Posts Tagged ‘united-states’

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”]

Lemmy Kilmister Brings Motorheadphones to U.S., Slams ‘Beats’ Headphones

Motorheadphones.com Now that the world’s loudest band has released their own signature brand of headphones, Motorhead are looking to take down rapper Dr. Dre and his ‘Beats’ empire. Frontman  Lemmy Kilmister himself presented the new headphones this week in Las Vegas at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Along with introducing the headphones, Lemmy offered some priceless quotes while answering questions at a Motorheadphones press conference. Motorheadphones brand manager Andres Nicklassen describes what make the new product different from the various headphones released by hip-hop musicians. The main difference is that Motorheadphones are engineered to focus on mid-range sounds, rather than Beats headphones and the like, which are more about the bass. Nicklassen went as far to say that Beats “takes the soul out of rock,” after which Lemmy compared the Beats experience to “listening through a towel.” Lemmy was full of dry British wit when interviewed by reporters: Reporter 1: “There’s a lot of lines of headphones; celebrity headphones…” Lemmy: “Oh, is there? I didn’t know.” Reporter 1: “So why are these different?” Lemmy: “Because they’re from Motorhead.” Reporter 1: “So is the sound quality different?” Lemmy: “These are for deaf people, you see. Our fans are deaf, remember?” Lemmy is exactly right when he says that Motorheadphones are for deaf people, as the speakers are 6-10 times more powerful than a standard set of headphones. “These new headphones are not like the weak-kneed, lily-livered, tin-pot, skinny sounding little pieces of garbage out on the market today,” says Lemmy. “We designed these headphones to deliver everything louder than anything else and with the sort of range, clarity and TRUE rock reproduction you’d expect from a band of warriors like us.” Meanwhile, Lemmy took some time to mess with some additional reporters: Reporter 2: “When you were developing this did you listen to a lot of your music when you were playing it back and make sure they sounded the way you wanted them to sound?” Lemmy: “I didn’t have a chance to do that, but we told them what to do with them … very specifically. And we threatened them with terrible violence if they didn’t get it right, so I’m sure they got it right.” Reporter 3: “Lemmy, do you like hip-hop?” Lemmy: “No.” Reporter 3: “Why are these headphones better than any headphones out there?” Lemmy: “Because we’ve said they are.” We’re sold! Motorheadphones come in various shapes and sizes and run anywhere from $49.99-$129.99. They are currently available in Europe, and will begin shipping in the United States in April. Check out Motorheadphones at its official website . Lemmy Kilmister Messes With Reporters at Motorheadphones Showcase ? [button href=”http://loudwire.com/robot-band-compressorhead-performance-motorhead-ace-of-spades/” title=”Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ Played By Evil Robots” align=”center”]

Alter Bridge Commence Work on Fourth Album

Facebook: Alter Bridge After recently announcing that they would be releasing their fourth album in 2013, the members of Alter Bridge have now started working on the new disc. On Friday (Jan. 4), the band posted the picture on the left of guitarist Mark Tremonti and singer Myles Kennedy in the studio on Facebook with the caption “It begins today.” And today (Jan. 7), they stated, “Writing on ‘AB4′ has begun. Very productive sessions so far!” The band will try to get in as much work as possible over the next couple of weeks, as both Tremonti and Kennedy will be out on the road very shortly. Tremonti is heading out with his solo band for a tour of Europe and the United States in February and March, as his latest single ‘Wish You Well’ starts to heat up rock radio. Meanwhile, Kennedy will be out on the road with Slash in Europe starting Jan. 31. See the dates here . The upcoming Alter Bridge album will be the follow-up to 2010′s ‘ABIII,’ which yielded the hit singles ‘Isolation’ and ‘Ghost of Days Gone By.’ Tremonti is also working on a new album with Creed . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/alter-bridge-new-album-world-tour-2013/” title=”Next: Alter Bridge Reveal New Album + Tour Plans” align=”center”]

