Asking Alexandria

Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria is an English post-hardcore/metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire, formed in 2007. Founded when rhythm guitarist Ben Bruce contacted old friends after moving back to England from Dubai, the current line-up consists of Bruce, vocalist Danny Worsnop, lead guitarist Cameron Liddell, bass guitarist Sam Bettley and drummer James Cassells.

Current members:

Danny Worsnop - lead vocals, keyboard (2008–present)

Ben Bruce - rhythm guitar, vocals, programming, synthesizer (2008–present)
Cameron Liddell - lead guitar (2008–present)
Sam Bettley - bass guitar (2009–present)
James Cassells - drums (2009–present).

Former members:

Joe Lancaster - bass guitar (2008–2009)
Ryan Binns - synthesizer (2008).



Biography:
Asking Alexandria. They have risen from nothing to greatness in little over a year. 2009 saw the boys from England release their debut album 'Stand Up and Scream' to an audience just begging for something slightly different, and the 5 english lads delivered. 'Stand up and Scream' has done better than anyone could have hoped for. 2009 was spent touring with many great bands across the United States, including, Enter Shikari, A Static Lullaby, Alesana and many more. 2010 has the boys touring relentlessly world over and writing the next chapter in their lives. With a hectic year ahead of them Asking Alexandria look set to take the world by storm. If you didn't hear of them in 2009, 2010 is the year everyone will be talking about Asking Alexandria.... 

Asking Alexandria to Embark on 'Reckless and Relentless' Tour

Asking Alexandria have finally announced that their new album, 'Reckless and Relentless,' which they discussed with Noisecreep when they popped by our offices for a Creep Show, will be released in April.

The band will also lead up to the album's release with tons of touring, namely a headline tour, called 'The Reckless and Relentless Tour,' with Emmure, Chiodos, Miss May I, Evergreen Terrace and Lower Than Atlantis rounding out the bill. The tour begins March 11.

Asking Alexandria have stepped up their stage show, production and lighting on this tour and will debut brand new songs from 'Reckless and Relentless' for fans. The tour will certainly show another side of the band. Asking Alexandria also revealed, during their Creep Show interview, the fact that they don't get drunk before taking the stage anymore, so the bar has certainly been raised by and for the band in the live setting.


'Reckless and Relentless' Tour

3/11-Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
3/12-Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
3/13-Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
3/14-St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
3/16-McAllen, TX @ Las Palmas Racepark (Never Say Never Festival)
3/17-Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/18-Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/19-Dallas, TX @ The Palladium (South By So What Fest)
3/21-El Paso, TX @ Club 101
3/22-Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
3/24-Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
3/25-Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre
3/26-Las Vegas, NV @ EXTREME THING FESTIVAL
3/27-Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
3/28-Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
3/29-Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
3/30-Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
4/01-Calgary, AB @ MacHall Ballroom (University of Calgary)
4/02-Edmonton, AB @ Avenue Theatre
4/04-Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
4/05-Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
4/06-Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
4/09-Toledo, OH @ The Jamboree
4/10-Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
4/12-Nashville, TN @ Rockettown
4/13-Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
4/14-SURPRISE SHOW TBA
4/15-Greensboro, NC @ Greene St
4/16-Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
4/17-Albany, NY @ Northern Lights


 

AVENGED SEVENFOLD

Avenged Sevenfold 
Huntington Beach, California, United States (1999 – present)

Avenged Sevenfold is a band from Huntington Beach, California, United States. They started out as a metalcore band, but have since moved towards hard rock.

The band was formed in 1999. Avenged Sevenfold’s first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, was recorded when the band members were eighteen years old. It was originally released on their first label, Good Life Recordings. After lead guitarist Synyster Gates (also known by Brian Haner Jr.) joined the band, the introductory track “To End The Rapture” was re-recorded with Gates playing, and the album was re-released on Hopeless Records. Their follow-up album, entitled Waking the Fallen, was also released on Hopeless Records and was awarded a positive rating in Rolling Stone magazine. Shortly after its release, Avenged Sevenfold were signed to Warner Bros. Records.

