I've just moved into a brand spanking new house near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire (that's in the UK, for those of you who aren't). That means I've got no phone line, which means no internet access for the next couple of weeks. In turn, that means I'm using my parents' internet connection to upload and post.
That explains why this week's and next week's shows are shorter. Don't want to take the piss. Also, my pot of new bands for Shock Of The New is running somewhat dry.
Come on, guys! Spread the word! I will play any decent sounding demos that anyone sends. All you have to be doing is something I like, and anyone who listens regularly will know what I like, and how wide a spectrum that is.
Remember also that anyone who does get played on the show gets instant access to more than 30,000 new sets of ears.
What have you got to lose? Get in touch via the contact form, or by e-mailing mail@wyrdwaysrs.com to tell me about your band.
Get yourself heard. Get yourself on The Wyrd Ways Rock Show.
You wouldn't be able to deny the weather was definitely better last year. The band line-up, on the other hand, is at least as good. Opeth headlining last night, Children Of Bodom tonight and Twisted Sister tomorrow night... well, you really can't argue with a line-up like that.
As for today, so far the Ronnie James Dio Stage highlights for me have been local lads (as far as I'm concerned, anyway) Evile, who delivered a storming set, literally, since it really chucked it down about halfway through their set, the mighty Onslaught (who I'll be interviewing tomorrow as I type this) and German Power Metal titans, Edguy.
Talking of Power Metal, I also witnessed the awesomeness that is Sonata Arctica. They put on an almost textbook display of how to really do it. Brilliant. That's a band I'll have to put on my "must see" list when they next tour.
One of the surprise packages of the festival so far have been Powerwolf, who were performing on the Sophie Lancaster stage. They put on a truly excellent set of Traditional German Heavy Metal. Very much recommended.
Later tonight, I'm looking forward to Children Of Bodom and interviews with Amorphis and The Prophecy (after Devin Townsend - who probably won't play Bad Devil... so not sure I'm really interested!).
Tomorrow, obviously it's Twisted Sister and Korpiklaani as my personal highlights, and I'm definitely interested in checking out Bonded By Blood (if I get down to the arena early enough). If I get the chance, I'm also looking at checking out Mutant and NeonFly on the New Blood Stage.
So I was hugely surprised when I got press accreditation. Unfortunately Sarah and David are going up to Aberdeen tomorrow, so I'll be away from my wife and my little boy for the longest period since Sarah last went up to Glasgow on business and David was born.
In fact, I've NEVER been away from David for more than a few hours.
I'm going to miss them.
But at least I've got something to keep me occupied. So far, I've confirmed interviews with members of Europe, Karma To Burn, Turisas (it'll be nice to see Mathias Nygard again), Malefice, Evile, Enforcer, Sabaton, Lacuna Coil, Therapy? and Apocalyptica. I'm still waiting to see if we can rearrange times for interviews with Heaven's Basement and Audrey Horne and I'm also waiting to find out about Anthrax.
I'm also waiting to see about Terrorvision. Their manager has asked me to ring him to arrange something on the day. We'll see how it goes. It'll be nice to have a chat with Tony Wright again. He was a good bloke and an excellent interview when I met him last.
I'm intending to do a couple of blogs from the site itself, since the press area is supposed to have wifi, but we'll see how it goes. Hopefully it's better than the service was at Bloodstock last year. Then again, that was in a tent in a field, and it would appear that the Sonisphere press area is in some sort of conference centre on the Knebworth site.
You never know, I might also find out if I've got Bloodstock press accreditation this weekend.
On other things, I'm a little nervous about the whole camping thing. Never slept in a tent before, believe it or not. I've take advice and I'm probably as well prepared as I'm going to be. Fingers crossed, let's see how this goes.
...John McCoy (GMT/Mammoth/Gillan/Curved Air) really is a truly top bloke.
I sent an on-spec message to him via MySpazz and got a surprisingly quick response. After a few messages going backwards and forwards, not only did he agree to a possible phone interview at some point, he sent me some CDs, namely the two GMT albums and a retrospective that covers his whole career so far.
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many,
many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before
he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We
so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please
give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please
know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
- Wendy Dio
One of the greatest voices in music has died. I was
hoping to meet him at Bloodstock this year. A true legend has passed.
Next week's show will be a tribute to the musical life of Ronnie James Dio, which means the very best of Rainbow, Dio-era Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell and solo material.
According to a press release, Joey Belladonna will be fronting Anthrax at Sonisphere.
