METALLICA’S PROJECT MANAGER KILLED IN THE PARISIAN TERRORIST ATTACKS

metallicaprojectmanager640 Metallica shared some sad news with the world early this morning. During the November 13th attacks on Paris, Metallica project manager and friend of the band, Thomas Ayad, lost his life at Le Bataclan.

In total, 89 people were killed at Le Bataclan during an attack claimed to be perpetrated by the terrorist organization ISIS. Others were killed in several other locations throughout Paris, but the highest body count occurred during the Eagles of Death Metal gig at Le Bataclan. Among those lost was EODM merch manager Nick Alexander, while the Eagles of Death Metal members were able to escape shortly after gunfire began. Members of Deftones were also at Le Bataclan that night, but left the venue minutes before the massacre.

Metallica shared the loss of their project manager and good friend via Facebook:

“We had great fortune to work with Thomas Ayad at Universal Music France for the past eight years and while Thomas had the official title of being our “project manager,” we knew him as a member of our Metallica family, a fan, a friend . . . and a warm, helpful, supportive familiar face each time we visited France. Friday we lost Thomas, at the Bataclan theatre, in a way that none of us can begin to comprehend. Our thoughts are with Thomas’ friends, family, co-workers and all Parisians during these very difficult times.” (above photo taken from November 9, 2011 at Taratata TV show)

additional source: loudwire.com

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest

TOOL ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES

maynardkeenan640

On November 12th, Tool posted the following message on their official website:

“For those of you who only like NEWS about TOOL, here’s something that should be of great interest. The impenetrable veil of my dark scrying mirror FINALLY CLEARED today – enough so, in fact – that I could perceive a large heptagram on a complexly lit stage where four performers were dwarfed by dramatic video projections. Evidently the sonic and visual extravaganza that I was receiving is a rare glimpse of future TOOL U.S.A. TOUR DATES in the month of JANUARY, 2016 e.v. However, with some of the images in the depths of the black glass not being clearly distinct… YET, fans will have to keep checking back (SOON) on the Tool websites and Tool facebook page for an official announcement containing a list of the SHOW DATES, CITIES and VENUES, as well as for info about a tour support act(s). Regarding an opening band(s), what I was able to discern through the ever-shifting veil will in all likeliness be exciting to many Tool enthusiasts. STAY TUNED, FOLKS… as my trusty SCRYING MIRROR CONTINUES TO CLEAR…”

Well, the band has announced some tour dates, and here they are:

January:

9 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
13 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
16 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
17 – Grand Prairie, TX (Dallas) @ Verizon Theatre
19 – Southaven, MS (Memphis) @ Landers Center
23 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
25 – Atlanta, GA @ Infinite Energy Center
26 – Charlotte, NC @ Bojangles Coliseum

To keep up on the latest news about the band, and to check on added tour dates, please visit Tool’s official website.

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest

KING DIAMOND INVITES FANS TO BE A PART OF HISTORY FOR THE FILMING OF THE BAND’S FIRST LIVE DVD/BLU-RAY

King Diamond King Diamond invites fans to be a part of heavy metal history for the filming of the band’s first ever live DVD/Blu-Ray.

Fans in Philadelphia and Detroit will bear witness to Abigail in Concert 2015 on November 25th and 28th, respectively. Those two shows will be filmed by acclaimed director Denise Korycki with an array of approximately 18 cameras, including GoPros positioned all over the stage. This will be the best looking and sounding live video, ever, from King Diamond, and the band needs each and every diehard fan in those cities to be a part of the experience! Tickets are available for Philadelphia at The Fillmore here and Detroit, also at The Fillmore, here.

The feature length live video will also include clips from various shows throughout the tour. Tickets are still available for many of the remaining shows, which are linked below. Two of the three New York shows for this week are SOLD OUT! Click on the highlighted cities to purchase tickets.

