Book Review “Clapton: The Ultimate Illustrated History”

Author: Chris Welch
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Release Date: September 10, 2011

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I am not sure how to start this review with except the fact that the title simply tells it all…this is the “The Ultimate Illustrated History” of Eric Clapton.  It is the perfect book for one of the greatest guitarists ever. The book covers Clapton’s five-decade-long career includes time from the Yardbirds, to Cream to the Plastic Ono Band to his solo career.  This book honestly has everything and it looks “pretty” also.  The layout of the book flows really well with mixing its amazing photos with amazing stories and information about the man himself.

The layout of the book starts with a great note from the author talking about his time that he has spent over the year with Clapton. The first chapter focuses on his childhood and his influence of the blues covering years 1945-1963.  There is coverage of Eric’s time with The Yarbirds from 1963 to 1965.   Of course there is a lot of coverage from the days of Cream from 1966-1969, as this was the real turning point in Clapton’s career.  The years 1969-1974 features quite a bit between his work the Plastic Ono Band through Derek and the Dominoes.  During 1974-1982, the book focuses on Clapton’s amazing solo career, covering everything from his hit record “Layla” to concert appearances at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY.  There is still more as this book also covers 1983-present, with the Cream reunion to his work with the Crossroads Foundation.  Lastly there is a graphic discography included which only expands upon how amazing his body of work truly is.

Speaking of photos, this book is packed with over 400 rare shots, as well as images of his guitars, concert posters, and other memorabilia included.  Honestly I think you can spend hours just looking at the pictures and not even reading anything.   The author/rock journalist Chris Welch is no stranger to Clapton, since he previously authored “Cream: Eric Clapton”.  He really shows his extreme knowledge of Clapton and he does an amazing job of showing it in this book. He has also authored books about other great musicians such as Zepplin and David Bowie. Whether you think you know everything about Clapton’s amazing career or you have never heard of him, this book definitely will provide great knowledge into his life and work.  It is a must purchase for sure!

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Blu-ray Review “What’s Your Number? Ex-tended Edition”

Directed by: Mark Mylod
Starring: Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Joel McHale, Zachary Quinto, Martin Freeman, Andy Samberg, Anthony Mackie, Blythe Danner, Ed Begley, Jr.
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R / Unrated
Running time: 106 minutes (R-Rated), 117 minutes (Unrated)

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Since “Scary Movie” series, Anna Faris’ films really haven’t appealed to me, this one is no different. In fact I think it might be the worst one and she seems to spend a lot of time shows off her fake boobs. I am a fan of Chris Evans but it is sad that he is in this film the same year as the great “Captain America: The First Avenger”. But I guess for woman watching this film he walks around naked half the movie and I am sure they will enjoy it more. The film has terrible pacing and feels long after the first 30 minutes. The film does have some decent yet awkward  brief cameos from SNL’s Andy Samberg as a creepy puppeteer and Reno 911’s Thomas Lennon as a creepy gynecologist.

After losing her job, Ally (Anna Faris) reads a magazine article called “What’s Your Number?”, which tells the average number of people America sleeps with.  Ally realizes that her number is nearly double the average at 19.  She decides to track down her ex-boyfriends in hopes to find one to marry and to avoid going over 20 men that she has slept. Ally gets some help from her neighbor Colin (Chris Evans), who sleeps around, so guess what happens next while she tracks down her past exes.

The “ex-tended” unrated cut just adds 11 minutes to the already unbearable 106 minutes. Just to note there is also a DVD and digital copy of the movie included in case actually enjoyed it.  The special features on the disc are also lame, There are about 17 minutes of deleted scenes, nothing worth wild. The gag reel is decent and runs about 7 minutes and that is it on the features besides a trailer and some previews for upcoming Fox films. No audio commentaries or behind-the-scenes features, even though I wouldn’t watch them anyway.

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Q&A with Angelina Jolie Talks “In The Land Of Blood And Honey”


On January 12th, we were proud to present Angelina Jolie in a Live online Q&A brought to you by PartnersHub. “In The Land of Blood and Honey” is the first film Angelina has written and directed. Fans were be able to ask Angelina questions LIVE! See the video below to hear her responses to those questions.

