Press release of the day: Rhino Remembers Dio

Quite touching, actually:

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio

The Rhino family is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ronnie James Dio. As a member of Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell, Ronnie was truly a pioneer in rock ’n’ roll, with one of the most powerful voices in the history of music.

Ronnie had a nearly 50-year relationship with the Warner Music Group family, from one of his first singles on Atlantic in 1962 to his platinum albums with Black Sabbath and Dio on Warner Bros. Records up to his final release with Heaven & Hell last year on Rhino.

Not only was Ronnie a true legend in rock ’n’ roll, but he was also a sincere, gracious man that we were proud to call a friend. One of our favorite memories from Ronnie’s many visits to the Rhino offices was the time he personally went from office to office to thank people individually for all the hard work they had been doing on his behalf — a truly sincere gesture that demonstrates what a generous, caring person he was. Today we take the time to celebrate his life and music.

Ronnie, your Rhino family is raising our horns up for you today. We know that is the way you would have wanted it.

My Dio obit here.

SXSW: In the Dark Castle

Press release of the day: A date with RATT

“Stay tuned and watch your inboxes for more information,” sez a release received today.

I have to admit that I probably will be checking my inbox on April 20, 2010.

Chuck Biscuits, RIP?

Very sad news, just in from The Daily Swarm:

Legendary hard rock drummer Chuck Biscuits, whose lengthy résumé included stints in such flagship underground acts as Black Flag and Social Distortion, died Saturday after a prolonged battle with throat cancer. He was 44… Chuck Biscuits was probably best known to the general populous for his work with Danzig. Beginning in 1988, Chuck played on that group’s first four albums, which are often hailed as Danzig’s best (thanks in no small part to Chuck’s powerful drumming style).

UPDATE: It's unclear whether this is actually true. James Greene Jr., the writer who first reported this, based on emails from someone claiming to be Chuck's wife, says that he has been contacted by family members, who deny it, but in an email to me he said he's still trying to verify it.

‘Protect your chicken from Dokken’

Via Topless Robot, via Warming Glow.

The Berlitz metal method

Learn Spanish, the Manowar way!

‘True believers ... change of sound ... David Shankel ...’

For Petitioners/Manowar fans only:

More awesome than Austin?

Rob wrote the other day with news from Los Angeles, in an e-mail with the subject line “More awesome than anything you will see at SXSW”:

Last night I attended the Greg Proops Chat Show at Largo, which has become a regular enjoyment for me. His “house musician” is Jon Brion, and his special interview guests were David Cross and Dave Grohl. The format is that of a traditional late night talk show (opening song, stand-up monologue, two interviews, closing songs).

I had two revelations during the show:

1. David Cross is an insufferable a**hole — something I already knew, but have now confirmed without a doubt.
2. Dave Grohl is a funny-ass motherf***er, and quite possibly the Best All-Around Guy In The World.

But the true euphoric moment came at the end of the show, when Mr. Grohl expressively read aloud the lyrics of two Manowar songs (“Gloves of Metal” and “All Men Play on Ten”) while Mr. Brion accompanied him on piano playing lullaby music.

Then the two of them jammed out a medley of ’70s cock rock songs like “Slowride” and “Two Tickets to Paradise” — Brion on guitar and Grohl obviously on drums. In the middle of it, Brion yells “Drum solo!!!” and Grohl just stops, looking around and feigning confusion. After about 7 seconds of silence, Brion yells again “John Cage cover, ladies and gentlemen!” and they immediately pick back up again. For the rest of the set, Grohl looked and acted like Animal from the Muppets.

TOP THAT, SON!

He’s right, I didn’t see anything as awesome as Dave Grohl reading Manowar. But I did see a few good things. (And ate a few good things, too.)

Boredoms update, and Acrassicauda/Metallica

Pitchfork has the scoop on the Boredoms’ latest, Super Roots 10, which has just been released and is apparently already a rarity. Their news item is titled “It Exists!”:

First off: an apology. Sometimes we get so busy pawing through Decemberists album cover news that we miss something big. And so we’re late to the punch on this one: Super Roots 10, the latest entry in the ongoing EP series from monolithic Osaka scene kingpins the Boredoms, is out now. It exists. There aren’t any copies up on Ebay yet, but if you keep a watchful eye out, you can probably own a copy for somewhere in the low triple-digits.

