Archive News Jun 26, 2001

Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted has posted a brief note on the official web site of his ECHOBRAIN project announcing the plans for his Chophouse Records label, which is scheduled to release the debut album from the above-mentioned act later in the year. The expanded note can be viewed in its entirety via Encyclopedia Metallica at this location.

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Meanwhile, here are some more quotes taken from Jason's appearance on KNAC.com's Breath Of Fire show last week:

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On his former METALLICA bandmates:

"They're gonna be huge, man. I have complete pride in those guys. They're gonna go on and crush everybody still, they'll always be the best."

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On his potential replacement in METALLICA:

"It has to be someone who they already know…that is very capable. Joey Vera and Mike Inez make quite a bit of sense."

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On his departure from METALLICA:

"It was certainly not an easy thing to do by any means. It was something that was a long time coming. Overall, the respect level for different things was always in question and I felt kind of weird about it. I was able to do what I wanted with METALLICA as far as the performing thing but perhaps with the musical thing I needed to stretch out a little more."

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"I believe everything happens for a reason. When I came into the band I lit a fire under their butts and when I left the band I lit a fire under the butts in the same way, trying to push them to them on to the next phase of METALLICA that needs to take place. I took part in a 14-going-on-15-year phase of the band and I have no regrets about any of that and there are no bad feelings towards any of those guys. Think about it man: what METALLICA did and does and has created and the legend. I'm always super pleased about that stuff.”

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On his final days with the band:

"There certainly was a depression time, really getting cut off at the knees. Everything I did and had revolved around being on call for METALLICA at all times and ready to do whatever it took to take it to the people and do whatever. I didn't do anything else in my life that I couldn't put aside for METALLICA and it remained that way until the very last day. And that's how it is for me. Music is just it. I just keep going with music like I always did whether I was playing with METALLICA or not, but METALLICA was another part of my musical world."

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"There came a time in my life that I had to make that huge decision: what was the most important thing? What made me happy truly? I felt that in a way I was kinda holding those guys back cause they've always had a collective vision together and I didn't want to…. "

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On the METALLICA vs. Napster controversy:

"We were defending something personal… You want people to have the music the whole idea behind it is that you're able to share your music with whoever wants to hear it. That's what I want. But I also don't want it to get to the point where the artists have no way to keep on doing what they do if you keep taking the money away. There are bands that have been successful for the hard work they've done but there some things that are right and that are wrong. I think that we can take a harness to this problem so that everyone can get what they want out of it. It's completely possible. We started on LPs and now we're on MP3s and we adjusted along that way, so why can't we adjust this time? It's just crazy. Let's just get on it and go on with it, man…it's all about sharing the music. It's like the things that we're doing with our new project and stuff, share as much as we can and not really worry about the money coming back or whatever, we just really want the music to be heard by the people that want to hear it and will respect it."

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On upcoming live appearances:

"I don't think the live thing is something I'm entertaining a whole lot right now. Big reason: I have done serious physical damage to my cervical spine. If you watch a few METALLICA videos, that windmill thing for 10 or 15 years in a row with the heavy basses….I worked it and worked it and I was crazy and I played in pain and that's not fair. If I can't do the 100% that people know me for, then I'm not interested in doing it. I want people to remember me for that for always. I don't ever want them to see me weak and I won't allow that. So if I continue producing the serious real metal bands that are coming up the next couple years and try to get my hand in that, the new revolution, then that's gonna be fantastic, while I keep doing other music and just keeping it alive. But as far as the live performances, that's not something I've thought a whole lot about anymore because I've already done that with METALLICA around the whole for however many scrillion people in 50 or 60 countries and tasted that and it was beautiful and I hate to taint that."

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In related news, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was cited by Ted Nugent during the latter's recent appearance on VH1's Rock Show (hosted by ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian) as one of the potential collaborators on an upcoming studio project, which may also include appearances by AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, GREEN DAY's Billie Joe Armstrong, and KID ROCK, among others. According to Nugent, he is tentatively scheduled to start recording the effort early next year for a late 2002 release.

