Argh! Cable guy is coming!
Pulse Of Radio reporting this morning Slipknot percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan told Rolling Stone in a new interview that the band’s upcoming Summer’s Last Stand tour will feature three different set lists, new hydraulic stage lifts that “move very dangerously,” a giant goat’s head and a portal that plays “weird…psychological videos.”
Support on the trek will come from Lamb Of God, Bullet For My Valentine and Motionless In White, with singer Corey Taylor telling us that the lineup represents the diversity of the metal scene: “I felt like it was a beautiful expression of just how varied and unique some of the other bands in metal are. All four bands are metal bands, but it’s the way we play our versions that makes us unique, and I thought it was a great way to show just how different so many different metal bands are.”
Crahan also told Rolling Stone about the upcoming trek, “We blow a lot of stuff up . . . We’re just a force. We’re just bored with the way things have been and how safe the industry has gotten.” Clown was also asked about comments he’s made in other interviews in which he suggested new members could be recruited to take over in Slipknot as the original ones age out of the band. Crahan responded, “What if Slipknot could be this recycled thought process that is completely on point and just keeps going for life? . . . if people had to step aside and could bust in someone new and it was all there, that would be this band.” But for now, Crahan added, “I’m in the greatest band in the world, period. End of story. We’re the best.” The Summer’s Last Stand tour kicks off on July 24th in West Palm Beach, FL, wrapping up six weeks later on Sep 5th in Dallas.
Meanwhile, wonderers are wondering: How can Slipknot perform all three nights (Oct 23-24 & 25) at their Knotfest in San Bernardino, CA when it was also announced they will perform on Saturday, Oct 24 in Sacramento, headling the first night of the Aftershock Festival? Let’s wait n’ see, shall we?
Finger Eleven are dropping by the hardDriveRadio studios for the first time since 2011. Looking forward. And the insanely wonderful Crobot will also be in today! Busy day, as usual, in our NYC studios!
Pop Evil has released a single called “Footsteps,” accompanied by a lyric video. The track is the first to be unveiled from the Michigan-based band’s fourth studio album, Up, which arrives on August 21st. Frontman Leigh Kakaty told me the track reflects his band’s determination to keep moving forward: “You always hear that: you know, we’re gonna keep grinding, we’re gonna keep grinding, we’re gonna take it one step at a time, and that kind of has always stuck in my head, and I wanted a lyrical reflection kind of to motivate me moving forward. And I think with that mindset, naturally, organically, you know, ‘Footsteps’ was born. It’s got that pulse of a beat that really reminds you of walking, getting up, being positive, looking at life from a glass half full rather than half empty.” Pop Evil also unveiled the cover art and track listing for the new disc on Monday (June 1st). Other songs on the 13-track set include “Core,” “In Disarray,” “Take It All,” “If Only For Now,” “Ways To Get High” and “Dead In The Water.” Kakaty said in a press statement, “We challenged ourselves creatively to make a different-sounding record . . . We want to prove we aren’t a one-hit wonder. We didn’t just get lucky.” Expect a slightly new look for the band as well! And many thanks to the band who sent me a lovely plaque commemorating their 3 number one singles from their Onyx cd and a very heart-felt card too!
Here are some other quick items for ya today:
Godsmack, Korn, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch and Papa Roach lead the lineup of acts playing at the 2015 Monster Energy Rock Allegiance Festival, scheduled for Philadelphia’s PPL Park on Saturday, October 10th. Bring Me The Horizon, In This Moment, Pop Evil, Saint Asonia, Nothing More, Art Of Dying, The Temperance Movement and many others will also play at the massive festival. Tickets will be available at a special discounted pre-sale on today (June 2nd) at 10:00 a.m. ET, with VIP packages, hotel packages and military ticket discounts also available.
Slash has released a performance clip of the song “World On Fire”, taken from the upcoming Blu-ray/DVD, Live At The Roxy 25.9.14. The June 15th release captures a complete show by Slash and his band Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators at the historic Roxy nightclub in Los Angeles. The set will also be released in audio-only three-disc vinyl and double CD formats as well as the video versions. We’ll be giving away copies of this soon! Make sure you are a hardDriveRadio Radical so you can get in on the action! And next week, we’ll have another chance to win tickets and VIP passes to the killer ROCK FEST in Cadott, WI. So ‘Radio Radicals must be on point to win!
Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan has been awarded his purple belt in the martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The singer has practiced the grappling technique for years under the guidance of jiu-jitsu icon Rickson Gracie, but had been sidelined by injuries for some time. However, Keenan started his training again recently and was given his purple belt in recognition of his advancement. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the most widely-used skills in the sport of mixed martial arts. (Prog)
Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello plus Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee from Rush all appear in the new video from Future User, the electronic music project from Rage bassist Tim Commerford. The clip, for the song “VooDoo,” deals with the state of American health care and utilizes actual footage of Commerford going under the knife for some recent back surgery. And after having some recent surgery myself, I can attest to some of the scenes in this clip, like the “cha ching” parts! And geez, Tim, your back tattoo is gonna be a bitch to remove should you ever want to! ;>
Happy 74th to Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts! The most elegantly dressed drummer you will ever know!