The EP went on sale last Wednesday, though CDJapan says that the first pressing is already completely sold out, unsurprisingly enough. The EP comes with typically headache-inducing cover art from frontman EYE, who also produced the thing. Thrill Jockey, the band’s U.S. label, has no word on an American release, so tough titties and happy downloading.

In other news: The story I was teasing about is now up. I went with Acrassicauda, the Iraqi band featured in the film Heavy Metal in Baghdad, to meet their idols Metallica at the Prudential Center in Newark. The Metallica machine was like nothing I’ve ever seen, a whole traveling army to put on their huge show and manage every backstage detail. And yet each member of the band spent a great deal of time meeting with Acrassicauda — privately, leaving celebs and industry well-wishers waiting — and encouraging them to keep the rock ’n’ roll faith. You’ll have to read the story to find out the astonishing extent of Metallica’s graciousness.

When I get time I will post the full interview with Acrassicauda.

If I were the type to twitter ...

... I’d say that I just shook hands with every member of Metallica. VERY cool story coming soon.

Press release of the day: Manowar approve French balls

As you know, “other bands play, Manowar kill[s].” But what you may not know is that your favorite Buffalo-area codpiece-metal band also excels at the art of press releases and fan-club announcements. Which makes sense, really, for four guys who once signed a record contract in their own blood.

So I was delighted but not in the least bit surprised by the bellicose, homoerotic flair of today’s statement from the Kingdom of Steel. Other bands — the kind without loincloths, for example — might simply say that they were playing the Hellfest festival in France next June, and add that tickets were going on sale, here’s the website, yadda yadda. But Manowar kills.

A French hero has risen! MANOWAR has found a promoter with the balls to bring us to the country of France! On June 21, 2009 MANOWAR will headline the Hellfest 2009 set to take place in Clisson along with special guests HolyHell. Tickets are for sale online at http://www.digitick.com/. For more information and directions please visit http://www.hellfest.fr/.

We call all French warriors to battle! The Kings Of Metal will crack the earth in Clisson!

More tour dates for 2009 will be announced shortly, including the third edition of the Magic Circle Festival. Stay tuned!

Seriously, when was the last time you heard a band say something like “We will crack the earth at the Qualcomm Center”? Unless you’re on the Manowar mailing list, my friend, you haven’t heard that in a number of years.

Press release of the day: Kip Winger = Bergman, Prokofiev

WINGER, KIP - FROM THE MOON TO THE SUN

The general balance and atmosphere of 'From The Moon...' is very reminiscent of Kip Winger's previous solo albums. A highly textured, harmonious tapestry of sounds and influences from his own pop/rock sensibilities to Middle Eastern flavors as heard in the opening 'Every Story Told' with it's [sic] string surges and a lively Andy Timmons solo, to the instrumental 'Ghosts', conjuring up imagery of Ingmar Bergman movies and Prokofiev soundtracks. Whereas the massive 'Nothing' would fit neatly into the Winger IV album. Most songwriters dry up by the time they are 30, whereas Kip Winger continues to produce and compose so much high caliber music its [sic] uncanny. This latest epic is possibly his greatest effort so far.

"In his own word's [sic] 'I worked hard to make this record my best yet.' So there you have it, Kip Winger is not only a genius but a man of his word." - Rory Sullivan, alloutguitar.com, 2008

‘Venn Pentagram’

Brilliance from Deciblog on the overlap between a classic Florida death metal band and a disease that is costing untold sums in medical care and insurance premiums:

Press release of the day: Joey DeMaio (of Manowar) honors opera star José Carreras

... and for first time, DeMaio does not crotch-grab and spray beer all over onstage guest

As part of the official delegation of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem — Knights of Malta — Federation of Autonomous Priories, Grand Cross Knight Of Malta Joey DeMaio presented an Award of Merit to world famous Spanish tenor José Carreras hailing his artistic career achievements and lifetime philanthropic works.

Joey DeMaio, Minister Of Youth of the Knights Of Malta, presented the award in the city of Timişoara (Transylvania), Romania last Sunday, July 20th.

Did anyone know that Joey is a Grand Cross Knight of Malta? Or that he is a (the?) Minister of Youth? Or that he uses the prefix Doctor? Or that his activities in this arena all seem to take place in Romania, Hungary or “Graddoland”? And that in addition to guys that look like this ...

... he hangs out with guys that look like this?

Cuz I sure didn’t.

