SEVENFOLDISM7

A7X.Dream Theater: A Dramatic Turn of Events

2011-09-21T17:41:00.000+07:00

On December 28, 2009, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, drummer for metal band Avenged Sevenfold, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 28. Avenged Sevenfold was preparing to go into the studio in early 2010, so they reached out to one of their idols, Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, to fill in for the new recording. Portnoy went on to spend the summer of 2010 touring with Avenged Sevenfold, and in late September, announced that he was leaving Dream Theater. The official reason for his departure was that he was starting to get burnt out on Dream Theater’s endlessly repeating two-year album-then-tour cycle. He suggested that they take a hiatus. The rest of the band refused. Speculation ran rampant, however, that Portnoy was having so much fun with Avenged Sevenfold that he wanted to join them full-time. It didn’t work out for him there, either, as Avenged Sevenfold announced in December of 2010 that they were parting ways with Portnoy, whom they had never intended to be more than a fill-in member of the band. After all of this, Portnoy even admitted on his website to contacting Dream Theater to try to rejoin the band, but they weren’t having it.

Meanwhile, the rest of Dream Theater got busy auditioning new drummers. Being the biggest working band in progressive rock/metal, they chronicled the audition process in a web documentary, The Spirit Carries On. Eventually the band settled on veteran drummer Mike Mangini (Extreme) and got to work on their new album. Accordingly, they named the album A Dramatic Turn of Events. If that seems a little too on the nose, consider that Dream Theater is a band that has spent 20-plus years demonstrating that the word “subtle” isn’t part of their vocabulary. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the drummer situation, this album arrives right on time, just a tick over two years since the previous Dream Theater album.

“On the Backs of Angels”, the album’s lead single and opening track, demonstrates that not much has changed for the band. “Angels” has the sound and structure of classic, early ‘90s Dream Theater, right down to Jordan Rudess’ keyboard sounds. In fact, the song is a virtual rewrite of the band’s only legitimate hit, “Pull Me Under”. I suppose this is a way for Dream Theater to make a statement that they are still here and still the same, but like the album title, it goes beyond “making a statement” into “I’m a bit uncomfortable with that” territory. Second song “Build Me Up, Break Me Down” opens with some intriguing processed drum machine sounds and a muted guitar riff before opening up into a crunchy mid-tempo rocker. It comes complete with a by-the-numbers chorus and some doomy string keyboard patches, and the processed drums come back again and again. Sadly, the overall impression this track leaves is one of Dream Theater attempting to emulate ‘00s pop-metal like Linkin Park or H.I.M.

“Build Me Up, Break Me Down” is a poor attempt at trying something different for the band, but the bulk of A Dramatic Turn Events finds Dream Theater perhaps too settled into their ways. It’s clear from watching The Spirit Carries On that a big part of why they hired Mike Mangini was the sense of familiarity about him. The band talks about how he nailed all of Mike Portnoy’s drum parts and didn’t try to add his own spin on those parts, unlike many of the other auditioners. He also has connections to the Berklee College of Music like guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung, and lives in the northeast United States like the rest of the band. Clearly Mangini is a supremely skilled player, but he’s also a person who isn’t going to challenge the band’s established way of doing things. There are some small differences in the drum playing on the album. Mangini seems a bit more groove-oriented than Portnoy, a little more comfortable with sticking to a beat without adding extra flourishes. The key word there is “a bit.” Mostly the band sounds exactly like they have for the past dozen years or so.

“Lost Not Forgotten” and “Bridges in the Sky” both have fakeout beginnings that tease interesting curveballs before quickly settling in to the band’s typical prog-heavy metal jams. The former has a lovely piano intro that even includes some timpani playing. The latter opens with quiet world percussion and creepy, low-pitched throat singing that leads into an abstract chorale and keyboards passage. But neither of these tracks is bold enough to continue those elements into the main song, and “Lost Not Forgotten” quickly revs its way into a tuneless “Here’s a pile of notes played as fast as we possibly can” duet from Rudess and Petrucci that’s one of the most aggravating the two have ever created. Stuck between those two songs is “This is the Life”, a seven-minute power ballad that screams “it’s our change of pace song!”, and isn’t particularly compelling.

It isn’t until the back end of A Dramatic Turn of Events that the band finally starts to show some spark. “Outcry” has the somewhat typical “war is bad, okay?” narrative that the band seems to pull out once every album or so. Musically, though, the song employs drum machine sounds to much better effect here than on “Build Me Up, Break Me Down.” The song also transitions quite effectively from its hard-rock sections to its quieter passages and has an effective succession of impressive solos in the middle. Similarly, “Breaking All Illusions”, the album’s longest song at 12 minutes-plus, benefits from a loose, anything-goes kind of feel. It jumps from a heavy metal opening that could’ve soundtracked a Mega Man game in the ‘90s to a quiet section that’s actually bass-driven for a change. It also helps that James LaBrie’s vocal melody is unsually strong in the track, and Jordan Rudess’ desire to play around with different keyboard sounds gives the song a crazy, fun chunk at its midpoint.

Album closer “Beneath the Surface” is a surprisingly affecting ballad, and one of the best quiet songs the band has created in years. The song is vocally-driven, highlighting LaBrie in his best light. His high-pitched tenor voice has been a point of ridicule among metal fans for years, but it works beautifully in this sort of
setting. Lyrically, the song is kind of marvelous, a lost love song that describes a person pining for another for years and eventually giving up in frustration and sadness. Musically, the rest of the band makes its smartest choice on the album by just getting the hell out of the way. Petrucci and Myung stick to acoustic instruments for the entire song, and the string quartet accompaniment is masterfully arranged. This is the sort of song that could easily be a treacly mess, but it works because the band gives LaBrie the space to sell it.

Dream Theater has always been a group that gets by on musical pyrotechnics. Every now and then they’ll come up with a great riff or a memorable melody, but their output over the decades is largely comprised of epic showoffy pieces designed to highlight the pure technical skill of Petrucci, Rudess, and (formerly) Portnoy. The band was still coming up with new ways to show off that skill through 2005’s Octavarium, but that was three albums ago. At this point it’s pretty clear that the band is comfortably ensconced in their lifestyle and content to just keep doing things the way they have been for years. A Dramatic Turn of Events only really comes to life when the band loosens up a bit. It’s a bit sad to say this about a band I’ve followed for 20 years, but maybe Mike Portnoy was right (however disingenuous his motives may have been). A couple of years off to work on other things and recharge their batteries may have been the best thing for them. A couple of strong songs does not a full album make, and this constantly-working cycle that Dream Theater is on seems to have past the point of diminishing returns.

A7X. Music's loveliest ladies, from Adele and Britney to Rihanna and Sade

2011-09-20T17:09:00.000+07:00

You forgot A7X's ex drummer Jimmy Sullivan's tattoo resembling a jersey on his back. Very unique! Of course Travis Barker made our list, but who else did? ...

Of course Travis Barker made our list, but who else did?

If there's one thing rock stars seem to love almost as much as being rock stars, it's covering their bodies with ink. Here are 25 of our favorite, most creative tattoo designs from rockers, rappers and even a country singer. (Because haven't you heard? Country singers are the new rock stars. Just ask Taylor Swift.)

