Chaotic Riffs Magazine - Issue 35 - Copyright May 2014. All rights

Transcription

Chaotic Riffs Magazine - Issue 35 - Copyright May 2014. All rights reserved. www.chaoticriffsmagazine.com
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Magazine Staff
Editor / Graphics / Additional Interviews: Leith (Leithal - X) Taylor
[email protected]
Interviews: JROCK Houston
[email protected]
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Saliva Lead Singer:
Bobby Amaru
I recently had the opportunity to speak
with Lead Singer: Bobby Amaru who is
the newest member of Rock Band:
Saliva which is of course based out of
Memphis, TN. This interview was
conducted on 2/19/14 and during our
15 minute phone conversation he
discussed with us how it feels to be the
newest member of the band, talked to us
about the band's latest single "Rise Up"
and talked a little bit about what Saliva
fans have to look forward to in the next
year ahead. Read On and ENJOY!
JROCK: I understand that you guys are
now working on a new album that will
be coming out soon. Do you want to
talk a little bit about that now?
BA: - Yeah, you know we wanted to
make sure that we had the right songs,
the band had kind of felt that their past
few efforts haven't been their best and
we just wanted to capture some new
energy into what we were doing. We
think we've done that and we're really
excited about that!
JROCK: I imagine that being the Lead
Singer you're obviously involved with
the songwriting but I was wondering
when you joined the band were you
allowed to get creative or were there
any restrictions put on you like we have
to have that "Classic Saliva sound" or
what?
BA: - No, that was the whole thing, they
just wanted me to be myself, not to try
to do anything like the band's previous
lineup.....It wasn't about that! They
were looking for a new energy!
JROCK: So how many shows have you
done with the band so far?
JROCK: Today we're speaking with
Lead Singer: Bobby Amaru and of
course Bobby you're the Lead Singer
from the band Saliva. Now I
understand that you're the newest
member of the band. So could you
please share with us how you got the
opportunity to join the band?
BA: - Basically we just had mutual
friends and when the band's last
Singer's departure happened they
weren't sure if the band was going to
carry on or not and I guess then that
they made the decision to keep on
going. My name had kind of gotten
brought up.
JROCK: So let me ask you were you a
fan of the band's prior to joining up with
them?
BA: - How many shows? I couldn't tell
you bro!
JROCK: So do you feel the Saliva fans
have been pretty accepting of you so
far?
BA: - Oh yeah! I mean everyone has an
opinion, i mean not everyone's going to
like it but I mean I feel there's been more
positive than there has been negative.
JROCK: And obviously like you said
there's going to be a percentage of
people who don't like it but overall most
people must be liking it.
BA: - Yeah because music is art and
we're a Rock band! All we're doing is
making music so we can go on tour and
people who like it can hear it!
JROCK: And so where's Saliva based
out of?
BA: - Memphis, TN.
JROCK: So when you guys recorded the
new album were you in the same room
recording or were you sending files back
and forth between one another?
BA: - No we were all in the same place
which was Nashville when we recorded
it. The new single "Rise Up" was
written/demoed in Jacksonville, Florida.
That was just prior to making the record.
JROCK: And let me ask you the new
single "Rise Up" which I've heard and it's
a pretty rocking track. I was curious if
that was one of the very, first songs you
wrote together?
BA: - It's probably one of the oldest
songs that's on the album...It's not as
recent as some of the other songs.
JROCK: And so let me ask you
Bobby...In addition to being the Singer
do you play Guitar or anything else as
well?
BA: - Yeah I play Guitar and I play
Drums.
JROCK: So who were the bands/Singers
who influenced you when you were
growing up?
BA: - Oh man...Well I was always
interested in music as a whole. I mean I
lied bands like Motley Crue and as a kid
I sat in front of the T.V. and watched
MTV and watched bands on there like
SKID ROW. I also liked Alice In Chains,
Sound Garden, the list goes on and on
man.
JROCK: I imagine being able to play
more than one instrument helps to make
you a more rounded/better Musician?
BA: - I always knew who they were and
stuff...but I was never like running out
and buying all their CDS and stuff like
that. I always though did respect what
they did. It wasn't really my thing
though.
JROCK: So I was curious once you
joined the band how long did it take
you to learn the band's older material?
BA: - Honestly I just listened to the stuff
and lived with it for just like a week and
that was it. My first show with the band
was like in February of 2012.
BA: - Yeah the very first show I did with
them was for a SOLD OUT show in
Arkansas and it was great! The only
thing was the fact that we only rehearsed
once. We pretty much just went out
there and winged it!
BA: - You're able to understand the
perspective of your band mates better.
JROCK: And so going back to when
you did do your very, first show with
the band what was it like for you to get
on a big stage with a band as big as
Saliva?
JROCK: Did you always have the desire
to be A Singer or is that something you
kind of fell into?
BA: - I just kind of fell into it man....It
wasn't something that I grew up wanting
to do! It kind of just happened.
†
Page 3
Metal, Rasta, Punk infused heavyweights (Hed)p.e. have inked a worldwide deal with
Pavement Entertainment. The band's 9th studio album aptly titled "Evolution" is
finished and will be released on July 22, 2014. This new album sees
(Hed)p.e.returning to its heavier roots that fans have come to admire over the band's
lengthy career.
"(Hed)pe is stoked to become part of the Pavement Family...they are the perfect
record label to release our new album EVOLUTION...cuz its heavy as F**K, and
the label specializes in heavy music...i appreciate the fact that Pavement
understands hedpe's commitment to underground music and art, and i look
forward to getting this album out...very exciting times!"
A preview of the new album can be heard at http://goo.gl/QntRwr
Track Listing:
EVOLUTION
1. NO TURNING BACK
2. LOST IN BABYLON
3. JUMP THE FENCE
4. 2MANY GAMES
5. NO TOMORROW
6. LET IT RAIN
7. ONE MORE BODY
8. NEVER ALONE
9. THE HIGHER CROWN
10. NOWHERE2GO
11. LET IT BURN
12. HOLD ON
Page 4
Black Moods Lead Singer/Guitarist:
Josh Kennedy
I had the opportunity to speak with
Lead Singer/Guitarist: Josh Kennedy
from the Phoenix, Arizona based band:
The Black Moods who have kind of a
modern day Zeppelin feel and sound to
their music. This interview was
conducted on 3/3/14.
JROCK: So what was it that brought
you guys from Missouri to Phoenix,
Arizona?
JK. - Well I was a big fan of the Gin
Blossoms and since they were from
there and so ever since I was a kid my
plan was to go out to Arizona and play
for those guys. I did tour as their Tout
Manager, Guitar Tech for a while, so I
did get to do that for a while.
JROCK: Let me ask you who were
some of your influences growing up?
JK. - Led Zeppelin is a really big
influence on us as they are on most
bands....but I'd have to also say
Hendrix, Nirvana, and Cream I mean
because we're also a 3 piece and
Tommy Petty was a big influence on
us as was his Guitar Player: mike
Campbell, there's definitely a variety
in our influences.
JROCK: Wow that's pretty
impressive...How long did that last?
JK. - I did it for close to about a year.
JROCK: Now I was curious were you
always the Lead Singer or did you did
you become a Singer once you formed
this band?
JK. - Yeah when we first got together
and started making the record we did
look for a Singer but we were a 3 piece
so I kind of just took it upon myself and
I think that's why we're all still so close
rather than bring another guy into the
band.
lead Singer/Guitarist Josh Kennedy
from the band: the Black Moods. Josh
could we start the interview off with
you telling me where the band is based
out of?
JROCK: Being that you started out
primarily as a Guitarist did it take you a
while to get used to hearing your own
voice?
JK. - Yeah it definitely took a while to
adjust to that. I had to sacrifice a little
bit on the guitar.
JK. - The band is currently based out of
Phoenix, Arizona.
JK. - You know there's some good bands
coming out of here.
JK. - We're playing in Missouri, it's a
small town that doesn't get too much
Rock N Roll and so we have a 22 hr.
drive ahead of us right now.
JROCK: So how long have you guys
been around? When did you first form
the band?
JK. - Well our album came out in 2010
and Ryan, our Bass Player and I have
been playing together since we were
kids. We've known each other since we
both started School. So we've been
together a little bit before 2010.
JK. - I guess it depends...It makes it
easier though to split the money.
We're really comfortable with it just
being the 3 of us.
JROCK: So as far as the songwriting
goes do you write most of the lyrics
being that you're the Singer?
JK. - There's really no method to our
madness...For the first record I wrote
the majority of the stuff.
JROCK: And so is there much of a
music scene there these days?
JROCK: So you told me today is an off
day and you guys are between gigs...So
where are you off to today?
JROCK: Do you think having 3 guys
in the band makes it easier than if
you were a 4 or 5 piece band?
JROCK: So of all the places that
you've had the opportunity to play
have you had a favorite place to
play?
JROCK: And do you dig being the
frontman, you know the guy who's front
and center that everyone is looking up
at on the stage?
JK. - That's kind of a crazy question
because I have not really thought about
that part of it. I didn't really realize that
was going on.
JROCK: Well what I mean is it sounds
like you pretty much started out as a
Guitar Player who was more of a
sideman and now you're the front man
in the band.
