MACHINE HEAD guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn has commented on RADIOHEAD frontman Thom Yorke‘s much-publicized decision to pull songs from music streaming service Spotify.
Yorke and producer Nigel Godrich took to Twitter to express their frustration at the Spotify business model for new artists, complaining that up-and-coming musicians “get paid fuck all.” “Make no mistake, new artist[s] you discover on Spotify will no[t] get paid,” Yorke declared. Godrich added: “Streaming suits [back] catalogue. But [it] cannot work as a way of supporting new artists’ work. Spotify and the like either have to address that fact and change the model for new releases or else all new music producers should be bold and vote with their feet. [Streaming services] have no power without new music.”
In the latest installment of his online blog, “The General Journals: Diary Of A Frontman… And Other Ramblings – Life Affirming”, Flynn wrote: “Thom Yorke from RADIOHEAD went on a big rant about the evils of Spotify the other day. It was so random and out of the blue it was a total WTF? It’s funny how Spotify has come to represent the bad thing for (it seems) older people… er uh, people my age *ahem*.
“In fact, I was talking to a buddy out here on [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] the other day, and he was telling me about a band’s new record I should check out, and I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, thanks for the reminder. I’ll have to Spotify that,’ and he gave me a little shit, like, ‘Oh, man, you gotta go and ‘buy’ that shit,’ and I was, like, ‘I AM buying it, I got Spotify Premium, they’re getting money off my stream and if I love it, I’ll most likely buy it on iTunes, but dude, I’m on tour, at an amphitheater in the middle of nowhere, when am I going to buy that shit at a store? That most likely doesn’t even carry said record?’
“That’s the beauty of Spotify. I can get music in an instant, no waiting, no trips to the store, literally within 30 seconds! For 10 bucks a month!! Shit, I spend 5 times that on fucking coffee which doesn’t do jack shit for me!!
“See what getting old does?
“It makes you scared of the future. It makes you scared of what other people may think of you, it makes you scared to adapt, when really, the only thing that will allow us to survive is adapting. When you’re young, you just don’t care, you’re gonna rebel, you’re gonna do your own thing, you want to find about the ‘newest thing,’ you’re willing to give things a shot, and if it sucks, you’re quick to ditch it, but if it’s great, you tell everyone you know.
“Do I ever miss being 22? Hell no! I was a cranked-out, tweaked-out, heavy drinking, gun-toting idiot without a car! I don’t need to be young again! I’m better now than I’ve ever been but most importantly I don’t ‘feel’ old. I don’t want to be like Thom Yorke, thinking Spotify is a scary thing. The world changed, and that’s a good thing.”
MÖTLEY CRÜE/SIXX: A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx has commented on Rolling Stone‘s decision to to put Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the cover of its latest issue, saying that ”the photo of this terroristdoes not belong on the cover of “a supposed music-oriented magazine.”
According to Fox News, the issue, which hits newsstands Friday, features an picture of an unsmiling Tsarnaev above the bolded legend “The Bomber.” The subhead promises to reveal “[h]ow a popular, promising student was failed by his family, fell into radical Islam, and became a monster.”
Writing on his Facebook page, Sixx said: “I understand journalism but Rolling Stone has disrespected the families of the Boston bombing victims 100%.
“Why not put photos of the victims and families on the cover and let that tell the story of courage and heartbreak? You could keep the photo of this terrorist inside, if need be, and report your story. I am sure you are aware of the pain you were about to cause all the families when you went to print…
“I know journalism isn’t pretty when you have the face of evil staring back at you, but why put him on the cover of a supposed music-oriented magazine? You treat him with the same honor as those of us who have made the cover based on our craft?
“I agree with many of my peers and I hope Rolling Stone can take responsibility and issue an apology to everybody whose lives have been affected...”
Organisers of the Bloodstock Festival in Derbyshire have spoken to Event Industry News about their continued growth following the granting of a new license that takes its capacity up to 15,000. The new figure allows for a 25% increase in attendance based on last year’s 12,000 capacity.
Speaking to Event Industry News ahead of the event, which takes place between 8th-11th August, Rachael Greenfield said that the festival has grown organically since first being held in 2001.
“I’ve been involved since the beginning when my father Paul Gregory started Bloodstock. What started as an indoor event for 700 people has consistently grown over the last 13 years in to the animal that it is today, giving us a rollercoaster ride along the way as we’ve learned the do’s and don’ts of running a music festival.”
“Last year our capacity was 12,000”, said Rachael. “Three years prior to that it was 8,000, so the figures speak for themselves. We estimate that 75% of customers return each year, and it is those customers that have helped to shape the festival and create the atmosphere and dynamic that it now has.”