King Diamond Abigail in Concert 2015 With special guests Exodus:

Nov. 19 – New York, NY – PlayStation Theater
Nov. 20 – New York, NY – PlayStation Theater – SOLD OUT
Nov. 21 – New York, NY – PlayStation Theater – SOLD OUT
Nov. 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE (Electric Citizen supporting)
Nov. 24 – Boston, MA – Orpheum
Nov. 25 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore (DVD Filming Show!)
Nov. 27 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
Nov. 28 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore (DVD Filming Show!)
Nov. 30 – Minneapolis, MN – Myth

Dec. 2 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater (Club Brady)
Dec. 4 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Dec. 5 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues

kingdiamonddvdadvert640
Photo credit: of Andrew Bansal/MetalAssault.com

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest

LAST IN LINE PREMIERES VIDEO FOR “DEVIL IN ME”

lastinline640 On Friday February 19th, Frontiers Music SRL will release one of the most highly anticipated Hard Rock releases of 2016: the debut album from Last In Line, Heavy Crown.

Formed by three original members of Dio including Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell (guitar) Vinny Appice (drums) and Jimmy Bain (bass) and named after Dio’s 1984 studio album The Last In Line, the new band are on a mission to bring classic Hard Rock to fans who can’t get enough of the real thing. The album will be released on CD, CD/DVD (including a bonus track) and Digital formats. Pre-orders can be made here

First single, Devil In Me was premiered on Planet Rock (UK) and SiriusXM (U.S.) on Eddie’s show on November 16th and today, November 17th, the official music video for the track is now available for viewing below.

Says guitarist Vivian Campbell, “When we started this project a few years ago, the initial idea was to reunite the original Dio band to play the songs we wrote and recorded with Ronnie in the early 1980’s. Joined by Andrew Freeman on vocals, we played a handful of shows in southern California, the UK, and Japan. It was a limited ambition, but it brought us great joy in reconnecting to this great music, to each other, and to our collective history.”

The new songs featured on the debut Last In Line album are all co-written by the four band members.

“When we first got together as the Last In Line line-up, our ambition at that time didn’t extend to writing and recording any new music, says Campbell, “but when we were offered the opportunity to do so by Frontiers, we decided to enter the studio to write this new album in the very same spirit as we did the Holy Diver album; Back in 1982 Ronnie, Vinny, Jimmy and I went into Sound City studios to kick around ideas and riffs, and about six weeks later we started laying down the tracks for what was to become the Holy Diver album.”

The new material was written after the band toured the classic Dio songs. During the tour, when the band started really connecting with each other musically, that’s when they decided the time was right to start writing new material for what was to become the Last In Line debut album.

Vivian Campbell will also be putting time aside to go on tour with Last In Line when not touring with Def Leppard. Expect 2016 tour dates and festival appearances to be announced in the coming weeks.

Last In Line keyboardist Claude Schnell recently left the band.

Heavy Crown track listing:

1. Devil In Me
2. Martyr
3. Starmaker
4. Burn This House Down
5. I Am Revolution
6. Blame It On Me
7. In Flames (Bonus Track Deluxe Edition)
8. Already Dead
9. Curse The Day
10. Orange Glow
11. Heavy Crown
12. The Sickness

DVD track listing:

1. Devil In Me (Videoclip)
2. Starmaker (Videoclip)
3. Making of Heavy Crown

lastinlineheavtcrown640

source: classicrock.teamrock.com

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest

GUITARIST KIRK HAMMETT CONFIRMS, THAT AT ONE POINT, THE BAND DID CONSIDER FIRING DRUMMER LARS ULRICH

metallicawithcliff400 Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has confirmed the long-standing rumour that Metallica considered firing Lars Ulrich in the 1980s.

But the guitarist says that he, frontman James Hetfield and bassist Cliff Burton never came close to actually dismissing the drummer.

The story has circulated for years, with Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and Anthrax’s Scott Ian both having discussed it in the past.

Now Hammett tells PYX106, “That was just an old thing, you know. At one point or another we were pissed off at Lars, around maybe 1985 or something. We were unhappy, and we might have grumbled something to someone. That person might have picked up on it and made something a lot bigger than it actually was.”

He added, “Lars has a lot of drive and that’s a part of the reason why I love the man. His drive and motivation is just so intense.”