“In the Land of Blood and Honey” has been nominated for a Golden Globe. In the film, Angelina Jolie tells the love story between a Bosnian Serb who is in charge of a prison camp and a Muslim artist who is taken prisoner during the Bosnian War in the early 1990’s.

Behind The Scenes Photo With Angelina Jolie:

Promotional Film Still:

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Interview with Yoshiki, Talks about Golden Globes 2012

Yoshiki is the drummer/pianist for the super successful Japanese rock group X Japan. Recently Yoshiki was asked to compose the theme song for the 2012 Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Yoshiki about his work on the piece as well as what it was like being made into a superhero by none other than Stan Lee.

Adam Lawton: How did you get involved with writing the theme for the 2012 Golden Globes?
Yoshiki: I had been invited to attend the Golden Globes last year. I got to know some of the people in the HFPA and we all became friends. After a few meetings during the summer time, the President of the HFPA asked me if I would be interested in writing the theme song for the Golden Globes. I was very delighted to be asked.

AL: When you a write a piece like this what do feel is the hardest part of the process?
Yoshiki: I think the hardest part is overcoming the pressure of each project. I have written for large Japanese events however this is my first time writing for something that is based outside of Asia. I had gotten some information from the people at the HFPA that they wanted the piece to be prestigious with touches of Hollywood. I tried to listen to everyone’s ideas and digest them all while writing the piece.

AL: What can you tell us about your comic book character “Blood Red Dragon”?
Yoshiki: I have been working with Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane on that project. Stan Lee is pretty much the brain behind the project. They will often show me ideas and I give them some input as to whether I think it’s a good idea or not. Stan made me a superhero, which is something he is very good at!

AL: How did the idea for the character come about?
Yoshiki: I had met Stan at a charity event. I introduced myself by telling him I was a rock star and he told me he creates superheroes. That’s really how everything started. Stan is just so big and he has created so many great characters.

AL: With X Japan starting to venture outside of Asia what do you think is the hardest part about breaking into a new market such as here in the United States?
Yoshiki: The hardest part is that no Asian act/rock band has been to other markets. People tend to have a stereotype because of this. They often think we can’t make it. We have to convince them that nothing is impossible. We have to work and keep on rocking to convince people. There really is no easy way to become popular or known when going to a new area. X Japan is pretty lucky because we have had quite a bit of Japanese press. There are also a lot of people around the world who are interested in Japanese culture and they have found are music. We get immediate response from our fans around the world however, in order to take things to the next level you have to keep touring and rocking!

AL: You perform both classical and rock music. Is there one genre you prefer over the other?
Yoshiki: Going back and forth between rock and classical music I think keeps me sane. I think if you listen to too much rock you will go insane and vice versa. (Laughs) I enjoy going back and forth between the two.

AL: Do you have any other projects coming up this year?
Yoshiki: X Japan should have a new album out this year. It is about 90% done however I had to stop work on it in order to focus on the Golden Globes. Once I am done with everything for the Golden Globes we will start recording the album. I also have my solo project Violet UK and I would like to finish an album for that as well. When both of those are completed I plan to start touring again. We would like to be able tour North America extensively in the coming year.

For more information on Yoshiki and all of his projects you can go to his official site at www.yoshiki.net

 

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Film Review “The Iron Lady”

Starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 45 mins
The Weinstein Company

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

November 2008. As the daily papers highlight the recent terrorist bombings in Turkey a kindly old lady is sitting down to breakfast with her husband. Over their eggs she complains about the price of milk. A knock on the door alerts her to a busy day of book signings. Such is a day in the life of Margaret Thatcher.

