“We are very excited to release our debut album with such a dedicated and committed label,” said In Alcatraz 1962 drummer, Josh Zupovitz. “We know they will treat us not only as another band, but as a family member. We look forward to collaborating with Standby Records and are ready to share our music with each and every one of you.”     Commented Standby owner, Neil Sheehan, “As we develop a rebooted version of Rock N’ Roll at Standby Records, we continue to discover new acts that are rich in attitude and powered by modern day angst. Much like the rage that flowed through this band’s namesake island throughout the 20th Century, In Alcatraz 1962′s musical rage hits with more force than any group of murderers, rapists and criminals could ever deliver. We couldn’t be happier to share their power.”             In Alcatraz 1962 will enter Cleveland’s Studio D Productions with producer, Don Debiase (Modern Day Escape, Beneath The Sky, For All Those Sleeping), in early February to begin recording the debut album.             Stay tuned to the official In Alcatraz 1962 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/inalcatraz1962 and the all-new Standby Records website: http://www.StandbyRecords.net for more information on In Alcatraz 1962.
In Alcatraz 1962 is…
Tyler Baldwin – Vocals Chris Smith – Guitar Jonathon Pentz – Bass Josh Zupovitz – Drums
In Alcatraz 1962 online…
http://www.facebook.com/inalcatraz1962 http://twitter.com/#!/inalcatraz1962
Standby Records online…
http://www.standbyrecords.net http://www.facebook.com/standbyrecords http://www.twitter.com/standbyrecords http://www.myspace.com/standbyrecords http://www.youtube.com/StandbyTube http://www.last.fm/label/Standby+Records http://www.reverbnation.com/label/standbyrecordsnet
About In Alcatraz 1962…
Formed in 2005 in Northern Virginia by drummer Josh Zupovitz, In Alcatraz 1962 started out as an after school hang out playing cover songs, and quickly turned into a project that would grow in originality and respect. Starting as a band that were opening shows where no one was in attendance and playing in front of empty rooms, they worked hard at self-promoting their name and their sound and quickly gained a large following to playing in front of sold out venues with crowds itching to see their powerful and memorable live performance.
About Standby Records…
Formed in 2007, Standby Records has made its name developing passionate, young artists by providing unparalleled enthusiasm and a DIY attitude. Standby Records is ready to act as the proud birthplace of “Rock N’ Roll 2.0,” the evolution of the genre. A new age of youth has emerged, and like its parents who exhibited their rebellious nature through music, this new breed has developed its own sound, look and attitude. Standby Records is there not only to embrace it, but to spread it to the masses.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINE UP

MAIN STAGE Artists include:

SLIPKNOT

SLAYER

A Very Special Guest to Be Announced on March 5, 2012

And a Rotation of:

AS I LAY DYING

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

ASKING ALEXANDRIA

ANTHRAX WILL HEADLINE THE UPGRADED JAGERMEISTER STAGE

WORLD’S LARGEST TOURING HEAVY MUSIC FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR FIFTH YEAR

GET OFF YOUR ASS PRE-SALE BEGINS FRIDAY, APRIL 6TH

HARD ROCK & METAL FESTIVAL KICKS OFF ON JUNE 30, 2012

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL, the world’s largest touring heavy music festival is back for its fifth year, assaulting the senses of United States heavy metal music fans. The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL is proud to announce this summer’s artists. The main stage will be our strongest ever with the headlining slot occupied by multi-platinum Iowa legends SLIPKNOT. Next up will be legendary thrash metal kings SLAYER and then a major special guest will be playing in the third slot whom will be announced on March 5^th. The main stage will also spotlight a ferocious mix of today’s best artists in a rotation, including THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING and ASKING ALEXANDRIA.  In 2012 the tour has upgraded the production on the festival stage and this year the JAGERMEISTER STAGE will feature a special headline set by metal masters ANTHRAX supported by a rotation of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING and ASKING ALEXANDRIA, along with WHITECHAPEL, HIGH ON FIRE and the JAGERMEISTER opener. Please note that bands may vary per market.

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL will make a 26 date trek across the U.S. beginning on June 30th at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California. GET OFF YOUR ASS Pre-sale tickets go on sale Friday the 6^th of April, 2012. Tune in to www.rockstarmayhemfest.com and www.livenation.com for up-to-date ticketing information.

Corey Taylor of Slipknot says “You knew we’d be back. Now, you know we’re coming. This will be a tour people will scarcely want to miss. It will definitely be a show to remember. Can’t wait to see the states again from behind a mask.”

