Topics

1

International / Queensryche Bombed In Iraq

« on: November 24, 2010, 05:34:43 PM »

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/queensryche_bombed_in_iraq.html

Vocal armed forces supporters Queensryche were the victims of a bomb attack during a recent visit to war-torn Iraq ? but frontman Geoff Tate insists making the trip was the least the band could do.

The prog metal outfit played a series of shows for military personnel. While in northern Iraq they were forced to take cover when a battle exploded around them, and although none of them were killed, they were left injured and shaken by the experience.

Tate tells BraveWords.com: ?We got bombed. We had to spend a lot of hours in bunkers there, waiting for the insurgents to get under control. We all lived through it although we got injured ? that was a scary situation.

?A mortar landed about a hundred yards from where I was standing ? the ground just shook. It was amazingly powerful and scared the hell out of me. I?d just been standing there watching the sun come up, eating a little container of yoghurt and boom ? the bomb goes off.

?It was pretty darn intense. We were there for two weeks in Kuwait and Iraq, flying around with the military to all these different bases. Playing shows to the troops is really a wonderful experience.

?They show you everything they do. You get to do things like blow stuff up with C4 explosives and shoot down helicopters ? pretty macho stuff.

?It was the first time we?d ever been to the Middle East. It was interesting seeing how people live and their philosophy on things. You can?t imagine what it?s like in a war zone. You see pictures on the news ? that?s one thing, but it?s a whole different thing to be there.

?It?s a very dusty place. I had to walk around with a bandana soaked in water around my face to keep my voice from going.?

Despite the violent attack Tate is glad Queensryche made the trip: ?It?s the least an entertainer can do. Every soldier we met said the same thing: ?Our life is like Groundhog Day ? it?s the same as the last day.? The only break they have in the monotony is when they have entertainment come in, and it doesn?t happen all the time.?

But the singer admits he didn?t tell his family about the bombing at first. He explains: ?I didn?t set until after I got back. I didn?t want to worry them. Actually, besides that particular instance I think we were incredibly safe.?

And Tate would be happy to repeat the journey: ?I?d definitely go back. In fact, we?re planning on going to Afghanistan as soon as it cools down a little bit.?

Queensryche released concept album American Soldier in 2009, which aimed to tell the story of life during war from the troops? point of view without becoming overtly political. The theme was inspired by conversations with Tate?s father, who was a soldier, and subsequent interviews with servicemen from around the world. The band are marking the 20th anniversary of Empire, their first release to achieve mainstream success, and are working on a new album due for release next year.

Thanks for the report to RockAAA.com.

2

International / Kirk Hammett Vs Small Child

« on: November 18, 2010, 06:40:06 PM »

For those who may not have seen this yet  The girl is the daughter of one of the stage crew and was not injured despite being launched off the steps 
About 0:19sec in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADwP2zsftIw

3

International / Mustaine AA Documentary

« on: May 19, 2010, 11:57:10 PM »

Found this today on ultimate-guitar.com. I dont know what Aussies have to do with this but ok

Australia's St Kilda Film Festival has chosen Don't Thank Me, Thank AA: The Dave Mustaine Story, for this year's event, scheduled to run from May 26th-30th.
The film about Megadeth's famed frontman will make its world premier at 9:45 PM - 11:30 PM on Saturday, May 29th at the Palace George Cinemas in St Kilda, Melbourne.

A press release on the film reads:
"Dave Mustaine was a heavily beaten child who grew up to be a raging drug addict and the greatest heavy metal guitarist in the world. These days, Dave finds peace via a combination of yoga, Christianity and taekwondo. Don?t Thank Me, Thank AA: The Dave Mustaine Story examines the genesis of Mustaine?s greatness, as percieved by drunk people on the street, and the nature of his inner hell and direct phone-line to God, as revealed in an intimate backstage conversation."

The documentary is by Mia Timpano, produced with the assistance of Renegade Productions. Key still by Jana Blomqvist.
Trailer
http://vimeo.com/10889807

4

International / Dio Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer...This Really Sux!

