Thanks to Jason Newsted and Keith Nelson of Buckcherry who were my guests last night on the satellite show. Great talking with them both and both have new music coming early next year. Jason actually had me world premiere a new song called “Soldierhead” available for pre order on Itunes. Thanks to all for listening. Next two Monday’s recorded shows due to holidays, next live SiriusXM show 1/7/13.
News coming soon on a cool special edition show for the first time ever this Friday night on Q104 show. Keep en eye open for details.
Huge thanks to Peter Criss for coming into the studio and hanging for over two hours last night on my Q104/syndicated show. Peter was happy and healthy and sharing so many amazing stories about his life in and out of Kiss. We also gave away copies of his great new book. Also played all Kiss music as we celebrated the 22nd annual Merry KISSmas. Really had a blast and the response to Peter being so open about so many things has been phenomenal. I’m also getting the usual tons of requests about how to hear it again. Like all FM radio shows what I do live on Friday nights on Q104 NYC replays on all affiliate stations the following weekend. So next weekend all stations and online outlets that air my show will be broadcasting what aired last night. You can also tune into these stations streams at the day and time listed to hear if they are outside your area. It’s all 100% free. So many places and ways to hear this show again including WAAF Boston next Sunday starting at 7P. All outlets listed on this site under Broadcasts/Syndication.
Thanks to Peter for his visit! See you for our final live show of 2012 on SiriusXM Monday starting at 6P ET channel 39.
Also if you ordered signed books from me for the holidays and have not yet received them I am awaiting more stock. I’ll sign and ship orders that arrived last week by Wed and they should make it to you by Christmas. Order info is on the home page under Headlines. Book 2 is done, and coming later next year!
I do not have news yet on the next season of TMS. After the holidays VH1 will let me know the plan and I’ll share then. Thanks
Please follow on Twitter @EddieTrunk for up to the second news, photos and more.
Sincere thoughts and prayers for the victims of the CT school shootings. It is evil beyond words and as a parent with two kids in elementary school myself I can not comprehend what the families of the kids and faculty are dealing with.
I know many questioned if I would do my annual KISSmas radio special this year considering how 2 of the bands founding members continue to treat me like an enemy for 1 opinion out of 30 years of support. But doing this show so many count on every year was never in question. It was just a question on how I would do it this year and when. But I know it means a lot to many to have this celebration of the bands music every year, and most Kiss fans are huge fans of mine and support what I do even if the band themselves don’t. For me it was always about the music first and foremost when it comes to the bands I love, and I’m not going to penalize my fans and Kiss fans just because Simmons & Stanley got some bad information and refuse to communicate. As usual my doors are open to ALL Kiss members past and present. Tonight Peter Criss joins me to discuss his book. I will also play nothing but Kiss music in the 3 hour show making this the KISSmas show for this year. This works best since it would be a bit much on the Kiss side to have an original member in studio tonight, then 3 hours of their music next week. So tonight is the Original Merry KISSmas show year 22. While Peter is there we will focus on the original bands music that he was part of. If/when Peter leaves before the show ends, we will get into other eras and take requests. Its the best way to accomplish the special this year and also give Peter as much time as he wants. There is much to discuss with him for sure. I will also have signed copies of Peter’s book to give away tonight. So join me at 11P ET tonight over the air in the NYC area on Q104.3 FM, or streaming free at www.q1043.com or via the iheartradio free app (just hit Q104.3 NYC, Classic Rock). Remember this show also airs on all affiliates next weekend. Thank you all for the support and Merry KISSmas 2012 to my fellow Kiss fans and supporters.
My year in review radio special with a ton of music from 2012 premiered on Q104.3 NYC show 12/28. Here is my personal list of my favorite albums of 2012. Lot’s of great new music in 2012 and was tough to narrow down, but this is what truly made my ears the most excited the last 12 months:
1: OVERKILL – THE ELECTRIC AGE
An incredible, relentless, pounding thrash metal album that may be my favorite from this highly underrated band since Taking Over. Overkill have made a string of solid albums lately, but this is just next level. It is uncompromising speed metal at it’s finest. Production and mix are incredible, the riffing just builds and builds, great songs, great playing. The total package. If you are looking for a new but old school thrash sounding album this is it. Get a neck brace because it kicks your ass from top to bottom. Instant metal classic.
2: AEROSMITH – MUSIC FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION
I hear much about the amount of ballads on this album, but nobody says it also has 15 songs on the standard edition. So even if you take out 4 ballads it’s still 11 rocking tunes. It is not a perfect album, but it is damn good. The production is warm and not over compressed. You hear everything. All the band members (still original) write and contribute. Many different sides and stuff that hints at classic Aerosmith. “Street Jesus”, “Luv XXX”, “Beautiful”, “Out Go The Lights”, “Oh Yeah”, all just vintage sounding Aerosmith. Having seen three live shows so far on the tour, the band STILL gets it done on stage too. Great accomplishment for a band at this stage in their career and after waiting so long for it they delivered.