JK. - Yeah it's definitely different. You
know I guess I like it. I really enjoy
communicating with the crowd and
doing that kind of thing.
JK. - We haven't played overseas yet
but we did play in key West and that
was pretty great. Key West is a really
amazing town to play in for me but
right now we're touring nationally
and they're all new experiences for
us.
JROCK: Do you enjoy being on the
road and being away from home for
a couple of months at a time?
JK. - We love the touring part of it.
The worst part of touring is coming
off of a tour. That's how we feel
about it.
†
Page 5
EVE TO ADAM READY NEW SINGLE, "LOCKED & LOADED,"
ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
It's looking like for the remainder of 2014, Eve to Adam will have a jam-packed
schedule. First up, on Tuesday, May 27th, the band will issue their brand new
single, "Locked & Loaded," to all DSP's (with the track doing to radio the following
month). And Eve to Adam will hit the road hard throughout the summer, including
prime slots at major festivals throughout the US.
Comprised of members Taki Sassaris - lead vocals, Gaurav Bali - lead guitar, Adam
Latiff - rhythm guitar/backing vocals, Aaron Baylor - bass/ backing vocals, and
Alex Sassaris - drums, Eve to Adam is coming off a major breakthrough, as they
cracked the Mediabase Active Rock Top 15 Charts, and recently premiered their
official video for the tune "Immortal."
'Locked & Loaded' was produced by multiple notable producers including Dave
Bassett (Shinedown, Halestorm), Eric Bass (Shinedown), and Michael "Elvis"
Baskette (Slash, Alter Bridge, Puddle of Mudd, Chevelle). The album is available
for download on iTunes plus fans can pick up a physical copy on Amazon.
And so far, the album has received its share of strong reviews, including one from
the Blabbermouth site, which said, "'Locked & Loaded' has its share of cool jams
that'll sound bitchin' through the subwoofers in the back of a Shelby gt500. Herein
appears to be this band's current prime directive, retooling muscular heavy rock for
The Fast and the Furious generation."
Also, the New Transcendence site gave it a 10 out of 10 rating, raving "There’s not
a single bad track on this album…if you’re a fan of a truly solid, relatable rock
record, then this album is for you!"
To stay current with all things ETA, be sure to follow them on Facebook and
Twitter.
May 13 @ Babcock Theater w/ Theory of a Deadman in Billings, MT
May 14 @ State Fair Center w/ Theory of a Deadman in Minot, ND
May 15 @ The Venue w/ Theory of a Deadman in Fargo, ND
May 18 @ The Eagles Hall w/ Lacuna Coil in Milwaukee, WI
May 22 @ Trees in Dallas, TX
May 24 @ River City Rockfest in San Antonio, TX
May 25 @ Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK
May 27 @ The Bottom Lounge w/ Lacuna Coil in Chicago, IL
May 31 @ Liberty Memorial Park w/ Korn, Killswitch…in Kansas City, MO
June 04 @ Rapids Theater w/ Theory of a Deadman in Niagara Falls, NY
June 07 @ Six Pence Pub in Parkersburg, W Va.
June 10 @ Blue Note w/Saliva in Columbia, MO
June 11 @ Thompson House w/Saliva in Newport, KY
June 15 @ Diesel Concert Lounge w/Saliva in Chesterfield, MI
June 17 @ The Vogue w/Saliva in Indianapolis, IN
June 19 @ Rock 3405 w/Saliva in Joplin, MO
June 20 @ Awesome Biker Nights w/Puddle of Mudd in Sioux City, IA
June 22 @ 103.9 The Bear’s- Big Growl 3 w/Chevelle in South Bend, IN
July 05 @ Break Away II in Hagerstown, MD
July 19 @ Rock-Fest in Cadott, WI
Eve To Adam On Tour: http://evetoadam.com/tour.html
"Immortal" Official Video: http://youtu.be/WTPJSMvFBig
Locked & Loaded on iTunes: http://bit.ly/LockedLoadediTunes
Locked & Loaded on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1edYEeu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evetoadam
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EVETOADAMMUSIC
Page 6
MUSHROOMHEAD
Drummer: Steve "Skinny" Felton
On 4/1/14 I had the opportunity to
speak with MUSHROOMHEAD
Drummer: Steve "Skinny" Felton and
during our conversation we talked
about the band's past, present, and
future.
MUSHROOMHEAD Drummer: Steve
"Skinny" Felton. How are you doing
tonight Steve?
SSF: - I'm doing excellent man...Thanks
so much for having me!
JROCK: Ok now I'm really interested in
talking to you because I've got to tell
you that while you have a new album
coming out on MEGAFORCE
RECORDS called The Rightous And The
Butterfly which we will be getting into a
little later but I'd really like to talk to
you right now a little bit about the
history of the band. Anyone who's seen
a picture of the band can't deny the
image is a big part of the
band.....MUSHROOM actually predates
SLIPKNOT so I'd like to ask where did
you initially get the idea to wear the
mask?
SSF: - Well to back up and that whole
SLIPKNOT thing a bit I've known a few
of those guys for a while now pretty
well and we've been through a lot of the
same things in our careers over the
years and we're talking about the same
record label, wearing mask, working
with some of the same people in the
industry. We've never really had a
problem with any of the SLIPLNOT
guys once we got to know them...That's
just something that was fueled by some
fans and industry people. We've never
really had a problem with them.
JROCK: I mean myself as a music fan
myself I've always been into bands like
Kiss, Motley Crue, Alice Cooper who
had some theatrics to their shows you a
real visual aspect to their live show and
what they do. I mean in reading up on
MUSHROOMHEAD I see that you guys
even have an official FACEBOOK Page
which is about the band and its music
and then you have another site that is
about the mask and merchandise that
fans can buy. So people can see that
there's a real art to these mask. So I
have to ask were you into this kind of
art or did you get into this art and
making these mask as a result of being
in MUSHROOMHEAD?
JROCK: I imagine you must have to
take a couple of these mask on the road
for each band member because after a
while they must start to ware.
SSF: - There's always been that art
aspect to what we do....I've been with
some of these guys in the band like 25
years and have known some of them my
whole life. I knew a lot of people who I
wanted to bring to the table when I
started MUSHROOMHEAD.
SSF: - Yeah usually everyone has at least
2, there's always a backup. After a
while as we sweat the stuff starts to
ware down. It's just another way for us
to interact with our hardcore fan
base...because some of these mask we
wear for video shoots, live
performances and then we autograph
them and sell them to the fans.
JROCK: In this Press release that your
PUBLICIST sent me it mentioned when
the band was first formed back in 1995
that it was originally formed as a side
project and that originally you got the
idea for the mask because you wanted
to be able to go out there and play and
go unnoticed but that once you started
to play it became much bigger than you
originally thought it was going to be.
Talk a little bit about that.
SSF: - Well we were all definitely all in
other bands at the time and so let's just
say we weren't really looking for
anyone's approval. We wanted to do
something that was a little out of the
box that didn't sound like our other
bands.
JROCK: While I know the band has a
very loyal fan base another aspect about
wearing the mask is I would imagine
while you're on tour it must be kind of
nice to go out and not get recognized
because of the Mask and costumes?
SSF: - It is a blessing absolutely. We
have DVDs where you do see us behind
the scenes and stuff but often times I
will walk around a Club when their
opening band is one and no one knows
who I am.
JROCK: So I imagine you guys must
have some kind of a huge warehouse
where you keep these mask and
costumes?
SSF: - yeah, yes we've just go so much
shit......It's almost like we have to start a
Hoarders. It's not really like a
Hoarders...I mean it's all good stuff.
JROCK: I think that's part of the reason
why you guys have been so successful.
It seems like you're doing this and that
it's really coming from the heart...you're
not trying to please the Critics and if the
people love it they love it and it seems
like you have a real loyal fan base here.
How long does it take you to create just
one of these mask?
SSF: - It's quite a process....Most of them
you get about one amount if you're
lucky...Sometimes it's a year and a half
process just to get it right.
JROCK: I mean the interesting thing
about it is here I am talking to a guy in a
Rock band and we're also talking about
art work. That is exactly what this
is...it's art and that's what interest me
about it because again and when i go on
the FACEBOOK Page and I see you're
selling some of these mask for like
$425.00 it makes me realize that this is
art, it's not cheap art...When you first
started selling these mask were you
surprised that someone would pay that
much for one of these mask?
SSF: - You know there's always been a
massive demand for it. The guys that
design the mask they really are into the
underground art community. i mean
it's a real underground scene.
JROCK: I mean again i just urge people
to go and check out the FACEBOOK
Page because while these mask cost like
$425.00 and up they're not cheap but
again this is art and they're very
detailed so I have to ask if you guys
have ever thought about putting these
Page 7
mask on display, having some kind of
art show on display in a Museum or
something like that?
and before I was into Metallica,
Anthrax, Metal Church! 15.
SSF: - Yeah something like that is very
much a possibility. Recently we've been
doing some of that at some of the tattoo
festivals.
JROCK: Talking a little bit about
tattoos...Tattoo conventions are
becoming quite big in Los Angeles
where I am from...I was curious in
regards to tattoos have you ever seen
anyone tattooed with one of the Mask or
the name of your band on them?