Skillfully portrayed by Meryl Streep, on her way to Academy Award nomination number 17, “The Iron Lady” is a look at the decisions Thatcher made that took her from a little respected member of Parliament to one of the most famous leaders of the 20th Century. The story is told in two parts. The flashback sequences show how Thatcher, played by Alexandra Roach in these scenes, went off to Oxford, became a barrister and began her fight for the people of England. The modern day scenes are curious because though we see Thatcher speaking constantly with her husband, Dennis (Broadbent), she is only doing so in her mind. Dennis Thatcher passed away in 2003.

Director Lloyd, who directed Streep previously in “Mama Mia!,” stages these intimate scenes between Margaret and Dennis well. But she relies too much on dramatic music and heavy dialogue to establish Margaret Thatcher’s toughness. After Argentina invades the Falkland Islands it is her decision to go to war. The music builds as she is told one of the Argentine ships that attacked is steaming away. “Sink it,” she spits out to her naval commander. But even these detractions can’t take away from the masterful performance Streep delivers. Of course, she’s been delivering them for more than three decades so I don’t understand why I seem surprised.

The supporting cast is also first rate. As Dennis Thatcher, Broadbent brightens each scene he’s in. Ms. Roach also shines as the young Margaret as does Grant who plays Michael Heseltine, who challenged Thatcher’s leadership of the Conservative Party, which later led to her resignation.

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Film Review “Joyful Noise”

Starring: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and Keke Palmer
Directed by: Todd Graff
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 57 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Whether you’re a regular church goer or just drop by on Easter and Christmas Eve, you can’t resist tapping your toes to the music that rises from the choir. In one small Georgia town that choir is run by Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson), who has guided them to the regional competition of a national Gospel Music contest many times. When Bernard passes away, the pastor (Courtney B. Vance) appoints not Bernard’s widow, G.G. (Parton) but Ms. Vi Rose Hill (Latifah). Vi, a nurse, is raising two children alone, her husband (Jesse L. Martin) currently serving in the Army. Her oldest, daughter Olivia (Palmer) also sings in the choir. However, she and her mother disagree on her style of music. Vi wants all of the voices to blend together while Olivia feels the need to belt out the occasional solo. Son Walter (Dexter Darden) is a young man who has trouble socializing. He has Aspergers Syndrome and is currently fixated on how many one-hit wonders he can name. When G.G.’s grandson Randy (Jeremy Jordan) returns to town the die is cast for a feel good musical. Or a teen love story. Or, possibly, both.

Uneven in every way, “Joyful Noise” is best described as “Sister Act” done by the cast of “Glee” (minus Blaine, thank goodness). Director Graff also penned the screenplay and has apparently decided that all Southern people speak in metaphors. “There’s always free cheese in a mousetrap but the mouse ain’t happy” is a great piece of sage advice that G.G. dispenses. What it has to do with the story I don’t know. Another gem: “it’s like trying to sneak dawn past a rooster,” which was funnier 30 years ago when Sylvester Stallone mispronounced it to Miss Dolly in “Rhinestone.”

I have to give credit to the cast. They seem to be trying hard and the three young leads give fine performances. Cast as the strict mother, Latifah does her best to avoid playing a stereotypical over-protective parent. Parton, who turns 66 next week, hasn’t headlined a film since 1992’s “Straight Talk” and that’s a shame because her personality has always been a plus on screen. The films strongest scenes take place when everyone gathers and lifts their voices. The songs here are powerful. Gospel fans will enjoy hearing not only Latifah and Parton but Gospel legends Kirk Franklin and Karen Peck.

Musical? Love story? I still don’t know. Neither does Warner Brothers, apparently. In the past two weeks their entire television advertising campaign has gone from highlighting the two Oscar nominated stars to featuring the kids with hardly a mention of the adults. If you like Gospel music you might give it a look. If not, I’ll see you in church.

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Film Review “Contraband”

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster and Giovanni Ribisi
Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 50 mins
Universal

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

As a freighter ship approaches New Orleans it is suddenly surrounded by boats and helicopters manned by members of the Customs and Border Protection team. Fearing the discovery of his “shipment,” one of the crew members tosses a package overboard. That package cost somebody a pretty penny. And now it may cost him and his family their lives.

