Blabbermouth and The Pulse Of Radio reporting after famously losing an iPhone full of riffs in 2014, Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett says he has accumulated more than 500 ideas for the band’s next album. Hammett explained to the U.K. edition of GQ magazine, “I went through this whole thing a couple of years ago of losing my iPhone with 500 ideas, and I still haven’t fully recovered from that. And my way of recovering from that is overcompensating . . . I have about 500 ideas now at this point, plus.”
Hammett added, “I’m sitting on a lot of really, what I feel is really, really great music that is just waiting to be developed. Every day, I’m just picking up my guitar and then thinking about those lost ideas and then thinking, ‘I’ve gotta generate more ideas,’ in the hopes that maybe one or two of those old 500 ideas that I lost might trickle through.”
Hammett said on a podcast about six months after losing his iPhone that he was “crushed” when it happened. The guitarist is not credited on any of the songs on Metallica’s latest LP, 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. He told hardDriveRadio at the time it was a strange feeling to not contribute any material: “In terms of my coming to the table with something to contribute, it’s been my first time in decades that I have not had anything to contribute. Thank God I still had my lead guitar playing to contribute, or else I would have felt like just a bystander or something.”
Frontman James Hetfield expressed his doubts about Hammett’s iPhone story in an interview with Detroit’s WRIF last December, saying, “That’s what he claims. I’m sure he did (lose the phone), but it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t have (the music) on his computer, either. But, whatever . . . there was not much stuff from Kirk.”
Hardwired…To Self-Destruct debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 album chart last fall, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release. The band completes its current European tour tonight (Nov 3rd) in Belgium, picking up again after a break next Feb 1st in Lisbon, Portugal.
Barrett Martin, , Mike McCready, Duff McKagan. Missing: Ayron Jones Photo: Rolling Stone
The Levee Walkers, a Seattle-based act featuring Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees has released a new single called “All Things Fade Away,” recruiting local Seattle singer-songwriter Ayron Jones to handle lead vocals. Martin introduced Jones to McKagan and McCready after producing his recent new album, Audio Paint Job, and they were so impressed that McKagan even invited him to open for Guns N’ Roses this past September. The tune is available on Soundcloud.
McKagan told Rolling Stone, “Ayron is such a special and badass new Seattle artist. I went to a show of his last year in Seattle, and it was one of those that just simply made me realize how glad I am that I chose music as a path. Mike and Barrett are, of course, the best at what they do as well. I’m a proud Walker of Levees!”
McCready added, “The three of us (formed the Levee Walkers) to make music with guest vocalists. It’s been a cool, enlightening experience for me as Duff and Barrett push me to be a better musician.”
The Levee Walkers previously issued two releases in 2016 with Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke and Latin artist Raquel Sophia on vocals. “All Things Fade Away,” backed with another new song “Madness,” is the band’s third single. The two new tracks will be available for purchase today (November 3rd), both digitally and on a seven-inch. Read more and listen to song here.
OMG! This is priceless! If you’ve ever seem any of the DimeVision video clips before, the crazy antics of dearly departed Pantera and DamagePlan guitarist Dimebag Darrell (Abbott), you know how hilarious he was. Now comes some trailers for the new release, “Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over” — which is described as “another true celebration” of Dimebag and how he lived his life — (courtesy of Guitar World).
With 2006’s “Dimevision Vol. 1: That’s The Fun I Have”, fans of Dimebag were afforded the chance to see into the world of the legendary guitarist. Compiled from the many, many hours of video footage captured between the mid-’80s and his later years, it was a funny, touching and poignant memorial.
Metal Blade Records will release “Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over” on Nov 24. Pre-orders are available at this location. The DVD/CD set — which will include more raw footage, true gems and classic Dimebag moments — will also include five previously unreleased demos, picked from a vast catalog Dimebag accrued since longtime girlfriend Rita Haney gave him his first four-track in 1984.
