Von Frankenstein Monster Gear Instrument Strings

Our score 4.5 out of 5 stars

Von Frankenstein Monster Gear guitar and bass strings are the brainchild of Doyle/Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein. Produced in conjunction with Sheptone all strings are made in the U.S using the best-available, domestically sourced, raw materials. Each string is made by hand, one at a time, with nickel-plated steel that is wrapped over a treated hex steel core. Von Frankenstein avoids rushed mass production which helps ensures quality, feel and durability from every string produced.

When it comes to guitar and bass strings the market seems to be constantly flooded with new string products boasting enhanced feature including everything from wider gauge options and special coatings to the use of new metals all of which are supposed to help aid or solve all together the age-old pursuit of tone. Every guitarist and bassist at one time or another will struggle with finding a tone that is all encompassing. This poses the question of, do all these newly marketed features, and advances really help players achieve that? Not always. From my experience what often happens is you might get say improved output, but the strings do not have a great feel, or the feel is good, but the tone is lacking. Finding a string that has everything a player needs is probably harder at times than actually learning the instrument so it can certainly be daunting.

What we found in the newly introduced Von Frankenstein Monster Gear guitar and bass strings are outside of a few edgy product names like “Decapitators”, “Collateral Damage”, “Toxic Rocks” and “Beast Mode” a solid US made string with no gimmicks. What you see is what you get with the Monster Gear strings which are made through a partnership between legendary Doyle/Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein and Sheptone (Sheptone has been producing instruments strings since 2007). We checked out the “Sentient-6” and “Von Frankenstein” guitar sets as well as a set of the “Beast Mode” bass strings and the first thing that jumped out at us was the unique packaging. Unlike a lot of bigger companies who package a majority of their strings all together Monster Gear individually packages each string in its own sealed bag. What is nice about this is it eliminates the possibility of strings rubbing together and/or creating an opportunity for corrosion and wear to occur even before being used. We checked every string as we installed them and found no flaws or trouble spots whatsoever.

From a playability standpoint both the guitar and bass strings all provided a smooth and balanced feel which made fretting chords comfortable and bending single notes almost effortless. The bass side of the strings provided plenty of low-end percussiveness that remained tight even in lower tunings while the treble strings rang out crisp and clear without being too bright or brittle. Even after playing on the strings for several sessions the tone has remained consistent as has the overall feel.

While boasting an artist roster which includes the brands namesake along with the likes of Exodus guitarist Gary Holt and Arch Enemy guitarist Jeff Loomis these strings are clearly aimed at players in the punk and metal genre however, we found that the tonal properties of the strings could be easily adapted to practically any style. If you are looking for a quality string that does not sacrifice tone or feel and, is hand made in the U.S. then look no further. Von Frankenstein Monster Gear strings are a quality product that guitarists and bassists from all genres and ability will surely enjoy.

To purchase Von Frankenstein Monster Gear strings visit www.vonfrankensteinmonstergear.com

[photo credit: Maciej Pieloch]

DIETH:
New Death-Thrash Band of Metal Icons
David Ellefson, Guilherme Miranda and Michał Łysejko to Release New Album, ‘To Hell And Back’, on June 2

Watch the Official Music Video for Title Track, “To Hell And Back”,
HERE           

Death thrash force DIETH – featuring the iconic line-up of Grammy Award winning bassist David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth), Swedish Grammy nominated guitarist/vocalist Guilherme Miranda (ex-Entombed A.D.) and drummer Michał Łysejko (ex-Decapitated) – finally make their highly anticipated return with the upcoming release of their debut full-length via Napalm Records, entitled ‘To Hell And Back’, out June 2, 2023!

Produced by DIETH with mixing and mastering by Tomasz Zed Zalewski at Zed Studios in Chechło, Poland, the album represents new beginnings – musically, lyrically and for the band members themselves. Weaving a sinister thread of unrelenting tech-steeped death metal, rapid thrash bangers and even boasting the first ever lead vocal performance by David Ellefson on a track, the members of DIETH have pushed beyond the stereotypes of their former genres to create an unexpected yet charismatic and dynamic new sonic footprint.

Today, DIETH dominate with second single and title track “To Hell And Back” – marking the anticipated rebirth of these three metal greats. The track delivers a punishing death metal attack – with commanding vocals, tight, diverse percussion attacks, deep, grooving bass, inventive, technical riffs and a soaring solo. The high quality video shows the members pushing back against the dark forces around them, one by one, amid fiery performance footage.

Frontman Guilherme Miranda says about “To Hell And Back”:

“‘To Hell And Back’ is the song that best describes our individual and collective journeys as professional musicians. For an album to connect with the listener, it has to have deep meaning, and this wraps up this whole moment for us. We’ve been to Hell – and we’re Back!”

Watch the Music Video for “To Hell and Back” HERE

DIETH set the metalsphere ablaze when they dropped their debut single and now album track, “In The Hall of the Hanging Serpents”, in mid-2022. Met with acclaim from both fans and media alike, the surprise track marked the exciting resurgence of these three renowned musicians, coming together as a new musical force after years of silence.

Opening with an entrancing acoustic introduction, first track “To Hell And Back” quickly slams in with a punishing death metal attack. Tracks like “Dead Inside” and “Don’t Get Mad … Get Even!” showcase the thrash-infused side of DIETH, while death metal anthems such as “Wicked Disdain” and “The Mark of Cain” lean diabolical with hair-raising solos and breakneck paced rhythms backed by crushing walls of aggression. Standout “Free Us All” flirts with the record’s pace by blending winding passages and aggression with throwback bass-driven interludes with psychedelic production, followed by “Heavy Is The Crown” – a slow and low grinder featuring stoner metal groove, a swaying chorus and a blues-infused solo. Pensive, powerful ballad “Walk With Me Forever” showcases David Ellefson’s lead vocal performance debut, singing about the intense loss of a loved one and their memory providing the strength to carry on.

