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SINGER DAVID COVERDALE AND OUR VERY OWN EDDIE TRUNK DISCUSS WHITESNAKE’S “THE PURPLE ALBUM”

Mick Stingley of Billboard reports:

David Coverdale calls from his Nevada home near Lake Tahoe, where he has been busy working on post-production for the new Whitesnake release, The Purple Album, due May 19 via Frontiers Music SRL.

..The Purple Album features revved-up versions of songs from Coverdale’s tenure in Deep Purple some 40 years ago, from 1973 to 1976. The idea took hold after the death of Purple keyboardist Jon Lord in 2012, when Coverdale reached out to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to share his grief and make amends. The two hadn’t spoken in 30 years, and their last meeting had ended in a fistfight, but they started talking. Eventually they discussed doing a collaboration, but talks broke down when they could not agree on the musical direction.

Coverdale was ready to abandon the idea of revisiting his past until his wife, Cindy, made a suggestion. “She said, ‘Why don’t you look upon it as a Whitesnake album?,’ and it really started to resonate with me, especially after a couple of glasses of wine,” he recalls. “And I called my musicians, and they were absolutely thrilled about the idea.” After talking to Frontiers, the band started working on the project. “Everyone did their homework, and every performance is done respectfully in honor of [Deep Purple’s] musicians. Though I focused on the twin-guitar attack of Whitesnake, we had a guest keyboard player because a huge part of the Deep Purple sound was Jon Lord playing that amazing Hammond organ.”

That Metal Show host and terrestrial/satellite radio host Eddie Trunk, a staunch defender of classic rock’n’roll, is also a longtime friend of Coverdale. Trunk had Coverdale appear on the March 14th episode of TMS to discuss the album, and there are plans for him to return when The Purple Album is released.

“David’s always had tremendous musicians, and The Purple Album is an injection of life into these songs, some of which are 40 years old. I’m very interested to see how it’s going to be received here,” says Trunk. “When it comes to Deep Purple, no matter what lineup you talk about, in America they are not nearly as meaningful as they are outside of the U.S. If you talk to people who grew up in Europe, like [Metallica drummer] Lars Ulrich, Deep Purple is as important as Led Zeppelin, if not more so. Here David is known for Whitesnake 1987, even though he’d been doing that for a decade, but in other parts of the world, they’d already known him for years because Purple meant so much more. So maybe [the album] is going to shine some light on how important Deep Purple was.”

It’s not the first time Trunk has supported Coverdale’s career. “A year or so ago he needed a guitar player and he called me up, and we had a few phone calls and good discussions,” says Trunk. Coverdale ultimately ended up uniting with Joel Hoekstra, whom he saw play on That Metal Show, which airs Saturday nights on VH1 Classic. (Whitesnake is rounded out by guitarist Reb Beach, drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Michael Devin.)

Read more at Billboard.

source: billboard.com

STEPHEN PEARCY TO RELEASE A NEW CAREER RETROSPECTIVE COMPILATION “BEFORE & LAUGHTER” PRT III

Ratt founder Stephen Pearcy will release a new career retrospective compilation, Before & Laughter- Prt III.

Still in the studio recording and releasing new singles for the 4th solo release Smash 2015 (the first two singles available now on iTunes) Stephen Pearcy for sometime has been going through years and years of music from his (30) plus year career. Mickey Ratt, Arcade, Vicious Delite, Vertex, early Ratt songs before the original members and record contracts, solo works and other projects never before heard versions of songs live and studio recordings ready to to be heard.

Pearcy said, “I have literally hundreds of cassettes, CD and every format of recordings over the last (30) plus years and decided to really get into it and find the charms. I was surprised to find so much great music with my bands over the years, project’s that should be heard. There is no conflict with the new solo record as we are still finishing up each single for Smash as we go”.

Smash, release date to be announced.

Stephen Pearcy tour dates:

4.4.15 Versailles, OH BMI Speedway
4/12/15 Rainbow Bar & Grill 43rd Anniversary Party Outdoor Event
5.22.15 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon Club
5.23.15 BIG BEAR LAKE, CA THE CAVE BIG BEAR
5.24.15 San Juan Capistrano, CA The Coach House
5.30.15 Malden, MA Club Mixx 360
6.27.15 Anamosa, IA J&P Cycle Open House Rally
7.11.15 McHenry, IL McHenry Fiesta Days Festival
7.24.15 El Cajon, CA Sycuan Casino
8.08.15 Sheridan, WY Rock N’ the Railroad Festival
8.15.15 Oshkosh, WI Leach Amphitheatre
More to come!

For more information, please visit stephen-pearcy.com.

“THAT METAL SHOW” HOSTS EDDIE TRUNK AND DON JAMIESON DISCUSS THEIR LIVE APPEARANCES

Elana Dure of Fairfax Times spoke with TMS hosts Eddie Trunk and Don Jamieson. Selected quotes from the article appear below.

Jamieson on the appeal of heavy metal music:

“It’s never been a mainstream type of music, but at the same time [that’s] the appeal of it” said Jamieson, who’s been a professional comedian for 20 years. “Metalheads feel like they are kind of in an exclusive club.”