SSF: - I've seen a shitload of fans with
that kind of art work on them and just
to have fans who have that kind of love
and dedication for our music and
words...to me that's just awesome!
JROCK: I can hear some of the
Electronica/Techno influence in your
music. A lot of your music seems be
centered around electronic beats, loops
so typically when you write a song do
you usually start off with the drums
when you write/record a song?
SSF: - A lot of times it starts with the
drums and the vocals. Each song
though is written in its own style.
†
JROCK: Now I understand that
MUSHROOMHEAD is from
CLEVELAND, Ohio. In listening to the
new album I can hear various, different
influences in your music so I'd like to
ask who were some the guys who
influenced you when you were growing
up? I mean on this album you even
cover a song called “Rumor has It"
which was originally done by Adelle.
SSF: - Yeah that was just us having some
fun. A lot of times when we start
recording we'll start off with recording a
cover rather than starting off with
recording one of our own songs.
JROCK: I heard in the past you guys
even did a cover of a SEAL song and the
cool thing about doing something like
that is that people might hear the name
MUSHROOMHEAD and think oh
they'll cover something like a Black
Sabbath song but you guys totally went
the other way this and it allows you to
turn a METAL audience on to
something that they might not typically
listen to.
SSF: - Yeah but you know ultimately I
don't sit around and listen to METAL all
day.
JROCK: I mean I can hear that when I
listen to this new CD....I listen to this CD
and I hear all kinds of different sounds
going on which is something that i
really kind of dig. So I imagine you
were influenced by other types of music
than just METAL?
SSF: - Oh yeah! I was really into a lot of
HARDCORE techno music. I also got
into bands like MINISTRY and KMFD
Page 8
May 13th, 2014 - Mushroomhead, the influential industrial metal band from
Cleveland, OH, has released its seventh studio album “The Righteous & The
Butterfly” today via Megaforce Records. Recorded in Cleveland, the band self
produced the record with longtime co-producer Bill Korecky. The CD consists of
14 tracks, ranging from songs about survival and balance (“Devils Be Damned”,
“Qwerty”, “Son Of 7”) to emotionally charged anthems (“For Your Pleasure”,
“Worlds Collide”) to a riff heavy rendition of Adele’s #1 hit “Rumor Has It”.
The first single “Out Of My Mind” is at radio now and can be streamed at this
location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apVmJLjD7n4&feature=youtu.be
Mushroomhead is comprised of drummers Skinny, Robert Diablo and Stitch,
Vocalists J Mann, Jeffery Nothing & Waylon, guitarist Church, Keyboardist
Shmotz, and bassist Dr. F.
The album’s title “The Righteous & The Butterfly” is a dedication to original
guitarist, J.J. Righteous and the band’s former photographer (and drummer Steve
“Skinny” Felton’s wife) Vanessa Solowiow who both passed away too soon. “J.J.
was a key member of our band” says Skinny. “He played on the first three records
and Vanessa was our photographer and the mother of my children. They were both
huge pieces of Mushroomhead and this record is dedicated to them.”
“The Righteous & The Butterfly” marks the return of vocalist J Mann and the
debut of new guitarist Church and bassist Dr. F. “This album damn near wrote
itself” proclaims Skinny. “With J mann’s return, this album is a fresh twist on a
familiar vibe. It’s also the first album with Church and Dr. F. They brought in
fresh blood while keeping the integrity of the band’s “sound and vision intact. This
is the 20th year of Mushroomhead and this album is us getting back to our roots.”
“The Righteous & The Butterfly” track listing:
01. Our Apologies
02. How Many Times
03. Devils Be Damned
04. Qwerty
05. Portraits Of The Poor
06. Childlike
07. This Cold Reign
08. We Are The Truth
09. Son Of 7
10. For Your Pleasure
11. Worlds Collide
12. Graveyard Du Jour
13. Out Of My Mind
14. Rumor Has It
The band is currently playing a string of headline shows this month before
embarking on the 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in July.
May Headline Tour:
5/9 Akron, OH - Rock Factory
5/10 Columbus, OH - Alrosa Villa
5/11 Geneva, OH - The Cove
5/13 Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
5/14 Bloomington, IL - Castle Theater
5/15 Lawrence, KS - Granada
5/17 Waterloo, IA - Spicoli’s
5/18 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
5/19 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
5/21 Steger, IL - Another Hole In The Wall
5/22 Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
5/24 Newport, KY - Thompson House
Mushroomhead came together when drummer Skinny formed the band as
a side project. The band wore masks to go unrecognized, but after only a
few shows they developed a rabid and loyal fan base in Cleveland. They
released their 1995 self-titled debut album independently and it went on to
became an underground hit. This was history in the making because the
band really had no proper distribution. Superbuick followed in 1996 and
M3 in 1999, all released via an underground street effort. After the band
felt its image and hyper-melodic, heavy style of music was being diluted by
other bands jumping into this space, the band started to change their look to
reflect nothing out there. After a brief stint on Eclipse Records, a move to
Universal Records saw the release of XX (a combination of the past
independent releases) in 2001. In 2003, XIII was released, spawning the
single "Sun Doesn't Rise" which was featured on MTV: Headbangers
Ball and the Freddy Vs. Jason soundtrack. The album also featured the
hidden track "Crazy", a song originally recorded by Seal. The album
debuted at #40 on the Billboard Top 200 charts and sold 400,000 copies
worldwide. In December 2005, the band signed with the pioneering rock
label, Megaforce Records (Metallica, Anthrax, Ministry) and released
Savior Sorrow in 2006. In the Fall of 2010, the band released “Beautiful
Stories for Ugly Children” and it debuted at #44 on the Billboard charts.
For more information, check out the band’s website:
www.mushroomhead.com
Mushroomhead Facebook:
www.facebook.com/mushroomheadofficial
Mushroomhead Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FilthyHandsCo
Mushroomhead YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/mushroomheadfilthy
Megaforce Records Website:
www.megaforcerecords.com
2014 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Dates:
07/05 San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amphitheater
07/06 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater
07/08 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
07/11 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
07/12 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheatre
07/16 Maryland Heights, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
07/17 Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
07/19 Noblesville, IN – Klipsch Music Center
07/20 Tinley Park, IL – First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre
07/22 Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
07/23 Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
07/25 Toronto, ONT - Molson Amphitheatre
07/26 Burgettstown, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
07/27 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
07/29 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake
08/01 Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
08/02 Scranton, PA – The Pavilion At Montage Mountain
08/03 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
08/05 Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
08/07 Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma Zoo Amphitheatre
08/09 Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion
08/10 The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Page 9
One Lead Singer: Danny Ross
DR: - There's a little bit of a Rock Scene
but not as much as it used to be.
JROCK: As far as your band: One goes
I'd like to ask how long have you guys
been around? What year was the band
first formed?
DR: - The Guitarist: Chris and I first
formed the band maybe about 10 or 11
years ago and we then came out with
our first album in 2006. Our latest
album is being re-released on
PAVEMENT RECORDS on April 1st
and features the Johnny Cash Cover.
JROCK: Today we're speaking
w/Danny Ross and Danny you're the
Lead Singer from the band: One. I'd
like to start the interview off by asking
where is the band based out of?
DR: - We're from Montreal, Canada.
JROCK: Who were the
Bands/Musicians who influenced you
when you were growing up?
DR: - Oh Wow.....I saw Motley Crue
when I was a little kid, I had an older
Cousin who showed me an old VHS
tape he had and then it all branched off
from there to Guns N Roses and
Metallica, you know just anything that
had melody and grooves.
JROCK: Being that you're a Motley
Crue fan I have to ask what do you
think of them deciding to go on what
they're calling their Final Tour?
DR: - I think it's a sad day for anyone
who doesn't get to see them one. Last
time. I've gotten to see them twice now
myself.
JROCK: Now of course Canada is very
close to the United States where I am
from but I was curious if when you
were growing up there did you always
have the dream to come over here to the
United States?
DR: - The American public has just been
so welcoming to us. We love going
down to the United States.
JROCK: Of course when I was growing
up there were a lot of great bands like:
Rush, Triumph, and even
Helix.....coming out of Canada. is there
much of a Rock scene there these days?
JROCK: Now I was going to ask you
about that because I did see the video
for the Johnny Cash Cover on-line and
I've got to say for anyone who has not
seen it that it's a really cool video for the
Johnny cash song where you guys are
basically Outlaws on the run from the
LAW which is some Hot, Sexy looking
females. Why did you guys decide to
cover that?
DR: - Well we were playing it live on the
road for about 2 years and we knew that
the 10th anniversary of Johnny Cash's
death was coming up so we thought
about what we could do to pay tribute
to him and at the same time you don't
want to in any way, shape or form do
anything that would ruin his legacy. So
when he wrote the song "Folsyn Prison
Blues" that was his story. We're not
trying to tell his story. We just did the
song our way. We proceeded with
doing the video which is a bit comical
but in the end we just wanted to pay
tribute to Johnny Cash.
JROCK: I think that's the cool thing
about doing a cover is people do it
typically 2 ways which is where you
either record an exact clone version of
the original song or you do what you
guys did which was to pay tribute to the
original song and in a way still make it
your own if you know what I mean.