From Pantera’s kitchen to yours

Vinnie Paul, drummer for Pantera and Hellyeah, is offering an unusual piece of metal memorabilia on eBay: his self-cleaning Whirlpool elecrtric oven. His father bought him a new one for Christmas, so he’s unloading this model, which he recommends for cooking or general fan-fetish purposes. “You can either get this just to look at, or you can get it and cook yourself — I don’t give a fuck,” he says in a YouTube video that accompanies the auction page (copied below). Auction ends next Sunday morning. Winner picks up the cargo in Arlington, Tex. So far it’s got 26 bids, up to $510.00. If you ever dreamt of a kitchen appliance once owned by a player on “Fucking Hostile,” this is your chance — don’t let it get away!

(Via Deciblog.)

eBay regrets: Checker Patrol, Living Colour, Hear ’n Aid

• 1986 Panasonic tape with Checker Patrol demo on Side A and Mayhem demo (Pure Fucking Armageddon) on Side B: $510.00.
  
• CD long box of Living Colour’s Vivid: $1,025.00.
  
• Hear ’n Aid (metal version of USA for Africa) Japanese CD: $202.50.

(Via Deciblog, Idolator/Heavy Metal Addiction — check for more.)

Press release(s) of the day: Un-Warrant-ed reunions

These two announcements came within 13 minutes of each other this afternoon, from the same publicist.

First, at 12:28 p.m., the return of Warrant:

THEY'RE BAAAACK!!!

POP METAL KINGPINS WARRANT REUNITE FOR REPEAT PERFORMANCE, KICKING OFF CO-HEADLINING DEBUT AT 2008 ROCKLAHOMA FESTIVAL WITH ORIGINAL LINE-UP

..."CHERRY PIE" ANYONE?

Hollywood, CA ­ Multi-platinum selling rock band WARRANT, best known for classic MTV staples' "Cherry Pie," "Heaven," and rock anthem "The Down Boys" will co-headline the 2008 Rocklahoma Festival ­ marking the reunion of its original line-up including Jani Lane (vocals); Joey Allen (lead guitar); Jerry Dixon (bass); Erik Turner (Guitar) and Steven Sweet (drums) — for the first time in 14 years. Warrant will co-headline Rocklahoma with Cinderella, it was announced today by XM's Boneyard/VH1 Classic host, Eddie Trunk, at a press conference taking place at the world famous Whisky A-Go Go. Rocklahoma is a popular four-day music festival taking place July 10-13 in Pryor, OK, which attracts an impressive worldwide audience and big ticket sales. More than 80 bands will be performing on three giant stages with an expected attendance of more than 60,000 rock fans from all 50 states, every Province in Canada and every country in Europe. This phenomenon was covered in Rolling Stone's year-end issue with an in-depth seven page spread.

Followed at 12:41 by this inexplicably thorough and completely unformatted 1,150-word release on the reunion of Trixter. Yes, Trixter. As always, these are presented in unedited form, exactly as received (with, in this case, one typo and one grammatical error in the first sentence, to say nothing of “slowley” and “Saxaphone”). My only changes were to bold a couple notable lines:

The rock bamd TRIXTER is now reunited again after 13 years!!! They will be having a new CD out shortly! www.trixterrocks.com for more info. TRIXTER STORY: TRIXTER was formed in 1983 in Paramus , New Jersey by STEVE BROWN & PETER LORAN. After a year in the basement and the addition of new drummer , MARK "GUS" SCOTT, they played their first live gigs. They began playing the NJ / NY club scene and built a huge following of fans. In 1988 bassist, PJ FARLEY, joined TRIXTER finalizing the line up. With every gig the band was drawing more & more people to their shows and by May of 1989 the band landed a deal with MECHANIC/MCA RECORDS. September of 1989 the band went to Hollywood to record the debut album with producer, BILL WRAY. "TRIXTER" was released in May of 1990 with the song "LINE OF FIRE" as the single for ROCK RADIO. The song slowley climbed the charts reaching #1 on Z-ROCKS Top 100 by July of 1990. Along with the release of the album TRIXTER also filmed their first video for the song "GIVE IT TO ME GOOD". In September the band headed out a nationwide tour and after two weeks they landed the opening slot for, "STRYPER". From New York to Seattle , the band rocked clubs and theaters earning lerions of fans who were captivated by their high energy live shows. In Mid October TRIXTER joined DON DOKKEN for another tour around the USA. It was on this tour that MTV added the video for "GIVE IT TO ME GOOD". Within one week the video was #1 on the popular "DIAL MTV" top ten video countdown.The video stayed #1 for 5 weeks straight.The crowds were getting bigger and record sales started kicking into high gear. In December of 1990 TRIXTER filmed the video for the 2nd single, "ONE IN A MILLION" at a Sold Out show in Rockland County, NY. The band also recorded a song, "ONE MO' TIME", for the film "IF LOOKS COULD KILL". The song featured Rock legend, EDGAR WINTER, on Saxaphone. By January 1991 the record was selling 20,000 units per week.The video for "ONE IN A MILLION" went #1 on MTV for 3 weeks. The album peaked at #28 on BILLBOARD's TOP 200 ALBUM CHART and the single for "GIVE IT TO ME GOOD" was a TOP 50 HIT on BILLBOARD's TOP 100 SINGLES CHART. TRIXTER did their 1st ever arena shows opening for POISON and then headed out on a 5 month North American Tour with the legendary German rockers, THE SCORPIONS. As "ONE IN A MILLION" rocked MTV ,the single also went TOP 50 on BILLBOARD. In February ,the band flew to Daytona , Florida to do "MTV'S SPRING BREAK" and soon after MCA records gave the band some incredible news. Backstage at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in California, the boys were told that their debut album had gone GOLD selling over 500,000 copies. In April of 1991 TRIXTER played their hometown MEADOWLANDS ARENA, where they were presented with their GOLD ALBUMS at a special after show party. In May they filmed the video for the 3rd single, "SURRENDER". By June TRIXTER started the "BLOOD, SWEAT & BEERS TOUR" with WARRANT & FIREHOUSE. Around this time the popular rock magazine, METAL EDGE, dedicated an entire issue to the band, "THE TRIXTER COLOR SPECTACULAR". The video and single for "SURRENDER" were released and once again the video went to # 1 on MTV for 2 weeks and the single went TOP 50 in BILLBOARD. In September of 1991 the "BLOOD, SWEAT & BEERS TOUR" was filmed for a Pay Per View special. October marked the end of the TRIXTER touring cycle for the very successful debut album. By years end the band racked up worldwide sales of 750,000, 3 #1 MTV videos, 3 TOP 50 SINGLES, HIT PARADER MAGAZINES "BEST NEW BAND" AWARD for 1991, METAL EDGE READERS POLL "BEST CONCERT" FOR THE BLOOD , SWEAT & BEERS Tour , and "GIVE IT TO ME GOOD" was in MTV'S TOP 100 VIDEOS OF 1991. TRIXTER also wound up in the movies. Their song "LINE OF FIRE" was on the soundtrack for the film "MARIO BROS....WHITE KNUCKLE SCORIN" and "ONE MO' TIME" was on the soundtrack for the film "IF LOOKS COULD KILL". In January 1992, TRIXTER began pre-production on the 2nd album. Also, during that time the band renegotiated their record deal and were signed directly to MCA records. TRIXTER chose JAMES "JIMBO" BARTON of RUSH & QUEENSRYCHE fame to produce. Recording began in April and lasted until August of '92. The result was the stellar rock cd, "HEAR". Released in October along with another Arena tour opening for long time idols, KISS, TRIXTER raged across North America supporting the new disc. Unfortunately , Grunge had taken over the airwaves which left little room for the single, "ROAD OF A THOUSAND DREAMS" on Radio & MTV. January 1993, they shot a video for the next single "ROCKIN' HORSE" and began a headlining club tour called "THE HEAR CLUB FOR MEN TOUR". May of that year had TRIXTER embarking on a tour of Japan. "HEAR was doing very well in the Land of the Rising Sun, so the band was invited over to do 2 shows and alot of promotion. The shows in OSAKA at Moda Hall and KAWASAKI at Club Citta were very successful. The boys had a great time. TRIXTER finished the "HEAR" tour in late June of '93 in front of 5,000 screaming fans at "Milwaukees Summerfest". Times were changing and the band was dropped from MCA records. In 1994 the band recorded the "UNDERCOVERS EP" in STEVE BROWN"s home studio. This was a cd of all cover songs that was released in Oct. 1994 on the indie label, BACKSTREET RECORDS. Once again the band headed out on the road again across America. No matter how tough things got the band kicked the shows were more often like a big keg party opposed to the typical rock show. Lot's of Fun, but the writing was on the wall that TRIXTER's style of Pop Metal had run its course. Time to move on....but what a great ride. Still to this day, TRIXTER, has fans all around the world and the music still gets airplay. In 1999 the band was featured on VH-1's "WHERE ARE THEY NOW" and in 2000 they were voted #29 on VH-1'S "TOP 40 HAIR BAND COUNTDOWN". The songs are on various rock compilation cd's: "GIVE IT TO ME GOOD" is on "GLAM ROCK VOL. 2" , "ONE IN A MILLION" is on "ROCK OF THE 80'S" and "SURRENDER" is on "HARD LOVE" and that was only the beginning. After 13 years, 2008 has the all original members rockin' the Worldwide Arena Circut once again. PETE,STEVE, PJ & MARK ...the one , the only , the mighty TRIXTER!!!

