Is there cause to celebrate?? At least for me, there is! The unbearable noisy neighbors have decided to sell their apartment just a week before we were to appear before a lawyer to mediate our problem! Well, that saves me three or four hours I can never get back and possibly the chance a good night’s sleep sometime soon! HURRAH!…..Did you catch any of the 4- plus hour HBO presentation of The Concert For Valor last night? It looked amazing from the portions I got to see, which luckily included all of Metallica‘s set, the Dave Grohl songs and the ones with Dave, the Zac Brown Band and Brrrruuuuuuuccccee Springsteen. (Watch them do “Fortunate Son” here. Doesn’t Dave look like he’s going to explode in the opening verses?) And really, Eminem, was it so important for you to scream out the F-bombs, even including it in a “Happy F-ing Veterans Day“? Are you THAT uncouth? I mean, come on! There was a time and place for that in your own concerts, but on in front of this audience? Come on! Sorry! Anyhow, I hope tons of money and job opportunities and awareness have been raised for the vets, especially our Wounded Warriors….AC/DC have posted the music video for “Play Ball.” Check it out here….I love this! I know this photographer and he’s a great guy! Am so happy for this project! Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook has teamed up with documentary filmmaker Fran Strine and music manager Jamie Talbot to chronicle the story of world-renowned musicians who are not household names, but are instead the session and backup musicians who have performed at concerts and on countless recordings with huge stars yet remain largely unknown to the public. The film, called Hired Gun, goes behind the scenes and explores the personalities and creativity of the best session players and backup musicians in the world, ranging from pianist/harpist Corky Hale, who has played with Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra, to rock guitarist John 5 who has played with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. A synopsis of the film described these musicians as “a group that possesses uncommon musical ability and an uncanny knack for being able to deliver a great performance time and again..” Hook himself came out of that world before joining Five Finger Death Punch, doing stints with Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil and Alice Cooper. He told us he understands what it takes to catch a break with a big artist: “I went through years of trying to get gigs myself, and so I really understand what it’s like to be the guy reaching out. And I always admired people that gave me a shot, recognizing that it’s an unknown, you don’t know if it’s — the referrals are easy, when somebody says, ‘I’ve got the perfect guy,’ that door has been opened. But for you to open your own doors is very difficult.” Hired Gun features interviews with Hook, Cooper, Jason Newsted, Aaron Lewis, Richard Patrick, former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo, Kiss drummer Eric Singer, John 5, Chickenfoot drummer Kenny Aronoff, Whitesnake guitarist Steve Vai and others. There is currently an Indiegogo campaign set up to help offset the costs of the film. You can donate and receive a number of incentives from many of the musicians seen in the film. The goal is to raise $35,000 and the campaign runs until December 19th. Strine, who made films about Staind, Dolly Parton and others, has launched an Indiegogo campaign to fully finance the movie. Very happy for Fran! Met him eons ago when he worked with Staind. Saw him back in July with Five Finger. Hope to see him again real soon.. Watch the trailer here….Pulse of Radio also reports on this. In This Moment is now streaming its entire new album, Black Widow, here. The band’s fifth studio set is due Monday (Nov 17th) and follows up 2012’s Blood, which was a commercial breakthrough for the group and featured the hit singles “Blood,” “Adrenalize” and “Whore.” Singer Maria Brink said about the disc, “Black Widow is a metaphor for this innocent young girl who gets infected with life, traumas, experiences, and the balance of light and darkness. She becomes this poised and powerful creature. That’s the album.” The first single, “Sick Like Me,” is Number 16 on the rock radio airplay chart. In This Moment is already on the road to promote the record and Brink told us they’re going out with their biggest show yet: “The visual show to me has become so important. The music is the heartbeat of everything and I like the visuals to be just as large and just as big, and we’re really trying to create this show that nobody is bringing — almost a theatrical show and almost like a Vegas show where it turns scenes almost every song and performers and huge spiderwebs that I crawl and hang on. All kinds of cool, really exciting stuff.” In This Moment next plays in Milwaukee, WI on tonight (Nov 12th.) Maria & Chris Howorth will be in the hardDriveRadio studios next week! Oh, got a question? Send it along to me!…..Also that day, Starset is dropping by to perform in our studios!….Celebrating life today: Sportscaster Al Michaels is 70, Neil Young is 69, Dave Ellefson of Megadeth is 50 and Charles Manson is 80!