Crue Lights Up The ACC

By Joe Dafoe

Motley Crue roared through Toronto Thursday night and proceeded to try
and warm up the venue. Crue brought tons of fireworks and used alot of
lights during their 90 minute set. The "The Dead Of Winter " Canadian
Tour, is a short tour designed to hit the major cities that were
skipped over on the Cruefest 2 Tour this past summer. Motley kicked it
off with Kickstart My Heart, then took a walk on the Wildside before
Shouting At The Devil. The Crue then delved into a pair of tunes from
their latest album Saints Of Los Angeles. The crowd then got an
unexpected treat as Cheap Trick's Rick Nielson and Robin Zander came on
stage to exchange greetings with the band (Cheap Trick was also in town
playing at The Sound Academy). Crue then proceeded to close out the
show as they know how with a double encore of Home Sweet Home and Dr.
Feelgood. The Joe Perry Project played a short set featuring Joe's
latest album and a few Aerosmith standards. Airbourne opened with short
fast paced energetic set.

Crue
Kickstart My Heart
Wildside
Shout At The Devil
Saints Of Los Angeles
Mick guitar solo
Live Wire
MF of The Year
Looks That Kill
Don't go Away Mad
Same Ol' Situation
Tommy says hello
Louder Than Hell
Primal Scream
Girls Girls Girls
Encore
Home Sweet Home
Dr. Feelgood

By Thomas S. Orwat, Jr.

Former Hanoi Rocks vocalist' Michael Monroe is back!!! After putting an end to the band that brought him internation acclaim, last year, Monroe has returned with a killer new band. The Michael  Monroe band consists of long time Hanoi Rock bassist - Sami Yafffa, guitarist' Ginger from the Wildhearts, Todd Youth guitarist formerly of Danzig and Jimmy Clark on drums.  Recently, Monroe held a press conference in LA to introduce his new band and perform a few songs. The band totally kicked ass and will be playing a few west coast dates commencing on March 11.

We caught up with Michael to get the low down on the new band and his future plans. He's what went down.

Click here for Interview

Our photographer Michael Moore checked out the Arch Enemy , Exodus , Arsis show at the Phoenix in Toronto, Ont on Jan 27,2010. Below are some of his amazing shots.

  Click here for more

 

 

Los Angeles, CA - February 1, 2010 -- Slayer and Megadeth are thrilled to announce the new, confirmed routing for the American Carnage North American Tour, which will commence with the rescheduled Canadian Carnage East dates in Quebec City on Friday, July 23.  Slayer will then head to Europe for a run of festival dates, returning to kick off the American Carnage leg in Albany, NY on August 11.   American Carnage will play 26 dates across the United States and Eastern Canada up to the Labor Day weekend, ending in Portland, OR on September 4.  Testament will be Special Guest on all shows.  Tickets purchased for the American Carnage shows when they first went on sale late last year will be honored for these rescheduled dates.  Complete information regarding ticket sales can be found at www.slayer.net • www.megadeth.com • www.testamentlegiions.com

Due to venue availability and other conflicts, the shows originally scheduled in El Paso, Houston, Nashville, Duluth, and Louisville cannot be rescheduled at this time, and ticket holders may obtain refunds at point of purchase.  However, new cities have been added to the American Carnage itinerary, with dates now scheduled in Cleveland, Kansas City, San Diego, and Sacramento.  The confirmed, complete itinerary is below.

The American Carnage Tour, originally scheduled to take place in January and February, had to be put on hold due to Slayer's vocalist/bassist, Tom Araya's ongoing, minimally-invasive treatments for what was diagnosed as a Cervical Radiculopathy, an occupational hazard for the rocker who is known for aggressively swinging his long mane of hair while performing. Right after the first of the year, Araya made the difficult decision to undergo a surgical procedure, called an Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, a relatively routine practice with an excellent recovery rate.  That surgery took place early last week.

"The doctors said that Tom's surgery went very smoothly and was a resounding success," said Rick Sales, long-time Slayer manager.  "He's home now, doing really well, and he said the numbness in his fingers had already diminished considerably."

Shortly after the surgery, Slayer's Kerry King received a text from Tom:  "Awake and feeling good, actually whatever he did, it feels better."

The American Carnage Tour will mark the first time that Slayer, Megadeth and Testament will have toured the U.S. together since 1991's epic "Clash of the Titans" tour, making this truly a "must-see" event.

