“Every arrow has to have a head, shaft and feathers, otherwise it won’t fly,” observes Buckcherry drummer Xavier Muriel. “Everyone in this band does his job and it’s all good.” Xavier refers to what it’s like being one of Buckcherry’s three “new kids on the block” after guitarist Keith Nelson and vocalist Josh Todd reformed the band in 2005. Best described as a Stones/AC DC/ Motley Crue amalgam of blues, booze and tattoos, Buckcherry’s Return to Rock has been enthusiastically embraced by fans with sold-out national tours accompanied by whirlwind press for its independently released comeback album, 15. Continue reading An Interview with Xavier Muriel of Buckcherry→
Type O Negative understands that change is good. After releasing seven albums during a dozen years with Roadrunner Records, Brooklyn’s favorite purveyors of lead-heavy melodic metal (think: The Beatles-Meets-Black Sabbath) jumped ship for a new home at SPV. While Peter Steele (vocals/bass) Kenny Hickey (guitar), Josh Silver (keyboards) and Johnny Kelly (drums) completed pre-production on their much anticipated follow up to 2003’s Life Is Killing Me, SPV threw the fans a bone in the form of an amazing live DVD, Symphony for the Devil. Continue reading An Interview with Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative→
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→
“I grew up in a small, working class town in a somewhat stressful household,” says drummer Brian Viglione. “I had a lot of pent up aggression and anger, but I found the drums to be an excellent emotional release for a lot of stuff going on inside me. My hometown didn’t offer many opportunities and it can be really easy to succumb to that kind of suffocating feeling. Music was my vehicle out of that.” Playing since age ten, Brian currently drums for The Dresden Dolls; a theatrical rock duo whose signature blend of dark cabaret and punk has earned them a global buzz. Continue reading An Interview with Brian Viglione of Dresden Dolls→
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→