10 Best Marilyn Manson Songs

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com Marilyn Manson 's best songs document a career that is unlike any other that came before him. Mixing a rock 'n' roll mentality with electronic elements and profound lyrics narrating the progression of society in real time, Manson has developed a polarizing identity as both a beloved hero and a reviled villain. Although Manson has experienced major highs and lows throughout his many years in the public eye, he now finds himself rejuvenated and nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award. To celebrate the career of the Antichrist Superstar, we've put together our list of the 10 Best Marilyn Manson Songs: ? 10 'Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes' From: 'Celebrity Deathmatch Soundtrack' (1999) ? ? The full-speed-ahead rock track 'Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes' was never actually included within any Marilyn Manson album. In fact, this track was exclusively released for the official soundtrack of the legendary claymation MTV series 'Celebrity Deathmatch.' Opening up the soundtrack, the song contains some sweet muddy shredding along with the captivating line, “Kill your god and kill your TV.” Listen to 'Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes' ? ? 9 'The Nobodies' From: 'Holy Wood' (2000) ? ? After the Columbine school shooting of 1999, Marilyn Manson was one of many scapegoats targeted by a national media scrambling to make sense of the tragedy. After refusing to publicly speak of the incident as a protest against media sensationalism, Manson released 'The Nobodies' as the third single from his 2000 album, 'Holy Wood.' The song characterizes the Columbine shooters' rise from nobodies to household names, while taking a shot at the media with the line, “You should have seen the ratings that day.” Listen to 'The Nobodies' ? ? 8 'The Dope Show' From: 'Mechanical Animals' (1998) ? ? During the height of Manson's shocking persona, the sonic artist released 'The Dope Show' as the lead single for his 1998 album, 'Mechanical Animals.' The lurching track trudges through the subjects of American materialism, consumerism and the vast emptiness found within corporate control over creativity. In the legendary video for 'The Dope Show,' Manson appears as a sexless, soulless, manufactured product rather than a human being. Listen to 'The Dope Show' ? ? 7 'No Reflection' From: 'Born Villain' (2012) ? ? After going through a self-confessed low point in his career, Marilyn Manson chose to reevaluate his identity as an artist by surrounding himself with nothingness so he'd be forced to create. The result was Manson's best album in over a decade, 'Born Villain.' The album's lead single, 'No Reflection,' is brilliantly claustrophobic and one of Manson's strongest tracks to date. The song has even been nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award. Listen to 'No Reflection' ? ? 6 'The Fight Song' From: 'Holy Wood' (2000) ? ? Although many of Marilyn Manson's greatest works pull the listener into an eerie and uncomfortable, yet beautiful realm ('Speed of Pain' / 'The Last Day on Earth'), the musician has created some true anthems throughout his career. 'The Fight Song' is easily one of Manson's most powerful anthems, showcasing a contagious power along with compelling lyrics such as, “I'm not a slave to a god that doesn't exist / And I'm not a slave to a world that doesn't give a s–t.” Listen to 'The Fight Song' ? ? 5 'Tourniquet' From: 'Antichrist Superstar' (1996) ? ? From the 'Antichrist Superstar' album, 'Tourniquet' begins with the reversed message, “This is my most vulnerable moment.” Manson takes on the metaphorical role of a tourniquet, built on it's physically constricting yet life-saving qualities. Is Manson's message masochistic in nature? Do his lyrics address a relationship with substance abuse? Perhaps both … Perhaps neither. Either way, music is all about personal interpretation, and Manson gives his followers a lot to sink their teeth into with 'Tourniquet.' Listen to 'Tourniquet' ? ? 4 'Disposable Teens' From: 'Holy Wood' (2000) ? ? With a simple but powerful guitar lead introducing the essential track, 'Disposable Teens' was the first single released by Manson in the new millennium. Having penned a multitude of songs inspired by the teenage years, 'Disposable Teens' is one of Manson's greatest lyrical accomplishments, evidenced by lines such as, “And I'm a black rainbow / And I'm an ape of god / I've got a face that's made for violence upon / And I'm a teen distortion / Survived abortion / A rebel from the waist down.” Listen to 'Disposable Teens' ? ? 3 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' From: 'Smells Like Children' (1995) ? ? Few artists can take another band's signature track and create a brilliant cover with its own distinct identity. Eurythmics released 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' in 1983, selling more than one million copies of the single in the United States alone. Although the original song is widely known as a masterpiece, Marilyn Manson abducted the synth standard in 1995, stripping apart its pop dermis and filling the void with twisted darkness. Listen to 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' ? ? 2 'Coma White' From: 'Mechanical Animals' (1998) ? ? There are few songs that dedicated Mansonites hold closer to their warm bodies than 'Coma White.' In the mind of Marilyn Manson, the color white represents a sense of “numbness” felt by the musician from both drug use and public scrutiny. The forefront version of 'Coma White' is found at the end of 'Mechanical Animals,' but there also exists a breathtaking acoustic version of the song, which is essential listening for both hardcore fans and those unfamiliar with Manson's music. Listen to 'Coma White' ? ? 1 'The Beautiful People' From: 'Antichrist Superstar' (1996) ? ? The anthem of all Manson anthems, 'The Beautiful People,' comes in at No. 1 on our list. With a heavy drum presence, sinister chants and an unforgettable guitar line mixed in with Manson's hushed whisper of the song's reprise, 'The Beautiful People' challenges societal materialism, which Manson labels as “the culture of beauty.” Instead of painstakingly weeding out all those he sings against, Manson takes a much simpler route heard in the lyrics, “There's no time to discriminate / Hate every motherf—er that's in your way.” Listen to 'The Beautiful People' ? ? What's Your Favorite Marilyn Manson Song? Which of our 10 Marilyn Manson song picks is your favorite? If your personal favorite didn't make our list, post it in the comments section below! ?

