Happy Cinco De Mayo! More tequila please!
Actually, try to find this new hard cider from Icon Beverages. Snaggletooth is a new English cider that Phil Campbell from Motorhead is involved with bringing to the masses. Aptly named after a Motorhead tune, the new drink will definitely be on my list of new adult beverages. I LOVE me some hard cider!
A 5.5% ABV bottled cider, it is described as a “unique sweetened dry British apple cider, crafted with a juice blend of the finest Dabinet, Michelin and dessert apple varieties to give a perfectly balanced, refreshing taste. Created in tribute to and in celebration of the loudest rock music on the planet, Snaggletooth Motörhead Cider packs a real punch.” (Thanks Blabbermouth!)
Avatar: L to R: Paulie Walnuts with his eternal horns up, Johannes Eckerstrom, I wore my owl shirt in honor, John Alfredsson
Avatar stopped in yesterday morning! Actually just singer Johannes Eckerstrom and drummer John Alfredsson, the rest of the band was still sleeping! LOL But they brought by the very first copy of the their vinyl double disc set of Feathers & Flesh, the cd and the book, which they signed to me, and I was very touched by what Johannes wrote. I’ve always had a soft spot for this band, they really bring it live and I am excited for the release of this new record.
So sweet, right? The story on this record is when their manager was telling me about the concept idea the band had prior to stepping into a studio, they had met with a bunch of producers and no one was hitting the mark for the band. So I said, “What about Sylvia Massy? She’s worked with Tool and System Of A Down, maybe she’d a good match.” And BOOM, it was! And Johannes also told me after meeting with a bunch of illustrators, they happily stumbled upon a friend of his brother who hadn’t done anything of note yet. So it was truly a friends and family effort! I am so happy to have had a hand in that. Wishing them nothing but TONS of success.
Pierce The Veil’s frontman Vic Fuentes called the hotLine yesterday. We chatted for about 30 minutes about all the exciting things happening for this band out of San Diego. Their single “Circles” just dropped on Friday and their album, Misadventures, is coming on Friday the 13th. I mean, check this out: – Grat track “Texas is Forever” premiered about a month ago and has already surpassed 1.3-million streams, BBC Radio 1 named “Circles” “The Hottest Record in the World” last week, and that track, in one week, has been streamed more than 530,000 times, just on YouTube and Facebook alone! As I said to Vic, wouldn’t it get great if all those streams = record sales! Right?
Anyhow, the band will be touring in June (see Road Rage) and on that club run they will be performing this new album from front to back. I mean, what band who just releases an album does THAT? Usually it has to be like, oh I dunno, for a 20-30 year anniversary or something. Cool, right? Check out the new music next weekend on hardDrive with Lou Brutus and listen for Vic in Plugged In on hardDrive with Lou Brutus weekend May 14/15.
Look at that face! Well, now you will see him in SHARKNADO: The 4th Awakens! Yes, the old and only Corey Taylor told Loudwire he will play a Shark World hotel security guard in the fourth installment in Syfy’s cult Sharknado franchise, which will premiere on Sunday, Jul 31st at 8:00 p.m. on the cable network. Tihe film features returning franchise stars Ian Ziering, Tara Reid and David Hasselhoff, along with a mix of actors, broadcast personalities and reality stars that includes Alexandra Paul, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Real Housewives Of Atlanta star Cynthia Johnson, Fox News regular Stacey Dash, Motley Crue‘s Vince Neil. Howard Stern Show’s Benjy Bronk and MMA fighter Frank Mir. Don’t ya just love Corey?! Is that him in the lower left hand corner of the movie poster?
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Red Hot Chili Peppers dropped their first single, “Dark Necessities,” off the forthcoming new album, produced by Danger Mouse, The Getaway. The album is coming out Jun 17th. (I keep wanting to call the song “Bare Necessities” –or is it “Bear Necessities”?– and now that I’ve seen the cover, forget about it.) LOL I’ve been advised I might get to talk to one of the members next week, so stay tuned!
Layne Staley Photo credit: Laynestaley.co.uk
The Pulse Of Radio reporting eight previously unreleased songs from late Alice In Chains lead singer Layne Staley are currently being restored and properly mixed by Seattle-based audio designer Jesse Holt, according to Alternative Nation. The tunes all have vocal tracks from Staley on them and Holt has asked Staley’s Mad Season bandmate, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, for help in completing them.
Among the songs is “Things You Do,” which has surfaced online in various forms in the years since Staley died of a drug overdose in April 2002.
Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell told us a while back that there was more to his friend than the way in which he died: “It’s unfortunate that that seems to be the only headline that gets equated with him, because there was so much more to him than that. Not taking away the fact of the reality of what that is, and how it ended, everybody knows that too. But there’s a whole lot more to the story.”
