Raw Cut Media conducted an interview with bassist Henkka Seppälä (a.k.a. Henkka T. Blacksmith) of Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM when the band played at Metropolis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on February 27 as part of a North American tour with ELUVEITIE, REVOCATION and THREAT SIGNAL. You can now watch the chat below. Source: Blabbermouth.net
Several rock and metal musicians have reponded to the news that legendary guitarist Ronnie Montrose died after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.
Montrose passed away yesterday (Saturday, March 3) at the age of 64.
Myles Kennedy (ALTER BRIDGE, SLASH): “Sad to hear Ronnie Montrose passed away. ‘Rock Candy’ was one of the first songs I ever learned.”
Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N’ ROSES): “Myles just told me Ronnie Montrose passed. Fn’ shame. ‘Montrose’ is one of the all-time great [rock and roll] albums. Major influence. RIP, man.”
David Ellefson (MEGADETH): “RIP Ronnie Montrose!!! So sad to hear of this today. I had the pleasure of playing bass for him circa 2005-07. Such a powerhouse human being and ferocious guitarist. I learned a lot from him! God’s peace.”.
NONPOINT: “Another legend gone, Rest in peace, Ronnie Montrose.”
Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE): “R.I.P. Ronnie Montrose.”
Glenn Hughes (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE): “Just heard that my good friend Ronnie Montrose has passed away. I’m speechless. RIP, my brother…you will be missed at the Hughes‘.”
TESLA: “We all loved him.”
Kip Winger (WINGER): “I had the pleasure of working with Ronnie not too long ago. He was a real gem, very giving and very talented. A great loss to the world. RIP, Ronnie.”
Eddie Trunk (VH1 Classic “That Metal Show” co-host): “Woke to very sad news Ronnie Montrose has passed away from cancer at 64. He created one of the all-time landmark hard rock albums with debut LP… [I] also liked GAMMA, but nothing touches the debut album, a masterpiece that influenced SO many rock and metal bands! RIP, Ronnie Montrose.”
Source: Blabbermouth
Congratulations are in order for DOWN drummer and EYEHATEGOD guitarist Jimmy Bower, who married his girlfriend Dana Kieferle yesterday (Saturday, March 3) in New Orleans, Lousiana.
DOWN entered the studio last October to begin recording the first in a series of four EPs, to be released over the next few years (with a year between EPs), each touching on a different aspect of the band’s sound.
The first six-song EP, which heralds the sound of DOWN going back to its roots, with influences from BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS and WITCHFINDER GENERAL, is described by singer Philip Anselmo as “a very pure doom metal record.” Source: Blabbermouth.net
Ex-MEGADETH guitarist and host of the Music Without Boundaries online radio show, Jeff Young has checked in with the following announcement:
“We’ve played him on the show many times before. Thursday night (March 8th) we pay tribute to one of the greatest rock guitarists, period. RONNIE MONTROSE, rest in peace. This week on Jeff Young’s Music Without Boundaries we all contemplate how bad this sucks, along with the stellar body of work Ronnie left behind for us to savor. I will be both proud and totally bummed to bring you this show – stay tuned…”
Ronnie Montrose ~ 1947-2012
On March 3rd, legendary rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose passed away, losing his five year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old. The following message has been posted on Montrose’s official website:
“A few months ago, we held a surprise party for Ronnie Montrose’s 64th birthday. He gave an impromptu speech, and told us that after a long life, filled with joy and hardship, he didn’t take any of our love for granted. He passed today. He’d battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough. And true to form, he chose his own exit the way he chose his own life. We miss him already, but we’re glad to have shared with him while we could.”
Jeff Young’s Music Without Boundaries airs Thursday nights at 7:11 pm PST/10:11 EST, and worldwide. Tune in live right here on Facebook.
Source: Bravewords
Legendary American rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose died earlier today (Saturday, March 3) after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old.
Montrose‘s official web site has been updated with the following message:
“A few months ago, we held a surprise party for Ronnie Montrose‘s 64th birthday. He gave an impromptu speech, and told us that after a long life, filled with joy and hardship, he didn’t take any of our love for granted.
“He passed today. He’d battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough. And true to form, he chose his own exit the way he chose his own life. We miss him already, but we’re glad to have shared with him while we could.”
In a September 2011 interview with North County Times, Montrose revealed that he didn’t pick up his guitar for two years following his cancer diagnosis. “I had prostate cancer that, for me, was debilitating,” he said. “I didn’t touch a guitar for two years, but when I realized I was seeing the light at the end of the recovery tunnel and was going to live pain-free, I realized again that it was a fun little instrument to play.”
He added, “I’ve blocked all my health issues out of my mind. That’s a portion of my life that I’m done with. Now, I can’t wait for every day to come so I can wake up and plug in. I’m up there entertaining myself and my playing is stronger than ever, because my excitement is back.”
Ronnie Montrose always followed his heart. Ever anxious to take his music to the next level, in 1979 he founded the trailblazing band GAMMA, a group whose trio of ahead-of-their-time albums were an explosion of guitar and synthesizer pyrotechnics anchored by a bluesy edge.
