When Technology Means Independence
March 12, 2012 by Publisher
by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer –
If there is one thing technology has done for regular music fans over the last 10 years, it’s made them more independent. Or at least less subordinate to the labels, the music press, TV, and radio – the traditional bastions of control of almost all access to music and musicians just a decade ago. Now with YouTube anyone can be a content contributor or a program director, and you hardly need the print mags to discover new music or catch up on your favourite bands. You don’t need an A&R man, or a music critic, or a TV boss telling you what you are supposed to listen to, when, and how. Read more
Great White vs. Jack Russell
March 7, 2012 by Publisher
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer –
Great White vs. Jack Russell — A Lesson in Character Assassination from The Guys Who Wrote “The Angel Song”
By now, you are most likely aware that former Great White singer Jack Russell has completed a lineup for his version of Great White and is going on tour, competing with the other band who replaced his vocal presence with the talented former XYZ singer and all around good guy Terry Ilous. That aside, if you believe that Ilous was on board with these clearly vindictive, petty, off-color, hyperbolic and immature comments from the band regarding Russell … you are probably wrong. For instance (http://greatwhiterocks.com/):
• In 2010 Jack’s physical condition deteriorated to the point that he routinely fell on and off stage, forgot lyrics and we had to cancel shows due to his inability to perform.
• His drug abuse was so bad that his body began to shut down and ultimately resulted in colostomy surgery from a perforated bowel (he nearly died during this procedure). The colostomy surgery saved his life, but vanquished him with a colostomy bag for a year.
• Jack was first slated to return to GREAT WHITE this past summer. Unfortunately, his frail body and his drug abuse prohibited this event.
• Time and again, Jack Russell has let down his band and fans. His addictions have ruined his life the past eight years. Read more
Ronnie James Dio : Reflections on a Sacred Heart
May 15, 2011 by Publisher
by Alex Barbieri
Staff Writer
Ronnie James Dio was, and will remain, one of the most powerful and emotional singers in rock history. His legacy lives on in the vast collection of songs he recorded, and in the loving memories of those lucky enough to meet the man personally.
May 16, 2011 marks one year since the passing of Dio. Over the past year, Hardrock Haven has asked many artists the following question, “What are your thoughts on the passing of Ronnie James Dio, and do you have any memories you would like to share?” Without exception, all of them answered with loving respect.
The following is a compilation of those answers and memories. Thanks to all the artists, especially Paul Shortino, who contributed to this retrospective. Rest in peace, Ronnie. Cheers!
Anders Ringman of PLATFORM: Of course it’s a huge loss. In the eyes of his fans, he truly was immortal, so that’s why it was such a shock. I think, music-wise, I will cherish the Rainbow albums with him, Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell and Holy Diver, of course.
Chris Laney of PLATFORM: It’s a great loss, a small man with a BIG voice. I got into Dio back when Holy Diver was released, and still think Holy Diver and The Last in Line are among the best albums released by Dio. Of course there’s tons of good stuff with him in Sabbath, too, but I think those albums are killer. I literally ran into him backstage when Dio, Uriah Heep and Asia played Stockholm.
DJ Will of KNAC.com: Ronnie was a big influence and a huge, huge loss. My last moment/encounter was him giving me a thumbs up at the Revolver “Golden God Awards” backstage after winning an award as he walked by with his wife, Wendy. That, as we know, was to be his last public appearance.
Attending the services a month later was a bit surreal with its concert-like atmosphere. Saying good-bye to a music legend surrounded by fans like myself who shared the same thoughts. The tribute performances were fantastic, as were the personal stories at the podium. I have since ended my show each week with one of the final tracks he recorded—“Heavy Metal Will Never Die”—which to me says it all.
Glenn Five of Anvil: I have some very personal thoughts and memories about Ronnie that are very dear to my heart. Ronnie was one of the nicest men a person could ever get to know. He had a love for people and life that you rarely come across. He was the type of man who would meet you early in the day and then go off to do tons of interviews and ‘meet and greets’ and when he would bump into you again later that day, he would call you by name and ask how your day has been. The last time I saw him was backstage after a Heaven and Hell show with Motorhead and Judas Priest. He was having a great time laughing and smiling—a fitting last memory of a truly amazing man.
