Hollywood Vampires, the supergroup featuring Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, have announced their first live dates, set for next month. Rounding out the lineup will be former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum, both of whom also play in the supergroup Velvet Revolver.
The name “Hollywood vampires” references a loose collective of rockers, including Cooper, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon, who got together in the early Seventies and drink on the Sunset Strip at the Rainbow. Cooper’s crew – which is issuing its debut album, Hollywood Vampires, on September 11th – plans on keeping true to its moniker’s origins.
The first Hollywood Vampires concerts will take place at the fabled Sunset Strip outpost the Roxy on September 16th and 17th. It will be the group’s only U.S. show.
As for the band’s music, they play a mix of cover songs by members of the original Hollywood vampires, including the Who’s My Generation, the Doors’ Five to One and Break on Through, Nilsson’s Jump Into the Fire, Lennon’s Cold Turkey and Jimi Hendrix’s Manic Depression, among others, along with some original tunes. Their debut album will feature a number of notable special guests, including Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Slash, Joe Walsh and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson
In the final stages of recording the follow-up to 2011’s Worship Music, Anthrax – Joey Belladonna/vocals, Frank Bello/bass, Charlie Benante/drums, guitarist Jon Donais, and Scott Ian/rhythm guitar – will hit the road beginning August 28th for a 42-city global trek that will see the band playing three major festivals as well as sharing stages with the likes of Motorhead and their fellow Big Four comrades, Slayer.
Anthrax’s Bello, Benante and Ian started the new album writing process back in late 2013 when they began exchanging suggested riffs and other ideas for the new songs. With producer and “sixth member of the band” Jay Ruston, formal writing sessions started last Fall, culminating with about 20 original songs, almost twice as many as the band had ever brought to the recording studio in the past.
According to Benante, “Worship Music started a new chapter in our career, and it has served as an inspiration for this new album. ‘Worship’ was made up of a lot of different types of songs, some thrashy, some very mid-90s Anthrax-sounding, but this new one is really thrashy.”
Said Bello, “The thing about Anthrax…we have this heavy, thrashy music and Joey’s powerful and melodic vocals. I love heavy music, but I also love melody, so the challenge is to blend them together so they sound like Anthrax, and I think we’ve done a really good job of that on this new record.”
The Grammy-nominated Worship Music featured the return of “classic era” vocalist Belladonna, and was named one of the best albums of 2011 in numerous media outlets including SPIN, Metal Hammer, Guitar World, and Loudwire, and provided the band with the rock’n’roll comeback story of the year, all adding up to the excitement and anticipation for this new album.
Confirmed dates for Anthrax’s upcoming tour schedule are as follows:
August:
28 Riot Fest & Rodeo, Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
September:
11 Riot Fest and Carnival, Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL
12 The Fillmore, Detroit, MI*
13 Madison Theatre, Covington, KY (headline)
15 The Dome, Wallingford, CT*
16 Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY*
18 Theatre Olympia, Montreal, QC*
19 Shindig Festival, Carrol Park, Baltimore, MD
20 Food and Truck Festival, Oak Ridge Park, Clark, NJ
22 Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA*
23 The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC*
25 House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, FL*
26 Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, FL*
September 28th – October 2nd – Motorboat 2015 Cruise*
October:
10 Loud Park 15, Tokyo, Japan
25 Theaters Tilburg, Tilburg, Netherlands**
26 Zenith Paris, Paris, France**
28 La Cooperative De Mai, Clermont-Ferrand, France
30 Santana 27, Bilbao, Spain**
31 Coliseum, La Coruna, Spain**
November:
1 La Riviera, Madrid, Spain**
3 Razzmatazz, Barcelona, Spain**
5 Alcatraz, Milano, Italy**
7 Planet.tt Bank Austria Halle Gasometer B, Vienna, Austria**
8 Haus Auersee, Leipzig, Germany**
10 Zenith, die Kulturhalle, Munich, Germany**
12 Columbiahalle, Berlin, Germany**
13 RuhrCongress, Bochum, Germany**
14 MHPArena, Ludwigsburg, Germany
16 Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt, Germany**
17 AB Main Hall, Brussels, Belgium**
19 Rockhal, Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg
21 Newport Centre, Newport, UK**
22 Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, UK**
24 O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester, UK**
25 O2 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow, UK**
27 O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham, UK**
28 O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds, UK**
30 O2 Academy Brixton, Brixton, UK**
For embattled former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd, this was not how 2015 was supposed to go. In an alternate universe, the 61-year-old musician would have already traipsed through Europe with his band on their Rock or Bust tour, delivering a career-spanning set that may be short on surprises, but long on grand spectacle and bombastic rock tradition. He would have currently been rehearsing and preparing for the group’s upcoming North American leg, performing classic rock chestnuts alongside the band’s latest album, to which he contributed in 2014.