« on: November 27, 2009, 09:05:44 PM »

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ronnie_james_dio_diagnosed_with_stomach_cancer.html?233346409#comments

Wendy Dio, the wife and manager of legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath, Rainbow), has released the following statement:

"Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

"Long live rock and roll, long live Ronnie James Dio.

"Thanks to all the friends and fans from all over the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up."

Ronnie James Dio, 67, has performed with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his own band Dio. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser "Hear 'n Aid". He is widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice and for popularizing the "devil's horns" hand gesture in metal culture. He is currently involved with Heaven & Hell, a project which also includes former Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice. Their first studio album, "The Devil You Know", was released on April 28, 2009.

Dio cancelled its European tour last week after Ronnie was taken ill. The band's lineup for the trek was supposed to include Whitesnake/ex-Dio axeman Doug Aldrich due to the fact that the group's regular guitarist, Craig Goldy, had prior touring commitments with Budgie in Australia.

Dio's last release was the "Holy Diver Live" CD, featuring a performance of the classic "Holy Diver" album in its entirety, from start to finish, recorded live for the very first time in 2005 in front of a sold-out London crowd.

5

International / Until The Light Takes Us

« on: October 23, 2009, 09:22:52 PM »

For The Black Metal Fans

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/untilthelighttakesus/

Until The Light Takes Us tells the story of black metal. Part music scene and part cultural uprising, black metal rose to worldwide notoriety in the mid-nineties when a rash of suicides, murders, and church burnings accompanied the explosive artistic growth and output of a music scene that would forever redefine what heavy metal is and what it stands for to other musicians, artists, and music fans world-wide. Directors Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell moved to Norway and lived the musicians for several years, building relationships that allowed them to create a surprisingly intimate portrait of this violent, but ultimately misunderstood, movement. The result is a poignant, moving story that?s as much about the idea that reality is composed of whatever the most people believe as it is about a music scene that blazed a path of murder and arson across the northern sky.

6

International / Metallica - Francais Pour Une Nuit (French For One Night)

« on: October 20, 2009, 06:54:34 PM »

Thank god I need a new Tallica DVD

On July 7th of this year we were honored to perform at Arenes de Nimes, the historic Roman amphitheatre in Nimes, France, easily one of the most spectacular venues in the world. We thought it would be a memorable night, so we asked our friends in France to bring along a film crew to document the festivities. The result is "Francais Pour Une Nuit" (translation: "French For One Night"), the DVD of the evening including the full show, interviews with us, and five videos shot by YOU, our buddies in the audience. All this and more will be available starting November 23, 2009!

"Francais Pour Une Nuit" was extra special for us because not only was it filmed in France, but ALL aspects of the project are French as the show was filmed, recorded, and edited with French camera and recording crews, the artwork on the package and special box set (more on that in a minute!) were created by a French design team; even the credits are in French. The only non-French parts: the three Americans and one Dane on stage and the photos shot by Englishman Ross Halfin.

The DVD will be available in retail stores in France only, at www.metallica.com, or you may order online through the record company at www.metallicanimes.com. There will be three formats available: Standard DVD in a digipack including a 16 page booklet, Blu-Ray DVD, also in a digipack with the booklet, and the deluxe limited edition box set (it's actually a tin) that includes the DVD, a copy of "Death Magnetic on CD," a Large T-shirt, laminated pass, and five exclusive photos (see it all below).

And just in case you couldn't join us that night, here is the set list:

Blackened
Creeping Death
Fuel
Harvester Of Sorrow
Fade To Black
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
One
All Nightmare Long
The Day That Never Comes
Master Of Puppets
Dyers Eve
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman
Stone Cold Crazy
Motorbreath
Seek & Destroy

Check Metallica.com for the trailer and pics

7

International / Non Jovi

« on: October 12, 2009, 07:17:37 PM »

An Adelaide man who took the name of a rock star while defrauding $25 million from financial institutions has dropped a bid to appeal his conviction.

The South Australian District Court last year jailed Romeo Pacifico for 16 years - the longest sentence for fraud handed down in the state.

Pacifico pleaded guilty to 19 fraud charges after obtaining cash loans for more than $25 million to prop up his failing business and fund a lavish lifestyle.

At one stage, Pacifico changed his name to Richie Sambora - a guitarist with world renowned rock band Bon Jovi.

