Heartfelt sympathies to the victims of the horrific terrorist bombing in Manchester, England last night. We need to be vigilant. If you see something, say something. We can’t let this fear ruin our lives, making us fearful when we go to concerts or events. Damn you people who’ve lost your sense of right and wrong.
Blabbermouth reporting Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe posted a message on his Instagram that I wanted to share today. He wrote about his horror at the news that at least 22 people were killed and more than 50 others injured after a reported explosion took place at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in England last night. Authorities are still investigating the incident, but it is believed that the attack was carried out by a lone suspect carrying a bomb.
Blythe took to his Instagram account to repost the news headline: “Explosion, Panic And Death At Ariana Grande Concert In England”, and wrote in an accompanying message:
“I am so sick of reading headlines like this. We as a race, THE HUMAN RACE, have to do better than this.
“A music concert is supposed to be a place where people gather to forget their problems for a few hours, not somewhere to roll the dice with your life.
“At times like this, I think the only thing a normal person can do is try to be the best, most moral, human they can be- —in our jaded era, I believe this is more necessary than ever.
“For instance, this evening after I read this headline, I ran into a very loose acquaintance at the grocery store and mentioned the news. This person joked, ‘Maybe they did it because it was an Ariana Grande show.’ I was too shocked to even say anything — I utterly fail to find the humor in the fact that at least 19 people (note: now 22) are dead and many more injured, whatever you may think of someone’s music.
“I know nothing about Ariana Grande or any of her songs, but I can guarantee that people of many different races, religions and beliefs were at that show for the same reason — to have a good time. Some of them won’t go home tonight. This is not fucking funny to me. This sort of jaded, joking mentality is evidence to me of the continual chipping away of our humanity by the pathetically low standards of our era. We are better than this, people. It’s dehumanizing, just like the freakish and twisted beliefs that allowed this asshole terrorist to kill a bunch of people they didn’t know.
“Everything you do and say has consequences, even if you don’t believe that.
“Make sure you do your best to think and speak with a moral heart — maybe your kindness will prevent someone from going down a dark path. You never know who you may affect positively. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all in the U.K. tonight.” Amen, Randy, amen. 🙁
The Pretty Reckless was touring with Soundgarden and Taylor Momsen and the band did a a cover version of Audioslave’s “Like a Stone” on May 20 at a show in Camden NJ. TPR opened for Soundgarden in Detroit Wednesday night, only a few hours before Chris Cornell was pronounced dead.
The Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen wrote in an Instagram post: “Still in a state of shock. I have no words right now except my heart pours out to his beautiful family and friends.” The Pretty Reckless also posted a tribute to Cornell on the band’s Twitter, writing: “Our deepest sympathies to family and new friends we just had the privilege to join for an all-too-brief moment. Our hearts are with you.”
Meanwhile, The Pulse Of Radio says the Detroit Police Department has revealed some of the details of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell’s final moments. A police report obtained by The Detroit News reveals Chris went to his hotel about 15 minutes after the bands concert on Wednesday night. His bodyguard, Martin Kirsten, had worked on Cornell’s computer for a bit and gave him two doses of the prescription anti-anxiety medicine, Ativan.
At 11:35 he was on the phone with his wife. Then at 12:15am, concerned because he was slurring his words and sounded groggy, she called and asked Kirsten to go check on her husband.
After talking to Cornell’s wife, Kirsten walked two doors down and found the room door locked. Hotel security stated they could not let him into the room because he was not registered to that room. At this time Kirsten kicked in the door and went to the bedroom door and had to kick that door open as well.
He found Cornell on the bathroom floor with blood running from his mouth and a red exercise band around his neck.” Hotel medic, Dawn Jones, was on the scene by 12:56 a.m., she untied the band from around Cornell’s neck and began CPR on the singer, who was not breathing.
A short time later, an EMS Unit arrived on the scene and an emergency medical technician also tried to perform CPR. By 1:30 a.m., Cornell was pronounced dead by a doctor on the scene. Homicide detectives also arrived to investigate while an officer called Vicky Cornell to report on her husband’s death.
Later that day, the medical examiner pronounced his death a suicide. The family believes that if Chris took his life, he did not know what he was doing, and that drugs or other substances may have affected his actions.
Meanwhile, Chris Cornell, 52, will be laid to rest on Friday, May 26 in Los Angeles. Confirmation came from his attorney Kirk Pasich. Cornell’s body was flown from Michigan to Los Angeles on Sunday, and the singer will be buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The funeral will be private.
A full autopsy and results of toxicology tests are pending, although Cornell’s wife has said he may have taken more of an anti-anxiety drug than he was prescribed. His family issued a statement Friday questioning whether his death by hanging was intentional and if “substances contributed to his demise.”
