NYS Music 20​17

Tag: metal

  • Brian Johnson Says Goodbye to Friend, Bandmate, Malcolm Young

    As our favorite legendary artists grow older, its only inevitable, that one day we will hear the sad news that one has passed away. Sadly, AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young will join several other legendary artists at the “Music Festival in Heaven.”

    Longtime bandmate, friend, and AC/DC frontman, Brian Johnson, posted a statement on his website about the passing of Young titled, “For 32 years, we stood side by side on stage.” His letter stated:

    I am saddened by the passing of my friend Malcolm Young, I can’t believe he’s gone.
    We had such great times on the road.
    I was always aware that he was a genius on guitar, his riffs have become legend, as has he.
    I send out my love and sympathy to his wife Linda, his children Cara and Ross,
    and Angus, who will all be devastated…. as we all are.
    He has left a legacy that I don’t think many can match.
    He never liked the celebrity side of fame, he was too humble for that.
    He was the man who created AC/DC because he said “there was no Rock,n,Roll” out there.
    I am proud to have known him and call him a friend, and I’m going to miss him so much.
    I salute you, Malcolm Young.
    – Brain Johnson, November 2017

    Malcolm Young passed away on Nov. 18 at the age of 64, after suffering from dementia for the past few years. He formed AC/DC with his brother Angus in 1973. Besides playing guitar, Malcolm was a producer and songwriter, who help create some of the biggest rock and roll anthems in history, such as “Hells Bells,” “Back In Black,” “Highway To Hell,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” to name a few. He retired from the band in Sept. 2014, after being diagnosed with dementia in April 2014. Young and his AC/DC bandmates have sold over 110 million albums, are were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

    Rolling Stone posted several comments from various artist, once the news of Malcolm’s death started to circulate throughout the music industry including Eddie Van Halen, Nancy Wilson and Slash. You can read those comments below:

    Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band): “Malcolm was the essential rhythm guitarist of the world’s greatest working class hard rock band. An irreplaceable loss.”

    Slash (Guns N’ Roses): “Malcolm Young was one of the best ever rhythm guitarists in rock and roll. He was a fantastic songwriter and he had a great work ethic too. I toured with AC/DC on their ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ tour. I found Malcolm to be a really cool, down to earth fellow. The entire rock and roll community is heartbroken by his passing.”

    Nancy Wilson (Heart) “Malcom Young was the embodiment of rock itself. His rhythm guitar style needed no embellishment. He laid down the simple solid guitar truth that taught us all about the ‘less is more ethic.’ The wild power of simplicity and the head banging hair flipping joys of turning it up really loud and dancing with the vibrations. Thank you, Malcom for being the real deal. We are all going to miss that shredding music that only you and your brother could make together.”

    Eddie Van Halen: “It is a sad day in rock and roll. Malcolm Young was my friend and the heart and soul of AC/DC. I had some of the best times of my life with him on our 1984 European tour. He will be missed and my deepest condolences to his family, bandmates and friends.”

    Dave Mustaine: “I have to go…I am losing it that Malcolm is gone. I hate this…” Kiss’ Paul Stanley added, “The driving engine of AC/DC has died. A tragic end for a sometimes unsung icon. One of the true greats. RIP.” Tom Morello praised Young as “#1 greatest rhythm guitarist in the entire history of rock n roll.”

    https://youtu.be/evqsl8smnYE

  • Vans Warped Tour Coming to an End

    They say all good things, come to an end, and with the recent post on the Vans Warped Tour social media pages, it looks like the multi-genre tour will end and make its final cross-country run in 2018 after 23 years of touring the festival.

    The final nail in the coffin will take place in 2019, where organizers of the tour stated that the 2019, 25th Anniversary edition, will  be the end, and will be a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history, not a tour.

    A picture posted on the tour’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages with a quote from Warped Tour creator Kevin Lyman stated, “Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year, will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour.” Once the news posted, fans began commenting on the news with memories, speculation, wise remarks and anger, which prompted Vans to respond.