Gregg Livesay of Livesay: We opened up for Dio twice—once in ’97 and again in ’98. I just remember when we got tapped to do the show how psyched we were. We couldn’t even believe we were going to get to share the stage with the guy. I remember, after our set, I was down on the floor and I remember looking around the place. It was packed and they were turning people away at the front door—it was shoulder-to-shoulder, the balcony, everywhere. They couldn’t fit any more people. But I remember when he was on stage and he was singing “Don’t Talk To Strangers” and was just singing by himself, everybody was just absolutely blown away by him. His presence, his power. The guy just had incredible, incredible pipes. And so full of emotion. When he sang, you really felt like he was singing to you. He was the pinnacle of singers, and the fact that he’s gone is awful. He was the Pavarotti of metal.
Jaime St. James of Black N Blue: Ronnie was a very nice man and an amazing singer. He is horribly missed.
Jesse Damon of Silent Rage: I miss Ronnie James Dio. I got to see Heaven and Hell at the Forum in Los Angeles a couple years back and he was great to see and watch and listen to. What a nice gentleman. I also met him briefly at Los Angeles International Airport. He was coming in from Russia and I was heading to England. I walked up and said “Hi” and we exchanged pleasantries, a handshake, smile and a laugh or two. I asked him how the fans were in Russia, and he said they couldn’t have been nicer. He wished me well for England and good luck, and I said, “Thanks, Ronnie!”
Joey Concepcion of Chaos Embrace: I think (Dio’s passing) is very sad, and is such a tremendous loss to the metal community. I loved his voice and his music and he will be missed all over the world, and his music will without a doubt carry on.
Kyoji Yamamoto: He was one of the best rock singers in the world. I heard his voice for the first time on Rainbow’s first album. I was very impressed by his powerful, beautiful and dignified voice. I met him in an Indian restaurant in the U.K. by coincidence. He was with his wife and he was very calm and tender. We lost an irreplaceable treasure.
Marcie Michelle Free of Unruly Child: Ronnie and I first met at a Christmas party back in 1985. Carmine Appice introduced us. I will never forget how blown away I was at how much of a kind gentleman he was. Many so called “rock stars” are not as real and down to earth as he was. He was always like that. I miss him dearly.
Mark Tornillo of Accept: Ronnie was always a huge influence on my writing and singing. The world lost one of the all time greats, and he will be missed for a long, long time.
Michael Larrson of ColdSpell: Dio meant a lot to me and has a special place in my heart. Dio was the one that was supposed to be around as long as hard rock exists and unite us all. He will be remembered and not forgotten, that’s for sure! We have a song on the new ColdSpell album called “The King” that is dedicated to him. That lyric and song felt so right at the time he passed away, so I decided to include it on the new album.
Paul Shortino of King Kobra: When Rough Cutt was starting out, Ronnie was checking us out. Next thing we know, the Dios were managing us. Ronnie and Wendy took me under their wing and moved me into their home. I was able to live and breathe the Holy Diver album because Ronnie was working on it at home and he’d share ideas and mixes with me. I watched him do the artwork and create Murray the Holy Diver mascot. It was really an experience to get to know Ronnie on a different level—sharing his creativity in the studio and his guidance was quite an experience.
He was such a humble gentle man. One thing I learned from Ronnie was to try and always be humble. Ronnie always had time for fans and to say “Hi” to people, and be kind and gentle and humble. He always had time for people.
It’s a shame we lost such a talent and big voice in the rock scene. He was definitely too young to pass away. He’ll live on forever. King Kobra recorded a tribute to Ronnie called “Monsters & Heroes.” The first verse is, “Sing me a song singer, you’re the man on the mountain who rocked my world.” That’s exactly what he did in my life.
Sammy Serious of The Zeros: Ronnie James Dio was a great singer and front man. One of my favorites. I remember getting turned on to Elf and saying, “Who is that guy? What a great, powerhouse voice.” I also love his solo stuff. I just heard “The Last in Line” on the radio. What a great tune. He left us way too soon.
Stephen Jensen of F3 Studios: My good friend Keri Kelli of the Alice Cooper Band owns a bar in Las Vegas called Aces N Ales. He was hosting a fundraiser event for the Ronnie James Dio “Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.” Keri had asked me if I’d donate some of my photo prints to auction for the fundraiser. I always try to help out my friends whenever I can and it was an honor for Keri to ask to be involved with this great cause. I donated a print of Ronnie, Alice Cooper and Dimebag Darrell. I never had the chance to meet Ronnie personally, but the show in Chicago that I shot with Heaven and Hell was amazing. I listened to Dio growing up and it was great to see him on a big stage again up close. He looked so happy like he was having the time of his life grinning from ear to ear. It was clear to me that he just loved what he did and what he was doing.
