Category Archives: music

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Black Sabbath’s “13”, I think is the best album released this year… so far, anyway…

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When I first heard the new Black Sabbath album, “13”, I was like… eh? It’s okay but could have been better but now I think this album is the best album released this year. It’s definitely a grower for sure. I can’t stop listening to this album. I’m always throwing it on my CD player and keep coming back to it. This is the best thing that Ozzy has done in a long long time and I’m very proud of him. Really, I am. Ozzy’s solo career haven’t been that great over the years and now that Sabbath is back — he’s back to making kick ass music again. The songwriting is really good on this album. Tony still has the great riffs and the sick guitar solos. Sabbath still has the vintage heavy sound they’ve always had; however, they have a more modern sound this time around. They want to fit with the current metal sound a little bit which is a good idea. They don’t sound as scary and dark anymore like they used to but this album is still a pretty sick album. Loved it. Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer still has it.

As far as Bill Ward goes, who needs him? Sabbath has went through like 20 different drummers over the years, and don’t blame the band for the Bill Ward departure. Black Sabbath said repeatedly in interviews that they really wanted Bill to be a part of this reunion but Bill wanted no part of it. It was all Bill’s decision alone that he wanted out. It’s lame blaming Sharon Osbourne for this too. Band lineups changes over the years, it happens. Despite Bill not being in the band, their new album, “13”, was no. 1 in various charts all over the world… and that includes the Billboard Top 200 in the US. So the album is successful without Bill, anyways, so who needs him, right?

Congratulations to Black Sabbath. After a 30-50 year career… everyone still loves Sabbath.

I don’t see this album being the final Sabbath album ’cause the guys have been talking about doing more after this one. As long as Tony is still alive, they’ll keep doing what they do. I’ve always loved Sabbath with Ozzy fronting. Dio-Sabbath was cool too, though.

Black Sabbath being successful proves that metal can get big again. I wish metal would take over the mainstream again.

Kev

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I think Rollingstone magazine should be sued and shut down…

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For once, I’m with most people in America that what Rollingstone magazine did was in bad taste. I always knew that Rollingstone was a shit magazine but they really went low when they put the Boston bomber on the front cover. Therefor, I’m never buying their magazine again and never even going to Rollingstone.com. I used to subscribe to the magazine during my high school years. I used to be a fan of the magazine but not anymore. Their articles are shit. Their reviews are shit. Their top 100 lists are shit. They would do anything for attention. Like most people. I’m boycotting Rollingstone. I hate Jan Wenner, that guy sucks and he knows nothing about music.

It’s cool they want to write about the Boston bombings, nothing wrong with it but giving the Boston bomber the rock-star status by putting him on the cover is crossing the line. It’s okay that news magazines like TIME, Newsweek or something like that would put him on the cover but an entertainment magazine. NO!

Rollingstone were a garbage magazine anyway.

Kev

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What happened to the tour bus, Mr. Dave Matthews???

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Dave Matthews was on his way to a DMB concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania on a bicycle (yes, on a bicycle) but his bike broke down. Dave was in a hurry to get to the show so he had no choice but to try and get a ride with someone else. A young woman who is a die-hard fan picked him up and they brought him to the show. In return, Dave took the couple out to dinner, gave them front-row seats and backstage passes.

My question is and I’m sure everyone is wondering the same thing, why wasn’t Dave on the tour bus with the rest of his bandmates? I guess during the hot and summer weather, he wanted the exercise and fresh air by taking a long bicycle trip. He doesn’t keep things fancy and expensive like most rock stars. Looks like he just wants to keep things simple and normal.

I’m not much of a DMB fan anymore like I used to… thought I would share this funny story. Dave is a pretty rich guy. I’m sure he can get to all his shows either by tour bus or limo. I think he just wanted to go for a nice bike ride in the country area and enjoy the moment. I’m sure his band wouldn’t leave him. He just loves bike riding… kind of like me.

Even though Dave seems cool… he does have a strange and weird behavior.

Read the full story, here.