How long did it take you to shoot the
video?
DR: - It took about two and a half days.
JROCK: So I guess you guys had like a
story board before you actually went in
and shot the video?
DR: - Yeah, We bounced ideas off of
each other...We all work so well with
each other. We had this idea of getting
Chicks in the video teasing us, first we
were going to put just one cop in the
video to chase us but then I got the idea
of having three and it turned into this
like Quinton Tarintino Film.
JROCK: Let me ask you about the girls
in the video. How did you cast them?
DR: - The blond one who was the Sheriff
has played in our last 3 videos so we
knew her and she'll just so much fun
and do anything we ask....One of the
other girls was kind of an acquaintance
and when I mentioned we were
shooting a video she wanted to be in it
and the 3rd girl ended up being a friend
of a friend.
JROCK: So now I have to ask...You
mentioned that the new album coming
out is a re-release of your last album. I
have to ask why did you decide to rerelease your last album rather than go in
and record an all new album?
DR: - Well all our albums previously
were independent releases. I mean after
negotiating and signing with
PAVEMENT RECORDS they loved our
last album so they then asked what else
we had and once they heard the Johnny
Cash cover we decided to throw that on
there as well. So it's like our first
official, kind of like an official debut
album.
JROCK: You said the album originally
came out in 2012 but it didn't have the
Johnny Cash cover on that version of the
album. Since PAVEMENT has come on
board have you noticed that the band
has started to get a lot more attention
than you were before?
DR: - We have been doing tons and tons
of interviews for Radio stations,
Magazines, and even Internet Blogs and
what not. The videos are being
publicized everywhere and all the
videos have been getting a lot of hits.
JROCK: Now PAVEMENT is a pretty
great up and coming label so I have to
ask how did they get involved with you
guys?
DR: - If I am not mistaken because I very
often am our Booking Agent: Deanna
contacted them and they heard the
Johnny Cash cover we did and then the
negotiations went from there.
Page 10
JROCK: You mentioned that you and
the Guitar Player: Chris are the ones
who formed the band. How did you
and Chris first meet?
DR: - It was after High-School that we
just started working together at PartTime jobs together. We hit it right off,
right away. I found out he could play
Guitar and I told him I could sing and
we then just started putting bands
together.
JROCK: And I have to ask you about
the band's name: ONE because again
it's kind of really simple but somehow it
just really fits and sounds great. How
did you guys come up with the band's
name?
DR: - Well when we were looking for a
band name we were trying to think of
something that would define us. We
were four guys, I mean it's more than
just a band....We were great friends
right from the get go! We were trying to
form a Brotherhood here so we were
trying to figure out how to define four
guys who were embarking on this
Journey together...Four guys who had
become "One"! We were like Oh my
God "One" that's it! †
Page 11
SOIL https://www.facebook.com/SOiLmusic - AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE https://www.facebook.com/AmericanHeadCharge - HED PE https://www.facebook.com/hedpe
Page 12
Interviews with Hellion Guitarist: Maxxxwell
Carisle and Singer: Ann Boleyn
Do you remember how back in the
1980's all the major Rock bands had a
Guitar Hero or 2...I'm talking about
guys like Warren Demartini, Jake E. Lee,
Steve Vai, Vivian Campbell.....Well
these days the Rock world isn't filled
with as many Guitar Heroes like back in
the 1980's but recently I had the
pleasure of speaking with Guitarist:
Maxxxwell Carisle and while his name
right now might not be as well-known
as Warren Demartini or Steve Vai he is a
Guitar Hero on the rise. For years he
has been releasing his own guitar
oriented solo releases and we talked at
great length about his solo career during
this 36 minute Interview.
There's more to Maxxxwell Carisle than
just his Guitar Playing skills...We also
talked at great length about the fact that
his musical training started out on
Violin and Piano. Maxxxwell also
discussed the fact that he's a Body
Builder and the fact that in addition to
his solo career that he's now also the
new Guitar Player in Hellion and how
much he's enjoyed being a part of
Hellion now. This interview was
conducted on 2/17/14...Please Read the
Interview and ENJOY!
you're also a Professional body builder.
I was curious if you got into Body
Building first or music?
MC: - That's a good question. I got into
Music first but I've been doing both of
those things for a really, long time now.
I should clarify that I'm not a
professional Body Builder but I'm what
you call a competitive Body Builder and
I do competitions but there's a pretty
clear difference there because it's kind of
like the Major and Minor Leagues of
Body Building.
JROCK: Thanks for clarifying that
because I just assumed being a guy that
does these competitions that would be
considered Professional.....That's kind of
interesting right there. So how do you
rank in the Body Building League?
MC: - Yeah, well the sport of Body
Building they have weight classes and I
compete typically in the middle weight
class and I've been doing it for a long,
long time now and I really enjoy it. I
enjoy it just as much as Music. It's a
totally different world you know and
unfortunately a lot of the times the two
worlds just don't collide all that well.
JROCK: And let me ask you Maxxxwell
who were the guys who influenced you
when you were growing up?
Guitarist: Maxxxwell Carisle and I
understand that you're originally from
Washington so I've got to ask how old
were you when you first moved out
here to Los Angeles?
MC: - I was about 24 when I moved out
to Los Angeles.
JROCK: So when you first moved out
here from Washington was life out here
that different from what it was like for
you in Washington?
MC: - It was very different. There were
a lot of things that I didn't quite expect.
Like obviously there was the traffic
which was something I had heard about
and so I did kind of expect that but it
was definitely a big change for me. It
was quite a culture shock for me
because it was just different out here
from what it was like in Seattle.
JROCK: I was also reading that besides
being a Professional Musician that
MC: - A lot of them were the Classic
Metal guys that you'd consider. I liked
a lot of the Ozzy stuff, I've always been
a fan of the Guitar Players that he's had.
Yngwie Malmsteen is a big guy for me
but not just for his playing but also for
the way he writes songs. Then some of
the Thrash bands like I love Megadeth, a
like a lot of the more obscure bands like
KORN, I also liked the New Wave Of
British Heavy Metal.
JROCK: Now I can obviously
understand you being influenced by a
guy like Yngwie but I also read on your
website before you even started playing
Guitar that you started out playing the
Violin and Piano so are you influenced
at all by any of the Neo-Classical style of
Music?
MC: - Yeah I'm a big fan of that genre of
music for sure. I'm a big fan of Tony
Macalpine.
JROCK: Now like I mentioned earlier
you started out on the Violin. I was
curious is that something your Parents
pushed you into or was that something
you started doing when you were in
School?
MC: - It was something that I did do in
School and I started out playing Violin
when I was 8. Yeah so it was pretty far
back there.
JROCK: And now let me ask you a little
bit about your musical training all these
years....Do you think playing all these
different instruments and all these
different styles of music has helped to
make you a better Musician than if you
had just started out on the Guitar?
MC: - I think it make me better in terms
of my songwriting and my ability to
work with other people.
JROCK: So let me ask you...Once you
did pick up the Guitar did you take
many lessons or would you consider
yourself to be a self-taught player?
MC: - I am mostly self-taught but I did
take a few lessons here and there.
JROCK: I know primarily most people
know you because you have a few solo
releases out so I guess the first thing I'd
like to ask you in regards to your solo
career is how did you get your first
record deal?
MC: - The first stuff was just a matter of
me putting out my own music but doing
it as professionally as possible. The
thing I did early on which was pretty
good for me was a got a couple of really
great guest Musicians to play on this
instrumental record that I did a couple
of years ago called SPEED FORCE. I got
Michael Angello Batio which was just
phenomenal.
JROCK: So in regards to getting
Michael to play on your album was it
just a matter of you reaching out to him
and asking or what? How did that
come about?
Page 13
MC: - I had actually known him for a
while and I had gone to a Clinic he had
held and this was probably like 6 or 7
years ago now. After the Clinic I just
went up to him and introduced myself
and we got along really well and I kept
in touch with him after that....What
ended up happening was a lot of people
on his Internet Forum got together and I
was one of them and we put together a
track. So after working on that project
with him I then started working on an
instrumental album and I then had sent
him one of the songs pretty much just
asking him what he thought of it he
then wrote back saying he really liked it
and asked me to send him some more
stuff. I then asked him if he could do a
solo on one of the tracks and he said
absolutely.
JROCK: So when you guys recorded
these tracks together were you in the
same room with one another or what?
MC: - Yeah everything was pretty much
piece together.
JROCK: So going back to when you
released that first solo album I have to
ask if one of your goals was to release
an album that showcased your own
playing where you didn't come across
sounding like a Clone of all your heroes.
MC: - yeah absolutely. Because the
way I like to write, the sound that I am
going for is not something that you hear
a lot of.
JROCK: And so the Vocal stuff I was
curious do you do all the vocals yourself
or what?
MC: - Oh yeah I bring in other singers. I
don't do any vocals myself. I'm always
the guy that people ask me to sing until
they hear me sing.
JROCK: Now I realize that you have a
new solo album in the works right now
as we speak. Do you want to talk a little
bit about that?
MC: - Yeah I have a new album coming
out that's almost done. I've got one
track right now that I've gone and kind
of pre-released. The album is called:
“Visions Of Speed And Thunder” and
that title borrows words from previous
titles of my previous albums.