Fans of Dimebag, Pantera and DamagePlan who have had the opportunity to watch “Dimevision Vol 1: That’s The Fun I Have” know it is a funny, touching memorial. “Dimevision Vol 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over” continues this tradition, and today, Metal Blade, Rita Haney and Daryl “Bobby Tongs” Arnberger are pleased to share some of the funniest clips from the set. Watch Dime take part in an “interesting” CPAP machine fitting in the first clip above. About the clip, Rita said: “I had just rolled outta bed and the doctor fitting Dime was about an hour early for his appointment. Dime and ST were still up partying, so, of course, things never go as planned in Dime’s world!” (I use a cpap, and I will tell you, they are a drag! LOL and one of my masks is the exact one Dime used!) Read more at here. Thanks Blabbermouth!
One thing I regret about no longer residing in NYC is missing concerts and artists coming through town. Last night, A Perfect Circle — whose current lineup has longtime members Maynard James Keenan (Tool), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Matt McJunkins (Eagles Of Death Metal), Jeff Friedl (Puscifer) and Billy Howerdel —performed in Brooklyn. They are gearing up to release their first album since their 2004 covers album Emotive and they’re eyeing a late first quarter 2018 release. Having released lead single “The Doomed,” the band brought their tour to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center last night (11/2). They played the new single, plus two other new songs (“Hourglass” and “Feathers”), and older faves like “The Outsider,” “Weak and Powerless,” “3 Libras,” “The Noose,” and more. Excellent pictures are in the Brooklyn Vegan gallery. (Thanks to them for this report and see entire set list at Brooklyn Vegan.)
Black Veil Brides have released a brand new song called “When They Call My Name”. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming fifth album, “Vale”, which will be released on Jan 12 via Lava/Universal Republic. The follow-up to BVB‘s 2014 self-titled effort, which was originally expected to arrive in September, was produced by John Feldmann at his Southern California studio.
Frontman Andy Biersack said: “We cannot wait for the BVB army to hear ‘Vale’ in its entirety! In my opinion, this record is the most complete and exciting album we have done to date. The opportunity to work with John Feldmann once again over the course of the past two years creating ‘Vale’ was an incredible experience and I am thrilled with the collection of songs we have put together as a band. The Latin translation of ‘Vale’ is ‘be well, be strong!’ and central to the message of this record. We hope to continue to inspire our fans and friends to embrace their own individuality and inner strength. The central narrative once again finds ‘The Wild Ones’ characters facing the challenge of moving on from the pain and anguish of their past and looking to a new chapter in their lives. This concept is one that is near to my heart and I believe will resonate with those that find themselves cast on the fringe of society. From our inception, Black Veil Brides have stood up for the outcasts and disenfranchised. With this album, [we] hope to give you hope, fun and most importantly a kickass rock and roll record.”
Read more here. Thanks Blabbermouth!
Dee Snider & Jamey Jasta (Photo: Jamey Jasta Instagram)
And finally today, here’s a couple whose union is definitely unholy! Blabbermouth reporting today Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is currently in the studio working on a new solo album, which is being produced by Hatebreed vocalist Jamey Jasta. The as-yet-untitled disc is due out in the spring.
Earlier this week, Jasta posted a clip on Instagram of Snider tracking vocals at an East Coast recording studio. He also recently revealed on Twitter that former Killswitch Engage and current Light The Torch frontman Howard Jones will contribute to the album.
In an interview with Poughkeepsie radio station 101.5 WPDH on Halloween, Snider discussed how his pairing with Jasta came to be. “I decided to do a very aggressive metal record — a true metal record. I start recording the album today for release next spring,” he said. “Jamey is a fan of mine, and I was on his podcast, and he literally challenged me on the air. He said, ‘Dude, you’re iconic. I think you need to do a true metal record. Think Rob Halford‘s ‘Resurrection’, think in that direction. I go, ‘Well, what do you got in mind?’ He goes, ‘Dude, I will produce it, and I’ve got songs, and I’ve got people stumbling over each other to write a song for Dee Snider.’ Then he just started sending me music. The new stuff is powerful; it’s great; and I’m excited about the next tour, which will start next spring.” Read more here.
Have a great weekend! Don’t forget to Fall Back one hour by Sunday 2 A.M..
Celebrating life today: Mick Thomson of Slipknot is 44, Rise Against’s Tim McIrath is 38.