Kev

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Phish and drugs…

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This news story, here,  has been making the rounds of facebook so I thought I would respond my thoughts to it. Phish had a three day concert at a venue called SPAC in Saratoga Springs. Phish is a well-known psychedelic jam band who kind of sounds similar to the Grateful Dead but a little different w/ Trey Anastasio being the band’s frontman and guitarist. Look like the police had a bit of fun that weekend and kept themselves busy. One concert goer was found dead and about 80 other people were arrested. Not just for pot but various of other hard drugs all over the place.

Yet, people in this generation are trying to understand why? Why do people do drugs at Phish shows? I’ve been to a couple of Phish shows myself and I know what it’s like. When you go to Phish shows there are drug addicts everywhere. They would do them outside of the venue and they would do them in the venue too.

This is nothing new with people doing drugs at rock concerts. This goes way back in the 60’s rock n’ roll era. Especially Woodstock ’69. Woodstock ’69 was all about the hard drugs and the hippie lifestyle. People were doing drugs at all rock band shows back in those days. People did drugs at Hendrix shows, Led Zeppelin shows, The Who, The Doors, Beatles, Cream, etc. Of course, when the Grateful Dead came around that’s when the drug culture in rock music became big and mainstream.

I wouldn’t really blame Phish on the drugs at concerts. That’s the way the hippie lifestyle is.

Don’t get me wrong… I absolutely love the psychedelic era of rock n’ roll and I LOVE jam band music but I hate the hippie lifestyle. They may seem like nice people but honestly they’re a bunch of losers who don’t have much going on in their life, anways. All those people do is party hard.

I’m not a hard partier. I don’t do illegal drugs and don’t do alcohol but I have been to plenty of jam band shows so I know all about the hippie lifestyle. I do agree; however, that drugs at concerts are getting out of hand. The Dave Matthews Band have drug addicts at their gigs too. Why do fans of these jam bands wanna get stoned or tripped up on drugs at these concerts? Well, I think the obvious reason is that they think that’s part of the gigs, and they think that’s how they have fun so they can dance, and party with the other hippies. It’s all part of a social gathering.

Doing drugs at concerts is nothing new… and it’s not just the jam band genre. People do drugs at metal shows and even country concerts. The reason cops show up at jam band shows is because that’s where there will be a lot more action for them and a bigger payday for them.

Remember… don’t blame Phish… that’s just how the hippie lifestyle is. Yes, hippies still exist to this day and those people really bother me.

I can still go to a concert by not getting stoned or drunk or whatever, and still have a lot of fun!!! I can still dance like crazy by not doing any drugs. I’ll admit it though — I was drunk as hell at one Phish show but I don’t drink anymore.

Kev

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Black Sabbath’s new album, “13”, number one?

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Just like with Queens of the Stone Age making a no. 1 record, it’s hard to believe with Black Sabbath as well! Black Sabbath are now no. 1 on the Billboard top 200 for their new album, “13”. After all these years, Sabbath w/ Ozzy fronting, still has the love!

If rock musicians keep going and keep up the good work, we can have a rock revival in the industry for sure!

Congrats to these guys, well deserved. I listened to “13” with free Itunes streaming. The album is pretty good but I still prefer their classics more. I’ll admit they aren’t the same without Bill Ward on drums.

Now their comeback is a success be on the lookout for even more Sabbath w/ Ozzy albums in the future as long as Tony is still alive.

Kev

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Congrats, Queens of the Stone Age, who are billboard kings!!!

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It’s hard to believe but this is for reals! A rock n’ roll band no. 1 on the Billboard! QOTSA’s newest album, “Like Clockwork”, made Billboard history by knocking off Daft Punk off the no. 1 spot. Yes, out of their 6 albums… they never made a no. 1 record until now — even their other iconic album, “Songs for the Deaf”, wasn’t a no. 1 record. Sometimes it takes a long time to get there and I’m pretty sure these guys never expected this to happen. I’m sure this surprised the hell out of Josh and the guys.

I was never that big on QOTSA but I do have their “Songs for the Deaf” album which is an amazing album btw. I haven’t got their new album yet which I will soon.

Rock n’ roll needs a new revolution here. I’m tired of fake pop, country, and rap artists taking over the industry. Rock is trying to comeback but fails. QOTSA making a no. 1 album is proof that rock still can get big again.

