Stephen Perkins

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Steel Pan Project PAN ROCKS Release Documentary Of “Pan Rocks Project LA” Sessions

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 19, 2018
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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PAN ROCKS is the brainchild of heavy metal drummer turned internationally recognized steelpannist, Tracy Thornton. Last summer PAN ROCKS entered the Ocean Studios Burbank in Los Angeles, CA, recording 5 songs for the “Project LA” sessions, with Producer Matt Starr (Mr Big, Ace Frehley) and 30 steel pannists from around the world, along side Billy Sheehan (Mr Big), Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Bruce Kulick (KISS) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction).

This is what Tracy Thornton, the mastermind of the Project, has to say on the documentary:

This is the documentary of the “Pan Rocks Project LA” sessions that features the Pan Rocks Steel Orchestra led by steelpannist Tracy Thornton and joined by members of Jane’s Addiction, KISS, LA Guns, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth as well as Cellist sensations Emil & Dariel. This documentary takes you inside this groundbreaking musical project recorded at Ocean Studios Burbank in Los Angeles, CA. Hear from the steelpannists involved, the rock stars that signed on, producer Matt Starr and Pan Rocks creator Tracy Thornton on how all of this came about and went down. Enjoy!

Watch the documentary here:

“Pan Rocks” soul purpose is to get people excited about the steelpan art form, while at the same time, show the world the possibilities, the capabilities and diversity this amazing gift to the world from Trinidad & Tobago has by introducing it into uncharted territories and musical genres such as Rock, Punk and Heavy Metal!

To learn more about Pan Rocks or to contact Tracy Thornton directly go to http://www.panrocks.com for producer Matt Starr http://www.mattstarrmusic.com

Metal Shock Finland‘s Tarja Virmakari had a very interesting chat both with the PAN ROCKS mastermind, Tracy Thornton, and the drummer/producer Matt Starr, talking in detail about this unique project, PAN ROCKS, and the details around it. Join the conversation below:

Also watch below the videos PAN ROCKS have released from the LA Sessions:

Steel Pan Project PAN ROCKS Release Fifth Video “Carol Of The Bells” From “Project LA” Sessions

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

PanRocks-band

PAN ROCKS is the brainchild of heavy metal drummer turned internationally recognized steelpannist, Tracy Thornton. This past summer PAN ROCKS entered the Ocean Studios Burbank in Los Angeles, CA, recording 5 songs for the “Project LA” sessions, with Producer Matt Starr (Mr Big, Ace Frehley) and 30 steel pannists from around the world, along side Billy Sheehan (Mr Big), Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Bruce Kulick (KISS) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction).

Today PAN ROCKS have unleashed the fifth video “Carol Of The Bells” from the “Project LA” sessions, watch it below.

Stated PAN ROCKS:
“The Holiday season is upon us, so here is “Carol Of The Bells” Pan Rocks style (from the Project LA Sessions) to help you get in the spirit! Please feel free to share!”

Also watch the first 4 videos from the LA sessions, released in these past weeks:

“Pan Rocks” soul purpose is to get people excited about the steelpan art form, while at the same time, show the world the possibilities, the capabilities and diversity this amazing gift to the world from Trinidad & Tobago has by introducing it into uncharted territories and musical genres such as Rock, Punk and Heavy Metal!

To learn more about Pan Rocks or to contact Tracy Thornton directly go to http://www.panrocks.com for producer Matt Starr http://www.mattstarrmusic.com

Just recently Metal Shock Finland‘s Tarja Virmakari had a very interesting chat both with the PAN ROCKS mastermind, Tracy Thornton, and the drummer/producer Matt Starr, talking in detail about this unique project, PAN ROCKS, and the details around it. Join the conversation below:

See the main interview tobics here:

(O:25) Two drummers, from different backgrounds, now working together for this amazing project PAN ROCKS…

(2:30) Tracy talks about his first two loves, Rock Music and Steelpan.

(3:58) This past summer PAN ROCKS entered the Ocean Studios Burbank in Los Angeles for the “Project LA” sessions and yielded 5 songs, all produced my Matt.

(12:00) One of the recorded videos was the Jane’s Addiction song “Been Caught Stealing”.

(12:37) Jane’s Addiction posted the video on their Facebook page. The post received over 90,000 views and 800+ shares in one week.

(14:55) The groundbreaking project was recorded in 360° video and a documentary will be released in the near future.

(16:50) PAN ROCKS’ soul and purpose.

(20:10) What will happen next with PAN ROCKS?

(24:35) Besides PAN ROCKS Matt and Tracy told about their other engagements.

Tracy Thornton

Audio Interview With PAN ROCKS Mastermind TRACY THORNTON And Producer MATT STARR, Talking About Steelpan Art Form, “Project LA” Sessions And More!

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 13, 2017
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

PanRocks-band

Interview by Tarja Virmakari

PAN ROCKS is the brainchild of heavy metal drummer turned internationally recognized steelpannist, Tracy Thornton. The idea is to have as many steelpannists as possible on stage performing Rock music. Since the first PAN ROCKS concert in 2013, Tracy has put on PAN ROCKS themed concerts with University, High School and Community steel bands throughout the continental US, as well as performed in Hawaii, Trinidad & Tobago, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Mexico, Canada and throughout Europe. He has performed on stage with Greg Bissonette (Ringo Star, David Lee Roth), John Blackwell (Prince and Justin Timberlake), Ndugu Chancler (Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock) Stephen Perkin’s (Jane’s Addiction, Porno For Pyros) and he was chosen to put together a 75+ piece steel band to perform a showcase concert at PASIC 2015 in San Antonio, TX.

