Matt Sorum of Velvet Revolver interview validates that old Guns N Rose reunion prediction will happen
June 25, 2008
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Matt Sorum of Velvet Revolver interview validates that old Guns N Rose reunion prediction will happen
As we have been predicting, this Guns N Roses reunion will eventually happen. It just takes a former member like Matt Sorum to validate it for us. Thanks
Speaking to the website reporter Joe Bosso, about the reunion plan, Matt convincingly said, "I’m sure it’ll happen eventually". He then also added that the original GNR members could have already started the meetings for the reunion saying, "They could be having meetings about it right now. They could be in a bomb shelter, with Axl Rose, (vocals) and Slash (guitar) and Duff McKagan, (bass). And Izzy Stradlin, (guitar)! Maybe Steven Adler (original GUNS N’ ROSES drummer) - I don’t know. I’d probably be the very, very, very last guy to get the call."
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00016645.html
Interview with Marcus of Hatchet
June 18, 2008
Interview with Marcus of Hatchet
By Fred Laroche
Q : Hello Marcus!
R : Hey, how’s it going?
Q : I’m fine, thank you! Let’s begin this by talking about the compilation called Thrash Metal Warriors, that was put together by Katon DePena ( Hirax), on which you have a song. How did you end up on his compilation and how did you get to know him?
R : I’ve been listening to Hirax since I was 12 or 13 years old. I’m 23 now. I’ve always loved the band so I got in touch with them to see if it was possible for us to do some shows together around the beginning of 2007. Just by talking with Katon, we both noticed how we had so much common interests and that we shared the same views on the thrash scene. He thought that we had what it took and he wanted to help us out so he offered us a spot on the compilation he was putting together featuring bands from all over. It was a great honor to be a part of his compilation and it gave us a nice amount of publicity.
Q : You didn’t have an album out and you were already playing the same bill as Possessed. I’d like to hear about your experience.
R : To play with Possessed was awesome. We drove all the way to Las Vages, which is a 12 hour drive for us, and I remember the first thing I did when we got to the venue was to go and introduce myself to Jeff Bacerra and tell him how happy I was to play with him. Then we hit the bar and it turned out to be a very good show! I really enjoyed the performance that Possessed gave that night because they played a lot of my favorite songs off the Seven Churches album and even Beyond the Gates. It was an honor for me to play with them since they had such a great influence on me. We also played the tidal Wave festival which featured a lot of older and newer bands. We got to play with Mercenary which is a very obscure band that released a demo in the 80’s and then disappeared. We had such great opportunities to play with awesome bands in these two years of existence!
Q : That’s just the thing! You’re just old enough to have witnessed the death of some thrash metal bands to see them come back to life a decade later. I supposed that you never thought you’d be playing with these bands at some point?
R : Exactly! I nver would’ve guessed that Possessed would play some shows again. It’s so cool to see Jeff take the stage again even though he’s in a wheelchair and just deliver you know? I think this is a proof of metal’s longevity and the spirit of perseverance behind it.
Q : Here we are, on the eve of your first album’s release, on which there will be 2008 written on the back but the music on Awaiting Evil might as well have us fooled, thinking it’s actually dated from 1988!
R : (laughs) I get that often!
Q : I bet you take that as a compliment!
R : (laughs) I definitely take it as a compliment because most of today’s metal music sounds pretty insipid to me, except maybe the new wave of thrash. I grew up listening to Metallica and Exodus so to me, that’s what metal should be. You’ve got all those bands like Trivium which pop out of nowhere saying they’re playing thrash while it’s definitely not the case. I don’t know, it seems to me that they’re trying to prove something or that they try to fit in. I think it’s weird. I think these bands tend to be one-dimensional. For our music, we are only trying to mix everything that has influenced us and do our own thing.
Q : You mentioned the new wave of thrash metal. What do you think about old school bands coming back to life and releasing new material. Do you think they still got what it takes to release a proper thrash album?
R : Well, to be honest with you, I really wasn’t impressed by anything that came out recently. I think that most of the bands that are trying to make thrash records again definitely missed the boat. It looks as if they saw all the younger bands popping out and thought: « oh no, they’re going to show us up! We better get in the studio and start making music again! ». So, honestly, I haven’t really heard anything that impressive except maybe the new Onslaught which I think is really good. I’ve got some expectations for the new Testament album but I haven’t heard it yet.
Q : Do you think it is a matter of technology? That maybe the recording equipments are to precise to really capture the essence of the music?
R : I don’t know. A lot of these bands had completely disappeared at the beginning of the 90’s and the members either stopped playing or turned to different style to try and survive. I guess it’s just hard to come back when you’ve left it behind. It might just be that it’s actually just what they want to do you know? For us well, we just love thrash metal so that’s exactly what we want to do. We’re not trying to copy anyone, really. We just want to do our own thing.
