Rock Music

Mike Mangini, the new Dream Theater Drummer

2011-05-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

After rejecting Mike Portnoy (News), Dream Theater provides the latest information through the official website at www.dreamtheater.net. That DT recruit Mike Mangini, in place of Mike Portnoy, who had resigned some time ago. Mike Mangini who was born in April 18, 1963 in Newton, Massachusetts.

He was a teacher at Berklee College of Music in Boston and listed as five fastest drummer. He joined with Dream Theater after the departure of Mike Portnoy.Mike Mangini began playing drums when he was five years old. He can practice six to ten hours a day, when he was nine he was already mimicking Buddy Rich show.

After graduating from Waltham Senior High School in 1981, Mangini put aside his music studies to pursue a Computer Science major at Bentley College. After graduation Mike began programming software for the Patriot Missile program. At the same time, he worked on a program to study the relationship between the brain and the human body.

In 1987, Mangini scored one of the show's first 'high profile' playing drums for the Rick Berlin Band in Boston, where he worked with bassist Philip Bynoe. She also teaches private drum in Boston for this.

Although Mike Portnoy has requested to re-join with Dream Theater, but it seems like Dream Theater has chosen as their drummer Mike Mangini.

Let's see the surprises of Dream Theater and Mike Mangini.

Ozzy Osbourne, vocalist of heavy metal group Black Sabbath

2011-03-08T01:08:00.000-08:00

John Michael Osbourne, better known as Ozzy Osbourne (born in Aston, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, December 3, 1948, age 62 years), is a British singer. He was the lead singer of heavy metal music group Black Sabbath's famous in the 1970s.

Alex Lifeson, guitarist for the rock band Rush

2011-01-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

Alex Lifeson, is a Canadian musician, better known as guitarist of Canadian rock band Rush. In 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become the embryo of the rock band Rush with a friend and original drummer John Rutsey. He has become an integral member of the band's three-piece since then. For the rock band Rush, Alex Lifeson plays electric and acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments such as mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He also as backing vocals in live performances, and occasionally plays keyboards and bass pedal synthesizer. During live performances, Lifeson, like other members of Rush, performing real-time trigger instrument samples, along with playing his guitar. Most of the work of Lifeson in music has been with Rush, although Lifeson has contributed to the body of work outside the band as well. Besides music, Lifeson is part owner of the Orbit Room Toronto restaurant, and is a licensed airplane pilot.

Chris Impellitteri Master guitar picking on alternate picking chicken and neoclassic

2010-12-29T06:32:00.000-08:00

Shredder guitarist Chris Impellitteri is a very tough game and is often compared to Yngwie Malmsteen. In terms of musical colors that brought Chris is similar to Yngwie & Rainbow, but the technique of the game Chris was more similar to Paul Gilbert. Chris is the only guitarist who can play as hard as alternate picking, as strongly, as accurately and as quickly as Paul Gilbert!

Chris is a guitarist first three were selected as guitarist Alcatrazz, ie Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and Chris himself. So Chris is a generation with Vai and Yngwie! Chris's self-financed his first instrumental album in 1986 and formed the first band group with vocalist Graham Bonnet (Rainbow / MSG), keyboardist Phil Wolfe, bassist Chuck Wright (ex-Quiet Riot) and drummer Pat Torpey (Mr.Big) in 1987. Chris game reached its peak in 1992 when he launched the album "Grin and Bear It", some of Chris before recording this album include: "Impellitteri" (debut - 1987) and "Stand In Line" (1998) and video lesson "Speed soloing "(1989) still sounds dirty once the alternate picking. The rapid progress of Chris is amazing start in 1992 they will be, even in 2000 Chris was interviewed by the magazine "Young Guitar" for interview "Paul Gilbert vs. Chris Impellitteri".

Chris is increasingly fierce game that you can listen to on the next albums are: "Victim Of The System" (1993), "Answer To The Master" (1994), "Screaming Symphony" (1996), "Fuel For The Fire" (1997), "Eye Of The Hurricane" (1998), "Crunch" (2000) and the latest album to be released "Seek and Destroy" (2002).

Kelly Jones, singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics

2010-10-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

Kelly Jones (born 3 June 1974) is a Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin , Jones is noted for his strong, gravelly voice. As a lyricist, Jones is also strongly influenced by Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Otis Redding. Jones is also known in the media for his cynical view of fame and criticism of manufactured mainstream pop music.

Source : wikipedia

Hayley Nichole Williams Lead Vocal and Keyboard of Paramore

2010-09-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist and keyboardist[5] of Paramore.

Background information
Birth name Hayley Nichole Williams
Born December 27, 1988 (1988-12-27) (age 21) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres Alternative rock, emo, pop punk
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano, drums
Years active 2004–present
Associated acts Paramore

n 2002, at the age of 13, Williams moved from her hometown, Meridian, Mississippi, to Franklin, Tennessee, where she met fellow band members Josh Farro and Zac Farro in school. Shortly after arriving, she began taking vocal lessons with Brett Manning. While still in school, she tried out for a local funk cover band called The Factory where she met Jeremy Davis. In 2005, John Janick, founder of record label Fueled by Ramen, signed a contract with them.[9]

In 2007, Williams appeared in the music video for "Kiss Me" by New Found Glory.

In the 2007 Kerrang! Readers' Poll she finished second to Evanescence's Amy Lee in the "Sexiest Female" category, going on to win the first place spot for "Sexiest Female" a year later in the 2008 poll, and again in the 2009 poll. She also appears as a playable character in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour.

Williams wrote and recorded the song "Teenagers", which was featured in the soundtrack for the film Jennifer's Body. After the release of "Teenagers", Williams stated that she had no plans to establish herself as a solo artist. In 2010, she appeared on the tracks "Airplanes" and "Airplanes (Part II)" from alternative rapper B.o.B's debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. "Airplanes", later released as a single, peaked within the top twenty in sixteen countries, including number one peak positions in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Source : wikipedia

Dave Murray a member of Iron Maiden as a Guitar Player

2010-09-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

David Michael "Dave" Murray is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the original members of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. He joined the band just two months after their inception in 1975. Murray developed an interest in rock music when he was 15 after hearing Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix on the radio. From then on, everything changed. He got his first guitar and would practice along with records up to seven hours a day. He formed his first band, a trio called Stone Free which also included Adrian Smith (Guitar/Vocals) who later became a member of Iron Maiden. From there, Murray played with a number of different bands before meeting Steve Harris and joined Iron Maiden for the first time in 1976. He briefly left the band following an argument with then vocalist Dennis Wilcock. Murray again teamed with Adrian Smith in a band called Urchin. During this short tenure with the band, Murray recorded one single titled "She's A Roller". Following the single, Murray left Urchin and returned to Iron Maiden, replacing Terry Wapram. Wilcock left the band shortly after Murray's return. Murray's solo guitar style throughout his career has been mainly based on the legato technique. Examples of this can be heard in Iron Maiden songs such as "Phantom of the Opera", "Lightning Strikes Twice", through to their 2006 studio release A Matter of Life and Death.

Source : wikipedia

Ian Gillan vocalist and songwriter for Deep Purple

2010-08-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ian joined Deep Purple from Episode Six in 1969. His first Purple album appearance was on ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’ but Gillan made his greatest vocal impact on ‘In Rock’, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Machine Head’. The band’s most famous anthem ‘Smoke On The Water’ emphasises his ability to deliver a lyric with smouldering intensity and rock’n’roll exuberance.

Gillan led his own band during the late Seventies before rejoining Deep Purple for ‘Perfect Strangers’ in 1984. In 1989 he toured as Garth Rockett before releasing further solo albums including ‘Naked Thunder’ (1990), ‘Toolbox’ (1991) and Dreamcatcher (1998).

Ian is presently working on several projects, both as a writer and vocalist, with a book under construction and a new solo album taking shape.

Source : deep-purple

History of Metalcore and contemporary heavy metal

2010-08-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

Metalcore, originally an American hybrid of thrash metal and hardcore punk, emerged as a commercial force in the mid-2000s. It was rooted in the crossover thrash style developed two decades earlier by bands such as Suicidal Tendencies, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, and Stormtroopers of Death and remained an underground phenomenon through the 1990s. By 2004, melodic metalcore, influenced by melodic death metal, was sufficiently popular for Killswitch Engage's The End of Heartache and Shadows Fall's The War Within to debut at #21 and #20, respectively, on the Billboard album chart. Bullet for My Valentine, from Wales, broke into the top 5 in both the U.S. and British charts with Scream Aim Fire (2008). In recent years, metalcore bands have received prominent slots at Ozzfest and the Download Festival. Lamb of God, with a related blend of metal styles, hit the #2 spot on the Billboard charts in 2009 with Wrath. The success of these bands and others such as Trivium, who have released both metalcore and straight-ahead thrash albums, and Mastodon, who played in a progressive/sludge style, inspired claims of a metal revival in the United States, dubbed by some critics the "New Wave of American Heavy Metal".

The term "retro-metal" has been applied to such bands as England's The Darkness and Australia's Wolfmother. The Darkness's Permission to Land (2003), described as an "eerily realistic simulation of '80s metal and '70s glam", topped the UK charts, going quintuple platinum. One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back (2005) reached number 11. Wolfmother's self-titled 2005 debut album combined elements of the sounds of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.

In continental Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavia, metal continues to be broadly popular. Well-established British acts such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden continue to have chart success on the continent, beside a range of local groups. In Germany, Western Europe's largest music market, several continental metal bands placed multiple albums in the top 20 of the charts between 2003 and 2008, including Finnish band Children of Bodom, Norwegian act Dimmu Borgir, and Germany's Blind Guardian and Sweden's HammerFall. The Swedish act In Flames took both Come Clarity (2006) and A Sense of Purpose (2008) to the top of the Swedish charts and number 6 in Germany.

Source : wikipedia

Heavy metal Band on era late 1970s and 1980s

2010-07-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

Punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s as a reaction against contemporary social conditions as well as what was perceived as the overindulgent, overproduced rock music of the time, including heavy metal. Sales of heavy metal records declined sharply in the late 1970s in the face of punk, disco, and more mainstream rock. With the major labels fixated on punk, many newer British heavy metal bands were inspired by the movement's aggressive, high-energy sound and "lo-fi", do it yourself ethos. Underground metal bands began putting out cheaply recorded releases independently to small, devoted audiences. Motörhead, founded in 1975, was the first important band to straddle the punk/metal divide. With the explosion of punk in 1977, others followed. British music papers such as the NME and Sounds took notice, with Sounds writer Geoff Barton christening the movement the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal". NWOBHM bands including Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Def Leppard reenergized the heavy metal genre. Following the lead set by Judas Priest and Motörhead, they toughened up the sound, reduced its blues elements, and emphasized increasingly fast tempos. In 1980, the NWOBHM broke into the mainstream, as albums by Iron Maiden and Saxon, as well as Motörhead, reached the British top 10. Though less commercially successful, other NWOBHM bands such as Venom and Diamond Head would have a significant influence on metal's development. In 1981, Motörhead became the first of this new breed of metal bands to top the UK charts with No Sleep 'til Hammersmith.

The first generation of metal bands was ceding the limelight. Deep Purple had broken up soon after Blackmore's departure in 1975, and Led Zeppelin broke up following drummer John Bonham's death in 1980. Black Sabbath was routinely upstaged in concert by its opening act, the Los Angeles band Van Halen. Eddie Van Halen established himself as one of the leading metal guitar virtuosos of the era—his solo on "Eruption", from the band's self-titled 1978 album, is considered a milestone. Randy Rhoads and Yngwie Malmsteen also became famed virtuosos, associated with what would be known as the neoclassical metal style. The adoption of classical elements had been spearheaded by Blackmore and the Scorpions' Uli Jon Roth; this next generation progressed to occasionally using classical nylon-stringed guitars, as Rhoads does on "Dee" from former Sabbath lead singer Ozzy Osbourne's first solo album, Blizzard of Ozz (1980).

Inspired by Van Halen's success, a metal scene began to develop in Southern California during the late 1970s. Based on the clubs of L.A.'s Sunset Strip, bands such as Quiet Riot, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, and W.A.S.P. were influenced by traditional heavy metal of the earlier 1970s and incorporated the theatrics (and sometimes makeup) of glam rock acts such as Alice Cooper and Kiss. The lyrics of these glam metal bands characteristically emphasized hedonism and wild behavior. Musically, the style was distinguished by rapid-fire shred guitar solos, anthemic choruses, and a relatively pop-oriented melodic approach. The glam metal movement—along with similarly styled acts such as New York's Twisted Sister—became a major force in metal and the wider spectrum of rock music.

In the wake of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and Judas Priest's breakthrough British Steel (1980), heavy metal became increasingly popular in the early 1980s. Many metal artists benefited from the exposure they received on MTV, which began airing in 1981—sales often soared if a band's videos screened on the channel. Def Leppard's videos for Pyromania (1983) made them superstars in America and Quiet Riot became the first domestic heavy metal band to top the Billboard chart with Metal Health (1983). One of the seminal events in metal's growing popularity was the 1983 US Festival in California, where the "heavy metal day" featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, and others drew the largest audiences of the three-day event. Between 1983 and 1984, heavy metal went from an 8 percent to a 20 percent share of all recordings sold in the U.S. Several major professional magazines devoted to the genre were launched, including Kerrang! (in 1981) and Metal Hammer (in 1984), as well as a host of fan journals. In 1985, Billboard declared, "Metal has broadened its audience base. Metal music is no longer the exclusive domain of male teenagers. The metal audience has become older (college-aged), younger (pre-teen), and more female.

By the mid-1980s, glam metal was a dominant presence on the U.S. charts, music television, and the arena concert circuit. New bands such as L.A.'s Warrant and acts from the East Coast like Poison and Cinderella became major draws, while Mötley Crüe and Ratt remained very popular. Bridging the stylistic gap between hard rock and glam metal, New Jersey's Bon Jovi became enormously successful with its third album, Slippery When Wet (1986). The similarly styled Swedish band Europe became international stars with The Final Countdown (1986). Its title track hit number 1 in 25 countries. In 1987, MTV launched a show, Headbanger's Ball, devoted exclusively to heavy metal videos. However, the metal audience had begun to factionalize, with those in many underground metal scenes favoring more extreme sounds and disparaging the popular style as "lite metal" or "hair metal.

One band that reached diverse audiences was Guns N' Roses. In contrast to their glam metal contemporaries in L.A., they were seen as much rawer and more dangerous. With the release of their chart-topping Appetite for Destruction (1987), they "recharged and almost single-handedly sustained the Sunset Strip sleaze system for several years. The following year, Jane's Addiction emerged from the same L.A. hard-rock club scene with its major label debut, Nothing's Shocking. Reviewing the album, Rolling Stone declared, "as much as any band in existence, Jane's Addiction is the true heir to Led Zeppelin. The group was one of the first to be identified with the "alternative metal" trend that would come to the fore in the next decade. Meanwhile, new bands such as New York's Winger and New Jersey's Skid Row sustained the popularity of the glam metal style.

Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage

2010-06-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

Chris Caffery (born September 9, 1967 in Suffern, NY) is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Recently, Chris has been pursuing a solo career, releasing three albums since 2004.

Chris began playing guitar at the age of 11, but some of his earliest memories include performing The Beatles song Help! for a show and tell in kindergarten. Chris' favourite bands growing up included The Beatles, KISS, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Rush among others. He has cited guitarists such as Ted Nugent, Rik Emmett, Ace Frehley, Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker as influences through out the years as well.

Source : wikipedia

Jerry Horton a gutarist of Papa Roach

2010-06-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

Jerry Allan Horton Jr. was born on March 10, 1975 in Dixon California. He is the guitarist for Papa Roach and has been playing guitar since he was 15 years old. The first song he learned how to play was ...And Justice For All by Metallica. The main reason he started to play guitar was because he wanted to learn Metallica songs.

Tobin Esperance Bass, Guitar, Programming, Vocals (bckgr) player for Papa Roach

2010-06-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

Tobin Esperance knows a thing or two about what it takes to make an alt-metal mega hit—he’s Papa Roach’s primary songwriter, and he wrote or co-wrote all of the music on the band’s latest record, Getting Away with Murder. For Tobin, having a songwriter’s sensibility is key to being a solid bassist. “Learning how to craft an arrangement has really helped me understand when to play and when not to play, when to let the fills breathe, and when to let the vocals breathe—and that’s made me a better bass player,” he explains.

“I can get notey as a mofo if I want to, but being supportive is just as fun. ‘Not Listening’ is an example of where I had to lay back a bit,” he says. “There are a lot of tricky, intertwined rhythms, so I just had to stick to the groove and play right down the middle. Anything more would have just complicated the song, and it would have lost any infectious qualities it has. Nothing feels greater to me than a deep pocket,” he adds. “I put on the stinky cheese face and just follow the groove.”

Esperance, who cites reggae as a big influence on his playing, resists the temptation to strike a cool-guy pose and churn out glorified guitar riffs. “Sometimes locking up with the guitar isn’t bad,” he shrugs, “but I prefer to make things more interesting.”

At home and on the road, Tobin is always prepared to work through what might become the next Papa Roach album. “I like to be ready whenever a creative thought comes to me—a melody, a riff, a chord progression, whatever,” he explains. “So I have an acoustic guitar in just about every room in my house, and on tour I keep one in the front of the bus, one in the back lounge, and one in our dressing room. Plus, I have a piano at home, and I take a keyboard on the road. And I have Pro Tools rigs at home, in the studio, and on the bus. As you can see, I like to be ready.

Source : bassplayer

Jacoby Shaddix the lead singer of Californian rock band Papa Roach

2010-06-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Jacoby Shaddix is the lead singer of Californian rock band Papa Roach, and, along with bass guitarist Tobin Esperance, the main songwriter for the band.

Background information
Birth name : Jacoby Shaddix
Born : July 28, 1976 (1976-07-28) (age 33) Mariposa, California, USA
Genres : Hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, nu metal, funk rock
Occupations : Musician, singer-songwriter, lyricist Instruments Lead vocals
Years active : 1993-present
Labels : El Tonal, Eleven Seven Music, DGC, Interscope, Geffen, DreamWorks
Associated acts : Papa Roach Fight the Sky

Source : wikipedia

Chad Smith the drummer of Chickenfoot Band

2010-05-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Chad Smith (born October 25, 1961) is best known as being the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is also the drummer of the hard rock band Chickenfoot and the instrumental band Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats.

Source : wikipedia

Wolfmother hard rock band from Australia

2010-05-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

Formed in Erskineville, Sydney in 2000, Wolfmother are an Australian hard rock band originally a trio comprising vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett, the band released their debut self-titled album in October 2005, which reached number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart.

Band members
Current members

* Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar (2000–present)
* Aidan Nemeth – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)
* Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2009–present)
* Will Rockwell-Scott – drums, percussion (2010–present)

Former members

* Chris Ross – bass, keyboards (2000–2008)
* Myles Heskett – drums, percussion (2000–2008)
* Dave Atkins – drums, percussion (2008–2010)

Source : Wikipedia

Chickenfoot American hard rock supergroup

2010-05-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

Chickenfoot comprising ex-Van Halen members Sammy Hagar (vocals) and Michael Anthony (bass), solo musician Joe Satriani (guitar) and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009. Regarding the band's status as a "supergroup", vocalist Sammy Hagar states: "We’re not a supergroup, we like hanging out together and the music is a bonus. We just happen to be in other groups.

Source : wikipedia

John Paul Jones the legendary multi instrumentalist musician

2010-05-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin on 3 January 1946) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, arranger and record producer.

Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a producer. A versatile musician, Jones also plays guitar, koto, lap steel guitars, autoharp, ukulele, sitar, cello, continuum and the three over-dubbed recorder parts heard on Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven".

According to Allmusic, Jones "has left his mark on rock & roll music history as an innovative musician, arranger, and director." Many rock bassists have been influenced by John Paul Jones including Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler, Gene Simmons, and Krist Novoselic.

Source : wikipedia

Galen Henson Guitarist for Joe Satriani Band

2010-04-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

Galen grew up in Lubbock, TX - the home of Buddy Holly. He started playing guitar when he was 11 or 12 and played in working cover bands ever since high school. After a couple of semesters of recording classes at college, he landed a gig with a local sound company and has been on the road ever since... mostly taking care of band gear and teching guitars. He's worked for Nashville acts for the most part: Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, but has fallen in with the speedy guitar player set over the last few years, working for Joe, Steve Vai, and Dream Theater, as well as looking after Joe's G3 tours. In 2000, he started production managing on the Engines of Creation tour and when Joe called to see if he was available for the Strange Beautiful Music tour, he asked if he'd mind also playing some rhythm guitar on some songs in the show.

Source : satriani

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN LYRICS Perpetual Flame (2008)

2010-04-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

1. Death Dealer

Now the demon is here again
Vengeance is burning in my soul
I am a soldier
In the legion of forever
Ride on the storm
And never surrender
To death or glory
Keep on marching
On hallowed ground
Until death or be victorious
Death dealer is on the hunt
On the hunt
I can't believe that this is true
This demon really loves the pain
I am a soldier
In the legion of forever
Ride on the storm
And never surrender
To death or glory
Keep on marching
On hallowed ground
Until death or be victorious
Death dealer is on the hunt
On the hunt
He is the bringer of the pain
Jesus Christ
Not again
I am a soldier
In the legion of forever
Ride on the storm
And never surrender
To death or glory
Keep on marching
On hallowed ground
Until death or be victorious
Death dealer is on the hunt
On the hunt

2. Damnation Game

Damnation Game
Damnation Game
Now I won my freedom
But I had to pay the price
I keep on searching
But I never seem to find what I need
It's all just like a dream
The European I had to fight
I had no choice but it made me wiser
And now I won't fall into the night
Now you must roll the dice
Roll the dice
And meet your own demise
The European always lies
Always lies

Nobody wins
In this damnation game
No body wins
In this damnation game
I draw the card
It's the ace of spades
I always play for keeps
And I'll never ever fade away
It's the devil to pay
Patience is a virtue
But now it's wearing thin
You play the game
But you will never ever win
Your living a sin
Now you must roll the dice
Roll the dice
And meet your own demise
The European always lies
Always lies
Nobody wins
In this damnation game
Nobody wins
In this damnation game
Nobody wins
In this damnation game
Nobody wins
In this damnation game

3. Live To Fight (Another Day)

I live by the sword
and never surrender
Die by the sword
and I don't give in
Now I must rise
and take the journey

Blood, sweat and tears
is what you will find
All these wasted years
in immortal sin
Angels of death
will always follow you

I must live to fight another day
I will see the light again
Now you must learn
how to burn

For eternity relentlessly
Oh, no!
The battle cries
or getting louder
Now it's time for you
to face the truth
There is no higher ground
For you to run to

Must sacrifice
Now it's all or nothing
You must lift the curse
Haunting you
Forever lost
but never found

I must live to fight another day
I will see the light again
Now you must learn
how to burn
For eternity relentlessly
Oh, no!

4. Red Devil

Burning down the avenue
Carburetor's breathing
Feel the torque push on through
Hear the tires screaming
Pedal to the metal
Drop the clutch and run
Now the tires are burning
And the racing has begun
Hear the engine roar
In this mean machine
Times standing still
And My red devil is flying
Catch me if you can
Full speed ahead
In this read brutal beauty
Four hundred horses running wild
Sayonara see you later
Now you disappear
In my rear view mirror as I am changing gear
Screaming down the boulevard
You will eat my dust
This fire breathing beauty
I will always trust
Hear the engine roar
In this mean machine
Times standing still
And My red devil is flying
Catch me if you can
Times standing still
And My red devil is flying
Catch me if you can

5. The Four Horsemen (Of The Apocalypse)

The fallen angel show the signs
He is no stranger in your eyes
He is immortal,
He is forever
From the portal his demons shall dance
Under burning skies now the four
Horsemen ride along the shore
Across the sea the beast shall rise
You will be sacrificed
Revelation tells the end of days
The never ending masquerade,
All pretending in death's charade
Under burning skies now
The four horsemen ride along the shore
Across the sea the beast shall rise
You will be sacrificed

6. Priest Of The Unholy

Born out of fire
evil rising
Now we must pay the price
And sacrifice
It's no grand elution
this demon dance
Eternally black
now there's no turning back

Lift the veil of mystery
and this masquerade
Lay your weapons down
surrender now or die
Die!

Priest of the unholy
Priest of the unholy
Burning with vengeance
Burning forever
There is no mercy to give
No time to live
The final curtain
Comes down at last
Repent all your sins
All of your sins

Lift the veil of mystery
and this masquerade
Lay your weapons down
surrender now or die
Die!

Priest of the unholy
Priest of the unholy
Into the darkness
Your soul must fall
Your gamble has failed
Gamble has failed
At the mountains of madness
There will be no mercy
We must pay the price
And sacrifice
Lift the veil of mystery
and this masquerade
Lay your weapons down
surrender now or die
Die!

