Hey I know this is not a Metal event per se, but I am always happy to be able to support a local business and a friend and that makes me happy to announce that “Gretsch Day 2013″ is here!!!!
“Man Of Steel” Opens Today (6/14/2013)
“Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!!!! Yes its Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman; who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel with his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent mild-mannered reporter for a great Metropolitan newspaper fights for Truth, Justice and the American Way.”
The Orion Fest Is Here!!! Well, Tomorrow It Is……Who’s Going?
As I am not attending this massive concert event, I just wanted to get a last minute posting up for those fans who might be going to learn what they are most excited about and to remind them it is actually happening tomorrow in case they forgot about it for some odd reason. Hey, there is so many shows happening these days that I find myself getting forgetful so why would some of you not be the same…..
Remember that the show features not only the mighty Metallica but also Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rise Against, The Deftones, BASSNECTAR, Dropkick Murphys, Gogol Bordello, Infectious Grooves, Rocket from the Crypt, FLAG, Silversun Pickups, Foals, Tomahawk, Destroid, The Joy Formidable, Datsik, Borgore, Japandroids, Dillon Francis, Adventure Club, 12th Planet, Death Grips, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Vista Chino, Dirtyphonics, The Dirtbombs, DEATH, Fu Manchu, Dead Sara, The Bronx, FIDLAR, The Orwells, All Shall Perish, BATTLECROSS, Cauldron, Matt Clarke, Calico, dehaan and Trujillo Trio….
We at the PiercingMetal Command HQ would love to hear thoughts from those who might have attended so I will be leaving the comments open on this for your chance to make us feel as though we were there with you. If you do go please have fun and remember to stay off the stage…….
This Just In: Behemoth Cancels Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest Appearances – Noooooooo!!!!!
I’m not one for completely reposting/rehashing press copy but this one needed a quick “get this online” as it would seem the mighty Behemoth has been forced to cancel their appearances on the upcoming Rockstar Mayhem Fest. Their official press release follows the photo and jump…..sigh.
Behemoth Forced to Cancel Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Appearance
Drummer Inferno undergoes surgery and unable to perform while he recovers
Mike Portnoy Is Leaving The Adrenaline Mob!!!
Wow. According to his own Official Facebook page, it seems as though master drummer Mike Portnoy is leaving the Adrenaline Mob after some upcoming appearances and I have to admit that I didn’t see this one coming. Please stop shaking your head at me because you know you didn’t expect this one either. Mike’s statement follows the photograph that I took in 2012.
Mike Portnoy w/Adrenaline Mob (2012)
Paul Bostaph Hired As Slayer Drummer Once More
Sorry for posting this massive bit of news so late tonight but I had been at Book Expo America all day and its not that easy to compose a blog of any real content when only using the Smart Phone. Anyways, it seems as though Slayer has once again hired drummer Paul Bostaph for the task of skin basher in the band. Historically speaking he had originally replaced Dave Lombardo back in 1992 and served the task for almost ten years. Welcome back Paul. The photo below is an old publicity shot and shows from left to right Tom Araya, Paul Bostaph, Kerry King and the now late great Jeff Hanneman. I imagine new press shots will be forthcoming based on this information.
The statement from their press representative has been copied for your informational pleasure and the band states:
LOS ANGELES, CA — Slayer’s Tom Araya and Kerry King are very pleased to announce that Paul Bostaph has rejoined the band on a full-time basis. Bostaph will be behind the drum kit beginning June 4 when Slayer kicks off the first leg of its 2013 international tour in Warsaw, Poland. Gary Holt will continue to fill in for fallen guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Slayer’s 2013 itinerary will have the band playing 35 dates that will include headline shows as well as a number of major summer festivals in Europe, Eastern Europe and South America between June and October. The complete itinerary is below.
“Paul’s a great drummer and a good friend, and we’re very happy that he’s decided to rejoin the band,” said Tom Araya. “We’re still pretty numb from the loss of Jeff, but we don’t want to disappoint our European and South American fans, and we need to begin moving forward…having Paul back in the band makes that a whole lot easier.”
“I’m very excited to be rejoining Slayer,” added Bostaph. “We spent a very intense ten years of our lives together, had a lot of fun, made a lot of great music, so for me, this feels like coming home.”