Ian, who first discussed the Ulrich rumour in 2009, said last year, “They had made a plan that they were going to make a change. They were like, ‘When we finish this tour we’re going to find a new drummer.’” But he added: “I think the tour would have finished and cooler heads would have prevailed. I don’t think the change would have taken place.”

Metallica are currently working on their 10th album, although no completion date has been confirmed.

additional source: classicrock.teamrock.com

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest

GUITARIST STEVE VAI DISCUSSES “THE BENEFIT FOR TONY MACALPINE” AND HIS MEMORIES OF PLAYING WITH DAVID LEE ROTH

TonyMacalpine640 As previouslyreported, guitar greats Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde and John 5, along with drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Billy Sheehan and keyboardist Derek Sherinian, are joining forces to play a benefit concert for guitar and keyboard virtuoso Tony MacAlpine, who was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year.

James Wood of Guitar World spoke with guitarist Steve Vai about the show and other topics. Excerpts of of the interview appear below.

Guitar World: Tell me about your relationship with Tony MacAlpine and how you guys met.

Steve Vai: Back in the Eighties when there was this emergence of virtuoso-style guitar players, there was this handful of guys that had extraordinary chops and were always raising the bar. Tony was a part of that movement in a big way. He made some excellent records that really showcased his tremendous guitar finesse and virtuosity.

So I had always known of him, but it wasn’t until years later that we actually met. I was putting a band together and needed a guitar player who could also play keyboards, and I had heard that Tony could play some keyboards. I also knew having someone like Tony in the band would bring everything to a whole different level. It worked out great and we had so much fun. Tony’s a lovely guy and it was such a pleasure to tour with him. Some people are just naturally gifted, and Tony’s one of them.

So when Mike Mesker [Tony’s manager] called me about the benefit, I was completely on board. It’s since snowballed into what’s going to be an absolutely incredible event to raise money to help Tony. There’s a tragedy in it, but there’s also the divine shining through from all the love and support he’s getting from everyone he’s worked with and who’s supported him.

Guitar World: Thirty years ago, you, Billy Sheehan and Gregg Bissonette got together to form the nucleus of David Lee Roth’s band after he acrimoniously left Van Halen. How did that come about?

Steve Vai: As a teenager, I was really into Frank Zappa and composition, but I had also always fantasized about being on the big rock stage and jumping around like crazy and playing to thousands of people. At the time, that was the most coveted gig for a guitar player. I had opportunities to audition for other big rock bands but none of them really felt right. But then I got call from Billy Sheehan, who said, “Dave Roth is looking for a guitar player and I hipped him to you.” I don’t know what it was but as soon as Billy said those words I was like, “Yep. That’s going to be my gig!” I can’t explain it. There was just never any doubt. As soon as Billy said it, that was the pull and it took me about one second to think about it and say yes.

Guitar World: What was it that attracted you to the gig?

Steve Vai: The reason it was alluring was because I loved Van Halen. Dave was the quintessential rock star and I loved the idea of being on the side. It was an amazing situation to be in at the time, and we played our asses off. Everything was about playing as good, hard and crazy as you possibly could while still being a showman. Looking back at the Eighties, I was so lucky to be a part of that.

Guitar World: In terms of the concert for Tony, what are you most looking forward to?

Steve Vai: On one level, it’s an opportunity to get together with a bunch of friends and great players—for another friend. But the thing I’m looking forward to goes well beyond that. Whenever you’re with a group of people doing something like this for someone you care for, there’s this purveying atmosphere of charity, and everybody acts differently. It’s a whole different atmosphere than a regular concert or a jam in a club. The audience, the venue, the musicians, the way the music performs and the way that it comes off your fingers; everything is affected by this beautiful, collective consciousness of charity. That’s what I’m really looking forward to because that’s about as delicious as it gets.

Read more at Guitar World.

The Benefit for Tony MacAlpine will take place at the Wiltern Theater on December 12th, 2015, at 7:00pm and will be hosted by our own Eddie Trunk. For more information about this event and how to purchase tickets, please click here.

Print

source: guitarworld.com

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest

1 671 672 673 674 675 1,079