Tour Interviews

Interview with Geoff Tate (Avantasia)

AVANTASIA are here in a few weeks. And STM’s Cassandra had a great chat with GEOFF TATE (Ex- Queensryche, Operation: Mindcrime) about what to expect from this gargantuan tour.

As it was announced late last year that the world’s biggest Metal opera was finally coming to Australia. 20 years after the release of the original Metal Operas, Musical mastermind Tobias Sammet decided to bring the full AVANTASIA stage show to Australia!

As the AVANTASIA dates, inch closer and closer to Australia, set for impact this May, the cast of this once-in-a-lifetime event has been announced! Amidst sheer praise and admiration for ‘Moonglow’ (Which hit #1 in the German album charts), Tobias Sammet has out-done himself with a world-class roster of singers and musicians that will be making the trek down under this May:

TOBIAS SAMMET – Lead vocals (Edguy, Avantasia)
BOB CATLEY – Lead vocals (Magnum)
ERIC MARTIN – Lead vocals (Mr. Big)
GEOFF TATE – Lead vocals (ex-Queensryche, Operation: Mindcrime)
JORN LANDE – Lead vocals (ex-Masterplan, JORN)
RONNIE ATKINS – Lead vocals (Pretty Maids)
HERBIE LANGHANS – Backing vocals / Lead vocals (Sinbreed)
ADRIENNE COWAN – Backing vocals / Lead vocals (Seven Spires, Winds of Plague)
SASCHA PAETH – Guitars (Producer for Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever and Epica)
OLLI HARTMANN – Guitars / Backing vocals (At Vance, Hartmann)
MIRO RODENBERG – Keyboards (Producer for Angra, Shaaman, Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot and Heavens Gate)
ANDRE NEYGENFIND – Bass (Avantasia)
FELIX BOHNKE – Drums (Edguy)

Having blown crowds away with headline sets at both Wacken Open Air in Germany and Barcelona Rockfest while touring their previous album Ghostlights, AVANTASIA proved they are one of the biggest names in operatic and symphonic heavy music. Sammet is a masterful storyteller, creating epic fantasy worlds that can barely be contained within his sprawling concept albums. They can barely be contained on stage either with AVANTASIA shows typically lasting for up to three hours!

AVANTASIA’s eighth studio album, ‘Moonglow’ was released via Nuclear Blast in February and boasts an incredible list of performers including Jorn Lande, Eric Martin (Mr Big), Geoff Tate (ex-Queensryche), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Bob Catley (Magnum), Amanda Somerville, Candice Night, Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian) & Mille Petrozza (Kreator)

It can absolutely be said that Australia has never seen a tour like this. From the depth of storytelling, to the range of the cast, to the sheer musical brilliance – this is a once in a lifetime tour! Do not miss this!

AVANTASIA TOUR DATES:

RSVP & Ticket Links:
May 12th – Sydney, Metro Theatre
Tickets: https://bit.ly/2IMBZMr

May 14th – Melbourne, The Forum (SELLING FAST!)
Tickets: https://bit.ly/2Uk2c6E

Presented by Overdrive Touring

24 Mar 2019 Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews Interview, Lucie Pohl, Overwatch, Sarah Minazzo, Supanova, Supanova Comic Con

[SUPANOVA COMIC-CON] Interview with Lucy Pohl

STM’s Sarah Minazzo had a great chat with Lucie Pohl (Overwatch) ahead of SUPANOVA Comic-Con and Gaming coming up fast in Melbourne and the Gold Coast

Lucie Pohl is a German-American TV & Film actor, comedian, writer and the voice of Mercy from Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch.

Lucie can be seen on the cult UK TV show Red Dwarf XI, as well as appearances in Showtime’s Homeland, Warner Bros. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, David Chase’s Not Fade Away and over 30 other US + international Film + TV productions.

Lucie has written three solo comedy shows which have toured in the US and internationally to sold-out houses, received 5-star reviews and been nominated for the NY Innovative Theater Award.

Supanova to Celebrate Mad Max’s 40th Anniversary, and More, at

April’s Melbourne & Gold Coast Events

It was on April 12 in 1979 that audiences were first introduced to the iconic dystopian film, Mad Max, with Steve Bisley portraying Max’s right-hand man, Goose, while Hugh Keays-Byrne took on the role of villain Toecutter before triumphantly reappearing as Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road. So it’s only fitting that these original alumni and Aussie icons are driving their way onto the already talent-packed Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Melbourne (6-7 April) and Gold Coast (13-14 April) lineup.

To take celebrations up a notch, Bisley and Keays-Byrne will also be headlining the Supanova Superhero Parade (Sunday 14 April) on the Gold Coast that’ll be marching from Broadbeach at 9am, making its way to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre where Supanova will open its doors at 10am. They’ll be joined by hundreds of fans in a variety of costumes to celebrate the Gold Coast Superhero Weekend.