Told in a quick, straight ahead style, “Contraband” is an update of the 2008 Icelandic film “Reykjavik-Rotterdam,” which director Kormakur not only produced but starred in as well. The story concerns happily married father of two Chris Farraday (Wahlberg). Farraday was one of the best smugglers in his time, bringing pretty much whatever he wanted from anywhere he chose. He’s retired from the life now, happily running his own alarm company. And who better to know how to foil crime then a former crook. When he finds out his brother-in-law Andy (Caleb Landry Jones) has had to dump a major package of drugs he realizes that soon HE will be the one thrown overboard. After paying a visit to Andy’s “benefactor” (Ribisi, channeling Nicolas Cage in “Kiss of Death”), Chris decides to pull one more job, hoping the proceeds will keep Andy alive.

After a holiday season of more serious fare, it’s nice to see the new year start off with a bang. There are twists and turns, crosses and double crosses here and if you don’t pay attention you may fall behind. Wahlberg has always done “tough” well and he doesn’t disappoint here. Of course, growing up a bad ass in South Boston probably has a lot to do with it! His on screen relationship with wife Kate Beckinsale, who plays his wife, Kate, feels real and that is why you can’t help but root for him. As played by Jones, Andy is more a whiner then a tough guy. It’s obvious to me that, to paraphrase Joe Pesci in “Goodfellas,” Andy “would fold under questioning.” Foster is strong as Chris’ long time friend and partner Sebastian. The supporting cast that makes up Chris’ shipmates are also enjoyable as is J.K. Simmons, who plays the cargo ships Captain.

Kormakur uses an almost documentary style during the more quiet moments of the film but opens up the screen when the action calls for it. An armored car robbery, very reminiscent of Michael Mann’s “Heat,” is one of the highlights in the adrenaline filled second act.

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Interview with Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho has been involved in a variety of projects throughout her career. Margaret started out as a standup comedian eventually bridging into television and movies. Margaret currently plays the role of Teri Lee on the show “Drop Dead Diva” and recently appeared on “Dancing with the Stars”. Media Mikes had a chance recently to talk with Margaret about working on the shows and what she has planned for 2012.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your experience working on “Dancing with the Stars”?
Margaret Cho: It was pretty tough. I am not a particularly competitive person and I was also touring at the same time we were shooting. The whole time we were shooting I was trying to think of ways to disqualify myself without people knowing. (Laughs) I knew they weren’t going to drug test me so that idea was out. (Laughs) I had a good time hanging out with everyone but over all it’s not really fun or anything. I attended many tapings of this season to cheer on Ricki Lake, Carson Kressley and Chaz Bono. In general it’s pretty tough. Every time I go and watch it’s a real relief to know that I don’t have to dance.

AL: What were the rehearsals like?
MC: I have danced all over the world as I do burlesque and belly dancing. I really enjoy dancing. The schedule was very intense and I was out on the road touring. My partner would meet me on my bus and we would end up dancing in places like laundry rooms. We would show up to the tapings in the morning after sleeping on the road and it was just very difficult to manage.

AL: Do you prefer doing television and films over stand up these days?
MC: I love it all. I will always do standup comedy but I do love acting as well. I think it’s really amazing to be able to transform into different people. Ultimately standup comedy is my true passion. I also like doing music as part of my comedy as well.

AL: Recently you have started performing more music. What was it that really sparked your interest in doing so?
MC: I have been going to shows and have been around musicians for as long as I have been doing comedy. I think comics often become very close to musicians because of our similar life styles. I wanted to do a project that involved that side of my life with people that I really love to work with. That’s how my record was made.

AL: Can you tell us the story behind your love of tattoos?
MC: The people who worked for my father at his book store when I was growing up were all getting tattooed in major ways by people such as Ed Hardy. When I was 12 I didn’t have friends so the workers would tell my dad that if I ever got tattooed I would have friends. That kind of stuck with me my whole life. I started getting tattooed rather later in life around when I was 35. I knew that I was always going get tattooed. I am pretty much completely tattooed now except for the areas you see on camera. I have a great love for artists in the genre and I am good friends with a lot of them. I find it very pleasurable to get tattooed.

