Despite a previous report, according to Billboard, Def Leppard will not be taking legal action against pop group One Direction for plagiarism.
While guitarist Phil Collen says One Direction’s Midnight Memories and Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me are “very similar in structure,” but otherwise, are not alike.
Adds guitarist Vivian Campbell, “The chords are one-four-five. Those are the blues. You don’t get more basic than that. I think what’s more reminiscent of the Leppard thing is the production, the sound, the vocals, the reverb and the way it’s assembled. That is very flattering that all of a sudden these kids think it’s a cool sound. I think a lot of people of their generation aren’t going to connect their music to ours.”
Original KISS guiatrist Ace Frehley was a guest on Eddie’s Q104.3’s, Eddie Trunk Rocks, radio show on December 20th. Excerpts from the interview appear below courtesy of blabbermouth.net.
Ace discussing performing with his fellow original KISS members when they are inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next April:
“I always try to take the high road and be optimistic and hope that everybody’s gonna come to the bargaining table and do the right thing. Sometimes I get the support. But I have a feeling everything’s gonna work out. I mean, I spoke with Paul [Stanley, KISS guitarist/vocalist] and Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist]. I know they wanna perform with me and Peter [Criss, original KISS drummer]. I’m just not sure how much they want [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums] to be involved. But since [Tommy and Eric] not getting inducted, I’m just gonna let that play out with the Hall and management and attorneys and all that stuff. I’m just excited about getting back with them and doing a great three or four songs. And I think it’s gonna be great. I’m hoping that everybody’s just gonna do the right thing.”
“I know for a fact that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame wants the four of us to perform in makeup. That’s what they want, and we’ll see how it plays out. I’m hoping that everybody’s just gonna do the right thing and celebrate the four original members who started it all.”
On his conversations with Paul and Gene after it was announced that KISS was being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:
“They actually called me today. We had a very nice conversation. They congratulated me. They actually have been trying to get hold of me since the announcement, but I’ve been in the studio working on my new record, so I wasn’t available. But they tracked me down today through [KISS manager] Doc McGhee’s office. And we had a nice conversation; it was very up and very positive.”
Speaking about how the current lineup of KISS should be included, if at all, in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony:
“Where KISS is now, that’s fine and that’s the way it is now, but what we’re celebrating is what Paul, Peter, Gene and Ace started back in 1972. ’73…
“I don’t have a problem with Tommy and Eric being there out of makeup, if I’m in makeup, because they’re a big part of KISS today. They had nothing to do with the beginning of KISS or had nothing to do with the designs or the costumes or the makeup, but they’re a part of KISS today and it is what it is; I don’t control that. But this is about the celebration of KISS and how it all began and started and it should be honoring the four original members.
“If those guys [Tommy and Eric] wanna come up out of makeup and do Rock And Roll All Nite with the whole cast of the show, that would be a great thing. They deserve a little. [But] I can only hope that [Paul and Gene are] gonna do the right thing.
“You can’t have me and Tommy both in makeup. You can’t have Eric and Peter both in makeup. That’s gonna be a farce. So hopefully the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will talk some sense into those guys [Paul and Gene] as far as that aspect of the show. Believe it or not, I have faith in those guys.”
Talking abouy whether he is open to doing more things with KISS in the future beyond the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction:
“Like I said to Rolling Stone [magazine], never say never. Anything could happen after that night. And I don’t wanna speculate at this point, but who knows? We’re gonna make rock and roll history one way or the other.”
“Look, if something was presented to me in the right way, anything is possible. That’s as far as I wanna go on that. I’m working on my new album. It’s gonna be released next spring. I’ve got a single coming out probably right around the time the ceremony is gonna be happening. And [my new record label] eOne is really excited about the new record. So who knows what’s gonna happen? But I’m not gonna scrap my record [to reunite with KISS], I can tell you that right now. [laughs]”
Kings Of Metal MMXIV is a completely new recording with many surprises, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of ‘Kings Of Metal’ and Manowar’s following world tour.
Already a significant force with international success since their debut album Battle Hymn’s, the Kings Of Metalrelease in 1988 and the following world tour in 1989 catapulted the band into a new sphere. Songs like Heart of Steel, Kings Of Metal, Hail and Kill, and Blood of the Kings became instant classics, celebrated since by metal fans all over the world.
For Kings Of Metal MMXIV, Manowar have recorded these timeless metal anthems with new arrangements and their signature “larger than life” sound that sealed their place in heavy metal history.
“Our fans have made us the “Kings Of Metal”, and with this tribute to one of their favorite albums, we honor them and thank them for their unparalleled support and loyalty!” said vocalist Eric Adams.
Kings Of Metal MMXIV will feature nine main tracks packed with plus none bonus tracks with over 40 minutes of additional music.