    Some fans who commented on the news, received a reply from Warped Tour. In response to one fan who said the tour will run a couple more years with limited dates, Warped Tour stated:

    The 25th anniversary small celebration in 2019 will 100% be the end – but we are working to make this year’s full tour an awesome one!

    When another concerned fan asked if the tour would in fact still run with very limited dates, Warped Tour responded:

    2018 will be the FINAL tour we are working to make sure this 2018 cross-country tour is one to remember. The 25th anniversary celebration in 2019 will NOT be a tour, but a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history.

    In response to a concert-goer who said the tour ending was sad, asked why it was ending. Warped Tour replied:

    Right now, we are working to make sure this 2018 cross-country tour is one to remember. The 25th anniversary will not be a full cross-country tour, but it will be a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history. We simply don’t know more details on the 25th anniversary celebration yet – our team is working hard on the 2018 tour first

    It will be sad to see this tour go because the Vans Warped tour is a special kind of tour that gives several upcoming artists a platform to get their feet wet playing live shows and touring across the country. Many of those artists have made a name for themselves in the music industry since their first appearance on the tour, with many returning to headline one of the various stages the tour offered. Some of those artists include Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, Beartooth, Motionless in White and many more.

    Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, posted an extensive response on the situation through Warped Tour’s website. He stated:

    I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour. Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour. I sit here reflecting on the tour’s incredible history, what the final run means for our community, and look forward to what’s to come as we commemorate the tour’s historic 25th anniversary in 2019.

    In 1995, I had already worked many years in the music business, including spending four summers on the Lollapalooza tour, and I thought, ‘for one summer I would like go out and put on my own show’ mixing music and action sports. With the support of so many people, I have now spent the last 23 summers bringing that show to a city near you. We have brought that show to over 11 million people around the world and watched that same world change while doing so.

    I have been proud to work with so many artists who have grown to be some of the largest stars in the world. Countless bands have played in hot parking lots and through summer storms for you at some point.

    Bands like Quicksand, Sublime, L7, No Use for A Name and No Doubt jumped on in the very first year.

    Touring many summers with my friends and peers like – Pennywise, Social Distortion, NOFX, Bad Religion, The Descendents, Less Than Jake, Dropkick Murphys, The Bouncing Souls, Rancid, Flogging Molly, Anti-Flag and The Offspring are just some of my fondest memories. More include, having Blink-182 travel on my bus in 1997 when the world opened up to them and made them the superstars they are today.

    The Vans Warped Tour was the platform to witness the rise of pop punk with Sum 41, Simple Plan, MXPX, New Found Glory and Good Charlotte.

    The birth of Emo – with bands like Thrice, Thursday, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World.

    Fast-forward to the summer in 2005 when TRL and Warped Tour helped launch the careers of Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Avenged Sevenfold.

    I witnessed Warped alumni like The Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, No Doubt and even Kid Rock play the Super Bowl. I’ve even had the pleasure of seeing Green Day play the Rose Bowl.

    More recently, I’ve watched bands start out on a small stage and work their way up to the main stages by meeting as many fans as possible and continuing to hone their craft while on the tour. Bands like Paramore, A Day To Remember, Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil, Echosmith, Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides, Every Time I Die, Neck Deep, Beartooth and so many more.

    What has always made me proud was when I read that Warped was the most diverse show of the summer where you could find Eminem and Ice-T on the same stages as Sevendust, Pennywise, and 7 Seconds.

    I am so grateful to have worked with more than 1,700 bands over the last 23 summers. I wish I could thank every band that has played the tour.

    The Vans Warped Tour has become the community I had always hoped for. We have worked with over 90 non-profits each summer shining a light on new and growing groups giving our community the resources they need to connect with people who can help them, but also encourages our community to help each other. To Write Love on Her Arms, Music Saves Lives, Feed The Children Now, Keep a Breast, Hope For The Day, Canvas Foundation, Living The Dream and A Voice for the Innocent have built their organizations from the Warped Tour parking lots across the country. This even inspired me to start my own foundation Unite the United.

