Sad. Actor Frank Vincent, “Now Go Home And Get Your Shinebox”, who starred in Goodfellas, The Sopranos, Casino and many other films & tv shows, died yesterday at age 80. You will always be loved and remembered.
Our friend, Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory, pictured above feeding elephant in Africa. is working with Veterans Empowered To Protect African Wildlife (Vetpaw), a U.S.-based non-profit organization funded by private donations, to help efforts to stop poachers from killing endangered rhinos and elephants in South Africa.
Bathory, who went to Africa to visit with the veterans, wrote on Facebook, “Met many many brave men out here protecting African wildlife . . . both US & South-African military vets and local rangers are doing everything in their power to stop the annihilation of some of these species. Poaching is a serious problem that could lead to armed conflicts, but if there’s no one to stop it — elephants and rhinos will disappear from this planet.”
Every year, thousands of rhinos and elephants are killed by poachers in South Africa. With the number of rhinos and elephants left on the earth dwindling, Vetpaw is working hard to help conservation efforts in Africa. Vetpaw employs well-trained U.S. veterans who use techniques learned while in the line of duty to protect elephants and rhinos against poachers in South Africa.
Vetpaw founder Ryan Tate, a veteran himself, started the organization to both address the poaching problem and help returning soldiers transition into new jobs. Bathory is helping the cause by promoting Vetpaw and their new non-profit jewelry, as well as journeying to Vetpaw’s base in South Africa.
Five Finger Death Punch is hitting several festivals in late September and October, starting with the High Elevation Festival in Englewood, Colorado on Sep 22nd and there’s also a stop at Sonic Boom in Janesville, WI later this month, too! Lou Brutus will be on hand there! Get your tickets NOW! (Thanks The Pulse Of Radio and Blabbermouth)
Man, do people have no shame? The children of late Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland have taken legal action against several companies for allegedly selling products branded with the vocalist’s name without getting their permission. Mary Weiland, Scott’s second wife, filed two lawsuits on Tuesday (Sep 12th) in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of her 16-year-old son Noah and 15-year-old daughter Lucy.
The suits seek unspecified damages and a court order barring the companies Merchbar Inc., RageOn! Inc., OldGlory.com, Red Fox Ink and Officially Licensed Gear from further use of Weiland’s name without the plaintiffs’ consent.
According to the suit, Scott’s teenage children own all rights of publicity associated with their late father. The suit alleges that the named companies have used Weiland’s name, photo and likeness more than 100 times to sell clothing, household items, cell phone cases and even a children’s set of stackable wooden blocks without consent. Representatives for the defendants had not yet been reached for comment.
Scott Weiland was found dead of a drug and alcohol overdose on his tour bus in December 2015, while on the road with his solo band The Wildabouts. He was 48.
In addition to Stone Temple Pilots, Scott fronted Velvet Revolver from 2004 through 2008. He rejoined STP in 2008 after a six-year hiatus, but was dismissed from the group in 2013 due to his erratic behavior.
Meanwhile, Rhino Records will reissue the 25th anniversary edition of the band’s Core cd Sep 29th.
Speaking of copyright and trademark issues and such, Consequence Of Sound reporting Marilyn Manson slammed Justin Bieber in an interview with the online music news/entertainment site, trashing the pop singer who recently started selling repurposed old Manson T-shirts with Bieber’s name on them. Bieber claimed he had Manson’s permission to rework and sell the shirts, which have gone for as much as $195. Manson said that when he first met Bieber, “He said to me, ‘I made you relevant again.’ Bad mistake to say to me.”
Manson continued, “He was a real piece of s**t in the way he had the arrogance to say that. He was a real touchy-feely guy, too, like, ‘yo yo bro!’ and touches you when he’s talking. I’m like, ‘You need to stand down, you’re d**k height on me, OK? All right? So stand down son.’”
Manson said that he joked to Bieber that he’d show up at the singer’s soundcheck the next day to perform “The Beautiful People,” adding that Bieber “believed that I’d show up, because he was that stupid.” Manson claimed that he eventually “took all the proceeds from those shirts from him. They didn’t even fight, they were just like, ‘Yeah, we already know, we did wrong, so here’s the money.’”
Manson recently revealed that his 10th studio album, Heaven Upside Down, will be released on October 6th after Manson originally wanted it out last February. The first track revealed is called “We Know Where You F**king Live.” The singer will kick off a North American tour on Sep 27th in Silver Spring, MD.
News briefs:
Kid Rock spoke with Meltdown from our Detroit and his home station WRIF in the advent of his 6 nights at the new Little Caesar’s Arena. Check it out.
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The Pulse Of Radio says Kiss co-founders Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley will appear together on September 20th at the Children Matter Benefit Concert at St. Paul, MN’s CHO Field with all proceeds going to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The benefit’s official website, Matter.ngo posted that in addition to Frehley, the headlining Gene Simmons Band will also feature such “special guests” as Cheap Trick and former Eagle Don Felder.
During a recent radio interview, Simmons revealed he’s recently teamed up with Frehley for the Kiss co-founder’s upcoming album. Simmons and Frehley, who have had a prickly relationship over the decades, actually co-wrote not one, but two tracks for Ace’s still untitled set. Blabbermouth quoted Simmons as saying, “Literally two days ago I was with Ace, who’s not in the band — he used to be in the band three different times — and we wrote two songs. He asked me to write for his next solo record. So I went over to his place, way out in the desert some place, and we wrote two things.”
Blabbermouth reporting Gemini Syndrome has announced the addition of guitarist Meegs Rascón (Coal Chamber) to the group’s ranks. The band’s drummer Brian Medina commented: “We couldn’t be more pleased to bring Meegs into the Gemini Syndrome family. He is such a creative and innovative musician, and one of my most trusted and closest friends on this Earth. He’s been here since the inception of Gemini Syndrome, and it’s great to bring someone who is already family into the fold.”
In other news, the band has announced its final tour before the group shifts focus towards the writing and recording of its third studio album. The disc, which will be produced by Matt Hyde (Deftones, Slayer, Seether), will conclude the trilogy started with Lux and continued on Memento Mori.
The upcoming “Brought To Light” tour will feature support from Deadset Society and Spoken. Prior to that, Gemini Syndrome will play direct support to Fozzy on the latter group’s “Judas Rising” tour, which kicks off on Sept 26 in Clarksville, TN.
Enjoy your day! I will be traveling back down to Florida, so I will be back with ya on Monday! Have a great weekend!