Scott... Charlie... what the fuck are you idiots playing at?! We all know that John Bush sings rings around Belladonna, and Belladonna has a history of walking out on you... yet you get him back AGAIN! Are you really that needy?
You really are in danger of squandering the good will I had.
Put it this way... if Joey Belladonna ends up back in Anthrax, We Have Come For You All will have been my last Anthrax album.
Turns out Heaven & Hell have cancelled their appearance at Bloodstock this year. I have to admit I was half expecting that. You really can't expect a man pushing 70 to recover well enough from cancer treatment to be up and running at full speed within a few months.
Ah well. Wonder who's taking over as Sunday night headliner? The site currently says Cannibal Corpse. Can't say I'm interested. From what it shows at the moment, I'll be ready for the off after Korpiklaani, unless I've got any interviews after it.
Then again, that might change if they announce another headliner.
Anyway, best wishes to Ronnie Dio and I hope he recovers soon.
This week, as well as a tracklisting for the current show, you've probably noticed there's a new page appeared on the site. It's something brand new and almost exclusive. Eddie Lacey from Australian extreme Metal band, The Berzerker is providing a semi-regular opinion column. Some of you may well have already read them on Facebook, but I've got his permission to repost them here.
Without further ado, here's this week's track listing:
Ratt Eat Me Up Alive
Slash Ghost (with Ian Astbury)
Ihsahn Frozen Lakes On Mars
Wormrot -Uncovered
And Proud As Fuck
Spotlight 1: Uglymother Gender Bender
Cage Power Of A God
Morpheus Rising Lord Of The North
Disturbed Inside The Fire
Avenged Sevenfold Unbound (The Wild Ride)
Covered: Pretty Maids Crazy Horses (The Osmonds)
Gama Bomb Last Ninjas Unite
Atreyu Lonely
Soulfly Rise Of The Fallen
Spotlight 2: Uglymother Look But Dont Touch
Jettblack Get Your Hands Dirty
Edens Curse Masquerade Ball
Enforcer Roll The Dice
Cauldron Chained Up In Chains
Steelwing The Illusion
Suicidal Angels Inquisition
Spotlight 3: Uglymother Killers In The Moshpit
Spit Like This Sex, Drugs and Heavy Metal
Dear Superstar Brothers In Blood
Sabaton - Firestorm
Alestorm Leviathan
Spotlight 4: Uglymother Just Dont Mess Around With
me
Holy Rage Give Them Hell
Powerage All Stand Up
Shock Of The New 1: Sandstone Sons Of Carthage
Shock Of The New 2: Black Rivers Edge Fire In The
Sky
Shock Of The New 3: Skullfist Heavier Than Metal
Shock Of The New 4: Great Awakening All Systems
Fail
Shock Of The New 5: Alice In Thunderland In The
Beginning
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Type O Negative
front man, bassist, and our band mate, Peter Steele passed away last
night of what appears to be heart failure.
Ironically Peter had
been enjoying a long period of sobriety and improved health and was
imminently due to begin writing and recording new music for our follow
up to "Dead Again" released in 2007.
The official cause of death
has yet to be determined pending autopsy results. The funeral services
will be private and memorial services will be announced at a future
date. Wed like to share our thoughts and those of Peters family
below. We are truly saddened to lose our friend and appreciate the
tremendous outpouring today from around the world.
Sincerely,
Josh,
Kenny and Johnny
Josh Silver: Peter, My endless source of
frustration, (as I'm yours) you have really done it this time. You have
changed and touched countless lives through music, comedy and often
brutal honesty. You've made life both interesting and irritating and I
could not imagine not having known you for 37 years. It still isn't true
in my mind but in time I will miss you and the creating that we all
endured together. We certainly disagreed constantly and I believe (and
hope) we all learned from each other. Should I call you my brother,
friend or neighbor? I can only call you Peter (and usually after 2 PM).
We laughed at ourselves more times then I can count. Knowing humans are
preposterous creatures and I know we reveled in that fact. I will miss
you in time, but at this moment your premature departure seems surreal
and has pissed me off to no end. Though I never told you that I harbor a
deep respect for you, I do. Goodbye my friend.
Kenny
Hickey: Peter Steele was one of the most brilliant and funny
personalities in music and it was all for real. Half the time people
thought he was joking, but he was actually telling the truth. Part of
me died with him.