City of Evil, the third album which was released on June 7 2005, strayed from metalcore, and instead headed more towards heavy metal and adds a harder rock sound with influences ranging from various bands. During the recording of City of Evil, M. Shadows’ vocal styling changed to focus more on melodic singing rather than hardcore screaming. Some cite the change in vocal style as consequence of vocal chord damage (that resulted in subsequent surgery) during a tour supporting Waking the Fallen. Shadows denies the injury as being the reason. In the “All Excess” DVD, producer Mudrock clarifies this subject and affirms this is not the reason why the band changed style.

MESSAGE FROM A7X

For the past few months, we've been blessed with Mike Portnoy's talent and humanity. When Mike agreed to tour with us, it was only through the end of 2010. We always knew we'd need to find another solution for 2011 and beyond. And it's time for us to take that next step.

We know we are not ready to add another permanent member of Avenged Sevenfold. We don't know if we will ever be. But if we do, it will only be with someone who is not only a brilliant drummer, but also someone we've gotten to know well on the road and off, and who you the fans have had a chance to get to know, and hopefully accept. In other words, in this family, we take these steps together, band and our extended fan family.

We are lucky to be surrounded by so many friends, many of whom knew Jimmy very well personally, as well as our band and Jimmy's drumming talent and style. These friends have introduced us to several amazing drummers. We have decided to take one of them out starting in January. He will not be a member of a7x. He will be someone you and we are getting to know. Perhaps this drummer will be a fit. Perhaps not. One thing is for sure. Over time we will find someone who helps us continue our quest to make the music we love for the fans we love.

Mike and the band agree that can't be him. Why? Long before there was an Avenged Sevenfold, there were members of this band who looked up to Mike and, in Jimmy's case, learned a lot from watching Mike play. He is a brilliant writer, producer and of course drummer. Because of that, the world and we would always see it as Avenged Sevenfold with Mike Portnoy. We take a lot of pride in A7X being about something greater then any individuals. Its about the music, the fans and the friends and family we have as well as continuing our best friends legacy.

Please give whoever we try your love and support....and the benefit of the doubt. They won't be Jimmy. Who could be? But he will be himself, with his own special talents and creativity. And that's all we could ever look for.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for everything you've done to love and support us.

A7X 

by prof.fazz

Top Albums

• Avenged Sevenfold
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• City of Evil
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• Waking The Fallen
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• Sounding The Seventh Trumpet
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All Time Low

Biography

All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003. The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and back vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson. The band’s name is taken from lyrics in the song “Head on Collision” by New Found Glory.

Formed while still in high school, All Time Low started out covering pop punk bands such as Green Day and Blink-182. They signed their first record deal with Emerald Moon Records in 2004 and released their first EP, titled The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End later that year. Their first studio album, The Party Scene, was released July 2005. Before graduating high school in 2006, they signed a record deal with Hopeless Records and re-recorded songs from their debut album and included two new songs for their EP Put Up or Shut Up. The EP entered both the Independent Albums and Top Heatseekers charts. On July 7th, 2009, All Time Low released their third album, titled “Nothing Personal.” It was released on Hopeless Records.

Hopeless released the EP “Put Up or Shut Up” in 2006, which became the band’s first record to reach the charts, peaking at number 20 on the US Top Independent Albums chart. On September 25th, 2007, they released their second album “So Wrong, It’s Right”, which became their most commercially successful, peaking at number 62 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Top Independent Albums chart. Their second single from the album, “Dear Maria, Count Me In”, peaked at number 86 on the Pop 100.

Their most recent album, “Nothing Personal”, has two singles entitled “Weightless” and “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t), which peaked at 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single is “Lost in Stereo”. The album was released July 7, 2009, peaking at number 4 on Billboard.

 It was revealed in November 2009 that the band had signed to major label Interscope Records. The band also announced that they would have a song titled “Painting Flowers” featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Alice in Wonderland, and released a live EP to iTunes. In December 2009, the band won the Best Pop Punk Band at the Top In Rock Awards.

On April 27th, 2010 they released a live version of the hit “Lost In Stereo” that included live video footage from a concert.

In late March 2010, All Time Low began recording their fourth studio album with producers John Fields, Matt Squire and Mike Green. It will be the band’s first album released through Interscope Records.

The band’s concert at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on December 4, 2009 was recorded and subsequently released in 2010 as their first CD/DVD, entitled Straight to Dvd. The release includes an on-the-road documentary filmed during All Time Low’s October−December 2009 headlining tour, a live concert audio CD and out-takes of the band. It was released on May 25.

The band has confirmed that their fourth studio album and first Interscope Records release will be released sometime in January 2011.

On July 28, Alex announced via twitter that they have officially finished tracking all 14 songs for the album.

A demo song tentatively titled “Actors” was posted on earthtoalex.com on August 17, 2010. It was later confirmed in an interview that this song will not be included on their 2011 release Dirty Work.

All Time Low’s forth studio album will be called “Dirty Work”.
by prof.fazz

Gun & Roses (Slash)

Slash

Saul Hudson (born 23 July 1965), better known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician. He is the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, with whom he performed and recorded between 1985 and 1996. He later formed Slash’s Snakepit and co-foundedVelvet Revolver with his former bandmatesDuff McKagan and Matt Sorum, and his debut solo album, Slash, was released in April 2010.He has written a self titled autobiography which was put to print on 2007

Slash has received critical recognition as a guitarist. In August 2009, Time Magazine ranked him #2 on its list of the “10 Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time”. He was also ranked #21 on Gigwise’s list of the “50 Greatest Guitarists Ever”.

Slash was the first musician to own a signature amplifier created by Marshall for him. In 1996 the Marshall Slash JCM 2555SL was launched, it was built with the specs of Slash’s own original 1987 Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 amplifier. A total of 3000 of these amplifiers were made before it was discontinued.

In his self titled album,”Slash” he has worked with many artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie(Black Eyed Peas), Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), Kid Rock and Ian Astbury (The Cult). The singles released from the album are “Sahara”,”Back From Cali”,”By the Sword” and “Beautiful Dangerous”.

Interviewing Slash

Tomorrow, all going well, I will be interviewing Slash. It is probably a curse to mention it before it's happened - but I thought I could share the research; you'll be able to read the interview so maybe you can contribute to the questions...

I'm interested in talking to Slash. He is a rock star still living in a time when there are not many true rock stars.

But I do not like a lot of his work. I think the new albumSlash is terrible. Here's my review.

Velvet Revolver never meant a lot to me. Sounded like Slash hiding from a Guns N' Roses reunion with Scott Weiland hiding from Stone Temple Pilots reunion (which has now happened with this).

I am definitely a fan of Guns N' Roses. I still play The Spaghetti Incident? I reckon it was overlooked at the time (sadly) and it stands up now with the best of G'n'R's original material.

And Appetite for Destruction just might be the defining album of my life - relative to my discovery of it. There have been other albums that have blown me away but I discovered Appetite as it was released; when it was released. And I still play it regularly. I've played covers of songs from the album. I have owned copies on cassette, vinyl and CD.

I saw Guns N' Roses in Auckland in 1993 - so I saw Slash doing his Godfather-theme thing.

And I'm sure I have air-guitared to November Rain's end solo a few times. I certainly watched a virtuoso air-guitar version of it in my kitchen at 5am just a year ago. I won't name the person who offered the rendition. But I am prepared to start offerin clues if you're prepared to start askin.

The standard criticism of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II is that they would have made a great single albumm - taking the best parts from both albums and making one. That's pretty much the standard criticism of double-albums and it is generally spot-on. I definitely like both the Illusion albums - they offer different experiences. I would pick Illusion I over II if I had to just pick one. But obviously II has some of the real highlights of the package - Civil War, for example.

In my review of Slash's new album I suggested that his great playing - his important playing - could be summed up by a copy of Appetite and one or two solos from the Illusion albums. I'm happy to be told that's way off, but for me that's about where it sits. Of course I'll be keen to ask Slash about any stories relating to the work with Michael Jackson (see here).

