Heavy rock legends MOTÖRHEAD, in collaboration with West Hollywood’s famous Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip, have agreed to dedicate their patio to Lemmy Kilmister and re-name it ‘Lemmy’s Lounge’ in memory of rock’s greatest frontman. It is a fitting gesture from the Rainbow, as when Lemmy wasn’t touring or recording, the majority of his waking hours were spent on said-patio. There is already a life size bronze statue immortalizing Lemmy at The Rainbow, which attracts fans from all over the world, and Lemmy’s Lounge will allow hardcore fans and casual patrons alike to sample the wares and atmosphere that Lemmy loved so much.
To celebrate Lemmy’s Lounge, Roxy owner Nic Adler and Goldenvoice’s Paul Tollett have kindly agreed to allow the painting of a celebratory mural commemorating the life of Lemmy and MOTÖRHEAD on the side wall of the Roxy, opposite Lemmy’s Lounge and statue.
MOTÖRHEAD’s management are seeking a local LA muralist painter that is interested in the opportunity to provide their services to paint this immortal artwork in celebration of our fallen hero’s life. Interested parties should fill the form at lemmyslounge.com to submit their resume.
The closing date for submissions is December 24, 2016.
On a blistering hot, Labor Day weekend in 1982, about an hour’s drive from Los Angeles, The Ramones, B52’s, Talking Heads, and The Police all took the stage in front of over 100,000 fans. The Police were in mid-tour for Ghosts in the Machine and as Stewart Copeland recollects: “we were whip-cracking hot – and we scorched Southern California”. The next day, Eddie Money, Santana, The Cars, The Kinks, Pat Benatar, and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers rocked to an even larger crowd. Sunday morning, The Grateful Dead took the stage bright and early – billed as “Breakfast in Bed with the Grateful Dead“, and they were followed by a lineup that included Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band and Jackson Browne. Fleetwood Mac closed the show. This was The 1982 US Festival.
“The US Festival was financed by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple,” says Glenn Aveni, of Icon Music TV, an indie filmmaker who has produced and directed music documentaries on John Entwistle, The Clash, and Les Paul. “It was produced by Bill Graham. The 350,000 fans that were there still consider it a highlight of their concert-going lives. Yet for all its talent, and for all its influence and innovation, the US Festival is not so readily remembered, because there never was a film about it… Until now.”
“The 1982 US Festival executed. They did it right, and showed it could be done right, setting the stage for future mega-shows from Live Aid to Bonnaroo and Coachella,” says Gregg Perloff of Another Planet, who was with Bill Graham Presents at the time and was interviewed for the film.
“Prior to The US Festival in 1982”, adds Aveni “No multi-day outdoor permit had been issued by any municipality since 1969 – the year of Woodstock and Altamont, both of which had serious operational difficulties and safety issues. If not for this event, who knows if and when other events would have occurred.”
Free water and shade tents were everywhere. The stage was the largest yet seen, and the sound was powered by 400,000 watts. There was a tech pavilion under 5 air-conditioned tents, stocked by Woz and his friends with the latest gadgets and some prototypes of what was yet to come. They even piped music over satellite feed into the USSR – crossing The Iron Curtain.
“It’s a great untold story full of awesome music, amazing anecdotes and larger than life personalities,” adds Aveni. The US Generation documentary is a blend of music, archival footage, and interviews with the crowd and with performers. Besides Perloff and Hart, there are insightful present-day interviews with Stewart Copeland (The Police), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Eddie Money, Marky Ramone, Kate Pierson (B-52’s), and Wozniak himself, all speaking fondly and candidly about the event. Among those interviewed archivally are Sting, Pat Benatar, David Byrne, Ric Ocasek, Carlos Santana, and DaveDavies, along with Woz and Graham. The film also covers how the event was conceived, and regales with the on-site hijinks, challenges, and lively battles between Graham and Woz.
The Kickstarter campaign is offering the first copies of the film, in digital download, DVD, and Blu Ray, with options for extra music, and added celeb commentary. “We’ve gone to town on these Rewards,” says Aveni. “If you love classic rock and have pined for something new, here you go.”
Filmmaker Aveni lived and worked for many years in LA and now resides in the Milwaukee area where he grew up. He is available for interviews.
An unprecedented lineup has been announced for the 11th annual Rock On The Range, May 19, 20 and 21 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, OH.
Rock legends Metallica, Soundgarden and Korn will each headline one night of America’slargest and most-acclaimed rock festival. Overall, Rock On The Range 2017–fueled by Monster Energy–will feature over 50 bands performing on three stages, plus rock’s favorite comedians in the ROTR Rolling Rock Comedy Tent, The Music Experience, art installations, and unique onsite activities during the three-day weekend.
