Sometimes, one missed opportunity can open doors to many undreamed of possibilities. When Sevendust’s former label missed its option to renew the group’s contract due to a technical oversight, the Gold-selling, wildly popular metal band were free to walk away without so much as a formal goodbye from what had become an unsatisfactory relationship. “When we started with that label in 1997 they were perfect for us,” explains drummer Morgan Rose. “We were an unknown band playing a style of music that was far from being accepted at that point – commercially or otherwise. Bands like Shadows Fall, Lamb of God and Disturbed were not yet signed, so there really weren’t a lot of bands for us to tour with. Our label allowed us to go on the road, play live and build our following that way.” Continue reading An Interview with Morgan Rose of Sevendust→
As one of the most popular and well-respected drummers in metal today, Helmet’s John Tempesta is a star on the rise. John started his career as the drum tech for Anthrax’s Charlie Benante, but he soon took the drum throne behind thrash metal legends, Exodus. John recorded three albums with Exodus before jumping ship to join Testament. But the gig that made him a household name was his tenure with Rob Zombie; first with White Zombie and, later, Zombie’s solo band. In 2004, John joined up with guitarist/ vocalist Page Hamilton to reform Helmet, one of the most highly influential metal groups of the ‘90s. Continue reading An Interview with John Tempesta of Helmet→
One of rock’s most welcome reunions of 2005 was the triumphant return of Vancouver’s notorious, leather-clad quintet, The Black Halos. With two new members, guitarist Adam Becvare and bassist Denyss McKnight joining the core trio of vocalist Billy Hopeless, guitarist Jay Millette and drummer Rob Zgaljic, The Halos stayed true to their explosive amalgam of metal, punk, glam and vintage, guitar-fueled garage rock with the release of their third album, Alive Without Control. A series of worldwide tours kept the band on the road for most of the year, but Rob Zgaljic stepped away from his kit long enough to answer a few questions for Metal Edge. Continue reading An Interview with Rob Zgaljic of The Black Halos→
When Brian Tichy was a kid, he thought everyone wanted to play drums. Brian got his first drumset at age ten and took private lessons while also learning the drums licks on all his favorite records by Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and AC/DC. “Kiss was the first major band for me,” the drummer admits. “My friends had the Kiss Alive albums and I’d listen to the drum solos and think, ‘Oh my god, Peter Criss! That’s untouchable!’ Then my dad took me to see Kiss at Madison Square Garden on the Destroyer tour and that changed everything right there.”
Impacting the metal scene in 2001, Bakersfield’s Adema became one of the most popular bands of Nu Metal’s second wave. But Adema went through some unfortunate circumstances after the release of its second album, prophetically entitled Unstable. First the group’s label folded and, shortly thereafter, lead vocalist Mikey Chavez parted ways with the band. In early 2005 however, Adema found a new singer, Luke Caraccioli, signed to a new label (Earache) and released a stunning third album, Planets. Drummer Kris Kohls says the hardship has been worth it. Continue reading An Interview with Kris Kohls of Adema→