Donate to the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund on the Official Ronnie James Dio website:
http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/
Official Dio Facebook Fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio
Official Dio Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/dioofficial
Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax : The Big 4 or The Big Fail?
April 28, 2011 by Publisher
by Cynthia Gomez
Staff Writer
Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax : The Big 4 or The Big Fail?
Metalhead’s would do anything to see the biggest of thrash/metal bands play the same stage– pay $116 for the ticket, drive a total of 6 hours when gas prices average $4.15 a gallon, walk roughly 2 miles to the venues entrance, and even after all that spend half an hour searching for a parked car in a lot with other 500 cars with no lighting hoping it wasn’t stolen.
Yes, in order to see Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax make history– that’s what about 50,000 people had to go through Saturday in Indio, CA. For those highly devoted to the metal masses, going through all that seems pretty feasible, but for those who had to work that day or simply have a life, one question came to mind after the show, was it worth it?
Because of the 3-hour drive one had to take to get to the venue that a week prior hosted a copious amount of indie hipsters for the Coachella Festival missing Anthrax who went on roughly at 4 in the afternoon was at first the biggest discontent of the evening. Why was Anthrax first missed? Read more
Classic Albums Revisited : Blue Murder
March 30, 2011 by Publisher
by John Kindred
Staff Writer
Classic Albums Revisited: Blue Murder
John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Sykes), the man behind the successful Whitesnake self-titled CD, which was an enormous international success, selling more than six million copies in the U.S. alone, never tasted the success of his accomplishment. David Coverdale fired the entire band that was involved in the recording process and replaced it with a new entourage of band members and took them out on tour in support of the album.
On the heels of the success of the Whitesnake self-titled album, Sykes took the reins of his destiny in his hands. He returned home to England, where his mother and stepfather have a studio in Blackpool. After numerous jam sessions, Sykes made the demo for Blue Murder, which led him to signing with Geffen. Sykes formed the legendary band Blue Murder, featuring Carmon Appice (Vanilla Fudge, King Kobra) and Tony Franklin (The Firm, Whitesnake).
Sykes’ search for a vocalist led him to Ray Gillian (Badlands, Black Sabbath). The consensus from the band and those involved with Sykes was that no one they auditioned could match the guide vocals he had recorded on his demos. Sykes decided to scrap his search for a vocalist and handle the vocal duties himself.
The album that Sykes, Appice and Franklin recorded was nothing less than spectacular. Taking his guitar playing a step beyond his work with Whitesnake, Sykes produced edgy, fluid and explosive guitar rhythms. His solo work on the album is awe inspiring. No one can miss the legato phrasing and vibrato of John Sykes.
The surprise to us all was the voice. No one expected Sykes to be able to stand out as a lead vocalist. Citing Coverdale, Glenn Hughes and Phil Lynott as influences, Sykes found himself learning the trade from two of rock’s greatest vocalist. His thick British accent gives his vocals a smooth, sensual vibe. No longer standing in the shadow of Phil Lynott or David Coverdale, Sykes stood on his own as lead vocalist in his own right.
The fret-less bass playing of Tony Franklin highlighted the bass guitar as an instrument. Gone was the straight ahead playing of bassists of the genre to be replaced by fluid, rolling sounds that were unfamiliar to the listeners. The opening track is a prime example of the unique sound and style of Franklin.
With a resume that dates back to the late ‘60s, Appice set the foundation for heavy drumming. His unique style provided the back bone the music Blue Murder. His fills and rolls are bone crushing. Appice’s playing lays the foundation for Franklin’s bass grooves and Sykes’ guitar mastery.
The lyrical content of the CD bought forth images of swashbuckling, gypsies, pirates, high seas adventures, romantic interludes, pharaohs and the mystical hunt for treasure. The energy of the songs and overall sound carried the listener on a 52-minute journey of adventure, love and heroism.
Bottom Line: Every track rocks! It is such a shame that the current mainstream music industry feeds (those who listen to mainstream music) unoriginal, untalented and uninspired music. John Sykes deserves credit as a talented musician. His releases with Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Sykes, Thin Lizzy and Tygers of Pang more than show him to be in a class all his own.