MORE: http://detroit.metromix.com/music/standard_photo_gallery/the-25-coolest-rock/2811018/content

Avenged Sevenfold Announce 2011 'The Buried Alive Tour' Dates

2011-09-20T16:29:00.000+07:00

Avenged Sevenfold

Credits:

wbr.com

Video: Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare Live (Video)

Last night (Sept 16) American based band Avenged Sevenfold announced on their official website that their last tour of 2011 will be 'The Buried Alive Tour' which will feature opening bands Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria, and Black Veil Brides. Their fall into winter 2011 headlining tour consists of 15 shows over a three week period. Avenged Sevenfold's The Buried Alive Tour begins Nov 23 in Ft. Meyers, FL and concludes on Dec 14 in Yakima, WA.
Currently, Avenged Sevenfold is headlining the 2011 Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival, which concludes Oct. 14th (see all dates). If you missed them on the Uproar Festival, you might get a chance to see them one last time this year. Their 2011 headlining 'The Buried Alive Tour' is named after their single "Buried Alive" which is from the bands 2010 album, Nightmare

Watch: Avenged Sevenfold "Nightmare" Live

Supporting acts Hollywood Undead (exclusive interview) and Asking Alexandria (New Music Video) are actually co-headlining the 'World War III' tour which begins on Nov 1 and ends Nov 19. Just 4 days later both bands will begin supporting Avenged Sevenfold on 'The Buried Alive Tour' which means those hoping a date will be added in your area, will probably not happen. Check out all 'WW III Tour' dates by clicking here.
Hollywood’s Black Veil Brides (exclusive interview) hit No. 1 on the Billboard Independent Albums with their 2010 debut album We Stitch These Wounds, followed by their second album, Set The World ON Fire, which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
Avenged Sevenfold 2011 The Buried Alive Tour VIP bundles will be available for all tour dates on September 20th. Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, September 23rd, except for shows in Minneapolis and Yakima, WA, which go on sale Saturday, September 24th.

Avenged Sevenfold 2011 Buried Alive Tour Dates:
w/ Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria, Black Veil Brides
11/23 Ft. Meyers, FL Germain Arena
12/25 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
11/26 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
11/28 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
11/29 Pikeville, KY East Kentucky Expo Center
11/30 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial
12/02 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center *
12/03 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
12/06 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
12/07 Duluth, MN Amsoil Arena
12/09 Grand Forks, ND Alerus Center
12/10 Bismarck, ND Bismarck Civic Center
12/12 Billings, MT Metra Park Arena
12/13 Missoula, MT Adams Center
12/14 Yakima, WA Sun Dome

TIKET MURAAAHHHHHH

2011-04-26T19:56:00.001+07:00

* Percayakan Perjalanan Anda Kepada Kami Yang Terpercaya *****

Kami Melayani :
1. Tiket Pesawat Murah

2. Reservation Hotel

3. Paket Tour

4. Jasa Transportasi

5. Sewa Bus Pariwisata

6. Transfer In & Out Bandara – Pelabuhan

Jangan Reservasi di Tempat lain sebelum Cek Harga Kami, Nyesel Tidak dapat yang Murah dan Kelas yang sama, Harga kami lebih murah!!!!!

UNTUK PEMESANAN DAPAT MELALUI EMAIL TO dancy.one@gmail.com and MY FACEBOOK

Avenged Sevenfold-Linkin Park, Paramore Battle for Survival In Musical March Madness 30 Seconds to Mars, Tokio Hotel, Panic! at the Disco also locked in tight matchups in the final hours of the Sweet 16.

2011-03-31T22:54:00.000+07:00

When MTV's Musical March Madness tournament moved on to the Sweet 16 on Monday, we warned that the challenge for bands and their fans would only get tougher from here on out. And we weren't kidding.
Check out our MMM Bracket right here!

With Sweet 16 voting set to close Tuesday at midnight ET, half of our matchups are still too close to call, as big-name artists slog it out for a spot in the Elite 8. Will this be the round where presumptive favorites fall? Will we see upsets of VCU-like proportions? Well, all of that's up to you, really. There's still time to cast your votes and help your favorite bands advance ... but that time is quickly dwindling.
Sweet 16 voting is now under way over on the Newsroom blog!
And sure, some of our Sweet 16 matchups are basically foregone conclusions — #3 My Chemical Romance lead #2 Radiohead by a large margin, #16 Sum 41 are rolling #4 the Strokes, #9 Disturbed are dominating #12 Patrick Stump and #3 Green Day are running away from #2 Blink-182 — but we've got a whole lot of nail-biters brewing ... so here's a look at those ultra-tight contests.
#1 30 Seconds to Mars v. #5 Panic! at the Disco
When we revealed our Sweet 16, we had this West region clash circled, writing "there may be no bigger matchup in the tournament to date." And so far, it has lived up to the hype. Both bands have been campaigning hard, and their fans have responded, casting nearly 70,000 votes at press time. This one looks like it's gonna come down to the wire, as 30 STM lead Panic! by less than 2,000 votes. You can help decide the winner by voting now.
#1 Linkin Park v. #5 Paramore
A huge matchup in the South region, this one pits two MMM title faves against each other ... and the results speak for themselves. More than 80,000 votes have been cast so far, and with just hours left until polls close, fewer than 200 votes separate the two bands. Both Mike Shinoda and Hayley Williams have been hitting up the fans for support, and right now, this one is LP's to lose ... but anything can happen. You can vote for your favorite here.
#6 Coheed and Cambria v. #7 Avenged Sevenfold
All eyes are on this tilt in the Midwest region, as Coheed — last year's MMM champs and the band most had penciled in for the 2011 finals — are standing on the brink of elimination. With hours left to go in the polling, and more than 40,000 ballots cast, they trail Avenged Sevenfold by less than 2,000 votes. If they want to keep their dreams of a repeat alive, they're going to need some help from their fans. Or perhaps this really is A7X's time. You can decide this ultra-close contest by voting now.
#14 Tokio Hotel v. #2 Muse
Another tight one in the South — what else would you expect from two bands that made the Final Four last year? — with nearly 60,000 votes already counted, it's Tokio Hotel who hold a 3,000 vote lead over Muse. It's unquestionably both acts' toughest tournament challenge to date. Could this be the round where Tokio Hotel's fan support finally runs out? Or will it be Muse who fail to live up to the pre-tourney expectations? Once again, it'll be up to you. Vote now to send your favorite on to the Elite 8.
MTV's Musical March Madness has reached the Sweet 16! Voting is now open and will continue until Tuesday at midnight, when we'll roll on to the Elite 8. All winners are determined by your votes, so, if your favorite act is still standing, it's up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, things only get tougher from here on out!

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660885/linkin-park-paramore-musical-march-madness.jhtml

Synyster Gates-The Name Game: The Top 10 Guitarist Stage Names

2011-03-31T22:50:00.000+07:00

No axeman ever got famous being called John Doe (well, apart from “John Doe” of L.A. punk legends X, but he was really called John Nommensen Duchac). The point is, a memorable nickname has helped the careers of many guitar rockers. But do you know how guitarmen Chester Burnett, Saul Hudson or Kevin Wasserman got the names by which you know them? Or why The Edge came about?
Allow us to educate you, with the Top 10 Guitarist Stage Names:
10. B.B. KingRiley King earned his nickname in the 1950s, when he DJ’d at Memphis radio station WDIA, where he was known as Beale Street Blues Boy. His moniker was shortened to Blues Boy and then simply to B.B. Surely B.B. is the only guitar legend who is universally known by initials that are not even his own.9. Muddy WatersBluesmen always liked stage names, and McKinley Morganfield got his because he loved playing in mud as a baby. Plus he grew up by the Mississippi. So it makes sense. He briefly called himself Muddy Water (no “s”).

