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LATEST NEWS
Wednesday, January 31. 2007
KISS/Alice Cooper drummer Eric Singer has issued the following update:
"Well, another NAMM convention has come and gone yet again. It was great to see familiar faces and old friends again. It seemed like it was only a few months ago since the previous NAMM. What happens to time? I guess it is like a drummer always speeding up.
"Anyway, I saw a lot of cool new drums and stuff over at Pearl and Zildjian and stopped by Universal Percussion to say hey to the Attack drumhead guys too.”
"In case people wondered what happened department: I was scheduled to jam at the Dimebag Darrell tribute show on Saturday Jan. 20 at the Hilton with Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD) and Keri Kelli (ALICE COOPER) but was unable to play drums for awhile due to minor surgery a few weeks ago. I am on the road to a speedy recovery and should be back hitting things very soon!”
"I wanna thank everyone who took the time to stop by the Pearl, Zildjian, sure or Music star booths I appeared at. It was great to see fans from all over the world and you all treat me so nice and make me feel special. For this I thank you!"
Saturday, January 27. 2007
 We are pleased to announce German Melodic Metal Band 'Mob Rules' will be
performing at this years Bloodstock Indoor Show on Friday 31st August 2007.
Their latest album 'Ethnolution A.D.' was released in the autumn of 2006,
and the bands appearance will be a very welcomed addition to the indoor
show.
Saturday, January 27. 2007
According to Metal Israel: "The goal of this film is to discover what is happening in metal scenes around the world," co-directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn beforehand said in a statement, "Metal has spread throughout Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and even Africa. We want to discover what metal means to musicians and fans that come from these diverse cultures."
"Global Metal" is expected to include interviews with Israel's Orphaned Land and Melechesh as well as live footage from Orphaned Land’s November 25, 2006 show at the Theatre Club in Tel-Aviv, Israel and Melechesh's concert at The Opera House in Toronto on September 23, 2006.
"Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" explored metal's impact and controversy over the past 35 years and featured interviews with Tony Iommi, Bruce Dickinson, Alice Cooper, Ronnie James Dio, Slayer, Dee Snider, Arch Enemy, Lamb of God, Cannibal Corpse, Emperor and many more. The two-disc DVD set was released in North America in May 2006 and includes extended interviews, an interactive metal history chart, and a mini-doc on Norwegian black metal.
Friday, January 26. 2007
Finnish "monster metal" band LORDI will perform on the "Ultimate Chart Show" on German TV next month. According to the group's German record company, Drakkar Entertainment, the performance will be on air on February 23 at 21.15h on RTL. A repeat broadcast is scheduled for February 24 at 15.55h.
Since winning the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in May, LORDI's dream has grown to enormous heights. Besides conquering many European charts the band has been given their own credit card though Finland's Sampo Bank, as well as their own soft drink (Lordi Cola), LORDI candy, LORDI kebab, and comic book.
As previously reported, LORDI has signed a North American deal with The End Records. "The Arockalypse" will be released in North America on March 20th, with bonus tracks and a DVD.
LORDI is currently planning its first-ever trip of North America this spring and is confirmed for a two-night stretch at the annual Bamboozle festival, set for May 5th and 6th in East Rutherford, N.J.
Friday, January 26. 2007
Lydia Criss, ex-wife of KISS drummer Peter Criss, has published a book about their lives together. Tracing their history from when they first met in the mid 1960’s, through their marriage and the band’s rise to fame, to their divorce in 1979 and the years since then.
“It was a really wild time in New York and, well, in America, you know?" she said. “It was the '60s, and it was Flower Power, and — what was it, 'the Summer of Love,' and you know, that's an exciting part of my life. And it kind of... it's important to see how it builds up to why Peter is the way he was in KISS, and why I was the way I was, and, you know, even the band."
"Sealed with a Kiss” with a huge amount of rare and unpublished photos, Lydia’s personal achives, including many from when the band was first formed.
The book is available at the official LydiaCriss.com website, where you can also have her personalize it by signing it almost any way you can imagine. Publishes
Wednesday, January 24. 2007
My name is Rachelle Mendez and I'm a Casting Producer for ABC Television's hit reality show, "Wife Swap." I'm conducting a National Casting Search to find Metal Fans to feature on the current season of our show, and am contacting you in hopes of discussing the possibility of working together to find a family who we can consider casting.
"Wife Swap" is a family show on ABC primetime. The premise is simple: two moms from two very different families get the opportunity to swap lives (but not bedrooms - everyone has their own!) for a week to experience what it's like to live a different lifestyle - and to see what they can teach each other about their own lifestyle!