AL: Can you tell us about your recent appearance on “30 Rock”?
MC: I played Kim Jong-IL. Tina Fey and I have a lot of friends in common and it was really nice to meet her. I love the show so it was a nice thing to be able to do and a great honor. I have always wanted to play Kim Jong-IL as oddly enough I really sort of look like him. I had a great time playing that role however I was very stressed at the same time. There really is no way of hearing what he sounded like because of his image being so tightly controlled. It was tough so I based him on my mother. (Laughs) It was bitter sweet to play him. The only representative of that country that we have is him which is very disturbing.

AL: Can you tell us about working on “Drop Dead Diva”?
MC: I love it! It’s so fun and the cast is really close. I am very proud to be a part of the show. I’m not sure what’s going to happen on the upcoming season but I am curious to see how things will play out. The new season should start airing around June.

AL: What type of plans do you have for 2012?
MC: I will be going back to work on “Drop Dead Diva” starting in February. When I am doing shooting I am going to be doing a few tour dates. Near the end of the year I will be going back to England for some time before I return to Atlanta. Things will be pretty busy. Filming for “Drop Dead Diva” takes up a lot of my time so I have to cram a lot of things into the year’s end. But I love working on that show.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: cho, interview, margaret

CD Review: SafetySuit “These Times”

SafetySuit
“These Times”
Universal Republic
Produced by: Howard Benson, Ryan Tedder, Espionage and SafteySuit
Tracks: 11
ITunes Digital Download 12 tracks

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“These Times” is the latest release from the pop/rock band SafetySuit. The album is being released via Universal Republic and is the follow up release to the bands 2008 album titled “Life Left to Go”.
“These Times” debuted January 3, 2012 on ITunes where it spent two days as the number one most downloaded album.

Right of the bat I found the 11 songs contained on “These Times” to all have the potential of becoming hits. Despite the number of various producers on this album all the tracks had a very good flow and each track seemed to complement the next. The album featured a variety of tones and textures providing something new each time you listen to it. The band also does a great job blending a multitude of music genres which only seems to add to the appeal of this album. Tracks such as “Never Stop” and the upbeat song “Crash” were strong personal favorites of mine. After listening to “These Times” several times over it was really no surprise as to why the album spent two days at the top of the ITunes chart. Fans of music in general will want to check out this album.

Track Listing:
1.) Believe
2.) Get Around This
3.) Let Go
4.) Staring At It
5.) These Times
6.) Never Stop
7.) One Time
8.) Crash
9.) Stranger
10.) Things To Say
11.) Life In the Pain
12.) You Don’t See Me (ITunes Bonus Track)

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DVD Review “The Guard”

Director: John Michael McDonagh
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham, David Wilmot
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Run Time: 96 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Guard” is a comedy that mixes the following plot points murder, blackmail, drug trafficking, and police corruption. When you put that together and add it to a great cast including Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle, you expect a great turnout. Unfortunately the film is quite slow moving and really doesn’t take off until the closing scene. The humor is the film is dark and doesn’t really show up much or if it does at all  I completely missed it. Brendan Gleeson was great in the role of the clueless but sharp cop but Don Cheadle feel a little bit under used and doesn’t really like he belongs here.

The general plot of the film follows two cops (Gleeson and Cheadle) who join forces to take on an international drug-smuggling gang. One cop is an over the top-no rules Irish policeman and the other is a by-the-books FBI agent who is out of place in his environment.

The special features on this disc are definitely packed. There is a decent audio commentary with the director John Michael McDonagh and the film’s stars Don Cheadle & Brendan Gleeson. “The Second Death” is a short film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh and served as the basis for character Sergeant Gerry Boyle. “Making of The Guard” is brief look at the behind the scenes for the film. It is decent but runs less than 20 minutes overall. The outtakes, The deleted scenes include three short scenes running about 6 minutes total. The extended scenes are a lot longer, running about 20 minutes, and worth checking out for sure. If the commentary isn’t enough to finish off the special features is an fun Q&A With Don Cheadle, Brendan Gleeson and John Michael McDonagh done during the LA Film Fest.

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DVD Review “Chop”

Director: Trent Haaga
Starring: Will Keenan, Timothy Muskatell, Ricardo Gray, Max Haaga
Rated: Unrated
Studio: The Collective
Run Time: 88 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

With horror comedies it is usually hit or miss to entertain, though this one kinda sits on the line of both. The film is called “Chop” but the gore really isn’t that present as would be expected. I think this film could have been much better if it just added a lot more gore. The story is well-planned and its plan to reveal the story progress works perfectly. It also seems to give a slightly new twist on the revenge classic story. If you are looking a few laughs and a little bit of mindless fun, this might be worth checking out.

The story follows Lance (Will Keenan) who is attacked and taken hostage by a stranger psycho though who seems to have met Lance in the past. Lance’s past is reveals to have not been the greatest due to his prior drug use. The stranger’s goal is to get Lance to sorry for what he has done to him. He is planning to cause pain to Lance by removing his limbs in order to get him to remember.

Will Keenan channels his inner Bruce Campbell from “Evil Dead” series. He really makes this movie worth wild just for his performance. He is funny and way over-the-top as needed. Will also reunites with first time director Trent Haaga, who also is a Troma veteran. The special features on the disc are lacking with a short gag reel that is only funny in its second half when Keenan steps in. There are two deleted scenes featuring an extended convenience store scene, which is funny. The other is a scene featuring Lance’s mother, which is not worth the time.

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3D Blu-Ray Review “WWII in 3D”

Channel: The History Channel
Running Time: 46 minutes
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Entertainment

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Firstly, I am a sucker for History Channel programs…especially ones that are in 3D. Like said in the opening scene of the show, most of the photos and video from WWII have already been seen over the years. This show though provided new moments of WWII that has been hidden and buried until now. The coolest part about this is that they were captured in 3D with stereographs.

The man behind these 3D photos taken for the Nazi’s back during the war was Heinrich Hoffmann, the German photographer. This amazing collection includes Allied reconnaissance photos and images that documents the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The photos look absolutely amazing in 3D and its amazing that they have held up so well over these years. It is also interesting to be able to analysis the third dimension on some of these images.

If you thought that was enough this program also features an 3D film shot by the Nazis in 1943. The footage is a rare look behind the scenes into the Nazi during the war.  Overall, the video on the Blu-ray is presented perfectly and the sound is really sharp. My only complaint on this release is that I hoped that this could have been longer.  Maybe The History Channel & A&E will plan on releasing more 3D products in the near future.

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Interview with The Last Vegas’ Danny Smash

Danny Smash is the bassist for the rock band The Last Vegas. The band is set to release their second full-length album this coming year. Media Mikes had a chance to ask Danny a few questions about the upcoming release as well as what it was like working with Sybil Danning.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the band?
Danny Smash: It’s always hard to accurately describe things when your on the inside looking out.  From my perspective I think were just five Midwest guys who are trying to be 1970s Aerosmith in 2011.  We come from the five piece mold cast from bands like The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The New York Dolls, Guns n Roses, Alice Cooper, and of course the Jackson 5.  For some reason we get perceived as a hair metal band, but were actually much more 70s rock influenced.   I think its because most peoples last reference point for real rock n roll is the eighties so they place you in that category even if its not accurate. You’ll never find a bottle of aqua net in our van man!

AL: Tell us about the upcoming album?
DS: The new album was recorded right in here in Chicago with producer Johnny K(Staind, Disturbed, Megadeth). He has an awesome studio located literally five minutes from where we practice, so it was really convenient. We recorded 14 songs but we’ll probably send a couple of them down to the minors. Musically the album is a little less polished and a little more eclectic than our previous album “Whatever Gets You Off.”   There were a lot of different elements thrown in the rock caldron on this one. We have four songwriters so there’s a lot of perspectives and a lot of arguing. Were talking about a spring release.