Slipknot’s, Clown states “Slipknot is headlining this summer’s Mayhem festival and it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever felt, sensed, or seen. You miss this, you miss everything. Everyone seems to think that there’s a chance we’re gonna go away. This is the farthest thing from the truth. Stay sic and don’t ever judge us.”

“Mayhem 2012 might just be the last and greatest metal festival before the world ends!! So wreak havoc and go out in style!!” adds Tom Araya of Slayer.

Slayer’s Kerry King comments “ We can’t wait to get rolling on Mayhem 2012! Been 3 years since we played it last, and it’s gonna be brutal!!! You can’t go wrong with Slayer and Slipknot, pure fucking mayhem!!!!

The 5th annual ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL will also feature ROCKSTAR METAL MULISHA JUMP TEAM, on select dates.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL is produced by Rockstar Taste of Chaos organizer John Reese, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, Live Nation, and Creative Artists Agency.  The team has made the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL a standout on the summer concert circuit by following the proven model of utilizing sponsorship to deliver a lower ticket price and an enhanced concert experience. This year sees them joining forces once again with ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK as the title sponsor.

“Metal is ALIVE and WELL in 2012,” states tour producer John Reese. “The fifth year of Rockstar Mayhem Festival will have a massive lineup that will set heavy music fans ears blazing!”

“Some years it all comes together, from top to bottom and this years ROCKSTAR MAYHEM lineup is going to bring it!” adds tour producer  Kevin Lyman.

In 2008, the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL bulldozed onto the scene and quickly made itself known as the preeminent summer destination for the hard rock and metal community.  ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL boasts the most powerful artist line-ups in heavy music.  Artists who have performed on the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL have included hard music legends SLAYER, SLIPKNOT, KORN, ROB ZOMBIE, DISTURBED, GODSMACK, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, MARILYN MANSON, MACHINE HEAD, IN FLAMES, TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, CANNIBAL CORPSE, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, MASTODON, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, KINGDOM OF SORROW, DETHKLOK and many more.  All have pummeled the stage, while delivering the intensity and heaviness that fans have grown to expect year after year.

See below for all current tour dates.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL 2012 TOUR DATES:

For more information on the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL, visit www.rockstarmayhemfest.com.

Rockstar is the world’s most powerful energy drink, available in 19 flavors and 25 countries!

“ROCKSTAR is the world’s most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles – from athletes to rock stars.ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available in nineteen amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Recovery Lemonade, Recovery Grape, Recovery Orange, Energy Cola, PerfectBerry, 2X, Xdurance, Coconut Water, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, and Roasted Light Vanilla.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Australia, Baltics, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Poland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout the United Kingdom.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK supports the active Rockstar lifestyle. In Surf, Skate, Snow, MX, BMX, Off-Road, MotoGP, Rally, Wake, MMA, Bull Riding, Bands, DJs, and Live Music.”

Find us at:

www.rockstar69.com

www.facebook.com/rockstar

www.twitter.com/rockstar6969

www.vimeo/channels/rockstar

www.youtube.com/rockstar

“A reputation takes time, sweat, trust, hard work, persistence, dedication and the unwillingness to quit at the first site of risk,” says April Harbour, director of operations for Country Thunder. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Troy Vollhoffer and Premier Global Production for both Country Thunder festivals.”

The management team of Country Thunder consists of a group with years of experience in the festival industry and deep ties to the Nashville entertainment community. These two assets alone ensure an organized and efficient event that offers A-list talent every year. The philosophy of the group is to provide the best talent available to fans, to build a positive festival experience and to provide the best value for that elusive entertainment dollar. Organizers strive to be good corporate citizens, supporting many non-profit and charitable organizations in the surrounding areas, as well.

Over the past four years, Country Thunder has seen an increase in patronage amounting to over double its original size.

Country Thunder Ticketing Information: For full access to the festival, you can purchase a 4-day pass for only $120, and new this year, the festival is offering the opportunity to purchase seats closer to the stage with (GA) RSVD seating with prices ranging from $200-$375. Another great addition this year is the new hotel + transportation packages offered through Country Thunder, so be sure to visit www.countrythunder.com or call (866) 802-6418 for further information or to purchase all things Country Thunder!