Priest of the unholy
Priest of the unholy

7. Be Careful What You Wish For

Your walking the tight rope
With no one to hold you when you fall
Hold on to what you got
Or you'll end up losing it all

Be careful what you wish for, my friend
You might find what you fear
listen to the whispers in your ear

Your wicked ways
Your wicked ways
Your keep on pushing
But know your pushing too far
The demon will find you
No matter who you are

Be careful what you wish for, my friend
You might find what you fear
listen to the whispers in your ear

With friends just like this
I sure don't need any enemies
Be careful what you wish for, my friend
You might find what you fear
listen to the whispers in your ear
Your wicked ways
Your wicked ways
A cheat never wins and a winners
never cheat
Be careful what you wish for, my friend
You might find what you fear
listen to the whispers in your ear
Your wicked ways
Your wicked ways

8. Caprici Di Diablo

[Instrumental]

9. Lament

[Instrumental]

10. Magic City

Well it seemed to me
That the place to be
Was far away
From the dark and the cold

So I sailed away
Into the sun
across the blue sea
Magic city is my home
Where I wanna be
Forever more

Well I had to go away
I just couldn't stay
Where the cold winds blow
And I'm surrounded by ice and snow
So I sailed away
Into the sun
Across the blue sea

Magic city is my home
Where I wanna be
Forever more
Magic city is my home
Where I wanna be
Forever more

11. The Eleventh Hour

Read the signs
Upon the horizon
Your turning blind
No one can see
We're hypnotized
Seems like forever
To realize what this must be

Now eons have passed
Since the dawn of time
When our lord turned water into wine

It must be done
In the eleventh hour
To be undone
There is no time
It slips away like an illusion
Forever lost
Gone forever

Now eons have passed
Since the dawn of time
When our lord turned water into wine

No be trend just like a stranger
I lost the way in this strange land
We're hypnotized
Seems like forever
To realize what this must be

Now eons have passed
Since the dawn of time
When our lord turned water into wine

12. Heavy Heart

[Instrumental]

13. Tied Of Desire

There is no shifting
My will of steel
Just like a freight train
Pushing on through
There is no stopping
The tied of desire
Just like a fever
Perpetual fire

No stone unturned
The flame is still burning
In my quest
I will never rest

There is no wall high enough
Fr me to scale
No pit deep enough
I cannot fail
To slow down my charge
I am on fire
No distance to far
I'll touch the stars

No stone unturned
The flame is till burning
In my quest
I will never rest

Fight for your life
There is no more crying
The darkness must fall
Into the night

No stone unturned
The flame is still burning
In my quest
I will never rest

Source : darklyrics

Duff McKagan Bassist player of Guns N' Roses

2010-04-14T05:12:00.000-07:00

Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan (born February 5, 1964), is an American musician who is best known for his thirteen-year tenure in the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is currently the bassist for the hard rock band Velvet Revolver, lead vocalist and guitarist for his own solo punk rock project Duff McKagan's Loaded, and a weekly columnist for SeattleWeekly.com. He also writes a weekly financial column for Playboy.com called Duffonomics.

Source : wikipedia

Mats Olausson a Swedish keyboard player

2010-04-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Mats Olausson is a Swedish keyboard player (born 1961 in Gothenburg) known from bands like Yngwie Malmsteen, Ark, Evil Masquerade, Kamelot, John Norum and many others. He now lives in Thailand where he is active as a musician, composer and producer. Mats plays 'Korg Trinity pro tri pbs' and 'Yamaha sy-99, sy-77 , cs-80'. In the studio he also uses grand piano, Hammond B-3 or C-3. Live, he rents any extra equipment he needs.

Source : wikipedia

Barry Dunaway is a veteran of several Yngwie Malmsteen tours

2010-04-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

Barry Dunaway is a veteran of several Yngwie Malmsteen tours, having anchored the bass slot throughout the 1988 "Odyssey" tour (including its historic performances in Moscow and Leningrad) and returning in 1996 to take on bass duties for the "Inspiration" tour. With Facing the Animal, Barry established his bass sound on the album itself, sharing the bass credits with Yngwie. Says Yngwie, "I wanted to play bass on several particular songs for this album, with Barry doing the rest of the songs. He did a really good job of anchoring the bass for this album."

Barry currently resides in St. Augustine, Florida. He divides his time between practicing, teaching (E-Mail Barry), and performing locally (Orlando, St. Augustine, Jacksonville) and nationally with the Voices of Classic Rock. In addition, Barry is working on an album, Lucky Deadman on which he is a veritable "one man band", writing, playing, singing, and recording. The current demo was produced by Scott Whittier and Britt McTammany, who also added several instrumental tracks to the compositions, at DigitalVideoArts in Jacksonville.

Barry was born a baby boomer in St. Petersburg, FL, and traveled with his military family living in Travers City, Michigan, Kodiak, Alaska, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, & Miami , Florida. Barry started his musical career in 1971, playing music with his older brother Don and sister Sharon in the folk group called Chuffa. They traveled up & down the east coast playing in coffee houses and listening rooms for the college folk circuit.

Source : thoseguys

Kevin Moore a founder of the Chroma Key music project

2010-04-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Kevin Moore (born May 26, 1967) is a keyboardist, composer and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I. and creator of Turkish film soundtracks. Throughout his career, he has become known for his emotional music and lyrics, nomadic tendencies, and unique use of spoken-word samples.

Source : wikipedia

Dani Löble Drummer of Helloween

2010-04-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

- Just until he got 12, Dani played on childrens' drums

- Then he took his first drumming lessons

- The first musical steps he took with 14 with a garage-band.

- The first recordings followed with 17

- From 1991 on he played in several local bands

- From 1991 to 1994 Dani took lessons on the MSD in Zurich

- In 1994 he founded - together with Running Wild's Thilo Hermann - the band "Höllenhunde"

- From 1996 to 1999 Dani studied music at the ACM in Zurich.

- During this time he played at the Melodic-Metal-band "Glenmore".

- From 1997 to 1998 he additionally played at the acoustic-rock-band "Element 58".

- 1999 - 2005 Dani was Rawhead Rexx's durmmer

- Meanwhile he drummed for Iron Maiden's former singer Blaze Bayley (2004)

- Since Februar 2005 Dani is the drummer of legendary Helloween.

Source : helloween

Sascha Gerstner Guitarist of Helloween

2010-04-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

Sascha Gerstner, born in 1977 started playing keyboards at the age of 6, he then switched to the guitar when he was 13 years old.

Influenced by 80´s hairbands (MSG, Dokken, Pretty Maids,...) and mainstream rock (Toto, Bad English, Journey,...), he quickly taught himself to play the guitar.

At the age of 17, he already started to work as a studio guitarist in his home town and became well known around the area. In 1996 he joined the cover band scene in south germany where he met his former band mates from Freedom Call, where he was in the line up till 2001. He recorded the first two albums with the band and did three big tours in europe. When he left the Freedom Call he started to produce other young artists and worked as a songwriter for several acts. In 2002/2003 Charlie Bauerfeind (Producer) got him connected with Michael Weikath of Helloween. Since then Sascha Gerstner is a permanent member of the Band Helloween. Besides playing in the band, Sascha is running his own recording and mixing studio G-Tracks (www.g-tracks.com).

Source : helloween

Markus Grosskopf Bassist of Helloween

2010-04-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

Markus was born in Hamburg, Germany on the 21st of September 1965. At the age of 15 he spent a couple of weeks in a holyday camp, where he met two blokes that played guitar and drums in a punk rock group. Soon they became close friends and hung together all the time. As they needed a bass player in their band, Markus was offered the gig. So little Markus didn’t hesitate and agreed: “I can play the bass to save my live amigo”. He found himself playing bass in his first band.

They brought their gear (which wasn't much at the time) to the camp and started making noise. They covered songs from the The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Sid Vicious, XTC, The Sranglers and others. Some time later, when their musical skills turned out to be a little better, they were offered their first gig at the holyday camp. But after 2 years of practicing and no further offers and appearances, Markus decided to leave the band to explore new horizons.

By that time his heart began to beat more for rock’n roll bands like AC/DC, Kiss, Ted Nugent, and Iron Maiden. His new aim now was to find a band playing hard rock or metal with an option and ability for more live performances. Markus was talking to a guy who knew Kai Hansen, who was looking for a bass player for his band Second Hell at the time. Soon he was invited to audition and guess what ? Yes, he got the job! Also members of Second Hell were Piet Sielk and Ingo Schwichtenberg.

With this line up they did a few club gigs on the Hamburg circuit. Piet left the band and after several name changes, they mutually split up. Once again it was time for Markus to pack his bags and watch out for another gig to climb higher in his career.

When he finished school he started an apprenticeship at a butcher. That was definitely a very good reason to find a band with future plans immediately. Joining the band Blast Furnace, Markus met the brilliant guitar player Michael Weikath, who formed along with Kai Hansen a new line up with former members of Michael’s old act Powerfool. But shortly after that, they replaced their rhythm section, by calling in Ingo and Markus.

This completed the first Helloween line up!

It seemed like a very strong team, ‘cause it lasted longer than a couple of weeks! They had two very creative guitar players and songwriters and a wild, hungry and steaming rhythm section in the band.

From now on the dice started to roll for Helloween. Their first studio recording was published by Noise records on the legendary death metal sampler in 1983, followed by the even more legendary 5 track EP called “Helloween” and of course the LP ”Walls of Jericho”.

The following two master pieces “Keeper of the seven keys Part 1 and 2” with high pitch singer Michael Kiske, they lighted a new fire and gave Heavy Metal a new identity! They climbed the charts and reached gold in Germany and Asia.

Since then Markus recorded the bass on all the albums and toured around the globe with Helloween. For almost 20 years now, you can call him one of the grand members of Helloween.

Markus recorded his first solo album named Shockmachine create link on site in 1998. He also played bass on Ken Hensleys and John Lawtons (Uriah Heep) new arranged orchestral version of “Salisbury”, which was performed live at the “Hamburg Markthalle” and was released on video in 2001.

You also can hear his bass playing on Edguy singer Tobias Sammets album “Avantasia” Part 1 & 2. His latest activity besides Helloween is the band Kickhunter, on which he played the bass and produced their first album “Hearts and Bones” in 2002 and “Little Monsters” which was released in 2007.

The new side project of Markus called “Bassinvaders - Hellbassbeaters” was released Friday, 25th of January 2008. You'll find information on MySpace Markus Grosskopf or on www.frontiers.it.

Source : helloween

Steven Adler a member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses

2010-04-08T01:44:00.000-07:00

Steven Adler (born January 22, 1965, Cleveland, Ohio) is an American rock drummer. He is most famous for his tenure as a member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he performed and recorded from 1985 to 1990. He is currently the drummer for his own project titled Adler's Appetite.

Source : wikipedia

Jens Johansson is a Swedish power metal keyboardist and pianist

2010-04-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

Jens Ola Johansson (born November 2, 1963 in Stockholm) is a Swedish power metal keyboardist and pianist. He is noted as one of the first and most influential "shred" keyboardists, for his high-speed neoclassical and fusion style. Johansson is son of Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson and brother of the heavy metal drummer Anders Johansson. He is highly influenced by classic Rock keyboardists like Don Airey, Eddie Jobson and Jon Lord. In 1982, the classically trained Johansson left the jazz fusion band Slem and joined the Swedish metal band Silver Mountain, which also included Anders. In 1983 he left Sweden for California and joined guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen as a member of his band, Rising Force. Numerous records and world tours ensued and he stayed with Yngwie until 1989.[citation needed] Johansson also played with the band Dio between 1989 and 1990. Like Anders, he began an ongoing collaboration with Jonas Hellborg in 1989 which has resulted in several progressive and avant-garde recordings, including Dissident, Silent Run (an acoustic piano trio record with Ginger Baker on drums) and the hard core progressive fusion record, E.

In 1993, Johansson co-founded a progressive blues metal project, The Johansson Brothers, and recorded a self-titled record. In 1996, with a different line-up, they recorded another album, Sonic Winter, this time under the name "Johansson", with Yngwie Malmsteen guesting on guitar. The last Johansson record, The Last Viking, a more "European metal" oriented album, was released in 1999 with special guests Michael Romeo and Göran Edman.

Johansson has released several instrumental solo records such as Fjäderlösa Tvåfotingar, Ten Seasons (a piano solo album improvised in the Mark Kostabi gallery, New York), Heavy Machinery (with Anders and Allan Holdsworth) and Fission (with Anders, Shawn Lane and Mike Stern) and many collaborations with other artists, metal compilations and Berends Brothers' band Mastermind.

He co-founded Heptagon Records to distribute his own recordings and that of other musicians, such as guitarist Benny Jansson and bassist Magnus Rosén.

Johansson auditioned for Dream Theater after Kevin Moore left the band in 1994 but due to many delays by the band in making a decision he instead joined Finnish Power metal band Stratovarius. Since 1995 he has remained in Stratovarius, and still releasing solo albums and appearing as a guest or session musician in other projects.

Jens is a self-confessed computer nerd, admitting to have started on an Atari ST (which he still owns), and having coded software in C, as well as his own website in Perl.

Source : wikipedia

Anders Johansson, HammerFall's drummer

2010-04-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

Anders Johansson (born 25 May 1962 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish musician. He is the son of Jan Johansson, famous jazz pianist and brother of keyboardist Jens Johansson. The first instrument Anders played was the piano, but at the age of 14, after a bicycle accident, he switched to drums. From 1979 through 1982 he attended an electronics engineering school.

In 1984 he moved to the United States to join his brother Jens in Yngwie Malmsteen's band. He recorded 5 albums and made 5 tours with Yngwie. After that, he worked with a huge number of artists, like bassist Jonas Hellborg ( « E »), Benny Jansson (« Virtual Humanity »), by himself (« Shu-Tka ») and with his brother Jens (« The Johansson Brothers »).

He initially joined HammerFall on the "Legacy" tour in 1999, at first only as a session drummer but later as a full-time member.

He is co-founder of Heptagon Records AB with his brother, created to promote their discs, their father's and some other Swedish musicians' work.

Anders was a guest drummer on Narnia's album The Great Fall. Anders is best known for his time in Yngwie's band, besides his present role as HammerFall's drummer. He has been praised for his technical talent, in metal as well as other genres.

Source : wikipedia

Dave Grohl is an American rock multi-instrumentalist

2010-04-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

David Eric "Dave" Grohl (born January 14, 1969) is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. Grohl began his music career in the 1980s as the drummer for several Washington, D.C.-area bands, including the hardcore punk band Scream. In 1990 he became the drummer for grunge group Nirvana. Following the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in April 1994, Grohl formed Foo Fighters as frontman and songwriter. In addition to leading Foo Fighters, Grohl has also been involved in other musical projects, including Queens of the Stone Age and his heavy metal side project Probot, and has performed session work for a variety of musicians, including Killing Joke, Tenacious D, Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy and Slash. Most recently, Grohl formed Them Crooked Vultures with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Eagles of Death Metal) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).

Source : wikipedia

Robert Trujillo, Metallica Bass player

2010-04-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

He's got rhythm, and he's most certainly got music. Now Robert Trujillo's also got the job of being Metallica's new bassist and family member...one that will doubtless fit this most righteous and cheerful of Southern Californians like a glove.

Although he sometimes does use a pick, Trujillo is best known as a baaaad motherplucker, a finger-playin' bass monster who's dexterity, tones and attitude have seen him grace the bass of Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves and Ozzy Osbourne's band since his first professional work with Suicidal in 1989. It all stems back to a childhood filled with variety and spice.

Growing up in Venice Beach "Dog Town", Trujillo heard everything, from Led Zeppelin to Motown with a chunk of funk in between. Joined with a young love of surfing, Trujillo developed a rhythm and a vibe that saw him play with a variety of local bands through his early 20s until he met Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies via his High School buddy, Suicidal guitarist Rocky George. the two got on infamously well, and thus began a rich and fruitful relationship which saw Rob establish himself as one of the most exciting bass talents in the rock world.

In the early '90s, he and Muir formed the experimental funk-rockers Infectious Grooves, and then in the mid-'90s Trujillo joined up with Ozzy Osbourne. Together with drummer Mike Bordin, Trujillo formed one of rock music's most soild and reliable rhythm units.

Rob's name first floated by the Metallicamp during Suicidal's supporting role on the Summer Shed tour of '94, when all the band noted his enthusiastic style and performances. Thus when it was time to consider who could step up and take the bass full-time in Metallica, Rob's name was an obvious choice.

By all accounts, Trujillo's audition dared the band NOT to give him the job, and even producer Bob Rock was heard saying how complete and unequivocally whole the band sounded with Rob playing.

And so it was that on Thursday, February 24th 2003, Robert Trujillo walked in to the HQ and saw Ulrich, Hammett and Hetfield immediately start applauding him. Again, Rob is the perfect fit, a calm, even-keeled man with experience and full bass props...and genuinely one of the nicest guys around. It all adds up to the 4th member, an equal part of the Metallica family and an exciting new stage in Metallihistory.

Source : metallica

Nicko McBrain - Iron Maiden Drummer

2010-04-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain (born June 5, 1952) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he joined in 1982. The nickname 'Nicko' originated from when the keyboard player Billy Day introduced him as "My Italian drummer, his name’s 'Nicko'". McBrain himself states that as a child he had a stuffed animal (bear) named "Nicholas" that he always carried with him so much so that his parents began calling him Nicky also. Only when he may have been in trouble was he called by his given name. McBrain is credited as being an early pioneer of the heavy metal sound and passes his experience on through drum clinics.

McBrain is frequently included in top drummer league tables and rankings as a result of his very influential and skillful performances in studio and on stage, as illustrated in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Drummers Of All Time, where McBrain was placed at No. 38. In Total-Drums' 100 Best Rock Drummers Ever, McBrain was placed at No. 28, and similarly well ranked in EveryDrummer.com's Top 50 Drummers Of All Time, where he was at No. 26. Recently, he has been ranked at No. 18 in Rhythm Magazine's 50 Greatest Drummers Of All Time.

Known for his affable joking personality, eagerness for interviews and public appearances, McBrain is considered by his bandmates as Iron Maiden's spokeperson.

Source : wikipedia

Scott Travis - Judas Priest Drummer

2010-04-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Scott was a well-known drummer in the local music scene of region known as Hampton Roads during the early 1980s. Playing with bands in clubs throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Newport News. Travis moved to California in the early/mid 1980s and played in various local bands, such as Hawk, and later on moved to play for the critically acclaimed Racer X, together with Paul Gilbert, and very briefly played in Saints Or Sinners, which later changed their name to The Scream, and also featured Travis's Racer X bandmates Bruce Bouillet and John Alderete. His big career move came about late in the decade after Judas Priest's long time drummer, Dave Holland, exited the band, citing personal reasons.

Travis had always wanted to be the drummer of Judas Priest. As a young teen, he had often thought about setting up his drumkit in the parking lot at the Hampton Coliseum in hopes that the band would notice him as they rolled through with their tour bus. He finally decided to wait out back of the arena, and hand the band a tape of his playing. Priest still had Holland, so nothing ever came out from the encounter. When Holland did leave Judas Priest in 1989, Jeff Martin heard about it through his friendship with Rob Halford. Martin called up Travis one day and said "Guess who needs a drummer." Travis auditioned for the vacant position and in 1989 got the job, thus becoming the first non-Briton to play the legendary Birmingham heavy rock monster. Travis has been with the band ever since and he also handles drum duties for his former band Racer X. He played drums in Halford's band Fight from 1993 to 1995, but to date is best-known for his work with Judas Priest, for which he has been widely acclaimed ever since his debut with 1990's Painkiller.

Travis was also largely responsible for hiring Tim 'Ripper' Owens as Halford's replacement in Judas Priest from 1996 until the 2003 reunion (see Judas Priest for more).

He is commonly mistaken to be left-handed. In reality, he is ambidextrous, and plays with an open style.

Source : wikipedia

Jeff Campitelli - Joe Satriani Drummer

2010-04-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

Jeff Campitelli (born 29 December 1960) is a drummer who has played with Joe Satriani on many of his albums as well as when he performs live. He currently uses Drum Workshop drums and Paiste cymbals. Before Satriani's breakthrough in instrumental music he was with Satriani in a band called The Squares. As a student at San Ramon Valley High School, he played in the band The Rage with Tim Nichols and Barry Hogue.

Source : wikipedia

Brian May Guitarist of Queen

2010-03-31T01:27:00.000-07:00

With a musical career spanning four decades, Queen founding member Brian May is a world-renowned guitarist and songwriter, with production and performance credits on recordings, which have sold in excess of 100 million copies worldwide.

Brian has penned 22 worldwide hits for Queen, among them the anthems “We Will Rock You”, “The Show Must Go On” and “I Want It All”, and powerful ballads, including “Who Wants To Live Forever”, “No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)” and “Save Me”. As a successful and respected solo artist, Brian’s recordings include albums Back To The Light (1992), featuring “Too Much Love Will Kill You” and “Driven By You”, both Ivor Novello Award winners, and 1998's Another World.

His songs continue to influence new generations of performers and have inspired recordings by artists as diverse as Elton John, Def Leppard, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Shirley Bassey and Eminem. Brian has enjoyed collaborations with numerous artists, including Robbie Williams, Foo Fighters, Cliff Richard, Guns N’ Roses, Diana Ross, and Luciano Pavarotti. He was also proud to play feature guitar on the Winter Olympics 2002 opening music, “The Fire Within” for his friend and composer, the late Michael Kamen.

Perhaps the most memorable display of Brian’s unique style and musicianship was his performance of his own arrangement of “God Save the Queen”, live from the roof of Buckingham Palace, to open HM the Queen’s 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrations in front of an audience of more than 200 million people around the world.

An interest in film scoring developed when Queen became the first rock group to score a major film, Flash Gordon, featuring the hit “Flash!” penned by Brian, followed by definitive music for Highlander. Brian later contributed a mini-opera for Steve Baron's 1996 Pinocchio, and composed a complete film soundtrack for the 1999 French art film, Furia.

May is, of course, no stranger to the theatrical world, frequently contributing to the live performance work of his wife, Anita Dobson, but in 1990, entering this world in his own right, he wrote and performed the music for the London Riverside Studios production of Macbeth. He returned at full strength to the Theatre in 2002, as one of the principal creative forces behind the ground-breaking ‘Rock Theatrical’, We Will Rock You, which became phenomenally successful, still one of London’s top-selling shows after six years of nightly standing ovations at the Dominion Theatre, London, and the longest running show ever to play at the theatre. Although We Will Rock You is now a global enterprise, Brian remains personally involved in developing new productions and updating those currently playing.

On Freddie’s death, the surviving members of Queen set up a charity to support AIDS relief, the Mercury Phoenix Trust. The MPT has to date channeled more than eight million pounds to over 1,000 AIDS projects around the world. An ongoing commitment to AIDS awareness led Queen to become a driving force in the 46664 campaign for the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The first of a series of 46664 concerts, held in Cape Town in November 2003, was broadcast worldwide via TV, Internet and Radio, becoming the most widely distributed media event in history, with an audience of over 2 billion in 166 countries. Brian continues in his role as an ambassador and participant in the 46664 international concert series aimed at promoting AIDS awareness worldwide.

Queen’s musical catalogue consistently tops popularity polls, and their achievements have been recognised with numerous prestigious awards, including being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (October 2002), being inducted into both the USA Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (March 2001) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (June 2003), and being among the first inductees into the UK Music Hall of Fame (November 2004), which was an event that was to change the course of Queen - being the first event at which Paul Rodgers joined Brian and Roger (Taylor) as vocalist. Following a successful world tour in 2005/06, Paul, Brian and Roger have recently returned to the studio to create new material for an eagerly anticipated debut Queen/Paul Rodgers studio album.

In July 2005, Guinness World Records announced that Queen had overtaken The Beatles to become the most successful albums act in UK chart history.

Brian’s further credits are too numerous to list, but they include designing a Planetarium show currently running in Germany and Belgium, appearing in and recording a track for an epic 2003 Pepsi TV advertisement with Brian producing vocal performances from Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Pink, re-mixing classic Queen recordings in 5.1 Surround Sound, writing themes for several TV shows, producing a number 1 hit, “The Stonk”, for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day, as well as lending his inspirational skills to the three top selling volumes of The Best Air Guitar Album in the World… Ever!

Retaining his keen interest in Astronomy, Brian is a regular contributor to The Sky at Night for his long-time friend, Sir Patrick Moore, with whom he co-authored, along with Dr Chris Lintott, an illustrated astrophysics book entitled BANG! The Complete History of the Universe. First published in 2006, it has since been published in 20 languages, and gone to a second updated edition. Brian is currently working on a book on T.R. Williams, seminal stereo photographer of the 1850's, whose work Brian has been researching for 25 years.

In December 2005, Brian was honoured with a CBE, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, by HM the Queen, in recognition of his services to the Music Industry.

In 2007, after a 30-year break pursuing his musical career, Brian returned to Imperial College, London, to sign up to complete his Doctoral Thesis in Astrophysics, and after one year, successfully submitted the new version of his thesis on Interplanetary Dust. Although already the proud holder of Honorary Degrees from the Universities of Hertfordshire, Exeter and John Moore’s, Liverpool, Brian in 2007 finally achieved the award of a full PhD degree and DIC - Diploma of Imperial College. Brian subsequently accepted a post of Visiting Researcher at Imperial College and will be continuing his work in Astronomy.