AL: have you picked a favorite track from the album?
DS: My personal favorite is a track called Evil Eyes. The song has a really cool rhythm and vibe to it.  The song reminds me of “Nobody’s Fault” off Aerosmith’s  “Rocks” album. The song takes an introspective look into the mind of a stalker. Its heavy but you can shake your ass to it. Ass shaking + Stalker = #1 hit single???

AL: What was it like working with Sybil Danning?
DS: It was a really great experience to work with a legend.  She is such a professional.  When she turned on the acting button it was a very surreal moment.  I knew right then and there I needed to step it up.  She’s also a very kind, patient, and down to earth lady.  The whole experience exceeded all expectations.

AL: What are the bands upcoming plans for 2012?
DS: For 2012, The Last Vegas train wreck is focusing on international touring and our album release. We’ve been touring around America for the last three years, so its time to poison the minds of the rest of world.  Were getting the party started with a three-week tour of Spain in February.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: danny, interview, smash, vegas

NY Hardcore Legends Biohazard Planning to Give Away Their New Record “Reborn in Defiance” for Free

New York hardcore veterans Biohazard are teaming up with Revolver Magazine and Repudo to blaze yet another trail and give away their new record “Reborn In Defiance” in its entirety for FREE to all fans in the United States starting January 20th 2012.

The first such promotion ever launched, the record will be available for free download off of Revolver Magazine’s website revolvermag.com as well as
through the technology offered by Repudo.com. Fans can check into Biohazard “Containment Zones” (record stores, venues, and more) across the United States using the Repudo app on their smart phones and download the new record directly to their phones or send it to their email inbox. A full map of the Containment Zones will be available soon. For fans who still want a physical copy of REBORN IN DEFIANCE, CDs will be made available for
sale in conjunction with Record Store Day in April and will include exclusive additional content.

“When we started, we followed our hearts and innovated a new direction for heavy music, and today we’re doing the same.” says Biohazard vocalist/guitarist Billy Graziadei. “Technology has allowed us to find a new way to not only reach out to fans but also to thank them for their support all these years. Grab our album for free and we’ll see you on tour!”

REBORN IN DEFIANCE is the highly anticipated new record that was recorded
by the band’s original lineup, its first such recording in almost 18 years, with producer Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Metallica).

Below are all upcoming northeast tour dates for the first part of their world tour in support of REBORN IN DEFIANCE. Scott Roberts will be joining the band as bass player for all dates.

US Tour Dates:
1/15 – Albany, NY @ Bogies
1/16 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
1/17 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater *Record Release Party

With Madball:
2/8 – Syracuse, NY @ Station 58
2/9 – Portland, ME @ Asylum
2/10 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
2/11 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
2/12 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Wally’s Pub
2/14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
2/15 – Richmond, VA @ Kingdom
2/16 – Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre
2/17 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
2/18 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

BIOHAZARD has sold millions of albums worldwide since they achieved international success with their albums Urban Discipline on Roadrunner Records in 1992 and 1994’s State of the World Address on
www.youtube.com/biohazardDFLvideo

Warner Brothers. Over the years, Biohazard has collaborated with Onyx, Cypress Hill, Agnostic Front, Hatebreed, Pantera, and Type O Negative, among others. The band has continued to tour nationally and internationally, sharing stages with House of Pain, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Danzig, Fear Factory, Sepultura and Agnostic Front.

www.biohazard.com
www.facebook.com/biohazardDFL
www.twitter.com/biohazardDFL

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Jingle Punks’ The Hipster Orchestra New Video “4 Strings and an 808”

Jingle Punks is a music licensing company whose work is featured on TV, commercials, film and more. They have a side project called The Hipster Orchestra that has a new video called “4 Strings and an 808” and it features music from Beyonce, Jay Z, Mary J, Eminem, and more. It has more than 11 Thousand hits in just 2 days. Check out the video below:

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Filed Under: Music Headlines Tagged With: 4, 808, hipster, jingle, orchestra, punks, ...
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