In further guest news, Supanova favourite Graham McTavish (The Hobbit, Outlander) has also been confirmed. Following an appearance as King Atlan in this summer’s blockbuster, Aquaman, and more voice work as Dracula in Castlevania, McTavish is currently filming the fourth season of Preacher in Melbourne.

Australian publishing imprint IFWG will also have a strong presence, with founder and dark fiction maestro Gerry Huntman (author of upcoming fantasy series Sky Realms Chronicles) appearing in Melbourne and Sydney-based spec-fic author Christopher Sequeira (The Phantom, Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook) gracing both events while also hosting contributor and New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder (Wicked series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Smallville) at both events.

They will bring a worldwide exclusive to Supanova with the launch of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Was Not, featuring multiple international and award-winning writers.

There’s also Banksia Project recipients, illustrators Alex e Clark (Melbourne exclusive) and Cameron Davis (Gold Coast exclusive), lending their creative talents to the lineup, while comic artist Mike Krome (Zenescope, Valiant, Aspen), writer and illustrator Jan Scherpenhuizen (Possible Press), and Julie Ditrich (Comics Mastermind CEO and Founder) are slated for Melbourne.

The latest guest announcement is rounded out by Australian comic artist Stewart McKenny (Star Wars: Clone War Adventures, Captain America) and local author Brad Mengel, who currently works in Australia’s criminal justice system.

Tickets for Supanova 2019 – Melbourne and Gold Coast are on sale now via Moshtix.

Supanova is a celebration of fandom, where the worlds of film and television, fantasy, comic books, anime, sci-fi, cartoons, books, gaming and collectables comes to life! There’s something for everyone, including ‘cosplay’ (costume-role play), fan clubs, musical performances, creative master classes, celebrity Q&As, wrestling, tournaments, competitions and an expo full of shopping possibilities.

Other Supa-Star Guests already announced for Melbourne and Gold Coast include:

Camila Mendes (Riverdale)

Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf)

Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf, Supergirl)

Eliza Taylor (The 100)

Toby Stephens (Black Sails, Lost in Space)

Stefan Kapicic (Deadpool)

Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory)

Jordan Connor (Riverdale)

Matt Ryan (Constantine, Legends of Tomorrow)

Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite)

Nolan North (Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted)

Lucie Pohl (Overwatch)

Jonny Cruz (Overwatch)

Brian Donovan (Naruto)

V.E. Schwab (author – Shades of Magic, Villains)

SUPANOVA BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Supanova Comic Con & Gaming began in Sydney in 2002 as a completely home-grown Australian production showcasing sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, anime, manga, games, cosplay and much more. The brainchild of Founder & Event Director, Daniel Zachariou, Supanova is run by a diverse and passionate team of independent professionals with backgrounds in private industry and the creative sector. Supanova takes place in six cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast), and is Australia’s leading and largest event of its kind with close to 200,000 fans expected to attend the Supanova events in 2019.

Supanova is a celebration of pop culture created by the Supanova family, for your family, to “bring out the inner geek” in fans of all ages.

SUPANOVA DATES:

Melbourne: April 5-7, 2019 | Melbourne Showgrounds

Gold Coast: April 12-14, 2019 | Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

FULL SUPA-STAR GUEST BIOGRAPHIES AVAILABLE AT: http://www.supanova.com.au/guests

TICKETS: on sale now through Moshtix

SUPANOVA WEB PRESENCE:

http://www.supanova.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/supanovaexpo

http://twitter.com/supanovaexpo

19 Mar 2019 Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews Hugh Keays-Byrne, Immortan Joe, Interview, Mad Max Fury Road, Sarah Minazzo, Supanova, Supanova Comic Con

[SUPANOVA COMIC-CON] Interview with Hugh Keays-Byrne

STM’s Sarah Minazzo had a great chat with actor Hugh Keays-Byrne ahead of SUPANOVA Comic-Con and Gaming coming up fast in Melbourne and the Gold Coast

For those who would prefer a TRANSCRIPT of this interview: You can download it HERE

Hugh Keays-Byrne is an Australian actor born in Srinagar, Kashmir (1947); educated and raised in England.

He began his career as a stage actor in England in 1964 working at Theatre Centre Limited, then at The Mermaid Theatre (Sir Bernard Miles company) and for 6 years at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC’s world tour of Peter Brook’s famous production of A Midsummer Night’s dream brought him to Australia in 1973. He decided to stay.

He continued to work in the theatre in Australia through the ’70s; Lennie in Of Mice and Men and Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, both at the Sydney Opera House, were acclaimed productions. In his first year in Australia, he was cast as Toad in Stone(1974) and regular film roles followed; the most significant of these being as Toecutter in George Miller’s debut Mad Max (1979).