Slayer recently announced the rescheduling of its headline tour in the UK and Europe, and Megadeth and Testament are currently on tour together playing U.S. cities that will not be on the American Carnage itinerary.

Both Megadeth and Slayer will hit the road on July 23 in support of their most recent albums:  Megadeth's 2009 album, ENDGAME, and Slayer's World Painted Blood, the band's 10th studio venture, which hit stores November 3, 2009.  Testament's The Formation of Damnation:  Special Tour Edition, will be released on February 23, 2010 with special unreleased bonus tracks.

Slayer and Megadeth have already massacred territories together outside of the U.S., first with four explosive dates in June 2009 across Western Canada - "Canadian Carnage" - the first time the bands had toured together anywhere in 18 years - and then six co-headlining "Carnage" dates in Australia followed last October.

According to various Canadian press outlets last summer:  "It was a night of thrash impossible to trash..."  "Tales about war, death, destruction, Satan, aliens and serial killers have never been so much fun..."  "The two heavy metal heavyweights...went head-to-head on a level playing field.  Both bands brought their 'A' game.  And the results were anything but pretty - unless you include pretty freakin' loud and pretty freakin' awesome."

Slayer.  The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot wrote that Slayer is "one of the great American rock bands of the last 30 years, forget about genre."  Indeed, few bands come close to matching the intensity that Slayer - guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, vocalist/bassist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo - bring to its live shows, having been named "Best Live Band" by numerous media outlets including Revolver, SPIN, and Metal Hammer.  World Painted Blood offers a Slayer-ized point of view of our world - God's terrifying global genocide, the chaos of our broken political system, the way-too-close proximity of world horrors that technology has brought us, and a chilling hypothesis of how the rest of the world might view America.  The album was recorded in Los Angeles over two time periods, during October 2008 and then between late January and March 2009.  World Painted Blood was produced by Greg Fidelman who has spent time in the studio with Metallica, the Gossip, the (International) Noise Conspiracy, Slipknot and others, and executive produced by long-time Slayer colleague Rick Rubin, who suggested Fidelman for the project. One reviewer called the album "the heaviest, bloodiest and best album in almost two decades."  World Painted Blood landed on boatloads of U.S. and International "Best of" lists for 2009, and N.A.R.A.S. saw fit to bestow its fourth Grammy nomination on Slayer - Best Metal Performance for the WPB track, "Hate Worldwide."   For "American Carnage," Slayer's Tom Araya promises, "no ballads, no acoustic numbers, no slow tempos."

Megadeth.  2009 saw the release of ENDGAME, which has been heralded as Megadeth's best album in years.  It's the record where it all comes full circle in a career that has not only set standards in hard rock and metal, but defined them.  Megadeth's signature shredding and rousing lyrics are the hallmarks of ENDGAME, with vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine once again musing and making declarations about the world we live in, having named the album after a government document that should strike fear in the hearts of Americans!  But that's Mustaine and Megadeth, using the vehicle of music to shake things up, to make a point and to rattle your brain, literally, figuratively and sonically.  Revolver magazine said of ENDGAME, "One of their best albums."  VH1's 'That Metal Show' deemed it "One of the metal albums of the year," and Popmatters said, "the record positively scorches with an intensity not heard since Rust in Peace." The band was also awarded the eighth Grammy nomination of its career for “Head Crusher,” which serves as more proof that ENDGAME is quickly earning “essential” status in the Megadeth catalog. Megadeth will appear on the season premiere of VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show,” which airs Saturday, February 6, at 11 PM EST.

Legendary thrash metal titans Testament, whose latest award-winning release (2008 Album of the Year, Metal Hammer's Golden God Award) The Formation of Damnation, displays them as the quintessential modern heavy metal band, whose experience and accumulated skill allows them to attack with reserves of anger, energy and finesse that make them more powerful than ever.  Lead singer Chuck Billy says, "Uniting these bands is the heavy metal event of generations.  We are so proud to be a part of it."