Educating themselves on an ongoing basis since the start, in 2008 the organisers made a calculated decision to step up a level, employing the services of a new production company that, in Rachael’s words, were ‘first class’. Part of this decision to step up a level also included bringing security specialist Showsec onboard, a move that has had a positive effect on several aspects of the show, not just the security.
“Showsec’s experience in working on events that are considerably larger than ours has been invaluable. We work closely with Richard Church on our security plans and since beginning our relationship with them in 2008, Richard and his team have proved a major asset to Bloodstock. Their staff are extremely easy to work with and have a great understanding and appreciation for the type of crowd that attends the festival, which has huge benefits to maintaining a safe and friendly environment.”
As the festival has grown, so has the stature of the bands that the organisers have been able to book, which in turn has contributed to the positive effect on the attendance figures. Artist booking is the responsibility of Vicky Hungerford, who like Rachael has been involved from day one. People unfamiliar with the scene may be unaware of just how many genres fall in to the category of music called ‘Metal’, which she says can prove tricky when trying to programme the stages.
“Bloodstock started as a power metal festival, but over the years has grown to embrace all genres of metal such as thrash, death metal, black metal etc..”
MOTÖRHEAD canceled a handful of shows on its European festival tour earlier this month after the band’s frontman, Lemmy Kilmister, suffered a haematoma (where blood collects outside of a blood vessel). The news of Lemmy‘s latest medical issue followed reports that he was also recently fitted with a defibrillator because of heart problems.
MOTÖRHEAD‘s new album, “Aftershock”, is tentatively due in September. The follow-up to 2010’s “The Wörld Is Yours” was recorded at Maple Sound Studios in Santa Ana, California with longtime producer Cameron Webb and will feature 13 songs, including “Dust And Glass”, “Knife”, “Going To Mexico”, “Lost Woman Blues”, “Death Machine” and “Heartbreaker”.
In a brand new online posting, MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell (pictured below) writes: “Hey, everyone out there. Better prepare yourselves big time, ‘cos our mind-blowing new record, ‘Aftershock’, will be coming out! Lemmy is on the mend and we are gonna be touring our asses off!!! Business as usual real soon!”
Phil Campbell will bring his new project, the PHIL CAMPBELL ALL STAR BAND, to the Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place August 8-11 at Catton Hall in Walton On Trent, Derbyshire, England.
Says Phil: “I am very excited to announce that I will be playing Bloodstock on August 11th with my new band featuring members of STRAIGHT LINES, THE PEOPLE THE POET, DOPAMINE and ATTACK ATTACK. It’s gonna be a lot of fun so come along and rock out with us!”
1. “All Hell Breaks Loose” 2. “Bound for Glory” 3. “Kingdom of the Lost” 4. “Bloodshot” 5. “Kissin’ the Ground” 6. “Hey Judas” 7. “Hoodoo Voodoo” 8. “Valley of the Stones” 9. “Someday Salvation” 10. “Before the War” 11. “Blues Ain’t So Bad”
The party has been over now for quite a long time. The rain outside is coming down in buckets and I’m waiting impatiently for my ride to arrive. Soon I recognize the vehicle that pulls up outside and it’s the same old vehicle that I’m used to riding in but with one difference, there is a new driver. His almighty presence has me startled a bit but I relax in the back seat and I’ll soon see if I’m in capable hands. On my trip home, I’ll have to venture through 11 neighborhoods and I’m starting to feel my trepidation.
As we start out, we come to our first visit, “ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE”. Here we have an area that shows that this song forges its own territory. Cool bass line and guitars that have a certain swagger to them, compliments the simple but perfectly played, drum beats. It’s a song that dares you to say something derogatory just so that it can punch you in the face and show you that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
Driving straightforward, we head into, “BOUND FOR GLORY”. As soon I hear the first double lead guitar riffs, I soon know we’re in familiar territory. This brings me back to Thin Lizzy’s “Black Rose” album. Vocalist Ricky Warwick channels founder Phil Lynott’s singing style and tone and one can see a broad smile on Phil’s face. Lyrically he even dusts off some of Phil’s words and incorporates it here. An excellent song, one that I had imagined to hear even before partaking on this trip. Upbeat and instantly likeable, a perfect song for the evolution of Thin Lizzy.
Continuing on our journey, we make a left and enter a neighborhood splashed with old Celtic influences not heard since early Thin Lizzy albums. Opening with old Irish folk music, “KINGDOM OF THE LOST” showcases Lizzy’s trademark guitar harmonies. Once again, Warwick is possessed by Lynott’s ghost and delivers the goods. Another great and memorable track that eases my fear that, somehow, we may get lost along the way.