Hugh has had significant roles in over 20 films in Australia, among them are: The Man From Hong Kong (1975), THE CHAIN REACTION (1980), Strikebound (1984), Burke and Wills (1985), Kangaroo (1987), Resistance (1992, Co-Writer/ Co-Director, Actor), and Sleeping Beauty (2011).

He has also had roles in a plethora of television productions, including: Death Train (1978), Moby Dick (1998), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1999), and one of his all time favourites as “that chick magnet” Grunchlk in Farscape (2001) and Peacekeeper Wars (2004).

His latest film role is as Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Hugh has a partner, Christina, of 45 years and lives on the Central Coast, north of Sydney, Australia.

Supanova to Celebrate Mad Max’s 40th Anniversary, and More, at

April’s Melbourne & Gold Coast Events

They will bring a worldwide exclusive to Supanova with the launch of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Was Not, featuring multiple international and award-winning writers.

Tickets for Supanova 2019 – Melbourne and Gold Coast are on sale now via Moshtix.

Other Supa-Star Guests already announced for Melbourne and Gold Coast include:

Camila Mendes (Riverdale)

Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf)

Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf, Supergirl)

Eliza Taylor (The 100)

Toby Stephens (Black Sails, Lost in Space)

Stefan Kapicic (Deadpool)

Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory)

Jordan Connor (Riverdale)

Matt Ryan (Constantine, Legends of Tomorrow)

Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite)

Nolan North (Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted)

Lucie Pohl (Overwatch)

Jonny Cruz (Overwatch)

Brian Donovan (Naruto)

V.E. Schwab (author – Shades of Magic, Villains)

SUPANOVA BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Supanova is a celebration of pop culture created by the Supanova family, for your family, to “bring out the inner geek” in fans of all ages.

SUPANOVA DATES:

Melbourne: April 5-7, 2019 | Melbourne Showgrounds

Gold Coast: April 12-14, 2019 | Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

FULL SUPA-STAR GUEST BIOGRAPHIES AVAILABLE AT: http://www.supanova.com.au/guests

TICKETS: on sale now through Moshtix

SUPANOVA WEB PRESENCE:

http://www.supanova.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/supanovaexpo

http://twitter.com/supanovaexpo

19 Mar 2019 Album Interviews, Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews 2018, Dallas Does PR, Dance Macabre, Ghost, Music Video, Tobias Forge

Interview with Tobias Forge (Ghost)

After GHOST’s successful appearance at DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL in Sydney and Melbourne, which no doubt gained a few more thousand fans, STM caught up with the front man himself. You can hear the full interview below.

After GHOST’s successful appearance at DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL in Sydney and Melbourne, which no doubt gained a few thousand fans, STM caught up with the front man himself. You can hear the full interview below.

Described by one writer as “the perfect love song for that special demon in your life,” the new music video for Ghost’s track Dance Macabre, released today, is just that. Two party crashers talk their way into a surreal bash that one will never remember and one will never forget. The video was directed by Zev Deans (Ghost’s “Square Hammer” video) and is erotic and romantic as only Ghost can do it.

Dance Macabre, already with 15-million Spotify streams, is the second music video and radio single from the Grammy-winning rock/pop band’s most recent album Prequelle (released on Friday 1 June 2018 (Loma Vista Recordings/Spinefarm/Caroline Australia). Simultaneously apocalyptic with catchy, contagious hooks, the song tells of how some people coped with the devastation of 14th century Europe’s Black Plague that wiped out millions – by dancing and partying and seducing until they dropped. The music video puts its own twist on the celebration of the End of Days and beyond.

Twenty-eighteen has been a good year for Ghost. Rats, the first single from Prequelle, held the #1 spot at US Rock Radio for a record-setting nine consecutive weeks. In North America alone, Rats has been streamed more than 14-million times, its companion music video has racked up more than 13-million YouTube views, and Prequelle has accumulated nearly 49-million streams. Ghost recently sold out the very prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, and Metallica just announced the band will be Special Guest on its 25-date European stadium tour next summer.

18 Mar 2019 Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews 2019, Australian Tour, Baby Animals, Ella Hooper, Interview, Killing Heidi

Interview with Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi)

Ahead of tours with The Whitlams and The Baby Animals, STM’s Casper had a chance to catch up with Killing Heidi front-woman Ella Hooper about what they are up to and what is next!

They came blazing out of the radio with the aptly titled ‘Early Warning’. “Too young to know,” Suze DeMarchi sang, “Too old to listen.” Now, nearly three decades later, Baby Animals are all grown-up and ready to hit the road to celebrate their 30th anniversary, with special guests Killing Heidi and armed with their first best-of collection, simply titled Greatest Hits and brand new single ’How Do I Make You’.

