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Author: Chelsea

Concert Review: Ronnie Montrose Remembered 2020

ChelseaConcert Reviews

The M3 Live in Anaheim, California set a stage amidst the backdrop of NAMM for the fifth annual celebration of the musical legacy of Ronnie Montrose on January 17th, 2020. This event has been a staple around NAMM time for the last five years, and the tradition continues on with the start of the new decade. Those who came to Ronnie Montrose Remembered expecting to hear classic Montrose tracks like “Rock Candy” and “Bad Motor Scooter” were certainly not disappointed, but what they experienced might have been even more than they bargained for, with an exploration of the many stages […]

Interview: Keith St. John

ChelseaInterviews

I sat down with Keith St. John for an in-depth discussion on the history of Ronnie Montrose as a figure of guitar excellence and innovation in the rock world, more on Keith’s own background as a musician and as the point person for the Ronnie Montrose Remembered event, growing up on Long Island, some rock and radio history, and even a bit of John 5 and Randy Jackson, as well as music and life overall.  So Keith, we’re kind of cooling down after NAMM right now, and the majority of NAMM for you, I feel like, must consist of Ronnie […]

NAMM Interview: Mats Levén

ChelseaInterviews

You may know Mats Levén from Candlemass, from Trans-Siberian Orchestra, from Yngwie Malmsteen, or any of the multitude of projects he’s been involved in, but you may not have known that he’s also the face behind the solo project known as Skyblood, on Napalm Records. I sat down with him at NAMM for an interview about what’s behind Skyblood, as well as some insight into his songwriting techniques, and NAMM 2020 goings-on.  How are you doing, enjoying your day at NAMM? I’m fine, I’ve only been here for two hours, so I’ve only been to the Marshall booth and Gibson, […]

NAMM Interview: Tobi Morelli

ChelseaInterviews

Archspire have their follow-up to the Technical Death Metal sensation Relentless Mutation, in the works – we’ll see if this one also gets picked up by the YouTube bot – and I sat down with guitarist Tobi Morelli for a quick Q&A at NAMM.  Just want to start out by asking, how are your NAMM activities going? Pretty awesome, also crazy, it’s a lot to take in, I think this is maybe the fourth or fifth time I’ve been here, and it’s always a good time, but there’s just so much going on, it’s hard just to catch our breath, between […]

NAMM Interview: Simon Hawemann

ChelseaInterviews

Nightmarer is getting ready to follow up on their 2018 full-length debut Cacophony of Terror via Season of Mist later this year, and I sat down with guitarist/journalist Simon Hawemann during NAMM to learn more about this up-and-coming death metal band. I want to dig right into Nightmarer so people can get to know more about this band. Harsh chaos and cacophony defines the sound of Nightmarer, musically, what drove you guys to what you like to call “total dissonance worship”? What is that to you? I think it’s just something that over the years I started gravitating towards, trying […]

NAMM Interview: Hugo Doyon-Karout

ChelseaInterviews

Hugo Doyon-Karout has plenty to do as a young bassist, splitting his time between three bands, including Beyond Creation, Brought By Pain, and Equipoise, plus work as a tour manager. I sat down with him at NAMM for a quick Q&A on all his work in the metal world. We’re here at NAMM, so I have to start off by asking what you’re doing today at the show. Just having fun, hanging out with my friends in Equipoise, catching up with friends, I just performed at the Neural DSP booth, that’s been a blast. So yeah, making connections, being here […]

NAMM Interview: Timo Somers

ChelseaInterviews

Timo Somers, metal guitarist and Aristides Instruments enthusiast, was representing his favorite brand at their booth at NAMM this year, and I had the chance to speak with him about his NAMM/Aristides experience and musical ventures both in and outside of Delain.  Here with Timo Somers at the Aristides guitar booth, want to start off by asking, what’s your connection with Aristides guitars? Well, I’ve been playing their guitars for like seven years now, and I was one of the first artists that they got, and then the brand grew so much, and then I came to be an Artist […]

Ronnie Montrose Remembered To Celebrate the Music of Montrose with All-Star Lineup At NAMM

