Toledo based speed metal/punk/thrashers MOBILE DEATHCAMP have announced the North-American co-headlining tour with EMP Label Group roster band MACHINAGE! The 12-shows tour kicks off on August 31st in Las Cruces, NM. Check out the dates and details below.
August 31 – Las Cruces, NM @The Warehouse
September 2 – Flagstaff, AZ @Porke’y Pub
September 3 – Las Vegas, NV @MDR Lounge
September 4 – Hollywood, CA @Whisky A Go Go
September 7 – Oakland @MC Studios
September 9 – Boise, ID @The Eclipse
September 10 – Reno, NV @The Rock Bar
September 11 – Red Bluff, CA @OPhidian Studios
September 12 – Long Beach, CA @Blacklight Distruct
September 15 – Los Angeles, CA @5 Star Bar
September 16 – San Diego, CA @TBA
September 17 – Compton, CA @2329 E. 118th St.Los Angeles CA 90059
MOBILE DEATHCAMP has been sawing clubs in half, and leaving crowds with their collective jaws on the floor since the band’s inception in 2008. Formed by Todd Evans at the end of his 6 year stint as Beefcake The Mighty (with legendary shock rockers, GWAR), now allied in sonic architecture by Chad Smith (drums), and JC (bass), this musical terror pocket has been leveling venues across North America. Check out the video “Negative Minds” from the debut album “Black Swamp Rising”:
HEAVEN BELOW, the current project of Union Underground/Lita Ford guitarist Patrick Kennison has signed with EMP LABEL GROUP, the label of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, distributed by eOne Entertainment, who will release the band’s upcoming LP “Good Morning Apocalypse” on October 14th.
“Good Morning Apocalypse”, a mind-blowing masterpiece of an apocalyptic concept album, features guest appearances from Lita Ford, Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth), Udo Dirkschneider (Accept), and Kobra Paige of Kobra and the Lotus.
The band has released an album sampler, featuring clips from all 12 songs from “Good Morning Apocalypse” that can be found below:
Fronted by Kennison, who also handles guitar duties, HEAVEN BELOW has been breaking ground in LA for several years with their brand of Progressive Hard Rock/Metal, self-releasing 3 LPs and a series of EPS, spawning several active rock hits, including “When Daylight Dies”, and the band’s monstrous take on Rush’s “Subdivisions”, featuring a guest appearance from the one and only William Shatner.
Says Kennison, “Nearly 4 years ago the band and I decided that we’d like to start working on a concept record. We knew how ambitious it sounded to even consider that, but once several legendary artists offered to help make it become a reality, we knew we had something.”
He continues, “With over 30 songs written, we narrowed it down to the top 12. Udo Dirkschneider, Lita Ford, Jason McMaster, and Kobra Paige all stepped up to lend their amazing talents. We feel this album is a powerful culmination of old school metal meets current fresh metal. This kind of undertaking only comes along once in a lifetime, and we think we captured the moment on “Good Morning Apocalypse”. The timing was perfect with EMP’s outside of the box approach to new music.”
EMP operations and A&R director Thom Hazaert says, “Me and Patrick go back a long time, and I was, and still am, a huge fan of The Union Underground. He is an extremely talented player (and vocalist), and Heaven Below was doing some amazing stuff, so it was a really great fit. I got the record from Patrick, sent it over to David, and we were both blown away. We are definitely blessed to continually find new amazing Rock and Metal artists who are pushing the envelope the way Heaven Below is.”
“Good Morning Apocalypse” Tracklist:
01. Nefarious Angels (feat. Jason McMaster)
02. Renegade Protest Movement
03. Follow Me Under 04. Devilina And The Damage Done (feat. Kobra Paige)
05. Nightfall Comes To Life
06. Killing The Deadman
07. Running Under Satan’s Hand (feat. Lita Ford)
08. Death Battalion
09. Bonded By Blood
10. Black Sunrise/ War Of The Gods (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
11. Among The Wolves/Worldwide Suicide
12. I Would Do It All Again/Burials At Sunset
ALPHA OMEGA Headcourt in Italy and its Office in the USA are extremely thrilled and honored to welcome KEITH ROWLEY, as their new team member! Furthermore, in close synergy, together with David Ellefson’s EMP Label Group and Keith Rowley‘s Shred Head Inc. ALPHA OMEGA announce the launch of new services: ALPHA OMEGA TOURS, creating the worldwide touring structure, both for upcoming bands and more!