JROCK: As for as your solo releases I
was curious are they still all available
for anyone who might want to purchase
them?
MC: - Oh yeah absolutely. All the
releases are still physically available.
JROCK: As far as the upcoming solo
release do you have a projected release
date for that yet?
MC: - A specific release date is still a
little down the line but I'm trying to get
it out by the end of March.
JROCK: In addition to your solo career I
understand that you also recently joined
the Legendary Metal band from Los
Angeles called Hellion. Could you talk
a litttle bit about that?
MC: - Yeah and that's something that
I've really been excited about. I've had a
really great time working on the new
album. I got hooked up with the band
last Spring and the Singer Ann Boleyn
kind of put the word out that she was
looking for a Guitar Player from Los
Angeles so that she could work on some
new Hellion material. Hellion has been
on a hiatus for the last several years. A
guys who was a mutual friend of Ann's
and mine so he then got in contact with
me and he sent my information to Ann
and I then also sent her some videos I
had done and this process actually took
several months. Eventually Ann and I
got connected directly and we just
started talking about what she was
looking for and what the band was
about and we then got together with the
rest of the lineup which is Simon Wright
on Drums. We then went into the
studio and just started working on
things.
JROCK: So I imagine Hellion will be
kicking into touring motion once the
Anthology gets released?
MC: - Yeah around May of sometime in
the Spring there's going to be a lot of
touring.
JROCK: So I imagine that Hellion will
become your main Priority for the next
few months but in between Hellion
shows can we expect you doing any live
shows in support of the new solo
release?
MC: - Yeah I will and you actually hit
the nail right on the head because
obviously there's going to be a lot of
stuff going on with Hellion so for me it's
obviously a huge step even though I've
already had some success with my solo
career. Working with a band like
Hellion that has such a legacy and huge
history is just a great step for me. That's
the priority and so there's going to be a
lot of touring and stuff going on with
that but I still am going to be playing
solo stuff with my solo band.
Singer Ann Boleyn
I had the opportunity to speak with
HELLION Front Woman/Lead Singer:
Ann Boleyn over the phone on 2/17/14
and I really enjoyed the opportunity to
speak with Ann because of the simple
fact that while I was aware of the fact
that there is band out there Called:
HELLION from Los Angeles, CA....i
have to be honest with you that I can't
name one HELLION song....After years
away from the music Industry Ann
decided to Re-launch Hellion which was
formed way back in 1982......While Ann
is the only original band member these
days she talked a great deal about the
band's past, present, and future...Talked
about the new 2 CD Anthology set that
was just released, the strong new band
lineup, the band's future plans to tour,
and talked a little bit about being helped
out by both Ronnie and wendy Dio
early in the band's career! Ann also
shared with me that in her time away
from the music business that she
actually went to Law School and earned
a law degree. Read the Interview and
ENJOY!
Hellion Lead Singer: Ann Boleyn. Of
course like a lot of people I've heard the
name: Hellion and I understand the
band started back in 1982....and you
recently decided to put the band back
together...Talk a little bit about your
decision to put the band back together.
AB: - Well there was a time back in 2009
that I didn't sing for a while because I
was really effected by the death of
Ronnie James Dio and at that time I just
really didn't have the desire to do it
anymore. As time went on I became
really good friends with Drummer:
Simon Wright and I had talked to Simon
several times about putting a project
together and at that time there were a
lot of rumors going around that my
voice was blown...Rumors that were not
true. I decided there was only one way
to solve all this and that was to get out
there and record something new.
JROCK: I think you're very smart on a
lot of fronts…I mean Simon himself is
just such a tremendous Drummer, I
mean like you mentioned early on in his
career he played with AC/DC and then
of course for many years after that he
played with Ronnie James Dio and he's
played with Scott Warren and Bjorn
England in Dio and the Dio Disciples.
Now I read early on in your career that
both Ronnie and his Wife: Wendy
helped you out...Talk a little bit about
that.
AB: - Well I first heard Ronnie live back
when he was performing with ELF
when they were opening up for DEEP
PURPLE ...I of course back then really
wasn't paying attention to ELF back
Page 14
then because I was such a huge DEEP
PURPLE fan but then I met Ronnie
James Dio in the early 80's at a 5K Race
and that's how that all ended up
working out. We had charted with our
album back then which was about the
same time that Ronnie's Holy Diver
album was going up the charts. He said
he had heard of us and wanted to know
if I'd consider having him as our
Producer and of course I said YES!
And after that one thing led to another.
JROCK: That's really amazing and it's
kind of incredible that all these years
later you're putting your band: Hellion
back together and you're working with
his Drummer: Simon. I think it's real
smart what you're doing because like I
said before while I'm aware that there's
a band Hellion, and I have heard the
name I can't even name one Hellion
song so I think it's very smart of you to
release this Anthology as a way to kind
of re-introduce the band to people out
there.
AB: - Yeah exactly and originally I
thought about maybe recording just one
new song and then releasing it to radio
and then I thought let's give something
to the people who buy the music, give
them something for their buck...I
thought let's kind of cherry pick the
back catalog and pick some of the songs
that best represent the band and put it
out on this new anthology Cd.
JROCK: And again you're giving
people a real bang for their buck, you
know with 2 Cds in this dang age that's
something really special and it's just
such a great way to re-launch the band.
I was curious are all the past albums still
in print or what?
AB: - Well a lot of them are out of print.
which was me, Bjorn, Simon and Max
we sounded like a band that had been
playing together for the last 20 years.
JROCK: You know an interesting thing
that I've learned in doing research for
this interview is that Hellion has always
been one of these bands who's had a lot
of potential but never really broke out in
a big way but then again this might now
be your time for that to happen because
you've got such a strong band and some
of the guys like Simon, Bjorn, and Scott
have actually all played together as a
live band for the last couple of years
now.
AB: - Absolutely!
JROCK: So why do you think that
Hellion never really broke out in a big
way?
AB: - Well I'll tell you...There's always a
lot of different inner workings when
you have a band and inner workings
happen within the band and your
management and all kinds of things.
Sometimes you have different
personalities to deal with that conflict
with one another and stuff like that. By
the time we had worked with Ronnie
you have to understand that Hellion
was the first band that I had ever sang
with because previously to that I was
already pretty well known especially
around Los Angeles but I was a
Keyboard Player back then.
JROCK: So do you guys have plans to
tour behind the new Anthology Cd or
are you going to wait until you get some
more new music out there first?
AB: - Well we do have some plans to do
some shows. i have been out of the
scene for a long time now. I'm very
much of a powerhouse Metal Singer and
that requires a lot of stamina and there's
also a lot of expectations on myself that I
have so I don't want to go out there and
do anything less than 100%.
JROCK: And again i think you're very
smart with bringing in the Musicians
you have brought in this time. You
have a really great Guitar Player in
Maxxxwell Carisle who I recently had
the opportunity interview. How did
you hook up with Maxxxwell?
JROCK: How did you and Simon meet?
The reason I ask is because you told me
like a lot of people you were really
effected by Ronnie's death and that's
had a lot to do with why you have not
performed in the last several years......I
find it kind of interesting now that
you're working with his Keyboard
Player and his Drummer. Did you ever
think that Ronnie had something in way
to do with putting Hellion back
together.
AB: - I found him initially going back
and talking to the old Hellion guys
because if there was going to be a new
Hellion I didn't want to go forward
without talking to them first. I wanted
to give them the opportunity to come
back into the band and unfortunately
the former members are spread out all
around the world. They also all have
different family obligations It was
amazingly because at that first rehearsal
AB: - Well I have run into Simon many
times over the years and I had remained
pretty close friends with Ronnie up until
around 2004.....and it was during that
time that I actually started going to law
School. I remember running into him
(Simon) and I was surprised to learn
that he was now the Drummer in Dio
and that Vinny Appice had left Dio. So
our paths have crossed several times
over the years. I then ran into him again
a few years later at a Charity event for
the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And
Shout Cancer Fund and we really hit it
off there.
JROCK: Now you also mentioned that in
your time away from the music world
that you also went to Law School and
became a Lawyer...talk a little bit about
that.
AB: - I kind of became a lawyer out of
default. Yeah in the early 2000's I had a
really bad problem with a Stalker and
the Police had advised me if I wanted to
stay alive it was very important to alter
my schedule so that I was basically
living by myself and so I ended up going
to UCLA, taking some classes and got
my law degree there. I just had to switch
up my schedule at that time and at the
time it would have just been impossible
for me to go out and perform. One of the
people who ended up stalking me ended
up doing time in prison after breaking
into my place. He was charged with
attempted Murder and some other stuff
as well. It was a very serious time
period. I needed to be out of the scene
for a while.
JROCK: Has that all kind of died down
then since that time?
AB: - Yes!
JROCK: It's kind of sad and scary that
you'd have to go to that length to protect
yourself but I was curious in what
capacity have you used your law degree?
AB: - What I do is I have my own
practice and I do Civil Rights and try to
work with Workers who have been
treated wrong, fired, terminated and
things like that.
JROCK: So with this new Anthology Cd
out now the next step is to tour as you
say but will you be concentrating on just
the U.S. for now or is the plan to take it
all around the world?
