Category : LATEST NEWS

FAN FILMED FOOTAGE FROM THE “RANDY RHOADS REMEMBERED: A CELEBRATION OF A LEGEND” POSTED ONLINE

Blabbermouth.net reports:

Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme, Rihanna), Marty Friedman (Megadeth), Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Phil Demmel (Machine Head), Brad Gillis (Night Ranger), Kiko Loureiro (Angra), Rowan Robertson (Dio), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns) and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses) are among the musicians who performed at the Randy Rhoads Remembered: A Celebration Of A Legend event, which took last night (Saturday, January 25th) at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Brian Tichy and Joe Sutton, the creators of “Bonzo Bash” (the celebration show for Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham), in conjunction with Randy Rhoads’ brother Kelle Rhoads; the Rhoads family; “Bonzo Bash” guitarist/former student of Randy’s, Brent Woods; as well as one of Rhoads’ dearest friends, rock bass legend Rudy Sarzo, came together to put on the ultimate tribute celebration in honor of one of the the most influential and brightest stars the world of rock guitar has ever seen; Randy Rhoads, the legendary guitarist who revived Ozzy Osbourne’s career with two iconic records. Sadly, Randy’s future was cut short on March 19, 1982 when he died in a plane crash. He was only 25 years old. His songwriting, solos, technique and tone on the albums Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman permanently placed him at the top of rock’s most influential guitarists polls.

The idea to give Randy a night of honor came together within the hundreds of hours of “Bonzo Bash” preparation and phone conversations between Brian Tichy and Joe Sutton. The two would often talk about other musicians that had made a huge impact on them growing up. The name that would come up and excite them the most was always Randy Rhoads.

Sometime in 2013, Tichy threw this idea at Brent Woods, a student of Rhoads’ from the pre-Ozzy era, when Randy was not only the most popular local guitarist at the time, but an extremely popular teacher at Musonia, his mother Delores Rhoads’ (Dee) music school. Brent has stayed very close with the Rhoads family as well as producing Kelle’s classical music. Brent ran this idea by Kelle Rhoads, who had already been to a “Bonzo Bash”. Kelle expressed interest in this and soon after, Woods and Tichy met with Kelle at Musonia. After a tour of the school and hours of hanging, Kelle gave the show his blessing and preparation began.

Tichy contacted legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo; his friend and bandmate from the recent Geoff Tate QUEENSRŸCHE tour they did together. Sarzo, bassist for Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake, also gave his blessing and agreed to play bass alongside Tichy, making up the night’s rhythm section.

Sarzo, one of the few people that had so much history alongside Rhoads and watched this amazing talent take over the world of rock guitar firsthand, said, “Randy Rhoads Remembered is a unique celebration of his compositions and trail blazing guitar techniques.

The event included an array of the world’s best guitarists as well as special guests all coming together to honor the man that we all wish was still here writing and performing.

Every song from Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman was performed; each song by a different guitarist. Some guitarists tie into Randy’s history, others are icons that were themselves hugely influenced by Randy Rhoads.

Tichy, ex-drummer for Whitesnake, Foreigner, Billy Idol and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as guitarist for S.U.N., said: “Randy’s playing, and the music on those two Ozzy records were huge to me! I am a drummer but I also started putting a lot of time into guitar at the same time Randy came out. I heard Ozzy being interviewed on the radio when Blizzard Of Ozz was released. They played I Don’t Know and when the guitar kicked in, I was floored and I was an instant fan. I spent countless hours trying to learn Randy’s songs, riffs and solos while I was also just a beginner on guitar. I tried to learn Randy’s live solo note for note. I had Randy’s posters on my basement walls. I still have those posters framed in my home studio right now. Brent and I even shared a bottle of Randy Rhoads wine when it first came out. I went on to play with the amazing Zakk Wylde in Pride & Glory and then had the honor to play with Ozzy himself on the 2000 Ozzfest tour with another student of Randy Rhoads’, Joe Holmes, an awesome guitarist in his own right. Not to mention that just this year, while playing guitar with my band S.U.N. in Las Vegas, Rhoads’ replacement in the Osbourne band, Jake E. Lee, came up on stage and jammed with us. But I think this next story may take the cake…

“In 2000, after auditioning for Ozzy in Burbank, California, I left and headed to a gig. I was going a tad too fast on Hollywood Way and got pulled over. The officer saw my drums and asked what I was doing. I told him, ‘I just auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne and I am running late for a gig.’ The officer replied, ‘Black Sabbath was the first concert I ever saw, and I pulled Randy Rhoads over on this same street. If you get the Ozzy gig, I want you to send me a T-shirt. Now get out of here and slow down!’ So, yes, I sent him the T-shirt! Haha!”