“We have pushed man and machine to the maximum level to honor the original recordings that we all love, and to add new aspects and surprises that give this new album its own character,” said bassist and producer Joey DeMaio. “The sound is again as massive and majestic as it has always been,” he continued.
“Recording this album has been an amazing experience! After playing the songs so many times on tour, Donnie and I now had the opportunity to contribute our own sound and elements that the fans have come to love from our live performances,” explained guitarist Karl Logan.
For the new narration on the spoken word track The Warrior’s Prayer MMXIV, Manowar have joined forces with celebrated British actor Brian
Blessed. Blessed is a renowned Shakespeare and character actor who has starred, among others, in Kenneth Brannagh’s Henry V, Oliver Stone’s Alexander, in King Lear, and as Prince Vultan in the cult movie Flash Gordon. Not only an actor and adventurer, Blessed was also awarded the “Spirit of Hammer Award” from Metal Hammer UK for his contributions to heavy metal.
For special effects of the highest level on The Warrior’s Prayer MMXIV, sound effects specialist Hamilton Sterling was recruited; a
Hollywood Veteran who has contributed to action blockbusters including Batman – The Dark Knight, Men In Black 3, War of the Worlds, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, two of which won Oscars for Best Sound Editing.
Kings Of Metal MMXIV will be released in retail on February 28th, 2014 as a two Disc CD with two 24-page booklets and additional new art by legendary fantasy artist and longtime collaborator Ken Kelly, and as a digital double album.
For the special anniversary, Manowar will also open their vaults and reveal never-before-seen photos and other insights into the history of
the band and the ‘Kings Of Metal’ era.
The release of the Kings Of Metal MMXIV album will be followed by a world tour (see dates below), featuring the complete new album and many other classics in a completely new stage production, and will see Manowar return to strongholds such as Germany and Finland but also to new territories, never before visited by the band, including Israel and Poland.
Kings of Metal MMXIV Track List (not final):
Main Tracks:
Wheels Of Fire MMXIV
Kings Of Metal MMXIV
Heart Of Steel MMXIV
Sting Of The Bumblebee MMXIV
The Crown And The Ring MMXIV (Orchestral Version)
Kingdom Come MMXIV
Hail And Kill MMXIV
The Warrior’s Prayer MMXIV
Blood Of The Kings MMXIV
Bonus Tracks:
Blood Of The Kings MMXIV (Instrumental)
Hail And Kill MMXIV (Instrumental)
Heart Of Steel MMXIV (Acoustic Intro)
Kingdom Come MMXIV (Instrumental)
Wheels Of Fire MMXIV (Instrumental)
Watch a trailer for Kings Of Metal MMXIV below.
Kings Of Metal MMXIV World Tour dates:
Fri, February 7, 2014 – Royal Oak Theatre – Royal Oak, MI, USA
Sat, February 8, 2014 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL, USA
Sun, February 9, 2014 – Mill City – Minneapolis, MN, USA
Thur, February 13, 2014 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA, USA
Sat, February 15, 2014 – House Of Blues – Houston, TX, USA
Sun, February 16, 2014 – House Of Blues – Dallas, TX, USA
Tue, February 18, 2014 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO, USA
Thur, February 20, 2014 – Regency Theatre – San Francisco, CA, USA
Sat, February 22, 2014 – Fox Theatre – Pomona, CA, USA
Tue, March 18, 2014 – Olymp Palace of Sports – Krasnodar, Russia
Fri, March 21, 2014 – Luzhniki Palace of Sports – Moscow, Russia
Sun, March 23, 2014 – Yubileyny Sports Palace – St. Petersburg, Russia
Tue, March 25, 2014 – Rock Café – Tallinn, Estonia – SOLD OUT
Thur, March 27, 2014 – Rock Café – Tallinn, Estonia – SOLD OUT
Sat, March 29, 2014 – Teatro Arena – Vilnius, Lithuania
Sat, May 17, 2014 – Spodek – Katowice, Poland
Wed, May 21, 2014 – Hangar 11 – Tel Aviv, Israel
Sat, May 24, 2014 – Metal Summer Festival – Istanbul, Turkey
Fri-Sun, June 13-15, 2014 – Legacy Open Air – Weismain, Germany
Fri-Sat, July 25-26, 2014 – Magic Circle Festival – Helsinki, Finland
Wed, January 14, 2015 – Grugahalle – Essen, Germany
Fri, January 16, 2015 – Zenith – Munich, Germany
Sat, January 17, 2015 – Jahrhunderthalle – Frankfurt, Germany
Farmikos, the new L.A. band featuring former Ozzy Osbourne and David Lee Roth guitarist Joe Holmes and vocalist Robbie Locke (ex-Laidlaw), have announced a tentative February 2014 release for their eponymous digital debut EP. New in-studio video teasers for the songs Scapegoat and Spoon and Sun have been posted on the band’s Youtube Channel.