Before his death, Staley had planned to work on a solo album and also intended to record vocals for a song by metal outfit Taproot. The demo of the song was in Staley’s CD player when he was found dead. There are also rumors that Staley was going to audition for the band that eventually became Audioslave. He had reportedly gotten a call from the instrumental members of Rage Against The Machine about singing with them, but never made it. Soundgarden‘s Chris Cornell took the job instead, recording three studio albums with that act.
The source for the eight songs was not made immediately clear by Holt, and it is also not clear if there is any chance of them being released. Alice In Chains was inactive for several years before and after Staley’s death, but regrouped in 2006 with William DuVall on guitars and vocals. The band has since cut two studio albums and is working on a new one as we speak. Alice In Chains is also rumored to be on more opening slots for Guns N’ Roses. Stay tuned! (Here’s old footage of Layne from 1993 in Brazil with Alice In Chains performing “Angry Chair” and “Man In The Box.”)
Speaking of Jerry Cantrell (didn’t he look studly in that video? Meow!) the next Deftones single is “Phantom Bride,” which Jerry, the avid Seahawks‘ fan, plays on. Trying to see if I can get him on the hotLine in the coming weeks.
Lars sings! (Warning: If swear words offend you or you are watching in the office, turn the sound down)
Ok, this is amazing. Lars as the frontman for Metallica? Well, The Pulse Of Radio says Metallica‘s original manager has revealed to Metal Hammer magazine that the band briefly considered making drummer Lars Ulrich its frontman. Jon Zazula, who was the band’s first manager and released their debut album, 1983’s Kill ‘Em All, through his independent label Megaforce Records, explained that because James Hetfield lacked confidence in his lead vocals early in the group’s career, the idea of having the much more extroverted Ulrich step out from behind the drums and up to the mic was raised.
Zazula recalled, “Lars and I planned a lot of stuff. But James wasn’t the most confident of singers. I don’t think he felt comfortable. At one point there was even talk of Lars becoming the frontman. For about five seconds.”
Other singers who were considered for the frontman position in Metallica included Jess Cox of British act Tygers Of Pan Tang and John Bush of Armored Saint and, later, Anthrax, who turned the offer down.
Ulrich spoke in a 1989 interview with Metal Forces about what the band might have sounded like had John Bush taken the job, saying, “It’s impossible to know how different it would have been, but I can’t imagine Metallica without James Hetfield up there growling into the microphone.”
Ulrich told us recently he remembers the band’s early days fondly even if they’re a little hazy: “It was an exciting time and kind of all a little bit surreal. And yes, most of the memories are sort of living in an alcohol-fueled daze, but between the four of us — if the four of us were sitting here we could probably put about 25 percent together each for that puzzle (laughs) and give a somewhat complete picture of what went on.”
Metallica has been working on its 10th studio album, which could possibly surface before the end of the year. The band has one live date on its schedule at the moment, at the new U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Aug 20th.
I love this. Our friend Frank Pain from KEYJ, Rock 108, in Abilene started a GoFundMe campaign. He wrote:
Hi, I’m Frank Pain. I’d like to buy Dave Grohl. Yes, that dude that’s in the Foo Fighters and was in Nirvana.
I’m his biggest fan and figured I can round up enough scratch to purchase him so we can hang out and high five and shit. Heck, I may give him a bro-hug or two as well.
I’m not 100% the amount I’m asking for will buy him. Hell, I’m not even sure if it’s legal to purchase another human being without being some central part of a 20/20 tv special. But, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try, right?
Since everyone has their hands out these days, I thought I’d join the party – primarily because I don’t have that kind of scratch.
If it is indeed illegal to purchase another human (or if Mr. Grohl isn’t a willing purchasee) then I’ll spend the money on beer because Dave seems like the kind of person that would want me to drink beer.
If you donate, I’ll send you a cool text message that includes some emojis that no one understands.
So far, he’s raised a little over $500 and is getting mad social media love. AllAccess.com wrote, Pain wants to raise $35,000. Why that figure? He told ALL ACCESS, “That was just the number that popped into my head. I did this just as a joke to divert all the negativity we see everyday on Social Media. Well, the reaction has been overwhelming. I’ve heard from radio stations across the country and it’s gone international too. I even heard from BBC Radio in LONDON. It’s really a bit overwhelming at this point.“
What would Frank do if he really meets Grohl? His GOFUNDME page says, “I’m his biggest fan and figured I can round up enough scratch to purchase him so we can hang out and high five and shit. Heck, I may give him a bro-hug or two as well.”
Pain told ALL ACCESS, “I haven’t heard from his people yet, but whether I meet him or not, all of the funds raised will go to AUTISM SPEAKS, one of DAVE’s favorite charities.”
If you’d like to contribute to PAIN’s DAVE GROHL GOFUNDME page, click here. So, Frank, if this happens, can you call me so I can meet up with y’all?
And finally…….
RUUUUUUUUMORS: Is Korn planning a tour with Breaking Benjamin this fall? Wonderers are wondering…….
Happy 68th to original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward!