The strange thing about this course was that I never really knew, despite two comments, if anyone besides my instructor ever even read these posts. Yet I went ahead and did it anyway – required of course but somewhat fun nonetheless.

Here’s my last post. All good things must end eh?

My last project too:

I’ll see all you anonymous folk on the other side.

Thanks for reading(?)

In a similar vein to Maynard James Keenan from Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer and others – Corey Taylor is trying his hand at various musical projects.

You might remember as being the lead singer of Alternative Metal rockers Slipknot, his most famous band. He’s also found success in Stone Sour, a hard rock group. Now he’s showcasing his compositions which he feels have no place in the masterplans of either group.

As Blabbermouth puts it:

COREY TAYLOR AND THE JUNK BEER KIDNAP BAND, featuring SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor, performed a “secret show” this past Friday, April 24 at People’s Court in Des Moines, Iowa. It was a warm-up concert for their appearances at Rockfest in Kansas City on May 30 and Lazerfest in Des Moines on May 31.

THE JUNK BEER KIDNAP BAND reportedly formed as a stoner rock disco band (imagine EDGAR WINTER meets PRINCE). Over the course of rehearsals, Corey brought in new material that he had been working on that didn’t fit SLIPKNOT or STONE SOUR.

Musicians who branch out and try something new will always have my utmost respect. Corey’s a hell of a talented guy too.

Here he is singing the Cheers theme song too. How many guys in metal do that eh?

Alice in Chains were one of the best Grunge/Metal bands to come out in the 90′s. The lead singer’s drug problems pretty much halted the band after their third album which came out in 1996 – Layne Staley later died of a heroin and cocaine overdose in 2002.

Now, with a new singer, they’re recording another album. It is to be released this September through Virgin/EMI – according to Los Angeles Times’ reporter Steve Appleford.

I’m a bit skeptical about the new Alice In Chains though. If you listen to the old albums, you’ll hear that the lyrics are dark and drug addled. It may seem perverted to think this – but Staley personified the songs and his tortured vocal style added to the overall mix of things.

When they play the old songs live now it sounds like a cover band – a really good one nonetheless.

Just compare.

1990

2009

In an interview with the Quietus, Testament’s Chuck Billy and Alex Skolnick are asked about their relationship with Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine.

The Quietus: Speaking of MEGADETH, how was Dave Mustaine? Do you guys get on ok?

Alex Skolnick: “Dave and I have known each other a long time and he is, without a doubt, a very intense personality, so I could see how people might find that intimidating. He’s very interesting and at times during the tour he actually came to me for some tips.”

The Quietus: Really? So you’re saying that Dave Mustaine, No. 1 in Joel McIver‘s “100 Greatest Metal Guitarists” [book] came to you, No. 13, for guitar tuition?

Alex Skolnick: [laughs] “Well, I wasn’t aware of that, but yeah, I play in a jazz orchestra when I’m not doing this and we have very different styles, so Dave was looking for some help with jazz chords. What you need to know about Dave is that he always wants to improve and he is recording his new record as if it’s his first, which says a lot about how driven he is.”

Chuck Billy: “Dave and I have a lot of history too and basically at the heart of it he is a great guy. Sure, he has his good days and bad days just like anyone but I have always managed to have a joke with him. He’s just one of those people you need to catch right.”

The Quietus: Apparently he is “reborn.” How does that present itself?

Chuck Billy: “I guess it works for him.”

Alex Skolnick: “Yeah, it’s definitely not like he shoves it down anyone’s throat anyway. It’s a personal thing.”

Hah, yeah he has his off days. However, I find it cool that Mustaine took jazz progression lessons from Skolnick – who is an absolutely awesome guitarist and is my favorite student of the legendary Joe Satriani – alongside Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. He’s definitely one of the few guys in metal who dare to be different.

We’re all casual gamers in one way or another and it’s always intriguing to gaze into the more hardcore side of the fence to see how gamers break a title down to its core and build up an understanding over time of their selected game.

The two most popular tournament/competitive games on Stony Brook campus are Super Smash Bros. Melee (the old favorite) and the more recently released Street Fighter IV.

This piece asks a few of those gamers, who met one another mostly through the gaming club on campus, about how they approach competitive games. 

The Pulse of Radio reports: A story surfaced on Wired.com this week about the fan who bought the $20,000 deluxe edition of former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese‘s new solo album, “Since 1972″. Freese announced recently that he was offering an escalating series of special editions of the record, ranging from a $50 version that included a thank-you call from Freese all the way up to a $75,000 limited edition that has yet to be purchased. The buyer of the $20,000 package, 19-year-old Thomas Mrzyglocki, got to spend a week with Freese, recording songs with him and hanging out with several of the drummer’s rock star friends, along with other activities.

Among the highlights of the trip, Thomas went into a Los Angeles recording studio with Freese, where the drummer recorded two songs about him.

