Category Archives: music

music

DVD Review: “The Big 4”

Leave a comment

So I finally bought the “Big 4” live music DVD. The history making concert in Sofia, Bulgaria with 4 iconic metal bands all in one show. They are: Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica. Here is a brief review of the DVD.

I thought all 4 performances were just amazing of course. All 4 bands played amazingly tight. Honestly, I never really listened to Anthrax that much before, and after hearing them on this DVD makes me want to buy more of their music, only the stuff with Joey Belladonna as the vocalist ’cause he is an awesome singer.

I love Slayer and knew most of their songs they played on this DVD. The same with Megadeth and Metallica. Some people don’t see it in me, but I’m a metalhead. I love the genre. I’ve been listening to metal for years, ever since the 80’s hair metal days.

The sound and the picture on the DVD is just mind blowing. The music on the DVD is loud. So if you have a home theater surround sound system, the drums might blow your subwoofer if you turn it up so loud, lol.

Another thing that’s cool, is that the DVD has a 49 minute documentary, giving you a behind the scenes look of that whole concert. The documentary shows all the bands traveling to that venue and arriving there. It shows the setup of the concert, meeting fans backstage and all that stuff. It also shows private conversations with the bands in the dressing rooms.

The thing that amazed me the most is the friendship between Dave Mustaine and Lars Ulrich. Remember, those two guys used to be enemies for years. It was Lars who fired Dave from Metallica 30 years ago. Now they are on the DVD acting like they are brothers or best friends or something. I’ll admit it almost brought a tear to my eye.

I’m just so happy that the feud between Metallica and Megadeth is finally over. Dave Mustaine looks very happy about it too. This was good of Dave to do, bury the hatchet. You can’t hold negative grudges forever. You gotta patch it up sometime. It’s called forgiving and forget. That’s what Metallica did. They finally forgave Dave for his troubles. Now Metallica and Megadeth are finally touring after so many years.

This was supposed to happen a long time ago. Metallica and Megadeth sharing the stage. Now it’s finally happening. Now the Big 4 show is set for a few US shows with them being booked for Yankee Statium in NYC. Oh man, I would love to go to the Yankee Stadium show, ’cause that would be fucking badass!

Now that Metallica and Megadeth finally buried the hatchet, lets hope for a supergroup collaboration. Maybe both Metallica and Megadeth can do an album together under a different band name, ’cause that would be a pretty cool side project for them. I’m pretty sure Dave Mustaine, Lars, James, and Kirk would plan a studio project together in the future. Maybe even Dave would let some of the boys in Metallica play on a song for the new Megadeth album, who knows. All of this is possible now they are friends again.

This is a must buy for all metalheads out there. So do yourself a favor and get it. I don’t buy music DVD’s too much but only the ones I’m interested in.

Kev

Books, music

Report: Tony Iommi to release his own autobiography later this fall…

Leave a comment

Metal legend, Tony Iommi is set to release his own autobiography this year titled, “Iron Man: My Life With Black Sabbath and Beyond”. The book is set for a Nov. 1st release date.

Tony didn’t write this book on a computer. He just wrote it by pen and paper. Why? I’ll imagine the reason he didn’t type it because he lost the tip of a few fingers of his right hand. It be hard to type that way, right? So he had no choice but to write it by hand.

The legendary guitarist is open about everything about his life. His childhood, his freak accident at the factory he worked at where he injured his right hand, music, guitar playing, how he started Black Sabbath, how he came up with the sound of “metal” which he invented, his failed marriages, drugs, alcohol, etc.

I love to read musician biographies ’cause they are interesting to learn. I’m more interested on Tony’s insight on music. You can expect a lot of guitar playing talk mostly. I’ll also expect a lot of Ronnie James Dio talk as well. I’m interested in what made him want to pick up the guitar and how he started playing.

There’s a lot of great metal guitarists out there, but in my opinion, Tony is one of the true greats. He started it all. The founder of metal. Tony was at the top of his game back in the 60’s and 70’s, he was very popular back then. Seems like no one knows who Tony is anymore. He is a talented guitar player. I’m a huge fan of the guy.