The complete, confirmed itinerary for the American Carnage North American Tour is as follows:

 

"American Carnage" North American tour dates:

Jul. 23 - Pavillon de la Jeunesse, Quebec City, QC CANADA
Jul. 24 - Heavy MTL, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, QC CANADA
Jul. 26 - Metro Centre, Halifax, NS CANADA
Jul. 27 - Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB CANADA
Jul. 29 - Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, ONT CANADA
Jul. 30 - John Labatt Centre Center, London, ONT CANADA
Aug. 11 - Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY
Aug. 12 - Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
Aug. 14 - Tsongas Arena, Boston, MA
Aug. 15 - Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ
Aug. 16 - Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, CT
Aug. 18 - Tower City Amphitheatre, Cleveland, OH
Aug. 19 - Joe Louis Arena, Detroit,MI
Aug. 20 - UIC Pavillon, Chicago, IL
Aug. 21 - Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 23 - Cap Fed Park @Sandstone, Kansas City, KS
Aug. 25 - Magness Arena, Denver, CO
Aug. 26 - Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 27 - Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 29 - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA
Aug. 30 - Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA
Aug. 31 - Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA
Sep. 01 - Arco Arena, Sacramento, CA
Sep. 03 - Wamu Theatre, Seattle, WA
Sep. 04 - Washington County Fairgrounds, Portland, OR

Photo-Gordie Ball‏

by Deb Rao

The Alternative Press recently named The Devil Wears Prada band of the year. Now you can see what the buzz is all about surrounding the breakthrough band of the year as The Devil Wears Prada get ready to embark on an upcoming Winter Tour with New England’s Killswitch Engage. the tour is slated to kick off on February 4th at the House Of Blues in Boston, MA.

Vocalist Mike Hranica  of TDWP checks in with RockMusicStar.com for this exclusive interview revealing Exclusive details surrounding the tour and discusses TDWP latest release.

RockMusicStar.com: Mike, Thank you for checking in with Rockmusicstar.com. The Devil Wears Prada is getting ready to embark on a Winter Tour with Killswitch Engage that kicks off in Boston at the House Of Blues on February 4th. Tell us a little bit about the upcoming tour.

MIKE: We never met Killswitch. We played a show with them once a couple of years ago, but never got the chance to meet them. Killswitch is a huge renowned name within metal core. We are definitely excited to be about of. I have heard from other bands that the guys in the band are really nice. Killswitch is awesome. We are just excited to play some metal shows with a big U.S. Tour.

Rockmusicstar.com: Tell us a little bit about the set list and what the fans can expect to hear on the Winter Tour?

MIKE: it is going to be a lot of new songs. Because we don't like displaying our old songs so much.  We are most proud and most content with the new stuff. That is why we are playing mostly new stuff. At the same time, we want to make it really heavy on this tour. We are going to play songs that we would consider our most metal. Kind of just work with that and make it to wear it is dark.  I know Killswitch has a lot of traditional metal fans, which is why we want to do something that those fans would most appreciate.

Rockmusicstar.com:  Let's discuss TDWP latest release With Roots Above And Branches Below. How did you come up with the title and tell us about the writing process for the album?

MIKE: The title was inspired by a verse out of Jeremiah. It basically meant to get back to your morals and simplicity as compared to the complexity in life. It kind of just works out of that. We wrote most of it through December of 2009 and into the beginning of January. Then we recorded through January and into February before heading out on tour with A Day To Remember.

Rockmusicstar.com: Actually, the band had been on the road prior to the recording. How did touring play a major role in the writing and recording of this album?

MIKE: Touring helps in writing because you get to tour with bands and see how other bands do it. You become inspired by it. That is how it is for us. We were touring with White Chapel earlier in the year. Touring with all sorts of different bands plays a role and just makes you inspired. It helps the writing process. It kind of has a say in what you come up with.

Rockmusicstar.com: Would you say this album is heavier than your previous releases?

MIKE:  Yes, I would definitely would. We were shooting for that. I think especially from everything to song writing to structure to the recording I think it is the heaviest stuff that we ever done. We tuned down for a number of the songs. It helps to make it heavier and harder.

Rockmusicstar.com: The new video is out Dance:Wildman.. I know it is live performance. Where was it shot and tell us about the concept for this video.

MIKE: It was shot out in Pomona, California. We flew out there. The idea has a female ghost throughout the video. It is not to extreme of a story line. It just kinds of goes with that imagery and the haunting girl. 

Rockmusicstar.com: How did you come up with the name of the band The Devil Wears Prada? Was it from the novel?

MIKE: Yes, it was from the book before it became a movie and a best seller. It was just kind of like a joke thing. When we were starting we weren’t expecting to do anything. We just wanted to have fun. The idea was thrown out there even though we don't really enjoy the book or anything. The book became more successful and we became more successful. So it makes it weird I guess.

Rockmusicstar.com:  Are you still performing at the Soundwave Festival?

MIKE: No, we actually had to cancel. We were book to do it but with the offer of the Killswitch Tour. It was something that we really couldn't turn down. It sucks that we had to cancel. I know the fans are upset. But we are really excited to be going to Australia when it does actually happen. Hopefully, it will happen sooner than later. 