8. SlashEngland-born Saul Hudson was given the nickname Slash by family friend Seymour Cassel, according to whom the young Saul “was always in a hurry, zipping around from one thing to another.” Unfortunately, “slash” is slang in the U.K. for taking a pee. We imagine the guitar legend is cool with this, because he remains cool.

7. Izzy StradlinGuns N’ Roses revelled in stage names. Axl Rose is really William Bruce Bailey. Duff McKagan’s real first name is Michael. But Izzy Stradlin? Izzy is a shortener of Jeffrey Dean Isbel’s surname. “Stradlin” is alleged to be about his favorite sexual position. Ahem. Let’s just call him Izzy. Or Jeff.6. Buckethead
Yet another ex-GN’R member. We could be going out on a limb here, but Brian Carroll came to be called Buckethead because he wore a KFC bucket on his head? Hugely talented, he is one of guitar’s true eccentrics. Even Ozzy Osbourne couldn’t handle Buckethead. “I asked him to work with me, but only if he got rid of the [expletive] bucket,” said Ozzy.

5. Howlin' WolfChester Arthur Burnett was originally named after U.S. president Chester A. Arthur, but he soon had many more nicknames. Big Foot Chester and Bull Cow were based on his size: 6’ 6” tall and nearly 300 pounds. Like Muddy Waters, Wolf got his nickname from family: Burnett's grandfather repeatedly warned him that if he misbehaved, the wolves would get him.

4. The Edge [and Bono]
David Evans’ nickname was inspired by his face’s sharp features, and also applied to his sharp mind and the way he tended to observe things from the edge. Bono Vox (now simply Bono) was Paul Hewson until he was nicknamed after a Dublin shop (Bonavox) that sold hearing aids – it means “good voice.” 3. T-Bone WalkerThe electric-blues pioneer was born Aaron Thibadeaux Walker. (Thibodaux is a town in Louisiana, but Walker was born in Texas, so no relation.) Speculation suggests his middle name simply got abbreviated into a more usable stage name. Say it quick and Thibadeaux = T-Bone. Sounds tasty.
2. Ace FrehleyThe KISS guitarist is really called Paul Frehley. When Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley auditioned Paul for KISS, they told him that the band could not have two Pauls. So Frehley told them to call him Ace. The nickname came from his school days, when Frehley displayed a wily ability to get his friends dates with girls. Another fact: Frehley is the designer of the famous KISS logo.1. Synyster GatesThe Avenged Sevenfold axeman is not, you may have guessed, the son of a Mr. and Mrs. Gates. No, he is really Brian Elwin Haner Jr. On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, Gates claimed that his name was created on a drunken drive with Sevenfold drummer The Reverend Tholomew Plague, who is really called James Owen Sullivan. Gates’ father is a professional comedian. Ah, now it all makes sense.

STONE SOUR Announces Intimate London 'MTV Presents' Show - Oct. 8, 2010

2010-10-10T14:39:00.002+07:00

According to Roadrunner Records, STONE SOUR has teamed up with MTV and Gift Music for one of their exclusive "MTV Presents" live shows at London, England's Dingwalls venue on Tuesday, October 19, just around the corner from MTV's U.K. headquarters in Camden. The show is part of a series of special, one-off gigs featuring the best of both established and emerging global talent.

STONE SOUR kicks off its major co-headline U.K. tour in Glasgow on October 26 with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and with the majority of tickets already sold out, the "MTV Presents…" STONE SOUR gig is the perfect chance to catch the band, up close and personal, before it heads out on its U.K. arena dates.

Tickets are £12 and available exclusively to STONE SOUR "Dead Generation" fan-club members today (October 8). Any remaining tickets will go on general sale from Monday, October 11.

Avenged Sevenfold Disturbs Florida

2010-09-17T19:53:00.000+07:00

Media Credit: Associated Press

ROCK OUT: Disturbed rocked Florida in support of their new album, pictured above.

It can definitely be said that Florida had been preparing for the arrival of Avenged Sevenfold and Disturbed as they played in the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre in Tampa, last Labor Day weekend.

The major bands played on the Main Stage at the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival. Before the primary bands of the night performed, Halestorm and Stone Sour opened for the main acts acts and they put on a riveting show. Halestorm put on a fine show; their heavy/hard rock sound was executed solidly and Lzzy Hale's vocals were strong and echoed through the amphitheatre as they kick-started their set. Her singing voice is very reminiscent of the power rock/metal vocalists of the 80s and it was refreshing to hear it in a relatively new mainstream band. Her personality on stage is similar to icons such as Joan Jett.

Stone Sour was the next openers of the festival's main stage. Performing in support of their brand new album Audio Secrecy, Stone Sour kept the crowd alive by introducing new songs from Audio Secrecy and also some past hits such as "Come What(ever) May," "30/30-150" and "Through Glass." Corey Taylor proved that he is an enthusiastic stage performer and singer, just as hardworking as he is with his other, better-known band, Slipknot.

After Stone Sour wrapped up their set, the crowd waited for the appearance of Avenged Sevenfold, and the stage was elaborately set up, with images of the exterior of a haunted house in a dark creepy night keeping with the theme of the brand new album they were promoting on the tour, Nightmare. The band started out heavy and strong with the title song of the new album to enthusiastic audience response. It is also worth nothing that the band's entire performance was dedicated to the memory of the band's late drummer, James "The Rev" Sullivan who passed away at the end of 2009. The special guest drummer taking his place for the tour and for the studio drums on the new album is none other than Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater fame. The band performed fan favorites such as "Bat Country", "Afterlife", "Almost Easy", and concert staple, "Unholy Confessions." Avenged Sevenfold was entertaining to watch as they carried out their musicianship and show that they are having a great time on stage, a great memorandum for The Rev. Fans of Mike Portnoy also had a fulfilling time watching him perform in his own right, and his well-known quirks still showed, such as roasting a marshmallow on the stage pyrotechnics. All in all, Avenged Sevenfold put on a memorable performance, battling the humidity of the night versus the heat of the fireworks on stage.

Continued...

Avenged Sevenfold Drummer's Condo Sold

2010-09-17T19:48:00.002+07:00

Last December, Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy Sullivan was found dead of an accidental overdose in his oceanfront condo in downtown Huntington Beach. In July, it was put up for sale. Last week, it sold for $500,000.
The 28-year-old musician, also called “The Rev,” had a music studio in the unit. His father, Joe Sullivan, told TheOrange County Register that buying a condo on the beach meant a lot to the drummer, who grew up in Huntington Beach. Joe Sullivan says, “He loved Huntington.”
The 968-square-foot property was a two-bedroom, two-bath condo at the Huntington Pacific. Sullivan had unobstructed ocean views and a guard-gated entry. It started out priced at $599,000 in May. The price was later cut to $549,000. (In case you were wondering, under California law, a seller must notify a buyer if a death occurred in the home within the past three years. )
Avenged Sevenfold’s latest album, Nightmare, went straight to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 the week it was released. The band are also headlining the inaugural edition of Uproar with Disturbed, making a stop at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday.