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
Produced By: Bob Rock
Running Time: 52:05
Release Date: 1989
Released: US
Website: John Sykes
Label: Geffen
Track Listing:
1. “Riot” – 6:22
2. “Sex Child” – 5:51
3. “Valley of the Kings” (Sykes, Tony Martin) – 7:51
4. “Jelly Roll” – 4:44
5. “Blue Murder” (Carmine Appice, Sykes, Tony Franklin) – 4:54
6. “Out of Love” – 6:44
7. “Billy” – 4:12
8. “Ptolemy” – 6:30
9. “Black-Hearted Woman” (Appice, Franklin, Sykes) – 4:48
The Station Nightclub Fire: 8 Years After the Tragedy
February 11, 2011 by Publisher
by Franco Cerchiari
Staff Writer
On Feb. 20, 2003, at 11:07 p.m., at The Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in what should have been a night of association with friends, fist-pumping hard rock and a high that can only come from seeing one of your favorite bands live, quickly cascaded into something deadly. Just seconds into Great White’s opening song, “Desert Moon,” a pyrotechnics display turned the festivities into a scene of unimaginable terror as sound insulation surrounding the stage and ceiling caught fire, and the club quickly became engulfed in flames.
Of the 462 in attendance, 100 lost their lives, with hundreds more injured. In their frantic attempt to flee, attendees rationally but sadly made the effort to escape by going out the same door they came in, never giving thought to other exits that were accessible. Subsequent investigations would result in finger pointing, blame, admission of fault, lawsuits, tears, hard feelings and jail time, none of which could take away the unrelenting grief the family members of those killed had to now live with for the rest of their lives.
Call it what you will – hard rock, heavy metal or rock ‘n’ roll – what it is called is of little worth here. What is important is what happens when a group of friends come together for a night of the sheer exuberance that comes from seeing your musical heroes on the lighted stage. From the instant the opening bars of the first song finds its way to your ears to the closing encore, all thought of responsibilities, commitments, deadlines and the drudgery that is the real world is gone.
Through the magic of live music, spectators are transported to a place that if one hasn’t experienced it, trying to put it into words is difficult at best. It is truly a high like no other. Those at a concert connect with one another. No words need to be shared, no thoughts analyzed. The head keeping time with the beat, the imaginary drum sticks pounding the sky, the air guitar that comes to life and a unison of voices all singing along to a favorite song says it all. From the stacks of amplifiers comes a wave of musical emotions that swirls around you and one is literally lost in the moment. It is universal, and the escapism that comes from attending a concert is a thrill beyond words. But when heartbreak occurs when out for nothing more than an evening to forget all, time seems to stop, and it becomes a reason for reflection.
The saying that when a person is taken from this life when doing something they love, their death becomes more memorable may ring true for some, but here those words seem to get lost. Certainly these good people who lost their lives on that eventful night were doing something they loved, but to lose their lives from the actions of others – whether those actions could have been prevented – almost seems to make what happened on that cold Rhode Island night even more sad.
In a mere six minutes the nightclub was ravaged by fire, so for those there, the fear that ensued makes the thought of the horrific sequence of events even more chilling. It is beyond comprehension of what it must have been like. But in the end, 100 of our fellow hard rockers were killed. 100!! And, of course, the next thought that comes is how and why. Some of those questions may be answered and perhaps some may never be.
As the dust settles and after the realism of what occurred sets in, then comes the slow process of healing. So we say to those injured, we hope your recovery was swift. To those who were there and, still to this day, are tormented with thoughts of what transpired, we wish for you peace. To the families who lost so much that night, we offer our shoulders to cry on, a beer lifted to the sky in memory of those who were killed and extend to you our wish that our tears could and would somehow bring back their return. But in the silence of our own lives, we know they can’t. So instead with a hushed reflection we say to those who grieve, “… please know you do not hurt alone, we hurt with you, and we are here for you and will be till the end of time. We may have not been at that concert, but our spirits were. In a sense, we are part of your family, those of us who breathe and live rock ‘n’ roll. While these words may not ease your anguish, we hope you know what your family member’s life means to us.”
For those who don’t understand what it is like to be part of our hard rock/heavy metal family, you will never understand, and, truthfully, we don’t care if you do or not. The reality is that in our existence, there is one thing that is a universal fact – rock ‘n’ roll is a part of our lives, as much as is our heritage or anything else. This month will be the eighth anniversary of The Station Nightclub Fire. Thankfully, time has a unique way of soothing the hurt and giving us strength to pick ourselves up and continue on. And so we do, each day becoming a little easier than the one before.
In closing, we have that day engrained in our memory as one to never to forget, and in tribute of those who were lost, we refuse to let that day go. May they never be forgotten.