Q : How did you manage to get such a raw sound on Awaiting Evil?
R : We stayed as far away as possible from digital recordings and relied solely on analog technology. The drums, bass and guitars were all recorded together. That gives a really strong live feeling. Some bands like to record track by track, starting with the drums and then go add the guitars and so on…
Q : Yeah, I did notice a strong live feel on the album!
R : The music was recorded live on reel-to-reel tapes. Then, I simply recorded the vocals by screaming with a pair of headphones on my head. I’m really satisfied with my vocals on the album because they sound really angry and you can almost feel the aggression. I remember that just a couple of hours before I went in the studio, I was coming out of court where I was sentenced to a six month long drug probation where I had to report and take tests. I was pissed off and I remember just going in there and scream those vocal lines. Most of it was one-take. We didn’t spend much time trying to clean-up the record, we left i tat it’s most organic and natural sound. We want to make it tour signature sound. It’s a bit like a hatchet you know? It’s sharp.
Q : Recording live and recording one-take vocals, would you say that spontaneity is part of your music?
R : Not really because we still got a lot of structure in our music. The guys worked so hard to make sure all the riffs were fitting together when they wrote the music. We also jammed on these songs for a year before going in the studio. Naturally, it came out just how we play it live. There’s a strong aggressive atmosphere that fits pretty well with where we come from. There’s a lot of unrest and poverty here in the bay area and we try to portrait that in our music.
Q : You come from the same place as a lot of old school thrash bands. Did you feel any pressure living up to the reputation of the old bay area thrash scene?
R : In fact, contrary to what people may believe, there is wasn’t much of a scene in San Francisco as of lately. We have been working very hard over the last few years to build up a scene of our own. We were all left to wonder what had happened to thrash metal. Then we started handing out flyers and organize some shows in the most random places. We were playing in empty warehouse and the like. We weren’t really trying to live up to the reputation of the old thrash metals scene as we were only trying to have one to play for. We wanted to get that shit called metalcore out of the picture. At first, we were plating to 20 to 30 people but lately, it’s been more like a couple of hundreds each night. Nowadays, there seem to be a thrash band in every city of the bay area. It all happened so fast! It’s like we closed our eyes and when we opened them, there was a scene! We also have a small network with the guys from Warbringer and some other bands. We get to play with them in their town and the come here to jam. I don’t think anyone is trying to copy the scene from back in the days. They’re just trying to make music of their own.
Q : On the album, even if the music is mostly influence by the American wave of thrash, there’s a big European influence in the vocals and the way the words are placed. Was it intentional or did it just happen?
R : You’re right! We’re all great fans of the European thrash scene and on of our favorite band is Destruction. I love German bands like Kreator and Sodom. These are band that I listen to all the times so I guess what I listen to rubs off on our music and my way of singing. Of course, we listen to other things than thrash metal. We love Iron maiden and Judas Priest and also some great classic Hard Rock like Thin Lizzy or Blue Oyster Cult. We also try to add some influence from this as well.
Q : Each time I speak to a thrash metal maniac, one word always seems to pop out and that word is ‘poser’. It seems that every thrash metal maniac must be on a constant poser hunt. What is a poser to you?
R : Well, to me, a poser is someone who follows trends, basically. It’s someone who’ll do something to fit in rather than really living it and get involved with it. I don’t really use this word when referring to a metalhead since I don’t want to lose time over who listens to real and false metal. A poser is someone who lies, who fakes, and who takes part in things for his own personal profit. It has very large meaning so it can’t just be about music!
Q : Explain what you don’t like about today’s metal.
R : I’m really under the impression that everything is just throw-away. It looks like bands from today are just trying very hard to have that little touch that is cool nowadays. Those bands are a joke to me. They look like a bunch of kids getting together and singing stuff while wearing the same clothes and all of a sudden they’re heavy metal icons. I remember lyrics from old metal bands… they were about that hardships of everyday life. Like unrest and poverty for example. There are a lot of negative influences in this world so metal should be used to channel these bad energies. I think I actually heard a band singing about skipping through the grass with their girlfriend.
Q : You got to admit that you are pretty young to be so passionate about old school thrash metal. Was it hard to find musicians to form a band of the same age as you were?
R : Actually, it was pretty hard. It has a lot to do with luck. Our guitarist and drummer were playing together in a melodic death metal band in the style of At the Gates and they wanted to stray a bit from that style. They put up an add in a newspaper saying that they were looking for a thrash metal singer so I thought: ‘Shit, here’s my chance!’. I called them up and I auditioned for them and sang Arise by Sepultura. We all hit it off pretty well and we all have the same aspirations to push metalcore aside and bring back some metal!