METAL CHURCH guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof has slammed former (?) vocalist David Wayne—who is presently fronting his own band, simply called WAYNE, and is scheduled to release an album entitled Metal Church in the near future—in an official statement posted via the group's official web site. Here's Vanderhoof's note in its entirety:

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“Due to Dave's little 'side project', the band is obviously going to have make some decisions about personnel.

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“The fact that he has taken the name, logo and cover art concept from METAL CHURCH is so blatant that the band considers it to be a slap in the face. It also comes off as a desperate attempt by someone who has no original ideas of their own. Which is too bad, because I hear the record is pretty good.

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“The remaining band members will be weighing all the options and making plans for what direction to take over the next few weeks.”

According to the band's official web site, QUEENSRYCHE are tentatively scheduled to play two shows in Seattle on July 27th and 28th for the express purpose of recording the gigs for an upcoming double live album. A DVD release of the same performances may also surface around the same time. It is presently unclear if the upcoming live album will be issued via the group's new label Sanctuary Records or if it will be the band's final offering for the Atlantic label, with whom QUEENSRYCHE recently parted ways.

JUDAS PRIEST have posted a live video of yet another new track, “Machine Man”, recorded during the group's live show at London's Astoria on Friday, June 15th, on their official web site for viewing in streaming video and/or free download. To see the video, click here.

Sweden's ENTOMBED will follow up the September release of their brand new studio album, entitled Morning Star, with a European tour that is also scheduled to include New Orleans sludge-meisters CROWBAR. CROWBAR will be promoting their own new album, entitled Sonic Excess In Its Purest Form, which is due to emerge through Spitfire Records in late August.

TOOL have firmed up the dates for their upcoming trek with KING CRIMSON. They are as follows:

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Aug. 03 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks

Aug. 06 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount

Aug. 07 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount

Aug. 08 – Portland, OR @ Schnitzer Concert Hall

Aug. 10 – Berkeley, CA @ Community Theater

Aug. 11 – Berkeley, CA @ Community Theater

Aug. 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

Aug. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

Aug. 15 - San Diego, CA @ SDSU Theater

Rumors continue to abound about VOIVOD's current line-up following the recent departure of bassist/vocalist Eric Forrest, with various Internet sources speculating that the Montreal group are about to re-launch their own original formation, featuring vocalist Snake and bassist Blacky, following the latter's return to the Montreal area after a several-year stint in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he kept busy overseeing his own X-Voto record label. An official announcement is expected shortly.

AGNOSTIC FRONT's upcoming studio album will be entitled Dead Yuppies, and it will contain 15 new songs that, according to the band, are in the vein of “Something's Gotta Give with a touch of Riot, Riot Upstart”. The new CD was produced by AF vocalist Roger Miret it will be released through Epitaph Records in late September.

ANGRA drummer Aquiles Priester celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday, June 25th. Aquiles has just returned to Brazil after having laid down the drum tracks for ANGRA's upcoming studio album (the group's first without frontman Andre Matos), which is currently being recorded in Germany with producer Dennis Ward.

Finland's THE 69 EYES will spend the “down” time between upcoming festival appearances writing the material for the follow-up to the successful Blessed Be. If all goes according to plan, a brand new THE 69 EYES single could surface as early as October/September through the Roadrunner label.

Coallier Entertainment Ltd. presents their first STARS CARS auction on July 2nd - July 12th, 2001 on EBay. The first vehicle up for auction is the world famous Pink Wrangler Jeep that everyone has come to know, owned by rock-n-roll morning radio host Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER fame.

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The details on the car are as follows:

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1990 Jeep Wrangler

V6 Factory air (not working)

Two Tops

Low miles (83k)

AM/FM radio

Bike rack

New soft top (3 years old)

Excellent condition

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This 1990 Jeep Wrangler, owned by Dee Snider, is a collector's item in its own right. This vehicle comes with a certificate of authenticity and with an autographed photo of Dee Snider.

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More information will be available on CoallierEntertainment.com, DeeSnider.com, and TwistedSister.com.

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To view a photo of the Jeep, click here.

Sweden's HARDCORE SUPERSTAR will be the opening act for AC/DC at their show in Torino, Delle Alpi, Italy on July 4th.