Johnny Kelly: Its impossible for me to
put into a few sentences what I am feeling at the moment Peter. Im not
sure if I should eulogize or roast you. Both good and bad, we went on
one hell of a ride together and sadly, the ride has come to an end. You
truly were a unique person. Your music touched many people. Myself
included. Whether it was talking about The Beatles, power tools, how
Pluto was no longer considered a planet or calling me at 3am asking me
to drive to your house to have a fistfight with you, you always kept it
interesting. It was a privilege to have been your bandmate. Its
something that I will always cherish.
In a statement issued
today by Steele`s family: Legendary Goth/Heavy Metal musician Peter
Steele died suddenly Wednesday, April 14, 2010, after a short illness at
the age of 48. He wrote and orchestrated the music for the
Brooklyn-based band Type O Negative, a groundbreaking group known for
its dramatic lyrical emphasis on the themes of romance, depression, and
death. Steele, renowned as much for his striking physical appearance as
his musical talent, was the creative force behind the bands 20-year
success writing most of the material for the their albums. Type O
Negative and Steele have been lauded as a major influence by numerous
alternative and metal bands. The band gained a worldwide following
through touring and recording seven studio albums, two best-of
compilations, concert DVDs and music videos. Their 1993 album Bloody
Kisses went platinum, and the 1996 follow-up October Rust went gold.
The
music world has lost a great talent, and music fans worldwide are
mourning, but for our family we are mourning a beloved brother, uncle,
cousin, friend and funny man. Peter Steele was a complex man, known for
his brooding looks, his self-deprecating sense of humor, unique view of
the world, and most of all his loyalty to his fans, friends and family.
Survived by five sisters, the eldest living sister notes that he was
more than our brother, he was our son. His untimely death is tragic a
great loss to us and to music. The official cause of death has yet to
be determined pending autopsy results, and funeral plans at present
remain unknown. The family thanks fans for their loyalty to Peter and
band members, but request that fans and media respect their wishes for
privacy.
In addition to his success in music, Peter Steele also
tried his hand at acting, appearing in HBO`s Oz and the cult classic
film Bad Acid. He also composed music for the film soundtracks Freddy
vs. Jason and Mortal Combat, the television movie Nosferatu: The
First Vampire, and the soon-to-be released Living the American
Nightmare.
You probably know about this already, but according to reports, Peter Steele, frontman of Type O Negative died yesterday of some sort of heart problem.
This week's Spotlight and Covered have been turned over to the band as a tribute to the man.
I'll post the official statement here when I get hold of it.
As you might have seen, I've altered the front page of the site slightly. You can now download this week's show from either the front page or by going to the Downloads And Archives page (which is currently being updated as I type this).
Can I also ask for more contributions from anyone who reads this? Part of the reason I do this is for you, the listener. Please get involved. If you know of any local bands, or you're in a band yourself, or you work for a promotions or record company and you want your bands to appear on the show, TELL ME! I can guarantee you exposure to an audience, if I like what I hear.
This show gets somewhere around 30-40,000 listeners EVERY WEEK from all over the world.
Is that something you can afford to lose out on?
Also, while I'm here, does anyone want to sponsor either the whole show, or a segment (such as Shock Of The New)? If you do, use the contact form to get in touch and we'll talk about it.
Right then... got some work to do (for my actual real job) before I head to the hospital to visit my little boy.
Here's the tracklisting for the latest show. This week, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Heavy Metal as a genre. 13th February 1970 was the release date of Black Sabbath's debut album, which makes it Metal's official birthday.
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath
Armored Saint Symbol Of Salvation
Finntroll - Solsagan
Spotlight 1: Black Sabbath - NIB
Megadeth Elysian Fields
Judas Priest Rapid Fire
Covered: White Zombie - Children Of The Grave (Black
Sabbath)
Revenant Dead Shallow Grave
Evile - Genocide
Spotlight 2: Black Sabbath Iron Man
Dio Dream Evil
Dream Evil - Immortal
They Will Rise - Voices
Slayer Unit 731
KillSwitch Engage - Reckoning
All That Remains Do Not Obey
Spotlight 3: Black Sabbath Neon Knights
Tarot I Rule
Tarja Lost Northern Star
LBAEI 1: Edguy - Trinidad
LBAEI 2: Dead By April Losing
You
LBAEI 3: Pain Follow Me
LBAEI 4: Northern Kings
Brothers In Arms
LBAEI 5: Sammy Hagar Heavy
Metal
Kiss Modern Day Delilah
Rage Against The Machine Sleep Now In The Fire
Spotlight 4: Black Sabbath The Shining
Shock Of The New 1: Great Awakening Thrash Til You
Die
Shock Of The New 2: Zyphoyd Beyond Our Universe
Shock Of The New 3: Nervestand - Welcome
Shock Of The New 4: Winterburn Too Late For Tears
This story pretty much started on Wednesday 3rd February 2010. I was at the end of a Yr11 Parents Evening, when at about half past 7, my mobile rang, and my wife Sarah, sounding absolutely terrified, told me her waters had broken.