Very special guests:

* Kelle Rhoads (vocals)
* Phil Soussan (Big Noize, Ozzy Osbourne) (bass)
* Neil Turbin (Deathriders, Anthrax) (vocals)

The Madmen:

* Stephen LeBlanc (Jason Bonhams’s Led Zeppelin Experience, The Moby Dicks) (keyboards)
* Robert Mason (Warrant, Lynch Mob, Ozzy Osbourne) (vocals)
* Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake) (bass)
* Brian Tichy (S.U.N., Whitesnake, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne)

“Randy is one of The most influential people of my entire life. It’s a total honor to be asked to take part in Randy Rhoads Remembered: A Celebration Of A Legend. God bless Randy.” – Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake)

“Watching Randy at 10 a.m. in the Oakland coliseum was my 1st concert experience and it was life changing. It made me want to not only play guitar, but to perform with passion and emotion. I’m beyond honored to be part of this celebration of a true legend and an immense inspiration.” – Phil Demmel (Machine Head)

“Randy entered my soul like a lightning bolt and has remained their throughout my life. He was like a magician but it was all real.” – Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns)

“I remember first hearing Crazy Train (and the rest of Blizzard of Ozz) on my brother’s cassette boombox soon after it came out. The new Ozzy! It was as though everything cool and metal had been reborn. Randy was an electric shock to rock; music for teenage boys was about music again, we had to try to learn what he did. I’m incredibly excited to be a part of this tribute to Randy Rhoads, like the Bonzo tributes before, I know the love will be genuine and the spotlight on the memory of a legend.” – Stephen LeBlanc (Jason Bonhams’s Led Zeppelin Experience, The Moby Dicks)

“Randy is one of the most amazing virtuosos of all times. His unique, personal style and his fearless melodic approach caught my attention when I was discovering the electric guitar. I have spent many days in my teenage years trying to figure out how to play his awesome solos and riffs. I am excited and honored to be invited to join the incredible line-up of guitar players on Randy Rhoads Remembered, each of us getting up on stage to pay tribute to a great guitar player that is a source of inspiration to generations of musicians.” – Kiko Loureiro (Angra)

“I first really heard Randy’s playing in the winter of ’81; a cassette of Blizzard playing through a shitty tape deck in a school bus (our driver was cool!) All that night I couldn’t get those songs out of my head….what he did with a guitar changed me. We bought advance tickets for the Madison Square Garden Diary tour show in ’82, but sadly it was just days after Randy had passed. Flash forward to 1995; Sharon calls me and asks if I’d join the band on the Ozzmosis world tour — are you kidding me?! I spent the next 11 months as the first ever live background vocalist in the Ozzy band…a dream realized, for the kid at the back of the bus.” – Robert Mason (Lynch Mob, Ozzy Osbourne, Big Cock, Warrant)

Throughout the history guitar playing, there have been the undisputed masters of different genres. When it comes to the the nineteen eighties sound of hard rock guitar, in my mind, the two colossi have to be Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. They did it better than the rest. Everyone has their corner and their mark of brilliance, but have to be, in my mind, relegated to ‘best of the rest.’ What I do, and so many others like me do, Randy wrote the book on, and showed us the way.” – Rowan Robertson (Dio, DC4)

“There are some guitar players who play and some who play well, and then there are some that just have a sound. You can sort of copy it but no one can really duplicate it; the Kossofs, the Becks and Pages, the Ronsons and the Mays. The first time I heard Randy he had that sound — it was like a unique instrument, and his melodic playing was everything that excited me about rock music, everything that made you want to pick up and play the electric guitar. To me he represented the evolution of the ’70s glam guitar hero to the rock guitar icon of metal.