In the SA District Court on Monday, Pacifico's lawyer George Mancini said his client's application to appeal his conviction had been dismissed.

But, Mr Mancini told the court, Pacifico still wanted to appeal his sentence, with a date for that hearing yet to be set.

8

International / Evile Bassist Dies At 32

« on: October 08, 2009, 08:45:49 PM »

I love the English thrash band Evile so this really sucks to hear RIP....

Just a few days into the band's European tour with Amon Amarth, bassist Mike Alexander of British thrashers Evile was suddenly taken ill and rushed to hospital, but tragically passed away in Lulea, Sweden [on Monday, October 5]. He was 32 years old.

Evile members Matt Drake, Ol Drake and Ben Carter have released the following statement:

 
"This is so hard to find the words to express fully how we feel. We can't believe or accept what's happened. One minute we're talking to our buddy, Mike, the next minute we can never speak to him again.

"There's so many things rushing through our heads that we want to say, do and feel. We half expect him to come round the corner and call us 'dickheads'. We can't get our heads around it.

"It upsets us so much that he was away from his family when this happened, although knowing Mike, we're at least glad he was on tour doing what he loves.

"We're lost for words. We all miss him so much already. He was such a headstrong, genuinely nice guy who loved music and his family. We've got so many brilliant memories with him.

"Our hearts go out to his daughter, family and friends at this tragic, difficult time.

"Mike is much loved and is sorely missed.

"Rest in peace, brother."

Ultimate-Guitar.com columnist / interviewer Robert Gray wanted to share the following words on Mike Alexander's passing:

"I'd like to express my condolences to the friends / band members and family of the late Evile bassist Mike Alexander, who tragically passed away recently. I never personally spoke to the man, but he happened to be nearby when I interviewed Matt Drake at Cardiff's Barfly back in late 2007 when the band supported Sanctity on a UK tour. They all came across as great, fun loving guys, and the same can be said for Mike. With the release of 'Infected Nations' back in September, for me, it affirmed that Evile aren't a one-trick pony, and are destined to be future thrash metal legends - and I don't say that lightly at all. I really feel that that Evile's music, especially debut 'Enter the Grave', is some of the best of the last twenty years. Death is always a tragic thing, but is especially tragic at the age of 32 - nobody should die that young, and especially on the cusp of great things to come. Let's hope Evile regroup, and soldier on in Mike's memory.

"The next time you have a pint readers, please have a toast to the late Mike Alexander (1977-2009)."

Evile's sophomore album, "Infected Nations", was released on September 21 in Europe and September 22 in the U.S. via Earache Records.

9

International / Metal Band Stars In Hardcore Porn Video Clip (Rammstein)

« on: September 23, 2009, 08:55:22 PM »

A German heavy metal band popular with teenagers has caused outrage with the video clip to their latest single showing the musicians taking part in graphic hardcore pornography.

The video for Rammstein's song "Pussy" shows the band members engaging in a variety of sexual acts with women, interspersed with shots of the group performing and waving the German flag.

While the band have not shown the video on their website, they link to a pornographic site where the clip can be watched.

Aside from a warning of "nudity and sex scenes" on the webpage, there is no control to prevent teenagers ? who make up a large portion of Rammstein's audience ? from viewing the video.

Adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said there was little difference between the video and the usual pornography available on the internet.

"It highlights the need for parents to do three things: one is to make sure kids have the computers in a public place, have an online filter, and have parents monitor what their kids do online," he said.

"The best monitoring of all is shoulder-surfing, so regularly checking what kids are looking at online.

But heavy metal and sex have always gone hand in hand, according to QUT professor and author of The Porn Report Alan McKee.

"It's explicit pornography but it's a generic hybrid, so it's pornography but also a music video," he said.

"It would be X-rated if it were released on DVD in Australia."

Professor McKee said the video was "juvenile, lowbrow and obsessed with sex, but that's not a bad thing".

"Heavy metal has always been about sex and if you go back to the '70s with Black Sabbath, there was outrage because their songs are about sex," he said.

"It's not the music that's making adolescent men think about sex ? it's adolescent men thinking abot sex making heavy metal popular."