10 weeks early.
So I (quite literally) sprinted out of the school where I teach and headed home to find no ambulance, but my parents looking after Sarah, who's contractions were now less than two minutes apart. You'll never know real, absolute fear until you've been through that. After my Mum had tried again to get an ambulance, one finally arrived, and we headed for Dewsbury Hospital with all possible speed to get Sarah to the delivery room.
It wasn't quick enough.
David Stuart (as we decided to name him) was born in the back of the ambulance at 8:30pm, literally 1 minute from the delivery suite, actually on the hospital grounds, weighing in at a frightening 2lbs 15oz. Since he was born so early, his lungs hadn't fully finished developing and were surfactant deficient, so he needed to be put on a respirator in an incubator. He was then moved 17 miles to Pontefract General Infirmary where the NHS Trust's SCBU is currently. That's where he is now. He's expected to be there for a while, probably until April, when he was due to be born. There will be scares on the way. There was one tonight. After a really good day, with several small downgrades in his dependancy on various machines (which was also my wife's birthday), at around 7:30 pm, his stats just crashed. What followed were the most terrifying few minutes of my life as the nurse who was assigned to look after him readjusted the machines and waited. Fortunately he recovered.
I wrote a large part of this week's show next to David's incubator, with some help from him, and knowing what he liked when he was still inside his Mum.
As I type this, my son is 5 days, 5 hours old and fighting for his life. I can't lose him. Just can't.
Here's the track listing we chose between us:
Iron Maiden Number Of The Beast
Finntroll - Trollhammaren
Spotlight 1: Heavens Basement Tear Your Heart Out
AC/DC - Wheels
Judas Priest - Prophecy
Covered: Sonata Arctica Still Loving You
(Scorpions)
Black Sabbath Heaven And Hell
Heaven & Hell Breaking Into Heaven
Spotlight 2: Heavens Basement Graduation
Edguy Steel Church
Cauldron Young And Hungry
Daisy Cutter All Is Fake
Ravens Creed Hail The Warbeast
Black Sabbath Into The Void
Trivium Throes Of Perdition
Arch Enemy My Apocalypse
Sabbat - Wildfire
Spotlight 3: Heavens Basement Fear Of Getting Off
Backyard Babies - Degenerated
Ratt Shame, Shame, Shame
Evile - Thrasher
Asomvel - Kamikaze
Children Of Bodom Smile Pretty For The
Devil
Finntroll Under Bergens Rot
Wolf Evil Star
White Wizzard 40 Deuces
Spotlight 4: Heavens Basement Reign On My Parade
Shock Of The New 3: Ceremony Of Opposites Seeds Of
Resurrection
Shock Of The New 4: Angels Of Nightfall - Warclouds
Shock Of The New 5: Infektor -Falsa Realidad
White Wizzard Over The Top
Siegfried Sachsensturm
Marilyn Manson The Beautiful People
Last track: Asomvel
Dead By Dawn
Just as a heads-up, I'm going to be doing a Wyrd Ways Rock Show Yorkshire Special in a few weeks. Any suggestions of Yorkshire bands to be included in the show will be appreciated. I've already got Asomvel, Oakenshield, Def Leppard, Conquest Of Steel, Morpheus Rising, Evile, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Skull Branded Pirates, Sisters Of Mercy and Send More Paramedics... but I need more.
Wyrd Ways Rock Show LXXVII will feature new music from Charred Walls Of The Damned and (taken from Hellbilly Deluxe II, an album I've been waiting for) Rob Zombie.
This week's Covered will be provided by a rather unusual German band by the name of Van Canto. Ever heard of a capella Metal? No? Neither had I until I heard these guys. Very interesting sound.
If that's piqued your curiosity, drop by and give the show a listen. It'll be going up on Sunday as usual.
I've just stumbled across a German band called Van Canto. They call themselves A Capella Metal. That's a pretty good description. They're made up of a drummer and five singers, one of them female.