    The work we do each summer on “give back days” has become part of our DNA. My brain is etched with the image of the church ladies after Katrina serving beans and rice to The Casualties with their upright mohawks, finding a common ground where no one was judging anyone. Then finding out the only working business in the county seemed to be the moonshine still and the locals showing up with a crate to share with the crew later that evening.

    The long hot days that ended around a BBQ with food, drink and more music are some of the best times. Enjoying the days off, taking people jet boating, house boating, river rafting and sometimes even skydiving. I witnessed lifelong friendships being made, sparks of romance that led to ‘Warped weddings,’ and unfortunately now, more notices of passings where a proper good bye was not able to be said.

    I want to thank my supportive family who has been through the highs and lows, Darryl Eaton at CAA, Steve Van Doren and Vans, Kate, Julie, Allison and Steph. My hard ass working crew who puts that show up and down each day, the sponsors which without them this tour would not happen, the bands and their crews, the promoters who took a risk on us at the beginning and continue to be supportive.

    It will be bittersweet each morning when I see the sun rise and then watch it set knowing that this will be the last time I get to witness it from that exact spot.

    Though the tour and the world have changed since ’95, the same feeling of having the ‘best summer ever’ will live on through the bands, the production teams, and the fans that come through at every stop.

    The enduring spirit of the Vans Warped Tour remains as bright as ever, continuing to inspire creativity and ambition in new and exciting ways as we prepare for a 25th anniversary celebration in 2019.

    I truly look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during this final cross country run, and getting to thank you for your support on this wild adventure. Until then, take care and be safe.   – Kevin Lyman (Founder of the Vans Warped Tour)

    Warped will hit the road for the last time on June 21 in Pomona, CA, and end on Aug. 5 in West Palm Beach, FL. New York will see two stops on the final run.  Darien Lake will host the festival on July 25 and Wantagh’s Jones Beach Amphitheater on July 28.  Artists are still to be determined and will be announced in early 2018.

  • Hollywood Undead and Butcher Babies coming to Rochester

    Rap metal heavyweights, Hollywood Undead and metalcore band Butcher Babies recently announced their North America 2017 tour. Anthology in Rochester will be one of their stops on Friday Nov. 17.

    hollywood undeadBoth bands have new unreleased albums but only Hollywood Undead have officially released details on their new album titled Five (stylized as V), while Butcher Babies have only stated on social media that they have finished recording a third full length album only referred to as BB3, presumably Butcher Babies 3. Tickets go on sale Friday July 28 at 10:00 a.m., with prices ranging from $25 to $30. This show will be 16 and up.

    For more dates check Hollywood Undead’s Facebook events page.

    In the meantime, you can check out Hollywood Undead‘s latest single “California Dreaming” from the album V.

  • Primus Announces 2017 Tour and Album Release

    Primus has named their 2017 tour Ambushing the Storm and that’s exciting in and of itself being they haven’t toured since 2014. It starts Oct. 1 in Texas and will make its way towards the east coast with New York dates Oct. 27 at the Palace Theater, the Capital Theatre on Oct. 29 and Brooklyn Steel on Oct. 31. Tickets will be available for purchase Oct. 1 on the Primus website.

    primus 2017 tourBut what’s even more interesting is the inspiration behind their new album that will hit the market Sept.29. The collection will be called The Desaturating Seven and it’s inspired by an Italian children’s book Les Claypool read his own kin years ago called Rainbow Goblins. So far, the public has only been graced with a single call “The Seven” (video link below) which holds a very promising tone and attitude. It’s synonymous with “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver” according to Claypool and retains that classic Primus sound coupled with dramatic shifts in tempo and time signatures.

    This project is something Claypool says he has been itching to work on, according to an interview with Rolling Stone.