The tour commences on May 3 at Revesby Workers Club, followed by Sydney’s Metro Theatre on May 4, Croxton Bandroom Melbourne on May 10, with two shows at Adelaide’s The Gov on May 17 and 18, The Astor Perth on May 24 and Metropolis Fremantle on May 25, before concluding in Queensland with Southport RSL on May 31 and Brisbane’s The Tivoli on June 1.

The tour is the perfect marriage of two of Australia’s most loved bands, and the first time that Baby Animals and Killing Heidi have toured together. Between the two bands, the setlists read like a page from the great Aussie songbook – ‘Early Warning’, ‘One Word’, ‘Painless’, ‘Rush You’, ‘Weir’, ‘Mascara’ – just to name a few. Fans are in for scorching night of rock and pop!

Baby Animals have been one of Australia’s biggest bands since they burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut. The band was touring with Van Halen in the US when they heard the album had topped the charts. Baby Animals spent six weeks at number one in Australia – keeping Nirvana’s Nevermind out of top spot.

Baby Animals went eight times platinum and won three ARIA Awards – Best Album, Best Debut Album and Best Debut Single. It was also declared one of the Top 25 albums of 1992 in UK rock bible Kerrang!, and Baby Animals performed ‘Painless’ on Late Night With David Letterman.

Baby Animals was later featured in The 100 Best Australian Albums, with the book explaining: “Baby Animals exploded on the Australian music scene with a bracing fusion of heavy metal bravura, a touch of glam dynamics and a look and a swagger.”

Fierce and uncompromising – the first single from the band’s second album was called ‘Don’t Tell Me What To Do’ – Suze DeMarchi was also featured in the book Rock Chicks, The Hottest Female Rockers from the 1960s to Now. “Baby Animals was like a breath of fresh air,” the book stated, “a hard-rocking band fronted by a guitar-wielding, tattooed temptress who could rock with the best of them.”

To accompany their forthcoming tour with Killing Heidi, fans are in for a real treat, with a brand new smokin’ hot Baby Animals single dropping on February 15. Picture this – the summer of 1980. A teenager with big rock dreams is at her family’s Perth home, listening to one of her idols, Linda Ronstadt. Fast-forward nearly four decades and that teenager, Suze DeMarchi, has recorded a stunning version of Linda Ronstadt’s 1980 hit, ‘How Do I Make You’, with her band, Baby Animals. It’s a 2.14-minute blast of punky power pop.

“I grew up listening to Linda Ronstadt,” Suze says, “‘How Do I Make You’ is such a great song, and it was right up our alley. Being a guitar band, we punk it up a little bit, and it’s a lot of fun to play live.”

‘How Do I Make You’ is one of three new songs on Baby Animals’ Greatest Hits, which gathers tracks from the four Baby Animals albums.

It’s been twenty years since Hooper Siblings Killing Heidi released their disarming folk pop song, ‘Kettle’ on triple j unearthed. The band soon expanded into colourful teenage power pop and burst onto the national and international stage with their breakthrough debut album Reflector, released in March 2000.

Anthemic singles ‘Mascara’ and ‘Weir’ made Reflector a blow-out success and cemented the work as one of Australia’s most loved pop albums.

The early naughties belonged to Killing Heidi with Weir placing #2 and Mascara #14 in triple j’s Hottest 100. Reflector went onto to take out four ARIA awards and reach 4 x platinum status. The Hooper siblings also won the critically-acclaimed APRA songwriters of the year award.

Ella Hooper explains, “What Killing Heidi’s music meant and still means to the people that shared that amazing time with us really blows me away. I meet so many people, especially young women, who tell me how Killing Heidi inspired them to be themselves, back themselves or even start a band, and I’m completely honoured that it had that effect on people.”

Suze DeMarchi says, “We are so pumped for this tour, and to share the stage with Killing Heidi – can’t wait to get out there and play live again!”

BABY ANIMALS GREATEST HITS TOUR 2019

With Special Guests

KILLING HEIDI

Friday May 3 – Revesby Workers Club, Revesby, NSW

Tickets here

Saturday May 4 – Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW

Tickets from Ticketek and Metro Theatre

Friday May 10 – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC

Tickets here

Friday May 17 – The Gov, Adelaide, SA

Tickets here

Saturday May 18 – The Gov, Adelaide, SA

Tickets here

Friday May 24 – Astor Theatre, Perth, WA

Tickets here

Saturday May 25 – Metropolis, Fremantle, WA

Tickets here

Friday May 31 – Southport RSL, Southport, QLD

Tickets here

Saturday June 1 – The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD

Tickets here

18 Mar 2019 Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews Brian Donovan, Digimon, Interview, Naruto, Rock Lee, Sarah Minazzo, Supanova, Supanova Comic Con

