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BASSIST BILLY SHEEHAN DISCUSSES THE NEW WINERY DOGS ALBUM, HIS CONNECTION TO MICHAEL SCHENKER/UFO AND DAVID LEE ROTH

Ruben Mosqueda of Sleaze Roxx spoke with bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan about the Winery Dog’s new album, Hot Streak and other topics. Excerpts from the interview appear below.

Sleaze Roxx: When you guys set out to write for the debut album, you had a massive writing session. When you set out to write for Hot Streak — was it done in similar fashion or did you each come in with ideas?

Billy Sheehan: Oh, it was similar to what we did the first time. As you go along; as a player, musician and writer — you always get new ideas. I can’t say that I documented any of the ideas but I did have them in my head. We played over 100 shows together on the last tour. We developed this instinct towards one another and how we play. So, while we approached the writing for this record the same as the last time around, it was different because we had a lot of experience playing together. We experimented more. We took a lot of left turns here and there… We could have done the “smart business thing” and done the first record all over again. I think a lot of bands often do [that] but I think fans see right through that. I think we took some chances and pushed ourselves as musicians and writers.

Sleaze Roxx: It’s an eclectic record no question. When you guys are in writing mode, do you guys have the live performance in mind?

Billy Sheehan: Well, for us if we can’t pull it off live between the three of us in a writing session, we certainly couldn’t do it live in front of an audience. We don’t rely on tracks and things like that. I think the studio has become the “5th Beatle” to a lot of bands. They have all these programs and capabilities that they get caught up in building this “beast” they can’t really control anymore. Then they can’t perform live without the use of tracks that play along with the band as you perform live. We don’t use tracks. We’ve never used tracks. I’ve been in bands that have used tracks — it’s not my thing. So to answer your question, the way we write it is the way we play it and we think of it “live” because we’re going to have to perform it.

Sleaze Roxx: I don’t have the liners since I have an advance copy of your new album. Are the songs written by all three of you exclusively or did you bring in outside writers to help on Hot Streak?

Billy Sheehan: No outside writers. It’s the three of us hammering things out in the studio. We haven’t said no to it though. I would prefer that we do it ourselves. If you bring outside writers, it becomes this “thing” with publishing and you’re open to possible lawsuits and things of that nature. I went through that with Mr. Big when we wrote To Be With You. We had a guy that co-wrote the song with us. He got his money but somehow he felt entitled to join us on stage to perform the song! You have to keep in mind this is a guy whom I’ve never met in my life (laughs)! He went to the press and told them how awful we were and how terrible we were — it really complicates things.

Sleaze Roxx: Since you brought up To Be With You — as a Mr. Big fan, I was a bit upset that people came on board based on that song when it wasn’t really an accurate representation of the band. I saw it similar to what happened with Extreme. What’s your take on that song now?

Billy Sheehan: Yeah, I hear what you’re saying but I love To Be With You. I love singing it and I love playing it. I think people think of Paul Gilbert and I and they think “shred, shred, shred.” It’s like “shred this, shred that, shred the other thing!” I remember Tommy Lee was at a rehearsal studio where we were rehearsing at the time and he saw us and started shouting “shred, shred, shred!” He was really fucking annoying. I remember I said “Hey, Tommy how are you doing?” And he responded by yelling “shred, shred, shred!” I was like “f–k you!” I didn’t say that to him but I was thinking “f–k you dude!” So that’s why I was so glad for To Be With You. Here’s your “shred, shred, shred!”’ It’s number one bro — for three weeks (laughs)!

Sleaze Roxx: You have this [Michael] Schenker/UFO connection which I find fascinating. You demoed songs which would later go on to be part of the first MSG album, right?

Billy Sheehan: That’s correct. They flew me to London to be their bass player and the drummer at the time was Denny Carmassi who you know played with Montrose. So we spent two weeks there working on the songs. We demoed them and were ready to go into the studio and the whole thing fell to pieces. Michael is a great guy and all but at that time it was a case of too much intoxication, a lot of pressure coming at him from a lot of different people. I honestly feel that at that time, he wasn’t able to cope with that kind of pressure. So Denny and I packed up and left and we never went back. There were bootlegs of the original sessions that we did later on that were on CD. Michael later released the record with the tracks that we recorded! Which I would have liked to been asked permission, which at the time I didn’t think was cool. Later on, I didn’t care so much. Michael is a really cool player. I love his work with UFO and it just kind of fell apart. UFO called me after that when they were having problems with Pete Way. They knew of me because Talas had opened up for UFO in Buffalo [New York] once. They were on tour and they were heading down to the border as Buffalo is on the border there. I recall that there were a couple of support acts and one of the bands got held up at the border so they needed another band and they had Talas open for them.

Sleaze Roxx: With UFO, Pete Way had some issues when you stepped in. Was there any talk of you joining UFO full-time?