This past summer PAN ROCKS took the next step in getting the steelpan instrument to the masses and went into Ocean Studios Burbank in Los Angeles, CA, recording 5 songs for the “Project LA” sessions, with Producer Matt Starr (Mr Big, Ace Frehley) and 30 steel pannists from around the world, along side Billy Sheehan (Mr Big), Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Bruce Kulick (KISS) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction). One of the recorded songs was the Jane’s Addiction song “Been Caught Stealing”, which received over 90,000 views and 800+ shares in one week. Furthermore, the groundbreaking “Project LA” was recorded in 360 video and a documentary will be released in the near future of this first-of-its-kind recording session.

TracyThorntonPanRocks

Tracy Thornton

Last Saturday, November 11th, Metal Shock Finland‘s Tarja Virmakari had a very interesting chat both with the PAN ROCKS mastermind, Tracy Thornton, and the drummer/producer Matt Starr, talking in detail about this unique project, PAN ROCKS, and the details around it. Join the conversation below:

See the main interview tobics here:

(O:25) Two drummers, from different backgrounds, now working together for this amazing project PAN ROCKS…

(2:30) Tracy talks about his first two loves, Rock Music and Steelpan.

(3:58) This past summer PAN ROCKS entered the Ocean Studios Burbank in Los Angeles for the “Project LA” sessions and yielded 5 songs, all produced my Matt.

(12:00) One of the recorded videos was the Jane’s Addiction song “Been Caught Stealing”.

(12:37) Jane’s Addiction posted the video on their Facebook page. The post received over 90,000 views and 800+ shares in one week.

(14:55) The groundbreaking project was recorded in 360° video and a documentary will be released in the near future.

(16:50) PAN ROCKS’ soul and purpose.

(20:10) What will happen next with PAN ROCKS?

(24:35) Besides PAN ROCKS Matt and Tracy told about their other engagements.

The first 4 “Project LA Sessions” videos can be watched here:

“Kashmir”

“Detroit Rock City”

“Dain Brammage”

“Been Caught Stealing”

“Pan Rocks” soul purpose is to get people excited about the steelpan art form, while at the same time, show the world the possibilities, the capabilities and diversity this amazing gift to the world from Trinidad & Tobago has by introducing it into uncharted territories and musical genres such as Rock, Punk and Heavy Metal!

To learn more about Pan Rocks or to contact Tracy Thornton directly go to http://www.panrocks.com for producer Matt Starr http://www.mattstarrmusic.com

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Steel Pan Project PAN ROCKS Gets A Big Boost From JANE’S ADDICTION

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 4, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

PanRocks-band

Earlier this year, world renown steel pannist and creator of PAN ROCKS, Tracy Thornton collaborated with producer Matt Starr (Mr Big, Ace Frehley) to record 30 steel pannists from around the world along side Billy Sheehan (Mr Big), Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Bruce Kulick (KISS) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction). The project was recorded at Ocean Studios in Burbank and yielded 5 songs. One of the songs was the Jane’s Addiction song “Been Caught Stealing”. On October 16 Jane’s Addiction posted a video for the Pan Rocks version of “Been Caught Stealing” on their Facebook page. The post received over 90,000 views and 800+ shares in one week. Watch the video below.

The recording is the first step in what Thornton says are some big plans for 2018. “It has always been my vision to bring together the Trinidadian Steelpan, the visuals of Carnival and rock and roll in a traveling circus type show. This recording was the first step towards realizing that vision.” “It’s an honor to be part of this project”, says Jane’s drummer Stephen Perkins, who first met Thornton in 2009. After several years of developing his idea, Thornton met drummer/producer Matt Starr in 2016. “The combination of music and culture is incredibly powerful and a natural match,” says Starr. “There is so much mystique, sexuality and power in the way the Trinidadians celebrate Carnival, it lends itself perfectly to a spectacular rock and roll show.”

The sessions were documented by 360 video pioneer Dave Faires. Thornton and Starr have been talks with Dave and his partner Tim Hicks who’s collective credits include Coldplay, Stevie Wonder and a record setting journey to the top of Mount Everest. The team is creating a show that would encompass elements of live music and dance combined with 360 degree footage, live streaming content and live VJ effects inside of a giant portable dome. “The idea is to first present it using a hybrid of live performance and 360 Video to start and then build it into the full live show”, says Thornton. “We will premier the show in a few select cities including Las Vegas in 2018 before ultimately taking it on the road.”

Videos for the remaining 5 songs recorded will be released over the next 4 weeks starting on November 1, 2017. Titles include “Detroit Rock City” (featuring Bruce Kulick), the Led Zeppelin classic “Kashmir” (featuring Russian rock cellists from America’s Got Talent Emil and Dariel), an original composition entitled “Dain Bramage” and the Holiday classic, “Carol Of The Bells” also featuring Emil and Dariel. ‘Like’ the page http://www.facebook.com/PanRocksShow to see the video premiers.

To learn more about Pan Rocks or to contact Tracy Thornton directly go to http://www.panrocks.com for producer Matt Starr http://www.mattstarrmusic.com

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