The pair also played a round of miniature golf with TOOL frontman Maynard James Keenan. When DEVO singer Mark Mothersbaugh

Thomas also got to meet other stars like VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash and other members of TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE, while also getting free tickets to shows around town.

Freese admitted to being uncomfortable when it came to providing one of the bonuses, a foot massage. Thomas instead opted for a dip in a sensory deprivation tank, which was part of the $500 edition Freese was offering.

Thomas, a resident of Melbourne, Florida, said the purchase was “totally worth it,” adding that it was “the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time.”

Freese said that he and his new friend have been been “joined at the hip since Sunday,” adding, “”I really do like the kid and know that it’s a bizarre experience for him.” couldn’t make the game as promised, a pizza party was set up at his house instead.

I’m sure some of you pop haters would buy Britney’s next album for $50k if it meant you went on a date with her.

Oh wait, this isn’t 1999.

Anyways…I’m glad the guy had fun. As “gojira_taco” put it in the comments box.

“we are in a heavy recession and are a trillion dollars in debt as a country as this kid spends 20,000 on a freese album!! SWEEET”

AwwwYeah.

“I heard a solo that Chris [Broderick, MEGADETH guitarist] sent me yesterday that is so smoking that I can’t wait until we see what he does for the whole record.

“I almost feel like not playing any solos and letting him do them all.”

Now I love Megadeth etc. etc. etc. But some things this guy says are just laughable.

First off I can assure you that, no matter how great a lead guitarist Chris Broderick is, if he handled all the solos and left Mustaine to only the rhythm work – the fans would cry. There’s something about the release of a Dave Mustaine guitar solo which feels right – especially in music as fierce as Megadeth’s.

I also know that he’d never do it. Why? Because he has an ego which can only be described as epic.

So yeah. Laughable.

Have some solos though.

Now for guitarist Kerry King to go on and say this is simply stunning:

One funny thing about that album is if it came out today, no one would give a s**t. They’d say, “That’s cool.” But at the time it came out it made such a difference. People still reflect on that as a poignant time, where s**t changed.

The fact of the matter is that Reign In Blood influenced numerous bands around today – some who simply channel the rage and ferocity of Slayer while others who blatantly rip them off.

Reign In Blood did change a lot indeed – it single-handedly influenced many Black and Death metal bands around the world. But the philosophical question as to whether it would matter as much today – in an era of the cheapening to music to people who can download it for free – I don’t know.

I’m just done watching what I didn’t consider as a big deal…but now I know better. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame ceremony isn’t much more respected than the Grammy’s (yeah they aren’t) because of the board’s tendencies to screw over deserving bands in favor of popular ones in the yearly inductions. Metallica, who are eligible because their first album Kill ‘Em All came out in 1983 – over 25 years ago as the requirements state, were one class act.

Over the years there has been a tendency for bands to fight onstage and for age old dinosaur rock bands to meet eachother once for an award before going their seperate ways again…but Metallica is still a raging machine which is flying back to Europe to continue their massive world tour on monday. As for who they wanted onstage with them – they finalized that anyone who played on an album is deserving. Former bassist Jason Newsted, who quit the band in early 2001, played alongside current bassist Rob Trujillo in a 5-piece Metallica which blistered through two songs and did their fans proud. The final touch was the families in the audience and Cliff Burton’s, who died in 1986, father onstage with the band and not to mention Flea’s brutally honest and touching induction speech.

Being a fanboy never felt this good before.

Here they are playing Master of Puppets.

Enter Sandman.

According to The Pulse of Radio, former NINE INCH NAILS, A PERFECT CIRCLE and GUNS N’ ROSES drummer Josh Freese has announced through his publicist that he has sold out of the $20,000 limited edition of his new solo album, “Since 1972″, along with the $250 limited edition. The $20,000 edition, restricted to one copy, includes as bonus features a miniature golfing trip with members of TOOL and DEVO, a night aboard the Queen Mary, two songs written about the buyer that will be posted on iTunes, a drum lesson or foot and back massage, any three items out of Freese‘s closet and more.

The $250 version, limited to 25 copies, includes lunch with Freese at P.F. Chang’s or the Cheesecake Factory.

Freese has also sold one of the three $5,000 editions, which features Freese writing one song about the buyer and posting it on iTunes, co-directing a video for the track and putting it on YouTube, a private tour of Disneyland, a letter from PEARL JAM guitarist Stone Gossard and a drinking session.

The unlimited $50 version, which includes a thank-you phone call from Freese, is also selling briskly, according to his publicist.

Freese made “Since 1972″ available digitally on March 24, with the physical CD arriving on April 14. All editions can be ordered at JoshFreese.com.

This is so funny.

Damn Josh. Those are quite some “bonuses” you’re giving out.

Let this be a lesson to everyone – if you want to do well in the music industry – be a good massage giver.

Harr.

Great drummer though. I loved his work in Nine Inch Nails.