“When I first started playing with Ozzy, we naturally pulled a lot of material from the first two albums, as we only had the four albums to pick from. Whenever we played songs from Diary and Blizzard, I would get this chill; like with the heat of the lights, power and adrenaline of the shows I would almost imagine that Randy was there playing with us — it was absolutely electric. I’d look around and almost feel like I might see him on stage, although I knew it was really only the power and legacy of his music that was making me feel that way. It was so strong — so eerie, like I was in a haunted house, but in a good way. I would have loved to have performed with Randy.” – Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Big Noize)

“Randy’s approach to fusing classical music with heavy metal was so unique. I studied his playing like mad. Even his gear — I was reading all the magazines to see what he used, and I bought my first Marshall amp because that’s what he played through. Randy was definitely an early guitar hero of mine. He was unlike anybody around at the time. He played with such fire, grace and intelligence. Randy Rhoads’ playing still stuns me.” – Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses)

JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE WORKING ON DEBUT ALBUM

Rather than look backwards and merely attempt to relive the multi-platinum hard rock entity’s storied origins, Jack Russell set his sights on the future.

In December 2011, Jack Russell’s Great White first bared its teeth. Since its inception, the frontman welcomed back longtime bassist and friend Tony Montana (this time as a guitar player and keyboardist), lead guitarist Robby Locher, and drummer Dicki Fliszar. Now, this group has a sharp, soaring, and slick new album on the horizon for 2014 boasting the bluesy hard rock stomp that made Russell and Montana icons in the first place.

The vision became clear for the singer once Montana returned to the fold. After experimenting with various configurations, he reconnected with his old bassist, but in a different role.

“It’s a powerful band,” Russell proclaims. “The music comes across very dynamically. It’s what I always wanted it to be. Tony was a catalyst for moving forward. I was never as close to him as I am now. We never had the opportunity to write music together before. I also never knew he played guitar. When I first heard him, I nearly fell of my chair. He’s my co-pilot. He’s one of my best friends. I wish we would’ve been this close back in the day.”

“It’s natural for all of us,” adds Montana. “There’s a solid chemistry, and we’re having a lot of fun.” Rounding out the line-up with Locher and Fliszar, these four musicians hit the studio in late 2013 to cut what would eventually become their official full-length debut. It taps into the bluesy bombast and heavy energy of Russell’s celebrated material, but it’s a distinctly modern metallic monster.

“We want the new material to blow people’s ears back,” Russell goes on. “It has the elements of the best Great White music ever written, but there’s an edge. Tony brings that validity, while Robby and Dicki add a new life. It’s going to surprise people.”

Montana agrees, “It’s got the classic sound. The first element is Jack’s voice. No other band sounds like this one ever did or does now. When I was 17 years old I remember walking around the UCLA campus listening to the band’s first EP. I was a fan before I ever joined the band. We’re going to maintain that same integrity going forward.”

That integrity became forged over nearly thirty years. In 1984, the band broke out of the Los Angeles scene with its self-titled debut followed by seismic platinum-selling outings such as 1987’s ‘Once Bitten…’ and 1989’s ‘…Twice Shy’. Moving over 8 million copies worldwide, they stood out as tried-and-true rock stalwarts into the 21st century until 2011, when Russell went on to form Jack Russell’s Great White.

Ultimately, the new music is for the millions of fans who stuck by Russell all these years. It’s everything they’ve been waiting for and more.

“The band was always a standout from the era it came from,” says Montana. “It was never a hair band. Listen to the music, and that’s evident. Everything was based in blues. We want to add to that legacy with new material preserving those timeless elements.”

Russell leaves off, “This is fun, first and foremost. I feel like I’m 27 again. I hope it sounds like Great White — but for 2014.”

additional source: sleazeroxx.com

ORIGINAL BLACK SABBATH DRUMMER BILL WARD RECEIVES A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT THE “THE BONZO BASH”

Estranged Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has issued a warning to those who hope to make a career as musicians, telling them to read their contracts closely.

Ward bowed out of the Black Sabbath original line-up reunion in 2012 after he wasn’t offered a deal he felt was “signable” – describing it as one of the most difficult decisions he’s ever made.

He appeared at this weekend’s Bonzo Bash, held annually at the NAMM music show in California to commemorate Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. Accepting a lifetime achievement award, veteran drummer Ward said: “I stand for the students; I stand for all the kids learning to play drums. I stand for them in every single way. They have to look after their livelihood very carefully. They have to take care of it contractually very carefully. The drummer has to take care of himself.”

Moving on to his memories of Bonham, Ward praised the late icon’s footwork, saying: “He danced like a boxer and what he did with the bass drum was incredible. He used to test his bass drums and I’d go with him. We’d go up to the club we were meant to play and he’d say: ‘Stand ten feet away from the bass drum.’ I’d stand ten feet away, and when he kicked it I felt a punch in my gut that I’ll never forget. That was what it was like standing in front of John Bonham’s bass drum – and that’s when he was sixteen years old.”