Billy Sheehan: Yeah, that was the plan. It was to do the tour and then remain with the band. I like to have a glass of wine once in awhile [but] other than that I haven’t even had an aspirin since like 1974 and I don’t use drugs. It’s just not my thing. I don’t get so drunk to the point that I just don’t know where I am. I like to drink, I like the feeling but never to the degree where I don’t know where I am or what my name is. I just can’t be around stuff like that and there’s a work ethic involved too. I learned the whole UFO setlist front and back and I’m ready to rehearse with the band and at 4:00 pm, everyone shows up, we play for about 45 minutes and we take a “break.” They head to the pub and don’t return until about 8:00 pm. They’re too drunk to do anything but they manage to fumble their way the rest of the rehearsal. So we had two days of rehearsal and we hadn’t gone through a single song! It was incredible! Finally, I urged them to get it together because we had a set to rehearse. It’s sad because I really love those guys. Phil Mogg is a great singer and fantastic guy but sometimes the stuff that happens behind the scenes can be really sad. I was so prepared to be a part of that band but I just couldn’t do it.

Sleaze Roxx: We know the story of Talas opening up for Van Halen which is how you popped up on [David Lee] Roth’s radar when it came time for him to form the band that would record Eat ‘Em & Smile. It was in fact a band was it not?

Billy Sheehan: We were a band. Our pictures were on the album liners. We were in the interviews. We were in the videos. He was very generous. We were like “The Dave Gang” — we hung out together, we went out to clubs. I still keep in touch with Steve [Vai] and Gregg [Bissonette]. In fact Steve, Gregg and I had dinner a couple weeks ago just to reminisce about our time together. I jammed with Steve recently. People heard that we were going to jam at this club and all these people crammed into this club to watch us. It was a blast! I love the time with David Lee Roth.

Sleaze Roxx: Was there or has there ever been discussion of you, Steve and Gregg working together on something?

Billy Sheehan: Not really — not that there’s been no discussion. I haven’t really thought about it — maybe some day, we’ll be able to play together.

Sleaze Roxx: When did things begin to unravel with the Roth situation. I know you played a part in the follow-up Skyscraper — that was a really slick album. It was departure from we had heard on Eat ‘Em. I think shortly thereafter the completion of the album, you left.

Billy Sheehan: I felt that the tone of the relationship within the band changed. It was no longer a band. There was a dividing line between band and management. I think stylistically, it was a different record. I give Dave credit for giving it a try to mesh dance music with rock music. Unfortunately, the wall between dance music and rock music makes The Berlin Wall look like a picket fence. I’ll give you an example. We play Europe and we finish playing the gig at a club and they flip the room and turn it into a dance club. There are times that our fans are hanging around after the show because they’ve had too much to drink or maybe they want to catch the band — one sure fire way to clear a room is to play dance music (laughs)! You should see how quickly all the rock people run out of the venue (laughs)! Again, I have to give Dave credit. He tried — had he succeeded, he would have been called a genius. That bass line pulse type stuff just isn’t my thing. Dave predicted that dance music would be huge and damn is it ever (laughs)!

Read more at Sleaze Roxx.

source: sleazeroxx.com

JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 PREMIERES THIRD SINGLE “LONG FOR THE DAYS,” ALBUM OUT OCTOBER 16TH

Joel Hoekstra’s 13’s has released their third single, called Long For The Days, from their forthcoming album Dying To Live, which will be released October 16th on Frontiers Music Srl. Watch it below.

“Long For The Days is a song about reflection and regret over a relationship gone badly,” explains Joel. “It’s a good old-fashioned, classic-rock style track that captures elements of some of my favorite bands (I’ll let you figure them out!). Vinny Appice (drums) and Tony Franklin (bass) lay it down while Derek Sherinian (keys) provides the right sounds and parts with tasteful perfection. Russell Allen delivers one of my favorite vocal performances EVER and Jeff Scott Soto sings some amazing backgrounds to support them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing/recording it!”

To listen to other songs from this release, please click on ther highlighted song titles.

Until I Left You
Anymore

Dying To Live features an all-star cast of rockers including Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass),Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards), and will be available via Frontiers Music SRL on Friday, October 16th.

Joel Hoekstra is a guitarist in the legendary Whitesnake and is also well known for his work with Trans Siberian Orchestra, Night Ranger and the hit show Rock of Ages.

Pre-order Dying To Live at iTunes and Amazon.