RETURN TO THE SABBAT, featuring ex-SKYCLAD vocalist Martin Walkyier, have been confirmed for the after-show party at the Bang Your Head Festival in Balingen Germany on June 29th. Also appearing at the party will be Texas' HELSTAR. Details can be found at www.bang-your-head.de

REVEILLE will be shooting a video for “What You Got”, the first single off its Bleed The Sky sophomore effort, in mid-July. Bleed The Sky is scheduled to be issued on September 18th through Elektra Records.

Former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach is co-starring in an episode of VH1's Strange Frequency series called Don't Fear The Reaper in which he reportedly plays the Reaper. According to the singer, the scenes were shot on the series' set in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and they called for Bach to spend three hours in make-up every day. The vocalist also revealed that he sings in the episode, but he did not divulge the details of the musical score that features his voice. The show is tentatively scheduled to air via VH1 in late summer/early fall.

LUCYFIRE, featuring TIAMAT mainman Johan Edlund, will be performing at the M'era Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany on September 1st.

ONE MINUTE SILENCE are in talks to play the Gillingham Free Festival in Gillingham Park, UK on July 14th.

Former DEEP PURPLE/BLACK SABBATH frontman GLENN HUGHES will be issuing his brand new studio album, Building The Machine, via SPV/Steamhammer Records on August 20th. The full track listing for the album is as follows:

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01. Can't Stop The Flood

02. Inside

03. Out On Me

04. I Just Want To Celebrate

05. Don't Let It Slip Away

06. Feels Like Home

07. Highball Shooter

08. When You Fall

09. I Will Follow You

10. Beyond The Numb

11. Big Sky

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, featuring former DEEP PURPLE guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and his “companion” Candice Night, have posted the video clip for their version of the BOB DYLAN classic “The Times They Are A Changin'“ (which is featured on their current Fires At Midnight release) for viewing in streaming video via the SPV/Steamhammer Records web site. To watch the video, click here.

Swedish metallers RISING FAITH (www.risingfaith.com) will enter the studio on July 21st to record their first full length album entitled The Inner Truth. Scheduled for release at the end of the year, the album will include the following tracks:

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01. Final Day

02. The Secrets Of The Icons

03. The Inner Truth

04. Marching On

05. Road To Eternity

06. Sacred Oath

07. Imagination

08. Ancient Memories

09. Cryptic Wisdom

Photos taken at SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' appearance at the Graspop Festival in Dessel, Belgium on June 23rd can be viewed at this location.

Finland's LULLACRY have held on to their #18 position in the Finnish Pop Album charts the second week after the release of the group's sophomore effort, Be My God. The album is scheduled to be issued in the rest of Europe on July 16th.

U.D.O., fronted by ex-ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider, will be performing a special show with SAXON on the island of Ibiza (Spain - Baleares) at the Ibiza Bike Week 2001 on September 5th.

HUMANIMAL, featuring vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (ex-YNGWIE),bassist Marcel Jacob (ex-YNGWIE/JOHNNORUM),guitarist Pontus Norgren (ex-GREAT KING RAT) and drummer Thomas Broman, are finishing up work on their debut studio album, which is scheduled to be released through Z Records later in the year. Among the tracks set to be included on the effort are “Again To Be Found”, “Road Of Forgiveness” and “Who Do You Think You Are”.

Canada's NICKELBACK have lined up a bunch of German shows during August. The dates are as follows:

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Aug. 15 – Rohre, Stuggart, GER

Aug. 16 – Metropolis, Munich, GER

Aug. 17 – Highfield, Erfurt, GER

Aug. 18 - Bizarre Festival, Weeze, GER

Aug. 20 – Schlahthof, Bremen, GER

Aug. 21 – Soundgarden, Dortmund, GER

Aug. 22 – Aschaffanburg, Frankfurt, GER

Aug. 23 – Schlachtof, Hamburg, GER

Aug. 24 – Knaack, Berlin, GER

SUPERZERO, the New England-based act featuring Markus Cherone (the brother of former VAN HALEN/EXTREME vocalist Gary Cherone) on guitar, are going to be performing at Boston's Hard Rock Café on Thursday, July 12th as part of a Rolling Rock “Battle Of The Bands” event.

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