FOUR TRACK EP, FEATURING FOUR PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SONGS,

OUT NOW FROM DIGITAL RETAILERS

January 4, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA – Metallica has announced that is “has decided to go old school” and will release its current digital EP, Beyond Magnetic, on CD worldwide at retail on January 30th and on January 31st in North America. The EP, released via all digital retailers on December 13th, features four tracks recorded during the sessions for 2008′s 2x-platinum Death Magnetic, the band’s fifth consecutive No. 1 album.  Said the members of Metallica of Beyond Magnetic: “During the Death Magnetic album sessions in 2007 and 2008, we originally recorded 14 songs. When it came time to pick the songs for the final album, we decided on 10 songs that you’ve all come to know over the last three years. Some of you may have heard bits and pieces of those other songs on ‘Mission Metallica’ (remember ‘Mission Metallica’?!) or heard rumors about them during the recording process, and wondered, ‘What ever happened to those other four songs???.’  We kept them in the vault and decided to pull them for our 30th anniversary celebration last month, so here are the four leftover tracks from the Death Magnetic sessions. They are ROUGH mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March ’08. These four songs were released as gift to our closest fans, the members of our Fan Club, to enjoy. Now they’re being made available to you.”   Metallica celebrated its 30th anniversary as a band last month, performing four shows at the Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco, CA, exclusively for members of their fan club, the Metallica Club.   BEYOND MAGNETIC TRACKLISTING   1.              Hate Train 2.              Just A Bullet Away 3.              Hell And Back 4.              Rebel Of Babylon     www.metallica.com

]]> http://allaccessmagazine.com/2012/01/26/metallica-to-release-current-ep/feed/ 0 http://allaccessmagazine.com/2012/01/26/van-halen-announce-2012-north-american-tour/ http://allaccessmagazine.com/2012/01/26/van-halen-announce-2012-north-american-tour/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:18:14 +0000 Debra Stocker http://allaccessmagazine.com/?p=6361 VAN HALEN ANNOUNCE 2012 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AND THE

 FEBRUARY 7, 2012 RELEASE OF THEIR NEW ALBUM,

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH

*  *  *  *

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 6, 2011)  Van Halen, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees and one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time, announced their return to the live stage with an extraordinary 2012 North American tour.  The announcement was made late last night, during a once-in-a-lifetime performance, at the intimate Café Wha? in New York City.  Known around the world for some of the most iconic live performances in music history, the legendary rock band will begin their tour on February 18.  Kool & The Gang will join Van Halen for select tour dates.

Tickets for the Live Nation-promoted tour go on sale beginning January 14 at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

In addition, Van Halen confirmed their new album, A Different Kind Of Truth, will be released in the U.S. by Interscope Records on February 7. The first single from the album, “Tattoo”, and its accompanying video will be debut simultaneously on Tuesday, January 10th, with album pre-orders starting that day.  A Different Kind Of Truth is Van Halen’s first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since the band’s classic multi-platinum album 1984.
Fans can expect Van Halen to perform selections from  A Different Kind Of Truth alongside songs from their arsenal of epic hits that include:  “Eruption,” “Running with the Devil,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “You Really Got Me,”  “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained,” “And The Cradle Will Rock,” “Beautiful Girls,” “Mean Street,” “Somebody Get Me A Doctor,” “Jump,” “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher,” “I’ll Wait,” and more from their classic albums Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, Diver Down and 1984.
Van Halen – who the Los Angeles Times recently called “a force of nature” and “one of the flat-out greatest rock bands on the planet” – was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2007.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1974, Van Halen changed the rock and roll landscape forever with the release of their self-titled, 1978 debut album displaying unparalleled stage presence, revolutionary musicianship, and extraordinary songwriting abilities. With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide, the band’s record of achievement is hard to top.   Among a long list of awards, recognition and accolades, Van Halen joins an elite short list of two time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry.  Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status’ for their albums Van Halenand 1984, the band has produced a repertoire of hits that remain some of the strongest and most influential rock songs ever written that fans will admire for decades to come.

Kool & The Gang found a special sound at the unique intersection of jazz, R&B, funk and pop. Their music has been created by the same core of players for over thirty years: Robert “Kool” Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan, their longtime friends Dennis “DT” Thomas and George “Funky” Brown.

VIP Packages will also be available through VIP Nation, including premium seats, exclusive merchandise and more. For more information please visit: www.VIPNation.com

VAN HALEN 2012 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

Date                 City                          Venue                                                       On Sale Date

2/18/12             Louisville, KY            KFC Yum! Center                                     January 16

2/20/12             Detroit, MI                The Palace of Auburn Hills                         January 14

2/22/12             Indianapolis, IN         Bankers Life Fieldhouse                             January 14

2/24/12             Chicago, IL               United Center                                            January 14

2/28/12             New York, NY           Madison Square Garden                             January 14

3/1/12               New York, NY           Madison Square Garden                             January 14

3/3/12               Uncasville, CT          Mohegan Sun Arena                                   January 14

3/5/12               Philadelphia, PA       Wells Fargo Center                                     January 14