Soundgarden had been working on material for their seventh studio album and had plans to record it later this year. No word on what will happen with that material or what state it was in before the band left on this recent tour. All in all, it is so sad. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, Vicky and three children, a daughter named Toni, a son named Christopher and a daughter named Lillian from his previous marriage to former Soundgarden manager Susan Silver.
In brief: Soundgarden reunited in 2010 after a 13-year hiatus, first touring and then writing and recording King Animal, their first new studio album in 16 years. In addition to Soundgarden, Chris Cornell sang with Audioslave and Temple Of The Dog, while also recording four solo studio albums and one live set on his own.
He formed Soundgarden in 1984 with guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Hiro Yamamoto, originally playing drums in addition to singing until drummer Matt Cameron joined the lineup. Soundgarden became one of the first and most successful bands to emerge from the Seattle scene. The band first broke through to rock radio with its 1991 third album, Badmotorfinger, which featured the singles “Outshined”, “Rusty Cage” and “Jesus Christ Pose.” That paved the way for 1994’s five-million-selling Superunknown, which included “Black Hole Sun”, “My Wave”, “Spoonman” and “Fell On Black Days”.
Cornell also contributed solo songs to a number of films, including Great Expectations, Machine Gun Preacher, 12 Years A Slave and the recent The Promise. He also sang the theme song, “You Know My Name”, to the 2008 James Bond movie, Casino Royale. Cornell and his wife also started the Chris And Vicky Cornell Foundation to support children facing challenges, including homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect.
I had the great pleasure of interviewing Chris when he was promoting the 20th anniversary of Superunknown back in 2014. I remember thinking how tall and handsome he was. My hour long interview was made into three parts. I’ve posted them below in case you missed them. (They are also on the hardDriveRadio YouTube Channel.)
Makes me sad when I watch them…..
I also found this video above: Dave Grohl remembers Chris Cornell.
If you’ve never seen Muse before, you’re in luck! Watch that video for starters. They just kicked off a tour on Saturday in West Palm Beach, FL with 30 Seconds To Mars (hello Jared Leto!) Muse opened their show with a brand-new song called “Dig Down.” Among other global ills, according to Billboard the lyrics indirectly reference President Trump.
30 Seconds To Mars in Tampa, FL
The band’s summer concerts will include songs from their discography, as well as some five tracks from their new album. Muse is set to play 25 more summer dates with their next stop in Nashville on June 3. See Road Rage for more!
I understand there is a new 30 Seconds To Mars record waiting to be released. I am searching for info. Stay tuned.
Stone Sour has released the music video for their current radio single, “Song # 3,” from the forthcoming Hydrograd album, due Jun 30th. It was directed by Ryan Valdez.
Blabbermouth reporting today the band has announced a 21-date European winter tour. The trek will kick off in Copenhagen, DK on Nov 15 and wrap up in Milan, IT on Dec 15. Support on the tour will come from The Pretty Reckless with the exception of the Paris show on Nov 24.
Singer Corey Taylor previously stated about Hydrograd: “We have six singles on this album. I’m really excited. This album is great because it’s got elements of everything. It’s got the heavy energy of the ’80s, there’s punk moments, there’s hard rock moments — all the great amalgam of music. There’s even jazz and hip-hop moments; it’s really, really cool. It’s probably the coolest album I’ve made since the first Slipknot album. I feel very confident making that statement because it’s so good.”
Hydrograd was recorded at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, CA with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with Anthrax and Steel Panther. The band tracked the album live in the studio, cutting a total of 18 songs from which 15 will make the CD.
Bassist Johnny Chow described the disc as “a straight rock and roll album” in an interview with Detroit radio station and hardDrive affiliate, WRIF, adding, “It’s just very groove-oriented, very melodic (with) big choruses. We’ve got some mellower songs on there too, which are equally just as amazing and have a lot of groove to them.” Chow called the record a “bit of a departure” from previous Stone Sour albums.
Finally today, my friends Five Finger Death Punch were joined by Phil Labonte of All That Remains (as seen above.) The show was last Wednesday night in Corpus Christi, TX at the Concrete Street Amphi. (Hey Monte Montana!)
Blabbermouth reports prior to the “Wash It All” performance in Corpus Christi, Ivan Moody addressed the crowd, telling them: “This is the first show I play with Death Punch in six months in America. And about six months ago, I had a complete meltdown, and I’m willing to admit it. And luckily for me, my band understood and they told me to take some time to myself. Now here’s the best part. They asked me, if there was one person that they would pick to front this band if I was dead, I picked one of my oldest, greatest friends and one of the greatest fucking singers in heavy metal today, Phil from All That Remains. Now while I was taking my vacation, I realized something. Death Punch isn’t just about us — it’s about you motherfuckers. So I’m gonna give credit where credit is due. Make some noise for my best friend and one of the greatest of all time. Phil, come on out here.”
Rest In Peace: Actor Roger Moore, 89, who portrayed James Bond from 1973-1985.