KEITH ROWLEY, With his 30 plus years of experience in the music business, Keith has worked shows with elite acts such as METALLICA, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, GUNS N’ ROSES, BONNIE RAITT, DEF LEPPARD, SCORPIONS, just to name a few of his extensive list from over 3 decades of career. From Light Directing to Tour Management, Booking Tours & Building Stages, Keith has worked venues ranging for Stadiums, Arenas, Amp theaters to the favorite venue down on the corner, Keith also owns and operates Shred Head Inc. (A Booking Agency) in which will be in collaboration with Alpha Omega in booking the Alpha Omega / EMP rosters as well as the Shred roster. Shred Head Inc. is a national booking agency in the U.S.A and has ties with many agencies in the EU.
Keith Rowley comments: “I have the honor of joining the Alpha Omega Family as an A&R rep. With offices in Italy and here in the USA, this opportunity will give me a further reach worldwide to seek out deserving hard working up and coming bands and take them from the local club and build them to the world stage. With the Alpha Omega alliance with Dave Ellefson’s (Megadeth) EMP Label Group, just makes perfect sense to work with the top industry pros within these two companies. Shred Head, Inc. just got busier as well and will be heavily in the mix booking tours for all three rosters, (AO, EMP, SHI) I would like to thank Alex, Tim, Bill & Roberto and the rest of the Alpha Omega family for giving me this exciting opportunity!”
ALPHA OMEGA Management states: “We are extremely delighted to announce Keith Rowley joining our Alpha Omega Team! This new synergy with Keith and his Shred Head Inc. (together with our recently born alliance with David Ellefson’s EMP Label Group) makes us increasingly proud to be more and more complete and competitive each day that passes! Said this, the right moment has come to launch our new brand of services: ALPHA OMEGA TOURS! This new alliance is already working hard for our roster bands, who now have totally new horizons ahead bringing us all to the next level. Stay tuned, big things are to be announced soon!”
ALPHA OMEGA USA’s head Timothy Joel Shearn adds: “I have been working with Keith a bit over the past few months. It is very rare that you see a booking agent with his high level of experience who is still excited about what is still possible. I am very pleased to be working alongside this fine gentleman and looking forward to big things to come”
DAVID ELLEFSON has no need for long introductions, as an original member of MEGADETH, credited as one of the thrash metal’s “big four” with Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer. David Ellefson is known for his unique, hard-hitting style of bass playing and unwavering dedication to his musical craft. David has engraved a vast musical hallmark as a bassist, songwriter, record producer, clinician and author. Together with MEGADETH, he has been awarded 10 Grammy nominations, countless gold & platinum records, plus continued recording & world concert tour activity. Ellefson holds a Bachelor’s degree in business marketing and continues to lecture on a variety of music and business related topics. Additionally, David is a prolific author with his titles: “Making Music Your Business… A Guide For Young Musicians”, “UNSUNG Words & Images” and “My Life With Deth”. Among his many accomplishments, Ellefson’s latest triumph is Ellefson Music Productions/EMP Label Group, the record label and production company formed in 2015, with industry exec Thom Hazaert tapped by Ellefson to oversee operations. With a diverse Rock and Metal Roster EMP has quickly become a dominating force in the World of Hard Rock and Metal.
Just a couple of days ago Tarja Virmakari had a pleasure to interview David Ellefson(who is currently on tour with MEGADETH in South America) talking mainly about David’s life outside of stages. Enjoy!
Hi David, first of all, I want to thank-You for your time! I know you are a busy man, both on stage and outside of it! If you agree, I’d like to touch topics mainly about your “off-stage” life. So, let’s start with the past, talking about your earlier years… what was the moment when you and Music met each others? And when did you know that it’s going to be a huge part of your life?