Remember the 90’s when grunge and metal were taking over the Billboard like crazy? A rock take-over can happen again. Josh is a talented singer and songwriter, can’t deny that at all. I’ve always admired him. He’s unique and different. Glad all the kids finally decided to listen to some great music for a change. Guys who plays real instruments and writes their own songs.

If the people in American music can pay attention to more rock bands instead of Justin Bieber, we can have a great music industry again!

Kev

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Paris Jackson, my belief on what led her to become suicidal…

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Paris Jackson, the daughter of pop icon, Michael Jackson, has been admitted to the same hospital where the King of Pop died. Why? Because Paris has become suicidal. She came close to killing herself by cutting her wrists ’cause she was bullied online and felt alone. While those were probably the reasons she became suicidal, I think there is way more to it than that. The thing is, I think Paris had a tough childhood. In the early days, Michael kept his kids isolated from the public for protection, and when they go out, they were forced to get masked/hidden from public view. Now that Michael is gone, she can freely go out in the public unmasked all she wants to. I also believe that Michael’s troubled past with the drugs, child molestation accusations, etc. is what also helped drive her into depression. Since Michael has been such a target on his strange & weird behaviors when he was alive, I bet she is being made fun of for this reason. On top of all this, another reason could be that even though that she even might agree that M.J. had problems, she still loves him ’cause he was her father and she misses him terribly.

It’s got to be very difficult for her to be the kid of the most famous person in the world. M.J.’s death and his troubled past will be with her for the rest of her life so this is gonna be tough on her. It’s gonna be hard for her to get accepted in this society for that reason alone. She wants to live her life like any normal human being would but people are going to see her differently ’cause of M.J.

Despite M.J.’s personal problems, I’ve always been a fan of his music. Still do like his music. He may have been a bit of a whack job but his personal problems and musical talent should be kept separate. You can’t deny that he was a talented man.

Paris Jackson and the kids are going to need plenty of counseling if they want to grow up living a good life. They shouldn’t grow up ending up like Michael. I’m no fan of Marilyn Manson but he did the right thing paying respects to her at his concert. He did it ’cause she was a big fan of his music so kudos to him and it was his way of showing that the people are behind her, and everyone supports her.

This is really sad stuff, though, and I wish nothing but the best of Paris too. She seems like a good kid who is scared, confused, and sad. Lets hope she gets all the help that she needs so she can rebuild her life into a more positive direction.

Kev

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Report: Nine Inch Nails to release new album…

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I was never that big on NIN but I do like them. I’ve heard their songs on the radio over the years and I admire Trent’s talent; he’s quite a guy. Trent just announced that he has been keeping a new NIN album secret all along. It’ll get released through Columbia Records, and Trent promises the album will be fucking great. This is exciting news, though. I’ll be looking forward to the new record myself.

See Trent’s announcement, here.

Kev

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How Scott Weiland is going to win the dismissal, all the way…

I just read the actual STP lawsuit that was filed against their former frontman, Scott Weiland. I read it over a couple of times.

Read it for yourself, here.

Harsh, very harsh. While you may read that lawsuit, I’m sure you’re going to mistakenly side with the band and you might agree that Scott deserves everything he’s getting. Well to be honest, it really sounds like the band is just telling they’re side of the story. So don’t believe everything they’ve written in their lawsuit.

You see here’s the thing, guys. The band claims that in 1996 they had each member sign a written agreement, the STP Partnership they were referring to. They claim that they have an STP Partnership group that if any member leaves a band they agree to not use the STP band name, songs, designs or any other trademarks for their other projects. I would think Scott has all the right to use the STP name and perform STP songs at his solo shows as he pleases.

I did a little research on trademarks and copyrights. You should too. Go to the trademark website, and look up the STP band name. All 4 original members of STP share the Stone Temple Pilots together. As long as all 4 members is a registrant to the Stone Temple Pilots name, I would think they can use the band name for their other projects all they want to. I also searched the copyright records for the STP song catalogue and it’s pretty much the same there as well. Most STP songs are copyrighted by all 4 members as a registrant. Therefor, Scott shares everything with the band like I’ve been repeatedly saying.