The clip is directed by Swedish filmmaker Jonas Akerlund, who has made videos for hit songs like "Beautiful Day" by U2, "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga and "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera.

Akerlund had previously attracted controversy for the video he made for The Prodigy song "Smack My Bitch Up" with allegations it promoted violence against women.

Rammstein's song "Amerika" reached the position of 46 in youth radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2004.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/866237/metal-bands-hardcore-porn-video-clip

http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x12xp4_eeviko_music/video/xaill1_rammstein-pussy-uncencored-official_music  (You will need to subscribe to watch it)

10

International / Dethklok: The Dethalbum II Release Date

« on: July 31, 2009, 06:55:51 PM »

Williams Street Records announced today details on the most highly-anticipated death metal album release of the year - and it?s for none other than the animated band from Adult Swim?s Metalocalypse. On September 27, the world?s most brutal animated band will once again reign supreme with the all-new release of Dethklok: The Dethalbum II. Featuring the band from the hit Adult Swim?s series, the album features 12 full-length tracks detailing Dethklok?s exploits in murder, mayhem and all things brutal.

 
Written by series co-creator Brendon Small and recorded alongside legendary drummer Gene Hoglan, Dethklok: The Dethalbum II will be released as both a standard edition and a two-disc deluxe edition on CD and digital download beginning September 8th. Additionally, a limited edition vinyl of the album will be released in to local record shops on November 24, just in time for the holidays.

The track listing for Dethklok?s The Dethalbum II is as follows:

01. Bloodlines
02. The Gears
03. Burn the Earth
04. Laser Canon Deth Sentence
05. Black Fire Upon Us
06. Deth Support
07. The Cyborg Slayers
08. I Tamper with the Evidence at the Murder Site of Odin
09. Murmaider II: The Water God
10. Comet Song
11. Symmetry
12. Volcano

The Deluxe edition will include a bonus DVD with 52 minutes of never-before-released music videos featured in the 2008 Dethklok tour.

Dethklok: The Dethalbum II is a follow up to Dethklok?s The Dethalbum, which shattered sales records when it was released to retail in October 2007. With more than 34,000 copies in its first week, the album became the highest charting death metal album ever before going on to sell more than 300,000 copies to date.

Co-created by Tommy Blacha and Small, the Metalocalypse television series follows the on and off-stage adventures of the world?s most brutal band as they create a wave of mayhem, death and destruction wherever they go. Since debuting on Adult Swim in 2006, the series has become one of the network?s highest-rated original series and the second season was watched by more than five million 18-34 year-old viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The new season of Metalocalypse will debut on Adult Swim this fall.

11

Australian Tours / LAMB OF GOD OZ TOUR

« on: July 23, 2009, 08:47:56 PM »

LAMB OF GOD AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Lamb Of God

Supporting Artists - Devildriver, Shadows Fall

Date:Fri, 18 Dec 2009
Venue:Metro City
146 Roe St
Northbridge WA 6003

Send a Ticket Enquiry

Find more events in Perth Price:$72.50 + fees and chargesTickets:ON SALE TUESDAY 28 JULY from http://www.bocsticketing.com.au/
BocsTicketing
1800 193 300
78 Records, Mills & Planet Video.

Other Dates Include:
11 Dec Brisbane Riverstage QLD
12 Dec Luna Park - Big Top NSW
15 Dec Festival Hall VIC
16 Dec Thebarton Theatre SA

Contemporary metal doesn?t get more blistering than Lamb Of God. The Virginia five piece's mix of groove laden chunky riffs, inhuman screamed vocals and evil lead guitar work make for an explosive and unstoppable force. Their latest album Wrath has seen them elevate to one of the biggest metal bands and they "sound as powerful composing songs as they do cranking out riffs?and the transformation is career-defining." - AV Club

Hitting with the force of an invading apocalyptic army, Lamb Of God are back to inject Australia with a crippling dose of their pure American metal. Coming armed with a barrage of crushing riffs, a pounding backbone rhythm and growls, ?it?s safe to say that this one-cell prison of a genre finally has an escaped convict? - Sputnik Music

Devildriver?s introduction onto the world metal stage was in the form of their 2003 debut self titled album, a crushing introduction to a new breed of extremity, spearheaded by the distinctive vocal ferocity of front man, Dez Fafara. The band's subsequent follow ups have taken a quantum leap up the evolutionary metal scale, crafting them into a brutal, melodic, technically complex monster. Metal Hammer sum up Devildriver perfectly... ?frantic pace, unrelenting power and a whole shitload of attitude.?