3: SLASH & THE CONSPIRATORS – APOCALYPTIC LOVE
I loved the last Slash album, and my favorite songs were the ones with Myles Kennedy singing. So I was thrilled that the live band he had on that tour now is a real band and has made a full cohesive album of brilliant hard rock. “Anastasia” an instant classic on this one. To me this is Slash’s best work top to bottom since Appetite and the band is great live. Hope they build a great catalog with this group.
4: VAN HALEN – A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH
Outside of Tattoo this is classic kick ass VH! Why 4-5 songs from this album were not blasting out of every radio station over the Summer escapes me. Not a huge fan of the mix at times, but the material and Eddie are ripping! Who knows what the future holds but this is classic sounding old VH. “As Is” among my favorites.
5: MARILYN MANSON – BORN VILLAIN
Best Manson album in a long time top to bottom. He and Twiggy created some catchy hook filled tunes as well as the usual level of Manson weirdness and always great production and sounds.
6: ACCEPT – STALINGRAD
Another great album from the relaunched Accept with singer Mark Tornillo. Not as strong top to bottom as Blood Of The Nations but damn close. This band is now firmly re established and Wolf Hoffman has to be one of the most underrated players in metal ever.
7: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – AFTERGLOW
Is it over? Who knows for sure. But three amazing albums in this bands history at an amazing pace is pretty impressive, so I hope not. Like all three BCC albums top playing and incredible singing from Glenn Hughes. Like all 3 I wish the mix was a little brighter and dynamic at times, but this is pretty much live and in your face classic sounding rock that just happens to be from a new band. The title track and “This Is Your Time” some of my favorites.
8: ADRENALINE MOB – OMERTA
Pumping heavy rock that never lets up. Great songs, vocals, production and hooks. Can’t help but to move to this album and its energy.
9: TREMONTI – ALL I WAS
Great debut album from Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti. Very metal at times, much will be made of his guitar playing, and rightfully so, but it’s the songs I love. The playing on the whole album is crushing and I truly like the way he delivers the songs as a singer. Great live too!
10: RUSH – CLOCKWORK ANGELS
Only reason not higher is because my two favorite songs on this album (Caravan and BU2B) actually were released a couple years ago. But I love that Rush is back to heavy guitar rock again and in your face power trio hard rock with little if any keys and synth. The nod to the old school on “Headlong Flight” is awesome. Wish the album was not so compressed and more dynamic sounding at times in the mix, but love the heaviness being back. Oh, and the R&R Hall just woke up after ignoring them 15 years. There is hope!
11 – 20
(CLICK ON THE ALBUM COVERS BELOW TO PURCHASE FROM AMAZON)
12/11/12: Thanks to all who came to Dingbatz to our 3rd annual Christmas party. The places was packed and we raged till 3A with great bands, drinks and fun. Appreciate all the support and thanks to Fred and the staff at Dingbatz for hosting a great party as always.
Had JJ, Eddie & AJ of Twisted Sister in studio for the SiriusXM show last night. Be sure to catch them next Sunday at the Emporium on LI for a hurricane Sandy benefit with Adrenaline Mob. Great hang with the guys in the studio who are long time friends and always step up for the NYC area.
Slash will be writing the forward to my second book out next year. Halford did the first. Honored to have such great support from such icons lending their voice to what I do. For those that ordered signed copies of my current book for the holidays I am signing and sending as quick as I can. Big amount shipping tomorrow, then more early next week. If you get your orders in to me over the next few days I should be able to process and get to you for Christmas delivery. I will do my best! Here is the link for ordering info:
This site will soon be redesigned and relaunched. Appreciate your patience as we go through a transition process the next month or so to make it better than ever. Sorry for any glitches along the way in advance.
THIS FRIDAY, can’t wait to welcome Peter Criss back into my studio. Lot’s to discuss! Listen live starting 11P ET on Q104.3 NYC or to the free stream outside the NYC broadcast area at www.q1043.com or via free iheartradio app. This show also airs on all affiliate stations the following weekend. Don’t forget I’m now heard in Boston on AAF every Sunday night at 7P and will be in Boston in Jan. Details on home page.
Many appearances and events coming in for 2013 already. Keep an eye on the shows listing on the home page.
Nice to see Rush and Heart finally got into the Hall. Mind boggling Deep Purple didn’t, especially when you consider they influenced EVERYBODY! No logic and a disgrace these two bands had to wait 15 years, but congrats to them. Still a joke really though.
Year end radio specials coming. I’ll announce by end of the week.
Ruben Mosqueda for Rock Confidential spoke with Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield. Portions of the interview appear below.
Rock Confidential: Scott, it’s a pleasure to finally get you on the phone. I’ve been looking forward to it. I’ve been a fan going back to the Rage For Order record. I caught the second show you guys did as Rising West in Seattle last June. Some things have transpired since those shows took place. Geoff Tate is no longer in the band and you guys have elected to press forward with Todd La Torre on vocals. It also appears that amongst the Queensryche fan base there’s been a split; there’s the ‘Queensryche camp’ and the ‘Geoff Tate camp.’ I recently conducted an interview with Geoff (Tate) for Oregon Music News and I received an email from the person who handles the news feeds for a website of a major TV and radio personality that stated that they wouldn’t be running the interview due to the negative feedback that they had been receiving regarding Geoff Tate related coverage. What’s your take on the fan reaction to the split?
