Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice spoke to solo artist and Motley Crue guitarist John 5 at the 7th annual Metal Hall of Fame in Anaheim California (Jan 24,2024), who was there inducting guitarist and friend Tom Morello.
John 5 also talked about the musical direction of new Motley Crue album and his solo tour.
The Metal Voice recently spoke to Lucifer frontwoman Johanna Sadonis about the bands up and coming studio album, ‘Lucifer 5’ that will be released Jan 26, 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Sadonis also spoke about her early years relations with Rammstein and the band Ghost. Plus Sadonis reflects on the bands controversial name.
When asked about making the band appealing to the mainstream
“I don’t want to. I don’t want to change our sound. Of course I could go to invest and get a really fancy modern producer to give us this like sleek modern rock sound that all the bands have. We could do that and maybe it would make us more radio friendly or something. We could write the songs to be more accessible for the mainstream but we don’t want to because we like what we do and maybe this means we are doomed to remain in the underground. But what I can say is that we have a very loyal following and so far the band is growing. It’s growing slow but steady and from album to album the curve never goes down, we always sell every album a little bit more records than on the last one. And I see it when we tour the audience grows and we have fans that are really true fans. It’s not like a hype thing that happens quick and then it vanishes. I think it gives me the feeling that Lucifer might be here to stay.”
When asked about describing the musical direction of the new album
“I would say it has all the ingredients that a Lucifer album has always had. Hard Rock, a little bit of New Wave of British heavy Metal from the 70’s-80’s. You have doom in there, you have some sort of Pop sensibility but more in an old school sense as in very subtle way. We do listen to a lot of Soul music as well and all these things flow into us and get pushed out into a Lucifer album. I think on this album we took these typical Lucifer ingredients a little further and expended a little bit so you still have the doom and the heaviness and so on but you also have slow songs. We stay true to ourselves but the goal is always to not repeat a song that we’ve done already so hopefully we manage to keep the melodies interesting. “
When asked her past relations with the band Ghost
“We have been on tour together (with Ghost), we supported Ghost on a French arena tour which was very interesting. I’ve seen Ghost grow because I used to put on shows in Berlin (Germany) I was a small local heavy metal promoter. I used to run a club called Kill Em All Club dedicated to old school heavy metal and hard rock. I would put on bands and I put on Ghost. I think it was 2011 before the first album came out and they played in front of 80 people there. They wore masked they already had the church robes.”
When asked if she thought the band Ghost would become so successful
“No but I didn’t really think about it. The thing is I have seen another band grow like this. I grew up with the guys from Rammstein because I come from East Berlin. I have a brother that is 11 years older than me and he was a GDR punk and it was a very small punk scene in GDR because a problem with the GDR (German Democratic Republic) government politically. Rammstein also came from that same punk scene. So my brother was really close friends with Christian “Flake” Lorenz and Paul Landers. I know Flake the keyboard player since I was 3 years old. So I have seen the band rise
When asked if she thought Rammstein would be so successful
“No but you don’t consciously think about it. It happens and your like wow pretty cool and now the same thing happens with Ghost, it is amazing. It makes me really happy cause it is really makes it possible (to be successful).”
When asked if they have had problems with promoters or church groups due to the name Lucifer
“It’s funny that is a very American or North American, problem. In Sweden everything is very progressive in terms of what role the church plays versus the government and nobody raises an eyebrow at this name in Germany or Sweden at all. It’s not associated with the plague as much as it is in the USA . Sometimes I see comments (online) uh and that’s only always an Americans that says oh this band would be way more successful if their name wasn’t Lucifer in America. Sometimes somebody posts a Lucifer song and then you have the ones from the Bible Belt that are like oh my God I can’t listen to that with that name. So they don’t even give the song the time of the day because of the name. But I have thought about it, am I willing to compromise and change that name because of that? No I’m just going to keep on going.”
Although Lucifer is known to notoriously deliver critically acclaimed albums, supreme songwriting and quality recordings, LUCIFER V is rumored to be their best album yet. Combining elements of all their previous albums into one monumental mass of electrifying heavy rock and roll. Eerie landscapes shaped by soaring guitar riffs, the thunderous pounding of bass and drums from some sort of groovy inferno, haunted melodies to weep into your drink to, the screeching tires of a 1971 Cadillac hearse, the humorous morbidity and tragic wit of Johanna’s lyrics.
If death had a best friend, it would be Lucifer and they would hang out together at the local cemetery, shooting the shit.