Ending with intensely beautiful “Severance”, ‘To Hell And Back’ proves that DIETH isn’t just another side project or “supergroup”, but rather the collective reincarnation of three renowned heavy metal forces who, by harnessing their own pain and conflict, have delivered an exciting next chapter no metal fan will want to miss!

Bassist/vocalist David Ellefson says about the new album:

“This album has been a terrific collaboration, building upon our past as we created a new sound together… we’re looking forward to unleashing the fury!”

Pre-Order ‘To Hell and Back’ HERE

‘To Hell And Back’ Track List:

1. To Hell And Back
2. Don’t Get Mad … Get Even!
3. Wicked Disdain
4. Free Us All
5. Heavy Is The Crown
6. Walk With Me Forever
7. Dead Inside
8. The Mark Of Cain
9. In The Hall Of The Hanging Serpents
10. Severance

‘To Hell And Back’ will be available in the following formats:

=> 1CD Digisleeve

=> 1LP Gatefold Black

=> Limited 1LP Die Hard Vinyl (Marbled Red/Black) w/ wristband, embroidered patch, signed autograph card – Napalm mail order only, limited to 300

=> Digital Album

[Limited 1LP Die Hard Vinyl (Marbled Red/Black) w/ wristband, embroidered patch, signed autograph card – Napalm mail order only, limited to 300]

DIETH Live:
15. – 18.06.2023 BE, Dessel / Graspop Metal Festival
06. – 08.07.2023 CZ, Velke Mezirici / Fajtfest
03. – 05.08.2023 PT, Vagos / Vagos Metal Fest
20.08.2023 FR, Carhaix / Motorcultor Festival

DIETH are:
Guilherme Miranda – Vocals, Guitar
David Ellefson – Vocals, Bass
Michał Łysejko – Drums

MARK VII
Available Now on www.mesaboogie.com
A New MARK Icon, MARK VII Series Offered in Head, 1×12 Combo, and Rackmount

Explore the new MESA/Boogie® MARK VII in the video above, HERE.

Introducing the MESA/Boogie® MARK VII.

A new MARK, icon with nine amps all-in-one, and a simple design, that can be used anywhere.

From humble beginnings to worldwide recognition, MESA/Boogie® has remained the original boutique Home of Tone, hand-crafting amplifiers of uncompromising quality from the world’s finest materials in California, USA. Founder Randall Smith instilled basic principles into MESA such as passion, drive, integrity, and excellence, and his insistence on making the best amplifiers has guided half a century of breakthrough innovations, elevating the amplifier into an instrument in its own right–one with the power to shape and create musical genres. MESA/Boogie is proud to announce the new MARK VII series, available now at authorized MESA/Boogie dealers and on www.mesaboogie.com.

The MARK VII is the Magnum Opus, the flagship of Randall Smith’s 50+ year career in one visionary amp design. The new MARK VII takes the knowledge, history, innovation, and performance and distills it into the simplest, most versatile, and smallest 90-watt Mark series amplifier ever. The 3 Channel, 9 Model Preamp, coupled with our legendary Simul-Class Power section that offers three distinct characters across its three wattage ranges, creates a new MARK icon in terms of adaptability, soulful tube tone, and magic. Joined by iconic features that put Boogies at the top of every player’s dream list, such as on-board Graphic EQ, lush reverb, a seamless effects loop, and innovative power switching, the MARK VII features a CabClone IR™ DI Direct Interface. With identical features and great sounding IRs from our standalone Cab Clone IR, this built-in version allows individual assignment of 8 Rectifier Boogie Cabinets per channel for unmatched tunability of direct sounds.

The long-awaited “Simul-Seven,” aka the new MARK VII, leapfrogs its predecessor, the Mark Five, and the secret Mark Six prototype to arrive at the most power-packed Boogie Mark model ever created in terms of tone, flexibility, compact design, and interfacing. The MARK VII is a do it all tone machine that delivers legendary Mark performance and adds two new sounds. Within the MARK VII’s 3 channel, 9 mode preamp are the iconic circuits of the Mark IIB, Mark IIC+, and Mark IV, the legendary Mark Series Clean, Fat and Crunch modes, and a new modern high-gain Mode full of character and attitude (more shredding than previous Mark amps and more vocal than a Recto), aptly named MARK VII.

“We have been working on the evolution of the Mark for several years. In fact, it started before Mesa Boogie joined the Gibson family,” says Cesar Gueikian, Gibson Brands President. “At one point in the process of testing, Second Gear (aka Randy Smith), James Aschow, Doug West, Tommy Waugh, Steve Mueller and I got together, and we all agreed this Mark blew our prototype Six away and is a massive leap forward for Mesa Boogie in function and design.”

“The Mark VII has been a goal of ours and discussed for years, well before joining Gibson, and part of our concentrated R&D efforts since 2016 although under the Mark VI moniker,” says Randall Smith, founder of Mesa/Boogie. “I finished the preliminary great sounding circuit board in 2018. Refinement continued from that moment on until late ’22 when release preparation began. It became obvious about halfway through the R&D we had a Mark amplifier worth skipping a generational number for. We had leapfrogged our beloved prototype Mark VI mule by such a large margin, it was truly fitting to rename it the Mark VII.

The VII is by far the best amplifier I’ve ever done in terms of good design and editing, our Design Team at MESA is great at that, and it’s created an amplifier that not only contains the best of our entire Boogie history, but also manages to do so with a purer signal path and 2 less preamp tubes than its predecessor the Mark Five! The first comment players we’ve shared the VII with have made throughout development, is how incredible the Tone is and how they ‘can’t believe an amp with this much going on can sound so pure and legit in all Modes’. The key to that is signal path optimization, the knowledge, and tricks I’ve accumulated over the last 55 years and near impossible to please cohorts here like Doug West, Steve Mueller and Jim Aschow, who’ve been doing this with me for four decades. I also have to say that Cesar Gueikian at Gibson’s steadfast belief in us and the Mark VII assured at every step it got the highest level of support and priority. At almost 77 now, I still love what I do, pursue it daily, and foresee doing it as long as I can, but I have to say …after the VII, I’ve been enjoying working on some easier projects, Ha!”

The MARK VII offers discerning players analog, all-tube sound, soul, and feel in a smaller more compact, yet more comprehensive package. With a focus on perfecting icons, bringing back beloved classics, and introducing new realms of modern high gain, all while improving the interface and the performance across all mediums, the MARK VII offers inspiration and freedom across all musical styles. The MESA/Boogie MARK VII is now available in Head, 1×12 Combo, and Rackmount Head formats.

Explore and shop the MESA/Boogie MARK VII series on www.mesaboogie.com and at all authorized MESA/Boogie dealers.

MARK VII HEAD

The MARK VII Head gives users all the benefits of the new MARK VII and can be paired with the user’s speaker cabinet(s) of choice. Use a MESA 1×12 cabinet for portability, or one (or two!) MESA 4×12 cabinets for maximum punch and projection. You can use different cabinets for each gig, depending on your preferences and needs – the choice is always yours.

MARK VII 1×12 COMBO

The MARK VII 1×12 Combo is the classic wolf in sheep’s clothing Boogie configuration. It delivers more power and Tone than you’ve ever heard coming from such a compact 1×12 platform. It can also be paired with external cabinets when even more punch and projection are desired. The MARK VII 1×12 Combo is the classic MARK configuration that made MESA/Boogie the world standard in professional amplification.

MARK VII RACKMOUNT HEAD

The MARK VII Rackmount Head has all the Tone, features, and power of both of its MARK VII stablemates, along with the cabinet-selection and pairing benefits of the MARK VII Head, but in a 19” wide rackmount configuration that is ideal for rackmounted rigs, including recording studio installations, as well as rack-based touring rigs.

FAKE NAMES
RELEASE NEW ALBUM
‘EXPENDABLES’
OUT NOW VIA EPITAPH RECORDS

HEADLINING TOUR STARTS APRIL 13

“Every melodic, almost classically punk track contains elements that are immediately recognizable as each member’s contributions, yet none of them sound like a B-side from any of their previous bands.” – SPIN

“Incredibly well put together, played, and produced… it results in one hell of a fun listen.” – Ghost Cult Magazine

Today, post-hardcore dream team – Fake Names – share their second studio album ‘Expendables’ via Epitaph Records. The band is comprised of punk legends Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN, The [International] Noise Conspiracy), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) and newest addition Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Rites of Spring). It’s the latest exchange in a musical conversation that spans four decades, but instead of rehashing the past, ‘Expendables’ is a reinvention that sees the band dialing back the distortion and leaning into the melodies.

‘EXPENDABLES’

LISTEN

Melding 70’s U.K. punk with power-pop and classic rock, the Fake Names’ self-titled debut (2020) was actually a demo that Epitaph founder and Brian Baker’s Bad Religion bandmate, Brett Gurewitz, wanted to release as is. After releasing a three-track EP in 2021, the band enlisted producer Adam “Atom” Greenspan (IDLES, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) who helmed a surprisingly cleaner sound for Expendables. Baker says, “The pop influences are a little more out front on this one and the production really helps it shine. It sounds more direct, more urgent.”

Formed in 2016, Fake Names is a “mutual admiration society,” according to Baker, saying that once the five members got in the same room together, it felt as if they had already been in the band together for years. “There’s this intangible energy, a clairvoyance that comes from our shared experience,” he explains. On ‘Expendables,’ the result pairs their unparalleled pedigree with a pop sensibility that’s slightly unexpected and wholly satisfying.

Speaking to lyrical themes, Baker discloses, “In general, Dennis writes about revolution, and Michael and I write pop songs. I’m amazed at how it works, but somehow it strikes the right balance of salty and sweet.” This imagery is paralleled in the 70’s dystopian album artwork featuring an eerie army of mannequins set against a cold urban backdrop. That dichotomy of lively music and bleak imagery is an important thematic element of Expendables because the album is more than just a collection of catchy songs: it’s an artistic statement about our own impermanence.

Fake Names will be on tour this Spring, starting off on April 13th in Asbury Park, and ending April 23rd in Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale HERE

FAKE NAMES TOUR DATES

4.13.23 Asbury Park, NJ House of Independents
4.14.23 Brooklyn, NY TV Eye
4.15.23 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
4.16.23 Washington, DC The Black Cat
4.20.23 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
4.21.23 Oxnard, CA The Canyon @ Oxnard PAC
4.22.23 Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar
4.23.23 Los Angeles, CA Zebulon

‘EXPENDABLES’ TRACK LISTING

1. Expendables
2. Delete Myself
3. Go
4. Don’t Blame Yourself
5. Can’t Take It
6. Damage Done
7. Madtown
8. Caught In Between
9. Too Little Too Late

KISS Announces Final Two Shows of Their “End Of The Road” Tour.

KISS will play its last-ever shows on December 1 and December 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The dates for the concerts were announced earlier today (Wednesday, March 1) during an in-studio interview with “The Howard Stern Show”.

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“End Of The Road” was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but has since been extended to late 2023. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band’s classic song “Detroit Rock City” on “America’s Got Talent”.

Last month, KISS’s longtime manager Doc McGhee told “Podcast Rock City” that the band’s final show will definitely take place “this year.”

Asked about the possibility of KISS continuing without co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Doc said: “There’s a lot of talk about everything. And nobody knows what’s gonna happen in the future. So what we’ve kind of put in our minds is let’s go through this like this is the end of KISS as we know it. And whatever comes our way, with technology and everything else, we’ll look at it. Will be Gene and Paul out there in makeup. No. I can tell you that. They’re hanging their hats up after the [final] show, which is gonna be very, very difficult and very emotional for them after 50 years of doing this. And they love it.

“A lot of my bands — most of my bands — [say], ‘I hate this. I don’t wanna be out there anymore. I don’t wanna do this. This is bullshit.’ That’s not [Paul and Gene],” Doc continued. “They love it. They thrive on it. We have a great time on the road, or an extremely good time on the road. So, it’s, like, ‘Why are we ending this?’ And we’re ending this because this is the time to end it. This is it, 50 years of KISS. And let them move on to their next phase of whatever they wanna do, whether it’s Gene in business or having a country named after him, the Gene Simmons World; we don’t know, however that works. And Paul’s got a family. He’s got three kids — he actually has four kids, but he’s got three kids in the house.

“For us, we’re just kind of open,” McGhee explained. “People are throwing ideas around to us, and then we’ll look at it. But, really, it has to be amazing. We don’t fall for gimmicks, as much as some people would think we’re a gimmick. But we don’t fall for ’em. We didn’t do NFTs, we didn’t do all that stuff, because we didn’t believe in it. We didn’t believe that people were gonna get anything out of it. And it wasn’t gonna be long-lasting.

“I like to think years and years ahead; I don’t like to think days ahead. So with that, we’re gonna go and finish this up and see what happens in the realm of the metaverse and the world of that type of things that can come back and people can experience things in different ways for KISS.

“To me, KISS is more like Marvel. There’s all kinds of things that can happen with KISS, and probably will. So it’s a whole new frontier out there starting in ’24.”

KISS’s current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Simmons, alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, KISS staged its first “farewell” tour in 2000, the last to feature the group’s original lineup.

We unbox and review the Donner DED-80 Electronic Drum Set.

Donner DED-80 electronic drums offer authentic play and feel which essential to skill building. Designed for beginners the DED-80 features 180 Built-in sounds＆15 drum kits, with 30 demo songs covering multiple music styles. The training and recording functions of kids drums will allow beginners to improve their playing skills and enjoy every note!

Donner has developed a new structure hi-hat pedal, which is a combination of comfort and durability. The new design is lightweight and avoids most of the noise, giving you the best experience . Double-layer mesh heads and a high-density structure, guaranteed the service life, and close to restoring the real drum hitting experience. Also, the 10″ cymbal provides a precise strike area.

Ideal for Apartment Home＆ Outdoor performers Donner has developed a more stable drum stand, the size is more suitable for teenagers Youth. Portable and foldable, suitable for home and outdoor performances! (Drum Set Expanded size: 39.37in*17.72in*43.31in)

DED-80 drum sets can be linked to DAW software through the USB MIDI interface, as a tool for your music creation, use our headphones for silent practice. Package includes: 7’’ drum pad x4, 10’’ cymbal padx3, kick pedal x1, hi-hat pedal x 1, audio cable x1, drum throne x 1, headphone x 1, drumstick x1.

40 Free and Entertaining electronic drums -Teaching Courses. We have carefully created drums for kids teaching courses for users ranging from beginner to advanced, which are ideal for zero-based players who want to try arranging music. 40 free and entertaining courses are sufficient to master all aspects of arrangement creation.

For more Information or to Purchase the DED-80 visit: https://www.donermusic.com/buy/ded-80

https://www.amazon.com/Donner-Electronic-Headphone-Christmas-DED-80/dp/B09ZXR98LJ?th=1

Bo Bice is one of America’s most popular modern day southern rock singers. Bo’s epic run on American Idol as runner-up to Carrie Underwood in 2005 is still one of the most watched seasons in the shows history. Bo currently is playing the lead role in “Rock of Ages” at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL. The show opened on January 25. 2023 and recently got extended to March 12, 2023. Be sure to catch a performance if you can.

Click here to purchase tickets: https://www.gardentheatre.org/play/rock-of-ages/

Bo has received many awards over his 25 year career. As a Native of Alabama being inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and having Governor Bob Riley declare May, 24th Bo Bice day were among the greatest honors of his career. He has a string of 3 Gold Albums from his contribution to the Idols 2005 compilation CD, his single “Vehicle” and for his Debut CD “The Real Thing” recorded with Clive Davis/RCA Records. Bo has recorded and performed with such greats as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Phish, Marshall Tucker just to name a few. He has recorded a duet with Carlos Santana “Brown Skin Girl” 2005.

