Jason Bittner

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TESTAMENT And OVERKILL Members Feat. On DEATH’s ‘Overactive Imagination’ Quarantine Jam Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 10, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

TESTAMENT-OVERKILL-MembersJoinForQuarantineCoverOfDEATHsOveractiveImagination

OVERKILL/SHADOWS FALL‘s drummer Jason Bittner has joined forces with guitarists Felipe Roa (SHADOWS FALL), Bobby Koeble (DEATH), and bassist Steve Di Giorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH) to record a ‘quarantine jam’ video of DEATH’s “Overactive Imagination”.

Watch the video on Jason Bittner’s Youtube Channel, here:

Jason Bittner wrote also a long accompanying message:
“Well there’s a bunch of explaining that goes along with this video and a history of sorts…….after the whole pandemic started, I contacted my longtime friend and former bandmate Felipe Roa (Shadows Fall touring guitarist after Jon joined Anthrax) to see if he wanted to do some “quarantine covers” and I proposed “Wake Up Dead” by Megadeth, and by now you have seen that one. At the time of discussion Felipe asked if I wanted to do a Death tune, knowing that they are one of my all-time fave bands as well as his, and we used to jam Death in soundchecks all the time. Initially my first reaction “ummmm, I don’t know if I want to do that much WORK, hahaha,” but as soon as he said “Overactive Imagination” I was in – I used to jam this song all the time in my formative years but I did wonder if I could still pull it off. After a couple days of shedding and trying to be 25 again, we had a completed drum track, which I even sent to my pals (former Death drummers) Richard Christy and Gene Hoglan for “approval”. Sean already gave me the green light from Heaven. At first we were just going to do it the two of us, but I had a plan. Here’s some crazy trivia – while I attended Berklee College of Music in the 80’s, I played in a band with Bobby Koeble and we actually recorded a few original songs wayyyyyy back in the late 80’s. Bobby later went on to join Death for the Symbolic album and still plays in Death to All. After not speaking for over 30 years I hit up Bobby, reconnected (which I’d been meaning to do for years) and asked him if he wanted to do this tune with us and he said yes right away. He asked who was playing bass and I told him Felipe probably would do that too………unless…….“Unless what? Unless I can get Steve to do it……So the next point was to contact my friend, and one of the greatest bass players out there, Mr. Steve DiGiorgio to see if this could be possible. At first Steve wasn’t’ sure if he could commit due to his many projects, so we actually asked our friend Bill Bodily (Ex- Toxik, Flotsam and Jetsam touring bassist) to do the bass since Steve wasn’t available. In the meantime, I had sent Steve the track after we put Bobby on it just to “make sure” he couldn’t do it. I had a feeling if Bobby committed, Steve would follow. A week later he did send his tracks, so first off THANK YOU to Steve for going above and beyond in such a quick and timely manner, and also to Bill for being our “backup”, sorry it didn’t work out – next time! So there you have it folks, we put a lot of work into this one because we absolutely love this band in every incarnation, and I am proud to say that I am friends with a lot of the people who have played in their ranks so…….so this one goes out to……Terry Butler, James Murphy, Richard Christy, and Gene Hoglan. Lastly, a moment to remember past members Scott Clendenin, my former bandmate and friend Ralph Santolla, my longtime friend and mentor Sean Reinert, and lastly the one and only Chuck Schuldiner for being one of the greatest songwriters to ever grace the Metal world!! Enjoy and share!!”

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SteveDiGiorgio-2020

Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions as well as session bassist for tours. For further information, please contact via email: alexalphaomega@gmail.com – robertoalphaomega@gmail.com.

The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.

Watch Steve Di Giorgio LowDown: Bass Playthrough | Terra Odium – Crawling: https://youtu.be/SJbamBHNjt8

More information at:
STEVE DI GIORGIO: http://www.stevedigiorgio.com | http://www.testamentlegions.com
MANAGEMENT: https://alphaomega-management.com | https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlphaOmegaManagement

SHADOWS FALL’s JASON BITTNER: Video Footage Of Dallas Clinic

Posted by aliblackdiamond on July 7, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Video footage of Jason Bittner‘s (SHADOWS FALL) July 2 clinic at Guitar Center in Dallas, Texas can be seen below.

SHADOWS FALL tapped Willis Mathiasen of 2CENTS to sit behind the drums for some of their shows at the end of 2012 while Bittner received treatment for acute pancreatitis. Bittner rejoined his bandmates on stage on December 19, 2012 at Pearl St. in Northampton, Massachusetts.

SHADOWS FALL is continuing to tour in support of its new album, “Fire From The Sky”, which sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on May 15, 2012 via Razor & Tie.

Recorded at Zing Studios in late 2011, “Fire From The Sky” reunites SHADOWS FALL with longtime friend, producer/engineer and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE/TIMES OF GRACE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ALL THAT REMAINS). The album was mixed by Brian Virtue and features some of the band’s most complex and melodic material in years.