[SUPANOVA COMIC-CON] Interview with Brian Donovan

STM Sarah Minazzo had an amazing chat with voice actor Brian Donovan ahead of SUPANOVA Comic-Con and Gaming coming up fast in Melbourne and the Gold Coast

From surfer dudes to disciplined ninjas, Brian Donovan has created a cavalcade of much-loved characters heard daily on all media platforms. He is every kid’s taijutsu hero, Rock Lee in the world famous anime series, Naruto, and Davis in the smash hit Digimon. Other notable voice performances include Salty in the films Alpha and Omega, Shark in A.T.O.M., Tony in Flint: The Time Detective, Peter Pan in several Disney projects and a buncha ‘guys’ trying to kill Max in the Mad Max video game. Brian was also the head announcer for Disney’s Jetix and ABC Family for over six years.

Brian has worked on camera in dozens of film and television projects with such Hollywood luminaries as Angelina Jolie, Jim Belushi, Gabriel Byrne and Jim Carrey. Television roles include the award winning Gia, Beverly Hills 90210, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, General Hospital, In Living Color, and Wings. Later this year Brian can be seen in the film Fame-ish, set in the awesome Anime Convention world.

In addition, Brian is the director/producer of the award winning documentary, Kelly’s Hollywood, currently on Amazon in the USA and UK. The film is a very personal portrait of his relationship with his sister, Kelly, who was born with Down syndrome. One of his greatest joys has been screening and speaking about the film around the world, creating awareness and advocating for those with unique abilities. He also created and produced the children’s self empowerment show, Mighty Me Training Camp, a top title for five years on Discovery Education.

When not on set or in a VO booth, Brian is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Los Angeles Repertory Theatre, providing inner-city youth with performing arts workshops. He directed and produced the educational documentary, You Got Issues, about their critically acclaimed workshops.

Brian lives with his family and dog, Cosmo, in Los Angeles, CA.

Supanova to Celebrate Mad Max’s 40th Anniversary, and More, at

April’s Melbourne & Gold Coast Events

They will bring a worldwide exclusive to Supanova with the launch of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Was Not, featuring multiple international and award-winning writers.

Tickets for Supanova 2019 – Melbourne and Gold Coast are on sale now via Moshtix.

Other Supa-Star Guests already announced for Melbourne and Gold Coast include:

Camila Mendes (Riverdale)

Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf)

Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf, Supergirl)

Eliza Taylor (The 100)

Toby Stephens (Black Sails, Lost in Space)

Stefan Kapicic (Deadpool)

Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory)

Jordan Connor (Riverdale)

Matt Ryan (Constantine, Legends of Tomorrow)

Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite)

Nolan North (Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted)

Lucie Pohl (Overwatch)

Jonny Cruz (Overwatch)

Brian Donovan (Naruto)

V.E. Schwab (author – Shades of Magic, Villains)

SUPANOVA BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Supanova is a celebration of pop culture created by the Supanova family, for your family, to “bring out the inner geek” in fans of all ages.

SUPANOVA DATES:

Melbourne: April 5-7, 2019 | Melbourne Showgrounds

Gold Coast: April 12-14, 2019 | Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

FULL SUPA-STAR GUEST BIOGRAPHIES AVAILABLE AT: http://www.supanova.com.au/guests

TICKETS: on sale now through Moshtix

SUPANOVA WEB PRESENCE:

http://www.supanova.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/supanovaexpo

http://twitter.com/supanovaexpo

15 Mar 2019 Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews Australian Tour, Interview, John Corabi, Motley Crue, MOTLEY CRUE '94, Silverback Touring

Interview with John Corabi

Rock ‘n’ roll journeyman, JOHN CORABI, is no stranger to hard rock fans as vocalist of THE SCREAM, ESP (the Eric Singer project), UNION (with ex-Kiss guitarist, Bruce Kulick), RATT and his current role as the front man of the DEAD DAISIES. Widely acclaimed as one of the great rock voices ever, Corabi’s hypnotic and charismatic live swagger also make him the consummate frontman.

For many though, he really came to prominence when he landed the high-profile gig of replacing MOTLEY CRUE front man, Vince Neil, in 1992.

It was during his short tenure with MOTLEY CRUE that the band released their self- titled album, MOTLEY CRUE, in 1994 (often referred to as Motley ’94) as the follow up to the hugely successful, Dr Feelgood album. Whilst the album did not reach the heights of its predecessor, it is regarded as a re-invention of sorts and long considered a fan favourite with Corabi bringing extra guitars to the fold and a gruff, ragged edge to the vocals. The album was simply more mature, heavier and rougher.

Now, on the 25^th anniversary of the album’s release, JOHN CORABI embarks on his first ever solo tour of Australia, with his band, performing the album in its entirety, a real treat for both MOTLEY CRUE fans and rock fans in general.