Louis S. Alves 33
Kevin P. Anderson 37
Stacie Jude Angers 29
Christopher G. Arruda 30
Eugene Michael Avilez 21
Tina Marie Ayer 33
Karla Jean Bagtaz 41
Mary Helen Baker 32
Thomas A. Barnett 38
Laureen M. Beauchaine 35
Steven Thomas Blom 40
William Christopher Bonardi III 36
Richard A. Cabral Jr. 37
Kristine Marie Carbone 38
William Walter Cartwright 42
Edward B. Corbett III 31
Michael E. Cordier 32
Alfred Carmano Crisostomi 38
Robert J. Croteau 31
Lisa Marie D’Andrea 42
Matthew P. Darby 36
Dina Ann DeMaio 30
Albert Anthony DiBonaventura 18
Christina Ann DiRienzo 37
Kevin J. Dunn 37
Lori K. Durante 40
Edward E. Ervanian 29
Thomas J. Fleming 30
Rachael K. Florio-DePietro 31
Mark A. Fontaine 22
Daniel J. Frederickson 37
Michael A. Fresolo 32
James C. Gahan IV 21
Melvin A. Gerfin Jr. 46
Laura Gillett 32
Charline Elaine Gingras-Fick 35
Michael James Gonsalves 40
James F. Gooden Jr. 37
Derek John Gray 22
Skott C. Greene 35
Scott S. Griffith 41
Pamela A. Gruttadauria 33
Bonnie L. Hamelin 27
Jude Henault 37
Andrew R. Hoban 22
Abbie Lea Hoisington 28
Michael B. Hoogasian 31
Sandy Hoogasian 27
Carlton L. “Bud” Howorth III 39
Eric James Hyer 32
Derek Brian Johnson 32
Lisa Kelley 27
Tracy F. King 29
Michael Joseph Kulz 46
Keith R. Lapierre 21
Dale Lawrence Latulippe 23
Stephen M. Libera 31
John Michael Longiaru 28
Ty C. Longley 34
Andrea L. Mancini 39
Keith Anthony Mancini 37
Steven Mancini 27
Judith Irene Manzo 33
Thomas Frank Marion Jr. 29
Jeffrey W. Martin 37
Tammy Mattera-Housa 40
Kristen Leigh McQuarrie 37
Thomas P. Medeiros 29
Samuel J. Miceli Jr. 21
Donna Marie Mitchell 31
Leigh Ann Moreau 38
Ryan M. Morin 33
Jason R. Morton 26
Elizabeth Ellen Mosczynski 18
Katherine O’Donnell 33
Nicholas Philip O’Neill 38
Matthew James Pickett 34
Carlos L. Pimentel Sr. 32
Christopher Prouty 30
Jeffrey Scott Rader 29
Theresa Lynn (Serpa) Rakoski 40
Robert Louis Reisner III 46
Walter Rich 33
Donald Paul Roderiques 35
Tracey L. Romanoff 25
Joseph E. Rossi 24
Bridget M. Sanetti 39
Rebecca Elinor Shaw 36
Mitchell C. Shubert 39
Dennis Joseph Smith 43
Victor Lowell Stark 43
Benjamin Joseph Suffoletto Jr. 28
Linda Dee Suffoletto 25
Shawn Patrick Sweet 37
Jason R. Sylvester 40
Sarah Jane Telgarsky 30
Kelly Lynn Vieira 30
Kevin R. Washburn 29
Everett Thomas Woodmansee III 29
Robert Daniel Young 30
Station Family Fund
http://www.stationfamilyfund.org/
Station Fire Memorial Foundation
http://www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org/
HARDROCK HAVEN WRITERS’ TOP 10 FOR 2010!