This mind blowing triple bill of metal titans could not be complete without Massachusetts finest, Shadows Fall. Combining honest integrity and violent brutality into one frightening package, they continue to push the boundaries with their distinctive mix of bone-splintering aggression and melodic nuance.

12

General discussion / Transformers Yay or Nay?

« on: June 26, 2009, 02:46:21 AM »

I say yay just got back and i was very impressed (but i kind of expected it to be considering i saw the first 4 times at the movies ) can't wait for a third

13

International / Heres Some International Metal News (Slayer New Album)

« on: June 06, 2009, 12:43:12 AM »

California thrashers Slayer have set "World Painted Blood" as the title of their new album, tentatively due late summer via American Recordings/Columbia Records. The forthcoming CD is being produced by Greg Fidelman and will include the album's title track and "Psychopathy Red" (both of which are Jeff Hanneman-penned tunes), the latter of which was made available as a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl disc on April 18, 2009 as part of the third annual Record Store Day.

 
Prior to the new album release, Slayer will join forces with Megadeth to perform together for the first time in more than 15 years when they co-headline four shows in Canada in late June. The tour, dubbed "Canadian Carnage", will also feature Machine Head and Suicide Silence, and will see Megadeth and Slayer each closing two of the four shows. Slayer will also co-headline with Marilyn Manson on the five-week Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, set to kick off July 10 in Sacramento, California.

On May 19, Blabbermouth.net spoke to Slayer guitarist Kerry King about the band's new CD and their upcoming touring activities. Highlights of that conversation follow below.

On the status of the new album recording sessions:

Kerry: Probably today was the last day for touch-ups. The longer you let that go on, you can keep fixing it forever; you've just gotta cut the line at one point and say, 'We're done.' But I think Tom [Araya] finishes up vocals today, and then it's just gotta get mixed.

On whether producer Greg Fidelman is going to be mixing the album as well:

To my knowledge, I think he's doing it. I don't always pay attention to that. But I haven't heard anything to the contrary, so I would imagine, yeah.

On Greg Fidelman being a somewhat odd choice for a producer considering that a lot of fans seem to blame him for the distorted sound on Metallica's "Death Magnetic" album:

I would never do that because ? no offense to him or Metallica ? but it's not Greg's fault for the last 15 years of Metallica. I think he made a decent record with them. I think 'Death Magnetic' is pretty cool. I mean, It's not the glory of the '80s, but it's better than 'St. Anger', you know what I mean?! You're dealing with hard-headed dudes. We're the same way. When you're in the business for as long as us and them [Metallica] are, you don't always [listen to] everybody's opinion; you've kind of got your own opinion. I blame everybody, not just him. [Laughs]

On the songwriting/recording process for the new album:

We were over-ready [when we recorded 2006's 'Christ Illusion']. My songs [for the new album] came together since the middle of January ? that was super-fast. I [attended] the NAMM show in the middle of January [2009], the big trade show out here [in California]. I might have had some riffs [at that point], but I had no songs. So everything I've done [songwriting-wise] has been put together since then. And this time when we went into the studio, we were, like, under-ready, because there were songs that hadn't even been finished, so we actually had to teach Dave [Lombardo; drums] some of them in the studio, which is totally unique for us. When you do it like that, you risk songs sounding the same and vocal ideas being similar, but I think everything sounds really different. . . [We did it that way because] we had a window of time that we secured Greg Fidelman [for and] we wanted to keep that happening, so after the NAMM show came around, I went, 'Shit, I'd better get some fuckin' songs happening.' So I got off my ass and really worked at it.

On how he would describe the new material:

I think 'Christ Illusion' and 'God Hates Us All' [2001] were compared to faster records like 'Reign In Blood' [1986]. I think this one, when it's all said and done, will be compared to 'Seasons In The Abyss' [1990], because I think 'Seasons' was a little bit of everything, as far as Slayer goes. I think this one has a little bit of everything ? more so than anything we've done since 'Seasons'. So I would imagine people are gonna compare it to that one.