On top of that, the band accuses Scott of making the band look bad by using the STP name and performing their songs to push his solo career. Well if I remember correctly back in 2006 after STP parted ways for a while, Scotty went on to form the Velvet Revolver and the other three members of STP: Robert, Dean and Eric formed another band with that Filter singer in which they named that band, Army of Anyone. Well guess what? Yes, you betcha Army of Anyone used the STP name to help push the band out there and they performed STP songs at all of their shows. So honestly, the other guys: Robert, Dean and Eric are acting like hypocrites when they accuse Scott of these things. To explain the hypocrisy even more, they accuse Scott of stealing the band’s creation when they just released a Megaphone t-shirt; the Megaphone idea was all Scott’s.

I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know anything about the legal stuff but I’m just making observations.

I don’t believe there was ever a written agreement, the STP Partnership, that the band claims. If it was true, then Army of Anyone wouldn’t have used STP to push that band out there. They would have broken the agreement if they did.

Remember, the band is just telling their side of the story, and Scott is just telling his side of the story when he tries to defend himself. It’s all up for the judge to decide. I think STP will get no where with this lawsuit simple because Scott shares everything with them. The band could also be lying about everything they said about Scott being late for concerts and all that stuff.   If the other three guys can play STP songs with their other bands, then why can’t Scott?

On top of this, Scott is the lead singer of STP and he had a huge hand in writing all of the songs so that reason alone is why I believe he has every right to use the STP name and perform their songs all he wants to. He was the one who helped give the band that success so he deserves to celebrate what the band did in the past. The band should be proud of Scott of what he did with the band but nope…. ego and jealousy have to get in the way with everything. Like I said before, that’s the name of the game in the music business. You’re gonna come across a lot of people you can’t trust and a lot of backstabbing. A lot of drama around.

The band also accuses Scott of drug use, of course, but I wouldn’t really believe that either. Scott could be clean, healthy, and good as well.

I’ll be following this feud pretty closely so if anymore news come up in the future, I’ll post my thoughts. I still think Scott is innocent. I’m sure he’ll be successful at proving his innocence when he battles this out in court. It’ll be even better if they just bury the hatchet and act like grown ups but like I said bands are ego-driven pieces of crap, and they don’t care. The band accuses Scott of being selfish when they are the same.

Kev

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More proof on how STP fired Scott Weiland just to make him look ridiculous…

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Just for the hell of it, I decided to go looking through the STP official website. The band just released a Megaphone t-shirt for sale and it’s a brand new shirt that was released shortly after Scott was fired. Um, excuse me. Whose idea was it to bring the megaphone into the band? Yes, that’s right. None other than Scott Weiland. The megaphone was part of Scott’s well-known trademark for the band. He used the megaphone for a lot of STP songs. He used it all over the first album and Scott used the megaphone a lot for STP shows. To have the band release that shirt after his so-called firing, proves that the rest of the guys are intentionally trying to destroy Scott’s reputation as a person and as a musician himself.

Honestly, I believe they had no reason to get rid of Scotty. They did it hoping to get more publicity… a publicity stunt kind of thing. They did it ’cause they know everyone would be talking about it and they figure it would be good promotion for the band. It’s a ploy. They got the idea when Velvet Revolver booted Scotty a long while back.

Check out the megaphone t-shirt, here.

I know I talk about this a lot but hey, I’m a fan of the band too and like most fans… I hate how they are now. I heard all of STP albums and saw them live in concert once when Scott was the frontman.

I still think Scott is going to prevail in this legal battle. Why? The answer is easy. It’s going to be very difficult for STP to prove how Scott is misusing their band name to push his solo career. Scott has the right to use the STP material all he wants ’cause he owns part of the trademark of the STP name and I’m sure he owns parts of the copyrights of STP’s song catalog. STP is the one stepping over the legal line here for continuing on with the STP name under a different singer.

This is an interesting feud and an interesting battle. I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s all gonna end.

And again, everybody wants to blame this on the drugs. Notice how Scott doesn’t respond to the drug accusations. Not yet, anyway. It’s a smart thing to do is to not respond to the drugs speculation.  I’m sure he gets accused of using drugs still 100 times a day so he probably doesn’t care.

Just let the man live his life and let him do what he wants to do. Kudos to him for sticking up for himself. I even feel bad for the guy sometimes.

Kev