    “I remember being incredibly impressed with the artwork and the storyline and the content and the message, and I thought, ‘Wow, this would make a great piece of music,’” he says. “As I’m getting older, I’m realizing I need to start knocking some of these things off my list. So we did the Willy Wonka soundtrack a couple years back, and this was a project I wanted to do.”

    What’s more – the gang is back together. Claypool originally considered piecing this album together with a side project of his, Claypool Lennon Delirium, but opted to work with his Primus band mates, Larry “Ler” LaLonde and Tim “Herb” Alexander instead. The group reportedly had some trouble taking off with such an unique platform but were able to piece together something they’re proud of.

    “These days,” Claypool admits, “you gotta go the extra mile because otherwise people just take it off the internet.”

  • Vans Warped Tour Caters to Hardcore in Connecticut

    Dust, blood, sweat and smiles don’t begin to describe a typical day at summer’s largest traveling music festival. Currently in its twenty-third year, the Vans Warped Tour returned for fans of all genres to enjoy their best day of the year on July 9 in Hartford, CT.

    Originally created by founder Kevin Lyman as a festival for alternative rock music, the tour has adapted in it’s over 20 years of activity to cater towards a variety of music genres. This year, the tour made an effort to reign in metal and hardcore fans by featuring bands such as GWAR, CKY, Hatebreed, The Acacia Strain, Municipal Waste, Anti-Flag and Carnifex.

    Alongside these musicians, bands such as Bowling For Soup, Goldfinger, Jule Vera, Streetlight Manifesto, Watsky, Neck Deep, Alestorm and Plain White T’s worked to showcase the festival’s diversity in musicians.

    Besides showcasing bands and musicians such as the popular Andy Black, Never Shout Never, Beartooth and Dance Gavin Dance, the festival also had a knack for highlighting up-and-coming bands and bringing them into the spotlight. With this year’s Full Sail Stage, Knocked Loose, Trophy Eyes, Movements and Boston Manor are a few of the bands on the rise that were able to give everything they had to their performances.

    Although the main stage bands tend to bring in the largest crowds at the festival, this year fans should focus their attention on the Mutant Party Zone, the set of two stages side-by-side labeled Mutant North and Mutant South. The two stages which focus more on heavy music, held hidden treasure performances by some bands that shouldn’t be missed.

    Blessthefall, the five-piece metal band from Arizona, put on a genuine performance that kept fans entertained from start to finish. Whether it’s frontman Beau Boken jumping into the crowd to sing with his fans, or guitarist Elliot Gruenberg jumping and getting in fans’ faces with his guitar, Blessthefall were a highlight of the Vans Warped Tour lineup this year for many reasons.

    Even for Warped Tour attendees who don’t enjoy heavier music, Blessthefall  are a must-see band on this year’s tour.  The consistent energy from every member of the band make watching Blessthefall a genuine pleasure. Besides the fact that they don’t miss a beat, there is not a moment of silence during their set. They will go out of their way to make sure everyone in the audience is noticed, and thoroughly entertained. Where some musicians may get on stage and play their instruments, Blessthefall showcase what a performance really means.

    Another band that knows how to perform for their fans is Gwar. Fans will find themselves in a sea of fake blood while watching the legendary rock band takeover Warped Tour. Opening sets with a decapitation and then blood spewing onto the audience leaves nothing but smiles on fans faces as their white clothes turn into light shades of red.

    The crowd became filled with smiles as fans chanted, “God what an awful racket,” and went out of their way to have their white t-shirts they bought for the show covered with blood. For the sake of the experience, make sure to watch Gwar on the Vans Warped Tour. Depending on where you stand, you will leave with minimal blood on your clothes, and an understanding of why Gwar are a once in a lifetime rock group to see.

    Whether you’re a fan of pop, rock, heavy metal or rap, the Vans Warped Tour has you covered for a good time. For fans that attend to see multiple bands they adore, they will get their money’s worth for an entire day of meeting and watching their favorite bands they may not get the chance to see elsewhere. Although it’s difficult to get the entire Warped Tour experience in one day, you’ll understand why it continues to be the longest running music festival in the country, and continues to dominate the music scene as the must-see music festival of the summer.