On how the songwriting is split between him and fellow guitarist Jeff Hanneman this time around:

I don't know which songs... We've got 13 songs. I don't even know if they're all done, it's been such a hectic recording thing, but musically I wrote six and he wrote seven. It's about as down the middle as you can get.

I think, as a general description [I tend to write the faster stuff and Jeff comes up with the moodier material], but that's not to say that Jeff won't write fast and I won't write slow, but generally I'm the fast, thrashier dude and Jeff's definitely the more moodier guy, but trail off into each one's domain every once in a while.

I think everything [Jeff's] done came up at least since November. Because we did those first three songs [including 'Psychopathy Red'] in October and those were all his. I don't know if he's worked just since January like I have. I would imagine he probably worked a little earlier than that.

On why not all 13 songs that are being recorded will make it to the finished album:

I got out of that mindset that was popular in the '90s when everybody put as much material on CDs as would fit. I just think that's a waste of time, and I think it's a waste of song ideas, because everybody I've ever heard do that, maybe two or three songs are good and the rest is just filler. All my favorite records from whan I was growing up had 10 songs tops, and they're all kick-ass, so I just [think back to] how I perceived records as when I was a fan.

KERRY KING SAID A METALLICA ALBUM WAS "PRETTY COOL" there must be a god  and they are touring with Megadeth atm which i thought would never happen now pull the sand out of your vaginas and do a "BIG 4" tour 

14

International / Kill Bill Star Dies Doing Sex Act ??? *UPDATE* Family Thinks Foul Play

« on: June 05, 2009, 09:08:37 PM »

US actor David Carradine may have accidentally hanged himself while performing a dangerous sex act, British newspapers report.

Carradine, star of 1970s TV series Kung Fu and the Kill Bill movies, was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room yesterday in what Thai police initially said was a suicide, but now suspect to be a tragic mishap.


Police said 72-year-old Carradine was found with lengths of cord wrapped around his neck and other parts of his body, including his genitals.

The revelations have prompted speculation the actor died while attempting erotic asphyxiation, a practice that causes sexual arousal by depriving the brain of oxygen.

"A rope was attached to his neck and also to his penis," a police officer was quoted in The Sun as saying.

Earlier, local media reported Carradine was found "half-naked" by a maid at the upmarket Nai Lert Park hotel.

The US embassy in the Thai capital confirmed the death of Carradine, who was in Thailand to shoot a film called Stretch.

"He was found in his hotel room in Bangkok but the cause of death has not yet been established," an embassy official told AFP.

Carradine's manager Chuck Binder described the death as "accidental".

Police said Carradine's body was found around 11:30am local time yesterday (2.30pm AEST) hanging by his neck in the closet of his hotel room.

An initial report suggested he had been dead at least 12 hours.


Local police officer Pirom Janthapirom said security cameras showed no-one else going in or out of Carradine's room.

"There is no trace of fighting in the hotel room and the room was locked from inside," he said, adding there was no sign of bruising on the deceased's body.

"We are investigating from where he got the rope because it does not seem it was from the hotel", and all of the actor's personal belongings "were intact", Pirom said.

Subsequent reports stated it appeared Carradine had used cord taken from curtains in his room.

The producer of Stretch, French firm MK2, said the death came just three days before the end of filming for the movie.

"The Carradine family is devastated by the news of David's passing," said Julie Nathanson, a spokeswoman for the actor?s agency.

"There will be no further comment until more information can be confirmed."

Mr Binder paid tribute to the actor, telling the BBC: "He was full of life, always wanting to work... a great person."

Carradine was the son of prominent actor John Carradine and part of an acting family that includes brothers Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine.

He was born on December 8, 1936, during Hollywood's Golden Age of cinema, though he first entered showbusiness through musical theatre on New York's Broadway.

While best known for his role as the fugitive half-Chinese Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV drama Kung Fu, Carradine had a long a varied career in film.

He appeared in Martin Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha in 1972, and played legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie in the 1976 film Bound for Glory, which gained him a Golden Globe nomination.