Rockmusicstar.com: The band has spent a lot of time performing in Europe? Are there any differences between the U.S. and European metal fans?

Mike: Really it is pretty similar. I don't think there is much change. The music scene is more different there as far as what more people listen to. There is much more of a dance rave scene like a club scene as compared to over here, which is weird. Especially in England. As far as the crowds and the fan bases it is pretty much the same for Europe and the U.S.

Rockmusicstar.com: As a singer who inspired you to get started in the business?

MIKE: I listen to a lot of Underoath and The Chariot back then Dallas Taylor and Josh Scogin were big inspirations to me. What most inspired me were the small hardcore bands around Ohio like the local bands I went and saw every weekend. I just wanted to be able to play shows like that and have a good time. I always wrote so I knew I was cut out to write lyrics. It was a lot of the local bands that got me stoked to getting me to do it. It kind of just felt like what God wanted for me.

Rockmusicstar.com: How is the music scene in Ohio these days?

MIKE: Not to good.  It is much more hateful nowadays which sucks. I am not around. I live in Chicago. There are some good bands that come out of there like Dayton and Cincinnati. It sucks because there is so much hate. The older people hating the younger people. It is weird.I wish I had a better way of describing it. Other than people hating and being more hateful than what they should be. As compared to when I was younger and it seemed like more fun Christian scene. It is different now.

Rockmusicstar.com: Is there anything else that you would like to say about the new album? Do you have any favorite tunes off of it?

MIKE: I am really into "Give Me Half." We think it is one of the most mature things that we ever come up with. We feel like it is pieced together well. Production is good. There are really heavy parts on it. I would like to showcase that song and show a lot of people that song. I am pretty happy the way everything came out. I am stoked for a lot of the new album. As happy as I am with it and glad how things turned out. I am still excited to do something even newer next time around. I have some more ideas.

Rockmusicstar.com: Have you begun writing for the new album?

MIKE: It is in the works a little bit. Chris is like our primary songwriter. He kind of pieces things together coming up with parts. It is in the very early stages.

Rockmusicstar.com: TDWP has been on some fantastic tours. What was your favorite tour so far?

MIKE: It is hard to say. When we first started the Silverstein tour we did in early 2008. Now it seems like every tour is better than the one before, which is awesome. It is great getting along with all these bands and everything. We just finished the Napalm and Noise Tour with All That Remains. Everyone ended up getting along really well. The other bands you could watch and say wow they are a good band. You don't see a lot of that nowadays. You see bands that are on Warped Tour because of their look. That sucks. I know people even categorize us with that. But that is not who we are. It is more of an assumption. It is really refreshing to be touring with some older bands. That is doing it for the right reasons rather than for fame. You see a lot of it in the young music scene now. It is awesome to be able to so many tours. We are blessed to be able to Napalm And Noise. Warped Tour is great too but that is like the tour we done with many young bands. Ones that lack any sort of content or message any sort of well-being and goodness. You can go to the Warped Tour and see bands that are absolutely doing nothing good for this earth. They are not putting out a positive message. They are not helping people. It sucks. Warped Tour is awesome and I think we will be a part of it again within our career, But it is fun to do tours like Napalm where you are touring with older bands that are really talented musically and have been around awhile. That is something that we are really trying to grow into.

Rockmusicstar.com: Well this tour is going to be great with Killswitch Engage. It kicks off in Boston at the HOB on February 4th.. It is a great club. We wish you the best of luck.

MIKE: Thank you very much for the interview!  

Killswitch Engage/The Devil Wears Prada Tour Dates 

FEBRUARY
4 House of Blues, Boston, MA
5 House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ
8 House of Blues, Orlando, FL
10 Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
11 Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC
12 Sonar, Baltimore, MD
13 House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
15 House of Blues, Chicago, IL
18 First Avenue Loop Station, Minneapolis, MN
19 Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
20 Royal Oak Theatre, Royal Oak, MI
21 Egyptian Room, Indianapolis, IN
23 Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
25 Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
26 Paladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX

MARCH
1 Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
3 House of Blues, Las Vegas,NV
5 Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ
6 The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
7 Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
9 Roseland Ballroom, Portland, OR
10 Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
12 Great Salt Air, Magna, UT
13 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
14 The Midland by AMC, Kansas City, MO
15 The Pageant, St.. Louis, MO
18 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
19 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
21 The Dome, Wallingford, CT