Disturbed And Avenged Sevenfold At The Woodlands

2010-09-15T16:41:00.001+07:00

Say what you will about the genre - it's too radio-friendly, too mainstream, not hipster enough, if the Buzz plays it, you don't like it - but Stone Sour, Avenged Sevenfold and Disturbed all put on fantastic live performances.

Stone Sour was scheduled to play at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, so as Aftermath arrived a little before 7 p.m., we assumed that we had plenty of time to get in and get photos. But as we approached the venue, Corey Taylor's voice was already ringing through the air; coupled with Will Call's trouble finding our tickets, we didn't get there in time to get any photos.
But we did get to hear Stone Sour's entire set, which was comprised of a good mix of old and new material. "Buy it, steal it, download it; I don't care," Taylor said of the band's new CD, Audio Secrecy. "It's a good fucking album."

And it's true. Aftermath was genuinely bummed that we didn't make it inside the gates in time to snag photos, because Stone Sour is one of those bands whose music you may like, but whose live performances make you love them. Taylor's voice soared above the crowd's heads as the bass and drums reverberated through their chests. And the show wasn't devoid of impressive guitar riffs, either.
These guys are tried-and-true musicians, and we enjoyed the hell out of their set.
Avenged Sevenfold may not have headlined Rockstar Energy Drink's Uproar Tour - the official name of Sunday's package - but they might as well have; you wouldn't have known it by the crowd's reception, their setup onstage or the caliber of their performance.
As the curtains dropped from the ceiling, so did a man with a noose around his neck. He struggled for a bit then went limp, at which point members of the band emerged from backstage to roars of applause.
After their first song, "Nightmare," a stretcher was rolled out, and the man - a real guy, not a mannequin (stuntman, perhaps?), who dangled from the rafters, lifeless-like, for the entire song - was bagged up and wheeled offstage. It reminded us of My Chemical Romance's tour behind The Black Parade, which began with vocalist Gerard Way emerging from a gurney to perform the album.
Thirty minutes into the set, the mood became somber, and vocalist M. Shadows asked everyone in the crowd to put their lighters and cell phones in the air as they performed "So Far Away," which they dedicated to the memory of their former drummer, James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died of a drug overdose in 2009.
The group, as a whole, was far better than we expected them to be; their music, which is complicated, fast and oftentimes erratic, isn't cover-band friendly. Aftermath half-expected AS to be terrible compared to their albums, but we were wrong, and the performance was on par with the quality of their recordings.

Avenged Sevenfold Join Ping On iTunes.

2010-09-15T16:20:00.000+07:00

If you’re an iTunes user like myself then you’ve heard of the new feature entitled “Ping.” Ping is “a software-based music oriented social networking service developed and operated by Apple.” It allows you to follow artists you like where you get to check out tour dates and other status updates from them. You can also follow fans and friends and see what they’re listening to. Avenged Sevenfold have officially joined Ping so make sure to add them here! If the link doesn’t work for you just sign into your iTunes account > click the “Ping” label > search “Avenged Sevenfold” > hit “Follow.”

M Shadows Speaks To The Pulse Of Radio About Mike Portnoy.

2010-09-14T20:56:00.002+07:00

M Shadows recently spoke to The Pulse of Radio about Mike Portnoy and his departure from Dream Theater:

“Mike is so full of life,” he said. “He’s such a great guy. You know, [he was] the leader of DREAM THEATER [prior to quitting that band last week], so I think it’s fun for him to get to sit back and, like, you know, he just gets to play the drums and not worry about things and he’s having a good time with it. And then it’s a new adventure for us and, you know, that’s what it’s gonna be. It’s never gonna be the same and we’re not trying to make it the same. We’re just trying to do the best we can and Mike’s doing a hell of a job and we’re really excited about that.”

STONE SOUR, AVENGED SEVENFOLD: U.K. Tour Dates Announced - July 13, 2010

2010-07-15T16:47:00.002+07:00

STONE SOUR and AVENGED SEVENFOLD will team up for a U.K. co-headlining tour in October and November.

Confirmed dates are as follows:

Oct. 26 - Glasgow, UK - SECC
Oct. 27 - Manchester, UK - Academy
Oct. 28 - Birmingham, UK - NIA
Oct. 30 - London, UK - HMV Hammersmi - Apollo
Nov. 02 - Newcastle, UK - O2 Academy
Nov. 03 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy
Nov. 04 - Manchester, UK - Academy
Nov. 06 - Plymouth, UK - Pavilion
Nov. 07 - Brighton, UK - Centre

STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor tells Kerrang! that the idea behind the trek is a direct reaction to the current trend of what he calls "watered-down" bills.

"Tours in the past used to be huge events with different types of music," explains Taylor. "Lately, tours have become watered down with same-sounding bands and same sounding songs. What we'll be offering is a great live and musical experience that will appeal to all different types of music lovers.

"I'm really looking forward to it!" he adds. "We last did some shows with avenged in 2007 and we got to know them really well at that time."

No opening bands have yet been announced for the tour.

STONE SOUR's new album, "Audio Secrecy", is scheduled for release on September 7 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Come What(ever) May" was recorded with Raskulinecz at Blackbird Studios in Nashville during the destructive storms and devastating floods that hit the historic heart of Music City.

The quintet will be previewing select songs from the album during this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. The 36-date tour launches August 17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will visit arenas and amphitheatres across North America before wrapping October 4 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hopeless Records will release a very special and limited vinyl pressing of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's upcoming album, "Nightmare", in late September. The deluxe edition includes two 12-inch discs pressed on blood-red 180-gram vinyl in a double gatefold. The 2,500 limited edition package also comes numbered. A standard version is also available, on two 12-inch discs pressed on standard-weight vinyl in a double-gatefold packaging. The Southern California band's fifth studio album, produced by Mike Elizondo, is due from Warner Bros. Records on July 27.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD is riding high on the success of "Nightmare"'s first single and title track, which has enjoyed airplay at Active Rock, Mainstream, and Modern Rock radio stations across the country and was the No. 1 Rock Song on iTunes in the U.S. and the U.K. in its debut week. A lyric video of "Nightmare" that premiered via YouTube on the band's web site received more than 275,000 plays in 24 hours and has since racked up more than two million views.