3/9/12               Buffalo, NY              First Niagara Center                                   January 14

3/11/12             Boston, MA              TD Garden                                                 January 14

3/15/12             Montreal, QC            Bell Centre                                                 January 14

3/17/12             Toronto, ON              Air Canada Centre                                      January 14

3/21/12             Ottawa, ON               Scotiabank Place                                       January 14

3/24/12             Atlantic City, NJ        Boardwalk Hall                                           TBA

3/28/12             Washington, DC       Verizon Center                                            January 14

3/30/12             Pittsburgh, PA          Consol Energy Center                                 January 14

4/1/12               Rosemont, IL            Allstate Arena                                            January 14

4/10/12             Fort Lauderdale, FL   BankAtlantic Center                                    TBA

4/12/12             Tampa, FL                St. Pete Times Forum                                TBA

4/14/12             Orlando, FL              Amway Arena                                             TBA

4/16/12             Jacksonville, FL        Jacksonville Arena                                     TBA

4/19/12             Atlanta, GA               Philips Arena                                             TBA

4/21/12             Greensboro, NC        Greensboro Coliseum                                 TBA

4/25/12             Charlotte, NC            Time Warner Cable Arena                           TBA

4/27/12             Nashville, TN             Bridgestone Arena                                     TBA

5/1/12               Tulsa, OK                 BOK Center                                               TBA

5/5/12               Tacoma, WA             Tacoma Dome                                           TBA

5/7/12               Vancouver, BC         Rogers Arena                                             TBA

5/9/12               Calgary, AB              Scotiabank Saddledome                             TBA

5/11/12             Edmonton, AB          Rexall Place                                              TBA

5/17/12             Winnipeg, MB           MTS Centre                                               TBA

5/19/12             St. Paul, MN             Xcel Energy Center                                    TBA

5/22/12             Kansas City, MO       Sprint Center                                             TBA

5/24/12             Denver, CO               Pepsi Center                                             TBA

5/27/12             Las Vegas, NV          MGM Grand Garden Arena                         TBA

6/1/12               Los Angeles, CA       STAPLES Center                                     TBA

6/3/12               Oakland, CA             Oracle Arena                                             TBA

6/5/12               San Jose, CA           HP Pavilion                                               TBA

6/12/12             Anaheim, CA             Honda Center                                            TBA

6/14/12             San Diego, CA          Viejas Arena                                              TBA

6/16/12             Phoenix, AZ              US Airways Center                                   TBA

6/20/12             Dallas, TX                 American Airlines Center                           TBA

6/22/12             San Antonio, TX        AT&T Center                                             TBA

6/24/12             Houston, TX             Toyota Center                                            TBA

6/26/12             New Orleans, LA       New Orleans Arena                                   TBA

INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M:

Combining the legacies of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history, Interscope Geffen A&M embarked on a new tradition of musical achievement with its unification on January 1, 1999.  Headed by Chairman Jimmy Iovine, Interscope Geffen A&M is a major force in global music, developing chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres including rock, rap, pop and alternative. Interscope Geffen A&M Records is part of Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company.

PROTOTYPE Confirms New Album Title and Track Listing

“The Way It Ends” Added to Rock Band Network

Santa Barbara Rockers

Host/Headline@Benefit For Boys/Girls Club Of Santa Barbara

At  SOhO Restaurant & Music Club – Thursday, February 16

I spent all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the convention, and it still wasn’t nearly enough time to see everything!

My first day of NAMM was pretty good. It wasn’t too crowded yet, which gave me a chance to scope everything out and make a game plan for the weekend. I spent some time at Gibson/Epiphone with Product Specialist Doctor Wil, who gave me a detailed walk-thru of their latest guitars and basses. He showed me an acoustic that had a built in tuner in the mounting ring that was really cool. Basically you just hit a couple buttons and it tunes your guitar! He also showed me a few guitars that have USB outputs built-in and that come with a guitar rig software download. They also had a line of Kramer reissues, which were most known for their 80’s metal sound, and guitarists like Richie Sambora, Eddie Van Halen, Mick Mars, and Vivian Campbell used them back in the day.

I wandered around a bit, visiting Rock N Roll Industries Magazine, Rock-n-Roll Gangstar to say hi to the crew, Rockett Drums to say hi to Rikki and check out their new kits, and Sabian, where I ran into Randy Black from Primal Fear. Things seem to be going really well for him. His instructional drum DVD “The Black Book” came out last year, and he was excited about the brand new Primal Fear CD “Unbreakable,” that was going to be released the next day. (January 24th ) I noticed that Mapex had a really cool promo idea going on. They were taking pictures of Attendees holding up a plastic frame that said ‘Drummerface’ and then hanging them on the wall in their booth. Of course I did one!