Tracklisting:
Catch Lucifer live this November in North America on The Satanic Panic Tour co-headlining with Coven, as well as this coming February together with Angel Witch & Coven, when Lucifer brings The Satanic Panic Tour to Europe.
Lucifer is:
Johanna Platow Andersson (vocals)
Nicke Andersson Platow (drums)
Linus Björklund (guitar)
Martin Nordin (guitar)
Harald Göthblad (bass)
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Metal Allegiance, Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick.
In this fun chat Alex talks about the upcoming Metal Allegiance show on Jan 25, 2024 at the House of Blues in Anaheim. He also talks about the history of Metal Allegiance and discusses the personalities of the core group and the guests who have participated over the years.
On January 25th 2024, the band will re-assemble at The House Of Blues Anaheim for the bands 10th anniversary celebration (which will also coincide with the return of the Winter NAMM show). The night will be sponsored by Dean Guitars, ddrum and Heavys Headphones, with opening acts being Dieth, Held Hostage and QUOR.
Since the band’s inception in 2014, Metal Allegiance is comprised of the core 4 members of (Mark Menghi – bass, songwriter, Alex Skolnick – guitars, David Ellefson – bass, and Mike Portnoy – drums), and has issued two full-lengths (2015’s self-titled debut and 2018’s Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty) and an EP (2016’s Fallen Heroes).
In addition to Menghi, Portnoy, Skolnick, and Ellefson, the show will feature John Bush (Armored Saint), Chuck Billy (Testament), Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Brann Dailor (Mastodon), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), Gary Holt (Exodus/Slayer), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves / God Forbid), Hel Pyre (Nervosa) and Chris Poland (ex-Megadeth), among others in addition to their usual unannounced surprise guests.
Members of Metal Allegiance are certainly looking forward to the show.
Subscribe to The Metal Voice on Youtube for all the latest shows.
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from The Metal Voice recently interviewed Saxon singer Biff Byford. Byford talked about the bands up and coming album “Hell, Fire And Damnation” as well as the bands touring plans.
Hell, Fire And Damnation will be released on January 19, 2024 via Silver Lining Music.
When asked to give a headline summarizing the new upcoming albums
“This album is a monster ! “
When asked to describe the musical direction of the new album ‘Hell, Fire And Damnation’
“We just wanted to write the perfect rock song that’s the goal you know to write the perfect metal song and the perfect album. So that’s always our goal. So we’re always trying to write better songs and get better sounds. I think this album’s probably the best sounding Saxon album ever high-fi wise. We’re just getting closer to perfection every album.”
When asked about the lyrical inspirations on the new album
“Just thinking of stories that are interesting really that pop into my crazy head. Just things that interest me and obviously interest millions of other people as well. History is interesting and it’s forever and it’s forever renewing itself.”
When asked about one of the tracks THERE’S SOMETHING IN ROSWELL and if he enjoys a good conspiracy theory
“I like a good conspiracy theory, they’re great because it gets you thinking and uh you look at all the facts and uh should to make up your own mind.
I’d like to think that there was something in Roswell, I’m more of a believer than a disbeliever but I’m not totally sold on it. In America they interviewed a lot of people on this and they did a survey and I think 95% of people thought there was something in Roswell, so that’s where the song comes from. I mean Roswell’s Ground Zero isn’t it for UFO’s, it um all sort of started in Roswell.”
When asked if guitarist Paul Quinn participated on the new album
“Paul plays a couple of songs on the album and play solos on a few songs. We were making the album so fast and so inspired by making the album. We did it on the road in Europe on our Festival tour and Paul (Quinn) wasn’t with us because he stopped touring. So Brian (Tatler) stood up in his place and uh you know he supplied a couple of great Rifts actually, so we’re very lucky.”
When asked about Paul Quinn’s Health status
“Paul’s health is it okay, he got a bit of rheumatism in his fingers when he plays a lot and he wanted to rest. I think he wanted a quiet life. Bein in a touring Rock Band is not really a quiet life.”
When asked about if Saxon uses live tricks when performing
When we play live we don’t use click tracks or anything. Everything you get is live. We might have a few noises on Nibb’s (Carter) base pedals you know like sirens and Jet plans and things but just little effects but most what you get and what you hear is live.”
Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Twisted Sister’s singer Dee Snider about his new graphic novel by Z2 Comics ‘He’s Not Gonna take it’ outlining his battle for freedom of expression at the PMRC hearings in 1985.
Snider also touched on if Twisted Sister would ever reunite again.