Avenged Sevenfold Drug Overdose- AC/DC Scam Arrest- Dio, Paul Gray Tributes- Vertical Horizon Lose Member- Beck, Metallica, Wylde Jam- McCartney Tributes Ozzy- more

2010-06-16T21:13:00.000+07:00

Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan died as a result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, US officials have concluded. Rock Radio reports that the 28-year-old, who was found dead on December 28, was taking a number of prescription drugs to deal with physical pain and nervous anxiety. Coroners discovered he had an enlarged heart, a "significant condition" which contributed to his death moreA woman who allegedly pretended to be an AC/DC concert promoter has been accused of conning fans out of nearly $100,000 by planning a fake gig. Jam! reports that Australian Leanne Herbert, 41, was arrested last month amid allegations she spent seven months in 2005 promoting a bogus show by the band in Sydney. more
The music industry's collapse is good news for the Melvins, the defiantly uncommercial "thud-rock" band that just cracked the U.S. pop album chart for the first time in its 26-year career. more
Jeff Beck honored his late friend and mentor, Les Paul, with an intimate performance Wednesday night at his favorite haunt, the Iridium Jazz Club. AP reports the small basement club was packed with an invitation-only crowd that included a who's who of rock music. Meat Loaf, Little Steven Van Zandt, Zakk Wylde, Metallica's Kirk Hammett and many others visibly enjoyed the nearly two-hour set.more
Download Festival organizers have just announced that they will be paying tribute to rock legends and personalities who have died in the last year. These are Ronnie James Dio, Paul Gray (Slipknot), Stuart Cable (Killing For Company), Pete Steele (Type O Negative), Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan (Avenged Sevenfold), Mike Alexander (Evile), plus Monsters Of Rock co-founder Maurice Jones at this weekend's festival. more
Vertical Horizon guitarist Keith Kane has decided to part ways with the band and pursue other side project's and a solo career according to a post on the musician's webpage. more
Jack Osbourne shocked his father Ozzy Osbourne by convincing Paul McCartney to film a piece about the rocker for an upcoming documentary. Jack asked a string of Ozzy's pals to pay tribute to him in the film but there was one surprise addition. Ozzy tells the U.K.'s Daily Record, "It is common knowledge I am a big (The) Beatle(s), McCartney and (John) Lennon fan. He asked me a couple of weeks ago if there was anyone I would like him to interview for the film. I said, 'No mate, you've got just about everyone, you've been working on it for about four years and there's only about four people on the planet you have not interviewed'." more
Speaking of Ozzy, his new song 'Soul Sucker' is now streaming online here
The Strokes played their first gig since October 2006 last night (June 9), performing a secret show under the alias Venison at London's Dingwalls venue. more
Jack Johnson claimed his third No. 1 album on the anemic U.S. pop chart on Wednesday, despite suffering a large slide in sales. Johnson's "To The Sea" sold 243,000 copies during the week ended June 6, according to Nielsen SoundScan. more
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian is organizing an online poker game, with the winner getting an all expenses paid trip to the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth Park. more
Gary Numan and Slipknot's Corey Taylor are among the names added to the line-up for this year's Sonisphere Festival which takes place at Knebworth House on July 30 – August 1 more
Backtrack, Fire & Ice, and Dead End Path have lined up a brief Summer tour surrounding Sound And Fury 2010 in California. more
Keane have announced that they will make a special guest appearance at this year's Glastonbury festival. The trio are set to perform an acoustic set on the Avalon Stage more
Doors guitarist Robby Krieger will release a new instrumental solo album, Singularity, on Oglio Records on June 29. more
Footage (and the setlist) from Iron Maiden's June 9th kick-off show in Dallas, TX for The Final Frontier North American tour is available here
Fatalist has announced they have been added to select dates of the Campaign For Death Metal Purity 2010 tour. California's answer to Stockholm-style death metal will join Ibex Moon Records label mates Gravehill, Cardiac Arrest, and Hod. more
The Elvis Presley estate has signed a deal for Hasbro Inc. and PPW Toys to release an Elvis version of Mr. Potato Head. more
Producer Kevin Shirley says that Journey are almost done recording their new album which should be ready for early 2011 release more -

Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan died as a result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, US officials have concluded.

2010-06-16T21:11:00.000+07:00

Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan died as a result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, US officials have concluded.
The 28-year-old, who was found dead on December 28, was taking a number of prescription drugs to deal with physical pain and nervous anxiety. Coroners discovered he had an enlarged heart, a "significant condition" which contributed to his death.
A7X recently explained how they considered splitting up, but Sullivan's family persuaded them to keep working. They've recorded a new album with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who's touring with them so they can take time to find a permanent replacement for Sullivan.
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward says he thought the band's lifestyle would be the death of him by the time he was 25.
He tells the New York Daily Post about the band's rise to stardom: "I knew we were into something different, and I really loved what we were into, the sound and the religious and political imagery, but I didn’t speculate much about it at the time. I just thought, 'Whatever this is, I want to be into it for the rest of my life.'"
Discussing their on-tour behaviour he says: "Quite honestly, I thought I would be dead by 25. You can’t even imagine being 62, which is what I am now. Sadly, those days have been over for us for a long, long time. The best I can do after a gig is usually get in my bus and try to have a sandwich or a cup of tea. That’s pretty much the heaviest partying I do now."

DREAM THEATER Drummer On Touring With MAIDEN, Playing With AVENGED SEVENFOLD

2010-06-16T21:03:00.002+07:00

Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Why does [IRON] MAIDEN mean so much to you?

Portnoy: They are definitely the blueprint for the sound that DREAM THEATER was modeled after. When me and John Petrucci put together this band 25 years ago, it was MAIDEN and RUSH as far as what we were styled after. They were just one of those bands that was a huge, huge part of it.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: How challenging is it to condense the set as an opening act, especially since many of your songs are more than 10 minutes?

Portnoy: Yeah, it is a challenge. We're used to playing much, much longer shows, so doing a 50-minute set is a nice breath of fresh air and a change of pace. But it is a challenge when I have to put together the setlist. When I put together a list for our audience, I go deep into our catalog. But when we're an opening act, I tailor it mainly to the main band's audience, so I'm putting this one together with MAIDEN's audience in mind. I write it mainly for the hits. Not that we've had hits, but you know, some of the main songs and videos that we've made.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: DREAM THEATER is the poster child of anti-radio and anti-video friendly bands considering the complexity and length of your songs. So how have you guys been able to go so strong for nearly 25 years?

Portnoy: Our fans. We have amazing fans that are diehard and dedicated. A DREAM THEATER fan is not a casual fan. They're devoted. They appreciate us because we've always been against the grain. We've never been a radio-friendly band. We're probably one of the biggest cult bands out there, and our fans feel they're part of this exclusive club that the other kids on the block are not a part of.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: With all the awards you've won, and being one of the most renowned drummers in the industry, what's the most challenging aspect of drumming for you?

Portnoy: To be honest with you, I think the most challenging is living up to my reputation. I've won awards and received acknowledgment in the industry. To me, it's a great honor, but it's a big thing I have to live up to every time. You know, I didn't ask for any of this. All I want to do is play drums, but I know I have expectations to live up to. Sometimes, that's intimidating.

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: When you got the call from M. Shadows and AVENGED SEVENFOLD asking you to record and eventually tour, what was that initial conversation like for you, then leading into the recording process?

Portnoy: Well, my contact with them began before Jimmy passed away. I had been in touch with Jimmy. He had been sending me e-mails because he'd been a big fan of mine. Then I became friends with M. Shadows. As soon as Jimmy passed, I called M. Shadows and expressed my thoughts and told him I'd do anything I could. I was supportive of what I could do on a personal level. After the funeral, I got a call from their manager, then M. Shadows, and they asked me if I would finish the album. I was completely honored, and luckily, my schedule was open. We met in L.A. and went to dinner and hung out, and those guys were deep in the grieving process. It was a very heavy, heavy process. It's a big family. But I went in and did the album, and we had an amazing time musically and personally, and they welcomed me into the family.