ChelseaNews

Ronnie Montrose Remembered is an annual event that takes place during NAMM, one which will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary this year. The event, set for January 17th, 2020 at The M3 Live in Anaheim, CA, unites a vast and continually expanding list of musicians for a tribute concert to the late namesake guitarist of Montrose, led and coordinated by musician and former Montrose frontman, Keith St. John. The lineup so far includes: Brad Gillis (Night Ranger), George Lynch (Lynch Mob/Dokken), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy Osbourne), Dave Rude (Tesla), Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent Band), Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon), […]

Interview: Steve Harris

ChelseaInterviews

Steve Harris’s extra-Maiden musical project, British Lion, is just about to release a new album, The Burning, on January 17th, right before kicking off a U.S. tour that runs until the end of February. Steve was kind enough to take the time for a phoner, discussing all the latest goings-on with British Lion, the new album, tour gear, and more. I just want to dig right into the British Lion stuff, I’ve been listening to this record, I’m very excited about it, and I heard that The Burning is a couple of years in the making, so what made now […]

Interview: Sal Abruscato

ChelseaInterviews

A Pale Horse Named Death, the Brooklyn-based band formed and fronted by Type O Negative and Life of Agony’s Sal Abruscato, released their third album, When The World Becomes Undone, earlier this year. I recently spoke with Sal about the creation of the new album, what brought the band back from their hiatus, their European touring ventures, and more.  You’ve got lots going on right now with A Pale Horse Named Death, you just came off the Season of the Dead European tour, which you just mentioned before we started the interview, how was that run? It was fantastic, a […]

Interview: Kenny Hickey

ChelseaInterviews

Silvertomb just released their debut album, Edge of Existence, this month via Long Branch Records. With Type O Negative’s Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly at the helm, the band evolved from Seventh Void and took on a new life with a slew of new songs and sounds, and the addition of three new band members with Joseph James (Agnostic Front, Inhuman), Hank Hell (Inhuman), and Aaron Joos (Awaken The Shadow). I recently had the chance to speak with Kenny about the making of the new Silvertomb album, including the ideas that went into some of the tracks, the personal touch […]

Mötley Crüe To Reunite

ChelseaNews

The video speaks for itself – the Crüe has officially thrown away the contract that was to inhibit them from ever touring together again. The band is said to have seen a resurgence in their audience, including new fans as a result of their hit Netflix biopic film The Dirt, and their time spent in the studio recording new music for the film gradually led them out of their meant-to-be-permanent touring retirement. The internet is abound with talk of exactly what Mötley Crüe reuniting might mean for the band, and there are rumors of a potential tour alongside Def Leppard and […]

UFO To Continue “Last Orders” In 2020

ChelseaNews

UFO has been going strong with their first North American leg of the Last Orders tour, which they just wrapped up this week, but it’s not over yet – a run of 2020 dates have just been announced for February with special guest Damon Johnson (Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy), wrapping up with the Rock Legends Cruise February 27th-March 2nd. For all the details and the full listing of tour dates, check out: http://www.ufo-music.info/.

Sons of Apollo Announce “MMXX” for 2020

ChelseaNews

Sons of Apollo is kicking off 2020 with a brand-new album, aptly named MMXX. Produced by Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, the record is set to be out January 17th, 2020 via InsideOutMusic/Sony, and you can check out a brief teaser trailer for the album here: https://youtu.be/nL3YM8yKJIM. The first single off MMXX, “Goodbye Divinity”, will be revealed the day pre-orders are available, on November 15th. Mike Portnoy says of the record, “Stylistically, we have followed the same path as the debut. But we feel that it has come out stronger, simply because we know one another better. Psychotic Symphony was […]

Final Dio Studio Albums to be Reissued

ChelseaNews

The final four Dio studio albums, released from 1996-2004, are about to get a reissue in 2020, via BMG and Niji Entertainment Group Inc. The newly reissued and remastered Angry Machines (1996), Magica (2000), Killing the Dragon (2002), and Master of the Moon (2004) will feature rare and never before released live and studio bonus tracks, with updated artwork to go along with it all. February 21st, 2020 marks the date of release. Head to: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio/ for more info.