Source : brianmay

James LaBrie vocalist of Dream Theater

2010-03-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

Name	Kevin James LaBrie
Birthdate	May 5, 1963
"Home"	Toronto, Canada
Hair Color	Brown
Eye Color	Blue
Favorite Color	Blue
Equipment	Neuman KMS 105 Wireless Microphone
Books	Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, Vampire Chronicles, Look For Me On The Mountain, Indian Wars
TV Shows	The Simpsons, Star Trek - The Next Generation, Seinfeld, In Search Of...
Movies	Dead Poets Society, Scarface, The Dead Zone, Dances with Wolves
Actors	Robin Williams, Patrick Stewart, Al Pacino, Michael Douglas, Sean Connery
Actresses	Linda Hamilton, Meg Ryan, Emma Thompson
Sports	Hockey, Football, Basketball, Soccer
Food	Pasta dishes, seafood and all vegetables except zucchini
Drinks	Fruit and vegetable juices, beer, rum and diet coke

Kevin James Labrie was born on May 5, 1963 in Penetanguishene, a town in Ontario, Canada. James' parents say that when he was three years old, he would walk around the house singing whatever songs were on the radio. Although he didn't get the words right, he could sing the melodies. Inspired by his father, James started singing and playing drums at age 5: "My parents say I was tapping on everything so if they didn't get me a drum set, I'd ruin the house!" When he was six years old, he was very intent on replicating different vocal styles and techniques. It was obvious that his voice was very mature for a six year old. When James was in elementary school, his teacher put him in singing class to further his training. Meanwhile, his father, uncle, and brothers were in a barber shop quartet, which James was made a part of.

Yet James' real love was rock music which he pursued by his early teens. By fourteen, James was singing and playing drums in several bands. However, James knew that drums were secondary to his true passion, singing. At eighteen, James moved to Toronto, Canada.

At age 21, he began vocal training with the renowned vocal coach Rosemary Patricia Burns. After working with several Canadian bands, James became the vocalist for Winter Rose, which almost signed with Atlantic Records. Then Pierre Paradis, who managed the band Voi Vod, approached James regarding a solo project with Aquarius Records. He also told James about a New York based band called Dream Theater who were looking for a vocalist. The rest, as they say, is history.

James' musical tastes are quite varied as he names Metallica, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Journey and Judas Priest as well as classical composers Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven as favorites. Influential vocalists include Steve Perry (formerly of Journey), Freddie Mercury, Sting, Paul Rodgers and Nat King Cole. James continues to practice with Ms. Burns and encourages other vocalists to pursue formal training.

Throughout his musical career, James has become one of the most well-respected and admired vocalists in progressive rock. As the voice of Dream Theater and guest performer on numerous side projects, James has helped to define the sound of progressive music for the next millenium. His incredible range and distinctive, intense vocal performances have earned him accolades from fans and critics alike.

In addition to Dream Theater's numerous studio and live releases (Images & Words, Live at the Marquee, Awake, A Change of Seasons, Falling Into Infinity, Once in a LIVEtime, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory, Live Scenes From New York, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Train of Thought, Live At Budokan, and Octavarium), James has also appeared on releases by Fates Warning and Shadow Gallery, Trent Gardner's Explorer's Club and Leonardo the Absolute Man, the first Frameshift album (Unweaving the Rainbow), Ayreon's The Human Equation, as well as tribute albums to Rush, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and Queen. In 1999, James completed and released the first MullMuzzler cd, Keep it to Yourself to much critical acclaim. The followup, James LaBrie's MullMuzzler 2, was released on September 11th, 2001. In 2005, James dropped the MullMuzzler moniker and released Elements of Persuasion, the third and arguably greatest of his solo efforts. A fourth solo album is already in the works so stay tuned.

When not on the road, James enjoys camping, downhill skiing and reading. His favorite authors include Anne Rice, Dee Brown, Robert Utley and Forest Carter. James currently lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife Karen, daughter Chloe, and son Chance Abraham.

Source : jameslabrie

DAVID ROSENTHAL Keyboardist/Programmer/Producer/Songwriter

2010-03-25T02:20:00.000-07:00

Few musicians have achieved the broad-based success that David Rosenthal has earned as a keyboardist, synthesizer programmer, producer, songwriter and touring professional. Since graduating from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, completing a highly rigorous triple-major in Piano Performance, Electronic Music, and Audio Recording, David’s talents are continually in demand for his skilled musical precision, applied creativity and well-utilized gift of perfect pitch.

David’s multi-faceted career has taken him to studios and stages across the globe with many of the most prominent artists in the business. Mostly known for his dynamic association with Billy Joel, he has also recorded and/or toured with Bruce Springsteen, Enrique Iglesias, Robert Palmer, Whitesnake, Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow, Cyndi Lauper, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Little Steven. His critically acclaimed work with Red Dawn and recent alliance with legendary progressive band Happy the Man also illustrate his talent for composing and producing original music.

His inventive tenure as a tour performer, studio musician and musical force with Billy Joel has led to extensive world tours, including the Face-to-Face Tour with Elton John, which has been widely recognized as one of the most successful tours of all time. Commencing in 1994, encore performances of the tour were produced in 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

He has performed in numerous concert videos, documentaries and video clips for major national television networks and shows including: The Disney Channel, PBS, David Letterman, Rosie O'Donnell, VH-1 “Story Tellers” and HBO. Of recent note is his involvement with the Tony-winning Broadway Show, “Movin’ Out”, where he scored and arranged keyboard parts, programmed the synthesizers and produced the classical playback tracks.

David’s discography encompasses a broad range of musical accomplishments yielding top-ten singles, millions of records sales and Grammy® nominations. He’s also engaged his ‘classical side’ with the Czech Philharmonic and New Japan Philharmonic which both recorded his orchestration of Yngwie Malmsteen’s “Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra.”

Besides recording and touring, David has shown a strong commitment to educating young musicians by giving lectures at Berklee College of Music, Musician's Institute, Full Sail Recording School, and a number of music industry seminars. His recent DVD, “Building your Music Career” (Berklee Press) furthers his dedication to the next generation of musicians. Accordingly, Berklee has honored David with its Distinguished Alumni Award for "Outstanding Achievements in Contemporary Music." He also earned high honors from Keyboard Magazine, where he was voted "Best Hired Gun" in their reader's poll.

A prolific professional author, he has written for numerous magazines including Keyboard and Electronic Musician, designed recording studios, worked as a software consultant, and still finds time to endorse several product lines including: Yamaha, Kurzweil, and Audio Technica.

His fellow musicians and fans will readily attest: David’s professionalism, creativity and productive collaboration have earned him a notable placement in the chronicles of contemporary and modern music.

Source : davidrosenthal

Derek Sherinian is an American ‎rock and fusion keyboardist

2010-03-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

Derek Sherinian is a keyboardist based in Los Angeles, California. His most notable achievements are as a member of the bands Alice Cooper, KISS and Dream Theater. Sherinian has been called the “King of the Keys” and the “Caligula of keyboards” due to his performing style. His influences include Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer and The Nice), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Elton John, and a variety of guitarists. Sherinian endorses various equipment, including Korg and Clavia keyboards. He is of Armenian and Greek descent.

With Dream Theater, he recorded the albums A Change of Seasons (1995), Falling Into Infinity (1997) and Once in a Livetime (1998) before being replaced in 1999 with Jordan Rudess due to creative differences.

Since 2000, Sherinian has recorded several solo records on which artists like Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde and Steve Lukather have lent their talents. Most notable of all Planet X, recorded with Australian drummer Virgil Donati, which led to the formation of the group of the same name, as Sherinian and Donati decided to expand on the concept by recruiting guitar virtuoso Tony Macalpine. Since 2002, Sherinian is constantly touring with Billy Idol. Also, he has recorded several tribute records. Sherinian’s fifth solo album, Blood Of The Snake (2006), features Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen, Slash, Billy Idol, Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips, Tony Franklin, Brad Gillis, and Brian Tichy. The latest Planet X album, Quantum, features Allan Holdsworth among others.

Sherinian cites Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing as having a direct influence on his unique approach to keyboards in terms of technique as well as tone; his unique “Monster Lead” lead patch contains numerous elements of guitar sounds such as distortion, harmonics, and palm-muting.

Sherinian’s collaborations with top musicians were featured in a 2007 article in Guitar World magazine, where guitarist Zakk Wylde offered “People want to play with him because he’s that good. He can play everything from the easiest licks on a piano to the most complex Beethoven sonatas with ease.” Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci added “…Derek-considering the fact that he’s heavily into guitarists and rock music, his history, and the range of all the great guitarists he’s worked with—plays with a fire unheard of from most keyboardists.” Sherinian explains that he enlists a variety of guitarists because he “[does not] think there is one guitarist who can cover all the styles featured on [the] albums.” Sherinian often tailors songs for specific guitarists, such as Holdsworth and Wylde for “Day of the Dead” (off Mythology); in this respect, he seeks to take certain aspects of genres and make them “collide in an eloquent way”.

Source : last.fm

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2010-03-22T19:48:00.001-07:00

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Jordan Rudess, keyboardist of Dream Theater

2010-03-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

Jordan Rudess (born November 4, 1956) is a Julliard trained keyboardist most famously known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater.

Jordan was recognized by his 2nd grade teacher as an exceptional piano player, and was immediately given professional tuition to enhance his prodigious talents. By the age of nine he entered the prestigious Julliard School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training, but by his late teens he had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music. Against the advice and wishes of his parents and tutors, he decided to turn away from classical piano and try his hand as a solo prog rock keyboardist.

After performing in various projects during the 1980s, he gained national attention in 1994 when he was voted “Best New Talent” in the Keyboard Magazine readers’ poll after the release of his Listen solo album.Two of the bands who took notice of the up and coming young star were The Dixie Dregs and Dream Theater, both of whom invited him to join their respective bands. Jordan chose the Dregs primarily because being a part time member of the band would have less of an impact on his young family, a choice he wasn’t given with Dream Theater.

During his time with the Dregs, Jordan formed a so-called “power duo” with drummer Rod Morgenstein. The genesis of this pairing occurred when a power outage caused all of the Dregs’ instruments to fail except Jordan’s, so he and Rod improvised with each other until power was restored and the concert could continue. The chemistry between the two was so strong during this jam that they decided to perform together on a regular basis (under the name Rudess/Morgenstein Project or later RPM) and have since released a studio and a live record.

Jordan encountered Dream Theater once again when he and Morgenstein secured the support slot on one of Dream Theater’s North American tours.

In 1997, when Mike Portnoy was asked to form a supergroup by Magna Carta Records, Jordan was chosen to fill the keyboardist spot in the band, which also consisted of Tony Levin and Mike’s Dream Theater colleague John Petrucci. During the recording of Liquid Tension Experiment’s two albums, it became evident to Mike and John that Jordan was precisely what Dream Theater needed. They asked Jordan to join the band, and when he accepted they released their then-keyboardist Derek Sherinian to make way for Jordan.

Jordan has been the full-time keyboardist in Dream Theater since the recording of 1999’s Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory. He has recorded 5 other studio albums since then; 2002’s Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 2003’s Train of Thought, 2005’s Octavarium, 2007’s Systematic Chaos and 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings. In addition, he has appeared on the live albums Live Scenes From New York , Live at Budokan and Score-20th Anniversary Tour.

While most keyboard players in rock bands tend towards bringing numerous keyboards on stage, Rudess took full advantage of the possibilities offered by the Kurzweil K2600xs during his usage from the 1990’s to 2004. Often sampling sounds from other keyboards, Rudess creates a series of setups, each of which maps different sounds to different layers and key ranges of the keyboard controller; these setups are then arranged in the order they will be required for a gig, and cycled through one at a time with a control pedal.

While Rudess’ physical method of changing live setups will more than likely remain the same, his choice of hardware to implement this changed as of 2005. Citing a need for better tour support and more current technologies (his Kurzweil 2600’s maximum sample memory of 128 MB had become insufficient for his touring needs) Rudess switched keyboard endorsements from Kurzweil to Korg’s new flagship Korg Oasys workstation (which supports up to 1.5gb of sample memory [1]), which he uses on tour with Dream Theater along with a Receptor and a Haken Continuum triggering a Roland V-Synth and a Synthesizers.com Modular.

Studio Equipment

* Korg Oasys
* Haken Audio Continuum Fingerboard
* Muse Research Receptor
* Kurzweil K2600xs fully loaded 88 note weighted keyboard
* Kurzweil K2600 Rack modules
* Kurzweil K2000VP keyboard
* Kurzweil PC2 rack
* Minimoog
* Roland V-Synth
* Synthesizer.com Modular Synth

Virtual Instruments

* MOTU Mach 5
* MOTU MX4 Soft Synth
* Korg Legacy
* Spectrasonics Atmosphere
* Spectrasonics Trilogy
* Spectrasonics Stylus
* Native Instruments Komplete 2
* Native Instruments Absynth
* Native Instruments B4
* Native Instruments Guitar Rig
* Native Instruments FM7
* Native Instruments Pro 53

Live Rig

* Korg OASYS 88
* Freehand Systems Music Pad Pro
* Muse Receptor
* Synthesizers.com Custom Modular Synth
* Haken Continuum Fingerboard
* (2)Roland V-Synth XT
* Lap Steel Guitar
* Mackie 1604VLZ Pro Mixer
* APS Power backup
* Glyph and Iomega Hard drives

Discography

Solo albums

* Arrival (Cassette) (1988)
* Listen (CD) (1993)
* Secrets of the Muse (CD) (1997)
* Resonance (CD) (1999)
* Feeding the Wheel (CD) (2001)
* 4NYC (CD) (2002)
* Christmas Sky (CD) (2002)
* Rhythm of Time (CD) (2004)
* Notes on a Dream (CD) (2009)

With Dream Theater

* Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (CD) (1999)
* Live Scenes From New York (DVD/3CD) (2001)
* Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2CD) (2002)
* Train of Thought (CD) (2003)
* Live at Budokan (2DVD/3CD) (2004)
* Octavarium (CD) (2005)
* SCORE (2DVD/3CD) (2006)
* Systematic Chaos (CD) (2007)
* Black Clouds & Silver Linings (CD; 3CD/DVD) (2009)

Project Albums

* Rudess/Morgenstein Project (CD) (1997)
* An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess (CD) (2001)
* Rudess/Morgenstein Project - The Official Bootleg (CD) (2001)

With Liquid Tension Experiment

* Liquid Tension Experiment (CD) (1998)
* Liquid Tension Experiment 2 (CD) (1999)

Guest Appearance

* Vinnie Moore - Time Odyssey (1988)
* Noirin Ni Riain - Celtic Soul (1996)
* Explorers Club - Age Of Impact (1998)
* Rhonda Larson - Free as a bird (1999)
* Paul Winter and The Earth Band - Journey With The Sun (2000)
* Scott McGill - Addition by Subtraction (2001)
* Prefab Sprout - The Gunman And Other Stories (2001)
* David Bowie - Heathen (2002)
* Jupiter - Echo and Art (2003)
* Neal Morse - ? (2005)
* Daniel J - Losing Time (2005)
* Steven Wilson - Insurgentes (2008)
* Neil Zaza - When Gravity Fails (Not yet released)

Other

* Speedway Boulevard - Speedway Boulevard (CD) (1981)
* Steinway to Heaven - Chopin’s “Revolutionary Etude (Op. 10, No. 12)” (1996)

Source : last.fm

John Myung The Basis of Dream Theater

2010-03-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

John Myung is the bassist of Dream Theater.

John Myung was born on January 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Long Island, New York, with his family when he was a young boy. John says that his mother always listened to classical music and so at age 5 he began violin lessons.

When John was 15 his next door neighbor approached him to play bass for his band, assuming that since it had four strings like a violin he could learn it easily. Although it turned out to be a totally different instrument, John took to bass very quickly and has never picked up a violin since.

John’s main influences include Chris Squire, Steve Harris and Geddy Lee and their respective bands Yes, Iron Maiden and Rush. He also listens to bands like Jane’s Addiction, King’s X and Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as classical and blues.

Source : last.fm

Jeremy Colson is drummer for Steve Vai.

2010-03-17T03:22:00.000-07:00

He is a modern musician. Technicality mixed with a punk rock mentality… These words fully describe his musicial taste and his inner flair for music…

When Jeremy was a boy he picked up his first set of drumsticks and started his musical career, it was really a journey into music. At age 15 he heard for the first time about the rock giant Rush and his mad passion for the instrument fully developed itself. He grew older and so did his talent. Two years later young Jeremy was competing in natiomnal drum contest and won third place in the 1995 Guitar Center National Drum-Off.

At the age of 19 he joined the original rock band Dali’s Dilemma and enlarged his musical resume. There he took part in the constructing of the album Manifesto for Futurism and worked with Testament heavy metal guitarist James Murphy.

Jeremy is a great lover of all musical genres and was influenced by the sounds of James Murphy’s music, i.e. by punk rock and heavy metal. In 2001 Jeremy Colson joined Apartment 26 and rocked Ozzfest in the same year. Later Colson joined the Michael Schenker Group and made his contribution into the recording of its album Arachnophobiac. Around the same time Colson began working with the American guitarist Marty Friedman recording the instrumental album Music For Speeding, and all the songs were written by Marty. The album continues the exploration of progressive rock and Japanese pop music.

That fantastic guy worked non-stop, his musical resume grew along with challenges themselves. In 2002 Jeremy got acquainted with Steve Vai through a recommendation from Shrapnel Record’s mastermind Mike Varney. Soon Colson was already working with Vai in the studio, they tracked lots of material some of which took the shape of Real Illusions: Reflections. It is the first part of a multilayered menagerie of vignettes based on the amplified mental exaggerations of a truth-seeking madman who sees the world… Oh, never mind. Vai himself describes it as “one of my favorite finds”. Colson is still in his twenties, he is energetic and full of interest ideas. Currently Jeremy finished tracking drums for the solo album of Marty Friedman.

Source : last.fm

CHRIS FRAZIER

2010-03-17T03:02:00.000-07:00

Christopher Ridgeway Frazier was born in Bethesda Maryland in 1967. By the time he was three years old he was turning the plastic wastebaskets over and playing along to stones records with wooden spoons he stole from the kitchen. Seeing his propensity towards banging on things his mom gave him his first drum kit at the age of five. Coming from a musically active family he was exposed to many forms of music and began playing professionally at the age of ten. He performed at high school dances, parties and sometimes a club if he could get away with it. His mother was a folk singer in the Massachusetts area so he traveled around with her while she sang in clubs, which primed him for life on the road.
Though junior high and high school he participated in concert band and jazz band as well as playing in his own projects. He went to Colorado University on a partial music scholarship and attended for two years until deciding to try out L.A.
Arriving in Los Angeles and looking for work, he answered adds in the music connection. He scored an audition with Steve Vai who was producing a project and eventually began working with Steve on his projects. Chris recorded on various recordings spanning from 1985 to 2000 including "Flexable", "Passion & warfare", "Firegarden" and "Living in an ultra world". Chris also toured extensively with Steve from 1992-2001 opening for Bon Jovi in 1992 to headlining the White Nights festival in Russia in '93 as well as multiple trips to Japan, South America and Europe.
In 1989 Chris was hired to perform on a record for Warner brothers entitled "Private life", A pet project of Ed VanHalen's and Ted Templeman. The record failed unfortunately but Chris was hired again by Ted for other various recordings like "Wayne's World" soundtrack, "Gremlins2" soundtrack and Tia Carrera's solo effort. The studio work was stimulating and sometimes making ends meet but Chris was more drawn to his dream of being in a band and touring and ultimately being creative without restrictions or boundaries. An opportunity came to work with Tribe after tribe, a South African band based in L.A.
The band had an alternative/world approach to their music requiring a percussive/kinetic drummer.
Chris worked with the band from 90-93,performing on "Love under will" (megaforce/atlantic rec.)
And toured America and Europe opening for Pearl jam and Saigon kick.
As stimulating and musically fulfilling, as the band was it was at odds with the big machine. The record company filed chapter 11 and the management was not far behind. The band wasn't an overnight success and couldn't survive the support team crumbling around it. Such is life.
After the split with Tribe after Tribe, Chris supported himself with studio work such as performing on "That thing you do" soundtrack and various commercials and Japanese projects and demos. He also co-produced and performed on two instrumental CDs with Doug Aldrich. Doug is a fiery guitarist with the same interests in rock and jazz from the 70s. "High centered" produced by Andy Johns is a exploration in soundscapes derivative of zeppelin to Hendrix while "Electrovision" is more Mahavishnu/beck influenced. Both on Pony canyon/Japan.
Most recently Chris played on Sera Masanori's new CD entitled "Twist songs" and performed with Sera for two exclusive Japan shows in October 2003.Also performing in that lineup was Marty Friedman ,Doug Aldrich and Roy Z. Chris also performed on Edgar Winter's latest jazz CD entitled "Jazzin'the blues", recent solo CD by vocalist Michael Sadler(SAGA)and nu-metal band Speak no evil's CDs "welcome to the downside"& debut self titled effort. Chris is also currently touring with Eddie Money and Edgar Winter.

Here is an update: Chris Just finished a very successful tour of Japan with "TMG" which stands for Tak Matsumoto group .The lineup is: Tak Matsumoto guitarist and songwriter of "the Bz, Eric Martin former singer of "Mr. Big",Jack blades bassist and songwriter from "Night Ranger" and Chris on drums.

Source : chrisfrazier.cool-rock

Stereophonics

2010-03-13T22:08:00.000-08:00

Stereophonics are a rock band who were formed in 1992 in Cwmaman, Wales by friends Kelly Jones (Guitar/Vocals), Stuart Cable (Drums) and Richard Jones (Bass) but no relation to Kelly. Colloquially known to their fans as the ‘Phonics or the Stereos, in the years preceding their popularity, they went through shifting line-ups and were known by a variety of names including “KDR”, “Zephyr”, “Silent Runner”, “Blind Faith” and their most widely known pre-Phonics moniker “Tragic Love Company,” taking one word from each member’s favourite band (The Tragically Hip, Mother Love Bone, and Bad Company). The band’s official current line-up is Kelly Jones, Richard Jones, Javier Weyler and Adam Zindani.

Tragic Love Company had started out as a 4-piece band playing covers and original songs that had a blues vibe. After various fourth members, including childhood friend Simon Collier, left, the band decided to stick to being a 3-piece, ditching the blues for an edgier, punk sound which would translate better when played live. The band played up and down the country playing shows which ranged from less than 10 people to packing hundreds into small venues the length of the M4. It wasn’t until John Brand took over as their manager in 1996 that the music industry started to take interest in the band. The name Tragic Love Company was decidely dropped for being too long-winded, and after Stuart saw the lettering on his father’s radiogram, they adopted the name ‘The Stereophonics’, before quickly dropping the ‘The’ to simply Stereophonics. On August 1st, 1996 they became the first band to be signed to Richard Branson’s new label V2.

Kelly, Stuart and Richard grew up in Cwmaman, a former coal mining pit village near Aberdare, South Wales, noted only for having some of the steepest hills in the United Kingdom; a fact eluded to in the BBC Wales documentary ‘The Road Up is the Worst’ aired as part of BBC Wales’ St. David’s day celebrations. Kelly worked locally in a variety of jobs including on a fruit and veg stall where he would observe people as they wandered by or stopped to talk. It was this acute attention to detail that provided the inspiration for all of the early Stereophonics material. Inspired by a modern approach to storytelling a la Paul Weller, the only natural way of songwriting for Kelly, who was and remains the principal lyricist for the band, was to write about what you know. At the time, the young Kelly felt that having as many words in the songs as he had written would mean that they’d be harder to remember and even harder for fans to regurgitate at gigs, but they pursued with writing material that meant something to them on such a personal level. These songs formed the majority of material submitted to tape for their first studio album and also in a wealth of B-sides that accompanied their subsequent singles.

As part of the rising Britpop movement in the late 1990s, and also what would eventually be coined as the ‘cool Cymru’ phase of a dominance of welsh bands charting well on a national level.

Word Gets Around

‘Word Gets Around’ was released on the 25th of August, 1997, with equal credit being given to all three members of the band for writing the songs Jones/Jones/Cable) with credit for the words given to Kelly Jones. It was preceded by singles Local Boy In The Photograph (#51), More Life In A Tramps Vest (#33) and A Thousand Trees (#22) and it charted well at #6 in the UK album charts. Following the success of the album, PlayTraffic (#20) was released in October 1997 and the band capped off an exceptional year by winning the 1998 BRIT award for ‘British Breakthrough Act’. They also re-released Local Boy In The Photograph and it gained a more respectable chart positioning at #14 and played to their biggest crowd in their career to that point by receiving a heroes welcome at their homecoming gig in Cardiff Castle on June 12th, where they played to a 10,000 strong crowd during a 19-song set which included 5 new songs. By this stage, the live setup of the band had grown to include Tony Kirkham as the touring pianist and keyboard player.

The song Local Boy In The Photograph has since become a cult classic and was given a Q Classic Song Award at the Q Awards in 2007. A video was also shot for the song Not Up To You but the track remained unreleased by V2.

Performance and Cocktails

In November 1998, the band moved quickly to start the wheels turning on the release of their second album, ‘Performance And Cocktails’, releasing the song PlayThe Bartender And The Thief to wide commercial success. Despite it’s heavier, archaic sound it charted at #3 - the band’s highest charting up until that point - which would remain the highest ranked single chart position for 7 years along with other songs they would subsequently release. In February, just prior to the album release, another single PlayJust Looking (#4) was released, again to massive commercial and critial acclaim and on March 8th, 1999 V2 released Performance And Cocktails. The songs were variously recorded at Real World Studios in Bath, Parkgate in Sussex and Rockfield in Monmouth, and the album was a major success, hitting the UK album chart #1 instantly. It’s success was only heightened by the following successful single PlayPick A Part That’s New (#4) with it’s promotional video which included the band sending up the film ‘The Italian Job’.