Read the entire interview from the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner.

DISTURBED: 'Another Way To Die' Lyric Video Released

2010-06-16T20:59:00.000+07:00

DISTURBED's first single from its upcoming album "Asylum" was delivered to radio stations on Monday morning (June 14). Titled "Another Way To Die", the track deals with some very timely subject matter, as frontman David Draiman told The Pulse of Radio. "Obviously it's referring to the global catastrophe that we know as global warming, and the effects that it continues to have on our planet, and our irresponsibility in doing what we do as a species, and our constant appetite, our constant consumption at all costs, you know, no matter what is destroyed, no matter what is laid to waste," he said. "And certainly what's happening in the Gulf now is, you know, horrific."

"Another Way To Die" goes on sale at iTunes on Tuesday (June 15).

"Asylum" will arrive in August and will follow up the group's 2008 release, "Indestructible", their fourth million-seller in a row and third No. 1 album.

DISTURBED will hit the road ahead of the album's release, and will be anchoring this summer's new Uproar Tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and STONE SOUR.

Avenged Sevenfold Guitarist Reminded How to Treat Fans by Baseball

2010-06-16T20:56:00.002+07:00

Avenged Sevenfold have a special relationship with their fans. As we told you before, it was those fans that kept the band going following the death last year of drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan. What does the Orange County band attribute that bond to? For one thing, it's realness. "I think there's a whole group of kids out there that don't relate to the glitz and glamour of hanging out in clubs and partying all the time," guitarist Zacky Vengeance tells Noisecreep. "So I think some people are just more real than that and I think our fans are those kind of kids that need something to relate to and I think we're the band to do it."

Another thing is making themselves accessible to those fans. "I remember what it felt like when I was young, and I looked up to someone and they would pay me just an ounce of attention," he recalls. "And some of the bands I listened to when I was young probably never even sold any albums, but it didn't matter to me. If I'd go up and say great show, it would be amazing that they even would acknowledge me."

Interestingly, asked if there are any moments that stand out to him of bands paying fans that kind of attention, the first thing that comes to Venegance's mind is not music, but baseball. "What actually really brought it all back to me is I went to a baseball game, I'm a huge baseball fan," he admits. "And I watched the little kids [try] to get a player's autograph from the field, and I looked and I had memories rushing back to me from when I was a little kid standing there waiting forever with a baseball, begging the players to do it. And sometimes when a player would walk over and grab the ball, it was the most exciting thing in the entire world."

Avenged Sevenfold: When Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan Died, It Was Over

2010-06-16T20:55:00.002+07:00

Every band handles tragedy differently. The Who of course went on when drummer Keith Moon died in 1978. Led Zeppelin, however, decided to call it quits following the demise of drummer John Bonham in 1980. Avenged Sevenfold are moving forward, with a new hit song, 'Nightmare,' and album due in July of the same name.

But guitarist Zacky Vengeance tells Noisecreep that when drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan passed away last year, the band was finished. "When we called each other and got the call that Jimmy had died, literally it all ended right there," Vengeance, whose real name is Zachary Baker, says. "Everything we've ever known as human beings, everything we've ever known as a band, changes at that moment, and you can't think clearly. You can't see anything, you can't talk, you can't make any sense of anything. It was just done. You don't care about music, there's just nothing."

So what changed their minds? "I can honestly tell you if it wasn't for our fans, there would not be Avenged Sevenfold right now," he says. "The fans would send in hundreds and thousands of letters, and they'd make books begging us to keep going and thanking us for what we have done and honoring Jimmy. They held vigils all over the world."

Avenged didn't acknowledge the fan reception at the time, because as Vengeance says, "We weren't in the state to say, 'OK, we're gonna organize events for everyone, all of our fans to get together.' 'Cause it's not a publicity stunt. When that really happens, it's not about that." But they were paying attention and saw all of the vigils. And he says that's what kept the band going. "If it wasn't for them, we certainly wouldn't have had the strength to get back there and basically walk through the fire at the hardest time in our life."

The result is an album they are immensely proud of, and one they feel honors their fallen band mate. "Our friend had written this amazing album with us, and we had to preserve his legacy -- let everyone know how genius he really was," Vengenace says. "He'd done everything in life that he wanted to do, but now we realize we were put on this earth to show everyone how great he was."

Still, as thrilled as they are with the album -- which Vengenace teases, "People aren't even gonna believe what's in store for them" -- it remains very, very difficult for him to hear the music. "There are times when I'm going back through playing some parts and thinking about the lyrics, and I'll tear up because there's nothing else I can do," he says. "That probably happens at least once a day at this point."