I toyed with music at about age 8, with the typical piano lessons and elementary school band. Those early experiences taught me how to read music and play in an ensemble setting.
But my real music interests started at about age 10 when I heard rock n roll on the radio. Things like KISS, BTO, Ted Nugent and Aerosmith were my real first real interests in hard rock and they got me excited to get a bass and really learn how to play. Those bands made me love music, but just as much showed me what real rock stardom looked like, and I wanted to be in the club from that moment on.
How did you develop your unique, hard-hitting playing style?(watch below David’s “Top 5 Megadeth Bass Riffs” video)
It was born from survival. I couldn’t afford big loud amplifiers at a young age, so I learned that by hitting hard, and eventually playing with a plectrum, gave me a real bright and percussive sound. I always struggled playing in cover bands because while I could play the lines properly, I could never really sound like the original players. What I soon discovered is that I actually had my own style and sound and that became a great asset when we started Megadeth because being an original artist is all about having your own voice, style and sound as a player.
What are your personal influences, and source of inspirations?
My father was an influence on me as a person and he instigated so much wisdom and philosophical insight in my life. So were people like my high school jazz band teacher and even the older high school musicians who I was lucky enough to play with as a young kid.
As far as musical heroes, they were the guys like Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick, Pete Way of UFO and also many other musicians who were not bassists. Guys like Eddie Van Halen, Michael Schenker, Neil Peart, David Lee Roth and so many other great charismatic rock stars all laid a fingerprint on my life as a musician and professional artist.
Talking about the music business, in generally… how do you see it has changed in these years?
The record business is what has changed because of the distribution of sales via the Internet. Also, because we now listen to music on our phones and other devices, not just at home or in our cars, the new services who distribute music have really altered the outlets and the financial outcome as well. I might add, not for the benefit of musicians in most cases, either.
Not so many months ago you launched Ellefson Music Productions (aka EMP Label Group)… was it something you had planned already a long time? or was it due to a necessity to create and offer something new?
For many years people have been encouraging me to take my years of experience into other areas of the industry, like management and a record label. The reason I never did it, was because I didn’t want to go to “the other side”, I wanted to stay on the artist side of the biz instead.
But, last year I took this amazing young female rock group called DOLL SKIN into the studio to produce a few tracks with them. During that process I got the vision and saw a need to mentor them, develop their sound and assist with management services so they wouldn’t get thrown to the wolves of the business and get eaten alive. That’s what led me to create the record label and management company. I saw a great band that needed to really get in the game, regardless of their age, and I was tired of always having to shop my productions to other people in the music business, because you are essentially trying to sell those people on what you already know is worthy! So, I created my own infrastructure to see my ambitions become reality.
From that enthusiasm, my friend Thom Hazaert and I were working on some other things together around the “Shocker” movie sound track, and our interests let to creating the record label. From there, all the rest of it started to fall into place with other people joining the team.
Just recently you and Thom Hazert, with EMP Label Group joined forces with Alpha Omega Management for a two-way partnership… quoting the press release: “ALPHA OMEGA Management enters EMP Label Group creating a new sub-label for upcoming artists, and, furthermore DAVID ELLEFSON and THOM HAZAERT enter ALPHA OMEGA Management, to form a global partnership for management and booking.”This sounds pretty interesting, so please tell me about the next steps what’s going to happen?
Thom was one of the first people to really help me get the EMP record label in place. He has great ears and instincts with records and the record industry. He has also been a huge caveat with management on several other acts we work with on the label. So, to partner with Alpha Omega on a global level is a great fit all around.
More and more these days, we see management companies operating like the record companies used to in the glory days. There are many departments, with many layers of staff who all work with each artist. That same mindset is now being applied with our partnership, especially with us being able to assist Alpha Omega domestically, and just as much with them being able to assist us with our acts internationally. Between us, we have a global reach now with our combined resources and is something we can offer to select acts on the EMP labels as well.