John Corbai March 2019 Australian Tour Dates

Thu 28 March – Sydney – Crow Bar

Fri 29 March – Melbourne – The Prince

Sat 30 March – Brisbane – Crow Bar Black

Sun 31 March – Adelaide – Enigma Bar

Tickets On sale – NOW

From: silverbacktouring.com

10 Mar 2019 Album Interviews, Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews 2019, Album Release, Australian Tour, No Control, Red Hot Summer Tour, SPV Records, Steamhammer Official, Suzi Quatro

Interview with SUZI QUATRO

STM’s Casper sat down with the ever gorgeous SUZI QUATRO recently to chat about her new album NO CONTROL, due out March 29th through Steamhammer Records.

The second half of the interview is where she graciously answered the final cut of the questions received by fans for the chance to win a signed CD!

Even in the highly adrenaline-fuelled music business, it’s rare to find a bundle of energy on a par with Suzi Quatro. The American rock vocalist has successfully worked as a musician for more than fifty years, delivering with unbridled energy her greatest hits such as ‘Can The Can’, ‘48 Crash’, ‘Devil Gate Drive’, ‘If You Can`t Give Me Love’, ‘She`s In Love With You’ or ‘Stumblin In‘ which made her an icon in the 1970s, and wowing her fans again and again with her new material. So it comes as no surprise that she’s not thinking of retiring. “I’ll retire when I go onstage, shake my ass, and there is silence,” she says, fully aware of the fact that that moment is still a long way off.

Suzi Quatro presents eleven new songs (plus two bonus tracks) on No Control. The majority of the material consists of collaborations with her son from her first marriage, Richard Tuckey. Suzi explains: “This was our first attempt at writing and recording something together. The creative progress began with ‘Don’t Do Me Wrong’. And, through this unusually beautiful English summer of 2018, we sat outside, acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, iPad recording app, and lots of paper, throwing ideas back and forth.” With amazing results, as the new album proves – to Suzi herself not only on a musical but, also on a personal level.

For example on ‘No Soul/No Control’, the first single to be released which features the message “Don`t let go of yourself for anyone”. Suzi: “This is my personal mantra. All you have in this world is you.” Remembering the conception of the number, she says: “We were busy as hell, buried in the songs. Richard had a new idea and showed me. It was very unusual and I liked it. A very basic guitar and drum track were put down for me to work on the melody and lyric. I went into the living area of the studio and about 15 minutes later, it was done. It flew out of its own accord, as the best songs do.”

The same applies to numbers such as ‘Macho Man’ (Suzi: “It’s a no-brainer that this is an opening live song. You cannot help headbanging to it, it just grabs you”), ‘I Can Teach You To Fly’ (“a definite throwback to the sixties”), ‘Easy Pickings’ (“I’ve been playing this riff on acoustic guitar forever, at least the last ten years. Then all of a sudden, it became a song”) and ‘Love Isn’t Fair’ (“Got this idea sitting in our Hamburg home. I wanted to create a Blondie-meets-Mavericks song, and I think I accomplished that”).
The perhaps most unusual track on the album is called ‘Strings’ and has developed into a true little masterpiece during the studio recordings. Suzi: “This is all about the strings that tie our lives together. Great riff. I drove everyone mad singing nonstop in this weird voice ‘Strings’. I couldn’t get it out of my head, and – hallelujah – it came out in the recording exactly as I’d imagined.” You can tell how proud Suzi Quatro is of No Control. Pride and delight at a career, which has lasted for five decades and has maintained the creativity of the American rock icon to the present day. Says Quatro: “I’ve never stopped releasing through the years. Back To The Drive-in 2006, In The Spotlight in 2011, Quatro, Scott & Powell in 2016. These albums were thought about and planned out in great detail. I am proud of all three releases, very proud. But my new album No Control is its own animal.”

The new album “No Control” will be released through SPV/Steamhammer on March 29th, 2019

Tracklistings:

1. No Soul/No Control 2. Going Home 3. Strings 4. Love Isn’t Fair 5. Macho Man 6 .Easy Pickings 7. Bass Line 8. Don’t Do Me Wrong 9. Heavy Duty
10. I Can Teach You To Fly 11 Going Down Blues

Side 1

1. No Soul/No Control

2. Going Home

3. Strings

Side 2

1. Love Isn’t Fair

2. Macho Man

3.Easy Pickings

Side 3

1. Bass Line

2. Don’t Do Me Wrong

3. Heavy Duty

Side 4

1. I Can Teach You To Fly

2. Going Down Blues

3. Heart On The Line (bonus track)

4. Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat (bonus track)

