Archive for January 14th, 2013

As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Talks Touring, Humanitarianism, Side Project + More

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying was the guest on Full Metal Jackie’s radio show this past weekend. Lambesis spoke about the band’s upcoming co-headlining tour with The Devil Wears Prada, as well as plans for the release of his own side project and much more. Read Full Metal Jackie’s interview with Tim Lambesis below: ‘Awakened’ came out back in September and it’s pretty much a two year period between As I Lay Dying albums but you’ve already come up with an idea or two for what comes next. When does it hit you that you’re consciously starting to think about the next album? Usually we tour the main touring places and when we start to overlap and play the same city twice on one album then we realize “Okay we should problem do a new album before we go back out on tour.” So believe it or not it’s the touring cycle that determines when we need a new album. Tim, you’re pretty well known for your humanitarianism. Does it provide you with a source of lyrical inspiration? Yes, it’s definitely a part of my life for me, my kids are adopted and I’ve visited their country – they’re from Ethiopia and that was eye opening to what the world is really like, at least a third of the world. I think that just influences my entire world view even if I’m not necessarily writing a song about humanitarian work, I’m writing a song about what truly makes us happy in life and those types of think that have been influenced by my experiences. You’re going to be co-headlining with The Devil Wears Prada through the beginning of April and touring is a unique means of seeing the world. Where is the place you always make a point of visiting if you’re in the area on tour? For me, I always try to find good food. One of the hardest tours to do is actually arena tours because it’s in the middle of nowhere since many arenas are outside the cities. For a band like us we usually play in clubs or theaters right in the middle of downtown for the most part. We typically just walk around – and I eat like six meals a day so I got to find a few good meals. You definitely must have some sort of workout regime as well, I got to imagine. You’re pretty buff. Yeah that’s why I eat six meals a day, I got to keep my body fueled. It’s pretty tough – I’m a naturally very thin person so I have the opposite problem of most people, I try to put on weight. I think it was like a progression, when we first met you were really skinny and as the years have gone on you’ve definitely had this huge build. Is it something like one day you were just like, “I want to start working out more.” How did that come about? Yeah it’s funny because I saw a lot of my peers past their prime, so to speak, where they were starting to get older and starting to show and they weren’t quite putting on the same stage show. One day I was like “Well all of our peers seem to be trailing off and I want to be the band that keeps getting better with age” of course as the frontman that means I need to be in the best shape of my life. It kind of went a little overboard but I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. Tim, last month you performed with Suicide Silence at a show that was a tribute to Mitch [Lucker], their singer who died unexpectedly in November. Like Mitch, you’re a singer and a father, what went through your head when you played that show? It was definitely an emotional show, everybody was pretty choked up. We showed a video clip of Mitch growing up and his family was there. It was really tough, I think for me seeing his parents was probably the most emotional event of the night. Beyond the tour with The Devil Wears Prada, what can we expect from the band this year? Well after that tour, we’re going to hit a few places internationally that we skipped over. This isn’t necessarily from the band but I have a little side project in the works that I want to release sometime next there is a slight break in the As I Lay Dying schedule – something more on the death metal, extreme end of the spectrum. We recorded a few songs and hopefully that will be out by the summer time. Full Metal Jackie will welcome Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta to her program this coming weekend. She can be heard on radio stations around the country — for a full list of stations, go to fullmetaljackieradio.com .

Alice in Chains Announce Spring 2013 U.S. Tour

Photo by Dave Ma As excitement for Alice in Chains ‘ 2013 as-yet-untitled album continues to build, fans have been gifted with more good news from the band. Alice in Chains have just announced a month-long U.S. tour beginning in Miami Beach, Fla., on April 25. Alice in Chains haven’t ventured on a comprehensive tour for well over two years, having last performed a lengthy string of dates in 2010 to support their most recent album, ‘Black Gives Way to Blue.’ The legendary grunge rock band recently unveiled a music video for the new track ‘Hollow,’ which was put together by acclaimed director Roboshobo ( Metallica , Mastodon , Green Day ). Accompanying the hypnotic and tripped out song, the video for ‘Hollow’ adds a visual dimension to the song’s protagonist losing himself in an empty repetition of daily tasks until his last thread stitched into reality finally snaps away. Check out Alice in Chains’ upcoming tour dates below and stay tuned for more news on the band’s 2013 album as further information is revealed. Alice in Chains Spring 2013 U.S. Tour Dates: April 25 – Miami Beach, Fla. @ Fillmore April 30 – Birmingham, Ala. @ BJCC Concert Hall May 01 – Augusta, Ga. @ William B. Bell Auditorium May 05 – Norfolk, Va. @ Norva May 07 – Bethlehem, Pa. @ Sands Events Center May 08 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Benedum Center May 14 – Sioux Falls, S.D. @ KRROfest – Lyons Fairgrounds May 15 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Eagles Ballroom May 18 – Philadelphia. Pa. @ WMMR – Susquehanna Bank Ctr May 21 – Ft. Wayne, Ind. @ Embassy Theatre May 22 – Evansville, Ind. @ Aiken Theatre May 24 – Lincoln, Neb. @ Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater [button href=”http://loudwire.com/alice-in-chains-hollow-video/” title=”Alice in Chains Release Music Video for ‘Hollow'” align=”center”]