Read more on the story, here.

Kev

music

Well, Mr. Springsteen and Neil Young, when are your Bin Laden songs coming???

Leave a comment

You know Springsteen and Neil Young are gonna do a song on Bin Laden. Which will be first to go at it? I think Springsteen will do it first. Expect plenty of other bands and songwriters to do a song on him too.

Even I’m probably gonna do a song on Bin Laden as you know a lot of my songs are very political. In fact, I already started working on one as I’m typing this. I’ll make it public when I’m ready.

Kev

music

The Top 15 Best Album cover art of all times!!!

Leave a comment

What are my favorite album covers art of all times? I’m talking about the art of the front cover of the albums.

Here is the list below along with the pictures:

1. Twisted Sister – Stay Hungry

(I picked this album cover first because this is the best album cover art of all times. This album cover is done in the right way that makes you want to buy this album just for the cover alone. This is the reason I had this album on vinyl as a child because it was so badass. I ended up loving Twisted Sister after this too, and still love the band today)

2. Sammy Hagar – VOA

(Another one of the baddest album covers of all time. Very creative and different)

3. Led Zeppelin IV – ZOSO

(When I first got into Led Zeppelin, this was of course the first album that I bought by them because I loved the cover of the album. I immediately thought this had to be the greatest rock album of all times and it was)

4. Nirvana “In Utero”

(Nirvana had quite a few great album covers but this is my favorite one)

5. Beatles “Sgt. Peppers”

(Can’t leave this classic album cover off this list or else I could disappoint my readers if I don’t)

6. The Smashing Pumpkins “Mellie Collie & The Infinite Sadness”

(The Pumpkins are great at creating album cover art. This is the best one. I like the art on it)

7. Joe Satriani “Surfing With the Alien”

(Not many albums these days puts comic book superhero’s on the cover. Joe actually had the guts to put the Silver Surfer on the cover of this amazing shred album)

8. Blind Melon – self titled

(This is one of my favorite album covers in the 90’s. It’s different and creative)

9. Dire Straits “Money For Nothing”

(The cover of this album is so badass it makes you want to buy this album for the cool cover alone itself. I miss the old days when Mark Knopfler was at top of the game)

10. Bjork “Vespertine”

(This is a beautiful album cover, Bjork in her swan dress and creative photoshop work with a ghostly like swan appearing over her. When you look at this album cover, it is telling you that this is going to be an amazing album that will give you goosebumps and it did)

11. Katy Perry “Teenage Dream”

(There’s been a lot of sexy album covers over the years, but this is the sexiest I’ve ever seen. What is the message she’s trying to say on that cover? It’s all “candy” the way it looks. What she’s laying on, is not clouds, it looks to me cotton candy. In the “Teenage Dream” title, looks to be candy canes. In the “Katy Perry” name looks to be licorice or twizzlers or something. It’s a very creative album cover that’s telling you that Katy Perry is good “eye candy”. That’s the message it’s saying, I think)

12. Alice In Chains “Dirt”

(AIC are great at making album covers but this is their best one, I think)

13. U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”

(You gotta give credit for these Irish rockers, taking a pic of themselves in an airport terminal. U2 made a lot of great album covers, but this one stands out the most, I think. They’re telling you something that you just can’t figure it out)

14. Coverdale/Page

(This is one of the best rock album covers of all time, in my opinion. Jimmy Page really knows how to make his album covers)

15. The Clash “London Calling”

(A killer album with a killer album cover)

I’m sure there’s more, but those are my favorite.

Kev

music

Report: “Weird Al” finally parodies Lady Gaga…

Leave a comment

You just knew it was going to happen at some point, it was only a matter of time. “Weird Al” finally parodies the Gaga! You just never knew what hit song of hers he would parody like “Pokerface” or “Bad Romance”, but instead it ended up being, “Born This Way”. He titled it, “Perform this Way”, in which he totally rips her in the song.