Alice in Chains vs. Buckcherry – Cage Match

Photos: EMI / Stevie D. After Papa Roach rounded out 2012 with five straight victories and entrance into Loudwire’s Cage Match Hall of Fame, it’s time for two new bands to kick off 2013 with a massive matchup. Alice in Chains  have unleashed their new track ‘Hollow’ off of their highly anticipated upcoming disc, which is still untitled and set for a spring release. The forthcoming album will be the band’s follow-up to 2009’s ‘Black Gives Way to Blue.’ Buckcherry heat things up with their brand new single ‘Gluttony’ off of their sixth studio disc, ‘Confessions,’ due out Feb. 19. The band is kicking off 2013 with a headlining tour around the United States before joining Kid Rock for a jaunt in February. For a full list of dates and cities, go here . So will Alice In Chains fans give the band a fulfilling victory with ‘Hollow’ or will Buckcherry fans overindulge in their voting for ‘Gluttony’? Check out both tracks and vote for your favorite in the poll below! (This Cage Match will run until Friday, Jan. 4, at 8AM ET. Fans can vote once per hour! So come back and vote often to make sure your favorite song wins!) Listen to Alice In Chains, ‘Hollow’ Listen to Buckcherry, ‘Gluttony’ 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!

Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Arrested on Multiple Child Sex Offense Charges

Ian Gavan, Getty Images In shocking news out of the United Kingdom,  Lostprophets lead singer Ian Watkins has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a female under 13, along with the possession and distribution of “indecent images of children.” This story comes as a major shock to fans of the longtime singer of the Lostprophets, who have sold 3.5 million albums worldwide throughout the band’s 15-year history. The Welsh group had a No. 1 alternative rock hit in the United States with ‘Last Train Home’ in 2004. According to The Guardian and other reputable sources like BBC News, two women, ages 20 and 24, have been charged alongside Watkins with similar offenses. The three are currently being held in police custody, having already appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court today (Dec. 19). Bail applications from all three parties have been denied. Watkins will remain in police custody until his next scheduled court appearance on Dec. 31. A statement from a police spokesperson reads as follows: A Pontypridd man has been charged with sexual offences against children and is due to appear at Cardiff magistrates court today. The 35-year-old has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a female under 13 and possession/distribution of indecent images of children. In order to assist their investigation, South Wales police has named the man as Ian Watkins, a member of the rock group Lostprophets.” South Wales police are encouraging those who may have information about the charges to come forth. “Specially-trained staff are available to speak to anyone with concerns or information regarding this investigation and a dedicated telephone number has been set up,” says Senior Investigating Officer Peter Doyle. “I want to encourage anyone who has any concerns or information which they think may be relevant to contact us … Safeguarding children involved in such cases is always a high priority and as such measures have already been taken.” Update: The UK newspaper The Independent is reporting that Watkins is being accused of conspiring with one of the arrested women to sexually abuse a 1-year-old girl. In addition, the publication also reports that the singer is accused of two incidents of “sexual touching” involving young children. Moreover, Watkins is alleged to have possessed “extreme” animal pornography. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/shocking-rock-stories-of-2012/” title=”Next: More Shocking Rock Stories of 2012″ align=”center”]

Volbeat Announce 2013 North American Spring Tour With Danko Jones

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire The Danish metallers of Volbeat are gearing up for a massive headlining tour of the United States and Canada in 2013. The band will be supported on the trek by Danko Jones, who recently released their latest album ‘Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue.’ Volbeat, meanwhile, will continue to support their fourth studio album, ‘Beyond Hell / Above Heaven,’ but are also expected to reveal details on their upcoming fifth studio album in the coming weeks. We recently reported that Volbeat will debut some new material during their Danish tour in February. The North American tour kicks off March 6 in Dallas and wraps up April 11 in Philadelphia. Check out the full list of tour dates below: Volbeat 2013 North American Tour Dates: 3/06 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom 3/07 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom 3/09 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum 3/10 El Paso, TX Speaking Rock Entertainment Center 3/11 Lubbock, TX Lonestar Pavilion 3/12 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre 3/14 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues at Mandalay Bay 3/15 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues 3/16 Anaheim, CA House of Blues 3/17 Reno, NV Knitting Factory 3/19 Boise, ID Revolution Center 3/20 Missoula, MT The Wilma Theater 3/22 Seattle, WA Showbox At The Market 3/23 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory 3/24 Calgary, AB MacEwen Hall 3/25 Prince George, BC CN Centre 3/27 Dawson Creek, BC EnCana Events Centre 3/28 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Centre 3/30 Regina, SA Brandt Centre 4/01 Saskatoon, SA Credit Union Center 4/02 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre 4/06 Ft. Wayne, IN Piere’s 4/09 New York, NY Best Buy Theatre 4/10 Baltimore, MD Rams Head 4/11 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero [button href=”http://loudwire.com/volbeat-michael-poulsen-talks-success-in-u-s-upcoming-album-more/” title=”Read Our Interview With Volbeat Frontman Michael Poulsen” align=”center”]