I lost track of time for a minute, which can easily happen at NAMM, but made it to Carvin just in time to catch Marten Andersson (Lizzy Borden) and Bjorn (Yngwie). Marten described NAMM as a ‘toy store for big people.’ I couldn’t agree more. I always call it “Musician’s Heaven.” Marten is currently working on a new album with Lizzy, and they just got confirmed for Hellfest in France June 15th – 17th, along with Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cannibal Corpse, Children of Bodom, and many more.

Thursday night I went to the 6th Annual NAMM Jam at Big’s Grill in Fullerton for Skye Delamey, Dirty Little Secrets, Zen Rising and Black Vinyl. I primarily went to see Skye showcase her two most recent videos, “Thor” and “Devil in an Evening Dress,” and ended up sticking around for the next three bands.  I’ve never seen Skye perform live before, and it was great to see her sing while her music videos played on TV screens throughout the bar, especially since I’m in the one for “Devil in an Evening Dress!”

Black Vinyl, who is fronted by 13-year-old Dylan Nash, stole the show. People would walk in, not knowing what to expect, and would just be mesmerized. Nash is a superstar in the making, and already has his moves and stage presence down, and he knows how to work a crowd. They have a very Led Zeppelin-ish feel to them, and even covered two Zeppelin songs, “Communication Breakdown” and “Whole Lotta Love.” It’s so nice to see young and talented musicians embrace rock n’roll. They are our future.

On Friday, I jumped right into the crowds and chaos, ready for an even bigger day. I started out at the Zoom Booth for a signing by John Temptesta from the Cult, Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) and Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple/Trapeze).  It was great to meet John for the first time, since I’m a really big Cult fan, always good seeing Dave, and Glenn Hughes was super nice, and funny.

While walking the floor, I noticed a big crowd was gathered at the Paul Reed Smith Booth and saw that Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction) was doing a signing. The line was already at the cutoff point, but I was able to snap a quick picture. From a shear artistic viewpoint I am always in awe with the PRS booth.

One of the most fun parts of the day was when I happened to walk by Rockett Drum Works while Steven Adler, Rikki Rockett, and Troy Patrick Farrell were all doing pics. Of course I jumped right in next to Rikki!   A&R Rep Bobby “Tango” Gibb filled me in on some of the inner workings of the company. He told me that Rockett Drum Works are a custom company that pride themselves on ‘fully custom’ drum kits and the fact that they are an American-Made company. They even make their own lugs and mounting hardware. They had as much Custom Gear as they could fit in the booth, and a lot of new graphics and hi-res graphic wraps.

Rockett Drum Works use a lot of exotic woods, such as cocobolo, rosewood, bubinga, and a variety of maples, which give the drums different tones, from rich, to dry, to bright. Bobby was excited that they are getting ready to work with a type of wood out of the Appalachian Mountains called orange osage, which has a real maple-like tone. He said that it’s a beautiful wood to work with and that it’s actually white, but when you put the lacquer on it, it turns orange. For more information on Rockett Drum Works please visit rockettdrumworks.com

I promised AC Alexander (Lizzy Borden) that I would stop by his signing at Engl, and noticed Razor from Metal Knights talking to Craig Goldy, who was also at the signing, along with Steve Morse (Deep Purple). Craig Goldy has quite a Discography and is most known for his work with Dio. He also produced Metal Knights debut album “World of Forever.” I talked to Razor, Billy, and Danik (all in Metal Knights) for a minute, and they were excited to have three songs in the can for their next album.

I also talked to AC  for a bit, and he told me how he got into Lizzy Borden. He was actually a fan… and saw them play live for the first time on the Lizzy Borden/WASP tour. When they were looking for a replacement for Chris Sanders (now in Knight Fury) AC auditioned, and ended up doing some Lizzy shows with the Band, even going all the way to Japan, before they officially made him a member.

Speaking of Chris Sanders, he has recently created his own project, Knight Fury, and released their debut CD “Time to Rock.” William King, Dave Ellefson, (Megadeth) and Ken Mary (Alice Cooper/Fifth Angel) are all on the album. I kept trying to meet up with Chris all weekend, and we kept missing each other. I finally caught up with him, and his band, at the Fender Booth, where he spent a lot of time doing press and photos.