I can ask him about snakes - and several people have already asked me to ask him why the top hat/what's under the hat/do you not own many shirts? I doubt I'll ask those questions. Apparently I'm to ask him questions about living next to Robert Evans. (I do actually wonder if they ever partied together.)

But what else to ask Slash?

Of course he's touring - currently. I'll be speaking to him while he's in the middle of European shows. And he's coming to New Plymouth in August for G-TARanaki (see here for the rest of the lineup). His band will play some old G'n'R material and some Velvet Revolver. And there's bound to be something from this Slash's Snakepit album. Do you remember that?

His singer for this current tour is the guy from Alter Bridge - so that probably means at least one Altar Bridge song too, right? Ew...

Anyway, I'm curious to know what you think. Slash is often rated in lists of great guitarists. So - do you rate him? Where does he sit for you in your list of Top 10 guitarists? Would he make the cut? Or is he not on a list as such - but you really rate/respect some/all of his work? What work/s of his do you rate?

What would you ask Slash if you were interviewing him?

And are you planning to go see him live as part of G-TARanaki?

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The All-American Rejects

The All-American Rejects

• Members: Tyson Ritter, Nicke Wheeler, Mike Kennerty, Chris Gaylor
• Band Formed: 2001
• Hometown: Stillwater, Oklahoma

Power pop quartet from the Midwest who have a sound that draws from classic '80s arena rock acts like Cheap Trick, Foreigner, and Def Leppard, mixing those influences with a splash of post-mod punk for added flavor.

Biography

The All-American Rejects are a pop rock band that formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in the late 1990s by high school friends Tyson Ritter (on vocals, bass, piano) and Nick Wheeler (lead guitar, vocals and keys). Other current members are Chris Gaylor (on drums and percussion) and Mike Kennerty (rhythm guitar and vocals). They released their first independent album in the spring of 2000, and eventually built up a large local fanbase.

In the summer of 2001, the Rejects released the EP Same Girl, New Songs and began to tour the American Midwest. By the tour’s end, the band had signed a contract with Doghouse Records, the label of such bands as River City High and The Get Up Kids.

In 2002 the Rejects recorded their international debut album. From this album came the single Swing, Swing for which the Rejects were first known.

In 2005, The All-American Rejects released their new album, Move Along. This album features the song Dirty Little Secret, which was the first single. Their music video for the song features postcards from the book “Post Secret” by Frank Warren. The second release from the album was Move Along, recognised by its far from ordinary video, followed by It Ends Tonight which got some publicity from being featured on the third season of the MTV show, Laguna Beach. They also appeared in the TV series ‘Smallville’ where they played It Ends Tonight on the party of Lex Luthor. Before that, you also heard their songsSwing, Swing and Dirty Little Secret on the same show.

Top Of The World and It Ends Tonight (with a new acoustic version to “Laguna Beach” soundtrack) were the other two singles.

Top Of The World was also featured in the videogame “Burnout Revenge” and Night Drivefrom the same album is also in the soundtrack to the videogame “Cars”.

The Album Move Along has also been making waves in Europe, where the album also featured 2 bonus tracks, and has received a lot of publicity from the UK.The All-American Rejects current line-up is: Tyson Ritter (vocals, bass,) Nick Wheeler (Guitar/programming,) Mike Kennerty (back-up vocals, rhythm guitar,) Chris Gaylor (drums.)

The band released their follow-up to Move Along, When The World Comes Down, on December 16th, 2008. The first singles from the album are Gives You Hell and Mona Lisa (When The World Comes Down).

Tyson Ritter took lessons in June of 2005 from renowned voice coach Linda Rabelstein to improve the high end of his vocal range. Critics have given the falsetto of Mike Kennerty rave reviews, hence Tyson Ritter’s sudden interest in learning how to sing like a chorus soprano. There are rumors that the rest of the band are planning to also take lessons from Linda Rabelstein so that all four may make a harmony similar to the sirens in Homer’s “The Oddessy”. Hot Potato magazine critic Jan Ausfahren has called the venture “Risky” and “A recipe for disaster. Their male contingent certainly would not want to hear them sing like women.”

by prof.fazz