Perry: I’m hoping we’ll be able to write some more stuff and continue the vibe. It’s a dream come true for all of us to play together. But right now, we’re focusing on getting out there and seeing how it goes down. It’s a great lineup and the reason we’re doing it is to put some energy into the crowd and pay tribute to some of these great guys who are no longer around.

Guitar World: Steven [Tyler] recently spoke about a final Aerosmith tour in 2017. What are your thoughts on that?

Joe Perry: It’s one of many things we’ve talked about as a band, but I don’t know it’s the end. We take it from album to tour and day to day. It’s the same philosophy we’ve always had. But even if that final tour comes about, it could go on for two years. There are still a lot of places we haven’t played yet that we want to play. More to follow; let’s just put it that way.

Guitar World: What are your thoughts on Steven’s new solo album, We’re All Somebody from Somewhere?

Joe Perry: I’m really happy he did it because he’s been talking about it for years. It’s given us a chance to take a break and has worked out well for everyone that he’s finally getting to do it. I know he’s doing some gigs and going on the road after he releases the record, but the main thing is he’s having fun doing it. That’s why you do a solo record—to explore new music and work with different musicians. As long as he’s doing what he wants, that’s what counts.

Guitar World: Speaking of solo albums, can you give me an update on your next solo project?

Joe Perry: I’ve been doing a lot of writing and recording. Originally, it was jut going to be instrumental, but since I had so many tracks someone suggested I have a couple of vocalists come in that I never have a chance to work with. I’m not sure when it will come out, but I did release a single recently online with Terry Reid called I’ll Do Happiness, to give people a taste of what’s going on. People are really going to be surprised to hear some of this new stuff. It’s a whole different kind of energy than some of the other solo records I’ve done.

Read more at Guitar World.

source: guitarworld.com