DEF LEPPARD’S “HYSTERIA ON THE HIGH SEAS,” ON THE VERGE OF SELLING OUT; ANNOUNCES ARTIST ADDITIONS AND UPDATES

Def Leppard’s inaugural fan cruise, Hysteria On the High Seas–a four-day, four-night voyage out of Miami this January 21st-25th, aboard the MSC Divina–has announced a number of updates this week as the cruise is on the verge of selling out. Cruise updates include: the additions of Frank Hannon (long-time Tesla guitarist) plus Kix; complimentary “on tour” photo with Def Leppard for all cruisers; Rick Allen’s Art Exhibit aboard the ship; exclusive unveiling of Def Leppard’s own craft beer; and two new payment options. For booking and more information, please visit DefLeppardCruise.com.

Additional cruise updates announced include:

-The unveiling of a new Def Leppard craft beer that that band is working on; cruisers will have the opportunity to be the first to taste in an optional beer tasting event with the band (for a small fee). Details regarding pricing and ticketing will be announced shortly.

– Each passenger will be assigned to a photo group for their complimentary Def Leppard “On Tour” photo.

– Def Leppard’s drummer–Rick Allen–will bring his visual expression to life with paint, light and canvas with his Rick Allen Art Exhibit aboard the cruise. Each amazing piece that Rick creates has a story and a connection to his life and cruisers will get to enjoy his work up close and personal.

As previously announced, Def Leppard’s Hysteria On The Seas fan cruise will include:

Def Leppard Theater Performance
Def Leppard “Storytellers” Performance and Q&A
Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell in Last in Line Performance
Eddie Trunk’s “Def Leppard – Behind the Music”
Daily performances from support artists on four stages throughout the ship
Support Artist “Storyteller” Performances
Support Artist Meet & Greets/Photo Ops, Jams and Q&A Sessions
Special Events, Theme Nights and much more

Def Leppard Cruise has announced two new payment options (beyond the standard payment plan):

– EZ Pay Plan: This special no interest installment plan is designed to assist fans who need an extended installment option in order to attend. While supplies last, fans may secure their spot aboard the cruise for ONLY $499 USD per person down (double occupancy), with the remaining balance payable over twelve equal monthly installments beginning the month after the initial reservation is completed and debited on the 20th day of each month (or next business day).

– Paid In Full Plan: For those who prefer to pay their cruise fully in advance, a 5% discount off the base fare is available. Fans will save money and have the peace of mind of knowing that their cruise is squared away and fully paid for. For more information on these payment plans, go to DefLeppardCruise.com.

One of the greatest rock bands of all time and heralded as an institution in both the music and touring industry, Def Leppard will bring their spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits (including tracks off their long-awaited new studio album out this October 30th) aboard the MSC Divina, as Hysteria on the High Seas visits Grand Bahama Island and the private island paradise of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. In addition, passengers sailing aboard the cruise will receive complimentary admission to an exclusive pre-cruise event on Wednesday, January 20th in Miami, FL, featuring special guest artists and more (details TBA).

This exclusive cruise is a fantasy camp for enthusiasts of Def Leppard, with non-stop entertainment, activities and fun. While this cruise is about all things Def Leppard, the “Hysteria” continues with some of the great names from the 80’s and beyond, with a lineup that includes: Tom Keifer; Last in Line featuring the original line up from Dio’s classic Holy Diver, and Last In Line Records featuring Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell alongside fellow founding Dio members Vinnie Appice, Jimmy Bain and Claude Schnell, along with vocalist Andrew Freeman; Eric Martin (Mr. Big); Ritchie Kotzen; Kip Winger; and Eddie Trunk and Luc Carl as hosts. Just added to the line-up Frank Hannon, long-time Tesla guitarist, Kix–Steve Whiteman (lead vocal), Jimmy Chalfant (drums, vocals), Ronnie Younkins (guitars), Brian Forsythe (guitars) and Mark Schenker (bass)–who just released their highly anticipated and first new album in 19 years. KIX was recently hailed “Best Performers” at both Rocklahoma and M3 Rock Festival, where they played alongside metal heavyweights Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Queensryche and more.

SAMMY HAGAR SAYS THAT HE WOULD LOVE TO TOUR WITH BOTH THE CIRCLE AND CHICKENFOOT, CONFIRMS THAT CHICKENFOOT IS WORKING ON NEW MUSIC

Matt Wardlaw of Ultimate Classic Rock reports:

If Sammy Hagar has his way, he’d like to give his fans the best of both worlds with a tour that would feature both of his supergroups, the Circle and Chickenfoot, on the road as a touring package.

“My dream is is to do a Circle/Chickenfoot tour together. We each play 50 minutes or maybe an hour each — [we’ll] see how long I can sing like that — Mike [Michael Anthony] can play bass all night, you know? [Guitarist] Vic [Johnson] and everybody else, we just switch out with Joe [Satriani] and Chad [Smith] and Jason [Bonham], two drum kits up there so that everybody’s playing their own s— and I think that could be the coolest tour I maybe have ever done.”

For Hagar, the pairing would do a lot to help keep all of his fans happy, especially the ones that want to see him tour and make new music with Chickenfoot.