The following year, director Ingmar Bergman called on Carradine to play a wandering out-of-work American Jew in poverty-struck Weimar Germany, for the movie The Serpent's Egg.

Swedish master Bergman was said to have entrusted Carradine to take the role for his commanding physical presence, recalling that of his father.

In the following two decades Carradine continued to work, but failed to find success outside of cult "B movies," as he was beset by the use of drugs and alcohol.

In the mid-1990s, he reprised the role as Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, which found home on US TV for a further 60 episodes.

A huge fan of his B movie work during the 1980s and 1990s, director Quentin Tarantino called on Carradine to play the title character in the 2002-2003 revenge-action-epic Kill Bill and Kill Bill II.

Carradine's work on the movies earned him a fourth Golden Globe "Best Actor" nomination.

Married five times, most recently in 2004, and the father of two daughters, Carradine was still working at the time of his death.

WTF  R.I.P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Carradine was murdered by an underworld martial arts sect, his grieving family claims.

The veteran actor was on the verge of exposing the secret sect when he was "assassinated" in a Bangkok hotel, they believe.

The family's lawyer Mark Geragos disputed claims by Thai police that Carradine died as the result of a bondage game gone wrong.

The 72-year-old actor was found with a rope tied around his neck, wrist and genitals last Thursday.

"David was very interested in investigating and disclosing secret societies, absolutely," Mr Geragos said on US talk show Larry King Live.

"What that means is connected to his interest in martial arts.

"And so there is a suspicion that, if there was some foul play, that may be the first area they should look."

Carradine became fascinated with martial arts since he played a wandering monk in the 1970s series Kung Fu.

He also played a martial arts expert in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films.

According to reports, Carradine's family has now asked the FBI to send agents to Thailand to investigate the case.

But one of Carradine's ex-wives, Marina Anderson, said that if the actor was involved in secret societies, "it was a secret even I didn't know about".

Anderson, whose four-year marriage to Carradine ended in 2003, has said the actor often took part in "potentially deadly" kinky sex acts.

But Carradine's manager Chick Binder points to the fact the actor was found with his hands tied behind his back, and a mysterious footprint on his hotel bed, as evidence of foul play.

"We definitely don't believe it was a suicide," he said. "David was a great guy and a great client and a great friend."

15

International / Judas Priest Detail Live Album

« on: May 26, 2009, 07:36:30 PM »

As the creators of a live release that is considered to be one of the all-time great concert recordings in the realm of heavy metal (1979's "Unleashed In The East"), whenever British heavy metal legends Judas Priest announce a new live album, metalheads worldwide instantly take note.

And on "A Touch Of Evil: Live" (view cover here; due for release in July 2009 via Sony Music and Epic Records), the mighty Priest ? which includes singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis ? doesn't disappoint.

 
Focusing primarily on fan-revered album cuts (all previously unreleased in live form on CD), "A Touch Of Evil: Live" features absolutely scintillating renditions of such Priest gems as "Riding On The Wind", "Beyond The Realms Of Death", "Dissident Aggressor", "A Touch Of Evil", "Eat Me Alive", and the set-closing "Painkiller". Also of note are the first live album appearances of standouts from Priest's critically acclaimed 2008 concept double disc, "Nostradamus" ("Death" and "Prophecy").

Recorded by Martin Walker and Brian Thorene during Judas Priest's mammoth 2005 and 2008 world tours, "A Touch Of Evil: Live" also marks the first Priest album that producer Tom Allom has worked on since 1988 (co-producing along with the band). It was such Allom-produced albums as the aforementioned "Unleashed In The East", as well as "British Steel" and "Screaming For Vengeance" (among others) that made Priest not only one of the premier metal acts, but one of the leading global rock acts.

"A Touch Of Evil: Live" track listing:

01. "Judas Rising"
02. "Hellrider"
03. "Between The Hammer & The Anvil"
04. "Riding On The Wind"
05. "Death"
06. "Beyond The Realms Of Death"
07. "Dissident Aggressor"
08. "A Touch Of Evil"
09. "Eat Me Alive"
10. "Prophecy"
11. "Painkiller"