Me as a huge coffee-lover, this next question is a must… not a long ago you founded Ellefson Coffee-brand. Please tell me, how this wonderful tasty adventure got its beginning? And maybe you’ve already new plans and new tasty ideas coming up?
These days, being a musician is as much about letting our fans become one with our lifestyle and personal interests, one of mine being coffee. So, I founded the company and now have two roasts available, with more coming soon. I love how coffee brings people together, just like music does. To me, they are inseparable.
Yet another very important and interesting topic is you as Author! And with this one we’ll step to another side of Life… so far you’ve published 3 books (*Making Music Your Business: A Guide for Young Musicians (1997) – *Unsung – words and images (2012) *My Life with Deth: Discovering Meaning in a Life of Rock & Roll in 2013)…and I would like to talk especially about “My Life With Deth” where you’re sharing your uplifting and empowering memoir about overcoming addiction and dedicating your life to God. To be a Christian is one thing, but to be a Believer has a deeper meaning, which reflects on each aspects of Life.. and Death. I know this is very personal, but would you like to tell me more about this decision? And how it has changed your everyday life?
I’ve been raised as a Christian in the Lutheran church my whole life. I didn’t really have a “born again” experience, as some people do, but rather my story is about drifting from day to day faith because I got involved with drugs and alcohol. That lifestyle also began to derail my dreams and work as a musician by the time I was only 23 years old. So in 1990 I got clean, and through that process it brought me back to a life of faith.
I’m human, I’m not perfect, nor do I profess to have all the answers, but even in a rock n roll band I found that living a clean life has brought a greater sense of purpose in pretty much every way possible.
By the way, talking about Christianity in Metal Music, and especially on its extreme side… What do you think about bands like ANCIENT, with a christian singer, in a genre where nearly all bands are satanic or at least anti- christian? Can it make sense to be a christian in a genre like this? Do you think it’s conflictual or maybe even a blessing?
Not every song written about Satan is satanic. Some of them are just stories. Even for me, when our Thrash metal genre was starting, me and my buddies were always intrigued with the occult because it was dark, macabre and it scared us! We watched movies about it, we wrote songs about it. We touched on many different topics, as did our heroes like Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and so forth. Writing a song can be a historical recounting of a situation, a made up fictional concept, or just fun. It doesn’t always reflect who we are.
Your dear Mother, Frances M. Ellefson was laid to eternal rest last week, my sincere condolences for your loss, David!… I wouldn’t dare to touch this very personal topic, but reading your open messages on your Facebook Page, I understand that your relationship with her was one of a kind! What is the (spiritual) heritage and memories of her that you will always carry in your heart?
Thank you very much. My mother was the quintessential sweet, good Samaritan woman. She was a nurse by trade because she was a nurse in her heart. She always had a kind word, a sweet smile and a gentleness to everything she did. She was a woman of faith and her life is evidence of those beliefs right up to the very final moments here on earth. She is, was and always will be an incredible inspiration to me, and to so many others who were touched by her life.
Living a busy life on many fields, like you do, what are the moments you “unplug” yourself? I mean what is your way to relax your mind?
I love doing music each and every day because that is the gift I was given for my life. So, I don’t see it as a burden, but rather a passion. Most everything I do is based around that.
I also have my family and when I’m not on tour, I unplug to be with them. As much as I’m the father to my children, I’m at an age where they bring so much inspiration to me now. They are the same age as many of our fans now, and to see life through their eyes reminds me of when I was where they are on this journey of life. Its just a continuous circle that is so inspiring.
Megadeth Dystopia World Tour – in Munic
And last but not least, lets talk about “Dystopia World Tour”… MEGADETH is currently in South America and just recently you announced your North American tour for September visiting 16 states with Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church and Havok. Please tell me how this current tour is proceeding? and what are your expectations on the upcoming South American tour?
Yes, we just started South America and it is so fun down here. The fans are still excited and passionate as ever and it really makes you realize how a song can connect so powerfully with people anywhere. The USA tour will be the final trek for 2016 and I’m really excited about the lineup. It is heavy, but diverse. I think there is something really cool and broad for all the fans to come out and experience this fall.
