We were supposed to interview The Dillinger Escape Plan on Sunday following their triumphant performance at the Orion Music + More fest. We call it “triumphant” because the band’s lead guitarist and songwriter Benjamin Weinman had broken his hand and it was unsure as to whether they would even be playing the festival. They persevered, playing without him as he played hype man onstage. We weren’t able to catch up with the band after their set, though, and chalked it up to their schedule. However, yesterday on our flight back to Newark, we ran into Weinman and bassist Liam Wilson, who were on our flight.
I got a chance to talk to Weinman about his hand, and he told me he’s getting it operated on this coming Thursday. He says that while the band will miss their European dates, he’s getting it done sooner rather than later in the hopes that he’ll be healed up in time for the band to play the Summer Slaughter shows. While the band is disappointed that they’ll be missing some of the biggest European fests of the Summer, at least Ben won’t be relegated to a lounge chair this time. He says that after the operation, there’s a chance he could start playing guitar again in as little as two weeks.
Also on the flight back to Newark was syndicated sports talk show host Scott Ferrall, also on his way back from Orion. And while you’d expect a sports talk show host to be more excited about, well, Metallica. He told us (and the band) that he’d actually gone to Orion just to see Dillinger. “I went to Orion in Atlantic City, and I went to, obviously Detroit,” he told us. “Watching Dillinger live was better than sex for me. It made the show for me. I’ve seen Metallica 30 times, I’ll always bow down and love them, but Dillinger got my rocks off. Being front row for Dillinger – my ribs hurt, my skull hurts, and the energy. Liam on bass is a violent human being on that stick. He’s just super, mega, evil thrashing on that bass. I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s a dangerous individual, and I’m concerned about his well-being. I became a fan of theirs when I had researched the band and saw their performance at the Golden Gods. I flew to Detroit specifically to see Dillinger.”
In case you didn’t catch them at Orion this past weekend, check out a few photos that Melinda Oswandel took for us during The Dillinger Escape Plan’s set in the gallery below Read more »
The Mötley Crüe/KISS tour just cant catch a break. Actually, it can, but it’s Vince Neil’s foot. Following the postponement of a show last week after one of the pyro trucks overturned, Neil sustained two fractures in his foot while performing on September 12 in Cleveland. There’s no confirmation that tripping over his own ego or kicking a parking attendant is what caused the fractures. In fact, there’s really not much information about how it happened at all on the band’s Facebook:
While Vince Neil sustained two fractures in his foot during last night’s show in Cuyahoga Falls we’d like to let everyone know that this injury will not affect upcoming shows on The Tour with Kiss. Tonight’s show in Toronto will go on as planned, though perhaps with a few less high kicks from Mr. Neil. Vince would like to sincerely thank everyone who has reached out with well wishes !
Neil himself got in on the action via his own Twitter account. posting pictures of his fractured foot. Now he can re-enact that scene in the “Home Sweet Home” video where an audience member has a crutch raised in the air. Or maybe not. The tour wraps up on September 29 – expect to see Neil move onstage about as much as Mick Mars until then.
So much for Randy Blythe’s return to the States. This past weekend, it was revealed that Blythe’s bail was set at 4 million Czech Koruna, which is approximately $200,000. Thus, it was believed that the Lamb Of God singer could make bail as of today and return home. However, according to Czech news site Blesk.cz (by way of Metal Sucks), that will not happen.
According to Petr Fassati, the judge overseeing the proceedings, Blythe will remain in jail for at least another 10 days. Furthermore, the judge pointed out that even if he is out of jail, Blythe may be forced to stay in the Czech Republic (unless he wants to become an internationally wanted criminal). In other words, it may still be a while till Blythe comes back home to the United States.
Lamb Of God’s management is expected to release an official statement on the matter at some point today, although their PR company, Adrenaline PR, already issued an update last week. Fingers crossed that some good news regarding Blythe’s case will come shortly. In the meantime, pick out your Lamb of God shirts to wear this week!
[picture via]
Part of the appeal of High on Fire is frontman Matt Pike’s voice, which sounds like he’s been gargling whiskey and razor blades. Looks like he actually has been gargling whiskey a little too much, as High On Fire have been forced to pull out of the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, due to Pike entering rehab for alcohol abuse. This comes as somewhat of a shock, especially after Sleep played just last weekend at the Scion Rock Fest. It’s a damn shame the band has to pull out of what would have arguably put them in front of the biggest crowds they’ve played in front of in the States, but it’s admirable that the band is doing what it takes to get Pike sober. The trio have scrapped all touring plans for the foreseeable future.
“High on Fire would like to thank everyone involved with the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival for the opportunity to be a part of this year’s tour,” said the band in a statement. ”We regretfully will have to bow out as our friend and bandmate begins his recovery, but very much appreciate having been asked to be a part of this summer’s festival run.”