Rock On The Range 2017 presale and layaway tickets, as well as limited numbers of new Weekend Field VIP tickets and Premier (hotel and camping) Packages, are on sale now at www.RockOnTheRange.com.
The Rock On The Range music lineup includes: Metallica, Soundgarden, Korn, The Offspring, Volbeat, Primus, Bush, Chevelle, Papa Roach, Seether, Coheed & Cambria, Alter Bridge, The Pretty Reckless, Taking Back Sunday, Thrice, Amon Amarth, Pierce The Veil, Sum 41, Skillet, Dillinger Escape Plan, In Flames, Gojira, Biffy Clyro, Motionless In White, Nothing More, Beartooth, Starset, Every Time I Die, The Story So Far, Deafheaven, Zakk Sabbath, Rival Sons, The Amity Affliction, Attila, Norma Jean, Suicide Silence, Whitechapel, I Prevail, Turnstile, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Red Fang, Dorothy, Kyng, Radkey, As Lions, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Sylar, Fire From The Gods, Badflower, Wage War, Goodbye June, Cover Your Tracks, DED, Bleeker, Royal Republic, Mother Feather, Aeges and One Less Reason.
The ROTR Rolling Rock Comedy Tent will feature sets from nationally known comediansplus Columbus’s top comedy talent. The full comedy lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.
Jonathan Davis of Korn comments, “Rock On The Range is the pinnacle rock festival in America. I always feel that in the crowd and can’t wait for our headline set in May. We’re gonna come at you with everything we’ve got — expect a few surprises!”
Dexter Holland of The Offspring says, “Great lineup at Rock On The Range this year. The Offspring can’t wait to finally be part of it all.”
“After our record breaking Ten Year Anniversary it was high time to raise the bar and have the world’s best rock bands jump over it. We couldn’t be more honored to have Metallica and Soundgarden at Rock On The Range! But why stop there? To have bands such as Korn, Volbeat, Primus, Papa Roach, The Offspring and so many more truly makes this year’s ROTR our best one yet. May 19-21 can’t come soon enough,” says Gary Spivack, ROTR co-executive producer for Danny Wimmer Presents.
In 2016, tickets for Rock On The Range sold out over two months in advance, marking the fourth consecutive advance sell-out for Rock On The Range — so fans are encouraged to buy early and save. Each ticket price level has a limited amount of tickets available, so fans can save more by buying earlier. Ticket prices will automatically move to the next price level once an allotment sells out, beginning at the presale.
Weekend Field, new Weekend Field VIP, Weekend Stadium, and a limited number of Weekend Stadium 4-Packs are available for purchase now. The ROTR layaway option also allows purchasers to split the ticket cost into four monthly payments. A ROTR presale password to purchase the following tickets can be found on the festival’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages:
Weekend Field VIP: starting at $349.50* + fees
Weekend Field GA: starting at $199.50* + fees
Weekend Stadium GA: starting at $99.50* + fees
Weekend Stadium GA Ticket 4-Pack: $380.00 + fees
* Phase One prices listed
*** Ticket prices automatically move to the next price level once the allotment sells out ***
Those looking for an expanded festival experience are invited to purchase Premier Hotel Packages (which include festival tickets and t-shirts) or Camping Packages.
For an even more exclusive Rock On The Range opportunity, fans can purchase the new Uber Ranger Glamping Packagefor four people, which includes amenities such as a Luxury RV on a double campsite at the Ohio Expo North Campground (May 18, 19, 20, 21), a dedicated concierge with golf cart shuttle, 4 Weekend VIP Field Admission Tickets, a backstage tour, access to the stadium club (with catered lunch and dinner), access to the Side Stage Viewing Platform, access to the VIP Lounge, and more. Full details can be found here :http://rockontherange.com/tickets_camping.html.
The general onsale is Friday, December 2 at 10:00 AM EST. Beginning at that time, tickets will be available atwww.RockOnTheRange.com, at Ticketmaster locations and the MAPFRE Stadium Box Office.
Rock On The Range celebrated its 10th year in 2016 – and after a decade of setting the standard for American rock festivals, the crown jewel of the World’s Loudest Month showed no signs of slowing down with 120,000 “Rangers” from around the globe descending on MAPFRE Stadium. In 2016, the festival received awards of recognition from both Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and the City Council, as well as a resolution from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners acknowledging the over $140 million in economic impact the festival has contributed to the city over its 10-year existence.
Rock On The Range is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, AEG Live, and MAPFRE Stadium.
Rock On The Range is supported by our rockin’ sponsors: Monster Energy, Bud Light, and Zippo. These partners, along with many others, will feature interactive experiences, artist meet & greets, and other unique fan engagement opportunities throughout the festival.
