DREAM THEATER to support IRON MAIDEN on Summer Tour
March 4th, 2010 in News by adminNew York, NY: Prog rock/metal icons DREAM THEATER will spend their summer supporting Iron Maiden on the band’s month-long tour of major US and Canadian markets. The tour launches on June 9 and runs through July 20, and includes a stop at the storied Madison Square Garden in NYC, marking the first time in a lengthy and respected career that Dream Theater will have played the world’s most famous arena. This tour will mark another milestone in Dream Theater’s history, which continues to expand and evolve, twenty-five years deep.
Of touring with Iron Maiden in North America, drummer Mike Portnoy said, “It is a bit of a dream come true for us. After 25 years together, at this stage in our career, there’s honestly only three bands Dream Theater would consider opening for and Maiden is one of them. It is an absolute honor. Through the years, we’ve done many one-off shows with Maiden and they’ve almost all been overseas. It is very exciting to finally be doing a full tour with them and on our side of the pond, no less. These are gonna be amazing shows that the fans won’t want to miss. Up the f***ing irons!”
Playing MSG for the first time is also a huge accomplishment for the band and they are thrilled about the prospect. “Dream Theater has achieved so many dreams through the years, from playing the Budokan in Tokyo to Wembley Arena in London to Radio City Music Hall in NYC,” Portnoy recalled. “But the one remaining dream that has eluded us through all of these years was to play at Madison Square Garden. Well, on July 12, along with Iron Maiden, that dream will finally be fulfilled.”
Guitarist John Petrucci was equally stoked about the MSG play, saying, “I am unbelievably excited to be finally playing Madison Square Garden, and with the almighty Maiden to boot! They have been heroes to the band since the beginning and are iconic in our eyes. There is nothing like achieving success and recognition in your own country, in your own city. It’s going to be an incredible night for sure.”
Portnoy has proof of this career-long dream, saying, “About a month ago, my family and I were watching a video of my first band Intruder from back in 1983, and in the video before the show, I was interviewed and asked what my dream goal was. I responded ‘To play the Garden.’ It took almost 30 years, but it’s surreal that I will now be able to check it off the list.”
Dream Theater’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings was released in 2009 and debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 Sales chart.
Tour dates for the Iron Maiden/Dream Theater run are as follows:
June 9 – Superpages.com Center – Dallas, TX
June 11 -The Woodlands – Houston, TX
June 12 – AT&T Center – San Antonio, TX
June 14 – Fiddler’s Green – Denver, CO
June 16 – The Pavilion (formerly Journal Pavilion) – Albuquerque, NM
June 17 – Cricket Wireless Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ
June 19 – San Manuel Amphitheatre – San Bernardino, CA
June 20 – Sleep Train Pavilion – Concord, CA
June 22 – White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA
June 24 – General Motors Place – Vancouver, BC
June 26 – Rexall Place – Edmonton, AB
June 29 – Credit Union Centre – Saskatoon, SK
July 3 – Molson Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON
July 7 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
July 9 – International Summer Festival – Quebec City, QUE
July 11 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
July 12 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
July 14 – Post Gazette Pavilion – Pittsburg, PA
July 15 – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland, OH
July 17 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Detroit, MI
July 18 – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL
July 20 – Jiffy Lube Live – Washington, DC
Workshop Featuring Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Alex De Grassi, Scott Tennant
March 3rd, 2010 in News by admin
Bigfork, Montana (PRWEB) March 3, 2010 – The non-profit Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation (CCGF) announced today its first annual guitar festival and workshop. The event offers the opportunity to play with and learn from world renowned guitarists against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Montana during the centennial celebration of nearby Glacier National Park.
The event includes classes and jam sessions with distinguished guitar artists including Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Alex De Grassi, and Scott Tennant. The festival is being held at the Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork, Montana from August 29 – September 5, 2010. It is open to any and all with a passion for playing the guitar.
“This will be a unique guitar event, offering up close and personal time with leading artists and teachers. Participants will improve their guitar playing while enjoying one of the most beautiful places in the world,” says David Feffer, Chairman and Founder of The Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation. Feffer adds, “Through our charitable partners, we will be helping to preserve the things that make Northwest Montana so unique and special.”
Proceeds from the Festival will benefit Montana charities and civic organizations, including: The Glacier Park Fund, Montana Public Radio and Public Broadcasting, The Montana Land Reliance, North Valley Music School and Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center.
The Festival includes:
• The opportunity to play with and learn from great guitarists
• Six days of intimate workshops, master classes, and jam sessions in jazz, rock, blues, acoustic, and classical
• Exclusive evening performances every night
• Public performances on stages throughout the Flathead Valley
• 4 star accommodations at the Flathead Lake Lodge
• Access to Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, the Swan Mountain Range and other pristine natural amenities
Registration for the CCGF will be taken on a first come first served basis by calling 800-234-6479 or visiting CCGF online. There is a discount for individuals who register prior to March 15, 2010.
About Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation
Founded in 2009, the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation is a non-profit organization established to celebrate the artistry of the guitar across all genres, inspired by the unique ecosystem and beauty of the Crown of the Continent region of the Northern Rocky Mountains. The organization’s mission is to collaborate with other organizations in Northwest Montana to establish the area as a nationally respected center for guitar study, performance and composition. Proceeds from the Foundation’s activities will support other Montana non-profit organizations including: The Glacier Park Fund, Montana Public Radio and Public Broadcasting, The Montana Land Reliance, North Valley Music School and Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center.
About Pat Metheny
With the release of his first album, Bright Size Life (1975), Pat Metheny reinvented the traditional “jazz guitar” sound for a new generation of players. Over the years, Metheny has won countless polls as “Best Jazz Guitarist” and awards, including three gold records for (Still Life) Talking, Letter from Home, and Secret Story. He has also won 17 Grammy Awards spread out over a variety of different categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, and Best Instrumental Composition. The Pat Metheny Group won an unprecedented seven consecutive Grammies for seven consecutive albums.
About Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton’s work spans the past three decades with some of his more recent work being the release of two CD’s in 2007 including a live recording with blues guitarist Robben Ford, and The Jazz King album. Carlton worked as a session musician in Los Angeles in the 1970’s and early 1980’s with his work appearing on albums by Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones among others. He launched a solo career in 1977 with Warner Brothers Records and produced six albums; his 1983 LP Friends garnering a Grammy nomination.
About Alex De Grassi
Alex De Grassi’s trademark is an ability to create a highly orchestrated sound in his solo guitar music. His playing weaves together melody, counter-melody, bass, harmony, rhythm, and cross-rhythms creating a canvas of sound unheard of in a solo guitar performance. Fellow guitar players consider De Grassi to be among the most virtuosic living guitarists.
About Scott Tennant
Scott Tennant is a founding member of the Grammy-winning ensemble L.A. Guitar Quartet and is himself considered to be one of the world’s top classical guitarists. He has authored several books and articles on guitar technique, including the best-seller Pumping Nylon, which has attained a “cult” classic status. It has become a standard text in conservatory and university guitar programs around the world.
The Foundation will be supported in planning and managing its events by The National Guitar Workshop. In their twenty-seventh year, The National Guitar Workshop is one of the leading residential guitar education programs in the country.
DARK TRANQUILLITY Vocalist Checks In From Killswitch Engage Tour
February 25th, 2010 in News by adminAs the anticipation surrounding the new, highly acclaimed DARK TRANQUILLITY album, We Are The Void, continues to build to epic proportions Mikael Stanne (vocals) checks in with the following report from the road: “Sitting here in beautifully cold Minneapolis trying to get the hangover out of my system. Fargo yesterday was as barren and cold as I remember it from the Cohen brother’s movie. Amazing crowd though and we celebrated accordingly. So far this tour has been amazing for us. We are now two weeks in and we are only just getting started. Amazing venues and huge crowds. Obviously we are struggling with winning over some of the fans of Killswitch Engage and The Devil Wears Prada, but so far I have been positively surprised as to how many are at first skeptical only to two songs in go nuts in the pit. It´s a beautiful thing to behold from the stage.
“We have been playing two new songs in the set and they have really got the room moving every single night. I am really looking forward to doing way more of the new album material as we are near release date. Since this is just the start of a very long touring cycle we are really excited to see that the album is getting rave reviews and the friends we´ve played it to really love it. It seems to generate a lot of heated discussion too, which I view as a good sign. With such a diverse album we are bound to hear all kinds of comments and we always welcome that. Bring on the love/hate fest!”
DARK TRANQUILLITY’s much anticipated new opus, We Are The Void, is set for a March 9th U.S. release. Head over now to their newly revamped MySpace page (www.myspace.com/dtofficial) to view their entire tour itinerary and stream the blistering new tracks, “At The Point of Ignition” and “Dream Oblivion.”
Guitar Scale Magnets Inc. Launches New Products for Learning and Playing Scales
February 5th, 2010 in News by admin
Guitar Scale Magnets is a finger positioning tool for learning and playing musical scales that is located on the top of the guitar’s neck adjacent to the fretboard – a “cheat sheet” for the fretboard.
In essence, it is a “cheat sheet” learning tool for the guitar that allows the player to QUICKLY locate where musical scale shapes begin on your guitar’s fretboard. These slap on scale strips are learning tools geared towards beginner and intermediate guitarists and are meant to be used as training wheels to assist players where scale shapes begin.
“My products are meant to be utilized alone or in conjunction with music theory and any educational tools available to stimulate the individual’s creativity that music offers,” says creator Jason Ellestad.
Ellestad adds, “Speaking from my own personal experiences when starting to learn scales and scale shapes, I wished there was a quick way to “just show me where to go” so I could understand where these scale shapes occur on the fretboard and learn at my own pace.
I also remembered when I felt I had mastered the A minor pentatonic scale, there was a rhythm jam track that I wanted to play along to that suggested to play the D minor pentatonic scale. I was lost on where to play these scale shapes throughout the fretboard—I felt limited on where I could play and ultimately I found myself not straying too far away from the box shape #1 and its vicinity. This frustration led to the birth of Guitar Scale Magnets. My hope is for wanna-be guitarists to quickly progress to the jam phase. To capture the enthusiasm that is there when you begin to learn the guitar and allow the player to quickly progress, therefore, leading to less burnout or worse abandonment of their interest in the instrument all together when frustration arises.”
Ellestad finally states, “The products were created to assist players on showing where scale shapes are located. My goal is to have the player become comfortable where these scale shapes are played on the fretboard and ultimately achieve an end result of where you can play these scales unassisted without any teaching aid. To silence the critics, I will be the first to emphasize that any guitarist aspiring to better themselves musically needs to seek to educate themselves learning some basics on music theory to allow them to grow as a player. Moreover, this tool has the potential to not only help those learning move at a faster pace, but hopefully be the entrée into a passion for further learning of such theories.”
Recap: Scale strips are set up for guitars that have a neck scale length of 25.5”. Current product line includes:
• Pentatonic Scale Strips List price at $19.99 plus S&H
• Major Scale Strips List price at $19.99 plus S&H
• Learn the Fretboard & Tab Strips List price at $9.99 plus S&H
• The “Ultimate” List price at $39.99 plus S&H
For more information on products and prices visit the website at http://www.guitarscalemagnets.com
TEXTURES Singer Leaves Band
January 23rd, 2010 in News by adminSinger Eric Kalsbeek has left TEXTURES to focus on his job and his family. He’s issued the following statement:
“Dear Fans & Friends,
I decided to quit TEXTURES. My life changed, priorities shifted. I can’t cope with the heavy touring and the time investment anymore. I need to focus on my job and family. I need to take a few steps back. I’ve had six beautiful years with the band, did loads of amazing shows, made tons of new friends and created some mind-blowing music. I’m going to miss the guys, and of course you, the fans. I know TEXTURES will continue to conquer the world and give you all great, heavy and awesome music. I wish my successor all the best. I will keep on making music, but something totally different, much more low-profile. Maybe we will meet again. Eric out.”
We are currently auditioning a possible replacement singer and hope to announce him in the coming months. We will miss Eric a lot. We had the greatest times together and these will live on in eternity. Eric, you rock!!!!
Due to Eric leaving Textures the release date for the follow up of Silhouettes has been pushed back to the beginning of 2011.
Guthrie Govan announces clinics and performances in Massachusetts with Jon Finn Group
January 20th, 2010 in News by admin
Virtuoso guitarist Guthrie Govan has recently announced a string of clinics and performances in Massachusetts with the Jon Finn Group beginning with a special clinic at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Click HERE to check out Guitar Messenger’s exclusive interview with Guthrie which took place at NAMM 2009.
JAN 28 THURSDAY
GUITAR CLINIC / MASTERCLASS
BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER, 1PM. FREE
136 MASS AVE, BOSTON (617) 747-2261
JAN 29 FRIDAY
PERFORMANCE WITH JON FINN GROUP
THE MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS, 8 PM. $18 ADVANCE / $20 DOOR
472 MASS AVE, CAMBRIDGE (617) 864-3278
JAN 30 SATURDAY
PERFORMANCE / V.I.P. CLINIC / GUITAR DEMO
MATTS MUSIC / KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL, 7 PM. $25
25 CHAUNCY ST, WEYMOUTH (781) 335-0700
Periphery: New Singer & New Album Teaser
January 20th, 2010 in News by adminBethesda, Maryland based djentlemen PERIPHERY have announced some major news of new singer Spencer Sotelo joining the band and posted an album teaser for their upcoming debut release.
New George Bellas Album – The Dawn Of Time
January 6th, 2010 in News by admin
Combining elements of Romanticism and Futurism with mind boggling drum performances by Marco Minnemann, and guitar, bass and keys performed by George Bellas, “The Dawn Of Time” is an album brimming with exceptional musicanship and ultra unique writing.
The release date for “The Dawn Of Time” will be announced in the coming weeks.
Soundgarden to reunite in 2010
January 4th, 2010 in News by admin“Soundgarden will reunite for concerts in 2010, according to a Twitter message from frontman Chris Cornell which directs fans to a new Web site, Soundgardenworld.com. The Seattle rock quartet — Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron — has not played live since splitting up in the spring of 1997.
Although no details have been announced yet, sources tell Billboard the group is weighing offers from several major U.S. and international festivals. But a tour routing is still a work in progress, due to Cameron’s prior commitments to play with Pearl Jam in the spring and summer of next year.
Cameron has been Pearl Jam’s permanent drummer since 1998; that group recently announced its first North American date of 2010 as part of the second weekend of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 29-May 2), and will also play 10 European shows from June 22 in Dublin through July 10 in Oeiras, Portugal.
Also still amorphous are plans for some kind of Soundgarden best-of and/or reissues of its back catalog. In addition, Thayil and Shepherd have long discussed compiling a Soundgarden boxed set, which would include a wealth of unreleased studio material.
For many years after Soundgarden split, the instrumentalists were said to have had little contact with Cornell and reportedly turned down an offer to reform for Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary concerts in Seattle in 2008. Cornell was not on hand for an impromptu live performance on March 24, 2009, at Seattle’s Crocodile Cafe, when Cameron, Thayil and Shepherd played the Soundgarden songs “Hunted Down,” “Nothing to Say” and “Spoonman” with Tad Doyle on vocals.”
This is an excerpt from Billboard.com. Click HERE to view the complete article.
Avenged Sevenfold drummer dies at 28
December 29th, 2009 in News by adminJames Owen Sullivan, the drummer with California band Avenged Sevenfold, was found dead on Monday, according to police. He was 28.
Sullivan was found “unresponsive” in his Huntington Beach home, according to Orange County deputy coroner Mitchell Sigal.
An autopsy has been scheduled to determine cause of death.
A message posted Monday on the band’s website confirmed his death.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy (The Rev) Sullivan,” the statement said.
“Jimmy was not only one of the world’s best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother.”
Excerpt from CBC News. Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2009/12/29/james-sullivan-obit.html
Killswitch Engage announce winter headline tour with The Devil Wears Prada & Dark Tranquility
December 11th, 2009 in News by adminFIRST HEADLINE TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM
KICKS OFF IN MASSACHUSETTS IN FEBRUARY
New York, NY: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, whose critically acclaimed, self-titled album Killswitch Engage debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart earlier this summer, are headed out on the road once again.
Fresh off a summer trek as one of the main stage attractions of the second annual Rock Star Energy Mayhem Fest, KsE will take the show on the road for a headline trek across the US, which is their first for this album. The tour will begin on February 4 in their home state of Massachusetts and will cover significant ground across the country for seven weeks. To keep things interesting, KsE have elected to play smaller venues in a handful of cities in order to create a more intimate setting for their fans.
Joining Killswitch as main support will be Dayton, OH’s The Devil Wears Prada, who released their latest album With Roots Above and Branches Below via Ferret Music back in May 2009 and immediately followed with a hugely successful stint on last summer’s Warped Tour, resulting in a fanbase that has since grown exponentially. Also joining Killswitch on this run will be highly influential metal act Dark Tranquility, who hail from Gothenburg, Sweden. Dark Tranquility are set to release their anticipated new album We Are the Void through Century Media in March 2010.
In other KsE news, the song “The End of Heartache,” the title track from their 2004, Gold-certified release, will appear on Guitar Hero: Van Halen alongside tracks from acts like Foo Fighters, Weezer, Judas Priest and The Clash, among others.
KsE guitarist Adam D. weighed in on the tour saying, “We are stoked to come back to the US and shred with The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquility. It’s been a while since we’ve headlined the States and we’re excited to play some new tunes for y’all. This tour is going to be wicked sweet!”
The tour will canvas the country beginning in early February and will run through the end of March. The dates are as follows, with additional dates being confirmed and announced shortly. Please check www.killswitchengage.com for information on pre-sale tickets that will be available for these dates.
2/4 House of Blues, Boston, MA
2/5 House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ
2/6 NorVa Norfolk, VA *KsE and Dark Tranquility only
2/8 House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, FL
2/10Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
2/11 Amos’ Southend, Charlotte, NC
2/12 Sonar, Baltimore, MD
2/13 House Of Blues, Cleveland, OH
2/15 House of Blues, Chicago, IL
2/18 First Avenue Loop Station, MN
2/19 Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
2/20 Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
2/21 The Egyptian Room at the Murat Center, Indianapolis, IN
2/23 Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
2/24 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX *KsE, Dark Tranquility and special guest
2/25 Warehouse, Live Houston, TX
2/26 Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
2/27 Concrete Street Amphitheatre Corpus Christi, TX *KsE, Dark Tranquility and special guest
3/01 Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
3/03 House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
3/05 Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ
3/06 The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
3/07 The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
3/09 Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
3/10 Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
3/12 The Great Salt Air, Magna, UT
3/13 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
3/14 The Midland by AMC, Kansas City, MO
3/15 The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
3/16 Rocket Town, Nashville, TN *KsE, Dark Tranquility and special guest
3/18 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
3/19 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
3/21 The Dome, Wallingford, CT
DREAM THEATER Updates
December 4th, 2009 in News by adminDream Theater release documentary road video for new single WITHER. The Progressive Rock Titans are now in midst of touring Australia and New Zealand. The band plans to hit south america in the winter-spring.
“Of the 10 videos we’ve done through the years, I felt we have never been truly captured ‘in our element…which of course is on tour, playing to our fans, with our lighting and video show. So I thought it was time to do a video that showed us in our ‘real world’ (unlike the ‘fake worlds’ that are usually created when shooting a promo video),” says MIKE PORTNOY of DREAM THEATER about the band’s new documentary road video for their new single “Wither” from their 10th studio release BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS (Roadrunner). See interview with Portnoy about the video below.
Directed by Ramon Boutviseth, who did the same honors for the first clip for the album’s first single “A Rite Of Passage,” the “Wither” video was shot on location in the U.K. (London, Manchester), France (Paris, Lille) and Rotterdam (the Netherlands) as part of DREAM THEATER’s September/October 2009 headlining “Progressive Nation” tour reaching 15 countries. See the video HERE.
Meanwhile, the legendary progressive metal masters just launched their headlining down under tour December 1, encompassing seven shows in Australia and New Zealand, wrapping December 12 in Perth, with special guests Pain of Salvation will join the band on all dates except in New Zealand. Look for the band to head to South America in the winter-spring.
2009 continues to be a watermark year for DREAM THEATER–James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar, vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards, Continuum)–as a recording act and touring powerhouse. They achieved a #1 debut on the Billboard European chart and 12 Top Ten album chart debuts around the world including the U.S. with BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS, a highlight of their 25-year career that was praised by Mojo magazine’s Paul Elliott in his July 2009 review: “…their lofty ideals remain intact. By modern criteria, Black Clouds & Silver Linings is as highbrow as The Mars Volta, as grandiose as Muse and as heavy as Metallica.” They were also honored with the “Spirit Of Prog” achievement award at the 2009 Classic Rock Awards in London (November 2).
Q&A with Mike Portnoy about the “Wither” video:
How do you feel the song’s somber emotional theme works in the context of a documentary tour video? There’s a weariness to the road (the traveling to and from the shows, NOT the onstage moments) that is captured here.
“I think this video captures the reality of what it’s really like for us on the road. Sure, the two hours on stage are amazing and ultimately why we do this….but the reality is, there are another 22 hours throughout the day which consists of a lot of traveling, interviews, meet & greets and sometimes a tremendous amount of sitting around and waiting….which sometimes can be very lonely.”
What are your thoughts about how the video turned out and how it represents the recent European tour?
“I love the final outcome of this video…it really captured the day to day and hour to hour activities that surround a day on the road with Dream Theater…not only for us, but our crew and our fans as well.”
Can you talk about the experience of performing overseas and connecting with your fans there?
“Touring in Europe and the UK are always some of our best shows and are always among the highlights throughout a World Tour for us….the ‘Wither’ shoot alone captured three amazing audiences and venues for us: The Zenith in Paris, The Ahoy in Rotterdam and Wembley Arena in London….all three of these cities, venues and fans are always favorites of ours!”
Dream Theater – New Zealand / Australia 2009 Tour Dates
Tue
12/1
Auckland
Civic Theatre
Thu
12/3
Brisbane
Convention Centre
Sat
12/5
Sydney
Hordern Pavilion
Mon
12/7
Melbourne
Palais Theatre
Tue
12/8
Melbourne
Palais Theatre
Wed
12/9
Adelaide
Thebarton Theatre
Sat
12/12
Perth
Metro City
More LION MUSIC artists speak out on THE MURDER OF MUSIC
December 3rd, 2009 in News by adminIn support of Borislav Mitic’s statement on the murder of music more Lion Music artists are adding their own weight and support to our awareness campaign.
GEORGE BELLAS
“The Current State of Music Piracy”
Dear Music Lovers and Fans,
I want you all to know how much I love to create music and how much of a thrill it is to share this with you all. I have happily and very willingly invested a lifetime in developing and honing my skills both as a player and composer, all the while sacrificing many other things in life to be able to push my abilities to the brink and beyond. But quite unfortunately, due to the overwhelming situation of the illegal downloading of music, A.K.A. stealing, producing and releasing albums has been exponentially increasing in difficulty.
It is disheartening to hear about the sales condition of albums, especially when I take 2 minutes and Google search “Music Download” and find all these illegal download sites that come up, a lot actually. I have put a lifetime into this, and with so much passion and commitment behind all the music I create, it really bums me out knowing that some people just turn around and download my life’s work. When I see the amount of fans that write to me, and then look at the sales figures, it becomes very apparent that something is not right.
And the problem is not just with the downloading of electronic files… Shortly after my album “Venomous Fingers” was released, bootleg copies were showing up in record stores. And on top of that, right around the same time, my debut album “Turn Of The Millennium” had been illegally reprinted and was being sold on Amazon and through other music resellers. On this bootleg version of “Turn Of The Millennium” some of the text in the credits had been changed, and the artwork color was slightly more washed out than the legit version. I initially found this out from several fans emailing me asking what the correct song order was on the album because the songlist inside the booklet differed from what was printed on the CD face, and then to my surprise, one of my private students came in for a lesson with the same unauthorized version saying he bought it off of Amazon. I immediately called the record label to see if maybe the album had been remastered, but it hadn’t been, and they ha d no idea about the distributed bootleg. The label did say a good amount of money has been invested to find and prosecute these crooks. So in these cases, not only myself and the record labels but it was the fans too that also had been robbed.
It costs money to make albums, and the artists and labels rely on sales to continue to do so. If you enjoy listening to music as much as I enjoy making it — don’t steal it.
Things you can do to help support the arts:
1) Buy the music you listen to.
2) When a friend offers to burn you a copy – say “No”.
3) Don’t make copies of music you purchased for your friends.
4) Don’t upload copyrighted music to the internet.
5) Don’t download copyrighted music from illegal file sharing sites.
Stealing copyrighted music is a violation of international copyright laws and subject to fees and imprisonment.
For more information please visit:
1) What is Copyright?
2) What is Piracy?
3) About Music Copyright Notices
4) Laws for Downloading Music
Thank you for listening to my plea for the longevity of the International Recording Industry.
Sincerely,
George Bellas
Bellas Music Studio
http://www.GeorgeBellas.com
DUSHAN PETROSSI OF IRON MASK
I will be straight and simple : If people just download or share the new Iron Mask album, which for information is by far our most expensive production, with a mix and master by Jens Bogren, there wont be another Iron mask album as the recording expense will not be recouped, so please beware and make the right choice before simply ‘clicking’.
Dushan Petrossi
http://www.iron-mask.com
SEBO XOTTA FROM STRINGS 24
I usually hear a lot of people saying old heavy rock music was better and better compared to all modern productions… Personally I don’t agree with this point of view, especially talking about sound, single instruments tone and overall mix, but this is my opinion…
We have to say today there is more attention about creating a good single hit to try to put it in the charts, so the songs structure is often influenced by this point…I agree we have no more works like old Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, etc… but I think they were able to do that….because they knew a lot of people would have bought their records!!!
Today, if you’re a musician, you perfectly know a few guys will buy your release, most of the people will download it for free, so you know you’re not going to get back the money you spent to record, mix and master your CD. This is the reason you try to create songs in order to be considered by radio stations, TV stations, all those places where you can get some royalties, even if you would like to put a 3 min intro to your favourite song, or a long psychedelic bridge in another one…
So, if you’re tired of simple commercial stuff, my suggestion is “buy CD’s!” This is the only input you can give to the musicians to focus more on their music rather than on their empty wallet!
Believe me, a musician who can use all his time to produce his music will create better works compared to the one who has to do another job to pay rent and bills.
You’re warned, don’t cry when you’ll have to get a videogame to listen to some new music.
Sebo / Strings24
http://www.strings24.com
EMIR HOT
I can only agree 100% with what Borislav has said. Unfortunately I see no progress in people’s behaviour since file sharing became popular. I haven’t given up yet but have been thinking to stop being musically active many times.
I just hope that this text will change at least 1% minds of “music killers” and that will make many think before they act.
http://www.emirhot.com
Exclusive clip of Yngwie Malmsteen’s cover of BEAT IT
December 2nd, 2009 in News by adminYngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called “High Impact” on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as “a mind-boggling, high-paced instrumental compilation record” featuring a “surprise” bonus track Yngwie’s never-before-released interpretation of the MICHAEL JACKSON mega-hit classic “Beat It”, which contains Malmsteen’s own magical touch and Tim Ripper Owens on Vocals…
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Get Your pre-order today:
Opeth Announce 20th Anniversary Shows
December 1st, 2009 in News by admin“Evolution XX: An Opeth Anthology”
Band to perform six exclusive shows to celebrate twentieth anniversary this spring.
New York, NY: Sweden’s OPETH, easily one of the most revered and respected bands in the metal scene and beyond for the past two decades, will commemorate their twentieth anniversary in the of Spring 2010 with six exclusive shows that will take place across the globe in various international locales such as Stockholm, Sweden; Essen, Germany; Paris, France; London, UK; New York City, NY; and Los Angeles, CA.
Frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt had the following to say on behalf of the band: “I can’t believe it, but… fuck, we’re celebrating 20 years. I’ve been in this band ever since I was 16. It’s insane. As far as I remember, we’ve never had a release party, never celebrated anything officially. Well, now is the time, you hear? We’ve set up a string of shows, six of them actually, around the world. To say that they will be super-exclusive is beyond an understatement. We’ve discussed the set list already and it seems like we’ll pull out a few songs we’ve never played before, some of which fans all over the world have been demanding to hear for years and years. Our main agenda for these shows is to have ‘fun’ whilst trying to blow your fucking minds. You could say business as usual, but really, it’ll be special. I can’t stress enough how exclusive this will be. We will not add any more shows on top of the six that we’ve confirmed already, so please make up your mind early on whether you want to go or not – of course you fucking do- as I would assume there’s quite a few of our fans that might be interested in seeing a thing like this.”
Akerfeldt said the band will spend the better part of January through March rehearsing for this special series of shows. “All to make you fucking happy! OK, we’ll be tight, very tight indeed. Come see us.” It’s a celebration,” he finished.
At each show, the band will perform two sets. The first set will feature the band playing its breakthrough epic Blackwater Park in its entirety. The second set will consist of mixed material from the band’s extensive catalog. The band will be playing for over two hours at carefully selected venues in order to achieve an element of intimacy and exclusivity, and an overall “You had to be there” vibe!
The venues include the famed and prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as the luxurious Lichtburg in Essen, the oldest fully seated cinema in Germany.
The band will offer exclusive VIP ticket packages to all shows which include a laminated VIP pass exclusive to each show, access to sound check, a meet ‘n greet with Opeth, a t-shirt exclusive to that particular show, a signed tour program and a special edition CD/DVD of Blackwater Park, with a 5.1 mix and a 30-minute, never-before-seen documentary all nicely packaged in a hard cover digipack designed by artist Travis Smith. The special edition will be released in March 2010 through Sony Music. All the Opeth loot will be included in an Opeth rucksack. The VIP laminate will also allow early access to venues without seat allocation so that VIP’s can get the best seats in the house.
Below are the dates and venues:
March 30 – Cirkus – Stockholm, Sweden
April 1 – Lichtburg – Essen, Germany
April 3 – Bataclan – Paris, France
April 5 – Royal Albert Hall – London, UK
April 7 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY
April 9 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
BORISLAV MITIC Discusses the Murder of Music
November 24th, 2009 in News by admin
Borislav Mitic returns with a majestic new album The Absolute. The virtuoso Shredmaster delivers his strongest musical statement as of yet for Lion Music. The album is available on the 4th of December 2009 – more information at http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/absolute.htm. The following is a special message from Borislav regarding the new release:
My internet friends,
I would like to send a message for all those who intend to dowload my album for free :
Here are a few words on a very important subject to me – illegal Internet file sharing download!!! This is also known as – MURDER OF MUSIC! Since I have a new album “The Absolute” coming out on December 4th now would be the right time to get into this matter of life and death.
You see,… it is very hard to master an instrument. It takes a lot of years of practice, discipline, study and dedication (like going to a university and more) to reach the level of playing that I and similar musicians are at.
It is really very hard work to compose quality music and create something special for you listeners out there. It is very hard to make records too because the studio time is very expensive (making your own project studio is a big cost too and not many can afford it or even know how to operate it). It is also very hard to find a Record label to publish your music these days,… and even harder to arrange real retail music store distribution to circulate the music on the market and make it available everywhere.
But musicians go through all these pains because they love and believe in music and they believe in fair and just financial reward return for hard work of producing beauty of music they offer to the world. Don’t you agree that musicians should be paid for their work?
When people illegaly post or download free MP3 files on Internet of the music that musician made so many sacrifices to create – it is the sign of ULTIMATE DISRESPECT! This means literally taking the bread off the musician’s table and spitting in their face!
The music business works like this… (if you don’t know).
Musicians who make the music give the album to the label under certain conditions. Then label sells it through its distribution channels and shares the percentage of return income with the musician. Stores and distributors also get their cut for the retail sale service to you – the customer. So the bottom line percentage per a CD that goes back to the musician is quite small in the end. Also don’t forget that musician invested money in studio time so this has to be covered before musician makes any real profit money!!!To make a living from music this way a lot of CDs have to be sold. That CD money also gets re-invested in touring, new albums, promotion, etc.
Everybody in the chain of music industry is living from this system of sale… magazines, concert promoters, labels, music stores. Every single CD sold counts and especially today for smaller artists like myself who do not have a big budget at their disposal to promote themself in mainstream media, TV, Magazines, etc (yes, all that actually has to be paid for and costs quite a lot).
I know,… CDs in stores cost money (16$ a piece?), the world is in economic crises and it’s easier to get a free download so that you can put that money into buying your pants and cookies, right? Hey, you can make a cool free collection of thousands of albums with no money invested at all! Woohhhoooo, viva la internet!! How cool is this!!!??? Well,… NOT COOL AT ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you eat? Yes…? Me too! (inspite of legends you might have heard even we musicians need to eat). To get food I have to go to the grocery store and pay money for it like you. The same goes for clothes and other products. If you would try to take (or “download”) food or clothes from the grocery or clothing store the people dressed in blue outfits called THE POLICE would try to stop you since this is considered a crime of stealing. What if everybody starts stealing food unpunished? How will the grocery store employees survive? What about their family? How would the farmers producing food survive if we take it from them for free? They would not.
Do you catch my drift? Just because you CAN download music for free today on the Internet doesn’t mean you SHOULD. You CAN also beat up an old lady on the street and steal her pension from her wallet … but somebody CAN beat you up too and do the same to you. Would you like this? Or would you perhaps like to go to work 9h-17h for free? Would you like musicians to visit your home and take some of your property for free? Why not? They can use it… the same way you can use illegaly downloaded music without paying for it.
This all would be called robbery of course and is illegal and if we would apply this pattern of behaviour to the society in general as a rule of life we would very soon have a society of filthy, wild savages!
My point is – if there is no money coming back to us musicians for the ultra hard work we invest we will all eventually give up and stop making music. If the unchecked Internet theft goes on much longer very soon there will be no more new albums from the artists you like and cherish so much on your illegal free MP3 collections!!!
This will be THE END OF TIMES FOR MUSIC! After we musician give up the labels will fold, the music stores will turn into … shoe shops for example (you can’t download those through internet can you now?)!
Soon after that the whole music industry, concerts, fun time, guitars,… will be dead and gone – thanks to Internet and illegal global piratery system! Game over!So if anyone of you wants to continue supporting – KILLING MUSIC (that you are supposed to love) go and join the Internet gang of music hijackers for free through torrents and file sharing sites! The blood will be on your hands…
But If you want the music to SURVIVE please treat it like you would like to be treated yourself and do the right thing by paying for it. I always paid for the music I wanted and I don’t see why each of you can’t – there’s really no excuse!SPREAD THE WORD!!! SAVE THE MUSIC YOU LOVE! Or let it bleed and die… It’s all in your hands – the choice is yours to make. I vote for life but if it’s death of music – so be it! We can also live in a world without real music but then don’t complain in the future to come how the music in the media around you is bad and lame and “where have all the good times gone”.
You have been warned!
Borislav Mitic
Symphony X: “Working hard on the new CD”
November 17th, 2009 in News by adminMichael Romeo, guitarist & songwriter for North America’s progressive metal gods SYMPHONY X, comments on the band’s recent signing with Nuclear Blast Records and the arrival of the follow-up album to 2007’s Paradise Lost:
“We are really excited to be a part of the Nuclear Blast Family, a great label with a cool roster of bands, which we are proud to be a part of. As of now, we are working hard on the new CD and are looking to finish it up late Winter 2009 / Spring 2010. We can’t wait to hit the road and play some of the new cool stuff for everyone and especially all our loyal fans. We look forward to a long relationship with all the great people who work at the label all over the world.”
Formed in 1994 in New Jersey, SYMPHONY X has seven studio albums and one live album to their credit. Their discography has sold 170,000 copies in the U.S. alone.
Visit SYMPHONY X online at www.SYMPHONYX.com & www.myspace.com/OFFICIALSYMPHONYX .
Yngwie Malmsteen new album details revealed
November 6th, 2009 in News by adminYngwie Malmsteen’s new album is called HIGH IMPACT and it’s set to release on December 7 (Europe) and December 8 Worldwide.
“Can’t wait! The rumor is…It is mind boggling, high paced compilation record with a surprise bonus track that is a unique song choice for the guitar god!!”
In other news, Yngwie has recently parted ways with DiMarzio. Here’s an excerpt from Blabbermouth.net:
“Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen is no longer a DiMarzio endorser. DiMarzio, the Staten Island, New York-based company that produces magnetic pickups for electric guitars, will continue to manufacture the pickups and guitar straps that Yngwie endorsed minus the YJM designation and, in some cases, with a change in the model name or part numbers.
* The DP217 (formerly the YJM) is now called the HS-4. Only the name has changed.
* The YJM ClipLock (DD2230YJM) and YJM Standard Guitar Strap (DD3310YJM), are now named the Cheetah ClipLock (DD2230CH) and Cheetah Standard Guitar Strap (DD3310CH). Only the names have changed.
* The pre-wired pickguard YJM Setup is now named the HS Setup and contains the HS-4 (formerly YJM) in the neck and middle positions and the HS-3 in the bridge position. Only the name has changed.
* The Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Cable has been discontinued.
Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen is no longer a DiMarzioendorser. DiMarzio, the Staten Island, New York-based company that produces magnetic pickups for electric guitars will continue to manufacture the pickups and guitar straps that Yngwie endorsed minus the YJM designation and, in some cases, with a change in the model name or part numbers.
* The DP217 (formerly the YJM) is now called the HS-4. Only the name has changed.
* The YJM ClipLock (DD2230YJM) and YJM Standard Guitar Strap (DD3310YJM), are now named the Cheetah ClipLock (DD2230CH) and Cheetah Standard Guitar Strap (DD3310CH). Only the names have changed.
* The pre-wired pickguard YJM Setup is now named the HS Setup and contains the HS-4 (formerly YJM) in the neck and middle positions and the HS-3 in the bridge position. Only the name has changed.
* The Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Cable has been discontinued.”
UPDATE
Yngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called “High Impact” on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as “a mind-boggling, high-paced instrumental compilation record” featuring a “surprise” bonus track Yngwie’s never-before-released interpretation of the MICHAEL JACKSON mega-hit classic “Beat It”, which contains Malmsteen’s own magical touch and Tim Ripper Owens on Vocals…
“High Impact” track listing:
01. Caprici Di Dablo
02. Brothers
03. Blitzkrieg
04. Trilogy Suite
05. Red House
06. Finale
07. Magic City
08. Arpeggios From Hell
09. Far Beyond The Sun
10. Cantabile
11. Blue
12. Overture 1622
13. Fugue
14. Beat It (MICHAEL JACKSON cover)
OPETH members involved in auto crash
October 16th, 2009 in News by adminGuitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH has issued the following update:
“Myself, Axe [OPETH drummer Martin Axenrot], Fredrik [Åkesson; OPETH guitarist] and our soundman, Pontus Norgren, decided to fly home to our families for a few days as the option would have been three days off in Brussels.
“Now I hear that our bus apparently crashed into this other car making a unexpected U-turn in the middle of the highway. [OPETH bassist Martin] Mendez and [OPETH keyboardist] Per [Wiberg] were on the bus together with the rest of our crew but nobody got hurt. They are, however, shocked and very shaken, of course. The driver in the other car was critically injured. I’ve not heard back from anyone yet regarding his progress but apparently it’s not looking very good. Hoping for the best, however.
“I don’t know where or when this happened but I know the bus was heading from Dublin to Brussels.
“I’ll let you know more as soon as I get some information, but as for now everyone in the band are safe and same with our crew. As far as I know, the only injured person was the driver of the other car, which obviously is horrible enough!
“To be honest, I rarely think about things, accidents like this, but fuck, man, it happens! My mind’s all over the place and right now I don’t want to go back out. But… the show in Brussels on the 17th and the remaining part of the [Progressive Nation] tour [with DREAM THEATER, BIGELF and UNEXPECT] will go ahead as planned.”
SCAR SYMMETRY – Video Introduction of New Singers Posted!
October 7th, 2009 in News by adminSwedish-progressive-melodic-death metallers SCAR SYMMETRY have just posted the first of two video trailers to introduce their new singer duo, Lars Palmqvist & Roberth “Robban” Karlsson, whom replaced former lead singer Christian Älvestam.
The first trailer features Lars Palmqvist who is now responsible for the groups clean vocals.
Watch out for part II featuring Roberth Karlsson coming soon!
Lars & Robban can be heard on the bands brand new album Dark Matter Dimensions which was released on October 2, 2009 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records! The record is schedule for release in North America on October 20th.
Also, check out the official SCAR SYMMETRY online game “Dark Matter Asteroids” at www.nuclearblast.de/scarsymmetry
The band will also be hitting the road together with BEHEMOTH, DEVILDRIVER and ARSIS at the Neckbreakers Ball Tour!
NECKBREAKERS BALL 2009 presented by Myspace.com, Metal Hammer, Legacy & Metalnews.de
BEHEMOTH, DEVILDRIVER, SCAR SYMMETRY, ARSIS
27.10. F Paris – La Locomotive
28.10. D Köln – Essigfabrik
29.10. D Frankfurt – Batschkapp
30.10. D Bochum – Matrix
31.10. D Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
01.11. B Antwerpen – Hof Ter Loo
03.11. NL Enschede – Atak
04.11. NL Leeuwarden – Romein
05.11. DE Saarbrücken – Garage
06.11. A Linz – Posthof
07.11. D München – Backstage
08.11. CZ Prag – Abaton
09.11. D Nürnberg – Hirsch
10.11. A Graz – Seifenfabrik
11.11. A Innsbruck – Hafen
12.11. CH Pratteln – Z7
13.11. A Wien – Arena
14.11. D Leipzig – Hellraiser
15.11. D Hamburg – Markthalle
17.11. S Traedgarn – Gothenburg
18.11. S Malmö – KB
19.11. S Stockholm – Klubben
20.11. DK Aarhus – Voxhall
21.11. D Berlin – Columbia Club
For more info visit: www.scarsymmetry.com | www.myspace.com/scarsymmetry
Coldplay’s Joe Satriani lawsuit dismissed from court
September 16th, 2009 in News by adminGuitarist Joe Satriani’s lawsuit against Coldplay, based on his accusation that Chris Marin and co plagiarised his 2004 song ‘If I Could Fly’ for their 2008 single ‘Viva La Vida’, has been dismissed from court.
Satriani sued the band last December, seeking a jury trial to award him monetary compensation.
Now, according to News.justia.com, the case was dismissed yesterday (September 14) …
Read the full article at: http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/47325
Norway’s DIMMU BORGIR part ways with 2 members
August 31st, 2009 in News by adminNorwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR have issued the following statement:
“We regret to inform you that we have parted ways with both I.C.S. Vortex [bassist, clean vocalist] and Mustis [keyboards]. However, we do want to make it perfectly clear that the creative force in the band is highly intact, perhaps even more so than ever. With that being said, we’re currently working on our next album and are excited to start a new chapter in the legacy that is DIMMU BORGIR.”
Visit DIMMU BORGIR online at www.DIMMU-BORGIR.com and www.myspace.com/DIMMUBORGIR
Oasis split after backstage brawl
August 29th, 2009 in News by adminTHE break-up is already being called “Wonderbrawl”. A smashed guitar, shouted words and angry exchanges on the internet signalled an end to the rock band Oasis yesterday.
Years of sibling rivalry between Noel and Liam Gallagher, who formed the band in their native Manchester in the early 1990s, blew up into a fight minutes before a concert in Paris on Friday night.
It ended with Liam smashing his brother’s guitar and Noel, the band’s chief songwriter, announcing two hours later on the Oasis website that he was quitting.
Noel has briefly walked out on the group before, as has Liam, the lead singer. Sources say Noel’s departure seems final this time. If so, Oasis will have lost its creative force, even if Liam tries to tour under the name.
Insiders say Noel, 42, was becoming increasingly upset with Liam, 36, for not looking after his voice and for his erratic behaviour. Noel had already arranged to play with Amorphous Androgynous, another band, at a concert next month.
This is an excerpt. Read the full article HERE
BEHEMOTH’s “Evangelion” debuts in the Billboard Charts!
August 21st, 2009 in News by admin
Los Angeles, CA – August 19, 2009 – Metal Blade Records is proud to announce that leaders of blackened death metal, BEHEMOTH, have landed on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart at #56 with just under 8,500 copies of Evangelion being sold in its first week.
Evangelion, BEHEMOTH’s ninth full-length studio album, also took the #5 position on the Billboard Hard Music Albums Chart and #6 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart. BEHEMOTH also landed on the Canadian charts with the release of Evangelion coming in at #61 on the Top 200 Current Albums Chart, #6 on the Independent Chart, and #10 on the Hard Music Chart. The success of Evangelion doesn’t stop here though.
BEHEMOTH has been devastating charts worldwide in its first week in addition to landing some of metals most coveted Magazine covers, including Decibel Magazine (out now), Metal Hammer Magazine (out now), Zero Tolerance (out now), and Metalized (out now).
Evangelion’s first week worldwide chart numbers:
Poland: #2
Finland: #17
Austria: #45
Germany: #59
Switzerland: #88
Netherlands: #5 (Indie Charts)
USA:
#56 Billboard Top 200
#5 Billboard Hard Music Albums
#6 Billboard Independent Albums
Canada:
#61 Top 200 Current Albums
#6 Independent Chart
#10 Hard Music Chart
Commented guitarist/vocalist Adam “Nergal” Darski: “Well…we have never been in this band for awards or charts. It’s always been about the most honest music we can deliver. But I can’t ignore the fact that people DO appreciate our new album. Thank you so much for buying the record and supporting us! It’s sooo much motivating! We owe you! See you all on European tour very soon. You will not be disappointed!”
http://www.behemoth.pl
http://www.myspace.com/behemoth
Rotosound launch British Steel strings
August 20th, 2009 in News by admin
Rotosound’s world class reputation for making the best guitar strings goes before them. They have drawn on this history, experience and knowledge in designing the next generation of strings. Rotosound now announce the launch of British Steels, based on the Original classic Rotosound Stainless Steel Electric Guitar Strings from the 1960’s, and now manufactured using improved processes and even better materials.
Their original stainless steel strings already have a pedigree second to none and were used by Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townsend, Brian May and many others. Rotosounds stainless steel strings offered a clear, bright punchy sound, positive grip, plenty of twang and went on to be played on some of the greatest songs of all time.
The new Rotosound British Steels have been designed to give a brilliant tone, sustain and great volume. Using the very best stainless steel with the highest possible iron content (for better magnetic properties), the new strings are now manufactured under even tighter quality control and stricter tolerances to ensure consistency, clarity and durability.
British Steels are available in the following gauges* :
BS09 09 / 11 / 16 / 24w / 32w / 42w
BS10 10 / 13 / 17 / 26w / 36w / 46w
BS11 11 / 14 / 18 / 28w / 38w / 48w
For further information on the range see http://www.rotosound.com/steels.html
* Please note: w denotes wound string
About Rotosound
Rotosound is a pioneering force in string manufacturing and celebrated their fiftieth anniversary last year. Their world famous music strings have been the first choice for some of the greatest musicians in the history of music and include Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd and the cream of more recent bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Oasis. They continue to endorsee an ever increasing list of the most respected, innovative and professional musicians, as well as being used by millions of satisfied customers around the planet.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE announce 2 special one off shows
August 19th, 2009 in News by adminNew York, NY: Fresh off their stint as one of the main stage attractions at this summer’s RockStar Energy Mayhem Fest, Massachusetts’ favorite sons KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have just announced two special shows that will occur at the end of August. The two shows close out an incredibly successful summer that saw Killswitch Engage, their fourth effort for Roadrunner, debut at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
The band will be headlining the Bay Stage at the Jones Beach Amphitheatre in Long Island, NY, along with All That Remains, Vision of Disorder and Unearth on Saturday, August 29. This appearance marks the band’s first ever show on Long Island and the event kicks off at 5 PM and features two stages.
The next day, the band will play a special tribute show, dubbed ‘Zing Fling,’ for Zing Studios at the Pearl Street Nightclub in Northampton, Massachusetts. The show’s lineup features KsE, All That Remains, Unearth, Once Beloved, Anti-Love and View of a Burning City, and is a tribute to Zing bands and celebration of Zing Studios. This show is truly a special event, as it is being held at a 700 capacity venue. All the bands on the bill have worked with the local studio. Tickets for this show are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