Recorded at the Mouse House in Pasadena, the EP also features guest contributions from Holmes’ former Ozzy Osbourne bandmate, bassist Robert Trujillo, and drummer Brooks Wackerman. States Holmes, “We’ve got these five songs to kick things off and will be finishing another five when Robbie comes back to L.A. in January to lay down vocals for another EP we’re planning for summer 2014.”
The EP’s track listing reads as follows:
1. Scapegoat
2. Kings of Dust
3. Sound of My Gun
4. Exit Stencils
5. Spoon and Sun
In addition to Scapegoat and Spoon and Sun, footage of Holmes tracking guitar for the song “Exit Stencils” can be viewed below.
Ruben Mosqueda of Metal Titans spoke with Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson about is autobiography, Criticisms for Super Collider and the songs that Megadeth have excluded from their live sets. Excerpts from the interview appear below.
MetalTitans: What’s the length of time that you worked on [your autobiography] My Life with Deth?
David Ellefson: When we started the book it was summer of 2010. That’s when Joel McIver approached me about doing it. We got started on pretty quickly on it while I was in Europe on tour. I didn’t know what the book was going to look like to be honest because all of my harrowing darks dark days are all behind me. That was like 25 years ago! (laughs) Traditionally these type of celebrity books are a crash and burn tell all pull the covers back book. It’s not my style to do that. That’s not the legacy that I want for my life for something like that to be out there forever. The other thing is that ‘those’ thing were so many years ago and I’ve worked through them. I have a much different life today.
The whole process took about three years close to three and a half actually from the time we started our first interview to the day the book hit shelves. I had written a book years ago in 1997 and that was about a three year process as well. So I was already familiar with the publishing time for printed material. Joel because he’s written so many books in the past that he knew how to direct me; he knew what the readers want to know. He is very knowledgeable in the Megadeth history so he knew what stuff to get into and what was not as important. Joel was a great coach and guide throughout this process.
MetalTitans: Super Collider [has] received some very ‘critical’ reviews by fans and press a like. I think the consensus has been that this ranks at the bottom of the Megadeth catalog alongside Risk. What’s your take on that?
David Ellefson: We’re aware of the comments for sure because they’re on our own website or our Megadeth Facebook page! (laughs) My personal thought is that the next record will be much different. We go through these phases. Dave made three records when I wasn’t in the band and a couple of them quite good I might add. They were good records because they were really good ‘metal’ records. That’s what fans want to hear; because Megadeth has this 30 year career we have more than just one style in our cache. Fans have discovered us at various times throughout our journey; there are fans became fans when they heard Risk, that’s when they go into rock ‘n’ roll and they bought their record at to them that is their debut Megadeth record. I have learned not to criticize our own work simply because there are nay sayers out there and the fact that every record has significance to different people.
Having said that the first thing that people heard from the record was track Super Collider which is a very mainstream, commercial song. I think had they heard Kingmaker first for instance the reaction would have been much different. The first impression is more often than not the most lasting impression. When you hear a song that sounds like Megadeth right out the gate you say ‘awesome man!’ When you hear a song that you have to listen to several times, analyze it and get your mind around it the first impression may not make you want to dig right into out of the gate. I get that. I’m a fan. I used to buy KISS records as a kid and Cheap Trick records. I remember some records I got it right out the gate and there were records where I’d say ‘what the heck is this?’ It wasn’t what I was expecting. Some records take one listen, other take three or four listens other more. I think for me ‘Super Collider’ is one of those records.
MetalTitans: Is there a particular song or songs that are off limits in the Megadeth catalog? Dave Mustaine has gone on record to say that he would not be performing The Conjuring anymore. In addition Megadeth have dropped Anarchy in the U.K. from the set after the formation.
David Ellefson: (long pause) Yeah, there’s some song that because of Dave’s faith convictions he just doesn’t want to sing them. The very first line in Anarchy in the U.K. is ‘I am an anti-christ’ He’s said ‘I’m not an anti-christ why would I sing that lyric?’ I stand by him on that—fair enough; The Conjuring which he did write there’s a line in a prayer that says ‘lead me not into temptation.’ If you don’t know the prayer look it up. It doesn’t say ‘Lead me out of temptation’ rather ‘lead me into it.’ People change there’s a time in Dave’s life when he felt that—he doesn’t anymore. The fact that he stood up and had the conviction about it and laid it on the line was pretty admirable. I have news for you we’d play The Conjuring and it would go over fans’ heads. They were like ‘what song is that?’ They didn’t say a thing until we said we weren’t playing it anymore and then the eight people on some website started crying foul! (laughs) We heard stuff like ‘dude they aren’t metal anymore!’ They didn’t care when we played it and now they want to be all controversial.
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