Watchful eyes have already noticed Detroit City’s work with productions for the likes of Sage The Gemini and the newly re-united Cool Kids. Now they’ve joined forces with hyphy legend Too $hort to bring you the housey and x-rated “Freeky.”
With Mike Dunn’s full blessing, Detroit City flips his classic “Freaky MF,” blending soulful house vibes seamlessly with Too $hort’s sexual lyricism. “Freeky” is a track that’s as likely to stick in your head as turn your cheeks red; a must-have for DJs and fans of the club, a modern spin on a timeless classic.
Detroit’s global reputation as a city of musical innovation is unparalleled. There is no place like it. As such, a crew of anonymous artists is coming together under the name Detroit City, paying homage to their founders’ geographical roots in The D, as well as the sound and culture that influenced their own styles. Blending elements of hip-hop, house, and funk, Detroit City seeks to obliterate the walls separating club, rap, and pop scenes.
The goal is forging a new international scene of diversity, one that celebrates underdogs and outcasts, pitched against and amongst the backdrop of the legendary clubs and DJs that brought us together in the first place.
Old is new again in a sample-based culture that increasingly disregards age, race, and status distinctions, and this ethos is central to the collective. Also central is the idea of consent and collaboration – in a scene dominated by the theft of ideas, Detroit City actively collaborates with originators of sounds, songs, and styles, bringing their love and passion back into present and future focus.
The masks donned by Detroit City are intentional to their form, removing gender, race, and sexuality from the equation in an otherwise image-obsessed and fueled culture.
Detroit City, much like the real place, is about the music.
As the December Los Angeles-based THE POWER OF THE RIFF closes in, the coordinators of the gathering have added an additional day of mayhem to the event, with a pre-party show leading off the festivities.
The new pre-party for THE POWER OF THE RIFF will take place Friday, December 16th, with three new Southern California acts confirmed for the shredding. Venice crossover icons EXCEL will be headlining the show, in support of the recent reissue of their blazing second album, The Joke’s On You. Also added to the party are Inglewood power violence squad DESPISE YOU as well as local Los Angeles death-punk sect DETH CRUX.
Saturday, December 17th will feature a headlining set by Cascadian black metal artisans, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM playing Los Angeles for the first time in years, as well as long-running death metal masters INCANTATION, Chicago post-metal outfit PELICAN, the debut performance of hardcore supergroup BLOODCLOT — comprised of John Joseph (Cro-Mags), Todd Youth (Warzone, Murphy’s Law), Joey C. (Queens Of The Stone Age, B’last), and Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age, Dwarves) — Olympia-based punk freaks GAG, Oakland death metal warriors NECROT, and Ohio death/black/crust newcomers, and recent Southern Lord signees CRYPT ROT.
Sunday, December 18th will be dominated by NEUROSIS making a special return to LA to headline the event. The rest of the evening sees Southern California metal/hardcore trio NAILS making their first live appearance since the band went on hiatus several months ago, Bay-Area post/sludge act KOWLOON WALLED CITY, Arizona death faction GATECREEPER, Los Angeles’ own hardcore-punk savages OBLITERATIONS, and Southern Lord-signed blazing hardcore outfit LIES.
Sacramento, CA’s modern death metal extremists, TheKennedyVeil, have entered Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA to begin tracking their as-yet-untitled follow up to their crushing debut album, Trinity of Falsehood. Drummer Gabe Seeber finished up tracking drums earlier this week, with guitar, bass and vocal tracking due in the weeks to come. The forthcoming album will see a release in Spring 2017 via Unique Leader Records.
TheKennedyVeil recently made their live debut with new vocalist, Monte Barnard (ex-Alterbeast, ex-Thy Art Is Murder) at the helm, on October 15, 2016 at the Zombie Ball in Lake Tahoe, CA supporting heavy hitters Cattle Decapitation (Metal Blade).
TheKennedyVeil had a successful year in 2015, touring alongside death metal heavyweights like Psycroptic, Vital Remains and black metallers Necronomicon. TheKennedyVeil also shot their first music video for the track ‘King of Slaves,’
Produced by Nick Botelho at NB Recording in Santa Rosa, California, Trinity Of Falsehood is the band’s most technically precise, conceptually captivating and indisputably brutal material to date. Trinity of Falsehood can be streamed in it’s entirety at this location.
Atmospheric tech death collective WRVTH today issues the confounding video accompaniment to the track “Cease To Exist” via Decibel Magazine. The tune comes by way of the band’s self-titled full-length release via Unique Leader Records.
Elaborates bassist Taylor Preston of the fiery clip, “We decided to work with Cory Davis of Yellowbox Films again for ‘Cease To Exist,’ as we loved the work he did for our music video ‘Malaise.’
This song is the closing track to our self-titled release and it is fitting as it is also our closer for the year, musically speaking. As far as the creation goes, we wrote every part of the music to fit the lyrics. We put all our heads together to form something that we all felt was as fitting as it was meaningful. Even though the song has a seemingly straightforward interpretation, this song means something very different for every person in the band. We didn’t write the song with a mindset of writing something relatable, in fact the events that inspired the song are all very specific and personal to each of us. We gave Cory the lyrics and artistic freedom to form a visual representation of the emotions in this song based on his own interpretation and the feelings the song may incite.”
Going in to this review of SOLITUDE’s album entitled “Reach for the Sky” released in North America through the Test Your Metal Records label I had no expectations because I knew little to nothing of this band hailing from Tokyo, Japan. Turns out I was pleasantly surprised and it’s a solid Metal album with a ton of classic influences.
SOLITUDE was formed in 1996 as I before mentioned in Tokyo by members Takamasa “Mad” Ohuchi on Drums, Toru Nishida on Bass, Akira Sugiuchi on Vocals and Shingo Ida on Guitars. Their previous releases were all through the Japanese label Spiritual Beast which distributes throughout the Orient such classic metal from artists such as RAVEN, DIAMOND HEAD also AGENT STEEL and include SOLITUDE’s 2001’s “Virtual Image”, 2009’s “Brave the Storm” and a 2015 previous release of this album “Reach for the Sky”
With a North American release date of November 25th a few things were made very clear to me after a few listens that these dudes from Japan can jam. I couldn’t help but hear the influences of Saxon, Motorhead and maybe even some Accept and definitely Iron Maiden.
The first tack is called “Venoms Angel” and it starts off with a nice mellow acoustic intro followed by a really thrashy build up with the double bass drums leading you in to a classic heavy metal rhythm like the days of old. “Venoms Angel”was a great way to start off this album because the riffs are good enough to hook any young or old school metal head.
The title track “Reach for the Sky” is a little bit slower paced but really hit home and it took me a bit to figure out why. The guitars are on fire on this song with really broad sweeping solos and solid rhythms backing them up. I enjoyed this track a lot and it finally clicked why it sounded so good, “Reach for the Sky” is a song that could have been released on any number of classic Iron Maiden albums. It has that classic Maiden sound, the tones, the feel and the arrangement are all thee. (Notice I didn’t mention the vocals….keep reading)
My favorite track from this album is “You Got My Mind”. Akira Sugiuchi vocals are in the same vein as the late great Lemmy Killmister and the majority of this song has Motorhead’s finger print all over it. Akira sounds so close to Lemmy especially on this track it is ridiculous, and the drums have a real Phil “Philthy” Animal energy to them. If you took an average metal fan and played this song for them and asked the question “who is this” 9 out of 10 would probably say Motorhead, it is that good. This song also has a few unexpected time changes in it which once again have a real Maiden anthem feel to it.
SOLITUDE is a really solid metal band and “Reach for the Sky” is a well produced album. Listening to new music or albums can be hard at times for people like me; we all get stuck in our ways and tend to close our minds to anything new. But an album like “Reach for the Sky” has something so familiar about it your ears and brain forget you’re listening to something new. It has been a long time since I could sit and listen to a new album from an unfamiliar artist in its entirety and enjoy it, until now. Congratulations to SOLITUDE and their album “Reach for the Sky”, you have made it into my music rotation. Really good stuff guys! **Gene A. Gaona**
Popular New Zealand based hard rock band Devilskin has released the Official Music Video for the second single off of their second studio album, “Pray”. The video was directed by Tim Van Dammen on location in Hamilton, New Zealand, with the album recorded at Modern World Recording studio in the UK with Producer Clint Murphy (with whom they recorded their No 1, Platinum selling debut album We Rise). Be Like the River is available to stream on Spotify and Google Play, and download on iTunes.
We are beyond excited to be releasing our new studio album Be Like The River on November 11th. The title comes from a lyric of ours ‘Be like the river and cut through the stone’, the message is about reaching your goals through perseverance and unwavering determination. It has been an incredible journey so far for Devilskin and we feel this album really encapsulates and represents our evolution as a band, as songwriters and as people. – Devilskin
Stay Sick Recordings, the label owned and operated by Attila frontman Fronz, has signed Vesta Collide. The band will release New Obsession on January 20, 2017.
Pre-orders for New Obsession are now live via iTunes and MerchNow.
New Obsession Track Listing:
1. Witching Hour
2. Empty Bodies
3. I Can’t Sleep
4. Pretend
5. The Lights
6. Away From Here
7. Hallucination
8. Waste Away
9. Monster Blood
10. Time Won’t Keep What’s Left Of Us
11. Faithless Tongue