Eddie on why the hosts do club appearances for the fans who cannot view TMS:

“Although it’s certainly not a taping of the TV show. It’s still a great way to kind of connect and hang out with our audience, which has been so cool and so supportive…We’ve been doing it for a little while now and people really have a good time with us. It’s a completely different sort of vibe than the TV show, but there are still elements of what we do on TV.”

In addition to storytelling and stand-up comedy, Trunk, Jamieson and Florentine also offer a live Q&A session with audience members in order to give fans a chance to receive direct answers to whatever questions they may have.

“There are no network restrictions,” Jamieson said with a laugh. “We can be a little more risqué. We can keep things a little looser.”

Read more at Fairfax Times.

MOTLEY CRUE FRONTMAN VINCE NEIL SUING OVER CONTROL OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

Page Six of the New York Post reports:

Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil is taking a fight over his Internet persona to state court in Las Vegas, with a lawsuit accusing a social media consultant of refusing to give him control of his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.

The consultant, Kristy Sinsara of Bend, Oregon, said Thursday that she believes the lawsuit stems from a misunderstanding.

Sinsara said that in February she gave the singer’s manager the Facebook passwords and email contact information sought by the civil complaint.

“I don’t want to be saying bad things about my client,” Sinsara told The Associated Press. “I love and respect Vince. I have evidence that I sent them to his personal manager.”

Neil’s attorney, James Kohl, declined to comment beyond the civil lawsuit filed March 13 in Clark County District Court.

“Even though Sinsara agreed to relinquish control over the accounts on December 26th, 2014, and again on March 1st, 2015, she has and continues to maintain control,” the complaint said.

It accuses Sinsara of making unauthorized posts that Neil’s fans believe to be from him.

Sinsara’s lawyer, Isaac Warren of Choctaw, Oklahoma, said he hadn’t seen the complaint but also believed it was caused by a misunderstanding.

The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and unjust enrichment. It seeks unspecified damages greater than $20,000, and it asks for an injunction to force Sinsara to turn over access and administrative control of the accounts to Neil.

Motley Crue formed in the early 1980s and is as well known for bad behavior, hard partying and famous girlfriends as hits including “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Dr. Feelgood.”

Neil, 54, also owns tattoo shops and bars in Las Vegas.

source: pagesix.com

TWISTED SISTER/ADRENALINE MOB DRUMMER AJ PERO DIES OF A HEART ATTACK AT AGE 55

Twisted Sister/Adrenaline Mob drummer AJ Pero has died of a heart attack at age 55.

Twisted Sister posted the following messages on their Facebook page.:

“The members of Twisted Sister are profoundly saddened to announce the untimely passing of our brother, AJ Pero

The band, crew and most importantly the family of AJ Pero thank you for your thoughts and prayers at this time.”

“Today I lost a brother. Anthony Jude Pero passed away. A.J. was the final piece in a band that would become an international sensation and one of the greatest live rock acts to ever hit the stage. His sledgehammer assault on the drums helped drive Twisted Sister and I to greatness and inspired me to rock every single show. My heart breaks knowing I will never feel the power of his beat behind me, or turn to see his face smiling broadly from the sheer joy he got from doing what he loved. I will always remember that smile. RIP my friend.”

Dee Snider

———

“AJ Pero was a force, the likes of which I doubt I will ever have the chance to play in front of again. His drumming was legendary but his heart, as a human being, was even greater.

This April 1st would have been his 32nd year as a member.

In the Twisted Sister world he was always affectionately known as “the new guy”. That is how long and deep our history was/is.

In our hearts he will always be the engine that drove the train. I loved him and today my heart has been ripped out. RIP”

Jay Jay French

———-

This morning I received the tragic news about AJ’s passing. As anyone would be, I am devastated. With such a loss, even I broke down and cried, allegedly the tough guy in the band. One statement says it all, “AJ was my band mate, my friend and my brother and I will miss him forever”.

Mark ‘The Animal’ Mendoza

———-

My family, extended Twisted Sister family, and I are heartbroken and devastated to hear the news of Anthony Jude Pero’s passing. A.J. was a dear friend and brother to me, and in my opinion, one of the most talented drummers of all time. I will always remember the amazing experiences and great laughs we shared. A.J. always had an amazing sense of humor and did his best to please everyone he came in contact with.

Back in the day, when the band first started touring, we were often room-mates and he never failed to keep me smiling. It’s very difficult for me to talk about this right now. However, I feel that out of respect for his legacy, it’s important for us to let the world know how we all felt and will always feel about him. I know I will dearly miss him, but I’m grateful to have been his friend and musical partner for thirty-eight years.

At this time, my sincerest sympathies go out to his family. Heaven just got a great drummer, one that will live forever in our hearts.

Eddie Ojeda and The Ojeda Family

Anthony Jude Pero powered the fast-paced sound of Twisted Sister, one of the most famous 1980s metal groups.

He was well-known for a scene in the video for 1984’s We’re Not Gonna Take It in which he struck a snare drum covered with glitter, sending it spraying into the air.

Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French says Pero was on tour with the band Adrenaline Mob, and members of that group were unable to rouse him on their bus Friday morning.

He was taken to a hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he died.