There’s no word on what band, if any, will replace High on Fire on the bill. The Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival kicks off at the end of the month.
UPDATE: Mayhem Festival founder Kevin Lyman tells Metal Insider that he and co-producer John Reese are “working on something and should figure it out soon,” as far as a replacement goes. It goes without saying that as soon as we hear anything, we’ll pass it on.
As if their ongoing drummer problem wasn’t enough of a problem, Spinal Tap vocalist David St. Hubbins was hit by a car yesterday inNew York. Hubbins, actually actor Michael McKean, was struck by a car on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and reportedly suffered a broken leg and multiple other injuries. Three people in the car suffered minor injuries. The 64 year-old McKean, currently starring on Broadway’s “The Best Man,” is allegedly most upset about missing performances in the plays, with his manager telling the New York Post that he’d never missed a performance in his career. Check out a br00tal shot of McKean being treated at the scene (courtesy of the New York Daily News) after the jump. Read more »
Weedeater has been forced to postpone the remainder of their U.S. tour due to guitarist Dave “Shep” Shepherd breaking his hand. The sludge metal band released the following statement regarding the incident and rescheduled dates:
“…guitarist Shep broke his hand and could no longer wield his mighty axe of six strings for the remaining shows. But, as with every previous injury this band has sustained — while on or off of tour — Shep has been healing his mangled bones and Weedeater will be getting back out there to hit you all with a dose of their inhumanly heavy live show almost immediately. And of course it follows that Weedeater‘s upcoming European tour and appearance at Roadburn 2011 are still happening, so Europe, get ready to be pummeled.”
At least this time there was no shotgun involved in delaying Weedeater’s plans. Rescheduled dates for the postponed shows should be announced soon.
[picture via]
This past Wednesday night (March 16), Megadeth was forced to shorten their set in St. Petersburg, Russia during their European Carnage tour with Slayer after mainman Dave Mustaine took ill. In the band’s official web forum, Mustaine claimed to have shown signs of having a kidney stone. Despite the diagnosis and pain, though, Mustaine wanted to at least give the fans a little something so as to not leave them disappointed.
Mustaine had the following to say regarding the abbreviated show:
“Last night I was getting ready for the concert, and two hours before the show, I started to feel like I had a hernia, or more like I had been hit in the groin. I told my tour manager that I needed a doctor and that there was no way I was going to get through this on my own; that I thought it might be in my best interest to consider canceling the show. Now I rarely, if ever cancel shows, and after 45 minutes of prayer with my loving wife and sweating like a dog, I was told to pee for the doctors. They then explained that there was blood in my urine. I was mad; I would say pissed, but that is an obvious pun.
So they gave me an IV, and analgesic, and an anti-inflammatory injection. The next hour is kinda blurry, but I woke up and David [Ellefson, Megadeth bassist] was holding my hand and praying over me, and even Tom [Araya] and Dave [Lombardo] from Slayer came in to check on me, so I knew I was gonna be OK. For now. And to anyone that thinks Tom and I are still opposed, I feel sorry for you.
Anyway, when I woke up, they said that there was so many people outside of the venue still, that they could hold the show for 30 additional minutes, and I said, ‘Guys, I am OK, and we can do this.’ Well, the doctors were not amused at all. But then again, they have never met the likes of one Dave Mustaine. I told the band that I was ‘OK’ going on for a few songs, to at least help the fans feel a teensy bit better, and that not to allow the promoter to cancel the show. Please don’t get me wrong, the promoter did not want me to cancel, but he also was concerned with my health.
So what was said was this: ‘Dave Mustaine has become seriously ill (the kidney stone and the blood in my urine), and the doctors are INSISTING he goes to the hospital.’ The crowd immediately voiced their displeasure, and right then, perfectly timed, the promoter finished by saying, ‘But Dave Mustaine is refusing to go to hospital until he can play a few songs for you. So, stand by, because coming up next, Megadeth!’ The fans lost it.
So we were going to play four songs and someone said, ‘Let’s play ‘Trust’, ’Sweating Bullets’, ’Symphony Of Destruction’, ’Peace Sells’, and the ’Holy Wars’ reprise,’ and I said, ‘We have to play ’A Tout Le Monde’, and let’s put that in before ’Sweating’ and if I can’t do it, then I will just skip it, and we can just go to ’Symphony’.’ Well, it turns out that all of my friends were praying for me and when the lights went out the audience went off! I ended up playing all six songs after all, and I truly believe it was the prayer that got that stone out of me.
I feel 95.7% better today, and I don’t want anyone else to worry. I am a tough old skunk, and so I am taking this time to explain in more detail than I normally would about a physical matter. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me, and for everyone that continues to pray for me. And now, I have a concert I must go to. God bless you all, and now everyone who prayed for me, please pray for Jeff Hanneman of Slayer.”