“BLOODSHOT” time travels back to the sound and grittiness of the “Bad Reputation” album. Continuing with the Lynott-esque vocal scheme and lyrics, it is another great step into the future of the band. “KISSIN” THE GROUND” has one foot in the past and one in the present. A perfect blend on the new and old. The guitar solo is classic Lizzy, but Ricky’s vocals have a more modern approach that gives the song a harder edge. It works well!!!
I’m half way home and so far this drive has been a most pleasant one. I soon find out that it gets better. “HEY JUDAS” combines the sounds of “The Black Rose” and “Bad Reputation” albums. Pure genius!!! An infectious song that I can see being on FM-radio. Not that really means anything anymore but it has that instant likeability to it that many people can relate to! It delivers a punch, a good catchy chorus and a twin guitar solo that flies right off the “Chinatown” record and that what makes this a true Thin Lizzy song.
Smooth sailing but we now start to hit a few bumps in the road in the song “HOODOO VOODOO”. In the past, most bands that had a song with the word voodoo in it, sucked. Though the song itself isn’t bad, the chorus is. It’s probably the most un-Thin Lizzy song on the album, which isn’t a bad thing but the chorus just doesn’t cut it.
Now the driver speeds up a bit and gives us “VALLEY OF THE STONES” a dirty, fast paced rocker that may be more reminiscent of Warwick’s former band, The Almightybut mixed with a dose of Lizzy. A very cool guitar solo stands out on this track along with that amazing dual guitar riff.
“SOMEDAY SALVATION” is that odd song that Thin Lizzy used to have such as “Dancing in the Moonlight” or “Southbound”. Now those two songs, regardless whether they fit with the rest of the album or not, were good songs. Not the case here. It seems disconnected from the overall album. Though this song is a danceable type of song, I just can’t get into it. Too much of a “happy” song along with the “na na na’s” in the background vocals.
On most of the album, there isn’t much going on in the drum department. Nothing bad happening but nothing to write home about either. This changes on “BEFORE THE WAR”. A nice rolling snare drum behind Ricky’s vocals but a nice change of drum beats about half way into the song before the guitar solo. Like the first song, it has personality all its own. This is a true Black Star Riders song.
Almost home, I have one more neighborhood to pass trough and that is “BLUES AIN”T SO BAD”. It’s a slinky, slow moving song that builds to some cool guitar work. Not out front like much of the album but enjoyable nether the less.
Some these neighborhoods have similarities, while some are very different. But they do have one thing in common, they all have that gritty feel to them so I felt very comfortable traveling through them.
The album itself is what I hoped for and a bit more. They’ve kept Phil’s legacy alive and they continue to build on that but they also threw in originality that they need to move forward. I am glad that they didn’t continue under the Thin Lizzy name but I wish they would have used a song title or a phrase from one of Lizzys numerous songs just to still have that connection. Just a minor thing on my part. They know what they have and I hope they continue in this direction. It’s the same car but a different driver. Everyone knows that it would have been impossible to replace Phil but the choice of Rick Warwick was a great one. He still brings that snotty, get ready for a fight attitude that is needed for this band. He also brings a more youthful exuberance that brings excitement to the band. If you’re looking for an updated, modern place to live, this ain’t it. But if you’re like most people, there’s no place like home.
North American metallers ICED EARTH will support Danish/American metal rock ‘n’ rollers VOLBEAT on their European headlining tour, which kicks off on October 11 in Milan, Italy and wraps on December 1 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Comments VOLBEAT guitarist/vocalist Michael Poulsen: “It’s an honor again to share the road and stage with our brothers in legendary ICED EARTH. I’ve been a huge fan (and still am) of ICED EARTH since their self titled debut in 1990. We once shared the road with them in the U.S. and now we’re back together in Europe. We promise you heavy and we’re looking forward to seeing you all out there!”
VOLBEAT‘s fifth studio album, “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies”, was released in North America on April 9 via Vertigo/Republic Records/Universal Music. The CD finds the core trio of Michael Poulsen (vocals/guitar), Anders Kjølholm (bass) and Jon Larsen (drums) joined by former ANTHRAX/THE DAMNED THINGS guitarist Rob Caggiano, who produced the album with longtime VOLBEAT co-producer Jacob Hansen.
ICED EARTH has entered the studio to begin recording its new album, “Plagues Of Babylon”, for a January 2014 via Century Media Records.
The band recently parted ways with drummer Brent Smedley for “personal family reasons.” He has since been replaced by Raphael Saini (CHAOSWAVE).
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Review by Mike Paradine 