December 17, 2010 by Publisher
Every year, Hardrock Haven staffers compile their Top 10 best releases. Here’s the writers’ favorites from 2010:
Alex’s Top 10 for 2010
- Unruly Child – Worlds Collide
- Accept – Blood of the Nations
- Black Country Communion – S/T
- Heaven Below – EP
- Kyoji Yamamoto – The Life Album
- Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
- Ratt – Infestation
- Slash – S/T
- Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra
- Dio – Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987
Alissa’s Top 10 for 2010
- Joe Satriani – Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards
- John 5 – The Art of Malice
- Ratt – Infestation
- Kiko Loureiro – Fullblast
- Hellsingland Underground – Madness & Grace
- Outshine – Until We Are Dead
- Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
- Seasick Steve – Songs for Elizabeth
- Tesla – Alive in Europe
- Igneous Human – Pyroclastic Storms
Chris’ Top 10 for 2010
- Murderdolls -Women and Children Last
- Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
- Halestorm – Halestorm
- Jeff Beck – Emotion and Commotion
- Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
- Magnetico – Magnetico
- Threat Level – Leading The Vicious
- Rob Zombie – Hellbilly Deluxe 2
- Slash – Slash
- Ratt – Infestation
Deb’s Top 10 for 2010
- Bret Michaels – Custom Built
- Black Label Society – Order Of The Black
- Dokken – Greatest Hits
- Hinder – All American Nightmare
- Halford – Halford IV
- RATT – Infestation
- Vince Neil – Tattoos & Tequila
- Scorpions – Sting In The Tail
- Heaven And Hell – Live In Europe
- Overkill – Ironbound
Derric’s Top 10 for 2010
- De Van – Planet Botox
- Hellsingland Underground – Madness and Grace
- Keel – Streets of Rock and Roll
- Darkwater – Where Stories End
- Pretty Maids – Pandemonium
- Mama Kin – In the City
- Vendetta – Heretic Nation
- Bombay Black – Love You to Death
- Kamelot – Poetry for the Poisoned
- Danzig – Deth Red Sabaoth
Erik’s Top 10 for 2010
- Accept – Blood of the Nations
- Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
- Pretty Maids – Pandemonium
- Stone Sour – Audio Secrecy
- Slash – Slash
- Treat – Coup De Grace
- Crazy Lixx – New Religion
- Iron Maiden – Final Frontier
- Spiritual Beggars – Return to Zero
- Y&T – Facemelter
Franco’s Top 10 for 2010
- Poets of the Fall – Twilight Theater
- Firewind – Days of Defiance
- ReinXeed – Majestic
- Avantasia – The Wicked Symphony
- Vanden Plas – The Seraphic Clockwork
- Gamma Ray – To the Metal
- Dawn of Silence – Wicked Saint or Righteous Sinner
- Allen/Lande – The Showdown
- Royal Jester – The Night Is Young
- Terry Brock – Diamond Blue
Joe’s Top 10 for 2010
- Debbie Ray – Artificial Misery
- Unruly Child – Worlds Collide
- Stratosphere – Fire Flight
- Kiske-Sommerville – Kiske-Sommerville
- Brainstorm – Memorial Roots
- Amorphis – Forging The Land Of A Thousand Lakes
- Neverland – Ophidia
- Black Bone Child – Alligator
- Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
- Eyes Set To Kill – Broken Frames
John K.’s Top 10 for 2010
- Masterplan – Time to be King
- Scorpions – Sting in the Tail
- Erik Norlander – The Galactic Collective
- Kamelot – Poetry for the Poisoned
- Levi Werstler – Avalanche of Worms
- Gamma Ray – To the Metal
- Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
- Avantasia – Angel of Babylon / The Wicked Symphony
- Icarus Witch – Draw Down the Moon
- Heaven & Hell – Live In Europe CD/DVD
John M.’s Top 10 for 2010
- Murderdolls – Women and Children Last
- John 5 – The Art of Malice
- Paul Gilbert – Fuzz Universe
- Brad Paisley – Hits Alive
- Halestorm – Live in Philly
- Ratt – Infestation
- Megadeth – Rust In Peace: Live
- Sin City Sinners – Exile On Fremont Street
- Dokken – Greatest Hits 2
- American Dog – Mean
Justin’s Top 10 for 2010
- Volbeat – Beyond Hell, Above Heaven
- Y&T – Facemelter
- Pretty Maids – Pandemonium
- Line of Fire – Momentum
- Orphaned Land – The Neverending Way of ORwarriOR
- Allen-Lande – The Showdown
- Angra – Aqua
- James Labrie – A Static Impulse
- Treat – Coup de Grace
- Houston – Houston
Mark’s Top 10 for 2010
- Crazy Lixx – New Religion
- Disciple – Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
- Bullet for my Valentine -Fever
- Demon Hunter – The World is a Thorn
- Crashdiet – Generation Wild
- Reckless Love – Reckless Love
- Taking Dawn – Time to Burn
- Pretty Maids – Pandemonium
- My Darkest Days – My Darkest Days
- The Scorpions -Sting in the Tail
Steve’s Top 10 for 2010
- Firewind – Days of Defiance
- Bullet For My Valentine – Fever
- Epica – Design Your Universe
- Soilwork – Panic Broadcast
- Disturbed – Aslyum
- Joe Satriani – Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards
- Threat Signal – Vigilance
- Blind Guardian – At The Edge of Time
- Yngwie Malmsteen - Relentless
- Godsmack – Oracle
Ron’s Top 10 for 2010
- Ratt – Infestation
- Unruly Child – Worlds Collide
- Y&T – Facemelter
- Scorpions – Sting in the Tail
- Brian Wilson – Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
- Krokus – Hoodoo
- Crazy Lixx – New Religion
- Allen/Lande – The Showdown
- Kamelot – Poetry for the Poisoned
- Treat – Coup de Grace
Trevor’s Top 10 for 2010
- Imperial State Electric – Imperial State Electric
- Ratt – Infestation
- Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini
- Armored Saint – La Raza
- Jackdaw4 – The Eternal Struggle for Justice
- Helloween – 7 Sinners
- Riotgod – Riotgod
- Brant Bjork – Gods and Goddesses
- Danzig – Deth Red Sabaoth
- Manegarm – Nattvasen
Motorhead: Ace of Spades Retrospective
October 28, 2010 by Publisher
by Alex Barbieri
Staff Writer
November 8, 2010 celebrates an historic day in the annals of heavy metal: The 30th anniversary of the Motorhead masterpiece, Ace of Spades.