25 Worst Rock Tattoos of All Time

The worst rock tattoos come in all shapes and sizes, with not even the most respected musicians spared. For those who have eternally committed awful ink onto their bodies, we ‘salute’ you and offer our readers the 25 Worst Rock Tattoos of All Time. From disastrous back pieces to monstrous murals to pitiful portraits and other remorseful regrets, these works of art are among the worst rock tattoos the Internet can offer. If we could provide these poor souls with the highest caliber of laser treatment, the Loudwire Tattoo Removal Clinic would certainly be christened for all ink victims. Unfortunately, we haven’t broken ground on any such medical center, so all we can do is offer preventative action by exposing the public to these irreversible abominations. For the sake of your dermatological welfare and overall entertainment, we present you with 25 pieces of ink worthy of the distinction ‘Worst Rock Tattoos of All Time.’ Enjoy and godspeed. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/offensive-ozzy-osbourne-worst-rock-tattoos” title=”See the 25 Worst Rock Tattoos of All Time” align=”center”]

Halestorm vs. Black Veil Brides – Cage Match

Photos: Halestorm Official Site / Lava Records, Universal Republic Halestorm  continue their Cage Match reign with ‘Freak Like Me’ as the song beat out ‘Cut Me Some Slack,’ the collaboration between Nirvana members and Paul McCartney. Will Halestorm be able to win against today’s challengers? Black Veil Brides heat things up with their brand new single ‘In the End’ off of their brand new album ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones.’ Check out Loudwire’s exclusive interview with frontman Andy Biersack here . The band is currently out on a headlining tour across the States. For a full list of dates and cities, go here . So will Black Veil Brides put an end to Halestorm’s reign? Get in on the action by listening to both tracks and voting for your favorite in the poll below! (This Cage Match will run until Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 8AM ET. Fans can vote once per hour! So come back and vote often to make sure your favorite song wins!) Halestorm, ‘Freak Like Me’ Black Veil Brides, ‘In The End’ Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. Email Me When Cage Match Winners Are Announced Enter your email address below to receive the Loudwire newsletter, which will include notification of the daily winner of the Cage Match, as well as our top stories of the day. Email Rules of Cage Match: Fans can vote once per hour for their favorite song. If a song remains the reigning champ for five straight cage matches, it is retired to the Loudwire Cage Match Hall of Fame. With so many great songs out there, we have to give other bands a chance!

David Draiman’s Device Confirm Release Date of Self-Titled Debut Album

Adam Bettcher, Getty Images Vocalist David Draiman has been hard at work with his new project Device since the indefinite hiatus of Disturbed was announced in late 2011. After much anticipation and ballpark estimates as to when the first Device album would be unleashed, we can now confirm that the band’s debut album will be self-titled and see the light of day on April 9 via Warner Bros Records. On Friday, we reported that Draiman had unveiled an all-star lineup of guest musicians on the album, as well as revealing that  Evanescence drummer Will Hunt and Dope / Eve to Adam guitarist Virus will join Draiman on Device’s three-man touring lineup. Meanwhile, ex- Filter  guitarist Geno Lenardo, who co-wrote and recorded Device’s debut album with David Draiman, will not be joining the outfit on the road. In a press release, Draiman describes the album as follows, “It’s not metal”, Draiman says. “It’s influenced by early Industrial rock (i.e., Nine Inch Nails/Ministry) and has a dark electronic vibe. At the same time, these are big, anthemic, and intensely melodic songs. It’s futuristic rock.” In a new video interview with Artisan News Service , David Draiman speaks about how Device came together. “I was first approached by Geno Lenardo, who was working on a number of tracks for the ‘Underworld’ soundtrack for the last ‘Underworld’ film that came out … and he asked me if I would be interested in being a part of one of the tracks and I asked him to send me the music that he had in mind and I was able to make a really compelling and powerful song … [I] found that working with him as a songwriting partner was very easy and fluid. He’s a very strong songwriter in his own right.” Device’s first single, ‘Vilify,’ is set to hit radio on Feb. 19. The band just filmed a video for the song and have described it as “amazing / groundbreaking.’ Draiman and Lenardo were able to recruit an army of legendary musicians as contributors for the first Device album, including Black Sabbath  bassist  Geezer Butler , Deep Purple  singer-bassist  Glenn Hughes , Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows , System of a Down  singer  Serj Tankian , Rage Against the Machine guitar great Tom Morello and Halestorm  frontwoman  Lzzy Hale . Prepare yourself for Device’s self-titled debut album, which will drop on April 9, and stay tuned for the unveiling of the single ‘Vilify,’ which will see a release this February. David Draiman Goes In-Depth About Device [button href=”http://loudwire.com/disturbed-singer-david-draiman-urges-fans-to-support-lamb-of-god-randy-blythe/” title=”David Draiman Urges Fans to Support Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe” align=”center”]