Rock-n-Roll Gangstar had a lot of cool stuff going on at their booth, including several signings throughout the Show. I stopped by while they were having one of their signings and got autographs from John Exall and Randy Cooper from Texas Hippie Coalition, Miljenco “Mili” Matijevic, (Steelheart), Robin McAuley, (MSG) and Toni Aleman (World War III). While I was there, owner and designer Daryl Boyd called out my name “Metal Babe” on his megaphone. (Thanks Daryl.) Also, Rock-n-Roll Gangstar is a great place to find my ‘circle of friends’ hanging out, and helping out.

Prior to NAMM I’ve always said that there were only three ‘Rock Stars’ that I haven’t met that I want to: Alice Cooper, Jon Bon Jovi, and Steven Tyler. After being an Alice Cooper fan since “Trash” came out in 1989, seeing him perform live at least a dozen times, and performing in an Alice Cooper Tribute Band, I finally had the chance to meet the Man himself.

I went to Shure for the 4pm signing, and the line was insane! It was hard to tell where the line started and ended.  I knew he was doing another signing upstairs at the Fender Booth at 5pm and didn’t want to take any chances on missing him, so I headed that way. There was already a line all the way down the hall that actually went outside, so I got in. I was a bit worried that I wasn’t going to make it to the front by 6pm (when the convention ends) but I made it just in time. Security was EVERYWHERE, yelling at us to hurry up, move, leave, etc…

In the midst of all the chaos I did get the chance to shake Alice Cooper’s hand and tell him how honored I was to meet him and that I was in an Alice Cooper tribute band (Nightmare). He signed my flyer for an upcoming show and said, “You probably do Alice Cooper better than we do!” I turned around for a quick picture, while security was still yelling, and then ran out of there, almost forgetting my autograph Chuck Garric, Alice’s bass player, was handing me, and forgetting to snap a picture for my friend who had been waiting in line with me. (Sorry Steph.)

I got there bright and early on Saturday so I could have a full day. It wasn’t too crowded the first couple hours, so it was a great opportunity to walk around and check out the gear. I thought it was really cool that Charvel had their own booth for the first time. (Usually they are part of Fender) I’m a bit partial to Charvel (since I have one tattooed on my back for Criss Oliva from Savatage) and I really enjoyed checking out their production line and custom shop guitars.

The Jagermeister Girls were hanging out at the Peavey Booth, so I joined them for a few pictures. It was really fun! When I walked up they said, ‘we have another Jagermeister Girl” and then random people kept coming up and taking pictures of us and with us.

I always enjoy checking out Dean Guitars, especially their custom lines for Dimebag Darrell, Dave Mustaine, Michael Schenker, and Leslie West. This time I had a different viewpoint because I was at their factory in Tampa a couple weeks ago and saw the entire process of how the guitars are created, from a piece of wood on a palate, to the beautifully custom crafted guitars that were hanging on the walls around me. At the Show, Dean were showcasing the first ever Double-Neck Guitar, which I actually saw the prototype back at the factory before anyone else did! While at the factory, I also learned that Dimebag envisioned, and drew, in full color, all of the guitars that Dean has created in his name. It’s just so sad that he never got to play one…His memory lives on.

I just happened to run into Rex Brown from Pantera and stopped to take a quick picture, and then really lucked out by walking by Nicko McBrain, drummer for Iron Maiden, who was doing a signing at Remo. I jumped right in, and he was really cool! He kept telling me how lovely I am and telling my husband what a lucky guy he is. He even told me the story behind the little yellow aeronautical bear that sits on his bass drum.

My first official meet and greet on Saturday was scheduled for 1:30 at Samson, for Geezer Butler, (Black Sabbath) Mike Inez, (Alice in Chains) Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan. However, when I arrived at the booth, I was informed that Geezer had actually left the Convention to go back to England to care for Tony Iommi, who was recently diagnosed with early-stage Lymphoma.  Prayers go out to the “Iron Man.” Hopefully he is up and rockin’ again soon.

Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval from Armored Saint performed two songs at the Krank Booth at 3pm. I am just so glad that I ran into Jeff right before their performance, otherwise I wouldn’t have even known! Duncan and Sandoval jammed out to Saint songs “Reign of Fire” and “March of the Saint.” I LOVE Armored Saint, and it was so cool to see the two guitarists play in such an intimate setting. This was definitely one of the highlights of the entire convention. When they were done, they let fans jump up on stage to take pics with them. Of course I was one of the first ones up there!

On Saturday, I walked by Lita Ford, Warren Di Martini, and Steve Stevens while they were doing signings, and was able to snap a quick picture of each of them. I even had the chance to talk to Steve Stevens for a minute, and I told him how awesome it was to see him play at the Viper Room with Ginger Wildheart.

My other official signing of the day was at Dean Markley Strings at 4pm.

