Talking Metal Blog

Talking Metal on fuse Bonus Episode Part 1

Hey Metalheads!

Check out a new bonus episode of Talking Metal on Fuse  On Demand!  It's almost 40 minutes in length, and it contains some great extra footage from the first three episodes of Talking Metal on Fuse.  There's more with Ozzy Osbourne, Kerry King, Richard Christy, Slash, Hellyeah, Metal Mike Chlaciak, Bud Friendly, Eddie Ojeda, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, Devildriver, Soilwork, and Exodus!

Talking Metal on Fuse episode 1 with Ozzy and Kerry King is also available this month on Fuse on Demand! Get it when you want it!

Jamming with Hades/Overkill/Non-Fiction Members

Last night, Mark and I had the opportunity to jam with some amazing musicians:  Dan Lorenzo (The Cursed, Hades, Non-Fiction), Ron Lipickni (Overkill, Hades), and Alan Tecchio (Seven Witches, Hades, Non-Fiction, Watchtower).  We covered classic tracks from Judas Priest, KISS, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Iron Maiden. We all had such a great time that we're going to schedule another jam.  Could a live performance be in the works?  Stay tuned!

Bumblefoot Loose

This guy is one of the hardest working guys in show biz.

*There's a 6-page interview / lesson in Guitar Player (US) magazine, April 2008 issue.  Accompanying video lessons are now online at www.guitarplayertv.com (click on "GP Lessons Apr. 08", then "Masterclass")

*Richie Scarlet (guitarist - Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley) is headlining the Stone Pony in Asbury Park NJ Friday night April 25th.  Will be jamming a song or two with him.  http://www.richiescarlet.com

*Guest at "Chiller Theatre" horror film expo at Hilton hotel in Parsippany NJ, May 2 - 4.  Will be doing a little performing there.  Gonna have a table set up with some merch - anything people pay over the asking price will be donated to Multiple Sclerosis research.  www.chillertheatre.com John and I might stop buy this on May 3rd.  Hope to see you there

*Finished mixing solo album, George Marino masters it May 6.  Videos online of the recording progress at http://www.youtube.com/Bumblefoot (go to "Favorites")

Judas Priest's "Nostradamus"

On the morning of Wednesday, April 23^rd, Mark Strigl and I had the privilege of visiting the Epic Records headquarters inside the famous Sony 550 building on Madison Avenue in New York City to preview Judas Priest’s new double-disc concept album, “Nostradamus.”  This epic masterpiece, which chronicles the life of the 16th century prophet, Michel de Nostredame, also known as Nostradamus, was written by Judas Priest members K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton, and Rob Halford while being produced by both Downing and Tipton.  The album features vast string arrangements and monstrous orchestral accoutrements as well as Halford’s flawless, hair-raising vocals and Priest’s signature pure metal guitar riffs, bass, and drums. Nearly two hours in length, the album is divided into two separate acts.

Act I features thirteen tracks, five of which are preludes to the primary compositions. Although all tracks truly stand out, my favorites include the heavy cuts “Death,” “Conquest,” and “Persecution.”  “Death” contains a hard-hitting sludge style guitar riff, and “Conquest” contains classic dueling guitar solos while “Persecution” contains haunting vocal whispers, a stellar performance by drummer Scott Travis, and a guitar and organ counterpoint pattern that appears in both the song’s introduction as well as its finale.  I also favor the cut, “Lost Love,” which contains no drums and features Halford’s impeccable vocal ability.

Act II, which features ten tracks including preludes, is interesting because it not only features the album’s title track, “Nostradamus,” which was previously released as a free MP3 download by Live Nation on April 21^st, but it also features two tracks which were in conideration to be the album’s first single, “Alone” and “Visions.” We were told the latter was the most likely candidate although guitarist Glenn Tipton suggested that its single version would be slightly edited to better fit the format.  Both tracks would be outstanding choices, but “Visions” contains such a strong chorus and heavy guitar riff, that I would side with its being chosen since both hardcore and casual Priest fans, who may be wary of the idea of a concept album, will definitely not be disappointed in the track’s pure metal characteristics.  “Alone,” however, is also outstanding, and it features some muted guitar chords reminiscent of those featured on one of my favorite ever songs, Ace Frehley’s “Escape From the Island,” from KISS’ 1981 concept effort “Music From ‘The Elder.’” “Alone’s” chorus also features some of Halford’s best vocal work to date when he exclaims, “We don’t wanna be alone…we just wanna be!” 