SUZI QUATRO live 2019
Australian Tour
February / March

16.02. Barossa Valley – Seppeltsfield Wines (sold out)

17.02. Hobart – Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

23.02. Bendigo – Bendigo Racecourse (sold out)

24.02. Canberra – Stage 88 Commonwealth Park

02.03. Wodonga – Gateway Lakes

03.03. Kiama – Kiama Showground

09.03. Kariong – Mount Penang Parklands

10.03. Jacobs Well – Harrigans Drift Inn (sold out)

16.03. Port Macquarie – Westport Park

17.03. Bribie Island – Sandstone Point Hotel

October / November
19-26.10 Sydney – Sydney Cruise “Rock The Boat “

27.10. Perth – Regal Theatre 30.10. Rockhampton – West End Hotel Arena

01.11. Gold Coast – The Star Theatre

04.11. Melbourne – Palais Theatre

06.11. Newcastle – Entertainment Centre

08.11. Sydney – Enmore Theatre

www.suziquatro.com

https://de-de.facebook.com/Suziquatrorocks/

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7 Mar 2019 Download Festival 2019, Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews 2019, Ascension Stage, Devilskin, Download Festival, Download Festival 2019, Interview, Melbourne, Paul Martin, Sydney, Voices

[DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL] Interview with Paul Martin (Devilskin)

Mere days away from the very first DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL in Sydney, and second round for Melbourne. DEVILSKIN have been slotted to appear on the Ascension Stage at 6pm in Sydney and 6.45pm in Melbourne. STM spoke to Bassist PAUL MARTIN about the excitement and what to expect.

Well, they were just here and they destroyed the crowds supporting Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators on their Australian Tour! Now DEVILSKIN return for DOWNLOAD! The band who are a phenomenon in their native New Zealand finally go to showcase their live brilliance on the big stages and the big crowds in Australia.

Here are what the critics had to say:

Devilskin absolutely got the crowd hot as hell with their high powered explosive set. Vocalist Jennie Skulander’s was looking fiery in her sexy red dress as she dominates the stage showcasing her incredible power and range. – SCENEZINE

As proceedings commence with DevilskinI am witness to history repeating as the crowd assembled are left mouth agape in awe of this sensational band – SILVER TIGER MEDIA

Devilskin are good enough to be headlining shows, this is a band that you need to know about and need to discover very, very quickly, every song was pure perfection and they delivered a stunning set to Melbourne last night – HEAVY

Devilskin started like a band with a point to prove, which they did emphatically – SCENESTR

From the minute they walked out on stage, their presence alone started winning the crowd over. Devilskin were so energetic and used every inch of the stage. They have an excellent sound and clearly love what they do. – AMNPLIFY

DEVILSKIN are a phenomenon in their native New Zealand, their Platinum selling debut album WE RISE entered the NZ national album charts at Number 1 and stayed in the top 40 for over 54 weeks! The band exploded onto the NZ rock scene with the infectious Little Pills and Never See The Lightsingles and was followed by the Number 1 airplay song Start A Revolution.

WE RISE was released on July 11, 2014 and went straight to the top of the charts remaining as the #1 Album and #1 Kiwi Artist Album for 3 weeks and achieving Gold sales after only 2 weeks. The album was certified PLATINUM in February 2015. In November 2014 the band released Live At The Powerstation DVD/CD.

DEVILSKIN replicated their debut album success by debuting their second studio album BE LIKE THE RIVERat Number 1 on the New Zealand Album charts. BLTR has subsequently achieved GOLD sales certification and they celebrated by supporting American rock legends, DISTURBED and playing in front of an 11,000 sold out crowd at Auckland’s Vector Arena. The band has also actively toured the UK, Europe and the U.S. highlighted by an appearance at Download UK in 2017.

In October 2018 DEVILSKIN supported Halestorm on 18 SOLD OUT gigs across Europe, 11 Countries, 18 cities, 18 sold out dates, driving a total of 14,000 miles! They then headlined their own UK tour 10 dates through the UK in November.

DEVILSKIN have earned a formidable reputation by earnestly demonstrating a commitment to unpretentious musical values, writing songs that have depth and passion, and a relentless touring schedule. Their tactical instrumental attack is balanced by the seductive Jennie Skulander and her incredible voice that sweeps from a whisper to roar, rips with power, drips with melody and captivates with sincerity.

See DEVILSKIN on Download!

