A roundup of the best news in Hard Rock and Classic Metal from the US and around the world with updates from Metal Mike, Chickenfoot, Dio Disciples and Misfits.
Metal Mike Chlasiak Announces Metal for Life Online Guitar Program
Metal Mike Chlasciak (Halford, ex-Testament, ex-Sebastian Bach) has announced a new guitar program teaching heavy metal guitar which includes exclusive videos twice a week, and a Monday Motivation message.
Metal Mike says, “Guitar playing is a funny thing. I should know as I dedicated 32 years of my life to it so far. Hundreds of thousands of players (sound crazy, but it’s true) saw my online videos and they e-mail me saying ‘Metal Mike, your video really helped me with a technique or with writing riffs,’ or, ‘What do you use to get that guitar tone?’ I love getting these e-mails and I reply to everyone. But, I also know that jumping around the internet looking at a video here and a video there with no rhyme or reason or asking me an isolated question robs these players of true results. Or, if the results come, it is through a very slow process.”
Chickenfoot Release New Song “Devine Termination” From Upcoming Best + Live Compilation
“Divine Termination” is the first new tune in five years from Chickenfoot. Best + Live, the group’s first ever best of collection is due out on March 10.
In addition to “Divine Termination”, Best + Live includes over 90 minutes of live music – for the first time released on CD. Sammy Hagar says, “Listening to this collection of songs from the ‘Foot brings back memories of some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a band. The chemistry between Chad, Joe, Mike and me is very special. It’s almost like visual music — you can see us having fun when you listen to these songs.”
Chickenfoot features front man Sammy Hagar, guitar god Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen), and drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Ronnie James Dio Hologram’s U.S. Debut Goes Online
A hologram of the late Ronnie James Dio made its U.S. debut at the 28th annual Pollstar Awards in Los Angeles, CA on February 2.
The Dio hologram appeared at the music industry event to perform the 1984 classic, “We Rock”, with Dio Disciples, a group of former collaborators including guitarist Craig Goldy, drummer Simon Wright and keyboardist Scott Warren; the band is rounded out by bassist Bjorn Englen and vocalists Tim “Ripper” Owens, Oni Logan and Joe Retta.
Created by Eyellusion with the full support of Dio’s widow and manager, Wendy, the hologram will tour later this year with Dio Disciples. “We were thrilled to give this audience just a taste of the experience that we will start to tour globally later this year,” said Eyellusion CEO Jeff Pezzuti. “This ‘We Rock’ performance is now being retired and production is underway on a full show. We are pulling out all the stops to create a live experience that is unlike anything Ronnie’s fans have seen before.”
Misfits Guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein Unleashes Clip Of New Song ‘Run For Your Life’
MISFITS guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein has released a snippet of “Run For Your Life”, a track from his forthcoming sophomore release, “Doyle II: As We Die”, due on May 5 via EMP Label Group in conjunction with Doyle’s own Monsterman Records.
“As We Die” will be available with alternate artwork configurations, featuring art by legendary horror/comic/album cover artist Sam Shearon, known for his iconic works with Rob Zombie, IRON MAIDEN, Clive Barker, KISS, MINISTRY and RAMMSTEIN.
EMP/Monsterman will also release several limited-edition vinyl configurations, as well as a CD reissue, of Doyle’s critically acclaimed “Abominator”.
DOYLE, the current project of Von Frankenstein, with CANCERSLUG vocalist Alex “Wolfman” Story, and a current touring lineup rounded out by bassist Brandon Strate and drummer Brandon Pertzborn, continues the lineage of Doyle’s former projects, pairing crushing metal riffs with ferocious punk rock swagger and the theatrical intensity one would expect from one of the reigning kings, and erstwhile creators, of horror-core.
Doyle is in the midst of the “Abominate The World” tour, which includes several dates in the U.K., Germany, Austria, Italy and Hungary, with U.S. dates to be announced.