Their cover of Metallica's Battery is... absolutely amazing.
I seem to remember mentioning a couple of weeks ago I was going to auction some promo stuff I'd received from Spinefarm in aid of the Mike Alexander memorial.
I've finally got my arse in gear and got it up on eBay.
Here's the item number: 150399866897
Go and bid. Even if you don't want the stuff, it's for a damned good cause. I will post internationally, so no worries on that score.
Ive just received the new Asomvel album, Kamikaze in the post today. There I was, idly flipping through the CD booklet as I listened to the first track, and I saw something that really made my day.
Im in the Thanks list.
Shocked, stunned and VERY gratified!
Thanks, lads! Ill be playing rather a lot of Asomvel on the show from now on
Talking of playing things a lot Im also be going to be upping the Clan Destined content very soon. I was having a chat with and interviewing everybodys favourite Nottingham-based Pagan Heavy Metal pixie, Martin Walkyier on the phone last night, and it turns out the Clan Destined six-tracker doesnt seem to be selling very well.
Thats a travesty!
Not only is it lyrically excellent, but youve got musicians like Andy Sneap (Megadeth/Arch Enemy/Exodus producer) and James Murphy (Death/Testament) contributing and co-producing.
Better still, hes working on new material with new guitarist, Jacqui Taylor and his old bandmate from Skyclad and Return To The Sabbat, Jay Graham.
While I'm here... go buy the Rage Against The Machine download from a UK download site. Please help us wipe that smug grin off Cowell's face and deprive him of some of the obscene profits of a UK Xmas number 1. Remember Rage are donating their royalties to a music charity. Cowell's profits go straight into his pocket.
A couple of Yorkshire bands need some support. So I'm doing my part via this here website.
Tribe are playing at Trillian's in Newcastle on Thursday 10th of December with a band by the name of Dryll. That band happens to feature former Venom members Mantas and Antton (brother of Chronos). Even better, it's FREE to get in!
Anyone in range of Newcastle next Thursday, make sure you get yourself over there. It should be a good night.
While I'm here, I'd also recommend you check out Leeds/London band, The Glitterati. First album was produced by the legendary Mike Clink (who the band have maintained contact with) and the second will be out on Demolition Records in the next couple of months, produced by Matt Hyde (Monster Magnet's producer). They'll be playing a hometown gig at Joseph's Well in Leeds (or The Well as it has been rebranded recently... don't get me started on "rebranding") in February. Saw them supporting WASP on Monday, and if they'd not really pulled it out, The Glitterati would have blown them off the stage.
Hopefully, if the technology works out, I'll be playing an interview with them pretty soon.
Here's the full tracklisting for Wyrd Ways Rock Show LXIX, as posted here at http://www.wyrdwaysrs.com on 29th November. The same show will appearing on PureRockRadio.net on Friday 4th December.
Monster Magnet Wall Of Fire
Armageddon - Stranglehold
Spotlight 1: Hollenthon Reprisal Malis Avibus
Devin Townsend Bend It Like Bender
Paradise Lost The Rise Of Denial
Covered: Gene Simmons - Firestarter
Korpiklaani - Kultanainen
WASP Seas Of Fire
Spotlight 2: Hollenthon Son Of Perdition
Terrorvision My House
Interview 1: Tony Wright
Terrorvision Alice Whats The Matter
Them Crooked Vultures - Calligulove
Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love
Evile Devoid Of Thought
The Glitterati You Got Nothing On Me
Spotlight 3: Hollenthon Ars Moriendi
My Dying Bride - The Dreadful Hours
Novembre - Geppetto
Lie Back 1: Neil Young After The Goldrush
Lie Back 2: Primus Jerry Was A Racecar Driver
Lie Back 3: Led Zeppelin Gallows Pole
Lie Back 4: Butthole Surfers Goofys Concern
Lie Back 5: David Bowie Star Man
Gama Bomb Return To Blood Castle
Cauldron Chained Up In Chains
Spotlight 4: Hollenthon Of Hollow Men
Queensryche Operation Mindcrime
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Unbroken
Shock Of The New 1: Project1 Final Destination
Shock Of The New 2: WhipKraft Twilight Holocaust
Shock Of The New 3: Skiltron The Beheading
Shock Of The New 4: Reasonable Doubt Only Tomorrow Survives
Shock Of The New 5: Virtual Humans Transcend (Part Three)