Buoyed by their first #1 album and recent chart success, the band announced they would be playing their biggest ever show at the soon to be demolished Morfa Stadium, Swansea. On July 31, 1999, the band took to the stage in front of 50,000 adoring people. The show, which was one of the largest ever outdoor gatherings to take place in Wales at the time, and was a triumphant success. Two weeks after playing to their mammouth audience in Swansea, the band took home the Kerrang! award for ‘Best British Band’ and ‘Best Album’ for ‘Performance And Cocktails’. On the back of the Morfa Stadium show, they released two more singles. PlayI Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio and PlayHurry Up And Wait, both songs which were a departure for the normally consistant, rockier sound that had come to be expected, but still charted well, both hitting the #11 spot.

The videos for the songs on this album also became more elaborate than that of the singles from ‘Word Gets Around’ and leant heavily on the medium of cinema. The inspiration for four of the singles came directly from the films the band liked and they played out their fantasy roles in their individual promos. By subtely tweaking the narrative to suit the look of the band or feel of the song, the videos for PlayThe Bartender And The Thief, PlayPick A Part That’s New (a track the band performed before the 1999 IRB Rugby World Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff), PlayI Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio and PlayHurry Up And Wait all took their direct inspiration, or as some would say, parodying out of films such as Apocalypse Now, The Italian Job, Easy Rider and M*A*S*H* respectively with PlayJust Looking, though not a direct tribute to any particular film as such, still had a very filmic quality to it. These videos, along with the videos from ‘Word Gets Around’ were released on a compilation DVD in 2000 called ’Call Us What You Want But Don’t Call Us in the Morning’.

In 2000, Stereophonics featured on the Tom Jones comeback album called ‘Reload’, contributing a duet performance of the Three Dog Night cover, Mama Told Me Not To Come, and Kelly was a guest artist on the Jools Holland Hootenanny New Year’s Eve show, where Kelly would accompany Jools and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in a performance of the Mike d’Abo penned classic PlayHandbags and Gladrags. This song would eventually go on to become a Stereophonics favourite in it’s own right.

Just Enough Education to Perform

Once again teaming up with Bird and Bush to produce their album, the Stereophonics set about recording an album that was a sonic departure for what they had previously amassed as a band. In the years that had taken them away from small town Cwmaman and around the world as the new darlings of the Britpop machine, they had come to experience a lot more of the good and bad sides the music industry had to offer. Preceded by the track PlayMr. Writer, it was a downbeat, acoustic drawl that saw their comeback on the UK chart scene. It charted well at #5, and had an infectious melancholy hook, but the song was a direct response to a journalist that had toured with the band on an American tour. The band claim that he had “lived amongst them, ate their food and drank their drink” (citation needed) but when he left the band to write about them, the review was very negative. This lead to a steely attitude being taken by the band after this. However, this had a knock on effect to the band in general, as the media regarded Jones with a growing discomfort and unease that neither he, or the band have ever really been able to shake.

The second single, the polar opposite of PlayMr. Writer, was Have A Nice Day (also UK#5), a poppy, joyful song about taking a taxi ride in California. The subjects of Jones’ writings have for a long time been put under the microscope, but consistently, you can get a feel for the experience he was having at the time by taking the lyrics as read. Have A Nice Day itself is a clear dividing point for many Stereophonics fan. The success of this song and the album that followed gained the band a wealth of new fans, but older fans felt that the band were moving too far into a new, pop-orientated direction. The album, the appropriately titled ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’ went straight in at #1 in the UK. The band had originally wanted to name the album ‘JEEP’, a shortened word which stood for the phrase that apparently Kelly got from his brother after he came home from a stint in the army and wrote the word on his bedroom wall. However, Daimler-Chrysler copyrighted the word this name so it was changed to its current, elongated title. It is commonly referred to by it’s acronym, ‘J.E.E.P.’, with the album itself seeing a departure from the normal 3-piece rock sound, and straying more into dreamy acoustic and indie rock territory.

The album spawned three further other singles, one of which was the country-tinged Step On My Old Size Nines (UK#4). On July 21st, the Stereophonics followed in the footsteps of the Manic Street Preachers and played a full concert at the newly built Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Then in November 2001, the band announced it would release PlayHandbags and Gladrags (UK#4) as an official studio track, though it wasn’t on the current album tracklisting. ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’ got a re-release with the song included, and also a hidden bonus track called Surprise, which was originally a b-side on the Have A Nice Day single .

The band performed as part of the lineup for the follow up to the Secret Policeman’s Ball for Amnesty International’s ‘We Know Where You Live’ 2001 at Wembley Arena, where they played an acoustic version of Have A Nice Day and also teamed up with Tom Jones to perform Mama Told Me Not To Come.

2002, saw the release of the DVD, ‘A Day at the Races’, which was a live DVD documenting the gig at the Millennium Stadium the previous July, and to raise the profile of the DVD, the fifth and final single from ‘J.E.E.P.’ was released. Vegas Two Times, the album opener was released on DVD single, and live footage from ‘A Day at the Races’ was overdubbed with the studio track for the video. ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’, and Vegas Two Times (UK#23) as a prime example was also the first time the band moved away from having just one prolific singer or harmoniser. Vegas Two Times opens the album with a minute of female harmonies before the track kicks in. This extended intro was completely cut for the single version, and also when being played live, but by this point in their career, the live 4-piece had once again grown to included second touring guitarist Scott James, and backing singers Aileen McLaughlin and Anna Ross.

The album itself divided fans and critics alike. Most opinions were and still are very cold towards the record, citing the dramatic departure from the band’s signature sound as main reason behind it’s poor critial reception. It is also worth noting the effect that ‘Mr. Writer’ had on the relationship between the media and the increasingly outspoken Jones. Most reviewers refute this claim however, citing a lacklustre performance in songwriting as the principal downfall of the LP. Fans are also split, for some of them were not fans until the release of the album and use of such tracks as Have A Nice Day on TV commercials. Others see the departure in signature sound as a fall from grace the band has yet to recover, whilst the more pragmatic approaches seem to suggest that the giddy days at the time of ‘WGA’ and ‘Performance’ were dizzy heights that will probably never be reached again, if only for the luck of timing and social chords that were struck within the era of these intial albums.

The band themselves were quick to defend the sound of the album, without making any apology for the songs that made the cut, suggesting that the rigours of touring the world as a rock band mean that they were constantly in an environment surrounded by loud music, and when they got back on their tour bus, they wanted to distance themselves from that sound, so they turned to a different type of music. In turn, this music feeds the inspiration for the upcoming songwriting process.

You Gotta Go There to Come Back

In June 2002, the band headlined the Pyramid stage of the prestigious Glastonbury festival, displaying a confident reportoire of songs new and old alike, and for the first time played unreleased songs, the most significant and electrifiying of these performances being that of future lead single PlayMadame Helga. After a summer of festival appearances the band settled in back at their homes to write songs for the album. In the coming months, both Kelly and Richard both decided it would be better if they moved to London, to ease their label pressures and commitments. Stuart declined to do the same. Instead, Cable was given his own TV chat show, Cable TV, by BBC Wales, where he would host lively chat and music, which included an acoustic set by Stereophonics, although curiously without Stuart, obviously wanting to draw clear definitions between his band and his TV persona. They played acoustic versions of songs that would go on to become PlayGetaway and PlayClimbing The Wall.

When it came to the new album, it is widely assumed that Kelly wrote the songs without any input from anyone, except live recording engineer and personal friend Jim Lowe. In the liner notes of the new album, Kelly wrote: “We got together as a band and rehearsed the demos at Stuart’s garage a week before going into the studio…” But demanding schedulings had already begun to put a strain on the working relationship of the band. The studio process also changed for this album. Relying heavily on live engineer Lowe to capture the tracks in as few takes as nessessary added to the very live and raw sound on the album. Kelly also took over the role of producer, and outsourced the mixing of the album to experienced, Grammy Award-winning music engineer and producer Jack Joseph Puig (Weezer, Green Day, The Black Crowes, Goo Goo Dolls).

Preceded by the released of lead single PlayMadame Helga (UK#4), the new album, titled ‘You Gotta Go There To Come Back’ again went straight in at the UK#1 spot. The album had more of a bluesy feeling, and with it, a confident swagger of sleazy Rock ‘n’ Roll (showcased on songs such as PlayJealousy and PlayHelp Me (She’s Out Of Her Mind)) juxtaposed with the subtle frailties of lost love and innocence (PlayI Miss You Now, PlaySince I Told You It’s Over). The song were on a more personal level, rather than on a narrative, and faced issues like alcohol and drug abuse, sex and procarious living more than had reviously been addressed by the band.

On July 21st, 2003 the band released their biggest international smash song to date, the gorgeous and aching PlayMaybe Tomorrow which charted in the UK at #3, but went on to transcend the band’s status as a restricted UK act. The melotron and rhodes piano sound that gave the song its melancholy charm found it’s way onto quite a few American TV and film soundtracks including ‘Wicker Park’ and later on the 2005 Academy Award-winning film ‘Crash’. The band lined up on last single to be released in the UK prior to finishing their world tour in 2003, the aforementioned PlaySince I Told You It’s Over was scheduled for released in November. However, in September whilst in America touring the album, Stuart Cable was sacked by the two founding members of the band, Kelly and Richard, citing commitment issues as the sole reason for the departure. Reported by the BBC in September 2003, Kelly said on the band’s website: “Me and Stuart started a band when I was 12. Emotionally to me this is heartbreaking, I love him like a brother, but commitment-wise there have been issues since Just Enough Education To Perform.”

Cable had pulled out of imminent and ongoing US tour dates citing ill health and had suspended his own touring regime at the advise of doctors, though the band were set to continue toruing without him, leaving him to return to the UK to recuperate. Cable has always claimed that he knew nothing of his sacking until being confronted with it by the media. The band replaced him on the road with friend and former drummer for The Black Crowes, Steve Gorman. Gorman remained on tour with the band until they had completed every date, and even appeared in the video for bonus single Moviestar, a track that didn’t make the original cut of the album, but was to be released as a single in it’s own right. Stuart Cable provided the drums tracks for the song in studio before his departure, but had already been sacked before the video had been shot. Similarly, Cable had completed the shoot for the previous single PlaySince I Told You It’s Over just before his abrupt exit.

On the 20th December, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium would once again play host as the final gig of the world tour, and end a successful year on the road in which they had played in excess of over 60 gigs and festivals in no less than 14 different countries. They ended a turbulent year on a high.

Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

Work began on the follow up record in January 2004, almost as soon as the ‘YGGTTCB’ tour was completed. A settlement was reached between the remaining members of the band and Cable as compensation for his axing, but the bitterness between the band, both current and former, was apparant, with Cable brandishing Jones a ‘dictator’. The recording process for new record was to take up the entirety of 2004. Writing for the album had taken place on the road between 2003-2004, and the band quickly put the disappointments of the previous year behind them and focused on recapturing the imaginations of their listeners. After writing the bulk of the songs for the new record, which was set to throw back to the days of old, the band went into the studio to record the album demos. In April 2004, Kelly and Richard were assisted in the studio by Javier Weyler, an audio engineer, and former member of Vitriol I.D., who had worked with the band on ‘You Gotta Go There To Come Back’ and provided percussion on a number of songs that made the eventual cut of the finished album. The band felt at this point that this process required a committed drummer. Steve Gorman was not considered as a full time replacement for Stuart Cable and Gorman later rejoined the reformed Black Crowes in 2005.

As Weyler had assisted in recording demos for Stereophonics’ new studio album, later on that year Kelly Jones and Richard Jones wrote to Javier inviting him to drum permanently within the band. Javier accepted the offer and met up with the rest of the band to finish Stereophonics’ fifth studio album ‘Language. Sex. Violence. Other?’. Apart from Weyler, there were no other additions to the Stereophonics line up, but the band decided that the big band sound which had seen their live stage set up rise to a 7-piece band was now a thing of the past. Aileen McLaughlin, Anna Ross and Scott James ceased to be part of both long or short terms plans the band had. Tony Kirkham remains the a part of the live set up, but Kelly Jones played piano parts on the new album, rather than Kirkham.

After a decade of recording studio albums (the last 3 all #1’s) the band scored its first UK#1 single with their seminal track PlayDakota, the first single of the new album. Released on February 28th 2005, the midweek charts had put the track in the favourable situation of being the top selling track at the midway point of the week. The track’s popularity continued throughtout the week, and was eventually crowned the UK’s #1 single on BBC Radio 1 the following Sunday. The track itself heralded a new era for the band, drawing on elements of the rock history that had brought the band to the heights it had achieved, but also pulsed with a new, modern enthusiasm, and also contained an electronic vibe, thanks to it’s intro and outro samples. This single, for a band that had always been more concerned with album sales, rather than single sales, meant a new found sense of acceptance and justification.

Two weeks later, on March 14th, ‘Language. Sex. Violence. Other?’ was released and also went to #1 in the UK charts. The band’s fourth consecutive #1 album, and a new sound to confound the critics that had so easily written them off. The album received critical acclaim in the British music press, including most notably the NME, who had been one of the band’s harshest critics in the past, who called the album “…angry, edgy, dense and intelligent… an excellent modern rock record…” The album was a journey through the rock Americana sounds similar in concept to that of bands like U2, it had a harder, edgier and angrier than we’d seen from the band in a long time. Riding high on the success of their first chart-topping single and another chart-topping album, Stereophonics became the first band to play at Apple’s Regent Street store in London, showcasing 5 tracks from the new album and releasing the first in what eventually became a long line of exclusive EPs put out by Apple iTunes titled ‘Live in London’.

The album also delivered a further three singles, album opener PlaySuperman, PlayDevil, the controversial video for which was banned from television circulation due to it’s content, and PlayRewind.

All the tracks on the album had one word titles, and videos for all the singles, including the banned ‘Devil’ were dirtected by Charles Mehling. The music video for this song shows Kelly Jones in an apartment, tied to a chair. A woman arrives and appears to be the kidnapper. Soon after, he is taken outside and forced into the trunk of a car that she drives to an unknown place. There are shots of the band performing this song occasionally. At the end of the video, the title card “To Be Continued…” appears. The video for ‘Rewind’ subsequently deals with the content in the video for ‘Devil’ and the other videos for the singles taken from this album, by piecing together a common narrative through the four promos. The ‘Rewind’ video picks up where the video for ‘Devil’ left off, with singer Kelly being let out of the trunk of his kidnappers’ car. It is revealed to be a set, and the car is simply driving along in front of a moving screen. Kelly then walks on a treadmill in a studio made up of sets from the previous videos of ‘Dakota’, ‘Superman’ and ‘Devil’.

On Saturday, 2nd July 2005, the world’s focus turned to various events around the world as LIVE8 took place. 20 years after the groundbreaking Live Aid events captured the imagination of the developed world, an estimated 3 billion people watched LIVE 8, called the greatest show on Earth, as artists around the world came together with one message - make poverty history. Stereophonics played a 4 song set at the Hyde Park venue in front of 200,000 people. Around the same time, ‘Dakota’ became the first Stereophonics single to achieve success on alternative rock radio stations in the United States - where it was promoted as “Dakota (You Made Me Feel Like The One)”. Before “Dakota”, no Stereophonics single had charted on any rock charts in the U.S, including the worldwide hit ‘Maybe Tomorrow. After its release in February, the single steadily gained ground on U.S. alternative rock radio, notably on stations such as WFNX, WBCN and KROQ.

‘Dakota’ continued to gain support across the U.S. and eventually become the first Stereophonics song to chart on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It first charted on July 9, 2005, almost half a year after its original release. The song peaked at #34 on the chart and remained on the chart for six weeks. It was their first and so-far only single to make the chart.

The band once again took off on an extended UK, European and World tour, which ended in 2006. After which, the DVD entitled ‘Language. Sex. Violence. Other?’ was released including tour footage, live shots and the videos for the singles from the album of the same name.

Live From Dakota

In terms of commercial success, the Stereophonics had never had it so good. But weary of the success that had gone before them, they had become a resiliant unit, determined and hardworking to maintain the success they had once again earned, and also displayed a certain amount of level-headedness, keeping their feet firmly on the ground as a forward thinking rock band. In April 2006, they released their first live album, called ‘Live From Dakota’, which despite it’s name was recorded in and around the UK on the ‘L.S.V.O.’ tour.

It included 20 tracks across a double CD, and included the previously unreleased track PlayJayne (Live). The album contained no overdubs, and was inteded to show the real side of the band live, mistakes and all. Though, rather than being a recording of single show, every night of the tour was recorded and the band picked out the best version of each song individually. It charted well for a live album, reaching the #13 spot in the UK album chart. For the American release it was released on the band’s own imprint label, Vox Populi Records.

Pull the Pin

‘Pull The Pin’ became the sixth studio album by Stereophonics, which was released in the UK on 15 October 2007. A Stereophonics newsletter released the “Pull the Pin” album artwork to suscribers. The cover was also shown to MySpace users that had added the band in a bulletin. In 2006, there was speculation that the next Stereophonics album was originally going to be called ‘Cries on Hope Street’. In 2006, Kelly had taken part in ‘The Cool Cymru Collection’ by Terry Morris, which was a collection of photographs designed to make up the first ever Welsh hall of fame. Kelly had his photo taken on the fictional ‘Cries on Hope St’, an anagram of the word ‘Stereophonics’ and when asked about the shot, Kelly quipped that they were going to use the photo as the image for the next album, fueling rumours of the new album title.

In early 2007, Kelly Jones brought out his first solo album, ‘Only The Names Have Been Changed’, as a limited edition release, which managed to reach number 1 on the iTunes download chart, but was made ineligable by Jones to chart so as not to detract attention from the band onto him solely. He explained that; “We were recording the sixth Stereophonics album last year and in-between takes I started doing these songs off the cuff. Three or four tracks in I realised that this could actually be something… strange how it’s always little things that makes big things happen.” This created speculation that Jones would leave Stereophonics to pursue his solo career, however he denied these rumours and the band pushed on with work on the new album. Due to the success and warm reception of the album however, Jones did a small solo tour around the UK playing songs from the album, before returning swiftly to the band, and refocusing on the new album.

During the time Kelly was out on his solo tour, Javier, who had recorded a solo album in his native latin, ‘Lágrima’ (meaning ‘Tear’), under the persona of Capitan Melao, which was released on April 2, 2007. The project includes contributions from Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music and Natalia Lafourcade, with Weyler describing it as having “dreamy and poetic” lyrics and Latin rhythms. Weyler’s alter-ego translates as ‘Capitan’ being the Spanish for ‘Captain’ and ‘Melao’ Latin American slang for ‘swing’, ‘rhythm’ or ‘soul’. After the band had reunited, work began on promotion of the sixth studio album.

Also during the period between solo albums and the release of the new studio album, the DVD ‘Rewind’ was released. It was a 2-disc celebration of an entire decade of Stereophonics material. It contains over three hours of live and documentary footage spanning their entire career; from pre-Stereophonics years to their signing to V2 Records in 1996, up until 2006. A booklet was also included with the DVD, featuring several previously unseen photographs of the band, from Kelly Jones’ own personal photo album. The band also reportedly patched up their relationship with estranged drummer, Stuart Cable, although events from the supposed meetings between the childhood friends, Kelly and Stuart did not match up, and the relationship is still reported to be frosty even today. Cable released his autobiography of his time during the Stereophonics in 2009, entitled ‘Demons and Cocktails’, and is a ‘tell all’ book which undoubtably did nothing to ease the strain on his friendship with Kelly.

The taster track Bank Holiday Monday had its world premier on Radio 1’s Chris Moyles Show on Tuesday 1 May 2007 and was made available for digital download on Monday 28 May 2007 from online retailers. The band wanted to released the track as the first proper single off the album, but record company executives declined this, stressing that a different song was more likely to do well in the chart climate they were set to release in. The band’s newsletter on 24 July 2007 confirmed details and artwork of the first ‘proper’ single to be released from the album. PlayIt Means Nothing (UK#12) was released in the UK on 24 September 2007. They previews the track at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Preston, which they headlined. It has also appeared on the soundtrack to US drama, ‘Bones’.

A second proper single was also released in December 2007. The track My Friends was given an official release but charted at UK#32, making it the lowest charting single by the band since “More Life in a Tramps Vest” reached #33 back in 1997.

Decade In The Sun

For the ‘Pull The Pin’ tour, the guitarist and singer Adam Zindani of SpiderSimpson, who later with Zindani reverted back to their old name of Casino joined the band as a touring guitarist, to give the band a fuller sound and to help the band recreate the music that had been displayed on ‘Pull The Pin’. In a Q&A session on the band’s website in 2008, Zindani confirmed that whilst still a full time committed member of Casino, he had officially become a proper member of Stereophonics. This story was corroborated by the band, and Zindani’s own skills as a songwriter were to be utilised by the band on forthcoming songs.

In 2008, with the appointment of Zindani in toe, the band surprised fans by announcing the release of a greatest hits album to be called ‘Decade In The Sun’. In addition to the 18 tracks considered hits for the band, the album also included two new songs, You’re My Star and My Own Worst Enemy which was penned by Jones and Zindani. You’re My Star was released in a limited number of 7” vinyl, but did sell every copy, meaning that the track charted officially in the UK at #170. To mark the release of the single and also the release of the compilation album, the band held a competition for fans to win tickets to a full-circle gig at the Camden Roundhouse, the venue that the band frequently played gigs “with no f*cker watching us…” quipped Kelly, before they were a signed act a full decade previously. They had originally wanted to do the gig in Cardiff Castle, but the castle heritage committee decided against the idea, explaining that the fragile state of the castle was no longer able to stand up to the vigourous demands that a rock concert would put upon it.

The special edition of ‘Decade In The Sun’ contained another 20 songs from the extended collection of the Stereophonics’ back catelogue, and even included some demo tracks and b-sides, which were previously unreleased. A DVD edition of ‘Decade In The Sun’ was also released. The band toured the album and the standard version of the CD charted extremely well, peaking at #2 in the UK charts, a great position for a greatest hits album. Up to and including the point of the release of ‘Decade’, the band had released 6 studio albums, 1 live album, 1 compilation album and had amassed 27 hit singles, including 10 UK top-10 songs, with one UK#1.

Kelly appeared as a guest on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny 2008, once again performing PlayHandbags and Gladrags and a cover of ‘My Girl’ across the New Year’s Eve celebration show. They also headlined the V Festival and Isle of Wight Festivals during that summer.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Aside from finishing the tour triumphantly, selling out venues over the country, 2009 remained a quiet year for the band until August, when via e-mailing list newsletter, the band announced the release date for a new album that was to be called ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’, their first album as an official 4-piece.

In addition to the album, they also announced that they would be playing a special, one-off home-coming show in Cardiff Castle on October 3rd, 2009. The castle committee seemingly overturning their decision less than one year previous, and letting the band play there once again. Tickets for the show were available through the band’s website on September 9th at 9am and had sold out in 40 minutes, crashing the band’s website in the process. Meanwhile, tickets exchanged hands on internet auction site eBay for hundreds of pounds.

New track PlayInnocent was aired on Radio 1 by DJ Chris Moyles a week later, and will be the principal single from the album, due to be released on 9th November 2009. It is going to be included on their 7th studio album, ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’, which is due for release a week later on 16th November 2009.

Source : last.fm

Faith No More

2010-03-13T22:02:00.000-08:00

Faith No More is an alternative rock group that formed in San Francisco, California in 1982. Their music combines elements of heavy metal, funk, hardcore punk, progressive, soul, hip hop, and jazz, among many others. Their sound is influenced by Eric Burdon, Killing Joke and Frank Zappa, among many others.

Faith No More formed in 1982 out of the ashes of Faith No Man, a band formed and headed by Mike “The Man” Morris. Roddy Bottum, Mike Bordin, and Billy Gould, all ex-Faith No Man members, decided they wanted rid of him, and rather than firing him, all three quit. They changed their name to Faith No More at the suggestion of a friend (as “The Man” was no more). After cycling through a few guitarists, the members recruited Jim Martin. A number of singers passed through, including a brief stint by Courtney Love. Chuck Mosley became the full time singer and appeared on their first two records. Their best known song from this era is probably “We Care a Lot”, which satirized the prevalence of charity-related rock efforts such as Live Aid and “We Are the World”.

The band gained a reputation for infighting and friction that sometimes went way beyond the limits of “creative differences.” In a notorious interview in 1987, Mosley claimed that Martin had hit him with a bottle, and there were frequent rumours of physical confrontations between band members. Indeed, in a short history of the band in one issue, the British music newspaper Melody Maker observed that the band’s internal relationships had descended into “pathological hatred”. Bordin in particular seemed to be very much the “whipping boy” of the band and the butt of numerous cruel pranks and practical jokes. It is doubtful that the band would have stayed together had they not been successful after their second album, Introduce Yourself.

Mosley was fired in 1988, and replaced with singer Mike Patton. Patton would prove a more versatile singer than the monotone Mosley. At the time, he was singing with his high school band Mr. Bungle (and would continue to do so during his Faith No More years), and dropped out of Humboldt State University to join Faith No More. The group’s first record with Patton, The Real Thing, was a major hit, selling over a million copies and earning the group a grammy.