“Nostradamus” is an album that will forever command an iconic status much like Queensryche’s “Operation Mindcrime,” The Who’s “Quadrophenia,” and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.” I mentioned to Judas Priest’s manager, Jane Andrews, and their publicist, Chip Ruggieri, that I could immediately envision the album being performed in an opera style setting which was an idea similar to one of both Andrews' and the band's. When I was a kid, and I first discovered Judas Priest when purchasing a bubblegum rendition of their “British Steel” album (they were incidentally called Chu-Bops) in a candy store, I could have never imagined that I would not only have had the opportunity to preview such an epic masterpiece as “Nostradamus,” but that I would have also been able to interview Judas Priest members Rob Halford, K.K. Downing, Ian Hill, and Scott Travis.  Now, I am anxious to speak with guitarist, Glenn Tipton, the only member of the band Talking Metal has yet to interview. Stay tuned because Mark and I hope to bring you that interview in the very near future! Until then, be sure to go out and purchase Judas Priest’s “Nostradamus” on June 17^th in America and June 16^th internationally. This album will undoubtedly become mandatory listening in the future of metal!

P.S. Happy Birthday Ace Frehley!!!

Be a Pepper

Yesterday, various media outlets reported that one of the nation’s most popular soft drinks, Dr. Pepper (owned by 7-Up), would give everyone in America, except estranged guitarists Slash and Buckethead, a free can of Dr. Pepper if Chinese Democracy is released this year.

Late last night, Axl Rose responded to this offer on the GnR website saying he was surprised and was unaware that Dr. Pepper was going to be doing this. I briefly spoke to Chris Kooluris of Ketchum for Dr. Pepper, who told me that neither Guns N Roses nor their record label are currently involved in this campaign. The people behind this offer are just die-hard GnR supporters who really want this album released – this year.

My current stance on Chinese Democracy is that the album is done. Universal Music Group needs to do whatever it takes to put this album out ASAP. Guns N Roses has made Universal 100s of millions of dollars and they need to use some of that money to give this already legendary album a fair promotional push. End of story.

The Metal Nurse - Coffin Case Girl

The Metal Nurse is one of the many very beautiful Coffin Case Girls. At the beginning of tonight's episode she steps out of her Coffin Case and joins us on the Talking Metal couch. Besides having some of the hottest ladies in metal on their website, Coffin Case offers the best guitar cases money can buy. Protect your instrument in a case that looks cool with a Coffin Case.

The Metal Nurse is more then just another pretty face. She knows her metal and guitars. She plays guitar and actually has 2 bands called 14 Bullets and Smoke.

Ace Is Back and He Told You So!

My favorite rock star, Ace Frehley, is back, and he is currently rockin’ his way across the United States and Canada. He has as a great new band made up of former Lynch Mob bassist, Anthony Esposito, former Stabbing Westward guitarist, Derrek Hawkins, and drummer Scot Coogan, who has played with numerous artists including Brides of Destruction and Otep.  All of these guys are very cool, and I’ve been lucky enough to get a chance to know them as well.

A few months back, I had the unbelievable opportunity to go into the studio with Ace, Anthony, and David Letterman Show drummer, Anton Fig (who has previously played on various Ace and KISS albums), for two days to help out with some gear, as I am known as a go-to guy in New York for cool Gibson guitars.  Ace played me a rough mix of a new track which was just killer!  It was still an instrumental, and Ace sang the lyrics while standing right next to me to see what I thought.  How cool is that?  I also got to meet legendary engineer, Jay Messina, who worked with Ace back in the ‘70s!

I saw an early gig with Ace's new lineup before the tour officially started, and I can’t wait to see them again when they roll around to the New York area.  Do yourself a favor and don’t miss Ace and his new band when the “Rocket Ride 2008” tour lands in your town!

No TALKING over the METAL jams

Many people have written in asking that we stop talking over the jams... so for you hardcore Talking Metalheads we now have the non-talking "Talking Metal Jams" right here on fuse.tv/talkingmetal in the VIDEO section. Check them out. I just watched the 5min 24sec unedited jam of "Overkill" with Bobby Blitz (Overkill), Frankie Bello (Anthrax) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). Man, that was fun! Enjoy!

Zakk Wylde Jam

Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever!  All Berzerkers know exactly what I mean!

In my book, you can’t get any cooler than Zakk Wylde.  Twenty years with Ozzy and an amazing career with Black Label Society – Zakk Wylde has done it all.  To jam with Zakk on not one, but three songs, including an original, was mind-boggling!

We planned to jam “Blood is Thicker than Water” with me on drums, Mark on bass, and Zakk on guitar, but Zakk was so cool, that he took a seat behind the piano, put me on acoustic guitar, and our two hour session turned into a thirteen hour extravaganza!

We even got Bumblefoot from GN’R in on it, and we truly created metal history.

I have so many great stories from that night, but I want to save it for the show.

I don't think I’ve taken off my BLS vest since!

Talking Metal gets fruity this Friday night

He writes for a site called Metal Sludge and he is on the next episode of Talking Metal on FUSE. Read his report here.

CC Banana rocks!

Tune in this Friday night at midnight EST / 9PM PST