AB: - The plan is to take it all around the
world. We want to play from
everywhere from Russia to Japan. To me
what this is all about is to get out there
and play and connect with the people! †
Page 15
JUDAS PRIEST SET "MARCH OF THE DAMNED" AS LEADOFF SINGLE FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM,
'REDEEMER OF SOULS'
For the past few weeks, metalheads worldwide have undoubtedly been enjoying the "sneak peak" title track from
Judas Priest's forthcoming 'Redeemer of Souls' album. And on Monday, May 19th, the official leadoff single from
the album, "March of the Damned," will be released to rock and metal radio, and will be available for purchase via
all digital sales providers. Additionally, on the same day, preorders for the full album will be made available
through iTunes: http://smarturl.it/redeemerofsouls-albm
As the band themselves said about "March of the Damned," "Our passion for heavy metal has never diminished,
and this track sounds off with real conviction!" Listen to the new song here: http://youtu.be/HJhm2vZFj2k.
'Redeemer of Souls' will be made available from Epic Records on Tuesday, July 15th, 2014, as both a standard
version and a deluxe edition with five bonus tracks. When asked what fans can expect from Priest's 17th album
overall, guitarist Glenn Tipton replied, "Sometimes in the past we may have come under fire for being too
adventurous musically - so we have listened!! From start to finish 'Redeemer of Souls' is 13 songs of pure classic
Priest metal!!"
Comprised of Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar), Richie Faulkner (guitar), Ian Hill (bass), and Scott Travis
(drums), Judas Priest is responsible for some of heavy metal's all-time classic songs ("Living After Midnight,"
"Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," etc.) and albums ('British Steel,' 'Screaming for
Vengeance,' 'Painkiller,' etc.
And soon, fans will discover that Priest has assembled another metal classic, with the "March of the Damned" single
and 'Redeemer of Souls' full-length.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT:
www.judaspriest.com
www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest
Page 16
This is my latest interview w/Brute
Forcz Drummer: Slammer Steel. In this
exclusive interview w/Chaotic Riff's
Magazine Interview we caught up with
Brute Forcz Drummer: Slammer Steel to
get an updated report from him on
everything that's currently going on in
the world of BRUTE FORCZ. Brute
Forcz is a band that we here at Chaotic
Riff's have supported since they
released their debut CD: Out For Blood
back in 2012. The band two years later
is still out their getting the word out
about their monster Debut CD which
was produced by Ex Alice Cooper/Kiss
Guitarist: Bob Kulick. In this latest
interview Slammer Steel discussed in
great detail the band's recent release of
their first, ever Music Video for the song
"SEX MACHINE".
JROCK: I just have to say the video, it's
all sex, Rock N Roll, anything anyone
could want in a Music Video. So how
long did it take you guys to shoot the
actual video?
their heads...I don't want to see that...We
just wanted to keep it simple....There
could have been fans there, let's keep a
live feel to it, That's our practice space
where we practice!
SS: - Actually it didn't take as long as
you would think it would. When you
got the girls that look like that you don't
want to see a bunch of guys in the video
when you have hot chicks like that. So
it didn't take us as long as most people
would think. The place we shot the
video at, they were really great to us,
and anything we needed they'd go out
and get for us. It was a one day shoot
and when we got done we were very
happy with the way it turned out.
JROCK: Now along with the Press
release you guys sent me about the
video you also sent me some great
looking photos that were taken the day
of the video shoot where the band is in
the photo's but the girls are all front and
center in the photos and again i think
that's a very smart move on your part.
So I was curious was there a modeling
agency, casting agency you had to go
through to get these girls?
JROCK: And of course one thing I
really loved about the video like a lot of
what you guys do is it was real tongue
in cheek, funny, a bit of comedy to it.
There's a scene of you in the back where
you kind of get caught doing something
when the other guys come off of the
stage...whose idea was that?
SS: - Well mine and my Brother...You
don't have to have a PHD to understand
Heavy Metal!
JROCK: Yeah and again I think that's
the whole beauty of this video.....Just the
simplicity of it all I mean it's just simple,
Rock N Roll, SEX and everything you'd
want in a Music Video....The greatest
thing I can complement you guys
on...Especially being an up and coming
band and even though you'd probably
never see this video on MTV is that it's
so professionally shot!
Brute Forcz Drummer: Slammer Steel.
How are you doing Slammer?
SS: - I'm doing great Jason how are you?
JROCK: The reason we're of course
talking today is because you recently
released a music video for the song "Sex
Machine" which I have to say was really
professionally done. Obviously the first
thing I'd like to talk about is the girls in
the video who are all pretty hot....Were
these girls you knew or were they hired
specifically for the video?
SS: - A little bit of both....We knew the
girls but we did get them through the
agency and that's how that works. We
had to go through the agency to get the
girls but we've known Ava and Missy
know for a while.
SS: - I mean how many times have you
seen a music video full of guys banging
SS: - It was through the Porn
Agency...You know these days
everybody has to get something out of
it. But like I said we've known them
though for a while and they are
professionals and they can't take a job
without paying their agents. We had no
problem with that. Everyone on board
got what they deserved.
JROCK: I have to say again a lot of
times people have misconceptions not
just about Rock stars but Porn Actresses
as well and just looking at the video that
people can think what they want of
Porn Actresses but these ladies seem
very professional...You know they
showed up to do a job and they really
were the eye candy that you guys
needed.
SS: - The thing is I was expecting them
to be a handful and like you just
mentioned they were all very
professional above and beyond!
JROCK: And let me ask you....In the
scenes where they show their bare chest
and you threw the word CENSORED
up there was that something you had to
do to be able to get the video up on
YOUTUBE or was that something you
guys just decided to do on your own?
SS: - The Censor bars you mean? Yeah
that was something we decided to do
because I just don't want anyone to
maybe feel uncomfortable while they're
watching it. The Director also thought
we'd get a lot more plays if we put the
CENSOR bar up there. And there's also
going to be a DVD down the line that's
going to show the actual video and
some of the things that actually went on
that we can't show on YOUTUBE.
JROCK: That kind of leads to the next
question I was going to ask because just
looking at the video itself and the
photos you sent me I imagine you guys
Page 17
must have a lot of photos/footage that
didn't make it into the actual video.
now and we're already at over 20,000
views of it.
SS: - (LAUGHS) - Yeah we're planning
to put a DVD out of that stuff and start
to play a lot more gigs. We want to also
have some live concert footage to
include with the DVD as well. We also
have plans to shoot another video
coming up so we'll put together all that
as a nice DVD package.
JROCK: And again I wanted to ask you
in this Press release you guys just put
out it mentions that you plan on putting
out another video for "SEX MACHINE"
Is there any reason you guys wanted to
have two versions of the video?
SS: - The other version is going to
feature a lot of the UNCENSORED stuff
in it.
JROCK: Now let me ask you...is there
any though to doing any videos for any
of the other songs?
SS: - Oh yeah...Oh Yeah!
JROCK: And again I think the smart
thing about you guys putting out a
Music Video like this is just the
simplicity of the whole things! I mean
even like you guys putting the CENSOR
bars in the video because you could
have made a video where the girls were
totally nude but you didn't...They were
just nude in certain parts and because of
that the video came across as classy and
not trashy.
JROCK: I was curious after doing a
video like this have you guys ever toyed
with the idea of running a Contest
where you'd look for "MS. Sex Machine"
where you'd look for a girl to make live
appearances and things of that nature
with the band?
SS: - It's funny you ask that because
that's something that we're currently
working on putting together right now
as we speak.
SS: - Right, Exactly! Again i mean when
was it not cool to have a lot of naked
girls running around? Then again we
didn't want to push the envelope too,
too far but we still wanted to push the
envelope just a tad.
JROCK: And let me ask you since the
premiere of the video has it served it's
purpose which is to help promote not
just the song but album as well? Have
you seen a lot more people buying the
album since you've released the video?
SS: - It has picked up...That's correct.
The video's been out for over a month
JROCK: So the album's been out for
almost over a year now......So is the plan
to really start to do more live shows and
really work this album before you even
think about recording another CD?
SS: - Right now yes everything seems to
be right on track! We definitely have
plans to play more live shows and we're
also looking at Europe right now.
Europe is a huge market for Heavy
Metal music right now! †
Page 18
JROCK: Matt you are of course the
Lead Singer from the band Circus of
Dead Squirrels. First of all what year
was the band formed and could you
please share with our readers how you
and the other members of the band first
met and came to form Circus Of Dead
Squirrels?
MF: Circus of Dead Squirrels officially
began in 2004 but Dan Raphael, John
Beeler and I had all been in a band
together for years before. The band
which would eventually evolve into
Circus of Dead Squirrels was formed
while we were all in high school
together. We were a seven-piece skametal band originally called Toilet
Duck. We lost several band members
and replaced them with keyboards and
programming and went through several
name changes such as The Dead Duck
Flush, Baby Jesus Abortion, and
Squirrelbait before finally settling with
Circus of Dead Squirrels.
JROCK: Now Matt I know that the
band is from Tucson, Arizona so I have
to ask you what's the music scene like
there these days?
MF: The band is actually from Hartford,
Connecticut and is still based in that
area. I am currently living in Tucson for
the time being but travel to the East
Coast for the band and will be returning
permanently soon. I’m not too familiar
with the scene here quite honestly.