Patton’s astonishing vocal range was, arguably, the salvation of Faith No More. Although never formally trained, the young ex-student was able to veer wildly from a deep, operatic bass through to screeching banshee death metal yowls and all the way up to soulful, almost feminine drawling—usually over the space of one album (as opposed to doing it in a single song as in the band Mr. Bungle). For example, the exuberant rap on “Epic” and the sleazy jazz vocals of “Edge Of the World” (on the 1989 album The Real Thing) are wildly different. This burgeoning singing ability enabled the band to expand and develop far further. Keyboardist Bottum memorably described his new colleague as “a pair of lungs on legs.”

The Real Thing (or TRT for short) has been described as “not quite early Brian Eno joins Led Zeppelin and Funkadelic.” The video for “Epic”, which featured slow motion footage of a fish flopping out of water, received extensive airplay on MTV in the summer of 1990, despite provoking anger from animal rights activists. That same year, Faith No More gave memorable performances at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (September 6) and on Saturday Night Live (December 1).

Faith No More displayed a distinctly experimental bent on their next album, Angel Dust. One critic writes that the album is “one of the more complex and simply confounding records ever released by a major label,” [2] and another writes that “‘A Small Victory’, which seems to run Madame Butterfly through Metallica and Nile Rodgers … reveals a developing facility for combining unlikely elements into startlingly original concoctions.” [3] Angel Dust featured the singles “Midlife Crisis” and “A Small Victory”, as well as a re-recording of the theme to the film Midnight Cowboy. Later pressings of the album also included their cover of the Commodores classic “Easy”, which in some parts of the world became the band’s biggest hit. Angel Dust, though not as successful as TRT in the U.S., sold 700,000 copies there, and did manage to outsell TRT in many other world charts. In Germany, for example, the record was certified Gold for sales of more than 270,000 copies. Along with heavy airplay of “Easy” and “Midlife Crisis”, the album became a bit of a sleeper hit in the U.K., South America, Europe and Australia.

After touring to support Angel Dust in the summer of 1992, (including tours with Metallica and Guns N’ Roses), longtime guitarist Jim Martin was fired (although he claims he quit) during the early stages of recording their follow-up, King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime in 1995. He was replaced by Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance. However, when the subsequent world tour was about to begin, Spruance jumped ship, leaving the band to recruit their keyboard roadie Dean Menta to handle guitar duties. KFAD/FFAL remains the band’s most heavily criticised album, varying in styles and moods from heavy and slow to spasmodic and jazzy. KFAD/FFAL did however sell acceptably in the U.K., Germany and Australia. In the U.S. the album failed to get any sort of attraction or following, slipping out of the charts quickly. Sales (about 1.5 million) were below that of Angel Dust. The band accordingly decided to cut their world tour short by 4 months, deleted the singles “Gentle Art Of Making Enemies” and “Take This Bottle”, and released a 7 x 7-inch box set of singles that included the B-sides and some interviews between the songs. An automobile accident occurred while in Bearsville, New York for the recording of “King For A Day.” It’s been described as rather bad. Mike Patton, Mike Bordin and Trey Spruance were in it, Patton was driving. They lived…Patton doesn’t drive any more. Patton comments, “Well we saw God. We had a really bad car accident. …We had to look at lot of things in the face…it was nice.”

Album of the Year was released in 1997 and featured yet another new guitarist, Jon Hudson, who was a former roommate of Billy Gould. The album debuted much higher than expected in some countries, for example Germany (#2, later going gold) and Australia (#1, going platinum). In an additional 12 countries in Europe, it went either gold or platinum. In the U.S. the reaction was slow for the album; however, just as interest was picking up on their tours and album they called it a day. Singles “Ashes To Ashes” and “Last Cup Of Sorrow” had minimal success. Electro-tinged ballad “Stripsearch” was released as a single in various countries (excluding the U.S. and U.K.). “She Loves Me Not” was cancelled as a single which was a little indicator of their imminent break-up.

On April 19th 1998, after 16 years as a band, Faith No More dissolved. Although the break-up went by with limited media attention, many rumors had surfaced as to the reason, some which included infighting, disagreement over the amount of side-projects (since the line-up had consistently changed), collective exhaustion of creative energy and even the band’s growing popularity, which had been attributed as a main influence for many nu-metal bands who would ascend to the mainstream at the end of the decade. Despite being extinct for some years, the band still manages to influence and inspire musicians worldwide.

Patton went on to collaborate with John Zorn, and has been active with several other groups, including Tomahawk and Fantômas. Guitarist Jim Martin went on to collaborate with Anand Bhatt. Keyboardist Roddy Bottum formed Imperial Teen, whose sunny pop music seemed very different from Faith No More. Mike Bordin regularly performs as a member of Ozzy Osbourne’s band, as well as Black Sabbath and he was also a member of Korn for a tour when their drummer David Silvera had a problem with his wrist. Billy Gould is a member of Brujeria, as well as founder of Kool Arrow Records, and has also overseen the releases of various Faith No More compilations. Jim Martin also now has the 235th largest pumpkin ever measured [4], and has made guest appearances on various records, including Antipop by Primus, as well as having released a solo album titled Milk and Blood (1996).

Faith No More also gained more publicity when their tracks “Falling To Pieces” and “The Perfect Crime” were featured in the films Black Hawk Down and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey respectively.

On the 25th of February 2009 Faith no More announced a reunion tour, to take place in 2009. The band are set to play a series of European festivals, according to a press release from frontman Mike Patton. The official press release for their reunion, written by Bill Gould, was released a day later and can be read on FNM.com.

Source : last.fm

Pixies

2010-03-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

Pixies are an American alternative rock band which formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States in 1986 . They consist of Charles (Black Francis) Thompson IV (vocals, guitar; also known as ‘’Frank Black’‘), Kim Deal (bass, vocals), Joey Santiago (guitar) and David Lovering (drums). The band officially split in 1993 and reunited in 2004. They went on hiatus in 2007, with each band member pursuing projects of their own, only to reunite in 2009, with the announcement of a new tour commencing in Europe that summer.

Although quite popular on alternative rock radio in the United States due to heavy airplay of the singles “Monkey Gone to Heaven” and “Here Comes Your Man”, they were never widely popular there, but found success in Europe, especially in the UK where they managed three top 40 singles (“Velouria”, “Planet of Sound” and a re-release of “Debaser”).

In 1993, during an interview with BBC Radio 5, Black Francis announced that the band had split - something he had not told his bandmates. After the interview, he called Santiago, who in turn faxed Deal and Lovering the news the next morning. After the split, Black Francis inverted his stage name to Frank Black and embarked on a successful solo career, while Deal resumed her role in The Breeders with her identical twin sister Kelley. In 2004, the band reunited for a tour - documented in the film loudQUIETloud - and released a new single, “Bam Thwok” that summer. In 2007, Black Francis (now going by that name again) stated in an interview that the reunion was “done” even though the members remain in good terms with each other. In later interviews however, he began to mention that he might be willing to record another Pixies album. Nonetheless, Francis has returned to his solo career and Deal to the Breeders, both of which released albums and toured in 2008. Lovering and Santiago, meanwhile, set up their own project, a band called Everybody.

Recently, it has been announced that the band will perform at the Isle of Wight Festival, supporting the main headliner, Neil Young.

Source : last.fm

30 Seconds to Mars

2010-03-05T01:25:00.000-08:00

Created in 1998, Los Angeles, California, United States by Jared Leto and his brother, Shannon, 30 Seconds to Mars began as a big family project. Matt Wachter later joined the band as bassist and keyboard player. After working with a number of guitarists (as the band’s first two guitarists, Kevin Drake and Solon Bixler, left the band due to issues primarily related to touring), the three auditioned Tomo Miličević to round out the band’s roster.

The band has released three albums so far.

30 Seconds to Mars — 2002
The band’s debut self-titled album, produced by Bob Ezrin, was released in 2002 to mixed reviews and achieved sales of just over 100,000[citation needed]. The album produced two singles, Capricorn (A Brand New Name) and Edge of the Earth. The former peaked at #31 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart.

A Beautiful Lie — 2005
Their sophomore album, A Beautiful Lie, was released on August 30, 2005. Because the album was leaked five months before its release, the band decided to include two bonus tracks: “Battle of One” (an original song that was also set to be the album’s title track when it was first announced) and “Hunter” (a cover of the Björk song). To further promote the album, the band also enclosed “golden tickets” in 12 copies, which granted their owners access to any 30 Seconds to Mars concert free of charge, along with backstage access.

This Is War — 2009
This Is War was released on December 7 in the United Kingdom and December 8th in the United States. This Is War is the first studio album by 30 Seconds To Mars in four years since A Beautiful Lie released in 2005. The album will include the following tracks: “Escape”, “Night of the Hunter”, “Kings and Queens” , “This Is War” “100 Suns”, “Hurricane” , “Closer to the Edge”, “Vox Populi”, “Search & Destroy”, “Alibi”, “Stranger in a Strange Land”, “L490”. The first single from the album was ‘Kings and Queens’, and it was released on 6th October 2009.

The Echelon
The Echelon is a publicity street team for the band 30 Seconds to Mars, which helps in bringing friends to the shows, phoning local radio stations to request the band’s songs, putting up posters, posting to band forums or related bulletin boards online, voting for the band in official award nominations and maintaining magazines or websites dedicated to the band. It is also the name of one of their songs in the album 30 Seconds to Mars.

Logo
The band’s phoenix logo.The band’s phoenix logo (which the band named “Mithra”) bears the phrase “Provehito in Altum”, the band’s motto. Roughly translated from Latin, this means “Launch forth into the deep”; but a more stylized version would be “Rocket in(to) High(ness)”. The logo was primarily used for promotion of the band’s debut, whereas for A Beautiful Lie, the new Trinity logo was created consisting of three skulls, along with the band’s name and motto. For This Is War, the band has created a triangle divided into 3 parts.

Band members
Jared Leto – lead vocals, Rhythm guitar, lyrics (1998–present)
Tomo Miličević – lead guitar, Violin, Keyboard/synth, programming (2003–present)
Shannon Leto – drums, Percussion (1998–present)
Tim Kelleher – touring bass guitar, Keyboard/synth (2007–present?)

Source : last.fm

Three Days Grace

2010-03-05T01:22:00.000-08:00

Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed under the name Groundswell in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992. After a breakup in 1995, the band reformed in 1997 under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. In 2003, Barry Stock was recruited as the band’s lead guitarist.

After signing to Jive Records, Three Days Grace released two studio albums, Three Days Grace in 2003 and One-X in 2006, both of which have been certified platinum and double platinum in the US and Canada, respectively. In 2007, the band was declared number one rock artist of the year by Billboard and was the number four artist in airplay in Canada that same year. The band’s third album, Life Starts Now, was released on September 22, 2009.

History

Three Days Grace formed in 1992 under the name Groundswell in Norwood, Ontario, Canada. Groundswell’s line-up consisted of five members: Adam Gontier (vocals, guitar), Neil Sanderson (backing vocals, drums), Brad Walst (bass), Phil Crowe (guitar), and Joe Grant (guitar), all of whom were attending high school when the band formed.[1]

In 1997, after being disbanded for two years, the band regrouped in Toronto as a trio consisting of Gontier, Sanderson, and Walst. They also changed their name to “Three Days Grace”. According to Gontier, the name stands for the question: If you had three days to change something in your life, could you do it?[2] Once in Toronto, the band became acquainted with local producer Gavin Brown. The band gave him several years of material that they had created since forming, and he “picked out what he called ‘the golden nuggets’”, according to Gontier.[3] Brown and the band polished the songs into a demo album which they gave to EMI Music Publishing Canada. The record label wanted to hear more material, and with Brown producing, the band created the song, “I Hate Everything About You”, which attracted the interest of several record labels.[3] The band was soon signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company’s president.[1]
[edit] Three Days Grace (2003 - 2005)

Three Days Grace (2003 - 2005)

After being signed to Jive, the band moved to Long View Farms, a studio in Boston, to record their debut album.[3] The self-titled album was finished in Woodstock, New York and released on July 22, 2003.[1] It was met with generally favorable reviews. Dave Doray of IGN said of the album, “Mistakes? There’s not many.”[4] Allmusic reviewer Heather Phares said that on Three Days Grace, “the band’s focus and adherence to alt-metal’s formulas — coupled with tight songwriting and some unexpectedly pretty choruses — results in a strong tracks that are more memorable than the work of many of their peers”.[5] She did criticize the album for its simplicity, concluding, “Three Days Grace are definitely one of the most accessible alt-metal bands of the 2000s; they just need to add some more distinctiveness to their sound.”[5]

After acquiring lead guitarist Barry Stock in late 2003,[6] Three Days Grace toured continuously and extensively for almost two years in support of their major label debut.[1] The album peaked at number nine on the Canadian Albums Chart[7] and number 69 on the Billboard 200[8] and was certified platinum in the US by the RIAA in December 2004[9] and double platinum in Canada by the CRIA.[10]

One-X (2006 - 2008)

While touring in support of Three Days Grace, Gontier became depressed and addicted to drugs and alcohol. He went into rehab after the band finished touring, and while there, began writing material for the band’s second album.[11] After leaving rehab, he rejoined the band in a cottage in Ontario to finish writing material for the album. In a 2006 interview, Gontier said that the album’s material was more personal to him than the band’s previous release, being based on the despondence, drug abuse, and rehab that constituted the past two years of his life.[12][11] The album, titled One-X, was then released on June 13, 2006,[12] and was guitarist Barry Stock’s recorded debut.[1]

One-X was met with generally favorable reviews. The Toronto Star complimented the album with a review title of “One CD worth buying…” and focused on its lyrics, saying, “The lyrics really speak out to you, especially if you’re going through a tough time in your life.”[14] Allmusic reviewer Corey Apar praised the music, saying it “remains catchy despite its lyrical darkness”.[15] The album did receive some negative criticism. Apar pointed out that Three Days Grace is “hardly innovative” in their approach to writing music and that “further distinctive qualities” would help the band separate itself “from their alt-metal peers”.[15]

One-X peaked at number two on the Canadian album chart[7] and at number five on the Billboard 200,[1] selling 78,000 copies in the US in its first week of release.[16] Its first single, “Animal I Have Become”, was Three Days Grace’s most successful, becoming 2006’s most played rock song in Canada,[14] and the album helped propel Three Days Grace to become the number one rock artist in airplay in the US and Canada in 2007, with Billboard ranking them as the number one rock artist of the year in 2007.[17] One-X was certified platinum by the RIAA in the US on August 30, 2007,[9] and double platinum by the CRIA in Canada in July 2007.[17][18] Three Days Grace toured the US and Canada throughout the second half of 2006 and all of 2007 in support of One-X.[19] In early 2008, they toured alongside Seether and Breaking Benjamin across the US[20][21]

Life Starts Now (since 2009)

From March to August 2009, Three Days Grace recorded their third album at studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Los Angeles, with producer Howard Benson, who had worked with them on their previous releases.[22][17] The album, titled Life Starts Now, was released on September 22, 2009. The first single from the album, “Break”, was released on September 1, 2009.[17]

Three Days Grace have planned a tour of the US and Canada encompassing the latter part of 2009 and supporting Life Starts Now.[22]

Musical style and influences

Three Days Grace’s musical style has generally been described by critics as alternative metal[5][11] and hard rock[23][24] throughout the band’s career. Heather Phares of Allmusic, in a review of the band’s debut album, compared them to rock bands Chevelle and Helmet.[5] Dave Doray of IGN described Three Days Grace as “heavy and catchy, with chewy chunks of assurance and fury thrown in for added measure.”[4] Allmusic’s Corey Apar said One-X brings an “accessible alt-metal attack of blunt lyrics and crunching rhythms” that retains the melodic sound of its predecessor “despite its lyrical darkness”.[15]

The band has listed numerous influences in their music. Gontier has mentioned such bands as Sunny Day Real Estate, Kyuss, Nine Inch Nails, and Tool as influences for the band’s music.[25] According to Gontier, the lyrics for Three Days Grace songs have mostly been influenced by the Seattle music scene. He summarized about the band’s influences in an interview, “Musically there’s a lot of different influences, but lyrically it’s hard to have different influences because you just write.”[26]

Band members

* Adam Gontier – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (since 1997)
* Brad Walst – bass guitar, backing vocals (since 1997)
* Neil Sanderson – drums, backing vocals (since 1997)
* Barry Stock – lead guitar (since 2003)

Source : last.fm

PARAMORE Brand New Eyes Lyrics 2009

2010-02-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

Careful
Lyrics
I settled down
A twisted up frown disguised as a smile
Well you would've never known
I had it all but not what I wanted
'Cause hope for me was a place uncharted and overgrown

You'd make your way in
I'd resist you just like this you can't tell me to feel
The truth never set me free so I did it myself

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more

Open your eyes like I opened mine
It's only the real world:
A life you will never know
Shifting your weight to throw off the pain
Well you can ignore it but only for so long

You look like I did
“You resist me just like this you can't tell me to heal!”
And it hurts remembering how it felt to shut down

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more

The truth never set me free so I'll do it myself

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more

Ignorance
Lyrics
If I'm a bad person
You don't like me
Well I guess I'll make my own way
It's a circle
A mean cycle
I can't excite you anymore

Where's your gavel
Your jury
What's my offense this time
You're not a judge but if you're gonna judge me
Sentence me to another life

Don't wanna hear your sad songs
I don't wanna feel your pain
When you swear it's all my fault 'cause you know we're not the same
We're not the same
The friends who stuck together
We wrote our names in blood
But I guess you can't accept that the change is good
It's good

You treat me just like another stranger
Well it's nice to meet you sir I guess I'll go
I best be on my way out

Ignorance is your new best friend

This is the best thing that could've happened
Any longer and I wouldn't have made it
It's not a war no it's not a rapture
I'm just a person but you can't take it
The same tricks that once fooled me they won't get you anywhere
I'm not the same kid from your memory
Now I can fend for myself

Don't wanna hear your sad songs
I don't wanna feel your pain
When you swear it's all my fault 'cause you know we're not the same
We're not the same
Yeah we used to stick together
We wrote our names in blood
But I guess you can't accept that the change is good
It's good

You treat me just like another stranger
Well it's nice to meet you sir I guess I'll go
I best be on my way out

Ignorance is your new best friend

Playing God
Lyrics
I can't make my own decisions or make any with precision
Well maybe you should tie me up so I don't go where you don't want me
You say that I've been changing
That I'm not just simply aging
Yeah how could that be logical
Just keep on cramming ideas down my throat

You don't have to believe me but the way the way I see it
Next time you point a finger I might have to bend it back or break it break it off
Next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror

If God's the game that you're playing well we must get more acquainted because it has to be so lonely to be the Only one who's holy
It's just my humble opinion but it's one that I believe in
You don't deserve a point of view if the only thing you see is you

You don't have to believe me but the way the way I see it
Next time you point a finger I might have to bend it back or break it break it off
Next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror

This is the last second chance
I'm half as good as it gets
I'm on both sides of the fence
Without a hint of regret I'll hold you to it

I know don't believe me but the way the way I see it
Next time you point a finger I might have to bend it back or break it break it off
Next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror

Brick By Boring Brick
Lyrics
She lives in a fairy tale somewhere too far for us to find
Forgotten the taste and smell of a world that She's left behind
It's all about the exposure
The lens
I told Her the angles were all wrong
Now She's ripping wings off of butterflies

Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the clouds

Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle

So one day he found Her crying coiled up on the dirty ground
Her prince finally came to save her and the rest you can figure out
But it was a trick and the clock struck 12
Well make sure to build your home brick by boring brick or the wolf's gonna blow it down

Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the clouds

Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle

You built up a world of magic
Because your real life is tragic

If it's not real you can't hold it in your hands
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it
But if it's true you can see it with your eyes
Even in the dark
And that's where I want to be

Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle

Turn It Off
Lyrics
I scraped my knees while I was praying and found a demon in my safest haven
Seems like it's getting harder to believe in anything than just to get lost in all my selfish thoughts
I wanna know what it'd be like to find perfection in my pride
To see nothing in the light
Or turn it off in all my spite
In all my spite I'll turn it off

And the worst part is before it gets any better we're headed for a cliff
And in the free fall I will realize I'm better off when I hit the bottom

The tragedy it seems unending
I'm watching everyone I looked up to breaking, bending
Taking shortcuts and false solutions just to come out the hero
Well I can see behind the curtain
The wheels are cranking turning
It's all wrong the way we're working towards a goal that's nonexistent
It's nonexistent but we just keep believing

The worst part is before it gets any better we're headed for a cliff
And in the free fall I will realize I'm better off when I hit the bottom

I wanna know what it'd be like to find perfection in my pride
To see nothing in the light
And turn it off in all my spite
In all my spite I'll turn it off
Just turn it off
Again

The Only Exception
Lyrics
When I was younger I saw my daddy cry and curse at the wind
Broke his own heart and I watched as he tried to reassemble it
And my momma swore that she would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised I'd never sing of love if it does not exist

But darling you are the only exception

Maybe I know somewhere deep in my soul that love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone
Keep a straight face
I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I had sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk

Well you are the only exception

I've got a tight grip on reality but I can't let go of what's in front of me here
I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream

You are the only exception

I'm on my way to believing

Feeling Sorry
Lyrics
We still live in the same town well don't we
But I don't see you around anymore
I go to all the same places
Not even a trace of you
Your days are numbered at 24

And I'm getting bored waiting around for you
We're not getting any younger and I won't look back cause there's no use
It's time to move forward

I feel no sympathy
You live inside a cave
You barely get by the rest of us are trying
No need to apologize I've got no time for feeling sorry

I try not to think of what might happen when your reality it finally cuts through
Well as for me I got out and I'm on the road and the worst part is that this could be you

You know it too
Can't run from your shame
You're not getting any younger
And time keeps passing by but you wave it away
It's time to roll over

I feel no sympathy
You live inside a cave
You barely get by the rest of us are trying
There's no need to apologize I've got no time for feeling sorry

All the best lies
They are told with fingers tied
So cross them tight
Won't you promise me tonight
If it's the last thing you do you'll get out

I feel no sympathy
You live inside a cave
You barely get by the rest of us are trying
There's no need to apologize I've got no time for feeling sorry

Looking Up
Lyrics
Things are looking up oh finally
I thought I'd never see the day when you'd smile at me
We always pull through oh when we try
I'm always wrong but you're never right you're never right

Honestly can you believe we cross the world while it's asleep?
I'll never trade it in cause I've always wanted this
And it's not a dream anymore
No
It's not a dream anymore
It's worth fighting for

Could've given up so easily
I was a few cheap shots away from the end of me
Taking for granted most everything that I would've died for just yesterday
Just yesterday

Honestly can you believe we cross the world while it's asleep?
I'll never trade it in cause I've always wanted this
And it's not a dream anymore
No
It's not a dream anymore
It's worth fighting for

God knows the world doesn't need another band
But what a waste it would've been
I can't believe we almost hung it up
We're just getting started!

Where The Lines Overlap
Lyrics
Give me attention
I need it now
Too much distance
To measure it out
Out loud
Tracing patterns across a personal map
And making pictures where the lines overlap

No one is as lucky as us
We're not at the end but oh we already won
No one is as lucky as us

Call me over
Tell me how
You got so far
Never making
A single sound
I'm not used to it but I can learn
Nothing to it
I've never been happier

No one is as lucky as us
We're not at the end but oh we already won
No one is as lucky as us

Now I've got a feeling if I sang this loud enough you would sing it back to me

No one is as lucky as us
We're not at the end but oh we already won
No one is as lucky as us

Misguided Ghosts
Lyrics
I am going away for a while but I'll be back don't try and follow me
'Cause I'll return as soon as possible
See I'm trying to find my place and it might not be here where I feel safe
We all learn to make mistakes and run from them

With no direction
We'll run from them
With no conviction

'Cause I'm just one of those ghosts
Traveling endlessly
Don't need no roads
In fact they follow me
And we just go in circles

Now I'm told that this is life and pain is just a simple compromise
So we can get what we want out of it
Would someone care to classify our broken hearts and twisted minds
So I can find someone to rely on and run to them

Full speed ahead
Oh you are not useless
We are just

Misguided ghosts
Traveling endlessly
The ones we trusted the most pushed us far away

And there's no one road
We should not be the same
But I'm just a ghost and still they echo me

They echo me in circles

All I Wanted
Lyrics
Think of me when you're out
When you're out there
I'll beg you nice from my knees
And when the world treats you way too fairly
It's a shame I'm a dream

All I wanted was you

I think I'll pace my apartment a few times
And fall asleep on the couch
And wake up early to black and white reruns
That escape from my mouth

All I wanted was you

I could follow you to the beginning
Just to relive the start
Maybe then we'd remember to slow down
At all of our favorite parts

All I wanted was you

Source : paramore

DREAM THEATER LYRICS Black Clouds and Silver Linings (2009)

2010-02-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

1. A Nightmare To Remember

[Music by Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess and Myung, Lyrics by John Petrucci]

A nightmare to remember
I'd never be the same.
What began as laughter
So soon would turn to pain.
The sky was clear and frigid
The air was thick and still
Now I'm not one to soon forget
And I bet I never will

Picture for a moment
The perfect irony
A flawless new beginning
Eclipsed by tragedy.
The uninvited stranger
Started dancing on his own
So we said goodbye
To the glowing bride
And we made our way back home.

Life was so simple then
We were so innocent.
Father and mother
Holding each other.