Q : Of all the bands that have reformed and started playing metal again, who made the best comeback?
R : I’m a big fan of the new Kreator and I think the band still delivers live. I think Destruction never stopped putting out good music. Even when Schmier left, I think that Cracked Brain has some very good moments on it. Destruction has definitely kept a very high level of consistency in their music. As far as comeback goes, I haven’t heard the new Testament record yet so I can’t really say anything about it but if I had to say only one name, it would be Onslaught I guess.
Q : Of course, thrash metal bands of your style are not found on every corner. If you were offered to tour with a band of a style that you do not like, would you still accept it?
R : Well, our priority is really to just hit the road and play. We don’t really care with who we tour as long as we get to play. That being said, we would not stray too far from what we know and what we love. We wouldn’t tour with some emo band for example. We will consider every opportunity for the good of the band so we won’t let our personal taste get in the way of our evolution. We can’t wait to hit the road so there’s a big chance that we won’t even pay attention to which it’s with and just get on the tour (Laughs). As for bands we’d like to tour with, there is Cannibal Corpse because I think the mix would be awesome. As for the bands I do not think we’d get along so well… (hesitation) …well there’s a lot (laughs)!
Q : If you could choose between being on the next Gigantour or play Wacken, what would you choose?
R : Oh… (hesitation), Wow… mmm.. Between the two, I’d prefer Wacken! They always have kickass bands and I really want to play Europe! Gigantour has bands that are dramatically different so I think it would be better for us to play for a true metal crowd.
Q : I guess you guys must be fans of the Keep it True festival?
R : Oh Yeah! I heard that they’re having the original Exhumer formation for the next year. There is always a bunch of great bands at that festival! I would love to play there someday!
Q : Great then! Thanks a lot Marcus! Good luck!
R : Hey no problem, thanks!
Interview: Naked groupies plague 50 Cent’s tours like in Amsterdam
June 17, 2008
Interview: Naked groupies plague 50 Cent’s tours like in Amsterdam
50 Cent has revealed that groupies throw themselves at him wherever in the world he travels, but the rap superstar says he never indulges.
In an interview with next month’s Vibe magazine, 50 Cent states, “I’ve been in hotel rooms, and girls were already there in the closet - naked.”
When asked if he ever partakes in any kind of activities with the women he responds, “Hell, no! Are you kidding me? That’s like Amsterdam. Amsterdam is fun for some people, but I don’t want no **** that costs $50. There’s too many people that got $50!”
http://www.thecelebritytruth.com/groupie-problems-plague-50-cent/003435
Interview: Jason Bonham is hoping for a Led Zeppelin reunion tour
June 16, 2008
Interview: Jason Bonham is hoping for a Led Zeppelin reunion tour
Rocker JASON BONHAM is still hopeful of another LED ZEPPELIN reunion, insisting he would drop whatever he was doing "in a heartbeat" for the opportunity.
The drummer replaced his late father John Bonham when he joined the legendary Stairway to Heaven stars at their one-off London gig back in December (07).
Rumours of more reunion dates have been swirling for months, but nothing has been confirmed. And frontman Robert Plantcontinues to tour with new musical partner Alison Krauss
But Bonham is still keeping his hopes of being offered another chance to play with Plant, Jimmy Page
He says, "It’s up to them but, if it was up to me, I’d love to (reunite).
"I hope that I would be put into the loop at some point. Who knows? All I can say is that it was better than I could have imagined.
"My fingers are crossed and I would do it in a heartbeat."
Jimmy Page sounds like he is promising a Led Zeppelin reunion tour next year after interview
June 10, 2008
Jimmy Page sounds like he is promising a Led Zeppelin reunion tour next year after interview
And let the rumors begin!
As previously reported, Led Zeppelin legends Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones performed two of their classic songs (‘Ramble On’ and ‘Rock And Roll’) with Foo Fighters at Wembley Stadium last night (June 7). Embracing the occasion, Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl told the 86,000 strong crowd as Page and Jones joined him onstage: "Tonight this is gonna be the show that we’re gonna be talking about for the next 20 years!" It was the first time Led Zeppelin had appeared onstage since their hugely successful reunion concert in front of 22,000 fans at London’s O2 centre in December.
In an interview after that concert, Page said the band were ready to reunite and perform more live events. But he said that fans could have to wait until autumn 2009 as band members had to tie up individual projects first.
Credit: Bravewords.com
http://www.411mania.com/music/news/77530/Jimmy-Pages-Teases-Reunion-Next-Year.htm