Instead, he is speaking to Rolling Stone from his Tauranga, New Zealand, home, where he will be confined for the next eight months as part of his sentencing on threatening-to-kill and drug-possession charges. Friends, family and other well-wishers are allowed to visit, but he’s legally mandated to not leave his house; it’s a prohibition that has, according to Rudd, allowed him to “get really organized” while working with court-appointed psychiatrist Rupert Bird, a specialist in methamphetamine psychosis “who’s helping me through my imbalances and personal issues.”
…Rudd is defiant when asked why he thinks the case has received worldwide attention, even more than AC/DC founding member Malcolm Young’s tragic dementia diagnosis and subsequent departure from the band. “The local paper had their heads up their asses and I don’t know why,” Rudd says. “They seem to really want to find something bad about me and blow it up to sell papers. They look at me as the ‘bad boy drummer.’ They just really don’t like me. Everyone seems to f–kin’ hate me, but everyone really loves me.”
The thornier matter is Rudd’s place in AC/DC, a band he joined in 1975, left in 1983 reportedly due to conflicts with Malcolm Young and drug and alcohol problems, and re-joined in 1994. Rudd hasn’t spoken to any members of the band since his arrest last year — “Which is a little weird,” he says — with the group issuing the terse statement at the time of Rudd’s arrest, “We’ve only become aware of Phil’s arrest as the news was breaking. We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour.”
While [guitarist-founding member] Angus Young told Rolling Stone that Rudd’s arrest had been a “big blow to us,” the band has scrubbed Rudd’s name and likeness from the “Band” section of its website, replacing him with current drummer Chris Slade. That hasn’t, however, diminished Rudd’s optimism to re-join the group and record more music with them.
“All I’m looking for is an opportunity to step back up,” Rudd says. “Once I get back my freedom to travel, I’ll hopefully be heading straight back to whatever they’re doing. I feel great. Better than I’ve ever felt before. I’m very keen to get back in the saddle.”
Asked point-blank if he’s still a member of the group, Rudd remains resolute: “Me and everyone else says that, But that’s not what Angus says,” Rudd says. “I don’t want to upset Angus by saying the wrong thing. Me and Angus kicked serious ass and he knows if I was there, it would be better. I know he knows that, because I’ve proven it before. Just give me five minutes in a room with him and I’ll get my job back. I promise ya. I was doing hard personally and did some things I probably shouldn’t have done. We’ve all got our cross to bear.”
While there’s no indication that Rudd will play with the band when the Rock or Bust tour hits Australia and New Zealand starting in November, he remains hopeful for some sort of reunion, even if it’s temporary.
“I’m ready to go,” he says. “Never been fitter. Never been more passionate. I’m more dangerous than I’ve ever been. They should get me back there, even if it’s just for a weekend to have some jam in some fuckin’ small room somewhere in a basement.”
Ruben Mosqueda of Sleaze Roxx spoke with Poison drummer Rikki Rockett about his other band, Devil City Angels, which also includes guitarist Tracii Guns, Singer Brandon Gibbs and newly added bassist, Rudy Sarzo, who took over for former bassist Eric Brittingham. Excerpts from the interview appear below.
Sleaze Roxx: You’re part of this supergroup Devil City Angels. You’re about to release your self-titled debut album. How did this band come to be? This is a “band” and not a “project” correct?
Rikki Rockett: It’s absolutely a band for as long as we can take it. It’s difficult at this stage in our careers; we have kids, we have bills, we have priorities. You have to make whatever musical venture you do a profitable one. So, it’s a little tricky at times to get to where everyone is comfortable. The older you get, the harder it becomes to pull that off. You’re not 25 and living in an apartment. We’re a little bit older and we have responsibilities. Right now, that’s the only thing that would sidetrack this.
Sleaze Roxx: When you launched the band, you had Eric Brittingham on bass who we all know from his work with Cinderella. He’s no longer in the band, but he did play on the record. At some point after the recording of the album was completed, he left. What’s the story behind his departure?
Rikki Rockett: Eric’s departure goes back to what I was talking about. It’s a struggle in the beginning when you start a new band. In the early stages, things don’t pay off right from the get go. Some people aren’t as patient as others. Eric also had some other personal things going on so he needed to make some money now and we respect that. I think he did a fantastic job on the album and I always consider Eric a brother.
Sleaze Roxx: How would you describe the band’s sound? I’ll tell you what I think and you can tell me if I’m completely off the mark. Devil City Angels sounds like a modern day Bad Company.
Rikki Rockett: Absolutely! The thing about Brandon (Gibbs) is that he’s a young guy but he sounds like he’s from the ’70s. That’s what is so appealing for guys like us. That’s the reason that I really wanted Brandon involved with us. When Tracii heard he said “Yeah, you’re absolutely right!” Brandon doesn’t have any baggage which is good and he has a lot of experience. He’s got a great pedigree; his brother is phenomenal too.
Sleaze Roxx: I’d be completely insane if I didn’t ask you some Poison related stuff. You and the rest of the Poison guys did an appearance earlier this year with Brandon fronting the band. How did that get put together?