Without warning
Out of nowhere
Like a bullet
From the night
Crushing Glass
Rubber and steel
Scorching fire
Glowing lights
Screams of terror
Pain and Fear
Sounds of sirens
Smoke in my eyes
Sudden stillness
Blackened silence
No more screaming
No more cries

Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn up and broken
Frightened and dazed

Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn up and broken
Frightened and dazed

Lying on the table
In this unfamiliar place
I'm greeted by a stranger
A man without a face
He said, "Son, do you remember?
Do you even know your name?"
Then he shined a light into my eyes
And said, "take this for the pain."

Hopelessly drifting,
Bathing in beautiful agony.
I am endlessly falling,
Lost in this wonderful misery.
In peaceful sedation, I lay half awake
And all of the panic inside starts to fade.
Hopelessly drifting,
Bathing in beautiful agony.

"Tell me does this hurt you?"
Said the faceless man.
"Can you move all of your fingers?
Can you try your best to stand?"
I asked about the others
Is everyone OK?
He told me not to worry
As he turned and looked away.

Hopelessly drifting,
Bathing in beautiful agony.
I am endlessly falling,
Lost in this wonderful misery.
In peaceful sedation, I lay half awake
And all of the panic inside starts to fade.
Hopelessly drifting,
Bathing in beautiful agony.

Day after day
And night after night
Replaying the events
Did they ever see the red light?

Over and over
Scene by scene
Like a recurring nightmare haunting my dreams.
How can you prepare for what would happen next?
No son should ever have to see his father such a mess
It's a miracle he lived
It's a blessing no one died
By the Grace of God above
Everyone survived

Life was so simple then
We were so innocent.
It will stay with us forever
A nightmare to remember

2. A Rite Of Passage

[Music by Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess and Myung, Lyrics by John Petrucci]

Since the new world order
Played upon our fears
Spreading accusations
Of radical ideas

The brotherhood of wisdom
Strength and dignity
Its rituals and secrets
Remain a mystery

Beneath an ever watchful eye
The angels of the temple fly

Turn the key
Walk through the gate
The great ascent
To reach a higher state
A rite of passage

The final stage
A sacred home
Unlock the door
And lay the corner stone
A rite of passage

Men of wealth and power
Influence and fame
Philosophers and leaders
All members of the trade

Bound by oath and honor
Like the rose and cross
An enigmatic union
Of esoteric thought

Beneath an ever watchful eye
The angels of the temple fly

Turn the key
Walk through the gate
The great ascent
To reach a higher state
A rite of passage

The final stage
A sacred home
Unlock the door
And lay the corner stone
A rite of passage

Turn the key
Walk through the gate
The great ascent
To reach a higher state
A rite of passage

The seven stars
The rising sun
A perfect world
Where new life has begun
A rite of passage

3. Wither

[Music & Lyrics by John Petrucci]

Let it out, let it out
Feel the empty space
So insecure
Find the words
And let it out

Staring down, staring down
Nothing comes to mind
Find the place
Turn the water into wine

But I feel I'm getting nowhere
And I'll never see the end

So I wither
And render myself helpless
I give in
And everything is clear
I breakdown
And let the story guide me

Turn it on
Turn it on
Let the feelings flow
Close your eyes
See the ones you used to know

Open up open up
Don't struggle to relate
Lure it out
Help the memory escape
Still this barrenness consumes me
And I feel like giving up

So I wither
And render myself helpless
I give in
And everything is clear
I breakdown
And let the story guide me

I wither
And give myself away

Like reflections on the page
The world's what you create

I drown in hesitation
My words come crashing down
And all my best creations
Burning to the ground
The thought of starting over
Leaves me paralyzed

Tear it out again
Another one that got away

I wither
And render myself helpless
I give in
And everything is clear

I wither
And render myself helpless
I give in
And everything is clear
I breakdown
And let the story guide me
I wither
And give myself away

Like reflections on the page
The world's what you create

4. The Shattered Fortress

[Music by Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess and Myung, Lyrics by Mike Portnoy]

[X. Restraint]

Freedom calls my name
Serenity keeps me sane
Happiness -- it dulls the pain

Honest to see my place
Open to other ways
Willingness to understand

Justice but do not judge
Courtesy for others' flaws
Kindness -- it's not that hard

Self-restraint of tongue and pen
Inventory -- my daily friend
Analysis let down your guard

Look in the mirror
What do you see?
The shattered fortress
That once bound me

Faithful ascent, through darkest fires
I've found the path to take me higher

You're smart enough for me to trust go live your life now
Just keep these steps in your life and you'll know how
If you're not sure, ask yourself,
"Have I done to them as I would have them do to me?"

Look in the mirror
What's that you see?
The shattered fortress
Fly now be free

Faithful ascent, through darkest fires
I've found the path to take me higher

I once thought it better to be right
But now I have finally seen the light
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn from mistakes
I live with serenity now
Not self-righteous hate

[XI. Receive]

(Help me be a channel of Thy peace
That where there is hatred, I may bring love;
That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
That where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
That where there is error, I may bring truth;
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith)

Now that you can see all you have done
(That where there is despair, I may bring hope;
That where there are shadows, I may bring light)

It's time to take that step into the kingdom
(That where there is sadness, I may bring joy)

All your sins will help to make you strong
(That I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted.
That I may seek to understand than to be understood)

And help you break right through the prison wall
(That I may seek to love, rather than to be loved,
for it is by self-forgetting that one finds,
it is by forgiving that one is forgiven)

Keep all of me,
The desires that once burned me deep inside
Help me live today
And help to give me grace
To carry out your way

I am ready, help me be all I can be
I am ready, help guide me and keep me free

[XII. Responsible]

I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there

[Dedicated to Bill W. and all of his friends]

5. The Best Of Times

[Music by Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess and Myung, Lyrics by Mike Portnoy]

Remember days of yesterday
How it flew so fast
The two score and a year we had,
I thought it would always last
Those summer days and west coast dreams
I wished would never end
A young boy and his father,
Idol and best friend

I'll always remember
Those were the best of times
A lifetime together
I'll never forget

The morning shows on the radio
The case of the missing dog
Lying on the pillows at the old 812
Watching Harold and Maude
The record shops, the stickball fields
My home away from home
And when we weren't together
The hours on the phone

I'll always remember
Those were the best of times
I'll cherish them forever
The best of times

But then came the call
Our lives changed forever more
"You can pray for a change
But prepare for the end..."

The fleeting winds of time
Flying through each day
All the things I should've done
But time just slipped away
Remember seize the day
Life goes by in the blink of an eye
With so much left to say

These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit lit my life each day

Thank you for the inspiration
Thank you for the smiles
All the unconditional love
That carried me for miles
It carried me for miles
But most of all thank you for my life

These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit lit my life each day
My heart is bleeding bad
But I'll be OK
Your spirit guides my life each day

[In Loving Memory of Howard Portnoy 1940-2009]

6. The Count Of Tuscany

[Music by Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess and Myung, Lyrics by John Petrucci]

Several years ago
In a foreign town
Far away from home
I met the Count of Tuscany

A young eccentric man
Bred from royal blood
Took me for a ride
Across the open countryside

Get into my car
Let's go for a drive
Along the way
I'll be your guide
Just step inside

Maybe you recall
A cannibal curator
A character inspired by my brother's life

Winding through the hills
The city far behind
On and on we drove
Down narrow streets and dusty roads

At last we came upon
A picturesque estate
On sprawling emerald fields
An ancient world of times gone by

Let me introduce
My brother
A bearded gentleman
Historian
Sucking on his pipe
Distinguished accent
Making me uptight
No accident

I want to stay alive
Everything about this place
Just doesn't feel right
I
I don't want to die

Suddenly I'm frightened for my life

I want to say goodbye
This could be the last time
You see me alive

I-
I may not survive
Knew it from the moment we arrived

Would you like to see
Our secret holy place?
I come here late at night
To pray to him by candle light

Then peering through the glass
I saw with belief
Still dressed in royal clothes
The saint behind the altar

History recalls
During times of war
Legend has been traced
Back inside these castle walls

Where soldiers came to hide
In barrels filled with wine
Never to escape
These tombs of oak are where they died

Down the cellar stairs
I disappear
Like the angel's share
The end is near

Come and have a taste
A rare vintage
All the finest wines
Improve with age

I want to stay alive
Everything about this place
Just doesn't feel right
I
I don't want to die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life

I want to say goodbye
This could be the last time
You see me alive

I
I may not survive
Knew it from the moment we arrived

Could this be the end?
Is this the way I die?
Sitting here alone
No one by my side

I don't understand
I don't feel that I deserve this
What did I do wrong?
I just don't understand

Give me one more chance
Let me please explain
It's all been circumstance
I'll tell you once again

You took me for a ride
Promising a vast adventure
Next thing that I know
I'm frightened for my life

Now wait a minute man
That's not how it is
You must be confused
That isn't who I am

Please don't be afraid
I would never try to hurt you
This is how we live
Strange although it seems
Please try to forgive

The chapel and the saint
The soldiers and the wine
The fables and the tales
All handed down through time

Of course you're free to go
Go and tell the world my story
Tell about my brother
Tell them about me
The Count of Tuscany...

Source : darklyrics

"Dig Out Your Soul" Lyrics Album by Oasis

2010-02-19T18:55:00.000-08:00

Bag It Up
GOLD AND SILVER AND SUNSHINE IS RISING UP
POUR YOURSELF ANOTHER CUP OF LADY GREY
TAKE MY HAND IN THE MEANTIME
WHEN YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH
YOU’LL FIND ME ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY, BABE

TELL THE WORLD THAT YOU LOVE THEM
IN A MELODY
SEND MY OLD PIANO AND A TELEGRAM
GOTTA GET ME A DOCTOR
WITH A REMEDY
I’M GONNA TAKE A WALK
WITH THE MONKEY MAN!

SOMEONE TELL ME I’M DREAMING
THE FREAKS ARE RISING UP THROUGH THE FLOOR
BUT EVERYTHING I BELIEVE IN
IS TELLING ME THAT I WANT
MORE…MORE…MORE

LAY YOUR LOVE ON THE FIRE
WHEN YOU COME ON IN
I GOT MY HEE-BEE-JEE-BIES
HIDDEN IN A BAG
TELL ME WHAT YOU DESIRE
AND WE’LL BAG IT UP…

The Turning
EYES OVER THE CITY
RISE UP FROM YOUR SOUL
THEY HANG OVER THE STREETS AT NIGHT
BROUGHT ON BY THE COLD
WE LIVE WITH THE NUMBERS
MINING A DREAM
FOR THE SAME OLD SONG
WHAT HOPE FOR THE TURNING
IF EVERTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG

SO COME ON SHAKE YOUR RAG DOLL, BABY
BEFORE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
COME ON WHEN THE RAPTURE TAKES ME
BE THE FALLEN ANGEL BY MY SIDE

IF YOU CARRY THE LANTERN
I’LL CARRY YOU HOME
IF YOU SEARCH FOR THE DISAPPEARED
I’LL BURY THE COLD
YOURS IS A MESSIAH
MINE IS A DREAM AND IT WON’T BE LONG
NO HOPE FOR THE JOURNEY
IF NO-ONE EVER SEES THE DAWN

Waiting For The Rapture
I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR
BIG LOVE TO FALL DOWN FROM THE SKY?
SHE TOOK MY HAND AND PICKED ME UP OFF THE FLOOR
SHE PUT AN APPLE IN MY EYE

I SAID I’M TIRED – COME GET ME OFF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
I’M WIRED – COME FEED ME AND THEN BRING ME DOWN

SHE COME UP TO ME – CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT SHE SAID
‘COS I WAS IN A TRANCE AND I FORGOT IT ALL
BANGING ON ABOUT ALL THAT REVOLUTION IN HER HEAD
MAKING LOVE SEEM SO MAGICAL

SHE SAID I’M TIRED – COME GET ME OFF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
I’M WIRED - WELL HEAVEN MUST’VE SENT YOU
TO SAVE ME FOR THE RAPTURE

The Shock Of The Lightning
I’M ALL OVER MY HEART’S DESIRE
I FEEL COLD BUT I’M BACK IN THE FIRE
I’M OUT OF CONTROL BUT I’M TIED UP TIGHT
COME IN – COME OUT – TONIGHT

I’M COMING UP IN THE EARLY MORNING
I FEEL LOVE IN THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING
I FALL INTO THE BLINDING LIGHT
COME IN – COME OUT – COME IN - COME OUT – TONIGHT

LOVE IS A TIME MACHINE… UP ON THE SILVER SCREEN
IT’S ALL IN MY MIND…
LOVE IS A LITANY… A MAGICAL MYSTERY
ALL IN GOOD TIME… ALL IN GOOD TIME… ALL IN GOOD TIME

I GOT MY FEET ON THE STREET BUT I CAN’T STOP FLYING
MY HEAD’S IN THE CLOUDS BUT AT LEAST I’M TRYING
I’M OUT OF CONTROL BUT I’M TIED UP TIGHT.
COME IN – COME OUT – TONIGHT

THERE’S A HOLE IN THE GROUND INTO WHICH I’M FALLING
GOD SPEED TO THE SOUND OF THE POUNDING
I’M ALL INTO THE BLINDING LIGHT
COME IN – COME OUT – COME IN – COME OUT - TONIGHT

I`m Outta Time
HERE’S A SONG
IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN WE WERE YOUNG
LOOKING BACK AT ALL THE THINGS WE’VE DONE
YOU GOTTA KEEP ON KEEPING ON

OUT TO SEA
IT’S THE ONLY PLACE I HONESTLY
CAN GET MYSELF SOME PEACE OF MIND
YOU KNOW IT’S GETTING HARD TO FLY

IF I’M TO FALL
WOULD YOU BE THERE TO APPLAUD
OR WOULD YOU HIDE BEHIND THEM ALL
COS IF I HAVE TO GO
IN MY HEART YOU GROW
THAT’S WHERE YOU BELONG

IF I’M TO FALL
WOULD YOU BE THERE TO APPLAUD
OR WOULD YOU HIDE BEHIND THEM ALL
‘COS IF I HAVE TO GO
IN MY HEART YOU GROW
THAT’S WHERE YOU BELONG

I’M OUTTA TIME
I’M OUTTA TIME
I’M OUTTA TIME
I’M OUTTA TIME
I’M OUTTA TIME

(Get Off Your) High Horse
GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE LADY
I DON’T NEED A RIDE TONIGHT
GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE LADY
I DON’T NEED A RIDE TONIGHT
LAY DOWN

I HEAR YOUR SOUL SONG SINGING
FROM A FIRE IN THE SKY
I HEAR YOUR SOUL SONG SINGING
FROM A FIRE IN THE SKY
RAIN DOWN

Falling Down
THE SUMMER SUN THAT BLOWS MY MIND
IS FALLIN’ DOWN ON ALL THAT I’VE EVER KNOWN
IN TIME WE’LL KISS THE WORLD GOODBYE
FALLIN’ DOWN ON ALL THAT I’VE EVER KNOWN…
IS ALL THAT I’VE EVER KNOWN

A DYING SCREAM MAKES NO SOUND
CALLIN’ OUT TO ALL THAT HAVE EVER KNOWN
HERE AM I, LOST AND FOUND…
CALLIN’ OUT TO ALL

WE LIVE A DYING DREAM…
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN…
IT’S ALL THAT I’VE EVER KNOWN…
IT’S ALL THAT I’VE EVER KNOWN

CATCH THE WHEEL THAT BREAKS A BUTTERFLY
CRY THE RAIN THAT FILLS THE OCEAN WIDE
I TRIED TO TALK WITH GOD TO NO AVAIL
I CALLED HIM UP IN-AND-OUT OF NOWHERE
I SAID IF YOU WON’T SAVE ME
PLEASE DON’T WASTE MY TIME

To Be Where There`s Life
DAYS, TURNING TO NIGHT
PRAY, FOR THE LIGHT
LET ME COME THROUGH
LET ME TAKE YOU
WAY OVER THE LINE

EVERYONE FALL IN, EVERYONE FALL IN,
JAILERS COME CRAWLING
NEIGHBOURS JUMP WALLING,
LET ME COME THROUGH
LET ME TAKE YOU
WAY, OVER THE LINE, OVER THE LINE
OVER THE LINE, OVER THE LINE.

AND WE’LL WAKE
TO BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE
SHAKE, THE WILL TO COMPLY.
FEARS DON’T TRY ME
TEARS DON’T CRY ME
AND WE’LL WAKE,
TO BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE.

WHEN WE COME CALL OUT
EVERYTHING’S SOLD OUT
TV JUST CLOSED DOWN
NOTHING ON THE NEWS NOW
FEARS DON’T TRY ME
TEARS DON’T CRY ME
AND WE’LL WAKE.
TO BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE, BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE
BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE, BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE.

DIG OUT YOUR SOUL
‘COS HERE WE GO
WE GOTTA MOVE
IT’S WHAT WE DO

LET ME COME THROUGH
LET ME TAKE YOU
AND WE’LL WAKE.
TO BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE
BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE
BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE

TAKE YOU OVER THE LINE
UNDER THE SIGNS
IN THROUGH LOCKED DOORS
UP TO SECRET FLOORS
WHERE WE’VE ALL STOOD BEFORE.

Ain`t Got Nothin
THEY GOT NOTHING FOR ME ANYMORE
THEY GOT NOTHING FOR YOU
I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY SAY ANYMORE
ALL I WANT IS THE TRUTH

OUT ON BAIL
TO UNVEIL
HERE’S A SONG
SING ALONG
WATCH MY STYLE
PICK UP PACE
WIPE THAT SMILE
FROM YOUR FACE

OUT ON BAIL
TO UNVEIL
HERE’S A SONG
SING ALONG
WATCH MY STYLE
PICK A PACE
WIPE THAT SMILE
FROM YOUR FACE

THEY GOT NOTHING ON ME ANYMORE
THEY GOT NOTHING ON YOU
I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY SAY ANYMORE
ALL I WANT IS THE TRUTH

The Nature Of Reality
THE NATURE OF REALITY
IS PURE SUBJECTIVE FANTASY
SPACE AND TIME AND HERE AND NOW
ARE ONLY IN YOUR MIND

I SEEN OFF GOD AND DEVIL TOO
WITH NO WEAPON, JUST THE TRUTH
BELIEF DOES NOT EXISTENCE MAKE
IT’S ONLY IN YOUR MIND

THE NATURE OF REALITY
IS ONLY IN YOUR MIND

Soldier On
HOLD THE LINE
FRIEND OF MINE
SING A SONG
SOLDIER ON

SHINE A LIGHT
FOR ME TONIGHT
DON’T BE LONG
SOLDIER ON

WHO’S TO SAY
YOU WERE RIGHT
AND I WAS WRONG
SOLDIER ON

COME THE DAY
COME THE NIGHT
I’LL BE GONE
SOLDIER ON

Source : oasisinet

Lostprophets

2010-02-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins and guitarist Mike Lewis grew up together in the Cardiff satellite town of Pontypridd. They began blending musical genres as members of the band Public Disturbance. Watkins was a drummer at the time, but he moved to vocals when the pair first started experimenting as Lozt Prophetz. Watkins and Lewis flirted with ska and hip-hop at first, then came to an aggressive style of rock that mixed together their longtime love of metal and pop. They also changed the spelling to Lostprophets and added Lee Gaze (guitar), Stuart Richardson (bass), and Mike Chiplin (drums) to the lineup.

After Lostprophets' demo was featured in Kerrang! magazine, U.K. independent label Visible Noise offered them an album deal in 2000. That year's The Fake Sound of Progress was recorded over the course of a week for roughly $4,000. Hitting the road to promote the album, the band played support slots with Linea 77, Taproot, Pitchshifter, Linkin Park, and the Deftones, and a huge show at the 2001 Reading Festival helped the fan base grow. Keyboardist Jamie Oliver joined the band to expand its sound, and Sony signed the band in the U.S., releasing a different version of The Fake Sound of Progress in 2001, one that had been remixed and "retooled" by famed producer Michael Barbiero. A North American tour followed.

The album's successor, 2004's Start Something, proved that all the gigging had paid off. It debuted at number five on the U.K. charts and reached number 33 on the Billboard Top 200 despite having been leaked early on the Internet. More touring followed, including a sold-out show at the giant Cardiff International Arena and a main-stage performance at the 2004 Reading Festival. In 2005 the bandmembers were considering different producers for their third effort before deciding on Bob Rock, the man responsible for Metallica's self-titled "Black Album." Drummer Chiplin departed so Rock and the band recruited drummer Josh Freese -- who had worked with A Perfect Circle, Rob Zombie, and many others -- for recording sessions. The completed album, Liberation Transmission, was released at the beginning of summer 2006. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Source : mtv

Alanis Morissette

2010-02-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Alanis Morissette was one of the most unlikely stars of the mid-'90s. A former child actress turned dance-pop diva, Morissette later transformed herself into a confessional alternative singer/songwriter in the vein of Liz Phair and Tori Amos. However, she bolstered that formula with enough pop sensibility, slight hip-hop flourishes, and marketing savvy to become a superstar with her third album, Jagged Little Pill.

Morissette was born in Ottawa, Canada, and began playing piano and writing songs during her childhood years. She also joined the cast of You Can't Do That on Television, a children's television program. Using money that she earned on the show, Morissette recorded an independent single, "Fate Stay with Me," which was released when she was only ten years old. Morissette then concentrated on a musical career after leaving the show's cast, signing a music publishing contract when she was 14. The publishing contract led to a record deal with MCA Canada, and Morissette moved to Toronto before releasing her debut album, Alanis, in 1991.

Alanis was a collection of pop-oriented dance numbers and ballads that found success in Canada, selling over 100,000 copies and earning the singer a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Artist. However, no other country paid much attention to the record. In 1992, Morissette released Now Is the Time, an album that closely resembled her debut. Like its predecessor, it was a success in Canada, even if its sales did not match those of Alanis. Following the release of Now Is the Time, Morissette relocated to Los Angeles, where she met veteran producer Glen Ballard in early 1994. Ballard had previously written Michael Jackson's hit single "Man in the Mirror," produced Wilson Phillips' hit debut album, and worked with actor/musician David Hasselhoff. The two decided to work together, and despite their shared experience with mainstream pop, they opted instead to pursue an edgier, alternative rock-oriented direction. The result was Jagged Little Pill, which was released in 1995 on Madonna's label, Maverick Records.

On the strength of the angst-ridden single "You Oughta Know," Jagged Little Pill gained attention upon its release in the summer of 1995. The song soon received heavy airplay from alternative radio outlets and MTV, sending the album into the Top Ten and helping it achieve multi-platinum status. Jagged Little Pill's subsequent singles -- "Hand in My Pocket," "All I Really Want," "You Learn," "Ironic," and "All I Really Want" -- kept the album in the Top Ten for an astounding 69 weeks, and Alanis Morissette was nominated for six Grammys in early 1996. She won several of those awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year.

While she never managed to replicate the success of Jagged Little Pill, Morissette continued to release well-received albums into the 21st century. Her much-anticipated follow-up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in the autumn of 1998, setting a record for the highest first-week sales by a female artist. An Unplugged set appeared a year later and featured a cover of the Police's "King of Pain," while 2002's Under Rug Swept saw Morissette writing and producing without the help of collaborators. So-Called Chaos followed in 2004. A year later, she took Jagged Little Pill on the road as an acoustic tour. Those tour dates led to the release of Jagged Little Pill Acoustic, an album originally (and tellingly) sold exclusively through Starbucks outlets. Morissette and her fans had grown up, and Collection -- an 18-track retrospective of her work -- followed in November 2005. But Morissette wasn't done, returning in 2008 with her seventh studio effort (and fifth international release), Flavors of Entanglement. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Source : mtv

My Chemical Romance

2010-02-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

With their emo-punk songcraft, theatrical vocals, and stylized neo-goth appearance, My Chemical Romance rose from the East Coast underground to the forefront of modern rock talent during the mid-2000s. In keeping with the tragic element of the group's best-known singles -- including "Helena,", "I'm Not OK (I Promise)," "Famous Last Words," and "Welcome to the Black Parade" -- My Chemical Romance has roots in catastrophe, as frontman Gerard Way decided to form the band after watching New York's Twin Towers collapse on September 11th, 2001. Drummer Matt Pelissier joined the project one week later, while Way dealt with his growing anxiety by penning the group's first song,"Skylines and Turnstiles". Guitarist Ray Toro climbed aboard soon after, and the quintet's ranks solidified with the addition of bassist Mikey Way (Gerard's younger brother) and guitarist Frank Iero. With their lineup in place, the bandmates began playing shows along the Northeast Corridor and made plans to start work on an album.

My Chemical Romance's debut effort, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, appeared in 2002 courtesy of New York's Eyeball Records. Comparisons to Thursday were frequent; both bands hailed from New Jersey, both had recorded for Eyeball, and both combined punk-pop's musical aggression with introspective, confessional lyrics. The album attracted a modest underground following, and My Chemical Romance jumped to the big leagues in 2003 by signing with Reprise Records. The following year, they released the aggressively slick Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, a platinum-selling album that featured cover art by Way himself. Proving to be hugely popular, the album produced several radio singles and popular MTV videos, including "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," "Helena," and "The Ghost of You."