Top 10 Must-See Summer Tours And Festivals

2010-05-25T15:42:00.000+07:00

For a nervous, pale anxiety-ridden freak like myself, concerts can be very stressful, but they’re worth it. No matter how many people step on me, or fist-pump their sweaty, balled-up hands into my cheek, their armpit odor wafting straight into my nose. Cheap cologne can’t hide it. People at concerts are half awful, brainless hipster drones and preppy tank-top wearing, Walmart hoes. Dancing an air bubble around themselves, a gap no one wants to enter, therefore creating a bad diversion for people trying to concentrate on the stage. Whether you’re focusing on Mike Patton’s bulging eyes or Lady Gaga’s set design and costumes, Bono’s leather jacket, or Tegan and Sara’s witty folk songs, it’s never something you want to miss.
No matter what or who you’re trying to see, and no matter who or what is distracting and annoying you, it’s still worth going to some concerts this summer. Especially some festivals. Just because Coachella and SXSW are over doesn’t mean you don’t have options. Lollapalooza has Gaga herself, a rare pop choice, and also Soundgarden, who will make a reunited appearance. I knew Chris Cornell needed money, and thank god for that because there aren’t many fans of music who wouldn’t like to see Grunge icons Soundgarden perform one last time. It’s also the return of Lilith Fair, the sometimes scoffed at all-woman musician festival founded by animal activist and proclaimed flower child Sarah Mclachlan.
Concert festivals have come a long way since their fledgling years. With Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock in the past, new concerts are much more organized. This is good and bad. Security is tripled, so if you consider yourself cunning for climbing 8 foot fences and not having anyone notice your vacant wristband, then good for you. Just don’t expect applause, except the applause you’ll be hearing in the distance as you’re being dragged out by two huge guys in black shirts. The real applause will be the applause of the masses, applauding their favorite artists. Grinning and bearing the heat and the bad toilets and the lack of cheap water. All because they love music and they are united by this one fact and it makes it all worth it. And here’s why….
1. Lollapalooza – Three days in Chicago, August 6th through 8th. Perry Farrell’s waify genius spawned this festival back in the early ninties, and while Lollapalooza has been canceled and revived twice now, it is always one of the top three music festivals yearly due to a consistently amazing lineup. This year is of course no exception. They’ve got Soundgarden of course and Lady Gaga as well as Greenday, The Strokes, Metric, Arcade Fire, MGMT, Jimmy Cliff, The Black Keys, Spoon, Slightly Stoopid, Chromeo, Hockey, Rebelution, Company Of Thieves, New Pornographers, Devo, Cypress Hill and so many more. This is the most extensive and most versatile festival out there besides Coachella, which is over, so you have no choice but to go if you live anywhere near Chicago or have gold-lined pockets that make it easy for you to travel. Check out the official website for full lineups and information.
2. Lilith Fair – As much as I joke about Lilith Fair being a slightly ridiculous event, I really wouldn’t mind being there at all this year. Yes it’s the return of Lilith Fair and The Go-Go’s are going to be there! Belinda Carlisle mic in hand, that cute little Jane Wiedlin, Gina Schock and her array of drumsticks and Kathy Valentine’s bass. Also, Rihanna’s hot ass. Ke$ha, though god knows she’s not great live, she might shoot something booze-drenched and shiny out of her orifices. Emily Haines with Metric, for poetic indie rockers. The soothing swagger of Norah Jones. La Roux’s Bulletproof red coif. The Gossip and their clowny yet soulful lead singer Beth Ditto. Erykah Badu and her hats. Heart, need I say more? Kelly Clarkson, Suzanne Vega, Tegan And Sara! Founder Sarah Mclachlan. Sheryl Crow. Emmylou Harris. Carly Simon. Cat Power. Mary J. Blige. And finally The Bangles, featuring the always lovely never aging Susanna Hoffs. The one huge downside is that not all the artists will be appearing at all dates. Kicks off June 27th in Calgary and ends August 16th in Dallas. Tickets and tour information here.
3. Warped Tour 2010 – Honestly, I have grown to disdain Warped Tour, sometimes I find it childish and over the top. Just kind of an emo cream puff with an occasional rare rock or post-punk flavor. The year Joan Jett and The Buzzcocks played was cool of course, and Blink 182 used to always headline. This year might be an exception for my disdain. I didn’t want to include it on my list, but I visited the tour page, and was a little impressed. Against Me! will be there performing songs from their new Butch Vig-produced album, “White Crosses.” Also visiting Warped Tour are Dropkick Murphys, Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Enter Shikari, After Midnight Project, Cobra Skulls, Face To Face, Eyes Set To Kill, Everclear, Bring Me To The Horizon, Andrew W.K. and Pennywise, with their newly added lead singer, Zoli Teglas. Warped tour goes from June 25th to August 15th. Visit for information at Vans Warped Tour 2010.
4. Sasquatch! – Lower Washington and Oregon’s own Sasquatch festival. While it does technically take place in Washington, we Oregonians like to call it our own because we have no big music festivals to speak of. Bumbershoot may be for the Seattle crowd, while Sasquatch features actual beautiful scenery as a backdrop for a lot of really great music. With a view of water and flat-topped hills, Sasquatch features several stages, Sasquatch Main Stage, Yeti Stage and Wookie Stage. Founded in 2002 by Adam Zacks who once was responsible for booking at Portland’s Roseland Theater, Sasquatch starts this year on Memorial Day Weekend. May 29th through 31st. So get on it, it’s just around the corner. This year Sasquatch features The Hold Steady, Broken Social Scene, OK Go, Vampire Weekend, My Morning Jacket, Miike Snow, The Posies and my favorite, Laura Marling.
5. Harmony Festival – Oh Reggae how I love you. And how overlooked you sometimes are. Fortunately there’s a great summer tour mostly dedicated to Reggae. Starts June 11th in Santa Rosa, California, ends June 13th, this one of a kind festival will be graced by the presences of Lauryn Hill, Rebelution,The Expendables, Slightly Stoopid, Zappa Plays Zappa and Steel Pulse. Not to mention Ska/Funk/Rock band Fishbone, who openly inspired Red Hot Chili Peppers. Head to http://www.harmonyfestival.com/ for more details.
6. Bonnaroo – Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment present you with the ever enchanting, always relaxing Bonnaroo music and arts festival. Bonnaroo’’s main focus once was strictly jam bands, but in recent years they’ve branched out a bit. The word Bonnaroo means “a really good time.” So prepare yourself for that. This year you’ll see Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Cliff, Kings of Leon, Rise Against, Tenacious D, Tori Amos, Conan O’Brian, The Dead Weather, Weezer, Dave Matthews Band and Phoenix. Keep your eyes peeled for Beyonce, as she did jump on stage with Jay-Z at Coachella earlier this year, she may do it again at Bonnaroo. June 10th through 13th solely in Manchester, Tennessee.
7. Rockstar Mayhem Festival - You can’t pass up the chance to miss Rob Zombie, Korn and Five Finger Death Punch at Mayhem Festival this year. Mayhem Festival started in 2008, founded by Kevin Lyman who also founded Warped Tour. So basically, Mayhem Festival is the more haggard, more hardcore cousin of Warped Tour. Other bands scheduled are Chimaira, Atreyu, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall and Winds of Plague, not to mention many more. Begins July 10th in San Bernardino, California, ends August 14th in Oklahoma City. Read about it here.
8. Bumbershoot - Alright, I’m getting ahead of myself by adding Seattle’s Bumbershoot festival, since they haven’t announced a lineup yet. This event has been so good year to year, that I can’t really bring myself to leave it out. Miss Cleo tells me it’ll be a good Bumbershoot year, and I always listen to crazy people with sketchy advertising and absurd headbands. I’m not likely to appear at many festivals ever, because after I stand in the sun for an hour, I start to get confused with a Roma Tomato, but this is actually an event I may attend. One that I have attended in the past. Like Coachella, Bumbershoot really branches out. They usually feature not only many fine musical acts but worthwhile comedy and art exhibits as well. So you missed Coachella? Live in the Pacific Northwest? Go to Bumbershoot. The word “bumbershoot” may be slang for umbrella but I wouldn’t worry about bringing one, the time of year is ripe for sun, even in Seattle. Bands will surely be announced soon so check up on it here.
9. Rockstar Uproar – Want to hear Metallica’s new single? Well too bad, you can’t. But you can hear Avenged Sevenfold’s new single, which is the closest thing we have. “ Nightmare,” is a Metallica frosting cake with Coheed and Cambria Sprinkles and a Pantera filling. Avenged Sevenfold will be playing Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival this year along with famed Nu-Metal rockers Disturbed. The Rockstar Uproar Festival is brand new, as in this year, so give it a chance. The tour kicks off on August 17th in Minneapolis, Minnesota and ends October 4th in Madison, Wisconsin. Another band that will appear is Halestorm, a half country half rock/metal female-fronted group, but don’t get me wrong, singer Lzzy Hale is no Taylor Swift. Lzzy wouldn’t be caught dead dating Taylor Lautner of Twilight she’d be caught dating someone like Corey Taylor of Slipknot. By the way, Corey Taylor will be there in the form of Stone Sour. And who else should be there? You, if you like Metal, and country-infused metal, and Nu-Metal. Though Mayhem Fest’s Korn are prettty damn Nu-Metal as well.
10. Ozzfest - Seeing Ozzy alone is probably worth the ticket to many, but this year the festival also includes Motley Crue, Devildriver, Rob Halford, Drowning Pool and Black Label Society making appearances on the main stage. Ozzy Osbourne’s new CD “Scream” will be released June 22nd, and he will be performing his new material here. Starts August 14th in Devore, California and wraps up August 24th in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Info at http://www.ozzfest.com/welcome.html

Gumball 3000: Coast To Coast Movie Trailer: Gumball Girls Censor Featuring Johnny Christ.