We want to feature a family of long time metal fans (Death, Black, Thrash, Speed, etc) in hopes of shattering any common misconceptions of what family life for Metalheads might be like! We encourage all families, the bolder and more adventurous the better, with 2 parents at home and school aged children (6-17) to apply immediately. The family can belong to any aspect of the Metal community - as fans, promoter, band members - it really makes no difference, as long as the family is genuinely passionate about Metal.
Maybe you know of a family or have a family yourself with made for TV personalities that you would be willing to recommend. I would greatly appreciate you forwarding my information on to any of your family members, friends, and associates who might be interested in sharing their lives with us for a week!
In addition, each family that tapes an episode of "Wife Swap" receives a financial honorarium for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives a finder's fee.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this - I know it is an unusual request. If you have any questions, or to apply, please contact me by phone or by email:
Rachelle Mendez
Casting Producer
ABC Television's "WIFE SWAP"/ RDF Media
EMAIL: Rachelle.Mendez@rdfusa.com
Monday, January 22. 2007
 Saxon, the heavy metal band that played at the Bloodstock Indoor Festival 2001, made a record attempt at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillborough ground on Saturday 20th 2007. Despite the 29,100 fans that were there, a lack of enthusiasm was showed towards the heavy metal band, which may yet make it into the next Guinness World Records book.
The largest-ever air guitar ensemble, was what the South Yorkshire rock band Saxon were aiming for as a record in a new category in the next Guinness Word Records book.
Trying to get the crowd to join in, air guitar style with them, the rockers came out on pitch at half-time during the Owl’s game with Sunderland.
It appeared as if Saxon’s status as local heroes had washed out since they came out of Barnsley to ride the heavy metal wave of the 1980s, as they were greeted with boos rather than the enthusiasm which they had expected. To top it all off, Wednesday lost 4-2.
Subject to evidence that at least some of the crowd had taken part, a Guinness Publishing representative who had witnessed the event had given them a certificate saying the record would be recognized, explained a spokesman for the band yesterday as Saxon were on their way to Germany.
Sunday, January 21. 2007
 Nottingham based Metal band Awaken, released their long awaited new album on January 21 2007. This collection of material entitled “Mortal & Fragile” has been carefully crafted and put together over the last twelve months and shows a real progression for the band and hammers home the now unmistakeable Awaken sound.
“The theme and ideology behind the album was to take a look at the world and society, particularly human relationships under the microscope and show how fragile they can be” said singer Joe Hughes. “No two songs sound alike” commented guitarist Marv Bentley, “we drew on all our past and current influences, so this album covers a wide and varied style, from Old School Metal, Thrash, right through to sweeping keyboards and Power Metal guitar riffs”.
The album was recorded, engineered and produced by the band in Nottingham and Wales, using the latest technology available. “Getting the sound we wanted, especially the drum sound, proved to be a real challenge but the time and effort was worthwhile.” remarked drummer Steve H. A short sample of the album has been uploaded to the bands Myspace page at www.myspace.com/awakenuk where you can have a quick listen and if you want to purchase it, hop over to the bands main site at www.awakenuk.co.uk
The band are now rehearsing the new material and we be playing live across the UK soon. Keep an eye on their websites for announcements. “After so long recording, it’ll be great to get out play the new stuff live, it’s going to be something really special” said Rod Boston, bassist.
Wednesday, January 17. 2007
Anglo-Italian Melodic power metal band Power Quest is proud to announce their endorsement affiliation with Bill Lewington on behalf of Dean Guitars. Dean Guitars have been working with top artists for three decades and co operates with the likes of Iron Maiden, Trivium, Def Leppard, Ozzy, Sammy Hagar, Michael Angelo Batio and many more well known artists.
Andrea Martongeli will be using the Dean Cadillac Black Gold and the USA Pro Cadillac Guitars.
“The sound of Dean is fantastic; I am looking forward to bring them out on tour!” Alessio Garavello will be using a Dean v Black Gold and a Michael Schenker custom. Bass man Steve Scott will be playing the Dean Demonator 4 Bass. “If you’re playing metal then your playing Dean, nothing else compares to the power of the Demonator 4.
Power Quest will be on tour in Europe for the first time between February 16th and March 7th 2007 with legendary Brazilian metal band Angra and Greek metallers Firewind.
Tuesday, January 16. 2007
Nightwish a Finnish heavy metal band that played for Bloodstock Indoor Festival in 2003, have posted the following message on their official website:
“The auditions for the new vocalist have ended, with more than 2,000 demos sent to us (yesterday, Jan.15, we received 120 demos!). A big thanks to everybody! So please don’t send anymore demos, since now we need to concentrate on finishing the album recordings.