JROCK: Has the band toured outside of
your home state yet or have any plans to
do so in the near future?
MF: Right now our live act is in limbo,
we are currently working to build a new
line-up to take back out on the road. We
were broken up for a period of time and
it was difficult to get this latest album
finished. We wanted to solely
concentrate on releasing another great
album first and then take it from there.
Prior to the split we were mostly
playing in Connecticut, Massachusetts,
and New York but we are definitely
planning on expanding our horizons
once the new live line-up is formed.
JROCK: Being that you are from
Tucson, Arizona where that tragic
shooting of a Congress Woman took
place I have to ask you what's it like to
know that the place you're from fell
victim to such a horrible tragedy?
JROCK: Circus of Dead Squirrels is a
great/interesting/an yet really original
name for a band? What's the story
behind the band's name?
MF: Thanks. It’s funny because even as
we were gearing up to record our first
album Indoor Recess we had chosen the
name Circle of Dead Squirrels. We then
learned that there was a band called
Circle of Dead Children and thought it
was way too similar. We were already
hung up on it so we decided to replace
circle with circus and thought it worked
better to describe our sound anyways.
I’ve always been fascinated by squirrels
and really wanted them incorporated in
our title. They are spastic and
unpredictable creatures. We really
wanted a name that would give people
an idea of what we sounded like
without even hearing us. It’s humorous
in a dark way.
MF: I really don’t understand what is
going on here. A few months before that
there was a shooting in my hometown
in Connecticut at a Budweiser
distribution center as well. It’s really sad
to think that you can’t even go to a
grocery store or your job without
wondering if some lunatic is going to
throw a fit. I’ll tell you this much, that
guy who did the shooting was definitely
in the right state. Arizona’s gun laws are
a fucking joke. I’m not an advocate for
guns but I do understand their purpose
as protection. However, there just
needs to be stricter regulations and
longer wait periods to ensure that
mentally unstable people cannot own a
gun. It was pretty obvious before this
tragedy that this kid wasn’t playing
with a full deck. Why the hell would
you ever need a 30 bullet clip… unless
of course you plan on doing something
like this. It amazes me how so many
people are hung up on the most
destructive and meaningless things in
life. I wish that kid had opened fire at a
gun show instead, maybe that would
wake a few of those people up. I totally
understand being frustrated with the
human race but killing innocent people
is just fucking pathetic.
JROCK: How many albums has the
band released to date?
MF: Officially, we have released five
albums. Indoor Recess (2004), Outdoor
Recess (remixes, 2005), The Pop Culture
Massacre and the End of the World
Sing-A-Long Songbook! (2007), TPCM2:
Judgment Day Remixing the Massacre
(remixes, 2008, short-lived due to an
extremely shitty label), and Operation
Satan (2010).
JROCK: Is everyone in the band
involved with the songwriting process?
Everyone who is listed in each album’s
credits is involved in some way or
another. On our first two albums it was
mainly Dan, John, and I writing the
material but on Operation Satan it was a
collaborative effort between me, Dan,
Matt Nodland (bass), and Craig Douglas
(keys). Dan Raphael has always been
the main songwriter and I write all of
the lyrics.
JROCK: Your latest album is called
Operation Satan. Could you please tell
our readers a little bit about the album
such as how many songs are on it? ,
who produced it?
MF: Operation Satan has 16 tracks (ten
full length and six short interludes). It
describes the various ways that animals
are abused in our everyday lives. I
personally think that it is our heaviest
and most thought provoking album to
date. I produced the album along with
Mark Alan Miller (who also did most of
the engineering at Slaughterhouse
Recording Studio in Westhampton, MA)
and Matt Nodland. It was mastered at
Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden by
Hakan Akesson.
JROCK: What do you remember most
about the recording sessions for
Operation Satan?
MF: Man, I remember so many
awesome things. It really was an
incredible experience, even more than
the other two, because we had to work
harder than ever before. Once we
actually got in the studio to record
vocals and bass and to mix the album it
was only Mark Miller, Matt Nodland
and I through the entire process. Dan is
currently living in Los Angeles and
couldn’t make it (he had programmed
the album and recorded his own guitar
parts) and we had parted ways with
Craig. John Sustar had recorded his
guitar parts with Rick Thomas in
Cleveland. I remember at first thinking
how strange it was to look around and
realize how much things had changed
Page 19
since the last album but it quickly
became an amazing feeling because the
three of us gave everything we had to
make the album the best it could be.
Mark approached this album like it was
his own (he is an active musician
himself as can be heard in his band Out
Out) and was really excited to be
involved. He really believed in what we
were doing and appreciated the
message we were trying to relay.
Putting these songs together was an
experience that I will never forget. The
song Puppy Maul Madness was
especially enjoyable due to its
ridiculousness. That one was kind of
like making a short movie… about
douche bags.
JROCK: Again I happen to think
Operation Satan is a great album title,
great play on words. First of all how
did you come up with that title?
MF: Years ago we talked about
releasing an album of more black/death
metal style songs and we thought it
would be funny to call it Operation
Satan. There was no real theme at that
time; I think I just assumed it would be
so over the top satanic to the point that
it would be hilarious. As I changed the
direction of the album and the lyrical
content I decided that the title worked
quite nicely with what we were
presenting. We even wanted the cover
to look more “metal” and then when
you look closely at it you get the deeper
meaning. The title properly sums up the
treatment of animals in America and
also gives the impression that the music
is more metal than our previous
material.
JROCK: In reference to the album titled
have you received any flak from
religious groups or people wanting to
protest the album simply based on the
title of the album alone?
MF: No religious groups as of yet but I
certainly welcome their displeasure.
Those groups are absurd, especially
when it comes to issues relating to
animal rights. They are so busy
convincing themselves that life is as
simple as a fairy tale and meanwhile
they totally disregard doing anything at
all about the horrific realities of the
world. Some animal rights
organizations have been a little put off
by the title but have been very
respectful and supportive of what we
are doing.
JROCK: For people who have never
heard of the band before how would
you describe the overall sound of Circus
Of Dead Squirrels?
MF: I would describe it as guitar-driven
industrial with circus organs and retro
samples. I think that is the simplest way
to describe what we do. Maybe GWAR
meets Mr. Bungle meets KMFDM? We
are a band that is not interested in
becoming rock stars or celebrities. In
fact, we are very much the anticelebrity. We don’t give a shit about
what is popular or what will sell. We
write songs that are sometimes funny,
sometimes dead serious, but always the
unrestricted truth.
JROCK: I was interested to read on the
band's FACEBOOK site that from
December-January that a portion of the
album sales was being donated to Farm
Sanctuary. First off Matt what exactly is
Farm Sanctuary and why did you and
the band want to donate a portion of
your album sales to this organization?
MF: Farm Sanctuary
(farmsanctuary.org) is a great
organization with locations in California
and New York that rescues farm
animals and fights for stricter laws to
protect these animals from inhumane
procedures. I think that farm animals
are quite possibly the most forgotten
and abused of all. It’s funny how
sickened people are by the fact that
some cultures eat dogs but don’t realize
that pigs are just as friendly and
intelligent. When you see how poorly
these animals are treated it should
bother you tremendously. Whether or
not you believe that eating meat is right
there is never an excuse to torture
animals while they are alive. I think any
decent human being would agree with
that.
enough to make sensible decisions. It’s
really cool to know that whether we
sing songs about Nintendo and Sesame
Street or dead serious issues, the fans
are behind us 100%.
JROCK: I also read on your web site
that you were a little disappointed that a
fan you sent a digital copy of the new
album before it went on sale went ahead
and sent out copies of the album to
other people and it got out all over the
Internet. Could you talk about this to
our readers and explain why you are so
upset by this fan doing this?
MF: I understand that illegal
downloading is unavoidable; every
band has to deal with it. It sucks, but
what can you really do about it as an
unsigned band? What really pissed me
off was that the person that did it was
one of only 15 fans that were e-mailed
the album before the release. These 15
fans were people that donated $100 or
more on Kickstarter to help us record
the album. I just never thought that such
a diehard fan would do such a thing to
us before the album was even released.
The person probably didn’t realize how
much it would upset us but I just
assumed it would be common sense to
not leak the album when we are being
nice enough to let you be one of the only
people to hear the album days before
anyone else.
JROCK: I also read that from FebruaryMarch that $2.00 from every sale the
album is going to be donated to the
Humane Society of the United States.
Again why is this something that you
and the band wanted to get involved
with?
MF: Well, we have decided to donate to
a different organization every two
months. This will be our third cycle; we
have also donated to PETA. The
Humane Society needs as much help as
they can get with their shelters alone. I
got my dog from them a few years ago
and seeing all of those dogs and cats
abandoned like that killed me. They
deserve a lot of credit for what they do
and we are proud to support the group.
JROCK: Are you happy with the
response that fans have given to the
band so far?
MF: We have the best fans in the world.