Donner DJP-1000 Semi Hollow Electric Guitar

A classic body that sings the Blues Wonderful Versatility and Playability Advanced Neck-through Craftsmanship Faithfully Reproduce the Sound of the 70s Exquisite Details with A Delicate Touch SPECS Body Material: Maple Neck Material Type: Maple Neck Shape: Rounded C Fretboard Material: Rosewood Top Material: Maple Guitar Pickup Configuration: H-H Guitar Bridge System: Tune-O-Matic bridge

To Purchase:

https://m.donnermusic.com/buy/djp-1000

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donner/…

We review the Donner DTC-100 electric guitar

Guitar Specs:
25.5″ Scale
Poplar Body
Bolt on AAA Canadian Maple Neck
Purple Heart Fretboard
22 Frets
9.5″ fingerboard radius
Donner Standard Series T pickups
1 Volume, 1 Tone, 3 way switch
6 Saddle Vintage Style String Through Body
Includes Gig Bag, Cable and Strap

Click Here To Purchase the Donner DTC-100

Epiphone: Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection

Legendary Fantasy Artist Frank Frazetta’s Epic Work
“The Berserker”
Available Worldwide on Epiphone.com

Collection Features Seven, Limited-edition Epiphone Les Paul Silverburst Models Featuring the Artwork of Five World-Renowned Visual Artists: Curated by Adam Jones of TOOL

Above: Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection: Frazetta “The Berserker.”

For 150 years, Epiphone has been a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has now set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Epiphone is proud to announce the long-awaited Adam Jones and Epiphone partnership has now arrived with the release of the Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection. This unprecedented, limited-edition collection blends Adam’s love of fine art and music, resulting in seven, iconic and unique Les Paul Custom Silverburst masterpieces which feature the artwork of five distinguished visual artists curated by Adam Jones of TOOL. The Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection is now available worldwide at authorized Epiphone dealers and on www.epiphone.com.

The second model to debut in the Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection is Frank Frazetta’s “The Berserker.” Known as the Godfather of fantasy art, acclaimed artist Frank Frazetta was an illustrator of comic books, movie posters and paperback book covers whose visions helped define fantasy heroes like Conan, Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, and more. This guitar displays Frank Frazetta’s masterpiece, “Berserker” on the back of the guitar, artwork on the rear headstock is designed by world-renowned artist Korin Faught. The artwork “Berserker,” also known as “Conan The Conqueror,” was painted by Frazetta in 1968, for the cover of the Conan The Conqueror paperback novel by author Robert E. Howard. The original artwork is currently owned by Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Conan® is a registered trademark of Conan Properties International LLC.

Frank Frazetta was born in Brooklyn on February 9, 1928, and as a boy studied art at the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts. He began drawing for comic books of all stripes–westerns, mysteries, fantasies–when he was still a teenager. He was also a good enough baseball player to try out for the New York Giants. Frazetta was a versatile and prolific comic book artist who, in the 1940s and ’50s, drew for comic strips like Al Capp’s “Lil’ Abner” and comic books like “Famous Funnies,” for which he contributed a series of covers depicting the futuristic adventurer, Buck Rogers. Explore the artwork of Frank Frazetta, HERE.

“My exposure to Frank Frazetta began early in my life. There’s something about his artwork that has spoken to me for as long as I can remember,” says Adam Jones. “When I was very young, I would save money to buy his adult comic art and pulp novel covers without my parents’ knowledge, sneaking them into the house undetected. To this day, as I work on my own projects, I’m transported back to those moments of discovery and influence. Frank’s technical prowess is unmatched in his genre (I’m such a proud nerd…) and he continues to be one of my heroes.

When Cesar at Gibson and I discussed a line of fine art-enhanced guitars, I hoped we would get permission to use one of Frank’s images, and I am so grateful to his estate for allowing us to use ‘Berserker’ on this Epiphone Les Paul.”

“I was 13 years old when I first heard the TOOL song ‘Schism,’ it immediately resonated with me on a spiritual level and I’ve been a fan ever since,” adds Sara Frazetta, Granddaughter of Frank Frazetta. “To collaborate with Adam Jones and my Grandfather’s artwork on this gorgeous new Epiphone Art Collection of guitars has been amazing and seeing the guitars, it’s clear Frazetta’s art was destined for guitars.”

Watch the video for the Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection, HERE, and explore the collection HERE.

The Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection: Frank Frazetta’s “The Berserker” isn’t just an art piece to hang on the wall; it’s an exceptional instrument for players to craft their own masterpiece. The Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection has a bound mahogany body with a maple cap, a three-piece bound maple neck with an Adam Jones Custom profile, and an ebony fretboard. It is equipped with a reverse-mounted Epiphone ProBucker™ Custom humbucker™ in the neck position and a Seymour Duncan® Distortion in the bridge; both are wired to CTS® potentiometers and Orange Drop® capacitors. A Marquee Back Plate with Frank Frazetta’s name and the title of the artwork, “The Berserker” is also included. The guitar is finished in Antique Silverburst as an homage to Adam’s beloved original Silverbust 1979 Gibson® Les Paul Custom, a Protector hardshell case is also included.

The Epiphone Adam Jones Art Collection consists of seven, Silverburst Les Paul™ Custom models, each featuring reproductions of different works of fine art on the back. Adam curated all of the featured artwork, and selected five distinguished artists Mark Ryden, Frank Frazetta, Julie Heffernan, Korin Faught, and Ernst Fuchs for the collection; additional artwork designed by world-renowned artist Korin Faught, adorns the back of the headstock of each model. Only 800 guitars of each model from this unprecedented, extremely limited edition run will be produced.

One of the rock’s most talented and sonically innovative guitarists, Adam Jones is renowned as the guitarist for the band TOOL, as well as his work as a visual artist, sculptor, videographer, producer, and special effects designer (Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Edward Scissorhands, Ghostbusters II, Batman Returns, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, 4 and 5, Dances with Wolves, Bride of the Re-Animator, Pet Sematary, Shocker, and License To Kill).

The Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection guitars are a new take on Adam’s #1 guitar, his prized original Gibson Silverburst 1979 Gibson Les Paul, and Adam was heavily involved in creating the new guitar. Utilizing his extensive experience in visual art, special effects and design, Adam Jones is both the director of the majority of Tool’s music videos and creates the visual experience on stage for the band. For the world premiere of the Gibson Custom Shop Adam Jones Les Paul, Adam composed and scored “The Witness” a new song and animated short film. Watch/share the “The Witness,” on Gibson TV, HERE.

Explore the Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection “The Berserker,” HERE.

ROCKERS STEEL PANTHER CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WITH THE RELEASE OF A NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR
“FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS”
https://youtu.be/vM6xASUJbhI

Band Also Releases Their First-Ever Phone App Rock N’ Talk
To Help Music Fans Connect Online – https://lnk.to/rockntalk
Sixth Studio Album On The Prowl Out February 24, 2023
https://lnk.to/Panther_OTP

On The Prowl World Tour 2023 Kicks Off February 24th
Tickets And VIP Packages Available Here: https://steelpantherrocks.com/pages/tour

With less than two weeks until the release of their sixth studio album On The Prowl and to celebrate Valentine’s Day, California rock lotharios Steel Panther are back with their latest music video from the album. The NSFW video is for the track “Friends With Benefits” and is a song that lyrically explores a mutually beneficial relationship between two consenting adults. The music video – directed by longtime collaborator J.T. Arbogast – is Steel Panther’s take on the immensely popular show Shark Tank. The band appears in Panther Den as they try and pitch a series of creative ideas to four high-powered cougars. Products such as the Glorious Hole, The Coolcumber and Slikknutz all sound like meaningful creations until Michael Starr arrives selling himself and his companionship package. The band performs in front of the panel of female business leaders and by the time the song is over – there are more than just their wallets out. The NSFW video for “Friends With Benefits” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/vM6xASUJbhI.

Always the innovators and constantly finding new ways to expand their societal footprint, Steel Panther are releasing their first-ever application for mobile phones called Rock N’ Talk. The app works like any other popular dating app, but this one is based around subscribers that share a mutual love of the band. People can sign up and connect with other individuals in their cities and make plans to meet up at shows and develop friendships all thanks to their common interest in the band comprised of Michael Starr, Satchel, Stix Zadinia and Spyder. The app will also look to expand to integrate other artists in the future. The app and sign-up will be free and is available for all smart phones now. Fans that want to sign up for Rock N’ Talk can go here to download the app: https://lnk.to/rockntalk.

Steel Panther will release their sixth studio album On The Prowl worldwide on February 24, 2023. On The Prowl was produced by Steel Panther and is now available for pre-order in multiple configurations including CD, Cassette, and 2 different color variant vinyl records here: https://lnk.to/Panther_OTP. From the opening synth intro of “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)” to the thunderous outro of “Sleeping On The Rollaway,” Steel Panther is back with the infectious riffs, pounding drums, unforgettable vocals alongside the witty humor that has earned them a global audience. Songs like “On Your Instagram,” “Magical Vagina” and “One Pump Chump” are sure to fit in on the biggest live stages next to the band’s most-memorable songs. “1987” is an incredible retro look at that unforgettable year and pays homage to the icons of that year including Guns N’ Roses, Poison, Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne and Van Halen to name a few. The music video follows a young duo who find an abandoned recording studio. When one of the kids plugs in a hidden 1987 pedal, he is transported to the time in the studio when Steel Panther recorded the song and lives the memories of 1987 in his own way. The music video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/HewOSY1XLLQ. A music video for “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight) was previously released and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/2myLjGeYOu0.

The track listing for On The Prowl is:

1) Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)
2) Friends With Benefits
3) On Your Instagram
4) Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is
5) 1987
6) Teleporter
7) Is My D**k Enough (feat. Dweezil Zappa)
8) Magical Vagina
9) All That And More
10) One Pump Chump
11) Pornstar
12) Ain’t Dead Yet
13) Sleeping On The Rollaway

To celebrate the release of On The Prowl, Steel Panther will be heading out on massive world tour in support of their latest release. The On The Prowl World Tour 2023 kicks off on February 24th and will run throughout North America through April 8th. Crobot and Tragedy will be joining the band on the North American tour. The band will take a short break before bringing the party to the United Kingdom and Ireland in May. Additional Information on all ticket and VIP packages including meet and greets, exclusive merch items, early entry and more for the On The Prowl World Tour 2023 can be found here: https://steelpantherrocks.com/pages/tour.

On The Prowl World Tour 2023 Dates

2/24/23 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues *
2/25/23 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues *
2/26/23 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee Theatre *
2/28/23 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater *
3/1/23 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues *
3/3/23 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues *
3/4/23 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom *
3/6/23 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works *
3/8/23 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room *
3/10/23 – Orlando FL – The Plaza Live *
3/11/23 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live *
3/12/23 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre *
3/14/23 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live *
3/16/23 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza *
3/17/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre *
3/18/23 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom *
3/19/23 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium *
3/21/23 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore *
3/22/23 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone *
3/24/23 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room *
3/25/23 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues *
3/26/23 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre *
3/28/23 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Club Stage *
3/29/23 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore *
3/31/23 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre *
4/1/23 – Denver , CO – The Fillmore *
4/2/23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *
4/4/23 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *
4/6/23 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go *
4/7/23 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go *
4/8/23 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues *

5/14/23 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy #
5/15/23 – Newcastle, UK – O2 City Hall #
5/17/23 – Manchester, UK – Academy #
5/18/23 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy #
5/20/23 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town #
5/21/23 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy #
5/23/23 – Leeds, UK – O2 Academy #
5/25/23 – Belfast, UK – Ulster Hall
5/26/23 – Cork, IE – Cyprus Avenue
5/28/23 – Dublin, IE – Vicar Street
6/3/23 – Nürnberg, GER – Rock im Park 2023
6/4/23 – Nürburg, GER – Rock am Ring 2023

* With Crobot and Tragedy
# With Winger

As Steel Panther has ventured into the musical instrument space with the successful release of three guitar pedals: the legendary Pu**y Melter, Poontang Boomerang and Butthole Burner; the band is back with another must-have piece of gear – the 1987 pedal. The pedal is a combination distortion and delay pedal that can give any guitarist the signature sound of that classic year. The pedal will retail for $198.70 (see what we did there?) and as only Steel Panther can describe: “With the grit of 100 chainsaws and the ability to repeat itself more than that super stoned dude from Chemistry Class, it is truly the ultimate badass accessory…next to eyeliner.” The 1987 pedal is available for order here: https://steelpantherrocks.com/collections/on-the-prowl.

Checkout Media Mikes review of the “1987” Effects Pedal here:

GHOST ANNOUNCES RE-IMPERATOUR U.S.A. 2023

Citi and Artist Presales Begin Tuesday, February 14th

Tickets On Sale To General Public Friday, February 17th at 10AM Local on Ticketmaster.com

Ghost has revealed details of its upcoming RE-IMPERATOUR U.S.A. 2023 summer tour with special guest Amon Amarth. Produced by Live Nation & FPC Live, the 27-date tour kicks off on Wednesday, August 2nd in Concord, CA at Concord Pavilion, with stops in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Austin and more before wrapping up with the band’s Monday, September 11th return to the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Ghost continues to elevate and reaffirm its status as one of the world’s most esteemed and celebrated creative forces. Accumulating well over a billion streams, the GRAMMY-winning Swedish theatrical rock band continues to bring the “euphoric spectacle” (ROLLING STONE) of its live shows to ever-growing and increasingly impassioned crowds, headlining arena tours including sold out shows from The Forum in Los Angeles and Barclays Center in New York to London’s O2 Arena and Stockholm’s Avicii Arena. In March 2022, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES reported in a Calendar cover story that Ghost had “conquered metal and the charts” when its fifth album IMPERA debuted at #1 in a sweep of the U.S. album charts, entering the BILLBOARD 200 at #2 and bowing at #1 in the band’s native Sweden as well as Germany and Finland, while cracking the top 5 in the UK (#2), Netherlands (#2), Belgium (#2), Canada (#3), Australia (#3), France (#5), Ireland (#5), and more. Produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace — and featuring “Spillways”—hailed as a “sweetly constructed rock tune” by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the GRAMMY-nominated “Call Me Little Sunshine,” and Active Rock #1 radio single “Hunter’s Moon” — IMPERA finds Ghost transported centuries forward from the Black Plague era of its previous album, 2018 Best Rock Album GRAMMY nominee Prequelle—or as ROLLING STONE put it, “Ghost predicted the pandemic, Now the metal band is foretelling the fall of empires.” The result is the most ambitious and lyrically incisive entry in the Ghost canon: Over the course of IMPERA’s 12-song cycle, empires rise and fall, would-be messiahs ply their hype (financial and spiritual alike), prophecies are foretold as the skies fill with celestial bodies divine and man-made… All in all, the most current and topical Ghost subject matter to date is set against a hypnotic and darkly colorful melodic backdrop making IMPERA a listen like no other — yet unmistakably, quintessentially Ghost.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with a Citi cardmember presale (details below) and Artist presale on Tuesday, February 14th. Additional presales will be available throughout the week before the general on sale starting Friday, February 17th at 10am local time on Ticketmaster.com.

CITI PRESALE: Citi is the official card of Ghost’s RE-IMPERATOUR U.S.A. 2023. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, February 14th at 11am ET until Thursday, February 16th at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

GHOST RE-IMPERATOUR U.S.A. 2023:

Wed Aug 02 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Fri Aug 04 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 05 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
Mon Aug 07 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 08 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre *
Fri Aug 11 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 12 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Mon, Aug 14– Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Tue Aug 15 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Wed Aug 16 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Fri Aug 18 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sat Aug 19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Sun Aug 20 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Tue Aug 22 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
Wed Aug 23 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Thu, Aug 24 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Fri Aug 25 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Sun Aug 27 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Tue Aug 29 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
Wed, Aug 30 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Thu Aug 31 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 02 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Sun Sep 03 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Tue Sep 05 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Thu Sep 07 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Fri Sep 08 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum ^

* Non-Live Nation Date
^ Amon Amarth Not on This Date

Bronson Arroyo pitched 17 seasons in the major leagues playing for teams such as the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Redsox, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks. When he wasn’t winning a World Series in 2004 or being elected to the Cincinnati Hall of Fame he would often be found with a guitar in his. Arroyo released an album of cover songs titled “Covering the Bases” in 2005 however his latest offering with his new band the ’04 is a 10-song album consisting entirely of original material. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Bronson recently about the album’s creation, his transition from baseball to music and the encouraging words he received from Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder.