Recalling the 1970s moment when members of Sabbath and Zeppelin jammed together, Ward said: “He started grooving and he was incredible; I thought, ‘My God, I wonder what would happen if they’d let him go and have two bass drums.’ I wonder what he would have been like playing beside today’s metal and thrash guys. If anyone was going to learn drums I’d recommend: Listen to John Bonham.”

Both bands won Grammys at last night’s 56th annual award ceremony – Black Sabbath for last year’s album 13, and Led Zeppelin for the 2012 live release Celebration Day.

Watch video from the event below.

source: classicrockmagazine.com

EDDIE TRUNK SLAMS THE GRAMMY’S: “THEY JUST HAVE NO CLUE AT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO ROCK AND HEAVY METAL”

Ben Smith of VH1 reports:

The Grammy Awards has had a long history of ignoring hard rock and heavy metal ever since the genre emerged screaming from the womb of late ‘60s rock. Consider that such legendary bands as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath never received a single Grammy Award during their existences and years later were only awarded for live recording from their reunion shows. Last night’s show seemingly went to lengths to include hard rock and metal with performances by Metallica and Queens Of The Stone Age though metal fans have been rightfully outraged about Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman being excluded from the In Memorium montage. DJ, author and host of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show, Eddie Trunk is one of hard rock and metal’s biggest fans and greatest advocates and has long been critical of the genre’s treatment by the mainstream media in general and institutions like The Grammys and The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in particular. We asked Eddie to share his thoughts on last night’s show and why the music still never gets the respect it deserves all these years later.

VH1: What are your thoughts about the Grammys in general?

Eddie Trunk: It’s clearly a major event for the world of music but it is sorely lacking in the areas of rock and metal and has been for many years. It’s embarrassing the decisions and nominations given for rock and metal. They seem to be totally random and lacking any real logic. As a result they mean next to nothing for an artists’ career these days as far as a bump in sales and profile. I get that it’s a prestigious cool mainstream thing to say you won, but if we are being honest it really means nothing in the big picture for rock and metal sadly. This is not helped by the fact that rarely are these artists represented in the show and most of the rock and metal awards are not even televised. So sure, it’s cool for someone to say they won one for the history of it, but because of how lost they are when nominating it has no real impact.

VH1: What do you think about Jeff Hanneman from Slayer being excluded from the Grammys Memorial segment?

Eddie: It’s pathetic. It proves again they just have no clue at all when it comes to rock and heavy metal and they continue to demonstrate it.

VH1: How do you feel about Black Sabbath winning the Best Metal Performance Grammy for God Is Dead?

Eddie: Black Sabbath invented heavy metal in my opinion. It’s great that they won but I would think it is more to do with their history and name recognition than anything else. I’m not saying it’s not a good song or album, but everyone knew this would happen because it was by far the most recognizable name for the voters. Good for them, but it was the name and history being celebrated more than anything. I just don’t think everyone that voted sat and cranked up an 8 minute song and said “That rocks.” But I am happy for them if it’s meaningful to them. They are the founding fathers.

VH1: Sabbath also won in 2000 for Iron Man off the reunion album 30 years after it’s original release. Is it “too little too late”?

Eddie: It just speaks to the cluelessness of the Grammys year in and year out. A live recording of Iron Man was the best metal performance of that year? It’s just absurd and why they just carry no real weight if you are looking at it honestly.

VH1: Outside of their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 Led Zeppelin won their first Grammy tonight as well for Best Rock Album for their Celebration Day reunion concert. Thoughts?

Eddie: Again, it’s absolutely ridiculous! So of all the amazing iconic albums this band made, the first Grammy comes from a live album recorded nearly 7 years ago for a concert film? I’m NOT trying to rain on anyone’s parade but it is just insulting to the history of this band to have ignored their studio work and then honor this now. It’s just dumb, and I like the album!

VH1: Imagine Dragons also beat out both Led Zeppelin and Queens Of The Stone Age (not to mention Jack White and David Bowie) for Best Rock Performance.

Eddie: I guess this was the attempt to appear cool, hip and cutting edge, but they just continue to look lost sadly.

VH1: Arguably hard rock and metal was well represented on the Grammys tonight between Metallica and Queens Of The Stone Age performing.