From the first lyrics, Lemmy takes control: If you like to gamble / I tell you I’m your man / you win some, lose some / It’s all the same to me. It’s all the same to him. Bloody brilliant. Three decades on, Lemmy’s indifference is a big part of his lasting appeal. He truly does not give a s**t if you like him or the band. Listen, or be damned.
Ace of Spades was tracked between August 4 and September 15, 1980 at Jackson’s Studios in Rickmansworth, U.K. Produced by Vic Maile, their fourth album was their best sounding to date. Maile nailed the right blend of NWOBHM power and post-hippie groove. Ace of Spades was the sound of a band in the zone — refocused and ready to take on the world. And conquer it, they did. Ace of Spades reached gold status (500,000 units sold) in the U.S. by March, 1981. The album peaked at No. 4 on the U.K. album chart and the single “Ace of Spades” reached No. 15 on the U.K. singles chart in November, 1981. Not a small feat, considering how intense the album was for the time. For many metal kids of the time, Ace of Spades was the heaviest album they had ever heard. It brought the New Wave of British Heavy Metal into the cultural Zeitgeist, and is arguably the first thrash/speed metal album of all time.
Listen to the intro riff and snake rattle of ”Love Me Like a Reptile;” the saloon swagger of “Shoot You in the Back;” the stripper-sleaze groove of “Fast and Loose;” and the unapologetic confidence of “The Chase is Better Than the Catch.” The three-minute speed-inspired songs on Ace of Spades were not only heavy, they were sexy, too. You could dance to Motorhead. Or slam dance, if that was your thing. In fact, Motorhead was one of the first bands to break down barriers between the punks and the metal kids. They had cross-over appeal between the long hairs, Mohawks and, yes, the chicks dug them too.
The Mexican-flavored album cover photo of Lemmy, ”Fast” Eddie Clark and “Philthy Animal” Taylor further added to the mystique of Motorhead as outlaw bandits. The picture was actually taken in a sand pit in Barnet, outside of London. But to young eyes, the three diablos looked like true devils — dangerous enough to intrigue young record buyers and piss off parents.
Ask any tried and true headbanger, and Ace of Spades is likely to be one of their top metal albums of all time. It would have warranted an HRH rating of 10 out of 10, were it not for some mediocre moments. “Dance” and “Bite the Bullet” just don’t retain the balls-out brilliance of the first seven tracks. Still, Ace of Spades is worthy of a place high in the heavy metal pantheon. Happy 30th birthday and cheers to a truly groundbreaking moment in heavy metal history.
Watch for a classic 1980 club performance of “Ace of Spades” on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy9-t7uZqG8
Order the Deluxe Edition of Ace of Spades at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Spades-Dlx-Ocrd-Spkg/dp/B001G5SDRU/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_a
Special thanks to Bob Nalbandian and the Shockwaves Skull Sessions for contributing thoughts on the historic relevance of Ace of Spades.
Genre: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Band:
Lemmy Kilmister – Vocals, Bass
”Fast” Eddie Clark – Guitars
Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor – Drums
Track Listing:
Deluxe Edition CD 1
1. Ace of Spades
2. Love Me Like a Reptile
3. Shoot You in the Back
4. Fast and Loose
5. (We Are) The Roadcrew
6. Fire Fire
7. Jailbait
8. Dance
9. Bite the Bullet
10. The Chase is Better Than the Catch
11. The Hammer
The Deluxe Edition contains alternate versions and BBC session tracks on a 2nd CD.
Label: Sanctuary Records
Online: http://www.imotorhead.com/
Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10
HARDROCK HAVEN WRITERS’ TOP 10 FOR 2009!