I confess that I once performed on the same bill as a post-Trixter band called Soaked, at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. I remember nothing about them.

head-banging, vbl. n.

(hdbæ) [f. HEAD n.¹ + BANGING vbl. n.²]

1. a. Psychol. The action or process of shaking or banging the head, sometimes accompanied by violent rocking of the body, which is often unremarkable in young children but in adults is usu. associated with mental disorder.

1928 Arch. Neurol. & Psychiatry (Chicago) XIX. 865 The ‘explosive’ phenomena selected were infantile convulsions, breath-holding, head-banging and a miscellaneous group of periodic attacks. 1953 HINSIE & SHATZKY Psychiatric Dict. (ed. 2) 650/2 Head-banging, one of the many typical physical exertions..observed during a temper tantrum in small children. 1977 P. LEACH Baby & Child iv. 218 Head banging is a slightly worrying habit even if the baby only does it in her cot at night.

b. transf. and fig. Esp. the vigorous head-shaking engaged in by fans of heavy metal music.

1979 in K. HUDSON Dict. Teenage Revolution (1983) 97 This is where the fans keep in trim for concerts, practising the subtle art of headbanging. 1987 Washington Post 4 June C4/2 In time came AC/DC, which begat headbanging, and Van Halen, which begat teen-age boys across the land with two-handed hammer-on and pull-off techniques.

2. The action or process of establishing discipline or collaboration between uncooperative parties by, or as if by, ‘knocking their heads together’.

1975 Economist 6 Dec. 57/3 Perhaps the Russians, who did some head-banging of their own with the rival Communist leaders in Moscow earlier this year, can lend a hand.

Also head-banger n., one who engages in head-banging, esp. as a fan of heavy metal music; also transf. and fig.

1979 Melody Maker 31 Mar. 18/4 Their fans are long-haired headbangers. 1983 Daily Tel. 13 June 1/1 A solemn commitment from anybody in the leadership stakes that they will get rid of the head-bangers in the party, and by that I mean the extremists and the Militants. 1985 M. MUNRO Patter 32 Headbanger or heidbanger,..this is a popular term for someone considered crazy, especially if dangerous... This usage predates the contemporary alternative meaning of a heavy-metal enthusiast. 1986 Telegraph (Brisbane) 21 Aug. 22/1 Brisbane headbangers will have a chance to scream and wave their fists when Dio plays at Festival Hall. 1989 Observer 19 Feb. 13/7 In the European Parliament, they sit alone with a few Spanish and Danish head-bangers, while the main conservative grouping excludes them.

---

Copyright © Oxford University Press 2005

Hail to Bulgaria

According to the municipality of Kavarna, a city of 12,000 on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, there was quite a summit of metal grayhairs there on New Year’s Eve. The town rang in 2008 with a metal concert, “as has become traditional in recent years,” featuring Saxon, the Manowar hangers-on HolyHell, and a Bulgarian band called BTR.

The Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest of this party were none other than Joey DeMaio and Eric Adams of Manowar, who were ferried there by someone who is actually somewhat famous:

Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson himself flew the two to Varna Airport by the Iron Maiden jet, Dnevnik daily reported. Kavarna mayor Tsonko Tsonev said that it was the first time in history for the lead singer of one legendary band to fly another legendary band to Kavarna.

Also on hand: medics freed from a Libyan prison.

Apparently the boys from Buffalo have been spending a bit of time in Bulgaria lately. “Part of Manowar” arrived there a month ago to promote their newest DVD, Live in Bulgaria: Kaliakra Rock Fest 2007. And of course you’ve already gotten your tickets to see them at Kaliakra this July, right? Here’s a clip of Adams singing the Bulgarian national anthem, “Mila Rodino,”* at Kavarna last June:



*The lyrics are actually kind of Manowar-like:

Countless fighters fell
for our beloved nation,
Mother, give us manly strength
to carry on their course.

A holiday blessing from Manowar

(Link — Universal Pictures?!)