“To go in the studio and spend a half a million dollars to make a great record that’s going to sell forty or fifty thousand….maybe a hundred thousand records, [you] basically pay to play and you’re going to lose money on that,” he says. “And then you go out and tour with a band that could sell two or three thousand tickets in any city in the world, but you know, flying around in a private jet and staying in Four Seasons hotels and all of that and with these four guys, we’re all rich, so it’s like, we don’t need the money, but at the same time, to go out and do 60 or 70 shows and come back and make as much as I make in one night after a year of that, is pretty hard.”

“I don’t do things for money, but it’s pretty difficult to put everything else aside. Because I’m saying, “Okay, if I’m putting a year of my life aside, I’m not going to make any money, number one. Which I don’t need money, it’s okay, I can get away with that. But the energy that it takes to do all of that and my fans sit there and hound me, as much as they love Chickenfoot, they hound me to go out and do [the songs from my history]. “We want to hear this song, we want to hear that song,” and I’m going, “F—, now I’ve gotta go back out and work again, I’m f—in’ beat,” you know?”

Happily, there is new music in the works from both groups, which Hagar is really excited about, including a new Chickenfoot song called “Before I Die.”

“What we decided to do [with Chickenfoot] is casually write a record the way we’re doing now. Like, Joe and I get together and get the song and then Chad put drums on one song already and Mikey put bass on it and we did the vocals. We’ve got one f—ing finished song that to me, is the coolest song that we’ve maybe ever had. It’s really bluesy and edgy and modern and it’s f—ing cool.”

He’s quick to praise his Chickenfoot bandmates and share the reasons why he knows he’ll continue to make music with the band.

“I love Chickenfoot. It’s just that for me, being able to play my whole career with the Circle is so important to me,” he says. “I’ve gotta tell ya, the chemistry in the Circle is right up there with the chemistry in Chickenfoot, when Chad’s in the band, Chad, Mike and I. It’s the same kind of thing — it’s just a little bit different. Chickenfoot, I think may be the most creative band I’ve ever been in. I think it’s even more creative than Van Halen was in a sense. Joe is so prolific that Joe can write 20 pieces of music, beginning to end, bridge, chorus, solo section, intro, outro and just bring it and say, ‘How do you like this?’ And we go, ‘Wow, that’s great,’ or ‘Eh, it don’t feel right to us — it sounds like Joe solo.’ You know, whatever!”

“Having a guy like that in the band that is so freakin’ prolific — I’ve never seen a musician in my life [like that] — because he reads and he writes and he studies…he’s a professor, so he’s theorizing with music,” Hagar explains. “I say, how about some mid-tempo thing like ‘Every Breath You Take’ by the Police. Joe walks in the next day and he’s got it. How about something like ‘Black Dog,’ which was ‘Soap On A Rope,’ with the breaks where the vocal is and the next day Joe walks in with that. I mean, not just an idea….that whole f—in’ piece and all I had to do is write lyrics and come up with a melody and that f—in’ song was done. That’s the way Joe is. Being in a band with that kind of creativity and the engine of Chad and Mike on the rhythm section is second to nothing. You know, Mike and Jason [Bonham] are bad-ass too, don’t get me wrong, but I have to do another record with that band, because it’s so creative.”

Read more at Ultimate Classic Rock.

In news story posted here on September 10th, guitarist Joe Satriani confirmed that Chickenfoot were working a new song. Satriani stated, “I think all my complaining and foot stomping really had an effect“I think all my complaining and foot stomping really had an effect.”

source: ultimateclassicrock.com

RATT GUITARIST WARREN DIMARTINI RELEASES STATEMENT AND SAYS THAT [DRUMMER BOBBY BLOZTER] “IS UNAUTHORIZED” TO USE THE BAND’S NAME

Ratt guitarist Warren DiMartini has released the following statement regarding drummer Bobby Blozter claiming to have won the legal rights to use the band’s name:

“Back in March Bob Blotzer phoned me and said he wanted to form a Ratt tribute band and call it something like “… Ratt Experience”. I suggested he not use Ratt in the title and call it something like Bob’s Cellar as Ratt’s debut record Out of the Cellar has rounded its third decade. He said something to the effect that he wanted to use Ratt in the title “like Jason Bonhan’s Led Zeppelin Experience”. I said I had no problem with him playing songs he recorded with Ratt, but I didn’t agree to him using the name in the title. He used it anyway.

Now he is soliciting his tribute band as Ratt which he is completely unauthorized to do. I am totally against it, and steps are being taken to prevent any further misuse of the name as well as representation about future Ratt performances.”

Blozter announced that “After a five-year battle over trademark issues, doing everything he could to appease and re-assemble the band, Bobby Blotzer, the CEO of WBS Inc. has taken control of the Ratt brand.” Read more here.