Bostaph was Slayer’s drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band – the Gold certified Divine Intervention (1994), the 1996 punk covers album Undisputed Attitude, Diabolus in Musica, (1998), God Hates Us All (2001) that received a Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance,” as well as the DVD War at the Warfield (2001), also certified Gold. In addition to Slayer, Bostaph has been a member of Forbidden, Exodus, Systematic and Testament.
Speaking personally, when Lombardo first left Slayer I was finally a little more into the group. I was not the quick study that many Metal friends were, but of course I loved the now “classic numbers”. I hated seeing Lombardo leave the lineup, but bands and people change. This is a part of life in music. I liked the style that Bostaph had and the band did keep up a serious level of touring momentum with him sitting back there. While I would have preferred that Lombardo rejoined the group after the passing of Jeff Hanneman, it seems that this particular ship has sailed and that he is out of the mix for good. Oh well. I do look forward to seeing what Paul brings to the band and feel that many of us will be impressed because he is a solid and powerful player. Welcome back Paul and kick some ass.
Official Website: http://www.slayer.net
Book Expo America 2013 Starts Today!!!
After seeing all our reports on the Comic Con and Toy Fair over the last few years, the more tenured site visitors are fully aware how we just love a good convention here at the PiercingMetal High Command. That being said I am super excited to say that the Book Expo America for 2013 will be starting today down at the Javits Center.
Technically speaking, the first day is a very limited day unless you are attending conferences and such. Its also the day that the Remainders and Sidelines pavilions will be open and fully awaiting your attention. That section requires you to keep a keen eye on the shelves because you might find some awesome stuff there. I did when I last attended two years ago. PiercingMetal will be hitting the Expo starting on Thursday May 30th along with our good buddy Skeleton Pete and I hope to chance upon some of you readers at this awesome event. My plan is to find not only the music related properties that fall in line with my core site coverage but also a lot of the comics media stuff that we pay a lot of attention to on the blog. Since I missed last year I can say right now that I am really looking forward to attending this time around.
Official Website: http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Home/
Dio’s “Holy Diver” Is Thirty Years Old Today!!!
I can hardly believe that its been thirty years since we first saw the album “Holy Diver” being released by the late great Ronnie James Dio and his at the time brand new band Dio. Of course I seem to find myself always saying this when an album that I recall buying when it was originally released reaches a milestone like this and in some sense it makes me shake my head. Before continuing let’s all give a round of applause for this mighty Metal milestone and the overall impact that it had on the Metal genre ever since.
Win Tix To See The Bonzo Birthday Bash In NYC On 5/30/2013
Click Poster To Purchase Tickets
The Details: Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham is often cited as one of the music industry’s most respected and influential drummers of them all and you can hardly argue that when you hear his legendary sound and start to name all the drummers whose own skills he had inspired. As a former skin basher myself, I always loved the powerful groove that Bonham laid down and was always amazed at how well he combined being explosive at times while at others was as subtle as a whisper. No wonder so many genuflect when his name is mentioned. The Bonzo Birthday Bash is exactly what it sounds like. If you have not figured it out, it will be a collective of numerous drummers of note all gathered together to celebrate and perform the music that Bonham gave us. I’ll have more details after this leader but this all being said, I am pleased as a paradiddle to let you know that thanks to the fine folks at Livenation, some PiercingMetal readers will be seeing this interesting show on the house. Read on.
(continue reading…)
Legendary Bassist Trevor Bolder Has Passed Away (5/21/2013)
I had not yet even gotten over the shock about the passing of Ray Manzarek when this equally saddening news came to my attention. Regretfully I share with you the news that the great Trevor Bolder (founder and bassist at one time for David Bowie’s Spiders From Mars and the current bringer of the thunder for Uriah Heep) has passed away after battling cancer. He was only 62 years of age. Having just seen this fantastic musician only a few months ago and enjoying some musical chit chat and a drink after the gig this news just brings me down about such a loss. I’ve copied the bands official statement below my photo from this gig for you all to reflect upon.
Trevor Bolder Onstage @ B.B. King Blues Club (2012)