I was really looking forward to meeting Brian Wheat from Tesla. I always say that Tesla is one of the only bands that actually gets BETTER over time. Rudy Sarzo, Mike Inez, TM Stevens, and Phil Soussan were also scheduled for that signing. When I got to the front of the signing, I saw Rudy Sarzo, who is one of the most amazing bass players ever, and was happy to see Chuck Garric was next in line. It was a lot more relaxed than the Alice Signing was at Fender, so we had a chance to talk a few minutes about Alice and The Barons (a killer band that he was in) and he stood up for a picture with me. By the time I got to the end of the line I realized Brian Wheat wasn’t there.

Everyone knows that one of the best things about NAMM is the parties….And there are always so many to choose from! The Hilton Hotel is always packed, with bars, bands, rock stars, fans, and friends. And then there’s the Sheraton. I’ve heard it’s happening, but I’ve never made it there.

And then there are always bands playing outside the NAMM Show on the John Lennon Educational Stage, and at the end of the day on the Main Lobby Stage. On Friday there was a “Legends Jam” on the Main Lobby Stage that featured tons of musicians including Nicko McBrain, (Iron Maiden) Teddy Zig Zag, (Guns & Roses/Alice Cooper) Terry Hous, (XYZ, Great White) Robin McAuley, (Survivor, MSG) Frankie Banali, (Quiet Riot) Chris Slade (AC/DC/Asia) and more.  Friday night was the NAMM Jam at the Grove with Testament, Jackyl, Vinnie Moore, and Wayne Static, and Stonebreed played Marquee15 in Corona with Uli Jon Roth.

And on Saturday, there was a “Celebrity Jam” on the Main Lobby Stage, featuring the Band from TV. And Saturday night there was another NAMM Show at the Grove with Seether and Filter.

Overall, I had a great experience at NAMM 2012. In addition to checking out the gear, meeting with friends, making new ones, and schmoozing with the Rock Stars, I did quite a bit of networking and have new contacts and ideas for photographers, advertising, writing, and some special events. Keep posted because “Metal Babe is Taking Over the World One Shirt at a Time” I hope that all of you will be along for the ride!

Here’s a list of musicians I saw/met/hung out with at NAMM 2012:

AC Alexander – Lizzy Borden (Engl)
Alice Cooper (Fender)
Billy Sheehan – Mr. Big (Samson)
Bjorn Englen – Soul Sign/Yngwie(Carvin)
Charlie Benante – Anthrax (Zoom)
Chris Holmes – Where Angels Suffer
Chris Sanders – Knight Fury
Chuck Garric – Alice Cooper (Fender and Dean Markley Strings)
Craig Goldy – Dio (Engl)
Dave Ellefson – Megadeth (Zoom)
David Shankle – DSG (Kahler)
Doug Aldrich – Whitesnake
Dug Pinnick – Kings X
Eric Bass – Shinedown (Zoom and Samson)
Glen Hughes – Deep Purple (Zoom)
Jeff Duncan – Armored Saint (Krank)
Jeff Worley – Jackyl
John Exall – Texas Hippie Coalition (Rock-n-Roll Gangstar)
John Tempesta – The Cult (Zoom)
Marten Andersson – Lizzy Borden (Carvin)
Matt Bachand – Shadows Fall (Engl)
Mike Inez – Alice in Chains (Samson and Dean Markley Strings)
Mike Portnoy – Adrenaline Mob/Ex-Dream Theater (Samson)
Miljenco “Mili” Matijevic – Steelheart (Rock-n-Roll Gangstar)
Nicko McBrain – Iron Maiden (Remo)
Phil Sandoval – Armored Saint (Krank)
Phil Soussan (Dean Markley Strings)
Rafael “Hofa” Moreira (Dean Markley Strings)
Randy Black – Primal Fear
Randy Cooper – Texas Hippie Coalition (Rock-n-Roll Gangstar)
Rev Jones – MSG (Rock-n-Roll Gangstar)
Rex Brown – Pantera/Kill Devil Hill
Rikki Rockett – Poison (Rockett Drum Works)
Robin McAuley – MSG (Rock-n-Roll Gangstar)
Rudy Sarzo – Whitesnake/Dio/Quiet Riot/Ozzy (Dean Markley Strings)
Steve Morse – Deep Purple (Engl)
Steven Adler – Adler’s Appetite (Rockett Drum Works)
TM Stevens Shocka Zooloo (Dean Markley Strings)
Toni Aleman – World War III (Rock-n-Roll Gangstar)
Troy Patrick Farrell – Pretty Boy Floyd (Rockett Drum Works)

Keep Rockin’

Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen
www.metalbabemayhem.com
Blog.metalbabemayhem.com
www.facebook.com/metalbabeproductions

A special thank you goes out to Kymberly Calvert, Stephanie Cullen, and Grant Masson for assisting me during the Show. Additional thanks goes to Kymberly Calvert, Stephanie Cullen, Shawn Kendrick, Ron Lyon, and Bob Delgadillo for your photography.