Download Festival, Sydney: Saturday, March 09

Download Festival, Melbourne: Monday, March 11

For complete ticket information, visit: https://downloadfestival.com.au/

5 Mar 2019 Featured Interview, Interviews, Tour Interviews 2019, Björn Gelotte, I The Mask, In Flames, Interview, Nuclear Blast Records

Interview with Björn Gelotte (In Flames)

The Mighty IN FLAMES release their new album ‘I, The Mask’ on March 1^st via Nuclear Blast. Casper had a killer chat with guitarist Björn Gelotte about the journey below:

At this point, IN FLAMES are less of a band than they are a musical institution in the heavy music world. Since helping create Sweden’s legendary “Gothenburg Sound” three decades ago to their current status as melodic metal monoliths, the act have constantly eschewed trends in order to forge their own musical path. This is evident on their 13^th full-length I, The Mask, which sees them reuniting with multi-Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, MOTÖRHEAD), who also produced 2016’s Battles, in order to further redefine their sound. “I think it’s very difficult for IN FLAMES to be something we’re not and that dichotomy of melody and aggression will always be at the core of our identity,” vocalist Anders Fridén explains from a tour stop opening for DEEP PURPLE in Mexico. “We are always open to new ideas and don’t let anything limit us,” guitarist Björn Gelotte adds. “We just ask ourselves if we will love playing this stuff live… and as long as we feel that, nothing can really touch us.”

Unlike previous recordings, this time around Fridén and Gelotte holed up in Los Angeles for three weeks prior to the production of I, The Mask and came up with a bulk of the songs during those sessions. “For »Battles« I wrote a lot of the material at home first but for this one, Anders and I really wanted to just get in a room together and see where it would take us,” Gelotte explains, adding that Benson would frequently drop by and act as a filter for their creativity. “I think this process worked really well because a lot of the lyrics fed off the music or Anders would come up with a really powerful line and it would inspire a riff, so there was a lot of symbiosis between us in the songwriting.” From there the duo fleshed out the arrangements with guitarist Niclas Engelin, bassist Bryce Paul Newman and previous drummer Joe Rickard and then spent two months tracking the songs. (I, The Mask is also the last recording to feature Rickard who was subsequently replaced by Tanner Wayne who played on the track ‘(This Is Our) House.’) Finally, the album was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, who has worked with everyone from CHEAP TRICK to LINKIN PARK and mastered by Ted Jensen (PANTERA, EAGLES, GUNS N’ ROSES).

The result is a massive-sounding album that showcases why IN FLAMES are one of the biggest metal bands in the world. From the way acoustic guitars give way to to anthemic riffing on the power ballad ‘Call My Name’ to the relentless riffing on ‘Burn’ and sweetly syncopated groove of ‘I Am Above,’ »I, The Mask« sees the band stretching out musically and crafting music that’s as catchy as it is crushing. As the driving force behind the act, it was important for Fridén to challenge himself on the album and take vocal lessons three days a week in order to expand his own arsenal of abilities. “I wanted to do something new and take things to another level when it came to the vocals,” he explains. “I know what I’m capable of and I feel more confident today taking higher notes and being able to push my voice in a higher register, so that’s something I really wanted to explore as well.”

Lyrically, I, The Mask is in many ways a social commentary on the state of the world when it comes to isolation, loneliness and the way technology has subverted our need for genuine human connection. “Instead of being connected we divide ourselves into all of these little groups and if you scratch the surface most people’s lives are miserable,” Fridén explains. “I thought about that and how we all carry a mask around and how in our striving to become better, I think we’re actually going backwards.” However there is also a level of hopefulness that’s inherent in the sentiment of I, The Mask, which is showcased in songs like ‘(This Is Our) House.’ “That song is a call to arms and it’s saying, ‘We need to unite because we’re going in the wrong direction,’” he explains. “We might have ten years to stop the pollution of the planet. We aren’t going to die on the 11^th year but we can’t turn it back from that and it’s a slow process of rebuilding our house, so I think it’s a strong lyrical theme and one that is unifying as well.”

Admittedly if you listen to 1996’s The Jester Race next to I, The Mask, there are marked musical differences, but through the course of IN FLAMES’ output you can trace their evolution and hear how they managed to remain relevant by never getting complacent. “The way we write music is super challenging but it’s also super rewarding,” Gelotte explains, adding that as the band have improved as musicians it’s opened up countless sonic and creative possibilities. “We’ve never been the type of band who likes to show-off but we like to have fun making music and working with Howard [Benson] was one of the first times where we actually listened to someone from the outside – and I think it was his first time working with a band like us, too,” he adds. “The instrumentation on the album is pretty straight-forward on this album, but there are so many layers in a lot of these songs that if you’re interested you can really dig into it and it will live on for a long time.”

That said, ultimately IN FLAMES are a live band and they can’t wait to get back on the road and share this new collection of songs with fans, whether they’ve supported the band for decades or are recent converts to their sound. “I love the act of creating something from nothing and then getting to travel the world and play these songs and see how they affect people,” Fridén summarizes. “It’s extremely rewarding to hear how a certain song moves someone and then you talk to someone else and learn that it affected them in a profoundly different way. The dynamic between the creator and the fans and what they bring to the table is such an amazing feeling, so that’s a big part of our drive. To make something and share it with the world, that’s what we were meant to do.”

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