  • Corey Taylor Responds to Chad Kroeger’s Comments

    You knew it wouldn’t be long before Stone Sour/Slipknot frontman, Corey Taylor, would enlighten everyone with his thoughts about Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and his recent comments about him and Stone Sour. Kroeger’s comment about Taylor starting Stone Sour to get away from being under a mask is not accurate, as Taylor started Stone Sour just before getting involved with Slipknot.

    Blabbermouth reports that in a recent interview with Sweden’s Metal Covenant, Kroeger blasted Taylor when he asked the interviewer to name another band that’s as diverse as they are[Nickelback]. Kroeger stated before being cut off: “I can’t think of another band that’s as diverse as we are. I can’t. And I don’t think that’s me talking from pride or ego. I mean, you’re sitting across the table. You know what you’re talking about. Can you name me another band who can play.”

    After the interviewer cut off Kroeger, and spit out Stone Sour as his answer, Kroeger quickly responded: “Stone Sour? Yeah, ’cause they’re trying to be Nickelback. Corey Taylor has said some really nasty things about me before in the press. He talks about how easy it is to write a hit song. Well, show me. Show me. Write one. I have yet to hear one. They’re okay. But they’re not as good as Nickelback. They sound like ‘Nickelback Lite.’”

    Kroeger continued to bash Taylor while talking about Taylor’s other band Slipknot. He said: “They had to put on masks and jump around. How good can your music be if you’ve gotta beat each other up on stage, throw up in your own masks every night…? I mean, music shouldn’t come with a gimmick; music should just be music. None of my favorite music comes with a gimmick. And he got tired of sitting behind a mask — he wanted people to know what he looks like — so he started Stone Sour.”

    Arizona radio station KUPD, had the honor to be the first ones to ask Taylor about Kroeger’s recent comments. Taylor on saying it was easy to write a hit song: “You know what? I’ve never said it was easy to write a hit song, I don’t know what the hell planet he’s living on. Apparently it’s Planet Kroeger, and there must be good weed there, ’cause he’s an idiot.”

    Taylor was set to give a verbal onslaught when hearing the comments, but after seeing fans reactions, Taylor stated: “I don’t have to say a damn thing — he is not a liked person. That’s all we have to say about it.”

    Taylor’s response about Slipknot wearing masks, and jumping around: “You can run your mouth all you want. All I know is I’ve been voted ‘Sexiest Dude In Rock’ wearing a mask. You’ve been voted ‘Ugliest Dude In Rock’ twice without one. Stick that up your ass.”

    He added that it seems Kroeger is the only member of Nickelback that has the problem with him. “I love Mike [Kroeger, Nickelback bassist and Chad’s brother], I love… Everybody else in that band I’m very, very cool with; I’ve hung out with them. It’s just ‘Face Like A Foot’ who I can’t really hang out with. He’s got a face like a foot. Am I wrong? See, that’s the hard thing: I can’t even say anything about the band, Nickelback, because none of ’em have an issue with us. It’s him. So, dude, curl up in bed with your Hello Kitty pillow and shut up.”

    Taylor even brought up a past statement he from over 10 years ago about when both bands shared the same label: “Let’s just say Roadrunner took all the Slipknot money and gave it to Nickelback to sign them. That’s all I’m gonna say about it.”

    In that interview in 2002 with Rock Sound, Taylor suggested that Roadrunner put their promotional machine behind Nickelback instead of supporting Slipknot:

    I’m glad they could use our money to make fucking Nickelback happy. That’s a very, very bitter subject for me, and if I ever see any of those fuckers, it’s going to be brutal. I’m happy for them, but at the same [time], we went out and bust our asses to make what we did. If they’re still here in a couple years then, hey, good for them, but this band isn’t going anywhere, and when the record label basically fucks your loyalty in the ass, it’s really bitter — especially when we went out and fucking bled, sweat and earned every fucking album that we sold. MTV won’t fucking touch us, radio barely fucking touches us and here comes those fucking pretty boys… and the lead singer looks like Shaggy from ‘Scooby Doo’… and what the fuck am I supposed to do? Am I not supposed to feel bitter when I have broken bones and fucking torn corneas? It’s bullshit, and the record label just smiles at you and goes ‘Yeah, yeah whatever…’ It’s fucking not right, dude.