Few metal rock bands make it big. Even fewer make it big and become legends. Even fewer still are able to maintain their legendary “metal god” status for over four decades and still continue to tour, sell out and play their shows with the fresh enthusiasm that they had when they first started out. Judas Priest has been there and done all that and then some. Most other bands would have been knocked off their post long ago, so more power to Judas Priest. They’ve rightfully earned their place in metal rock history and stood their ground.

Claiming that this is their “farewell tour”, it’s hard to believe that 40 years has come and gone so quickly and that we are seeing the last of these guys. If it really is the end for them, they are doing it up in quite a grandiose show that is absolutely phenomenal. Complete with fire pods shooting off across the back of the stage from the very first song, “Rapid Fire”, the band got the crowd in Denver, Colorado off to a fist pounding the air, fast, furious and frenzied start that was non-stop the entire two hour and 20 minute set.

Though original Priest guitarist, the beloved KK Downing, is no longer with the band, his replacement, Richie Faulkner was clearly not a disappointment to the fanatics on this night in the Mile High City. Flawlessly playing a Gibson Flying V guitar, Faulker seemed to have no problem sharing the stage and delivering the goods alongside the familiar face and high energy of Glenn Tipton as they traded exuberant guitar lick chemistry throughout the 21 song set without missing a beat. Clearly having a great time on stage, the two guitarists even managed to squeeze a smile or two out of original bassist, Ian Hill who along with drummer, Scott Travis, produced a brilliant low-end thump that was non-stop and took vibration to a whole new level.

Legendary Priest vocalist, Rob Halford, proves what really makes this band tick and why after 40 years they have not been set on the back burner on simmer. Plain and simple, Halford is worshipped by the band’s fans. Dressed in his classic leather and chains get up, I couldn’t help but wonder how this guy manages to stay so ultra cool under the hot lights with fire pods blasting while wearing such a heavy outfit, as it was hotter than a furnace in the photo pit. Regardless, this guy is definitely a hard-core metal god and he doesn’t fail to impress.

Starting out the show, Mr. Halford told the crowd that Priest would be playing a variety of songs that spanned their entire career. He wasn’t just giving lip service and the band didn’t just going through the motions. From start to finish, Judas Priest played their Rocky Mountain set with more energy and enthusiasm than a pack of wild mustangs on the range. Covering their well-known hits, “Breaking The Law” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” (complete with lots of crowd sing-a-long input!), Priest truly kept their fans in metal-heaven as they crossed into eras of long ago with tunes, “Never Satisfied”, “Starbreaker”, “Diamonds And Rust”, “Heading Out To The Highway”, “Hell Bent For Leather”, “Prophecy” amongst many, many others. While singing “Victim Of Changes”, “Judas Rising” and “Painkiller”, Halford demonstrated he is still able to hit his mark on the high notes with seemingly little effort as he spewed screams that could wake the dead to say the least.

Ending the second encore with the classic, “Living After Midnight”, Judas Priest left the stage with an arena full of happy, jubilant fans that clearly love them. It was obvious that the feelings were mutual. The band had once again left their imprint with a show that won’t too soon be forgotten by anyone there.

Even though they are calling this the Epitaph Tour, I doubt that they (being a band of this caliber) simply hang up their guitar straps and spend the rest of their days out on the golf course. However, I wouldn’t expect them to plan Epitaph Tour 2 real soon either – if at all. The occasional date here and there may end up being the extent of opportunity to witness this finely tuned machine in extreme action mode. That being said, get out and see this show while you can. Judas Priest aims to please and you won’t be disappointed.

JudasPriest.com

The latest project Natasha can be seen in is Jack Mannequin’s music video, “Release Me.”

Last year Natasha worked as an improv host for Dreamworks at Universal Studios Singapore under a 13 month contact. While in Asia she appeared in Scene Magazine issue 3 and 4. Natasha also took advantage of her surroundings and traveled around to Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Upon completion of her contract her itch for travel continued and she ventured off to Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, and the UK.

A Los Angeles native, Natasha has returned to her roots and is focusing on her acting career. In her spare time she enjoys singing hopeless romantic tunes on her ukulele. Check her out at www.NatashaRoseCapener.com.