Adler Singer Jacob Bunton Offers Inside Look at Slash Collaboration ‘Just Don’t Ask’

Facebook: Jacob Bunton When former Guns N’ Roses  drummer  Steven Adler launched his new band Adler , it offered a fresh start for the musician. But the stickman still has one very significant tie to the past on his ‘Back From the Dead’ album — a guest appearance from his former bandmate  Slash on the track ‘Just Don’t Ask.’ Speaking exclusively with Loudwire, Adler singer Jacob Bunton tells us, “Steven and Slash have been close friends since they were kids, so the chemistry between the two is amazing.” Of the song ‘Just Don’t Ask,’ Bunton recalls, “When we started recording the album ‘Back From The Dead’, Steven asked Slash if he would play on record. We weren’t sure at first which song to have him play on. Halfway through recording the record, I wrote the song ‘Just Don’t Ask’ and we all looked at each other and said ‘this is the perfect one.’ Slash is one of the most soulful rock guitarist of all time and everything he does is so tasteful. I love his solos on the hard rockin’ songs, but we all agreed that the melodies he creates on ballads are some of the most memorable in music. He came to the studio, plugged in and just nailed it. He’s also one of the coolest mutherf—ers you’ll ever meet!” And speaking of meeting Slash, the vocalist says the guitarist knows how to make an entrance. He explains, “We recorded at Jeff Pilson’s studio in his house. Slash showed up a few minutes late for the session and said he had gone to the wrong house. Can you imagine getting a knock on the door at 10:00 at night and when you open the door, Slash is standing there?” Take a listen to Adler’s ‘Just Don’t Ask’ featuring Slash in the player below. The album, ‘Back From the Dead,’ which earned a stellar review from Loudwire when it dropped in November, is available at iTunes . Listen to Adler’s ‘Just Don’t Ask’ Featuring Slash ? [button href=”http://loudwire.com/adler-back-from-the-dead-album-review/” title=”Next: Read Our Review of Adler’s ‘Back From the Dead'” align=”center”]

Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe ‘Getting Ready Mentally’ for Czech Republic Trial

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire One month ago, Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe was handed the reality of a court date in the Czech Republic. Facing manslaughter charges in an incredibly controversial case stemming from a 2010 concert incident, Blythe’s legal proceedings are set to begin on Feb. 4 . With the proverbial hourglass drawing closer to an empty top, Blythe recently posted a poetic and introspective piece of writing on his Instagram account detailing his thoughts. Although Randy Blythe could conceivably remain in the United States to avoid his trial, the vocalist has chosen to face the Prague 8 District Court and fight the charges brought against him. Blythe, who spent five weeks in a Czech prison over the summer while awaiting his bail to be approves, had given his situation a great deal of thought over the past few months. Upon discovering an old suitcase while out and about in his hometown of Richmond, Va., Blythe was inspired to write about his upcoming trial in the Czech Republic: The last 2 or 3 days I have been getting ready mentally to leave my home & return to Prague to do this whole trial thing in early February. It’s not something I particularly WANT to do; but inside, my gut & heart tells me it is the RIGHT thing to do. I cannot turn my back [on] the right thing. As I’ve been thinking, I’ve [been] shooting [pictures] a lot around my hometown. I love this place. A couple of days ago I went to my mechanic to get my truck worked on- the garage is over near the CSX train yard here in Richmond. I dropped off my truck & went creeping under the over pass that runs above the tracks. As usual, there was a lot of sleeping gear, trash, old mattresses & stuff that homeless people keep there. In my younger days, I used to ride freight trains across our country. I have spent many nights under bridges just like this one in freight yards across the USA. I have always loved to travel, & have been across the USA three times without a dime in my pocket most of the time, learning the survival skills of the hobos & street people of our country. You can get by with almost nothing if you know what you are doing. This old suit case sitting up on this ledge really captured my attention. I wonder what it once held? Safe travels to whoever owns it… As mentioned, Randy Blythe’s trial is scheduled to commence on Feb. 4. In addition to the aforementioned suitcase, the Lamb of God frontman has posted a number of his photos on his Instagram account recently, including recent images of his Virginia hometown and his travels in New York City, as well as vintage pictures of him posing with the late Dimebag Darrell. Check them out here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/2013-grammy-awards-best-hard-rock-metal-performance-nominees-anthrax-halestorm-iron-maiden-lamb-of-god-marilyn-manson-megadeth/” title=”Lamb of God Nominated for 2013 Grammy Award” align=”center”]