Posts Tagged ‘really-exciting’

Nikki Sixx Takes New Creative Direction With ‘Schecter Sixx’ Bass

Kathy Flynn, WickedGoddessPhotography.com Nikki Sixx is a man of many passions, as evidenced by his career as a successful author, photographer and radio host as well as the musical work he’s best known for as a member of Motley Crue and Sixx: A.M . On Saturday (Jan. 26), Sixx was able to reveal his latest creative venture, the new ‘Schecter Sixx’ signature series bass , during the NAMM convention in Anaheim, California. In a roundtable discussion with a handful of media outlets, including Loudwire, Sixx spoke about his transition from being a longtime supporter of Gibson to taking an active role in the creation of his new bass with Schecter. The bassist revealed, “I was very loyal to Gibson for a lot of years, [but] towards the last few years it sort of became … the quality of the instrument became not very consistent and it became frustrating for me … some would sound great and some wouldn’t.” Over time, Sixx says he began to consider making a change and after meeting with Schecter, he knew he had found a kindred spirit. “When I met with Schecter it was like an instant fit where we really seemed to understand each other,” says Sixx. “[We agreed on] what was best for the consumer, the player, as well as for me, as for the fit of what I feel the bass is about and we put together this bass and this is it. I’m really excited.” The bassist says that making an all-purpose instrument was the big key for him, adding, “I wanted to have it not only for me in recording, but for other players to have a little bit of versatility. I loved the kill switch in my other basses. I just hotwired everything past the volume and the tone so that I could just on-off. But when I get in the studio that didn’t necessarily work for me, so I would reach for another bass at times. So I wanted this bass to be the bass while I’m recording and I’m always recording. I think with technology we’re always laying down ideas now, so I didn’t want to have to search out a different instrument for that.” Sixx says he also loved incorporating the P Bass pickups in the rear position with the EMG’s up front to provide a little more flexibility. He’s also fond of the sleekness of the instrument and how the weight-distribution has made it less neck-heavy. Overall, Sixx says he’s very satisfied making the transition to Schecter, concluding, “I just enjoy being creative. Whenever I can get in a circle with other creative people and just jam and see stuff happen, it’s really exciting. What’s been really exciting about Schecter and working with the design of the bass, we’re talking about the sound and the feel and how the company works together in delivering the message, that’s all creative stuff. It’s all good stuff.” Check out the details and specs of the ‘Schecter Sixx’ bass here , and stay tuned for more from our roundtable discussion with Nikki Sixx, including the latest on Motley Crue and Sixx: A.M. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-nikki-sixx-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Nikki Sixx Songs” align=”center”]

Dave Mustaine on New Megadeth Album: ‘We’re Almost Done With It’

Facebook: Megadeth Megadeth are hitting the home stretch on their latest album. In a picture posting on the band’s Facebook page , it was revealed that Dave Mustaine and drummer Shawn Drover were finishing up tracking on the ten songs for their upcoming album, with another song set to wrap things up that evening. The photo (seen above) shows Mustaine and Drover in the studio together. With the album near completion, Mustaine offered a few more details in a video interview with VintageRock.com at the NAMM Convention. The singer-guitarist said of the upcoming disc, “We’re almost done with it. We’ve been doing it with [producer] Johnny K, doing it down in San Diego where I live. And he’s gonna be mixing it out in Chicago at his studio out there. You know, it’s really incredible this way … Last night, Dave Ellefson — he’ll probably not appreciate me telling this story — but he was sitting in a chair and his hand was hanging over the side of the chair, and I said, ‘What’s the matter? ‘ and he goes, like, ‘Man, I haven’t played this much in a long time.’ And I was like, ‘Good.’ So that was really exciting for me, cause David, he’s a monster on bass guitar, and for him to be saying stuff like that and just showing that he’s a little tired because there’s so much activity with the songs, I think the fans are really gonna respond to that.” Mustaine also stated that touring is starting to take shape as well. The band has already signed on for some dates with Iron Maiden in Europe and a number of headlining shows in the U.K. this summer, with a North American trek expected to follow. He also revealed that the ‘Gigantour’ touring brand may be revived for their late year performances. “We’ve got some really interesting lineups for that,” says Mustaine. “Most people would look at the lineup and they would think, like, ‘Dave’s not gonna tolerate your crap at all,’ because there’s a couple of people that we have that are on the lineup — and we’re hoping for the best — but they’re notorious bad boys. But when people grow up, they kind of grow up, they just don’t grown old, and we’re hoping that the music is gonna be the most important thing so that the fans will get what they want.” Mustaine also revealed that the band has chosen a new record label after parting ways with Roadrunner Records, but did not specify which label. Watch Dave Mustaine’s Video Interview With VintageRock.com [button href=”http://loudwire.com/decibel-magazine-tour-2013-must-see-metal-concerts/” title=”Next: Check Out 2013’s Must-See Metal Concerts” align=”center”]

Phil Anselmo Talks Boxing With Rapper 50 Cent

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire / Rick Diamond, Getty Images As one of metal’s most aggressive vocalists in history, it’s no surprise to learn that Pantera / Down vocalist Philip Anselmo is a huge fan of boxing. Surely tracks such as ‘F—ing Hostile’ and ‘Mouth for War’ have inspired many fists to bust through walls, along with faces, so Boxing Insider welcomed Anselmo for an exclusive interview, but here’s the catch: Philip Anselmo was brought in to conduct an interview with yet another musician and boxing fan … rapper 50 Cent. In an hilarious piece of truth, Anselmo admitted to have no effing clue who 50 Cent was, but penned kind words about the rapper. “Call me morbid, call me pale, call me a victim of pugilistic dementia, but I must say, speaking to this man was an interesting experience,” writes Anselmo. “I was beyond impressed with his smarts, his sense of humor, his accomplishments and his future plans.” Although not one to follow the hip-hop game, Anselmo’s interviewing skills were spot-on: Anselmo : “Do you see any parallels between music and boxing on a business level?” 50 Cent : “Well yes. In the past the majority of the record companies were run continuously. Artists would come up and be really exciting at certain points and eventually go through that cycle of entertainment. Then, they (record companies) built entertainment to destroy them (the artists) for the sake of entertainment. And as you go up, and keep going up in an artist’s career, there’s no place to go but down shortly thereafter. And if you look at some of those older artists that are so talented, then ask yourself, ‘What happened to them?’ or ‘Why aren’t they still recording?’ or ‘Why aren’t they still exciting to the general public?’, it’s because the public follows that system. The shadow of doubt is cast over artists and music culture at different points. You have to be independent in order to work things out through that shadow. Because it’s this system that decides who is relevant, and companies have to see if they’re gonna continue to market and promote the actual projects anymore. And it’s the same with fighters; they’ll grow up and they’ll see some excitement around them and they’re having their moment, but in boxing if there is no opponent, the general public will make one for you. If a guy happens to be a shining star in his weight class, there’ll be another fighter that may have a great performance in the same division, so that guy will be perceived as the guy that can beat the shining star. And the public and press will make the challenger as relevant as you, because the star fighter needs to fight! And like music culture is to boxing, you’re only as exciting as your last hit record, or in boxing/music terms, your last performance or fight.” Check out Philip Anselmo’s full interview with 50 Cent at Boxing Insider. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-metal-albums-of-2012″ title=”Down – 10 Best Metal Albums of 2012″ align=”center”]