    It’s just the fact we could have used the help. We have fucking fought for everything we have fucking made, when is someone going to help us, and when is someone going to step up and fight for us? The record label doesn’t do that for us. It’ll go to bat for fucking Nickelback, but when it comes to us, it’s fucking shutdown. It’s, like, what the fuck? I’m fucking proud of what we’ve done, but goddamn it, when are we going to get given a hand? I’m so fucking tired of it.”

    During the interview with KUPD, the host joked that Stone Sour should open up for Nickelback during their Canadian tour, which made Stone Sour guitarist Josh Rand reply that they were actually asked a couple of months ago to open for them on that tour, but they of course declined Nickelback’s offer. With that being said, maybe hard feelings are starting to set in.

  • Rock AM Ring Festival Resumes After Possible Terror Threat

    With the most recent tragedy at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England still fresh, authorities are taking every security threat very seriously. Germany’s annual rock festival, Rock AM Ring, had to be halted on it’s opening night Friday for what authorities called “concrete leads,” in a possible terror threat against the festival that police wanted to eliminate before the festival continued.

    With over 80,000 fans attending the festival over the weekend, authorities wanted to make sure that everything and everyone is safe. Friday’s lineup included headliners Rammstein, Five Finger Death Punch, In Flames, Clutch and many more.

    rock am ring festivalAfter the Ariana Grande concert bombing, Rock Am Ring disallowed back packs at the festival and beefed up security to 1000 officers. Festival promoters made the following statement to fans after they were informed by the police:

    Due to a terrorist threat, the police have advised us to interrupt the festival. We ask all festival visitors to leave the festival site in a calm and controlled manner towards the exits and camping grounds. We have to support the police investigations. All visitors will be kept informed about any developments on all Rock Am Ring social media channels, radio and the speakers. We hope that the festival will continue tomorrow. Thank you for your cooperation.

    One of the concerns involved a person who helped erect and organize the security fencing for the event. The Koblenz police released a statement about the possible threats:

    Because of the last attack on a concert in Manchester, the security concept for Rock Am Ring was modified in advance and the number of security officers was significantly increased to around 1,200… Since a threat could not be ruled out, all necessary measures were taken immediately. We cannot provide any further details on the background information. We take all tips and suspicious incidents extremely seriously and investigate closely.

    Rock AM Ring resumed early Saturday in Nurburg, once promoters got word that everything was clear. Festival organizers released a statement telling fans the festival would indeed resume, “After intensive searches and sweeps of the complete festival site by the police, the suspicion of a potential terrorist threat has not been confirmed.”

  • Photo Gallery: Tool Thrills in Rochester

    It was an incredible night on Tuesday, May 30, at the Blue Cross Arena. Tool made a stop in Rochester and was nothing short of incredible and a visual masterpiece as one would expect!! They brought with them the jazzy and trippy Oakland, CA based band Once and Future. It was a very visually and musically intense show to which Tool are masters of. Some of the high points of the show would definitely be them playing some tracks I have not heard live probably in close to fifteen years. “Opiate,” “Third Eye,” and a really deep cut off their debut album “Sweat.” Please enjoy the selection of photos below from this show.

    Tool – Blue Cross Arena – Rochester – Tuesday, May 30, 2017

    Set 1: The Grudge, Parabol, Parabola, Schism, Opiate, Ænema, Descending, Jambi, Third Eye, Forty Six & 2

    Set 2: Chocolate Chip Trip, Vicarious, Sweat, (-) Ions, Stinkfist

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  • I Prevail Part Ways with Drummer

    Detroit rockers I Prevail have announced on social media that they have mutually parted ways with drummer Lee Runestad. No word was given as to the reasons for Runestad’s departure from the band, just a statement by remaining members on social media that read “Life an unpredictable journey that takes us all down different paths.”