Order book here.
When asked if there will ever be another Twisted Sister Reunion
“I won’t be surprised if we’re (Twisted Sister) reuniting this election year to champion some important causes. I can see we’re all on the same page (the whole band) pretty much all of us on the same page. And I could see us fighting, helping fight the good fight. I mean because this is a big picture election and with things like women’s right to choose, that’s a big picture thing you know, that’s going to hurt the other side. I say the other side because I’m not on that side. You can’t roll back the clock, we’re not going back in time, we’re going forward. So there are important important issues so it’ll be more about less about the politicians and more about the parties they represent and what they represent. “
When asked about the the aftermath of the PMRC Hearings
“I felt very abandoned by the rock community for the most part, they did not understand the importance of what was going on. And the industry as I said to you before they folded before we even spoke. They agreed to the sticker; it was a done deal. And a lot of the other musicians stayed out of it, they went quiet, they said just waited for the dust to settle. They deliberately made that move. I damaged my band. I became Public Enemy Number One even though you the fans knew we were not the worst of the bunch. But still that face to Mom and Dad was like oh yeah you can go see Motley Crue but you can’t go see Twisted Sister. My mail was checked, my phones were tapped, my packages were being checked. It was disheartening. I remember Ronnie Dio trashing me in the Press and he said who is Dee Snider to speak for us. And my first line (at the hearings) was “I cannot speak for anyone but myself he didn’t even listen to my first line and then reacted and spoke out against me, years later he apologized but no one remembers the retraction.”
Dee Snider and Z2 Comics have teamed up to bring you Dee Snider: HE’S NOT GONNA TAKE IT.
The name of Dee Snider is synonymous with the battle for freedom of expression in the arts. This new graphic novel will follow the impact of it throughout Dee’s life. From a childhood where he was frequently silenced, through the early efforts to stifle his band’s music, to the open warfare of the PMRC hearings in Washington DC, and his current efforts on social media, HE’S NOT GONNA TAKE IT tells the story of why free speech is so important to this man who has fought for it. Even when it endangered everything that was important to him.
Creator Credits
Written by Dee Snider and Frank Marraffino. Interior art by Steve Kurth featuring covers by Erik Rodriguez and Josh Bernstein. Prints by Roy Burdine, Javier Aranda and Carlos Olivares. Edited by Rantz A. Hoseley and designed by Josh Bernstein.
The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was an American committee formed in 1985 with the stated goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to have violent, drug-related, or sexual themes via labeling albums with Parental Advisory stickers. The committee was founded by four women known as the “Washington Wives”—a reference to their husbands’ connections with government in the Washington, D.C. area. The women who founded the PMRC are Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice President Al Gore; Susan Baker, wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker; Pam Howar, wife of Washington realtor Raymond Howar; and Sally Nevius, wife of former Washington City Council Chairman John Nevius. The PMRC eventually grew to include 22 participants before shutting down in the mid-to-late 1990s.
For The Metal Voice Neil Turbin bowled and reported on this years Bowl For Ronnie James Dio 2023.
Turbin conducted two interviews, one with guitarist Juan Garcia from (Body Count, Agent Steel, EvilDead) and second with singer Sean Killian from Vio-lence.
In the interview with Sean Killian, Killian explains a serious liver medial condition that he had to overcome, he said, “It’s a genetic deal, it’s called alpha 1 Alpha1–antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency and Alpha1–antitrypsin is a protein that cleans your liver cells and your lung cells. I was 51 and I had full-blown Cirrhosis from the disease, it’s a genetic thing and then went through hell for about you know 20 months. Then I got what they call a living donor transplant, somebody gave up 63% of their liver. They went into the operating room before me at 7:00am I went in at 9:00am they were out at noon I was in there till uh I think I got out at like 10:00pm at night. It was something that you didn’t ask for but it was I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. “
Camera by Gustavo Guimaraes
100% of the net proceeds from the BOWL FOR RONNIE event will go to the Dio Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org). The Pinz Bowling Center is located at 12655 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, California.
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund was formed in memory of the legendary rock singer Ronnie James Dio, who lost his life to gastric cancer in 2010. A privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund has already raised over $2 million in its history. Monies raised have been committed to the cancer research work of the T. J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research, the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life, and other cancer research projects. For the past seven years, the Dio Cancer Fund has committed funds to support the research of Dr. David Wong and his team at the UCLA School of Dentistry in developing a simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer, which is in keeping with the Fund’s mission of cancer prevention, research and education.
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 