2010-05-23T12:59:00.000+07:00

The Gumball Girls Censor spot of the Gumball 3000 “Coast to Coast” movie trailer featuring The Sirens has been posted and features our very own Johnny Christ, mostly getting picked on but what’s new? You can grab the DVD here.

Gumball 3000 ‘Coast to Coast’ is a high speed action packed adventure full of high jinx antics filmed during the 8 days of the 2009 Gumball Rally from Los Angeles to Miami. From ‘sandal skating on the freeway’ to wild penthouse parties this road trip offers viewers a unique passenger ride experience on the worlds most exclusive road trip.

Avenged Sevenfold is your best 'Nightmare'

2010-05-20T15:04:00.001+07:00

Today, is a good day. Why? Because Avenged Sevenfold has debuted its new single "Nightmare," the first song (and title-track) off their new album due out on J uly 17.
I'm happy to report that, following the death of drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan last December, the band has rallied and created a song - and likely album - that's just as good as Avenged's previous works.
"Nightmare" - curiously produced by Mike Elizondo, who worked on Dr. Dre and Eminem tracks - features all of A7X's signature style elements, including the usual amazing mid-song guitar riffs, harmonies and driving drumbeats. Not to mention epic song length - this one clocks in at nearly six and a half minutes.
Mike Portnoy from Dream Theatre took over the skins on the album and will go on tour with Avenged this summer during the first annual Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival. Alas, the closest the tour gets to the city is Jones Beach on Aug. 28, but keep an eye out. They'll probably be back a proper NYC gig later this year or early in 2011.
Listen to the single here:

Zacky Vengeance 89X Interview Notes. Listen Here.

2010-05-20T14:53:00.002+07:00

Here are some of the notable things I jotted down while listening to the interview on 89X that Zacky Vengeance did with Jay Hudson. You can listen to the interview below.

- On (Album Mixer) Andy Wallace: “He’s incredible.”
- On (Producer) Mike Elizondo: Mike spoke of the band, “I absolutely love Avenged Sevenfold. It would be a dream and honor to work on an album like this.”
- “He truly understood how brilliant Jimmy was. He became our friend. He got to see where it was going, all Jimmys input, he had to live the nightmare with us and through it.”
- On Mike Portnoy: “Came in with the utmost respect, generous human being. Mike was a huge fan of Jimmy.
- On Avenged Sevenfold: “We only do business with people that are passionate about what we do, because we’re so passionate. We live and breathe what we do.”
- On The New Album “Nightmare”: “I truly feel in my heart that it will go down in rock, metal, history as an album that’ll never be duplicated. I truly feel this is the Avenged Sevenfold album that cannot be duplicated. No one will be able to do what we did on it.”
- “Im very proud of all of us and can’t wait for fans to hear it.”
- “Jimmy was really excited about his drumming on this album.”
- On The Song “Fiction” (working title “Death”) Written By Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan” “Jimmy wrote ‘Death’ on Christmas Eve. He hummed the entire melody and only left three lines of lyrics. It’s a musical masterpiece. It will make millions of people in the whole world cry”
- On Avenged Sevenfold Fans: “Our fans are part of the family, it’s pretty incredible.

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Revel in Deep Purple's rock nirvana

2010-05-16T13:19:00.001+07:00

AH, DEEP Purple. Your hair follicles might be a tad grey and your teeth a mite long, but you sure can rock. In fact, what you gave to your audience on Wednesday night was, dare I say, nothing short of a religious experience.
Now, one might not think that such a statement would come from one who has just hit the age of 30. After all, Deep Purple formed in 1968 - more than a decade before this reviewer was born - and most of its current line-up are in their 60s.
But for those who grew up listening to their dads' Best Of Deep Purple compilations, the British hard rockers' 100-minute concert at the Indoor Stadium was sheer rock nirvana.

When the band ripped into the opening crescendo of sound that led into Highway Star (1972), all one could think of was that Deep Purple, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, spawned the birth of heavy metal and hard rock. It doesn't matter that the line-up has changed: The only founding member remaining is drummer, Ian Paice, 61, while vocalist Ian Gillan, 64, joined in 1969, left in 1973 and returned in 1984. Bassist Roger Glover, 64, joined in 1969, and guitarist Steve Morse, 55, came on board in 1994. Newest member, keyboardist Don Airey, 61, joined in 2002.
Gillian, looking lean and spry, sang his heart out hitting every shriek and growl effortlessly. Morse, the successor of the iconic Ritchie Blackmore for the last decade, showed his chops with his near-flawless rendering of familiar guitar licks and searing solos.
As Paice drove the beat on in his trademark roaring style, one could almost begin to smell patchouli and leather in the air. With the crowd ranging from baby boomers to teens in Avenged Sevenfold T-shirts, everyone (particularly one guy in his 20s who spent most of the night pogo-ing to the beat) had a blast.
The crowd's enthusiasm was most evident on classics like Strange Kind Of Woman and Fireball (both released in 1971), but they also gave a warm reception to newer tunes, like the title track from their latest album, Rapture Of The Deep (2005).
However, the crowd really started going when the band played Space Truckin' (1972). This was followed by the unmistakable opening notes and driving bassline of Smoke On The Water (1972).
Gillian worked the crowd, screaming: "I can't hear you!" He whipped the crowd into a frenzied sing-along with the
chorus, while his bandmates bounced around like they'd never heard of hip-replacements.
After a three-song encore that included the Billy Joe Royal tune Hush, covered by Deep Purple in 1968, and Black Night (1970), which included a blistering guitar solo from Glover, the band bid the crowd goodbye.
Paice tossed drum sticks into the crowd, while Morse and Glover threw guitar picks to the fevered fans gathered by the front of the stage.
Ultimately, Deep Purple showed that age ain't nothin' but a number. And I know I'm not the only one who went away with ears ringing, and with the inability to whistle nothing but the riff from Black Night for the next few days.

No One To Call..

2010-05-15T14:42:00.000+07:00

Avenged Sevenfold have updated their website once more with a secret link. When you highlight under their Twitter box you’ll view the lyrics, “NO ONE TO CALL.” see another hidden box. Click it.

SEVENFOLDISM7

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Video: Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare Live (Video)

TIKET MURAAAHHHHHH

*** Percayakan Perjalanan Anda Kepada Kami Yang Terpercaya ******* Kami Melayani : 1. Tiket Pesawat Murah

2. Reservation Hotel

3. Paket Tour

4. Jasa Transportasi

5. Sewa Bus Pariwisata

6. Transfer In & Out Bandara – Pelabuhan Jangan Reservasi di Tempat lain sebelum Cek Harga Kami, Nyesel Tidak dapat yang Murah dan Kelas yang sama, Harga kami lebih murah!!!!!

UNTUK PEMESANAN DAPAT MELALUI EMAIL TO dancy.one@gmail.com and MY FACEBOOK

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Revel in Deep Purple's rock nirvana

No One To Call..

* Percayakan Perjalanan Anda Kepada Kami Yang Terpercaya *****

Kami Melayani :
1. Tiket Pesawat Murah

6. Transfer In & Out Bandara – Pelabuhan

Jangan Reservasi di Tempat lain sebelum Cek Harga Kami, Nyesel Tidak dapat yang Murah dan Kelas yang sama, Harga kami lebih murah!!!!!