January 1, 2010 by Managing Editor
Every year, Hardrock Haven staffers compile their Top 10 best releases. As we stumble into 2010, here’s the writers’ favorites from 2009:
Alissa’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Andreas Kisser Hubris I & II
2. John 5 Remixploitation
3. The Big Pink The Evolution of Chaos
4. Heathen Have Guitar Will Travel
5. The Red Chord Fed Through the Teeth Machine
6. Slayer World Painted Blood
7. Dream Theater Black Clouds and Silver Linings
8. Pronto The Cheetah
9. Richie Kotzen Peace Sign
10. Vinnie Moore To the Core
Deb’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Charm City Devils Let’s Rock and Roll
2. Slayer World Painted Blood
3. Drowning Pool Loudest Commen Denominator
4. Joe Perry Project Have Guitar Will Travel
5. Shadows Fall Retribution
6. Puddle of Mudd Songs in the Key of Love and Hate
7. Motley Crue Greatest Hits
8. Anvil This is Thirteen
9. Vains of Jenna The Art of Telling Lies
10. Steel Panther Feel the Steel
Derric’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Cage Science of Annihilation
2. Candlemass Death Magic Doom
3. El Creepo El Creepo
4. ColdSpell Infinite Stargaze
5. Danger Danger Revolve
6. Freakshow Welcome to the Freakshow
7. Outloud Outloud
8. Great White Rising
9. Lillian Axe Sad Day on Planet Earth
10. Cauldron Chained to the Nite
Franco’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Edguy Tinnitus Sanctus
2. House of Lords Cartesian Dreams
3. Magnum Into the Valley of the Moon King
4. Praying Mantis Sanctuary
5. Sonata Arctica The Days of Grays
6. Gotthard Need to Believe
7. Hammerfall No Sacrifice, No Victory
8. W.E.T. W.E.T.
9. Redemption Snowfall on Judgment Day
10. Primal Fear 16.6 (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead)
Joe’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Primal Fear 16.6 (Before the Devil KNows You’re Dead)
2. Amorphis Skyforger
3. Brunorock War Maniacs
4. Echoes of Eternity As Shadows Burn
5. Gregg Rolie Band Rain Dance
6. Smile Empty Soul Consciousness
7. 3 Revisions
8. Eldorado Golden
9. Joe Becker Hot As Love
10. Megadeth Endgame
John’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Jorn Spirit Black
2. Joe Stump Virtuostic Vendetta
3. Vinnie Moore To The Core
4. Thunderstone Dirt Metal
5. W.A.S.P. Babylon
6. Leverage Circus Colossus
7. Judas Priest A Touch of Evil: Live
8. Ace Frehley Anomaly
9. Kiss Sonic Boom
10. Cold Truth Do Watcha Do
Justin’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Green Day 21st Century Breakdown
2. Free Spirit Pale Sister of Light
3. Volbeat Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood
4. Gotthard Need To Believe
5. The Poodles Clash of the Elements
6. Hardcore SuperstarBeg For It
7. Leprous Tall Poppy Syndrome
8. Jorn Spirit Black
9. Wolf Ravenous
10. Praying Mantis Sanctuary
Steve’s Top 10 for 2009
1. Breaking Benjamin Dear Agony
2. Halestorm Halestorm
3. Skillet Awake
4. Three Days Grace Life Starts Now
5. Alice in Chains Black Gives Way to Blue
6. Shinedown The Sound of Madness
7. Dream Theater Black Clouds & Silver Linings
8. KISS Sonic Boom
9. Five Finger Death Punch War is the Answer
10. Hammerfall No Sacrifice No Victory
Trevor’s Top 10 for 2009
1. The Wildhearts Chutzpah!
2. Immortal All Shall Fall
3. Cheap Trick The Latest
4. KISS Sonic Boom
5. Brutal Truth Evolution through Revolution
6. The Brian Setzer Orchestra Songs from Lonely Avenue
7. Great White Rising
8. Ensiferum From Afar
9. The Black Crowes Before the Frost … Until the Freeze
10. Thundra Ignored by Fear
Green Day’s Breakdown
May 13, 2009 by Publisher
by Kathy Kindred
Staff Writer
Green Day
Green Day engaged in several other smaller projects in the time following the hype of American Idiot. In the spring of 2007, Green Day recorded a cover of the John Lennon song “Working Class Hero,” which appeared on a compilation album Instant Karma that benefited victims in Darfur. In the summer of 2007, Green Day recorded a version of “The Simpsons” theme song for “The Simpsons Movie,” as well as having an appearance in the movie. Read more