The last question, and the word is yours… what are your greetings to your fans and Metal Shock Finland readers?
Thank you for your support to me and Megadeth over all the years. You have helped give us all an incredible life, full of such marvelous experiences through music. I hope to see you all next year!
Orange County’s Hard Rockers BEHIND THE FALLEN have signed a deal with EMP LABEL GROUP who will release their debut LP “As The Sky Falls Through” on October 28th. The full-length offering will feature promo single “Satellite”, which has already been released with a lyric video that has already generated over 50,000 views, the bands 2013 single “You’re Just a Friend”, and “Reflections” a collaboration featuring THE WORD ALIVE vocalist Telle Smith.
On the collaboration with Smith, singer Johnny Presley says, “We connected with Telle through our management, and the opportunity came up to do a song together and obviously we jumped at it. We’re all huge fans, and Telle’s one of the most amazing frontmen in the business. We jumped into the studio with him for a day, there was great chemistry, and we cranked out “Reflections”, which turned out absolutely amazing. We can’t wait to get it out to the fans and look forward to, hopefully, performing the track with Telle live someday.”
First bursting onto the Orange County scene in 2011, BTF released their debut 6 song EP Pages of the Past, Produced by Erik Ron, before embarking on several tours supporting their release with Assuming We Survive, Trapt, and their own headline tour.
In 2013, the band followed up with their single and video for “You’re Just A Friend”, with a renewed pop-punk infused direction that generated a new wave of huge attention for the band. BTF has since developed their sound into a finely tuned machine, deftly maneuvering between Hard Rock, Metal, and Pop Punk, behind the fierce melodic growl of vocalist Johnny Presley. After a year-plus hiatus the band emerged with a retooled lineup and team, and were brought to the attention of EMP head of A&R Thom Hazaert (by EMP Publicist Shauna O’ Donnell), the rest, as they say, is history.
AS THE SKY FALLS THROUGH hits stores on October 28th, 2016.
ALPHA OMEGA Management is extremely delighted to announce that ELLEFSON MUSIC PRODUCTIONS (aka EMP Label Group) and ALPHA OMEGA Management have merged forces for a two-way partnership!
ALPHA OMEGA Management enters EMP Label Group creating a new sub-label for upcoming artists, and, furthermore DAVID ELLEFSON(MEGADETH bassist and founder of EMP Label Group) and THOM HAZAERT(Artist Manager, Music and Film Producer, A&R Director, Operations Manager at EMP Label Group) enter ALPHA OMEGA Management, to form a global partnership for management and booking.
ALPHA OMEGA Management states: “How to put in words the huge honor and joy to enter in this two-way partnership with Ellefson Music Productions and its two Gentlemen, David and Thom? Since our very first contacts and conversations we found out easily the mutual understanding about the way we want to collaborate for the future projects and how to bring them forward to the global music business! The common tone was right there, clear and harmonious for the both parties, following the new idea of the band managing which ALPHA OMEGA has as the leading principle since its founding. The team’s hard work has brought fruitful results in a short time, confirming the fact that the chosen road is right. With this collaboration with David and Thom, and with new projects which are already in the works, we’re looking forward to very interesting and busy times, in many areas, to give a new meaning and global target for so many great bands out there! So stay connected for next announcements, soon!”
David Ellefson‘s video statement with Alex Azzali and Roberto Risso:
Hazaert says, “Since I met Alex and the team at Alpha Omega, we had an instant connection. They have an amazing roster and infrastructure, and we immediately thought there could be a synergy between our operations. With their massive Worldwide support structure, together we will be able to create an amazing management experience for EMP artists, and beyond. Building and expanding the “EMPire”, and growing our operations as a global brand is a high priority for myself and David, and we saw a great opportunity with Alpha Omega to create a highly charged artist experience with Worldwide reach.”