Amid this growing popularity, Pelissier departed in mid-2004 and was replaced by drummer Bob Bryar, who had previously met the band while running sound for the Used (with whom the band had toured several years prior). Relentless touring followed, with My Chemical Romance headlining dates with Alkaline Trio, scoring an opening slot on Green Day's American Idiot tour, and sharing bills with Story of the Year and Taking Back Sunday. As My Chemical Romance prepared to enter the studio for their third album, they issued a stop-gap recording, Life on the Murder Scene, in March 2006. The CD/double-DVD package offered an extensive combination of demos, music videos, live footage, interviews, and more; it sufficiently tied fans over until My Chemical Romance (now boasting a sober and bleach-haired Gerard Way) issued the darkly conceptual and highly ambitious The Black Parade that October. Anticipation for the album reached its apex upon the release of its grandiose first single, "Welcome to the Black Parade," whose elaborate music video looked and sounded like the result of Tim Burton directing Queen. The record acheived platinum status by early 2007 and was followed by a live recording, Black Parade Is Dead!, in 2008. ~ Andrew Leahey & Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Source : mtv

Dire Straits

2010-02-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

Dire Straits was a british rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums), and subsequently managed by Ed Bicknell. Dire Straits emerged during the post-punk era of the late ’70s, and while their sound was minimalistic and stripped down, they owed little to punk. If anything, the band was a direct outgrowth of the roots revivalism of pub rock, but where pub rock celebrated good times, Dire Straits were melancholy. Led by guitarist/vocalist Mark Knopfler, the group built their sound upon the laid-back blues-rock of J.J. Cale, but they also had jazz and country inflections, occasionally dipping into the epic song structures of progressive rock. The band’s music was offset by Knopfler’s lyrics, which approximated the winding, stream-of-conscious narratives of Bob Dylan. As their career progressed, Dire Straits became more refined and their new maturity happened to coincide with the rise of MTV and the compact disc. These two musical revolutions from the mid-’80s helped make Dire Straits’ sixth album, Brothers in Arms, an international blockbuster. The band - along with Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, and Steve Winwood - become one of the leaders of a group of self-consciously mature veteran rock & rollers in the late ’80s that designed their music to appeal to aging baby boomers. Despite the band’s international success, they couldn’t sustain their stardom, waiting a full six years to deliver a follow-up to Brothers in Arms, by which time their audience had shrunk significantly.

Knopfler (born August 12, 1949) was always the main force behind Dire Straits. The son of an architect, Knopfler studied English literature at Leeds University and worked briefly as a rock critic for the Yorkshire Evening Post while at college. He began teaching English after his graduation, leading a pub rock band called “Brewer’s Droop” at night. By 1977, Mark was playing with his brother David (guitar) and his roommate John Illsley (bass). During the summer of 1977, the trio cut a demo with drummer Pick Withers. A London DJ named Charlie Gillett heard the demo and began playing “Sultans of Swing” on his BBC show Honky Tonkin’. Following a tour opening for Talking Heads, the band began recording their debut for Vertigo Records with producer Muff Winwood in early 1978. By the summer, they had signed with Warner in America, releasing their eponymous debut in the fall. Thanks to the Top Ten hit “Sultans of Swing”, Dire Straits was a major success in both Britain and America, with the single and album climbing into the Top Ten on both sides of the Atlantic.

The LP “Dire Straits” established Dire Straits as a major force on album-oriented radio in America, and their second album, “Communiqué” (1979), consolidated their audience, selling three million copies worldwide. As the group was recording its third album, David Knopfler left the band to pursue a solo career; he was replaced by former Darling member Hal Lindes. Like its predecessor, “Making Movies” was a sizable hit in America and Britain, even though the band was criticized for musically treading water. Nevertheless, the record went gold on the strength of the radio and MTV hits “Romeo and Juliet” and “Skateaway”. Dire Straits followed the album two years later with “Love Over Gold”, an album filled with long, experimental passages, plus the single “Private Investigations”, which became a number two hit in the United Kingdom. The album went gold in America and spent four weeks at number one in Britain. Shortly after the release of “Love Over Gold”, former Rockpile drummer Terry Williams replaced Withers.

During 1982, Knopfler began exploring musical avenues outside of Dire Straits, scoring the Bill Forsyth film “Local Hero” and playing on Van Morrison’s “Beautiful Vision”. Apart from releasing the “Twisting by the Pool” EP early in 1983, Dire Straits were quiet for the majority of 1983 and 1984, as Knopfler produced Bob Dylan’s “Infidels”, as well as Aztec Camera and Willy DeVille; he also wrote “Private Dancer” for Tina Turner’s comeback album of the same name.

In the spring of 1984, the band released the double album “Alchemy: Dire Straits Live” and by the end of the year, they had begun recording their fifth studio album with their new keyboardist, Guy Fletcher.

Released in the summer of 1985, “Brothers in Arms” was Dire Straits’ breakthrough album, making the band international stars. Supported by the groundbreaking computer-animated video for “Money for Nothing”, a song which mocked music videos, the album became a blockbuster, spending nine weeks at the top of the American charts and selling over nine million copies; in England, the album became the biggest-selling album of the ’80s. “Walk of Life” and “So Far Away” kept “Brothers in Arms” in the charts through 1986, and Dire Straits played over 200 dates in support of the album.

Once the tour was completed, Dire Straits went on hiatus for several years, as Knopfler produced records by Randy Newman and Joan Armatrading, scored films, toured with Eric Clapton, and recorded a duet album with Chet Atkins: “Neck and Neck” (1990). In 1989, he formed the country-rock group Notting Hillbillies, whose sole album, “Missing…Presumed Having a Good Time”, became a British hit upon its spring 1990 release. During the extended time off, John Illsley recorded his second album; the first appeared in 1984.

In 1990, Knopfler reconvened Dire Straits, which now featured Illsley, Clark, Fletcher, and various session musicians. The band released “On Every Street” in autumn 1991 to great anticipation. However, the album failed to meet expectations - it only went platinum in America but went to number one in the UK charts and most of Europe - it failed to generate a hit single in the UK. The tour embarked on was massive but may have been a bit of a disappointment, with many tickets going unsold in both the U.S. and Europe. Once the tour was completed, the live album “On the Night” was released in the spring of 1993 and the band again went on hiatus.

Dire Straits released one last album in 1995, Live at the BBC, as a contractual album release to Vertigo Records. That same year, Knopfler disbanded the group.

In 1996, Knopfler launched his solo career with Golden Heart.This followed the highly acclaimed album Sailing to Philadelphia with various known musicians, including James Taylor and Van Morrison, making appearances on what is probably Knopfler’s best solo lp to date.

Source : last.fm

Tenacious D

2010-02-12T14:56:00.000-08:00

Tenacious D (often referred to as “The D” and sometimes introduced as “The Greatest Band in the world. Period.”) is an American satirical rock duo formed by musicians and actors Kyle Gass and Jack Black in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Their music fuses vulgar absurdist comedy with rock music in a style that critics have described as “mock rock”. The band first gained reputation in 1999, starring in a self-titled HBO TV series. The drumming on both of their albums and the devils voice on the track Beelzeboss (also the one who plays Satan in The Pick of Destiny movie) was performed by Dave Grohl (of Nirvana, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age fame).

Tenacious D’s music showcases Black’s theatrical vocal delivery and Gass’ acoustic guitar playing abilities. Their songs discuss the duo’s purported musical and sexual prowess, as well as their friendship and cannabis usage. Their debut self-titled album features absurd and humorous sketches. Music critics have compared the storyteller-style lyrics of their songs to lyrics of rock opera. In addition, they have since recorded two albums, and starred in their own movie, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.

Black and Gass, at the time respectively aged 16 and 24, met in Edinburgh, Scotland during the Edinburgh Fringe of 1989. Both were members of the Los Angeles-based theatre troupe, The Actors’ Gang which was performing Tim Robbins and Adam Simon’s play Carnage. Initially Black and Gass did not get on as Gass felt threatened by Black - as he was the main musician for the Actor’s gang - but they eventually worked out their differences, and agreed to form a band. Gass taught Black to play guitar, in exchange for Black’s helping him with his acting.

Initially, Black and Kyle covered songs by Bobby McFerrin. Later they chose the name “Tenacious D” - a name derived from a term used by sports commentator Marv Albert about the tenacious defense of the NBA’s New York Knicks - decided by the audience of the band’s first live show, in 1994 at the now defunct Al’s Bar. Other possibilities had included “Pets or Meat”, “Balboa’s Biblical Theatre” and “The Axe Lords Featuring Gorgazon’s Mischief”, which Gass described as being his personal favorite. In attendance was David Cross who later cast Tenacious D in his sketch comedy television series, Mr. Show.

TV series:

David Cross, with the writer Bob Odenkirk from Mr Show, continued his involvement with Tenacious D by producing three half-hour shows based on the band. The series, entitled Tenacious D, premiered in 1997, immediately following an episode of Mr. Show. While a total of three episodes consisting of two shorts, ten to twelve minutes in length, were produced, only the first was aired that year; the final two episodes did not air until the summer of 2000. The series was canceled after, according to Gass, HBO offered Tenacious D ten episodes, but in doing so, they would have to relinquish their role as executive producers. Gass and Black decided to make a movie instead. Many songs that eventually were included on the band’s first album were first featured on the show, though the episodes also contain songs that remain unreleased.

The six shorts were titled “The Search for Inspirado”, “Angel in Disguise”, “Death of a Dream”, “The Greatest Song in the World”, “The Fan”, and “Road Gig”. After the series aired, the band continued to perform. At a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, they met Dave Grohl, who remarked that he was impressed with their performance; this led to their cameo in the Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly” music video. The popularity of Tenacious D further increased as they began to open for high profile acts, including Beck, Pearl Jam, and Foo Fighters.

Lyrics and themes:

The Devil CardSatire and comedy are a major aspect of Tenacious D’s lyrical content. Gass said of their approach: “I’d love to do the straight music thing, but that’s kind of against our mission, which is to rebel against the serious singer-songwriter mentality.” Their songs evoke heavy metal clichés of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. In particular, the song “Dio” pokes fun at the idea of a torch being passed “Now it’s time for him to pass the torch” Songs like “Friendship” parody the lack of real friendship in rock groups with the lyric “As long as there’s a record deal, we’ll always be friends” Other songs cover the topic of sex; “Kielbasa” discusses anal sex, while “Double Team” boasts of the duos sexual prowess. Tenacious D also employs the technique of deliberate backmasking on “Karate”, a technique synonymous with bands like Slayer, who recorded a message in Hell Awaits… The band’s imagery also continues the theme of evil. The front cover of Tenacious D features Black and Gass standing naked below the Devil. Black described it as he and Gass being “schooled by Satan”. The pose is similar to that shown on the Devil tarot card. The Devil card signifies sexual desire, uncontrolled energy, vice and addiction.

Tenacious D’s music has been criticized for its frequent use of profanity. In addition, other critics have described the band as having exhausted the joke of “cock rock”.

Influences:

Black has said that the first song he enjoyed was ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me”. He attributes influences from Dio, Black Sabbath, Meat Loaf and Bobby McFerrin. Gass describes their influences as being derived from “big dinosaurs of rock” such as Led Zeppelin. In addition, Gass lists his influences as being Tom Waits, Tony Hawk and Tony Robbins. The band claimed that the inspiration for the song “Tribute” came after Black played Metallica’s “One” for Gass, describing it as “the best song in the world”, leading to a failed attempt to themselves write an even better song.

Gass has described Tenacious D’s comic assertion that they are the best band as being “ridiculous because it’s a matter of opinion”. Black characterizes Tenacious D’s comic nature as an antidote to “the masculinity of rock”, adding “There’s also something funny about the macho-ness of rock. Like the bands that are the fucking hardest rocking are like, ‘We’ll fucking kick your ass, dude… with our rock.’”

Tenacious D is featured in the highly anticipated video game “Guitar Hero III”. `The Metal’ is prominently featured in the game’s trailer released at E3 2007.

Tenacious D also did backing vocals on the Styx song “Kiss Your Ass Goodbye”. It can be found on the album “Cyclorama” from 2003.

They were included in Rock Band 2 with their song “Master Exploder”.

In October of 2009 Jack Black starred as roadie Eddie Riggs in the open world video game Brütal Legend by Double Fine Productions on the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3.

Source : last.fm

Pixies

2010-02-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

Weezer

2010-02-05T14:08:00.000-08:00

As one of the most popular groups to emerge in the post-grunge alternative rock aftermath, Weezer received equal amounts of criticism and praise for their hook-heavy guitar pop. Drawing from the heavy power pop of arena rockers like Cheap Trick and the angular guitar leads of the Pixies, Weezer leavened their melodies with doses of '70s metal learned from bands like Kiss. What truly set the band apart, though, was their geekiness. None of the members of Weezer, especially leader Rivers Cuomo, were conventional rockers -- they were kids that holed up in their garage, playing along with their favorite records when they weren't studying or watching TV. As a result, their music was infused with a quirky sense of humor and an endearing awkwardness that made songs like "Undone (The Sweater Song)," "Buddy Holly," and "Say It Ain't So" into big modern rock hits during the mid-'90s. All the singles were helped immeasurably by clever videos, which may have made the songs into hits, but they also made many critics believe that the band was a one-hit wonder. Perversely, Cuomo began to feel the same way, and decided that the band would not rely on any visual gimmicks for its second album, 1996's Pinkerton. Simultaneously, Cuomo took control of the band, making it into a vehicle for his songwriting. While the album didn't sell as well as their 1994 eponymous debut, it did earn stronger reviews than its predecessor and paved the way for Weezer's long career. Cuomo's assumption of Weezer's leadership wasn't entirely a surprise, since he had been the band's primary songwriter since its inception in 1993. Raised in Massachusetts, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles to attend college in the late '80s. During high school, he had played with a number of metal bands, but his interests broadened to include alternative and post-punk music upon his move out west. By 1993, he had fused such interests together and formed Weezer with bassist Matt Sharp and drummer Patrick Wilson. Over the course of the next year, the group played in the competitive Los Angeles club scene, eventually landing a deal with DGC during the post-Nirvana alternative signing boom. Three days before Weezer began recording a debut album with producer Ric Ocasek, they added guitarist Brian Bell to the mix. Upon completing the record, Weezer went on hiatus temporarily -- Cuomo was studying at Harvard when their eponymous debut record came out. With the support of DGC and a striking, Spike Jonze-directed video, "Undone (The Sweater Song)" became a modern rock hit in the fall of 1994, but what made Weezer a crossover hit was "Buddy Holly." Jonze created an innovative video that spliced the group into old footage from the sitcom Happy Days and the single quickly became a hit, making the album a multi-platinum success as well. By the time the album's final single, "Say It Ain't So," was released in the summer of 1995, the group had gone on hiatus once again, with Cuomo returning to Harvard. During the time off, Sharp and Wilson formed the new wave revival band the Rentals, who had a hit later that year with "Friends of P." During the hiatus, Cuomo became a recluse, disappearing at Harvard and suffering writer's block. When Weezer reconvened in the spring of 1996 to record their second album, he had written a loose concept album that featured far more introspective material than their debut. Ironically, the band sounded tighter on the resulting album, Pinkerton. Released in the fall to generally strong reviews, the album failed to become a hit, partially because Cuomo did not want the band to record another series of clever videos. Grudgingly, the remainder of the band contented themselves to be a supporting group for Cuomo, largely because each member had his own solo project scheduled for release within the next year. DGC, however, had the band make one last chance at a hit with "The Good Life," but by the time the single was released, MTV and modern rock radio had withdrawn their support not only from Weezer, but their style of guitar-driven punk-pop in general. Shortly after the tour in support of Pinkerton was completed in 1997, it appeared as though Weezer had fallen off the face of the planet. Stung by the public's initial reaction to their sophomore effort (Rolling Stone even named Pinkerton the Worst Album of 1996), the band took time off to regroup and plan its next move. Unhappy with the sluggish rate of the reassessment period, Sharp left the group to concentrate more fully on the Rentals, fueling rumors that Weezer had broken up. But a funny thing happened during Weezer's self-imposed exile -- while their copycat offspring were falling by the wayside (Nerf Herder, Nada Surf), a whole new generation of emocore enthusiasts discovered Weezer's diamond-in-the-rough sophomore effort for the first time, and their audience grew despite not having a new album in the stores. Once Weezer's members wrapped up work on their side projects (Bell: Space Twins; Wilson: the Special Goodness), the band recruited former Juliana Hatfield bassist Mikey Welsh to take the place of Sharp and began working on new material. Before they could enter the recording studio to record their third release, however, Weezer tested the waters by landing a spot on the 2000 edition of the Warped Tour, where they were consistently the day's highlight. Hooking up again with the producer of their 1994 debut, Ric Ocasek, Weezer recorded what would be known as "The Green Album" (an informal title given by fans, since it was actually their second self-titled release). The album was an immediate hit, debuting at number four in May 2001 and camping out in the upper reaches of the charts for much of the spring/summer, during which such songs like "Hash Pipe" and "Island in the Sun" became radio and MTV staples, reestablishing Weezer as one of alt-rock's top dogs. During their tour that summer, Welsh fell ill and was replaced by Scott Shriner, also of the band Broken. That fall and winter, the group busied itself with touring alongside bands like Tenacious D and recording its next album, Maladroit, which arrived a year after The Green Album's release. Just before Maladroit's release, former bassist Matt Sharp sued Weezer, seeking compensation and songwriting credit for songs such as "Undone (The Sweater Song)," "El Scorcho," and "The Good Life." The band eventually reconciled with Sharp, though he didn't rejoin, and Weezer continued on with the lineup of Cuomo, Bell, Wilson, and Shriner. The limited-edition live EP Lion and the Witch appeared in May 2002, and Maladroit's "Keep Fishin'" was released as a single. Most of 2003 was spent on side projects; Cuomo did some hired-gun songwriting, Bell's band the Space Twins put out End of Imagining, and Wilson's Special Goodness project issued Land Air Sea. Weezer returned to the studio in 2004, working with Rick Rubin on their fifth full-length album. Make Believe appeared in May 2005, prepped by the single "Beverly Hills," and eventually went platinum in multiple countries. Weezer (Red Album) followed in 2008 and featured a more collaborative approach, with several bandmembers contributing songwriting ideas and lead vocals to the tracks. One year later, the band returned with Raditude. Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Source : starpulse

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

2010-02-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was originally formed in 1983 in Melbourne, Victoria by two former members of the Australian band The Birthday Party: Nick Cave (vocals, songwriter, keyboards, harmonica) and multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey. They were joined by Einstürzende Neubauten member Blixa Bargeld (guitar), Hugo Race (guitar), and former Magazine member Barry Adamson (bass, piano). Cave’s former girlfriend Anita Lane was also a creative influence and occasional lyricist. This line-up recorded their debut album, From Her To Eternity, released in 1984. During their initial Australian tour, Birthday Party bass guitarist Tracy Pew also performed with the band.

The name of the new project indicated the shift in Cave’s role from band member, as in The Birthday Party, to band leader, and coincided with his shift in songwriting style from expressionism to detailed lyrical narrative. The group has been through many personnel changes, with Cave and Harvey remaining the constants.

Cave separated from Lane in the mid-1980s and began a relationship with Elisabeth Recker. While in Berlin, he released four albums with the Bad Seeds: The Firstborn Is Dead; Kicking Against the Pricks; Your Funeral… My Trial; and Tender Prey. Kicking Against the Pricks was the first album to feature the drumming of Swiss Thomas Wydler, who is the longest serving member in the band beside Cave and Mick Harvey.

In 1987, the Bad Seeds made an appearance in the Wim Wenders film, Wings of Desire. In 1990, the band collectively eliminated hard drugs from its diet, relocated to Brazil, and released The Good Son. Their next record, 1992’s Henry’s Dream, was the first to feature current members Martyn P. Casey and Conway Savage. Following it came 1994’s Let Love In.

In 1996, Cave and the Bad Seeds released Murder Ballads. It includes Henry Lee, a duet with British rock singer PJ Harvey (with whom Cave had a brief relationship), and PlayWhere the Wild Roses Grow, a duet with Australian pop idol Kylie Minogue. The latter was a mainstream hit in the UK and in Australia, winning three ARIA Awards including “Song of the Year”.

Their next album, The Boatman’s Call (1997), is marked by a radical shift away from archetypal and violent narratives to biographical and confessional songs about his relationships with Carneiro and Harvey. It was also his first full album to be centered around his own piano playing.

Cave then took a short break to rehabilitate from his 20 years of heroin and alcohol abuse, during which time he married. The band resurfaced with No More Shall We Part in 2001.

After the release of the 2003 album Nocturama, which failed to excite reviewers, Bargeld announced he was leaving the Bad Seeds to devote more time to Einstürzende Neubauten, leaving Mick Harvey as the only original member still in the band, other than Cave himself. The next year Cave released his first double record - the acclaimed two-disc set Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus.

In 2005, Cave and the Seeds released B-Sides and Rarities, a three-disc, 56-track collection of B-sides, rarities and tracks that had appeared on film soundtracks.

In October 2007 Cave was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech he cheekily took it upon himself to also induct the Australian members of the Bad Seeds (excluding Hugo Race), plus the members of The Birthday Party (excluding Phill Calvert).

In March 2008, the band released their 14th studio album, titled Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, inspired by the Biblical story of the resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany by Jesus Christ.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds also released an exclusive “Live Session” EP through iTunes in April 2008, recorded at the legendary Air studios on 2nd March as part of iTunes’ “Live From London” series.

Despite initial reports that the Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! tour would exclude North American venues, it was reported on April 29, 2008 that the band will be playing dates across the United States and Canada in Fall of 2008.

On the 22nd of January 2009, Mick Harvey announced on the band’s web page that he will now longer be part of The Bad Seeds.

Besides his performances with the Bad Seeds, Nick Cave also leads a side-project called Grinderman. Grinderman performs live and records albums with Cave on piano, Ellis on violin and a fluctuating bass/drums line-up. The current quartet includes Bad Seeds’ Martyn P. Casey, Jim Sclavunos and Warren Ellis; as the project includes so many Bad Seeds members it is therefore sometimes referred to as “Mini-Seeds”.

Current line-up is:
Nick Cave - vocals, piano, organ, harmonica, percussion, electric guitar, string arrangements (1984-)
Thomas Wydler - drums, percussion, vocals (1987—)
Martyn P. Casey - bass, vocals (1991—)
Conway Savage - piano, organ, vocals (1991—)
Warren Ellis - violin, fender mandocaster, loops, mandolin, tenor guitar, viola, bouzouki, accordion, flute, lute, piano, programming, percussion, string arrangements, vocals (1994—)
Jim Sclavunos - percussion, drums, organ, melodica, vocals (1996—)
James Johnston - organ, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals (2003—)

Past members, guest and touring musicians:
Mick Harvey - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, organ, percussion, piano, loops, string arrangements, vocals (1984-2009)
Blixa Bargeld - electric guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, vocals (1984–2003); original member who quit after almost 20 years
Anita Lane - lyrics (1984)
Barry Adamson - bass, electric guitar, drums, organ, piano, percussion, vocals (1984-1986)
Hugo Race - electric guitar, vocals (1984)
Rowland S. Howard - electric guitar, organ, vocals
Tracy Pew (deceased) - bass
Kid Congo Powers - electric guitar, slide guitar (1986-1989)
Roland Wolf (deceased) - piano, organ, electric guitar, vocals (1986-1989)

Source : last.fm

The Doors

2010-02-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

From their beginnings during the summer of 1965 at Venice Beach, California, The Doors were truly aband, a remarkable fusion of creative energies, a lot of attention has been focused on Jim Morrison which his looks and talents clearly justify. However, Jim was well aware that the magic of The Doors could never havehappened without the fortunate forging of John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison into a single creative whole. It is no mystery why Jim Morrison never went solo; so sympathetic were the three other musicians to Jim's mission that such a consideration was out of the question. Robby Krieger, or example, was able to write lyrics and music that sounded more like Morrison than Morrison himself-- among them "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times,"and "Love Her Madly." Without Krieger, Manzarek and Densmore there is a strong chance that Jim's songs would never have made it off the page, into rehearsal, onto the stage, into the recording studio and, in defiance of all odds, to successive g
enerations who have since discovered The Doors as a "new" group.

Ray Manzarek, a classically trained pianist, raised in Chicago with a deep love for the blues, wrote the themes for many of the songs and played not only the keyboard parts but simultaneously (with his left hand) propelled the band with melodic driving bass lines. John Densmore, a jazz drummer with an unbeatable knack for shamanic rhythm and theatrical timing... the band's tireless engine. Robby Krieger, a songwriting secret weapon who could play any guitar, from classic flamenco to bottle-neck blues, to creating styles and sounds previously unheard on this planet. And Jim Morrison, the baritone, eclectic/electric poet with an innate compositional gift and the soul of a mystic. Together these men brought The Doors' songs to life, they were equal points of a musical diamond.

The band took its name from the poet-visionary-artist William Blake, who had written, "When the doors of perception are cleansed, things will appear to man as they truly are...infinite." English author Aldous Huxley was sufficiently inspired by Blake's quote to title his book on mescaline experiences The Doors of Perception. Morrison was so connected to both works that he proposed, The Doors, to his bandmates. Everyone agreed that the name, as well as the inspiration from which it sprang, was perfect to convey who they were and clearly representive for what they stood for. The group was signed to Elektra Records, then a small folk-music record company, in July of 1966 by Jac Holzman, Elektra's founder.