Eddie: Anytime rock and metal can get on mainstream TV at all it’s a good thing. It would be nice if the producers realized there were more great rock and metal bands out there though besides Metallica and anything with Dave Grohl.

VH1: Why do you think hard rock and heavy metal still don’t get the respect they deserve from places like the Grammys and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

Eddie: The Hall Of Fame is an intentional bias spearheaded by their voters, the majority of which still think it’s beneath them and not credible. The Grammys just don’t know any better. They try but just look bad all the time because they have no clue. Since giving the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance award to Jethro Tull over Metallica in 1989 to now, not much has changed. They gave Motorhead a Grammy for a live version of a Metallica cover? Judas Priest gets a Grammy for a live version of a 30-year old song? These are crowning moments in these artists amazing career?? It is just a total joke and I wish they would get a separate committee to handle rock and metal and finally fix it and bring some prestige and weight back to it.

source: vh1.com

AEROSMITH FRONTMAN STEVEN TYLER REPORTEDLY WORKING WITH A NEW MANAGER

Page Six of The New York Post reports:

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has hired manager Larry Rudolph to reinvigorate his career, sources tell Page Six.

We’re told Tyler and Rudolph, who already manages Britney Spears, were spotted out together last week leading up to the Grammys in Los Angeles, sparking speculation they’re working together.

On Wednesday, the two were seen huddling at Soho House; the next day, Tyler and Rudolph turned up at the opening of 1Oak in LA.

Partygoers told us Tyler “got on the mic and sang Walk This Way” in front of guests including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Phillippe, Paris Hilton, Ne-Yo, Rachel Hunter, Brian Austin Green, Russell Simmons, Tiësto and Julianne Hough.

Tyler parted ways with former manager Simon Fuller in April after several disagreements over his failed deal to return to American Idol, and signed with Bruce Flohr at Red Light Management, which reps the Dave Matthews Band, Switchfoot and Parachute. A rep for Tyler didn’t get back to Page Six.

source: pagesix.com

EDDIE TRUNK DISCUSSES THE ROCK N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME, WRITING MUSIC REVIEWS IN HIGH SCHOOL & PODCASTING

Juan A. Hernandez of Dateline Downtown spoke with our very own Eddie Trunk. Portions of the interview below.

Dateline Downtown: Your second book, Eddie Trunk’s Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Volume II has once again been met with critical success and showcases a few obscure bands. Do you see yourself writing “Volume III” in the near future or perhaps a more music-industry type book about your radio career?

Eddie Trunk: I may do a third volume. Not really sure yet; there are more bands I would like to cover. And I do want to do an “tell all [type] stories in the business/autobiography” type book one day, too.

DD: You have been very vocal on your Trunk Report blog about the latest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees-to-be-inducted, KISS. After hearing Ace’s take on your radio show, and Gene and Paul’s take that they will not be playing with Ace and Peter, do you believe that things will eventually work out in time for the induction? I know that you are very close to Ace and Peter, but I really do believe that Gene and Paul need to stop being so juvenile in their way of thinking about the induction. They need to come on That Metal Show and have a conversation with you!

ET: Gene and Paul do not have to do my show. It would be nice if they did and of course their fans want to see them on a true passionate music show, but we are fine either way. Our door is always open. As far as what happens at the HOF it is all being worked out now. There is plenty of speculating and opinion out there, which is all great and fun, but in the end Ace, Peter, Kiss and the HOF will need to find a formula they can all live with. What is concerning is at the moment everyone is saying different things, but we shall see soon.

DD: You used to write album reviews while you were in high school. What inspired you to start writing for your school?

ET: Everything I have ever done in music, record store, writing, radio, record label, management, TV, was all just to share and promote music I loved. The fact I can now make a living from it is a true bonus!

DD: There have been many successful podcasts as of late, and your appearance on Chris Jericho’s new podcast Talk Is Jericho has been appreciated by fans all over the podcast world. Knowing you still have your two radio shows and That Metal Show as your outlet, do you see yourself taking up an opportunity to start your own podcast in the future? Assuming it will be the Eddie Trunk format, the success will be tremendous knowing that you have been building your fan base for over 30 years now.

ET: Thanks. I have been thinking about podcasts and maybe adding one this year. It all comes down to time. I want to maintain a quality to what I do in TV, radio, books, and I’m pretty much a one man operation. So if I can get it together I very well may soon. There are so many now you have to really be able to stand out to be heard.

Read more at Dateline Downtown.