Black Label Society have released an alternate piano version of the song, Scars, featured on the band’s latest album Catacombs Of The Black Vatican which was released in April. Watch the video below.
Black Label Society recently wrapped up a tour, but still have a few dates left on their concert calendar. The band will be at this weekend’s Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California. Wylde will also be on board for Motorhead‘s Motorboat Cruise later this month, and the band is slated to be part of Knotfest on October 25th in San Bernardino, California.
Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton says he feared Judas Priest were dead and buried when K.K. Downing quit in 2011.
Tipton’s fellow guitarist retired ahead of Priest’s Epitaph World Tour and was replaced by guitarist Richie Faulkner who went on to appear on Redeemer Of Souls. But the shock of Downing’s departure left the rest of the band in fear that their decades-long careers had come to an end.
Tipton tells Metalholic, “It came as a surprise to us all. At that time, I really, truly thought the band were finished. We were poised to do a farewell tour and, of course, Ken decided he’d had enough of that. I respect his decision. It must have been a big decision to make. I think we’ve all been through that phase. We’ve been around for 35, 40 years. But we found Richie, and Richie is a small miracle, because the guy is such a great guitar player and he blended in so well first on stage. And then, of course, he’s worked so hard and contributed so much to the album that it’s just a miracle.”
The Epitaph World Tour was supposed to be the band’s farewell, but Faulkner’s influence soon changed their minds.
Tipton adds, “When we got new blood in the band, it was needed at the time. It would be the same thing; you get some new blood in there and there’s energy and enthusiasm — motivation. You see things in a different way. He just gave everybody a kick up the backside, really. We went from literally meaning it was our last tour to there’s such great songs on this album, it’s a shame we can’t get out and play them.”
Katherine Turman of The Village Voice took a ride with original KISS guitarist, Ace Frehely, around his old Bronx neighborhood. Excerpts from the piece appear below.
Oh KISS’ current guitar player, Tommy Thayer, who also happens to wears Ace’s Spaceman makeup when performing:
“I could sense he always wanted to be me. He used to be in a KISS cover band [L.A.’s Cold Gin],” Frehley says. “He didn’t do anything; he was hired by Paul and Gene to put on my makeup and costume and play my guitar solos — a business deal.
Look, if he wouldn’t have done it, they would have hired somebody else. I walked out on the band; I quit. What they really should have done is, if they wanted to dress up a guy to play lead guitar, they should have come up with different makeup like they did with [other Ace replacements] Eric Carr and Vinnie Vincent. That’s what the fans are upset about.”
Guitarist/singer and former Runaway Lita Ford concurs, though she observes, “I always thought that anyone could hide behind Kiss’s makeup. The band could grow old and no one could see through the makeup: a brilliant idea. Tommy Thayer is one hell of a nice guy but he is not Ace Frehley and shouldn’t be in Ace’s shoes. There is only one Ace!”
Well, technically, now there are two, and Thayer is currently pimping a guitar (created with Epiphone) called the Space Man. “I mean, how big are the balls on this guy?” snorts Frehley. “But I don’t really want to talk about Tommy Thayer,” he adds, half-apologetically. “Let’s talk about me.”
Discussing his former bandmate, Gene Simmons:
“The press made out that we hated each other, which wasn’t true. I called Gene just a few months ago when I was mixing my record. I was driving up to L.A., and after five minutes of talking, he started bringing up stuff that happened in the ’70s, when we used to drive around in station wagons. We were on the phone for almost half an hour,” he recalls. “He wouldn’t let me off the phone. There’s all this rivalry that the press tries to draw out of us, to have a dialogue going on.”
Talking about who possibly invented the two-handed tapping technique when playing guitar:
Frehely doesn’t know if he or Eddie Van Halen did it first. He does remember, though, that “Gene discovered Van Halen. He wanted to produce their first album, and we told him ‘No.’ Gene was always going off half-cocked, trying to do more things … like he still does today.” He added, “If Kiss would stop fooling around with football teams and restaurants, they might put out a better record next time.” Despite a few barbs, it’s clear Frehley, still retains a fondness for Simmons — if akin to the true brotherly love-hate you might find in the Kinks or Oasis.