Video: SHADOWS FALL Drummer Joins EXODUS On Stage In Clifton Park

Posted by aliblackdiamond on April 24, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner joined EXODUS on stage last night (Monday, April 22) at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, New York to perform the EXODUS classic “The Toxic Waltz”. Video footage of his appearance can be see below.

Commented Bittner: “Last night I had the honor of stepping onstage to jam with the mighty EXODUS (featuring one of my favorite metal guitar players ever — Gary Holt). It was dark as hell and I had to play a backwards kit, but it was hella fun!! To quote the Bay Area guys!!”

Holt has spent the last two years filling in for SLAYER founding axeman Jeff Hanneman who in January 2011 contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since.

EXODUS‘ latest album, “Exhibit B: The Human Condition”, was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The CD sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 114 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SHADOWS FALL‘s latest album, “Fire From The Sky”, sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on May 15, 2012 via Razor & Tie.

 

JASON BITTNER: HALESTORM Winning ‘Metal’ GRAMMY Is Worse Than METALLICA Losing To JETHRO TULL

Posted by aliblackdiamond on February 11, 2013
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Source: Blabbermouth.net

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner says that HALESTORM winning a Grammy Award for “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance” proves that “shit is rotten in the music business” and is more upsetting than METALLICA losing the nod in the same category to JETHRO TULL more than 20 years ago.

HALESTORM was honored with the “Best Hard Rock/Metal” Grammy for the track “Love Bites (So Do I)” , from the band’s 2012 album “The Strange Case Of…”

The band was up against ANTHRAX, IRON MAIDEN, LAMB OF GOD, MARILYN MANSON and MEGADETH in the category.

Writing on his official Facebook page earlier today, Bittner commented: “Well, I know I’m gonna get a lot of shit for this but I just don’t care anymore…. How the FUCK does MAIDEN, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, and my ‘other family’ ANTHRAX lose the Grammys to ________ (not gonna say the name)!!!! Shit is rotten in the music business and this proves it!!! And I thought the JETHRO TULL thing in 1989 was bad enough but this beats it hands down!!!” (METALLICA was nominated for the very first “Hard Rock/Metal Performance” Grammy in 1989, but famously lost to JETHRO TULL, a band distinguished mainly by its heavy use of flute.)

Ailing SHADOWS FALL Drummer To Return To The Road After Christmas

Posted by aliblackdiamond on December 4, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL have tapped Willis Mathiasen of 2CENTS to sit behind the drums for their current shows while SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner continues to receive treatment for acute pancreatitis.

In a new posting on his Facebook page, Bittner writes, “Well, I’m happy to say that I’m feeling much better, back to playing, and almost feel 100%. Too bad my insides are still not 100%, but they’re healing nicely, primarily due to me staying off the road and resting. I have another round of bloodwork next week, in which the docs think I should be back to all normal internal functions by then, but they still are prohibiting me from leaving until after my endoscope on December 18 (they need to hopefully find the cause of the pancreatitis, and whether or not anything else is going on as well — but I feel pretty confident that I’ll be OK).

“So what does this mean to SHADOWS FALL? It means that I, sadly, will not be able to return until after [December] 18. In the meantime please go continue to support the band on the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE tour with my boy Willis Mathiasen covering for me. He’s got a tough job and he’s handling it like a pro, from what I’ve seen and heard… I’m really missing the band, and the fans and tour, but I promise that I WILL be on the last dates of the tour after [Christmas starting with the Baltimore concert on December 27]. Well, unless the apocalypse actually comes on [December] 21!!!”

SHADOWS FALL is touring in support of its new album, “Fire From The Sky”, which sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on May 15 via Razor & Tie.

SHADOWS FALL Drummer Diagnosed With Acute Pancreatitis

Posted by aliblackdiamond on October 30, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner has been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and has canceled his previously announced appearance at the 2012 PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention), set to take place October 31 through November 4 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.

PASIC is the largest percussion event in the world, which consists of over 120 concerts, clinics, panels, presentations and much more.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Bittner says, “Due to my recent health issues, I am under doctors orders to cancel my trip to Austin this week to perform at PASIC 2012.

“For over a week, what I thought was a stomach bug (and I was still on tour when all of this started), I came home last week and went to the doctors, and it was written off as just that, a bug. This past Saturday, the pain came back and lingered into Sunday, which forced me into the emergency room yesterday. After a day in the hospital, I was poked, prodded, tested and it turns out I have acute pancreatitis, which I’m told can be very serious if left untreated. They’re not sure what brought it on (my doctor thinks it was viral), but I have been told by my doctors to not leave this week because I need to sent for more tests/MRI, etc., to make 100% sure I’ll be road ready for the second leg of the SHADOWS FALL tour, which starts November 8. I should be fine, but needless to say, I’m very disappointed I will not be able to come perform in Austin this week! Maybe PASIC 2013??”

SHADOWS FALL‘s tour with GOD FORBID, THY WILL BE DONE and TRUMPET THE HARLOT will kick off in Norfolk, Virginia.

The band is touring in support of its new album, “Fire From The Sky”, which sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.

“Fire From The Sky” was released on May 15 via Razor & Tie.