Damn, gotta write that mortgage/maintence check today. When will they take a holiday?….System of A Down‘s only U.S. appearance this year was on Monday night in LA at the Hollywood Bowl. I heard it was a great night-the band played their hits and a bunch of deep album cuts they’ve never performed live before. But the one thing that got the crowd all lathered up was when drummer John Dolmayan stepped up to Daron Malakian‘s mic and told the crowd that the next time they would see the band, was when they were touring in support of a new album! Well, THAT’S encouraging news, but don’t log on iTunes so fast, my friends! With Serj Tankian heading over to Russia to perform his Orca symphony in several cities this year, and then heads to winter in New Zealand, I doubt any studio work can be booked til at least sometime next year at the earliest. But perhaps all the love shown at the show on Monday night gave the band reason to know they still have very loyal fans….Our close personal friend Corey “The Boogie Knight” Taylor should be congratulated as his second book made the New York Times Best Seller List, debuting at Number 23! “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven (or How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots & Cynics in the Process)” out-sold the first week of the release of his first book, “Seven Deadly Sins,” which entered the charts at # 26! Right on, Corey!…..I love Slash! That guy never turns down a chance to help people or animals in need. He’s confirmed to headline Rock N 2 Remember, a benefit concert to take place on August 25th in Prescott, Arizona. The event will raise funds for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, Prescott Fire Fighter Charities, 100 Club of Arizona, and displaced residents of Yarnell. Tickets are on sale now. Slash wrapped up his Apocalyptic Love tour last week at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas, with video of the performance available at HenneMusic….Meanwhile, Slash’s singer, Myles Kennedy and his other band, Alter Bridge, have announced Fortress is their next album, due Oct 8th! The single is coming in about 3 weeks and I think I am getting a taste of it today. I have such respect for that band, especially band leader, Mark Tremonti, who is one amazing player, not to mention, a great person. I am hearing the album KICKS ASS!….Another album to KICK SOME ASS will be the new Five Finger Death Punch The Wrong Side of Heaven, The Righteous Side of Hell. It is expected to chart in the Top 5 of the album charts next week as it is projected to sell between 95,000-100,000 copies. And for rock bands these days, that’s HUGE! Congrats to the band and to the fabulous woman who found them, Full Metal Jackie!….Happy 45th today to Dan Donegan of Fight or Flight and Disturbed. And Happy 53 to Chuck D of Public Enemy.