By April 1971, The Doors had recorded six landmark studio LP's and a two -record set of live performances, the first seven discs with producer Paul A. Rothchild and the last one co-produced by The Doors and their career-long engineer Bruce Botnick... both The Doors and Elektra had grown into world famed institutions. The band's unstated goal was to accomplish musical alchemy, to fuse rock music with both existential poetry and improvisational theater. Jim was greatly influenced by the nineteenth century poet Arthur Rimbaud and he dutifully imparted Rimbaud's philosophy to the group. Rimbaud advocated a systematic "rational derangement of all the senses in order to achieve the unknown."

Morrison was a man who would not, could not, and did not know how to compromise himself or his art. He was driven to go all the way or die trying, the ultimate ecstatic risk taker. Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore's contribution to this state of creative ecstasy cannot be underestimated. In order for the musical spell to be successfully cast they gave willingly and generously, the power of improvisation that drove Morrison onstage required the other three Doors to not merely play arrangements but to follow Jim's unplanned creative arc perfectly in one of the music's classic and most difficult feats, the art of intuitive accompaniment. Statement to the press, "For me, it was never really an act, those so-called performances.

It was a life-and-death thing, an attempt to communicate, to involve many people in a private world of thought." During the late 1960's bands sang of love and peace while acid was passed out. But for The Doors it was different. The nights belonged to Pan and Dionysus, the gods of revelry and rebirth, and the songs invoked their potent passions, the Oedipal nightmare of "The End," the breathless gallop of "Not to Touch the Earth," the doom of "Hyacinth House," the ecstasy of "Light My Fire," the dark uneasy undertones of "Can't See Your Face in My Mind," and the alluring loss of Consciousness in "Crystal Ship." And as with Dionysus, The Doors willingly offered themselves as a sacrifice to be torn apart, to bleed, to die, to be reborn for yet another night in another town. To be a poet meant more to Morrison than writing poems. It meant embracing the tragedy fate has chosen for you and fulfilling that destiny with gusto and nobility.

In the end, after conquering America, after being shackled by the courts and laws of the land that he loved, he escaped to Paris, traditional home of so many expatriate artists, to pursue his life as a poet. But his body was too worn down, his heart too weak; he had already seen and done and drunk too much. He had lived life on his own terms, had reaped the rewards, and now the bill was due. His spirit was tired. Death was simply closer and easier than returning to America, to the endless succession of stages it demanded. Jim Morrison passed away in Paris on July 3, 1971. His dying wish was to be remembered as a poet.

Pamela Morrison used to tell a story from the very earliest day of The Doors. They were playing their first club, The London Fog. It was their last set of the night and there were only three people in the club, two drunks and Pamela. The band was incandescent. Jim raged and exploded with super-human passion, a transcendent performance. Pam was stunned. In the car she could say nothing...long after arriving home she was still speechless. Jim asked, "What's wrong baby?" Pam said, "There were three people in the club during the last set. But you burned like you were performing for thousands of people. Why did you go so far, risk so much for a tiny audience that was barely aware of your presence?" Jim looked at her and said slowly, "You never know when you're doing your last set." Considering the force of energy generated by The Doors over 25 years ago, that "last set" could well be several generations away.

Source : sing365

Dave Matthews Band

2010-02-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

Dave Matthews Band was formed in Charlottesville, VA in 1991 by South African native singer and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, the late LeRoi Moore, who played a wide variety of instruments from the saxophone to the flute, violin player Boyd Tinsley, drummer Carter Beauford, and keyboardist Peter Griesar (who left the band in 1993), all of whom Dave met in Charlottesville. In 1998, the band played shows with keyboardist Butch Taylor, although he is not officially a member of the band. Taylor played with the band for the stadium runs of the 1999 and 2000 summer tours. From May 18th, 2001 on, Taylor was a permanent fixture on stage, and in 2003 was no longer listed as “special guest”. Even though he was never officially part of the lineup, the band recently announced that Butch was leaving the band via their website, and the 2008 summer tour had some of the first shows without Taylor in years. Rashawn Ross has performed at every normal show from 12.13.05 until the present, leading some to believe that he has joined the band, at least semi-permanently. It is also confirmed that Ross was in the studio with the band during the recent sessions. As of early 2009, Ross, long time collaborator Tim Reynolds, and new saxophonist Jeff Coffin are listed as “Touring Members”.

Early 1990s

In the early 1990s, the band established a cult following through relentless touring with weekly stops at Virginia clubs known as Trax and Floodzone, an active taping community, and an independent LP, Remember Two Things. (Keyboardist Griesar left the band in 1993, shortly before the release of “Remember Two Things”.) After signing to RCA Records, Dave Matthews Band, under the direction of producer Steve Lillywhite, released Under the Table and Dreaming in 1994, a critical and popular smash that firmly established the band’s style of pop-rock with improvisational leanings. Under the Table and Dreaming would be the first of three albums released under Lillywhite’s direction. This was followed by Crash (1996). For most of America, Crash was the record that put the Dave Matthews Band on the map. Featuring the hit single “Crash Into Me”, as well as fan-favorites such as “Two Step”, “Tripping Billies”, and the Grammy-winning “So Much to Say”, Crash would go on to be the band’s best selling album.

History

David John Matthews was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1967. Two years later, his family moved to Westchester County, NY. His father was a physicist and worked for IBM at the time. He has two sisters (Anne and Jane) and a brother (Peter). After living in New York, his family moved to Cambridge, England in the early ’70s. The family returned to New York where his father died in 1977. In 1980, the family moved to South Africa where the young Matthews went to several schools and “got more wise about the evils of government, there and in general.” He first played at a club in Charlottesville (Miller’s) where he worked as a bartender. He admitted to Playboy magazine that he was really never that good at bartending, but loved getting customers…well…”drunk as hell!” He was first discovered in a demo tape that he recorded with a couple of current band members. This all came about when he decided to put together a demo tape and decided that he needed some musical accompaniment; which ended up as the Dave Matthews Band. In 1994, his sister Anne died in a domestic tragedy at her home in South Africa. The Grammy nominated album “Under The Table and Dreaming” is dedicated to her.

Community

Dave Matthews Band is highly involved in giving a helping hand. In 2003, the Band held a concert entitled, “The Central Park Concert” which was held in New York City’s Central Park. The concert helped New York City Public Schools, the band is a big supporter of education.

The band also held a concert that helped victims of Katrina.

Sadly, Leroi Moore passed away in 2008. After being seriously injured in an ATV accident in Virginia, Moore succumbed to his injuries on August 19, 2008. He was replaced by Jeff Coffin, famous for his work with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.

Source : last.fm

Lenny Kravitz

2010-02-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

Leonard Albert “Lenny” Kravitz (born May 26, 1964. New York, USA) is an american singer-songwriter, record producer, and guitarist whose retro amalgam of rock, pop, funk, and even techno is inspired by such music icons as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. Like Prince and Sly Stone before him, Kravitz uses a multi-ethnic, mixed-gender backing band.

Kravitz plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and sitar. He often plays these instruments on each recorded track, but frequently collaborates with other musicians as well when recording.

His 1989 debut album Let Love Rule was a moderate success. In 1991 he released his second album, Mama Said, which reached the top 40 of the Billboard album charts. In 1993, the album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and Kravitz earned a Brit Award for best international male artist in 1994. He released the Circus album in 1995, which reached number 10 on the Billboard chart on the back of his past achievement. With 5 (1999), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as Pro Tools and samplers for the first time. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999.

His cover version of The Guess Who’s hit “American Woman” won him another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000. Kravitz released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2000. It proved to be his most successful album. The single “Again” would earn him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001. Kravitz released his sixth album Lenny in October 2001. He won his fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 2002. Kravitz’s seventh album Baptism was released in May 2004. His lastest album, It Is Time For A Love Revolution was released in 2008. He has always edited his albums on Virgin Records America

He is the son of Ukrainian-Jewish American NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz, and Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker, best known as her character Helen Willis on the hit 1970s television sitcom The Jeffersons.

Source : last.fm

Kings of Leon

2010-02-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Only By The Night

Caleb Followill - lead vocals, rhythm guitar / Jared Followill - bass / Matthew Followill - lead guitar / Nathan Followill - drums

When Kings of Leon released their third album Because Of The Times in April 2007, Entertainment Weekly called it their "crowning achievement," while Rolling Stone wondered: "How good can the Kings of Leon get? They've already gone further than anybody could have guessed."

Coming as it did on the heels of 2003's rowdy Youth and Young Manhood and 2005's brawny Aha Shake Heartbreak, the expansive Because of The Times was indeed a pivotal and game-changing album. It led the Followills - Tennessee-bred Caleb, Nathan, and Jared, and their cousin Matthew - to astonishing success around the world. In the U.S., the band has sold out New York City's fabled Radio City Music Hall and The Greek Theatre in Hollywood. In the U.K., Kings of Leon headlined this summer's legendary Glastonbury Festival, as well as the Oxygen Festival in Ireland, and sold out their upcoming December show at London's 20,000-seat 02 Arena (where Led Zeppelin held its reunion concert) in less than an hour.

But if critics thought that Because of The Times was the work of a band "at the peak of its powers" (as the Los Angeles Times put it), they may want to reconsider that assessment after hearing Kings of Leon's new album Only By The Night, due from RCA Records on September 23rd. Only By The Night picks up where Because of The Times left off, continuing Kings of Leon's shape-shifting evolution and cementing their status as a world-class rock band.

"After three records and touring for five years straight, we knew what we were capable of," says the band's drummer Nathan, "we just had to put our money where our mouths were. We had to take it to the next level. You always want your next record to be better than your last." Adds frontman and lyricist Caleb: "There's never a time that we'll make a record and won't attempt to do something better than what came before."

With its stunning melodies, ringing guitars, and razor-sharp grooves, Only By The Night delivers on the promise Kings of Leon have shown throughout their career. From the desolate atmospherics of the opening track "Closer" (which Caleb says is about a lovesick vampire) to the emotional intensity of the closing ballad "Cold Desert" ("about a man at the end of his rope who picks himself back up"), Only By The Night is all heart from start to finish.

Album highlights include the insistently chugging first single "Sex on Fire" ("there's always been an element of sex in our music, so I thought I'd just wrap it all up in one song and be done with the sex for the rest of the record," Caleb jokes), the throbbing, propulsive "Crawl" (about relationships of all kinds and taking them for granted), and the sonically sweeping "Use Somebody," which Caleb wrote while feeling lonely on the road. "It's about being far from home." Then there's the soaring uplift of "Manhattan," which is partly about dancing and enjoying life and partly about the struggles of Native Americans. "'Manhattan' is actually a Native American word that means 'island of many hills,'" says Caleb, who adds that his family has Native American blood. Finally there's the driving, forceful "Notion," which finds the singer pushing back against anyone who says anything against anyone in his band.

Caleb's instinct for insularity is not surprising given that the band is made up of family members. The familial vibe extended to the recording process when Kings of Leon returned to Nashville's Blackbird Studio in April 2008 with their long-time producer Angelo Petraglia and Nashville-based producer/engineer Jacquire King, who also mixed Aha Shake Heartbreak. "Angelo keeps it fun and youthful," Nathan says. "He and Jacquire were cool enough to tell us when we really needed to stop playing Wall Ball and get serious, rather than being stern and scaring the shit out of us. It kind of took the pressure off."

Petraglia and King also encouraged the experimental process the Followills first engaged in when making Because Of The Times, giving the band the freedom to explore all of their ideas. "We had the opportunity to really get in there and be more hands-on as far as the production goes," Caleb says. "We wanted to prove ourselves a bit more. We got to kick our heels up, have drinks, and relax while recording." Adds Nathan: "You can tell from the music that we're definitely comfortable."

"To me it sounds like the Kings of Leon are back not only as a band, but as friends," Caleb says. "Every night after recording we'd go to a bar together, hang out and talk about what we were going to do the next day, rather than all of us going to our separate homes. It was really a big family vibe. That's where the title comes from. It's also a reference to a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, and it has five syllables, like all of our album titles."

Caleb had written most of the lyrics and melodies for Only By The Night during some downtime at home recovering from shoulder surgery. "I think the pain pills inspired him a little more than he realized," Nathan says with a laugh. "He would play us a song and we'd say, 'When did you write that?' and he'd say, 'I don't really remember writing it. I just woke up with an empty bottle of wine and my songbook open and these words written down.'" Says Caleb: "Those pills can make you feel so nice. I think a lot of the pretty melodies came from that and from me just opening more."

Another influence could be their experiences playing arenas, not only in support of Because Of The Times, but while opening for U2 in 2005 and Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam in 2006 and 2008. "We definitely wanted the songs to sound good in a 15,000-seat venue, but we also wanted them to have the kind of intimacy that would get the point across at a club show for 300 kids," Nathan says.

Overall, the Followills knew it was time to be honest about their ambitions and prove what they could really do. Caleb, for one, unleashes some of the most righteous, anguished singing he's ever recorded. "I knew it was a risk for me to go in there and really open up and belt the way that I know that I can; the way that I used to when I was younger," he says. "I just hid my singing for so long because I was nervous that people would listen to my lyrics, assume I wasn't intelligent because I'm from Tennessee, and pick me apart, so that's why I sang the way I did. But going into this, I knew these melodies that we were playing were too beautiful for me to fuck it up. I had to go for it."

"Basically we got the point where we realized that we can be known as a band that hit it hard for three records and disappeared, or be a band that was smart enough to realize that not very many bands get to make four records, so let's make the most of this," Nathan says. "Because honestly, we were horrible housepainters and that's what we'd be doing if we weren't doing this!"

Source : kingsofleon

The White Stripes

2010-02-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

A minimalist rock duo from southwest Detroit, the White Stripes formed on Bastille Day in 1997, aiming to create simple, vigorous rock & roll music with little more than Meg White's percussion and Jack White's guitar-and-vocal attack. Meg's drumming was deliberate and straightforward, while Jack's formidable guitar skills paid homage to garage rock, blues, and punk. A former drummer for the Detroit-based country outfit Goober & the Peas, he also displayed an affinity for American folk music, and the White Stripes took strength in the varied interests of its two members. Moreover, the group bolstered its sound with a controversial back-story (although the bandmates claimed to be siblings, they were actually a married couple until 2000) and a unique color scheme, which saw their clothing and cover art adhering to a red-and-white peppermint candy motif.

Although the band emerged from Detroit's burgeoning rock scene, the White Stripes quickly gained a national following after touring alongside Pavement and Sleater-Kinney. Such performances helped support the band's self-titled debut album, released in 1999 and dedicated to blues icon Son House. A sophomore effort followed closely behind, as the self-recorded De Stijl appeared in June 2000. However, it was the band's third release -- 2001's White Blood Cells -- that established the White Stripes as forerunners of the garage rock revival. Recorded in Memphis by renowned producer Doug Easley, White Blood Cells was a critical smash, launching the band into the same circle as the Strokes and the Hives. The White Stripes appeared on Late Night with David Lettterman and the MTV Movie Awards program; meanwhile, their music was profiled in such publications as Time, The New Yorker, and Entertainment Weekly.

Faced with a swell in popularity, the musicians made the tough decision to jump to a major label. White Blood Cells was accordingly reissued by V2 Records in January 2002, and the previous two records followed suit in June. The White Stripes' profile continued to build as the music video for "Fell in Love with a Girl" -- a clever piece of Lego-animation directed by Michel Gondry -- was nominated for four MTV Video Awards, including Breakthrough Video, Best Special Effects in a Video, Best Editing in a Video, and Best Video of the Year, the latter of which pitted the band against the likes of Eminem and *NSYNC. While many garage rock revivalists struggled to maintain popularity as the decade progressed, the White Stripes proved to be an enduring presence, with 2003's Elephant receiving unanimous critical acclaim (and platinum sales in several countries) upon its release.

The White Stripes returned in 2005 with Get Behind Me Satan, a dizzyingly diverse album that spanned disco-metal and light, marimba-driven pop. In keeping with the band's feverish pace, the album had been written and recorded in two weeks that spring. The Stripes supported its release with a tour, during which they covered Tegan and Sara's "Walking with a Ghost" and released the song as a single at the end of 2005. That same year, Jack White and his new wife, model/singer Karen Elson, moved to Nashville, TN. White also formed the Raconteurs with Brendan Benson and the Greenhornes' Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, and spent much of 2006 touring in support of the group's debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers.

Jack White continued to juggle his responsibilities as he performed with several bands, produced albums for other artists, and made forays into cinema. The White Stripes remained a vital commercial and critical presence, however, and the Grammy-winning Icky Thump appeared in 2007. Recorded in three weeks at Nashville's Blackbird Studio, the album included the first-ever Stripes songs with bagpipes and mariachi horns. After issuing another album with the Raconteurs, Jack White added yet another band to his plate as he joined the Dead Weather. ~ Andrew Leahey & Chris Handyside, All Music Guide

Source : mtv

Breaking Benjamin

2010-01-29T01:16:00.000-08:00

Formed in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA in 1998 by vocalist Benjamin Burnley and drummer Jeremy Hummel, Breaking Benjamin quickly garnered a strong local following.

1st Studio Album [2002] - Saturate
The band signed to Hollywood Records in 2001 after the success of an independently-released, self-titled EP, which sold all 2,000 copies that were manufactured. Hollywood Records released their full-length, major-label debut, Saturate, on August 27, 2002. The album’s first single, “PlayPolyamorous”, received a fair amount of radio play, although it failed to reach mainstream audiences. A video was released in two different versions for Polyamorous: one that had all live-action footage, and one that had footage of the video game Run Like Hell. The following single “PlaySkin” was also released from Saturate, although it fared worse than “Polyamorous” and received even less airplay.”Skin” was also performed live on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. “PlayMedicate” was also released as a single, to little commercial success and airplay. Saturate has gone on to sell over 300,000 copies.

2nd Studio Album [2004] - We Are Not Alone
Breaking Benjamin released their second album, We Are Not Alone, on June 29, 2004. The album featured the lead off single “PlaySo Cold”, which reached number two on the United States Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The band had two music videos made for the song, one of which was a promotional video made for the movie Hellboy. The commercial success of “So Cold” led to We Are Not Alone achieving platinum status in late 2005. Also released as singles from the album were “Sooner Or Later” and a re- recorded version of “Rain”, which was featured on later pressings of the album. While the former again got the band as high as number two on the Mainstream Rock chart and featured a music video, the latter garnered little radio play and had no video created for it. Another song off “We Are Not Alone”, “Sooner or Later”, had a video created for it and got a fair amount of radio play. Later in 2004, the band released the So Cold EP. The EP contained live recordings of We Are Not Alone’s “So Cold” (an acoustic recording), “Breakdown”, and “Away”, as well as studio recordings of “Blow Me Away”, a song that was featured in Bungie’s video game Halo 2, and “Lady Bug”, an early fan favorite of the band’s.

In September of 2004, drummer, and founding member of Breaking Benjamin, Jeremy Hummel was relieved of his duties in the band. Subsequently, on September 28, 2005, Hummel filed a federal lawsuit against the remaining members of Breaking Benjamin, as well as its management, claiming he was not paid for songs he helped write. Hummel’s lawsuit asked for more than $8 million in damages. A message was released October 25, 2006 on the bands official website stating that the band and Hummel had come to agreement on the lawsuit.

3rd Studio Album [2006] - Phobia
In the fall of 2006 the band began a tour opening for Godsmack for the IV tour, hitting up mostly eastern and Ohio Valley venues, and soon moving out west, still in support of the Phobia album, released on August 8 that year. Several of the shows had been canceled, or turned into Breaking Benjamin headliners due to scheduling conflicts. Many of Breaking Benjamin’s tour dates from December 3rd have been rescheduled due to illness in the band’s ranks. All dates were rescheduled as the band announced another headlining leg before going on a nationwide tour with Three Days Grace and Nickelback.

On March 4, 2007, HDNet premiered a one-hour show of the Breaking Benjamin concert in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at Stabler Arena. This is also the concert that was included on the Phobia re-release DVD in April of 2007, advertised as “The Homecoming”. Footage of the band’s live Stabler Arena performance of “Breath” comprises the song’s music video[1].

On April 17, 2007, Breaking Benjamin re-released the album Phobia. The album featured a DVD with about an hour of their Stabler Arena concert footage.

4th Studio Album [2009] - Dear Agony
On the 29th of September, 2009, Breaking Benjamin released their 4th studio album, entitled “Dear Agony”. Some of the tracks on the album, were co-written by Jasen Rauch, from the Christian-metal band Red.
On September 23, 2009, Breaking Benjamin released a flash video game parody of Altered Beast, aptly titled “Altered Benjamin”. The game contains three levels and plays the same as the original, except the player controls vocalist Ben Burnley and the three bosses are each other member of the band respectively. Altered Benjamin is still available through the band’s website, and their MySpace page.

Certain copies of Dear Agony purchased at Best Buy also come with a bonus DVD that includes the band’s six music videos including a previously-unreleased version of the video for “I Will Not Bow”. The version on the DVD is of the band only and does not contain any footage from the movie Surrogates, unlike the version released on the Internet.

On August 31st, 2009, prior to the release of Dear Agony, Breaking Benjamin released their first single from DA, “I Will Not Bow”. It was featured in the 2009 Sci-Fi film [Starring Bruce Willis], “Surrogates”. The song was not written specifically for the film, but according to drummer Chad Szeliga, “Ben sent a few songs to our record label, Hollywood Records,” which is owned by Disney, who then decided they “wanted a Breaking Benjamin song for this movie.”

The music video for I Will Not Bow was released to the band’s Myspace on August 21, 2009. The video was shot at the World Trade Center building 7, but has no connection or significant meaning having to do with the 9/11 events as stated by Aaron Fink in his Point interview on August 13, 2009. The video was directed by Rich Lee who has also directed for Evanescence. Lee chose the location, feeling it was an eerie place to film.
A second version of the music video without the Surrogates footage was released with the Best Buy Exclusive version of Dear Agony. It includes various bridged footage of the band performing.

On January 5, 2010, Give Me a Sign was the second single released from Breaking Benjamin’s fourth studio album, Dear Agony.

2 extra tracks were featured on the Japanese version of “Dear Agony”. An acoustic version of ‘Without You’, and an acoustic version ‘Give Me A Sign’.

Singles Chronology
2002 - PlayPolyamorous
2003 - PlaySkin
2003 - PlayMedicate
2004 - So Cold [EP]*
2004 - Sooner Or Later
2005 - Rain (Drums re-recorded by Chad Szeliga)
2006 - The Diary of Jane
2006 - Breath
2006 - Until The End
2009 - I Will Not Bow
2010 - Give Me A Sign

*So Cold [EP] featured 5 songs, ‘So Cold (acoustic)’, ‘Blow Me Away’, ‘Lady Bug’, ‘Away (Live)’ and ‘Breakdown (Live)’.

Name Origin
The name “Breaking Benjamin” comes from Benjamin Burnley’s early solo experience. Burnley was covering a Nirvana song during an open-mic night at a club when he finished he dropped the microphone to the ground, breaking it. The person who owned the microphone came on stage and said, ‘Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fucking mic.’ In 1999, the band briefly renamed themselves “Plan 9.” In late 2000, after various line-up changes, the band changed its name back to “Breaking Benjamin” and two friends of Burnley, Aaron Fink and Mark Klepaski, left their previous band, Lifer, and joined the ranks of Breaking Benjamin as guitarist and bassist, respectively. Lifer was a band that gained brief mainstream attention because of their part in an MTV cover band contest that resulted in a record deal with Universal Records.

Source : last.fm

The Strokes

2010-01-29T01:02:00.000-08:00

The Strokes are an American rock band from New York City, New York, United States, formed in 1998. The band rose to fame in the early 2000s as a leading group in garage rock/post-punk revival. The band consists of Julian Casablancas (lead vocals), Nick Valensi (lead guitar), Albert Hammond, Jr. (rhythm guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass guitar) and Fabrizio Moretti (drums and percussion).

Upon the release of their debut album, Is This It, in 2001, the group was met with much critical acclaim, being hailed by some as the “saviors of rock and roll.” NME made Is This It their Album of the Year. Since then, the band has maintained a large fan base, notably in the UK, US and Australia. As of 2007, Is This It has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.

They released their second album Room on Fire in October 2003, to good reviews, but to less success commercially, although it still went gold. The album’s sound maintained the Strokes’ familiar reference points, while also evoking groups such as The Cars, Bob Marley, and Blondie. In the process, they made the cover of Spin Magazine for the second time, with each member receiving his own cover. They also made the cover of Rolling Stone for the first time. Additional media coverage of the band came from the relationship between Moretti and actress Drew Barrymore, which ended in January 2007.

In late September 2005, “Juicebox”, the first single from The Strokes then unreleased third album, was leaked online, forcing the single’s release date to be advanced. The single was then released as an exclusive on online download services. “Juicebox” became The Strokes’ second UK Top 10 hit, as well as their second US Modern Rock Top 10 success. During November and December 2005 the Strokes did a promotional tour for the still unreleased album, which involved doing one-off shows in major cities around the world.

Their third album, First Impressions of Earth, was released in January 2006 to mixed reviews and debuted at number four in the US and number one in the UK, a first for the band. In Japan it went gold within the first week of release. It was also the most downloaded album for two weeks on iTunes. Fraiture claimed that the album was “like a scientific breakthrough”. In January 2006, the band then made their second appearance on Saturday Night Live playing “Juicebox” and “You Only Live Once”.

The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas and guitarist Nick Valensi started writing new material for their band’s forthcoming new album in the latter stages of January 2009, which they were set to go in the studio to finalize in February of the same year.

Source : last.fm