“The new vocalist will be announced at the end of May, together with the release of the new single.”
Tarja Turunen, Nightwish’s original singer was fired via an “open letter,” which was given to the singer straight after following their final concert together, which took place on October 21, 2005 at the Hartwell arena in Helsinki, Finland. Certified gold for sales in excess of 25,000 copies, entered into the German chart at No.3 was the “End of an Era” DVD and CD which was filmed and recorded at the Helsinki show. “End of an Era” was also certified Gold in Finland the day after its release.
In totalling to the live footage the DVD includes a slideshow of pictures from the Hartwell show and a 55-minute documentary, “A Day Before Tomorrow”, featuring behind the scenes footage of the band in the 15 days prior to the Hartwell show.
Timo Halo, who also edited and directed the “From Wishes To Eternity – deleted scenes” and “End of Innocence” movies that were released on previous Nightwish DVDs, also, again, edited this documentary as well.
Saturday, January 13. 2007
Dan Epstein of the Revolver magazine (Website) has been told by Ozzy Osbourne that he has finally discovered the perfect environment for making records: the brand new soundproofed guest house behind his Beverly Hills mansion, which he’s outfitted with a Protools rig and mixing desk.
"When I made records before, I'd have to get up, get in a cab or car, go to the studio, and wait for everyone to turn up," Osbourne explained. "If you're already inspired before you leave for the studio, you're fucked by the time you get there! But now I have the luxury of working in my own home. I can play the music on my own sound system, and I can lie down in my room and watch my flat-screen TV whenever I like."
Unlike 2001's slickly produced "Down to Earth", the previous album of original Ozzy material, the new disc promises to be a rawer and heavier affair. With the same band that backed Osbourne on his scattered 2006 Ozzfest dates – Zakk Wylde on guitar, Mike Bordin on drums, and former Rob Zombie bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson. Although long time Mutt Lange protégé Kevin Churko is helping as the engineer, the album has to official producer.
"Kevin's working the machines and helping me with the songwriting," said Osbourne. "He really knows what he's doing with the ProTools, which is good because I can't work the fucking thing. I can barely work a light switch!"
"We just went in and jammed out the riffs, just like how they made 'Back in Black' and all the SABBATH record," said Wylde. "I don't need Bob Rock there to tell me what to do, like that 'Vagina Monologues' band METALLICA. When you know where you're going, you don't need to ask for fucking directions! It sounds like classic Ozzy — there's piano ballads, there's an acoustic thing, and then there's the heavy shit. From the beginning, Oz kept saying to me, 'Zakk, we need another 'No More Tears' — we've gotta piss all over that fuckin' record. This thing's gotta be able to hang with 'Diary of a Madman'!'"
"I always try to make a great album," says Osbourne. "It's not like I go in there and go, 'You know what? I've had a great run — I'm gonna do a piece of shit for my next album!' But to be perfectly truthful to you, 'Down to Earth' was just a filler album to me. It did well, and some people liked it, and I loved the ballad on it ['Dreamer']. But this album I put in the same league as 'No More Tears', 'Blizzard of Ozz', and 'Diary'. It's definitely my influence of SABBATH coming out, here and there. But then again, I would have liked to see SABBATH put out an album like this at this stage of the game."
Thursday, January 11. 2007
Drawing from a diverse range of hard rock and heavy metal influences, bassist/vocalist Victor Langen (Kick Axe, Pasha/CBS), lead vocalist/guitarist Daniel Nargang (Into Eternity, Century Media), guitarist/madman Cole Stevens (Wrathchild, Canadian Independent), and drummer/percussionist Johnny Bland (Love Hunter, Bob Rock produced material) banded together in May of 2005 to begin writing and rehearsing new material that would define the SNAKE EYES SEVEN sound. Wanting something fresh and uncompromising, yet dark and powerful, the band put their collective talents together to deliver an unheralded style of music.
CHAVIS RECORDS is pleased to announce the unveiling of the SNAKE EYES SEVEN debut.
Track listing: Hell or High Water, Comin' Down, Love for a Moment, Bitter Pill, Be Leaving, Bullets & Booze, Breakdown, Devil with a Rosary, You're to Blame, Photos of th' Dead
Listen to Hell or High Water by clicking here
SNAKE EYES SEVEN is currently in talks with promoters for Ozzfest and Jagermeister to prepare plans for a worldwide tour in support of the release. A new website for the band is under construction. Look for the release in stores in the Spring of 2007.
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