David Ellefson announcing the partnership with Alex Azzali and Roberto Risso
*** DAVID ELLEFSON has no need for long introductions, as an original member of MEGADETH, credited as one of the thrash metal’s “big four” with Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer. David Ellefson is known for his unique, hard-hitting style of bass playing and unwavering dedication to his musical craft. David has engraved a vast musical hallmark as a bassist, songwriter, record producer, clinician and author. Together with MEGADETH, he has been awarded 10 Grammy nominations, countless gold & platinum records, plus continued recording & world concert tour activity. Ellefson holds a Bachelor’s degree in business marketing and continues to lecture on a variety of music and business related topics. Additionally, David is a prolific author with his titles: “Making Music Your Business… A Guide For Young Musicians”, “UNSUNG Words & Images” and “My Life With Deth”.
Among his many accomplishments, Ellefson’s latest triumph is Ellefson Music Productions/EMP Label Group, the record label and production company formed in 2015, with industry exec Thom Hazaert tapped by Ellefson to oversee operations. With a diverse Rock and Metal Roster including Cage9, Another Lost Year, Ancient, Solus Deus, Doll Skin, and many more, EMP has quickly become a dominating force in the World of Hard Rock and Metal.
*** THOM HAZAERT is a music business staple, known for a career spanning over 20 years, as an Executive, Journalist, Radio Personality, Artist Manager, Music and Film Producer, and most recently, the man behind the curtain at Ellefson’s EMP Label Group.
Hazaert’s marketing work was influential in the early advent of lifestyle street and viral marketing among Rock acts, as an independent consultant for record labels including Flip Records, Interscope Records, Warner Bros. Records, Hollywood Records, Jive Records, and as co-founder of Total Assault Street Teams, working with hard-hitting artists including Staind, Cold, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Bloodhound Gang, Static-X, Nine Inch Nails, Filter, American Head Charge, and many more. Hazaert was co-founder and President of Corporate Punishment Records, and more recently, THC : MUSIC, a management firm and label, now an imprint of EMP.
In the early 2000s, Hazaert went on to manage and develop major label artists, including Chimaira (Roadrunner Records), Erase The Grey (Universal Records), Switched (Immortal Records), and Depswa (Geffen Records). Additionally, he has listed Management credits in albums by MOTORHEAD (Hammered) and Earth Crisis (Last of the Sane) and is credited with helping to discover some of the World’s biggest contemporary Rock and Metal acts.
Also a noted Radio Personality, Hazaert currently hosts “AM/PM with Thöm Hazaërt”, a 2 hour “late night morning show” airing on Dash Radio Metal and Punk station Los Anarchy Radio, focused on Hard Rock/Metal and Pop Culture. Each show begins with a segment called “Mandatory Megadeth”, a block of Megadeth songs that features Megadeth bassist David Ellefson telling the stories behind classic Megadeth tracks.
*** ALPHA OMEGA Management features a new international team, composed by professionals, working in various sectors of the music industry, including ALEX AZZALI, internationally well-known producer, tour manager and or sound engineer (for Ancient, Behemoth, Dismember, Grave, Septicflesh, Rotting Christ, Cro Mags, Marduk, Hate, Vader and many more), NICK BARKER (drummer of Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Lock Up, Brujeria, Benediction, Testament, Gorgoroth, Ancient, among the others) and Legendary Audio Engineer and Producer, BILL METOYER (Producer of Slayer, W.A.S.P, D.R.I, Corrosion of Conformity, Fates Warning, Helstar, Omen, Thrust etc. and ex Vice President of Metal Blade USA). The visionaries of ALPHA OMEGA have created the new era for band management and worldwide booking for shows, tours and festivals.
Constantly growing ALPHA OMEGA band roster consists of well established acts such as COVEN – VENOM INC – M:PIRE OF EVIL – ANCIENT – MALEVOLENT CREATION – EXTREMA – HELSTAR – OMEN – MASTER – MOBILE DEATHCAMP – NOCTEM – THRUST – KULT OV AZAZEL – TRAUMA – THEATRES DES VAMPIRES among quite a few amazing up and coming bands. ALPHA OMEGA also has a Residential Recording Studio at the Lake of Como, in close proximity to three major airports of Milan. Alpha Omega Recording Studio offers recording, mixing and mastering.
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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