A bit of controversy came over this though. Al Yankovic tried to ask her permission and he was misunderstood that he was rejected by her.

Al blogged about it, here.

I’ve always loved Weird Al’s music and I’m not guilty to say it too. Can’t wait for his new album.

Enjoy it here.

Kev

music

BREAKING NEWS: K.K. Downing, guitarist of Judas Priest retires from music…

Leave a comment

Today is a sad day for music, but understandable. Out of no where, the band Judas Priest announced that the band’s main guitarist, and one of the founding members have retire from music. He will not be playing the, “Epitaph”, tour with the band.

Announced at the band’s official website.

The band is probably going to replace a guitarist, but honestly, it’s not Judas Priest without the great, K.K. Downing. K.K. is Judas Priest. I can’t blame him hanging the boots because he’s been playing in the same band for 40 long years, playing the same songs every show. Can’t blame him for moving on.

I don’t think he’ll be gone from the music business for good though. Maybe he’ll start a solo career or maybe write an autobiography. All good things must come to an end, I guess.

Kev

movies, music

Report: Jeff Bridges set to release debut solo album with producer T-Bone Burnett…

Leave a comment

There have been a lot of actors turned musicians over the years. They all start off with their careers in their movies, but their success in the movies have helped them get record deals. There are plenty of “actors turned musicians” such as Billy Bob Thornton, Steven Seagal, Kevin Costner, Bruce Willis, Kevin Bacon, Dan Aykroyd, Jack Black, Jared Leto, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Steve Martin, Russell Crowe, etc. Jeff Bridges will join that bandwagon.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow recently just turned into a singer for her film, “Country Strong”, but will she release a solo album too after all the recognition she’s getting for her music? Wouldn’t surprise me if she has an album coming too.

Jeff will release several of his own original songs he wrote himself and he will sing some cover songs on his album.

The Hollywood Reporter, reports.

How much do you want to bet that Jeff is going to land a bunch of Grammy awards for this album since T-Bone is producing. Wouldn’t surprise me either.

Kev

music

Report: Cee Lo Green heckled by angry fans for showing up 25 minutes late for performance…

Leave a comment

Cee Lo Green, the “Fuck You” singer, was scheduled to perform at Coachella Friday @ 4:50 p.m. on the main stage. The singer showed up 25 minutes late, claiming that his flight landed late. He then apologized to fans and said he only had 20 minutes left. He only got to perform 5 songs in his set and when he started a cover of Journey’s, “Don’t Stop Believing”, the soundman cut the sound during the middle of the song. Cee Lo left the stage, angry and frustrated.

More on the story, here.

Well it looks like Coachella told Cee Lo, “Fuck You” for being late. The Coachella staff did the right thing though. Coachella doesn’t allow performers to play overtime because it’ll hold back the scheduling for the other performers. Even famous musicians can be unprofessional douchebags. They don’t care how famous you are. Coachella needs to do what’s right for the show and they need to follow the strict set times. I’m siding with Coachella on this.

As for Cee Lo being late why would a musician fly to a festival on the same day the festival is on? That was pretty much his fault. Cee Lo should have showed up a day early so he can be there early for his performance. That’s how you be a professional, show up early for your performance.

We can be sure that Coachella won’t ever be booking this midget fat ass again.

Kev

music

The entertainment industry, keeping Johnny Cash’s legacy alive…

Leave a comment

These days you hear Johnny Cash’s music everywhere. You heard “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” on the “True Grit” movie trailer and you heard the Undertaker use, “Ain’t No Grave” for his new theme song. You also heard Johnny Cash’s music in many TV commercials too. I love how they are keeping Johnny’s legacy alive.

Johnny maybe gone, but it certainly feels like he is still alive, when you keep hearing his music everywhere. People still deserve to know who Johnny Cash is. People of today’s generation wouldn’t know who he is (especially the young generation), but of course, the only people who would know who Johnny is are the longtime country fans. Continuing to play Johnny’s music in the media will help him get a new generation of fans.

Johnny deserves this and this is what he would have wanted.

Kev