Mr. Big are streaming another song from upcoming eighth album …The Stories We Could Tell due September 30th. The song entitled, The Monster In Me, can be heard below.
Mr. Big also released a audio stream for the song, Gotta Love The Ride, which can be heard here.
Sweet & Lynch the band featuring guitarist George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob, KXM) singer Michael Sweet (Stryper), bassist James Lomenzo (White Lion, Megadeth) and drummer Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, S.U.N.) is world premiering the song September from their debut album. Watch it below.
Sweet & Lynch’s album is tentatively scheduled for a February 2015 release.
Motörhead’s Motörboat regrets to announce that thrash metal trailblazers Megadeth have been forced to withdraw from the September 22nd-26th cruise due to medical reasons. Heavy metal all-star band Metal Allegiance – including Megadeth’s David Ellefson and Chris Broderick – has been added to the Motörhead’s Motörboat music lineup.
Metal Allegiance promises Motörboaters the rare opportunity to see a diverse group of metal legends interacting and performing together on the same stage. Singers Philip Anselmo (Down, ex-Pantera), Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), and Chuck Billy (Testament), guitarists Chris Broderick (Megadeth), Jon Donais (Anthrax, Shadows Fall), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Mark Zavon (Kill Devil Hill), bassists Frank Bello (Anthrax), Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill, ex-Pantera) and David Ellefson (Megadeth), and drummers Charlie Benante (Anthrax) and Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater) will put their spin on a scorching set of heavy metal’s most influential and recognizable songs. For more details on Metal Allegiance, please visit:
Megadeth issued the following statement about their unfortunate cancellation, “Due to complications arising from a previous cervical spine surgery, and upon his doctor’s strict recommendations, Dave Mustaine has canceled all performances for the next 8 weeks. With rest and treatment, he is expected to recover and resume performing soon. The band was looking forward to the concerts and cruise, and is disappointed that they will not be able to see their fans. Megadeth expects to return to the road and will see their fans soon!”
“You can’t replace a band like Megadeth, who have done so much to change the landscape of heavy music over the past 30 years. We wish Dave Mustaine all the best in his recovery,” says event producer Alan Koenig of ASK4 Entertainment. “But we’re excited that Megadeth’s David Ellefson and Chris Broderick will still be joining us. The whole reason to do these music cruises is to give fans an experience that they can’t get anywhere else – and bringing Metal Allegiance onboard with metal’s most loyal fans fits that bill.”
Megadeth’s David Ellefson comments, “I’m really looking forward to being together with our friends and fans on Motörboat. Metal Allegiance is a great way to continue our brotherhood of all things metal.”
“I always love getting together with my brothers and throwing down. The Allegiance jam is sure to be the best jam I’ve been involved with yet,” says Philip Anselmo.
Rex Brown of Kill Devil Hill says, “We have jammed at some big metal events in the past, but Metal Allegiance is gonna blow EVERYONE on the Motörboat cruise right out of the water!!! Let her rip!”
Mike Portnoy agrees, “I’ve been honored to have been part of some previous metal jams over the years and there’s something very special and (Goddamn) electric that happens when you put this group of guys together in a room or on a stage. Myself and my brothers in metal on the Motörboat are metal lovers through and through and we love to get together to jam, have fun and pay tribute to the music that we all love so much.”
The first annual Motörhead’s Motörboat will sail from Miami, visiting the ports of Key West , Florida and Cozumel just off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for the September 22nd-26th cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy. “The Loudest Boat In The World” will feature Motörhead, Anthrax, Metal Allegiance, Testament, Down, High On Fire, Kill Devil Hill, Zakk Wylde, Jim Breuer Band, Danko Jones, Fireball Ministry, Wilson and Cilver, as well as a spoken word performance by legendary heavy metal musician, author, and television personality Scott Ian. While onboard, guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with band members and will see unforgettable performances on various stages throughout the ship.
A limited number of cabins are still available for Motörhead’s Motörboat at www.MotorheadCruise.com.
 singer Michael Sweet (Stryper), bassist James Lomenzo (White Lion, Megadeth) and drummer Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, ... )