Between and beyond these band forays, Montrose the player devoted himself to exploring instrumental guitar music on landmark albums like “Open Fire” and “The Speed Of Sound”. Fans periodically clamored for another taste of the original MONTROSE power trio format, but he wouldn’t revisit MONTROSE — that huge, heavy sound; those rich, pealing riffs — until the time came when he could do it with total conviction.
Back in October 2011, Montrose was interviewed by Fox News prior to his concert at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City. You can watch the segment on this location.
Photo below courtesy of RonnieMontrose.com
Source: Blabbermouth
Hi Graham, how are you doing today?
Hi Thanks.
You’re one of those musicians who has had an important role in the NWOBHM movement, how do you feel that genre of Metal music is placed in the industry today?
It is so cool that the Music we created in the period of THE NWOBHM is regarded as influential 30 years later and we never imagined we could inspire bands like METALLICA who in turn inspire bands too so it goes round and round. The music of to day is so diverse and influences of NWOBHM can be heard even in Lady GA GA [EDGE OF GLORY] rock has a longevity like no other just look at ACDC simple straight and great songs ROCK WILL NEVER DIE.
Let’s talk about and introduce your upcoming book, “SAXON Drugs & Rock N’ Roll: The Real Spinal Tap”, how would you describe this book for people who like to read it?
The new book is not out until later this year but will be a great read with archive pics etc about SAXON in its most golden era.
Ok, cool, can’t wait to read that book but now let’s talk about the “Motorbiker” album, can you tell me how the recording process worked and the length of time it took? And why you chose “Bikers” for the name?
When we wrote the new CD MOTORBIKER the song Motorbiker was the last song along with HELL IN HELSINKI to be finished and it felt perfect to use as the Title to the Album.
OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON, Bulldog Bash
The album seems to be a returning point to the roots of old school heavy metal, by including issues about drugs, motorcycles, women … are we going to have some old school songs produced by new technology?
The style of writing is the same as we always have done as all SAXON classics were co wrote by myself and Steve Dawson and we will always write the same and sound like us as we are us and never could try to be a GERMAN METAL band for example.
Have you any plans to do a supporting tour for “Motorbikers” with some particular bands in 2012?
The shows live so far started in Scandinavia in December and we finished in Germany recently with more live shows an fests to come.
John Schaffer of Iced Earth has recently said “The music industry has changed and everything is different”, I’d like to know your opinion as a musician and guitarist, who has produced music for the Metal industry for a long time.
Modern times sees the decline of sales of CD,s and more tickets sold for live shows its just the changing times but i like to own a CD no downloads for me imagine if the STONES sold as many CD,s as CONCERT TICKETS would sell millions,,,,,,,,,.
Right, To continue that question i wanted to mention about the departure of Bill Ward from Black Sabbath. Do you think this is one of those changes as some people believe that is just about money, or did these kind of things happen in the past too?
You can tell who is in it just for the money they have no passion you have to play from the heart.
Graham Oliver and Doug Aldritch
You are one of those musicians who had that experience sharing a stage with the legendary Ronnie James Dio, R.I.P. Would you like to tell us more about that experience and share some memories of him? And how did you see Ronnie as a musician and Rocker?
I first saw Ronnie in 1976 with RAINBOW and it was a great show and jumping forwards to SAXON,s first tour of the USA in September 1980 we played some show on the HEAVEN AND HELL tour where we met Ronnie and our paths crossed a few times.
When ODS were promoting Angel Airs ITS ALIVE CD we were on the same show as RONNIE in ITALY and chatted a lot about all things music ect and to our delight Ronnie asked for ODS to be the guest band on the UK leg of KILLING THE DRAGON tour ,it started in LONDON and finished in PORTSMOUTH all the shows were great and sellouts and on the last show after our set i was asked to join the band on stage for RAINBOW IN THE DARK how great was that Steve Dawson videoed it thank goodness and introduced me as a legend. And coming from one of my legends that was the best ,he was always so nice with friends and fans after the shows and was one of the greatest rock singers of all time.
Graham Oliver and Ronnie James Dio
Today most of the young guitarists like to play guitar faster and faster and more technical and singers use a growling style more often. But some people and critics believe that we don’t have a such great music like we had in old school Metal-Era – I also had an interview with Steve “Lips” Kudlow of ANVIL and he said “metal needs good singing….cookie monster yelling is not singing!!”. I’d like to know your opinion, how do you see metal music today?
I am a little tired of Drop D bands they seem to all be doing it with no songs ,the most important thing great songs and great vocals will always shine thru.
Graham Oliver with his left hand 63’s Stratocaster, 1975
Are there any young rock or metal bands who impressed you recently?
I like all music from Bonamasa to TRIVIUM new band I SPIT ASHES are cool and INFLAMES rock.
Thanks Graham for giving me your time, feel free to leave a message for your die hard fans and our readers.
Listen to MOTORBIKER NOW in IRAN if we could come and play we would ROCK ON. Thanks for questions Mohsen.
If you like to know more about OLIVER DAWSON SAXON follow these links:
Interview by Mohsen Fayyazi
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 