For more info on Bronson Arroyo and the 04’s visit www.instagram.com/bronsonarroyoandthe04

Guitar Icon Marty Friedman Returns To North America
For The First Time In Four Years To Support
His Latest Release Tokyo Jukebox 3

Friedman – Now A Cultural Ambassador For Japan – Announces
North American Tour Kicking Off March 3rd

Being a true master of an instrument like guitar is difficult. Mastering a new language like Japanese is even more difficult. Contributing to some of the most legendary thrash metal songs and most successful albums in history with Megadeth is rare. Becoming an international ambassador for a country that is not your place of birth is even more rare. Not many people can lay claim to one of those singular achievements, yet Marty Friedman is one of the few people on the planet who can say he has done all of them and more over his years.

Now with 2023 ahead of him, guitar icon Marty Friedman is ready to build upon his already impressive legacy. With the world shut down due to the global pandemic in 2020, Marty took that time to write and record his latest masterpiece Tokyo Jukebox 3. The album – which was released on April 16, 2021 in the United States – received massive acclaim from around the globe. An official music video for the album opener “Makenaide” was released and showcases his otherworldly technical abilities and unique sense of humor, as well as his incredible attention to melody that fans have come to love and expect from Marty. Tokyo Jukebox 3 ends with the track “Japan Heritage Official Theme Song.” Marty was commissioned to write that track by the Japanese government to become a musical testament to everything Japan. The song is currently played at government sponsored events all over Japan and Marty worked with the Tokyo Philharmonic on the track. Just last month, an official music video was filmed for the track by the Japanese government that features Marty performing the song as over 100 cultural landmarks from Japan are gloriously featured. More info and an official release date for the video will be made available in the future. Fans interested in checking out Tokyo Jukebox 3 can find more information at https://smarturl.it/MartyFriedman-MLG.

Tokyo Jukebox 3 Track list:

1. Makenaide
2. Senbonzakura
3. Gurenge
4. Kaze Ga Fuiteiru
5. Echo
6. The Perfect World (feat. Alfakyun)
7. U.S.A.
8. Shukumei
9. Ikuze Kaitou – Shoujo
10. Sazanka
11. Time Goes By
12. Japan Heritage Official Theme Song

Recently, Marty was announced as direct support on the upcoming Queensrÿche tour. Marty is confirmed to perform on 31-dates with Queensrÿche kicking off on March 3rd in Orlando, FL and running through April 16th where is wraps up in St. Petersburg, FL. Along the way, the tour will make stops in Dallas, TX (March 11th); Anaheim, CA (March 19th); Chicago, IL (March 31st), New York, NY (April 10th) and Nashville, TN (April 14th) to name a few. Also, Marty recently announced two headline shows on his own: March 17th in Las Vegas, NV at Counts Vampd and March 18th in Los Angeles, CA at the Whisky A Go Go. The tour marks Marty’s first time performing in the US since 2019. Tickets for all performances by Marty Friedman can be found here: https://martyfriedman.com/#tourdates.

Marty Friedman 2023 US Tour Dates

March 3rd – Orlando, FL – Plaza Live*
March 4th – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room*
March 5th – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theater*
March 7th – Destin, FL – Club LA*
March 9th – San Antonio, TX – The Vibes Event Center*
March 10th – Houston, TX – Scout Bar*
March 11th – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues*
March 12th – Midland, TX – La Cienda Event Center*
March 14th – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theater*
March 16th – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades*
March 17th – Las Vegas, NV – Counts Vampd#
March 18th – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go#
March 19th – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues*
March 21st – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom*
March 22nd – Seattle, WA – The Neptune Theater*
March 24th – Englewood, CA – Gothic Theater*
March 25th – Kansas City, MO – The Truman*
March 26th – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall*
March 28th – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave*
March 29th – Ft. Wayne, IN – The Clyde*
March 31st – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
April 1st – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection*
April 2nd – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall*
April 4th – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall*
April 5th – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theater*
April 7th – Worcester, MA – The Palladium*
April 8th – Huntington, NY – The Paramount*
April 10th – New York, NY – Irving Plaza*
April 11th – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage*
April 12th – Charlotte, NC – The Underground*
April 14th – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl*
April 15th – Atlanta, GA – Heaven at Masquerade*
April 16th – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing*

* Queensrÿche date
# Headline date

Marty Friedman`s presence in the world of music, the world of guitar, and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. Born in Washington D.C., Friedman first gained attention with the band Cacophony, which he founded with equally enigmatic and now legendary guitarist, Jason Becker. In 1990, he was recruited by Megadeth appearing on some of the most influential metal albums of all time including Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction and Youthanasia and helped propel Megadeth to its peak. Since 2003, Friedman has lived in Tokyo where he has become a household name, even beyond the world of music. Since moving to Japan, he’s appeared on over 700 Japanese TV shows of every variety, acted in motion pictures and appeared in major television commercial campaigns. He was also recently appointed an Ambassador of Japan Heritage by the Japanese Government. Tokyo Jukebox 3 was released on April 16, 2021 and is the latest in this distinguished, ongoing line following Tokyo Jukeboxand Tokyo Jukebox 2.

Seminal punk guitarist Ivan Julian was an essential part of the 1970’s New York city punk scene as a founding member of the band Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Know for his unique rhythm structures and a skewed guitar lines Julian’s unique style made him and his bandmates stand-out amongst other bands during the onset of NYC punk. Julian’s latest solo offering “Swing Your Lanterns” is set for a mid-February release via Pravda Records and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Ivan about the work that went into the album, his fondness for analog recording and his time in the NYC music scene.

For more information on Ivan Julian, you can visit his official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ivan.julian.77