    Fans who had VIP meet and greets with the band during the band’s most current headline tour, started to speculate if something was going on, as Runestad was absent from the fan interactions, hinting at a possible falling out.

    I Prevail’s full social media statement:

    ATTENTION I PREVAIL FAMILY: We have mutually parted ways with our drummer Lee Runestad. We wish him and his family all the best. Life is an unpredictable journey that takes us all down different paths, but the important thing is to value every step along the way.
    That said, we are stoked to have our talented brothers Gabe Helguera (drums) and Eli Clark (bass) joining us as touring members going forward.
    Things have never been more exciting in the world of I Prevail and we have TONS of awesome stuff coming your way soon. Stay tuned.
    See you at Warped Tour this summer.
    -Brian, Eric, Steve and Dylan

    Runestad, took to his personal social media page and posted the following brief statement about his departure:

    Hey guys. It was a difficult decision, but I Prevail and I have decided to amicably part ways. I enjoyed my time in the band and wish I Prevail luck in its future endeavors.

    I Prevail has just wrapped up their own headline tour, which featured an amazing performance in the Capital Region at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park in early May. I Prevail will head back out on the road this summer as part of the annual, Vans Warped Tour, performing on the Journey’s Left Foot stage.

  • Joey Belladonna On His Vocal Longevity and That One Thing That Has Haunted His Career

    Oswego native and Anthrax frontman Joey Belladonna was recently interviewed by Roy Turner of Trickykid Radio. In the interview, Belldonna talks about his one regret that has haunted him, how he keeps his vocals on point through the years, and being asked to perform John Bush era tracks.

    Turner asked Joey Belladonna how he can still perform at a high level today after decades of performing, and if he thinks that he’s better performer now than in the ’80s. Belladonna responded:

    I just love music a lot. I strive on getting better; I work at it all the time. I’m real conscious of just elevating my vocals and just being in a band…I don’t want to go out there and not do it well. That’s why I’m always trying to do it better. I always try. I have a cover band too. I also do that on the side. We do four hours of classic rock.

    I really focus. I really try. I’m not in fear of anything right now. Back in the day when I first started, I didn’t know the music so well. Vocally, it was really a challenge to just find a way to sing over that stuff. Because I like to sing so I’m not going to do something outside of all the new styles you hear now, it’s just finding a way to make it comfortable and legible and fun to sing as I can. You realize there’s a lot of words in our stuff and the keys and the speed…it’s real hard to sing over that stuff and make it work.

    On being asked to perform John Bush era music when he returned to Anthrax:

    Personally, I felt we had enough music. I was just trying to be a champ and try something. For some reason, when we get that rivalry crap that went on, it bugs the shit out of me. I have nothing against him or nothing against them. I don’t sit around and have a grudge, but I didn’t want to try… It’s hard enough when you do covers but doing something with the singer of the old [version] of the band. He had it rough, because for the sake [of it], he had almost to do older songs because then they’d really be fighting the good fight there. For me, I didn’t want to get too involved with doing that. I didn’t want to keep opening that door and what was I trying to prove? I’m glad I don’t have to. I just don’t really feel like it. I could, I’m sure, I always felt, nothing against those songs, forget you ever heard them, we could have done any of those records and I think they would have been cool. We don’t know because I never did them before other than that.

    If he has ever thought about what would have happened if Joey Belladonna never left the band, and lent his vocals to Anthrax’s sixth studio album Sound Of White Noise:

    That will always haunt me. The fact that those 13 years went away and they’re gone. They’re just gone. Maybe I just feel good about it now, right? With all the crap… I could add to this, but at the end of the day, it’s all good. I’m really glad for the fans too, and even myself, I’m proud, but I also love that people are enjoying it and all of these new people are coming up and get to see what was there before.