I know that every band says that but we
have a somewhat small fan-base and I
feel like we’ve gotten to know many of
them personally. They have stuck with
us through it all. In fact, we received
almost $4,000 from our fans through
Kickstarter.com in order to help make
Operation Satan possible. We weren’t
sure how longtime fans would react to
our strong views on the album but we
were pleasantly surprised that most of
them really “get it.” We aren’t saying
that everyone needs to become a vegan
or anything, we are asking people to
consider the worth of other creature’s
lives and respect life and yourself
JROCK: Would you ever consider
taking legal action against this fan or
other fans who do this type of thing?
MF: I would love to crush all of these
shady fucking sites giving away our
music. Like I said, as an unsigned band
it is really close to impossible to pursue
anything seriously, the legal fees would
probably cost more than what it’s
worth. As for the fan, I really don’t think
he thought he was doing anything
wrong so I would let that slide as long
as he or she respected us enough to not
do it again. People don’t realize how
much time and money goes into small
independent bands. We have had to
work and save up our own money to
release albums. We are not making
profit, we are lucky if we break even.
People are stealing directly out of our
pockets. After a while, bands fall apart
because they simply can’t afford to fork
out their own money to keep releasing
albums. People don’t realize that doing
things like this will bury truly original
and artistic musicians that the big labels
don’t support.
JROCK: What do you think should be
done to people who knowingly
Page 20
download music illegally? Do you think
it should be more heavily policed or that
people should receive stricter
punishments for doing so?
MF: This is such a tough issue because I
know there are two completely different
opinions out there. I really don’t
understand why people have such a
problem with paying one dollar for a
song they really love. They have no
problem buying all kinds of other
bullshit for much higher prices. They
somehow justify stealing music because
it is floating around the internet. Well
there are tons of products sitting on
Walmart's shelves that can easily be put
in your pocket for free. But wait, you’ll
get arrested if you do that…so…
shouldn’t the same rules be applied with
music? Stop mindlessly giving your
fucking money to huge billion dollar
corporations for shit products and
instead help struggling musicians that
are tempting to stick it to these asshole
companies.
JROCK: What can fans expect from Matt
Foran and the rest of Circus of Dead
Squirrels for the rest of 2011 and the next
year ahead?
MF: We are already thinking about the
next record and will begin writing in the
next few months. Ideally, I would really
love to release a new song exclusively for
download later this year. We are also
trying to get some distribution for our
albums so people can physically buy
them from a store. We have lots of new
merchandise coming that will be sold
through Reverb Nation. We are currently
putting our live band together and
planning on touring in the very near
future.
JROCK: Are you involved with any
other band’s projects you'd like to let our
readers know about?
MF: I wrote and performed the vocals on
Ventana’s debut album American
Survival Guide: Vol. 1 in 2008 and will be
helping them out once again (lyrics) for
their upcoming release. They’re a great
industrial rock band out of Cleveland,
OH (featuring members of
Mushroomhead). A few of the guys
performed on Operation Satan. Check
them out at myspace.com/ventanaband.
JROCK: For people wanting to purchase
your album how can they do so?
MF: All of our merchandise is available
on our official website,
circusofdeadsquirrels.net. Albums are
also available on Amazon.com,
CDBaby.com and itunes.com but
remember that $2.00 of every copy of
Operation Satan sold on our website will
be donated to animal rights organizations
so that is definitely the best place to
purchase that particular album. †
Page 21
Page 22
CD Reviews
Ronnie James Dio Tribute CD Review: This Is Your Life
Artist: Various Album Title: This Is Your Life Label: Rhino Records Release Year: 2014
This last April saw the release of the very much anticipated Ronnie James Dio tribute CD that was put together by
Ronnie's Wife/Manager: Wendy Dio who has done a great job of Keeping Ronnie's musical legacy going since his
passing. Now this is one tribute CD that just really Rocks from start to finish...features everyone from Rob Halford,
Glen Hughes, Metallica, Anthrax, Halestorm, The Scorpions, Motorhead, Saxon as well as members of Dios which
includes Guitarist: Craig Goldy, Bassist: Rudy Sarzo, Keyboardist: Scott Warren, bassist: Jeff Pilson, Drummer:
Simon Wright, Guitarist: Doug Aldrich, Guitarist: Rowen Robertson and original Dio Drummer: Vinny Appice.
One thing I really enjoyed about this CD besides the all-star cast of Musicians was the huge cross section of material
that is featured here from throughout Ronnie's entire 40 year career. Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio are all
covered on this tribute CD which I think makes for an even better tribute to the legend that was and still is Ronnie
James Dio for the simple fact that someone who maybe first became a Ronnie James Dio band through his solo
band: Dio gets a chance to hear what came before the Dio band. Wendy Dio was very smart in choosing the Cast of
Musicians who appeared on this CD and by allowing them to choose which tracks they wanted to cover! I think
there's not a bad track on here but to my ears the real standout tracks here include: Anthrax's version of "Neon
Knights" "Man On The Silver Mountain" which is sung by Judas priest frontman: Rob Halford, and "Catch The
Rainbow" which features "The Voice Of Rock" himself MR. Glenn Hughes.
Track Listing:
1. Neon Knights - Anthrax
2. The Last In Line - Tenancious D
3. The Mob Rules - Adrenaline Mob
4. Rainbow In The Dark (Corey Taylor)
5. Straight Through The Heart - Halestorm
6. Starstruck - Motorhead w/Biff Byford
7. The Temple Of The King - The Scorpions
8. Egypt (The Chains Are On) - Doro
9. Holy Diver - Killswitch Engage
10. Catch The Rainbow - Glenn Hughes, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren, Simon Wright
11. I - Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy
12. Man On The Silver Mountain - Rob halford, Doug Aldrich, Vinny Appice, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren
13. Ronnie Rising Medley - Metallica
14. This Is Your Life - Dio
Page 23
Artist: Deep Purple Title: Live In California 74 Label: Deep Purple (Overseaes) Release Year: 2014
Band Lineup:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ritchie Blackmore - Guitar
David Coverdale - Lead Vocals
Glenn Hughes - Bass Guitar/Vocals
Jon Lord - Keyboards
Ian Paice - Druns
Track Listing:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Burn
Might Just take Your Life
Lay Down, Stay Down
Mistreated
Smoke On The Water
You Fool No One
Space Truckin
It's hard to believe that Deep Purple is one band that has been Rocking for over 50 Years now but Deep Purple is
also one band that's never had any problem delivering the goods or Showing their fans, critics, and the world in
general that there were very few Rock bands out there who could Rock quite as good as they could! "Smoke On The
Water" just might be one of the most played Guitar Riff's ever and it's because of that Riff and that song that Deep
Purple is so very much appreciated to this date! Let me just say that once again The Rock N Roll hall Of fame got it
so very wrong when for the second time Deep Purple was nominated to make it into the Hall but did not end up
getting inducted!
Well if anyone needs any reminder of just what a major influence Deep Purple has had the landscape of Hard Rock
music then all you need to do is pick up this CD which is something that was released by deep Purple's label
overseas. The label has released a lot of this archival material over the last few years and I think it's stuff any die
hard Purple fan would want to have in their collection.
Now if you're looking for double live CD that's not what this is but it's a live recording from one of deep Purple's
land mark concerts from 1974 at The Cal Jam festival in California. I only wish that the label would have chosen to
release a DVD of this Concert along with this CD because I know the video footage of this concert does exsist.
While there's only 7 songs featured here I must tell you that every. single track here Rocks in their own right and
each song is like a great Rock Jam which is what Deep Purple were so great at doing on the live stage during their
70's heyday. While this CD features some of Purple's landmark hits such as "Smoke On The Water" and "Space
Truckin" it also features some of the best material from the band's then new lineup which featured new members:
David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. Tracks like "Burn" which serves as the opening track for this Rocking Superb
Live release.
If David Coverdale's music with his own band: Whitesnake is just a little too commercial for your liking then just
let me tell you it was Deep Purple in 1973 who launched the career of MR. Coverdale and if you'll listen to this Cd
you'll see why the Coverdale/Hughes vocal sound was just as much a reason for Deep Purple's continued success
as was the Guitar playing of Ritchie Blackmore....Ritchie Blackmore plays like a real monster...A demon possessed
on the guitar if you will....Some of Blackmore's best playing ever can be heard on this release......Keyboardist Jon
Lord, and Drummer Ian Paice were just as much on fire as Blackmore was during this performance!
Page 24
Magician In The Machine
MAGICIAN IN THE MACHINE is currently in the studio with producer Johnny K working on their
debut album which will be released in 2014 with Johnny Karkazis. Sean Kennedy and Johnny
Royal have formed a new alternative group named “Magician in the Machine”. The new lineup
is currently working in the studio with Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K. for their debut
album.
Magician in the Machine’s debut album is scheduled to be released sometime in 2014, in
conjunction with numerous music videos, and along with comic book artwork from artist Wayne
Robinson of Marvel Comics.
Jaison Karner is playing keyboards/synthesizer in the band along with Stefan Runstrom who is
playing the skins for the band. This lineup will be a great addition to the alternative band scene
and if you head over to their Facebook and like them, you can hear some recording tracks in the
making.
http://www.facebook.com/magicianinthemachine
http://www.twitter.com/magicianmachine
http://www.instagram.com/magcianinthemachine
Page 25
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Chaotic Riffs Magazine - Issue 35 - Copyright May 2014. All rights

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