Scott Rockenfield: I know the fans are rabid, passionate and very protective of the band. I’ve even received ‘hate mail’ and I’m a fan like them. It’s been a major shake-up for Queensryche in the last year. The fans have seen this transpire…here’s where we’re at as a band. Michael (Wilton), Eddie (Jackson) and I are the three main corporate owners in our ‘Queensryche Corporation’ so to speak. Ever since things started to go in ‘not such a good’ way back at the beginning of the year, we had to make some decisions and move on. We did that. We did that under the guise that we were the majority owners of the corporation and that we wanted to continue doing what is best for Queensryche. To us ‘the best thing’ for Queensryche is promoting the brand of Queensryche; making music, playing shows, giving the fans and our audience what they have come to expect from us. We wanted to do that and have ‘fun’ doing it. That’s a long story condensed very short so we can get to the point. That’s what we’ve done and that’s where we’re at now. Our fans are sitting back and seeing what is going on and they get to pick and choose what they want to do. The fortunate thing for us Ruben is that we’ve carried on and the support around the world by our fans; whether they are old-time fans or new fans or whatever it is has been extremely overwhelming.
The fans are supporting us. They continue to support us and they are praising all of the shows that we’ve done and they are looking forward to the ones that are coming up. They are also eagerly looking forward to the new record that we’ve just started recording as of last week. We hope to have it out in the first quarter of next year. Listen, for us it basically business as usual. We’ve put aside what we’ve had to deal with in the past eight months and we’re moving on with business. What is business? Business is pushing Queensryche and promoting that. Is there a kettle of stirred up stuff going on out there? Yeah there is, for sure. For us it best not to focus on that stuff rather focus on what we do best and that is to continue what we started out doing 30 years ago; which is Queensryche. I think the defining factor at the end of the day, whether it comes to playing our shows or making a new record, the deciding factor will be the fans. If you don’t have the fans’ support you’re not going to have anything. Thank goodness that we are blessed that the fans have really supported us, so much so that we’ve been able to continue to do what we’ve always wanted to do – be ourselves, make music and play shows.
Rock Confidential: How involved is each member in the songwriting process and how does it differ from previous writing sessions?
Scott Rockenfield: That’s a great question! I have a great answer! That’s exactly why we’re excited and there’s all this enthusiasm behind the new album. We’re finally…let me back up. Unfortunately, over the course of the past, many records that we’ve done hasn’t been a complete ‘band’ effort. We’ve run into a lot of conflicts of musical tastes or directions that we should take. I think the band has suffered because of it. It was something that wasn’t always done with the music always in mind. That’s why a lot of this has transpired and turned into what it did and we had to move on. Our goal has always been for Queensryche to this particular type of band. One thing we wanted to do was to revisit what that was and that to us is what made Queensryche – our classic material. Why were we so excited then? Let’s find that ‘excitement’ again. We wanted to do that for a while but we haven’t been able to do that. We weren’t ‘allowed’ to do that is probably a better way to put it. In a nutshell that’s what we’re doing. So to answer your question, all five of us – Michael, Parker, Eddie, Todd and I are all writing the material. It’s a huge collective effort. We’re all playing the material and then with “Jimbo” in the fold as our producer and engineer – he’s like the sixth member of the band. The chemistry level is huge and that’s something that we haven’t had in a while. I think that’s what the fans are excited about and the anticipation is so high. Having said that—it’s a hell of a lot of pressure! Whatever, we’ll get through it! (laughs) We’re having a lot of fun. Last week in the studio was really a lot of fun.
Rock Confidential: How would you describe the direction that you’re going with the new music and album? Progressive, contemporary rock influences, ‘classic’ era Queensryche? Or perhaps none of the above?
Scott Rockenfield: That’s a great selection of choices that you’ve given me to pick: A,B, or C. I think the best way for me to describe it is that it’s in a ‘progressive/hard rock’ direction. “Jimbo” described it really well when we were in the studio last week. We were immersed in it really working hard and brainstorming; driving the ship home so to speak. He said, “I think you guys have combined your first five records into what you’re doing now.” So that’s from our EP all the way through Promised Land, which coincidentally was the last record that we worked on with “Jimbo.” So I think if you stuck all of those records into a musical blender and you’d get an idea of what the music we’re working right now sounds like. There are elements from all of those records that have made it on to the new music. I think that’s a good way to describe it. We have wanted to revisit this great history of ours that we just haven’t been able to do for a while. We have great lyric content, great songs, great melodies and great performances by us; the song crafters and mechanics behind it all. I could go on forever about it because I’m so excited about it. I could play it for you right now on my speakers but afterward I’d have to kill you! (laughs).