Rikki Rockett: When I was out touring with Devil City Angels, Bobby Dall came to one of the shows we played in Florida and jammed with us. He got the chance to get to know Brandon a little bit. We got offered some shows that Bret either really wasn’t interested in doing or if he had shows of his own scheduled — I can’t recall exactly. In any event, Bobby and I looked at each other and said “Why don’t we just get Brandon to do them?” Now we’d never call it Poison but we did think it was good to offer the promoters a chance to work with the three of us with Brandon fronting the band. They took it — we did it and the response was amazing. It makes you really think. Is this something that we could do moving forward? I think we could.
Sleaze Roxx: It’s got to be frustrating for you, Bobby and C.C. to continue waiting for Bret. It seems like Bret is always playing around the country. I get that he’s ‘the voice’ of the band and the face of the band but Poison is a band.
Rikki Rockett: (Pause) It’s very frustrating and that is the main reason that I started Devil City Angels. I like to play and record music. That’s become a little bit of a problem recently (laughs)!
Sleaze Roxx: Are there any hard feelings there? Or is it as simple as one guy isn’t on the same page as the rest of the band?
Rikki Rockett: I just think… I don’t know for sure actually. I haven’t spoken with Bret in months and months. I just think that at this point in time, he just prefers to do his own thing. Bret has his own way of doing things and I’m getting the feeling that he’d prefer not to deal with the three of us if he can avoid it. Look, I’m making that up in my head. I can’t think of any other reason.
Sleaze Roxx: Do you think there’s some damage being done to the Poison name with Bret going out performing ‘watered down’ versions of Poison?
Rikki Rockett: The number one complaint that I’ve heard about Bret’s show is that he doesn’t play ‘Bret material’ and he plays ‘Poison material.’ I’ve heard that over and over from fans. I haven’t stepped out of Poison until Devil City Angels — because I believe that a band is more potent when you keep it together. I’m very loyal like that. I’ve been practicing Jiu Jitsu for 16 years now and I’m driving to Santa Monica which is 42 miles from me each way because I’m that loyal to my team. That’s the kind of person I am. Having said that, there isn’t a whole lot you can do when everyone don’t feel that way. I think we are kind of at that point — if we’re going to continue with Poison, we have to look at other ways that we can do this. Brandon isn’t a bad choice. It’s all I can say.
Sleaze Roxx: Would you be opposed to record new Poison music? Do you think there’s a need for new Poison music? A lot of your contemporaries have given up on recording new music.
Rikki Rockett: I think we should absolutely record new stuff! Take the Rolling Stones for example; they haven’t had an Angie”\ in a while or a Tumbling Dice but what they are doing is really viable. I really enjoyed their last record. I think in order to remain valid, you have to do that. Bon Jovi has done that and he’s done pretty well with it. I can’t give up on writing — I think I have better stories to tell now than I did when I was 22. The whole idea that only the youth have something to say is a passé idea. Why should it be over because you hit a certain age? It doesn’t make sense to me — it never has.
Sleaze Roxx: What’s your take on Native Tongue in 2015?
Rikki Rockett: I think that’s a great record! It’s funny you should mention that because I just listened to a couple of songs from that record today actually. I felt like listening to that record and I downloaded my own record! (laughs) I didn’t want to rip it off a CD I just wanted to hear it right then and there. It’s really a great record, it really, really is. Richie (Kotzen)…I don’t hold anything against him anymore. I’m over it. As far as I’m concerned, he did me a favor. It’s all good. He’s a great musician and songwriter. I loved working with (producer) Richie Zito. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much success working with Richie but I think he’s a phenomenal producer. I know we talk about ‘Native Tongue’ not being a commercial success but it’s gone on to sell a million and a half copies over the years.
At the start of 1987, Judas Priest recorded a cover version of You Are Everything by The Stylistics as a collaboration with S/A/W, the English songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, well known for their U.K. pop hits with Bananarama, Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue, has surfaced on YouTube and can be heard below.
According to blabbermouth.net, Tipton told Super Channel 88 in 1988, “We went in [with Stock, Aitken and Waterman], we did four days in Paris, we got four days in between Christmas and going back into the studio. It was a mutual thing, an experiment to just see what would come of it. We weren’t chasing hit singles; we’d actually finished our album anyway and we had only got mixes left to do.”
He added, “I think what a lot of people don’t realize about them is there’s far more to them than ‘hit’ producers. I mean, Mike Stock’s a great guitar player and we work really well together.
“The tracks we came up with were very interesting. I don’t suppose they’ll ever be on a JUDAS PRIEST album, but we’ve been approached a lot recently to do film soundtracks and things, so maybe they’ll be used for that. Who knows? But were really pleased with them. We’ve never been scared to experiment, so…
…What I think people thought, you know, it was bizarre because we were surprised at the sudden, almost like a backlash. People thought it was going to be like ‘Judas Bananarama Priest’ or something, God forbid we should ever do that — we wouldn’t compromise the band in anything of that nature. But as it’s turned out, we’ve got a fantastic heavy ballad and we’ve got two real good rock tracks; but we’ve got too much material for Ram It Down…”