As someone who has dealt with similar health issues in the past, I can attest to how having a kidney stone hurts like hell! So the fact that Mustaine was able to even stand onstage, let alone play six songs, is pretty awesome. Just goes to show you that nothing (whether it be issues regarding health or even P.A. systems) will prevent Megadeth from performing. It is unsure if Mustaine’s latest health scare will prevent any future shows. We’ll keep you posted if more develops.
[via Blabbermouth]
It’s always sad to hear stories of young, up and coming bands getting robbed while touring the world. The latest victim of such an act is Lazarus A.D. During their U.K. tour with Bonded By Blood, the Wisconsin thrashers’ van was broken into while in Southampton. The band released the following statement about the incident:
“We just want to personally say thank you, to the fuck douche bags who smashed our vans window and stole $1,500 and all our clothes and other personal items. All I can say is thank god we had the gear on stage or the fuckers would have stolen that as well.”
Guitarist Dan Gapen added the following:
“They got every cent of band money, Social Security Cards and our birth certificates. Not to mention they took all of our clothes and hygiene items. Thank god we had our passports in our pockets.”
Despite all of this, the band is continuing on with their tour. However, since there are many dates remaining on the trek, it’ll be extremely difficult for them to move forward in their current state. With that in mind, the band is currently asking fans for donations to help them out. If you care to help out in any way, you can follow the link provided on the band’s website.
Not to restate the obvious, but this is truly an awful situation for any band. Bands starting out are already strapped for cash while on the road (especially overseas). Hopefully Lazarus A.D.’s luck will improve during the remainder of the tour.
This past weekend, punk metallers Kvelertak confirmed reports that their visas and passports had been stolen while awaiting to board a plane in Norway. The band confirmed the news via Twitter and Facebook, while singer Erlend Hjelvik revealed the following to Norwegian magazine Dagbladet:
“I sat down to have a bite at Burger King at [the Oslo Central Station Friday night, March 4], and suddenly I discovered that the backpack with all six passports that I had placed next to me on the seat was gone.
We will go down to the passport office on Monday and see what we happens…We paid 70,000 NOK [approximately $12,500] for the flights, but we do not know if that money will now be used for the new tickets, refunded or if we have lost it entirely.”
What will come of the band’s U.S. touring plans is still uncertain. Kvelertak will definitley miss the first few stops on their upcoming tour with Weedeater and Zoroaster, as well as their appearance this past weekend at the Scion Rock Fest. However, in a new posting on their Facebook and Twitter account, the band revealed that they could be arriving in the States as soon as Friday, giving them plenty of time to make their South By Southwest appearance. However, nothing has been set in stone.
We’ll keep you posted when more develops. Best of luck to everybody in the Kvelertak camp. This is definitly a crappy turn of events for any band to deal with.
[via MetalSucks and Blabbermouth]
Last month, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman underwent emergency surgery on his right arm for a serious infection, diagnosed as necrotizing fasciitis and likely rooted from a spider bite. Hanneman is expected to make a full recovery (already beginning the process of subsequent medical procedures such as skin grafts), though he is forced to sit on the sidelines for the time being. While the band has canceled touring plans in the past to allow frontman/bassist Tom Araya to recover from back surgery, Slayer has decided to go forward and perform the upcoming Australian Soundwave Festival tour, kicking off on February 26, without Hanneman.
Guitarist Kerry King gave the following explanation regarding their decision:
“After everything that happened last year, we all agreed that we just can’t let our fans down again. Jeff is totally on board with this decision, so we will tour as planned. At this point, we can’t pinpoint exactly what day he’ll be back, but he’ll be back as soon as he possibly can. And we can’t wait for Jeff to get better and get his ass back on the road.”
Slayer will be bring in a guest guitarist to fill in for Hanneman. Details regarding the fill-in are expected to be revealed shortly. It’s weird to think of Slayer performing without Hanneman, just as weird as it would have been to see them perform without Araya for that matter. But it’s cool to see Slayer acknowledging that they didn’t want to disappoint fans like they did the last few times with Araya’s injuries. We will keep you updated when more is revealed.
We were supposed to interview The Dillinger Escape Plan on Sunday following their triumphant performance at the Orion Music + More fest. We call it “triumphant” because the band’s lead guitarist and songwriter Benjamin Weinman had broken his hand and it was unsure as to whether they would even be playing the festival. They persevered, playing without him as he played hype man onstage. We weren’t able to catch up with the band after their set, though, and chalked it up to their schedule. However, yesterday on our flight back to Newark, we ran into Weinman and bassist Liam Wilson, who were on our flight.
Posted by Bram Teitelman on Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 11:21 am
Bad Breaks