
TOMMY LEE Fires Back At TED NUGENT: ‘Is That Guy Even Still Alive?’
MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee has fired back at Ted Nugent after the outspoken conservative rocker called him “a convicted felon, domestic violence heroin addict.”
In an interview with Blunt Force Truth, Nugent discussed his recent appearance on Sammy Hagar’s AXS TV reality series “Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar”. The avid hunter said: “The producers wouldn’t let [Sammy] near me, even though he and I go way back; we’re dear friends. They thought I was dangerous, that I’d come out with a machine gun or I’d slaughter an innocent fawn on television. This is stupidity! I said, ‘So your producers were afraid of me, but they did a show with Tommy Lee, who’s a convicted felon, domestic violence heroin addict.’ They’re okay with this guy, but not with the Ted Nugent ‘Kamp For Kids’ charity, teaching kids to be clean and sober. I said, ‘Sammy, coldcock those sons of bitches and get out and let’s do the show.’ So, finally, they dangerously acquiesced, and we did the number one Sammy Hagar ‘Rock & Roll Road Trip’ show.”
On Wednesday night (October 14), Lee took to his Twitter to write: “Ted Nugent? ….Is that guy even still alive? ….. I thought he shot himself like 20 yrs ago”. Tommy also included two middle finger emojis as well as a crying laughing emoji.
Lee was one of the featured guests in the first season of “Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar”, which premiered in 2016.
The “Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar” episode featuring Nugent originally aired this past May.
Nugent is a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, while Lee has repeatedly made his anti-Trump sentiments very clear. The MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer even said in a recent interview that he would leave the United States if Trump wins re-election.
Back in 1998, Lee was arrested for spousal battery and he served six months in jail after pleading no contest to assaulting his then-wife Pamela Anderson.
Ted Nugent? ….Is that guy even still alive? ….. I thought he shot himself like 20 yrs ago?????
— T?mmy L33 (@MrTommyLand) October 15, 2020

Enlightened in Eternity – SPIRIT ADRIFT
Since starting SPIRIT ADRIFT as a solo project in 2015, after a stint with Phoenix goth-metallers TAKE OVER AND DESTROY, vocalist/guitarist/bassist Nate Garrett has gradually evolved the project from an exercise in melodic doom-metal to a well-oiled heavy metal powerhouse, all while maintaining the sense of beautiful melancholy that drove his initial works. The latest record released under the SPIRIT ADRIFT name, “Enlightened in Eternity”, sees Garrett once again performing as a mostly one-man show, with drumming duties filled by Marcus Bryant on his third outing with Garrett. Through 2017’s “Curse of Conception” and 2019’s “Divided By Darkness”, Garrett has shifted more and more into a traditional heavy metal direction. “Enlighted in Eternity” is perhaps Garrett’s purest statement of heavy metal intention so far, but the head-on embrace of thrashy riffs and fast-paced energy has come at a price, as SPIRIT ADRIFT simply no longer feels as special as it did on previous albums.
During an era where there are literally dozens of bands adequately replicating traditional metal sounds, and numerous more mining melancholic doom for their musical inspirations, SPIRIT ADRIFT had become cult favorites due to their expert juggling of these two forces, to the point where each of their last two records were featured prominently on many year-end lists. Garrett’s foray into a more straightforwardly metallic direction here is still executed well. The new record launches with “Ride Into The Light”, an anthemic ripper with plenty of energetic rushes, hearty bellows from Garrett, and a big-arena feel that is playing to the front row and the cheap seats. The first half of “Astral Levitation” is a power-driven stomper that seems to mine BLACK SABBATH’s Ronnie James Dio-era, down to a thumping bass line that shares similarity with the one that helped make “Heaven and Hell” a classic song. The second half of the track sees Garrett excelling at harmonized guitar solos from the IRON MAIDEN playbook. The majority of “Enlighted in Eternity” from this point forward abounds with hard-driving riffs and arena-sized anthems, as well as the warm guitar tones that have been one of SPIRIT ADRIFT’s most endearing characteristics, which so far remain intact.
That said, if you have already been a dedicated converted fan of SPIRIT ADRIFT thanks to their previous efforts, the dynamic ebbs-and-flows of those records are lost in their current quest for heavy metal glory. The only moment on “Enlightened in Eternity” that evokes past successes is the closing track, a ten-minute journey called “Reunited In The Void”. The melodic trudge that Garrett has shown to be a master of on previous records is hypnotic once again here, and he soars with atmospheric vocals and the record’s most beautiful guitar tones, before the metallic crunch roars back in for the final minutes of the track with a captivating display of bluesy shred-guitar.
It’s that mix of the trudge and the power that SPIRIT ADRIFT excelled at so much on previous records. The turn towards faster-paced metal endeavors on “Enlightened in Eternity” are still done well, but the final moments of the record just make it clearer that the more eclectic approach is missed throughout the previous seven tracks.
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Former AC/DC Bassist PAUL MATTERS Dies
Former AC/DC bassist Paul Matters has died. The news of his passing was revealed by his friend Rod Wescombe as well as AC/DC biographer Jesse Fink, author of the book “Bon: The Last Highway”.
According to Wikipedia, Matters joined AC/DC in 1975 after the recording of the band’s debut album, “High Voltage”. Several weeks later, he was reportedly fired by AC/DC singer Bon Scott, and was replaced by Mark Evans.
Prior to joining AC/DC, Matters played bass for Newcastle band ARMAGGEDON which he exited in 1974 over what drummer Les Gully described to Fink as “musical differences”. He was then fired from AC/DC, according to Gully, “because he didn’t fit the values of the Young [brothers] oligarchy. Too pretty, for a start. He didn’t really fit, had strong opinions and sensitivity, and played just what he liked.”
A recluse, Matters has only ever given one press interview since his dismissal from AC/DC, to Fink for “Bon: The Last Highway”, in which he claimed he was “a bit lazy” and “a bit cranky” but did not have enough money to eat: “I didn’t have any food in my stomach. They [management] didn’t give us any money to buy food or anything.”
In “Bon: The Last Highway”, Fink called Matters “an uncommonly handsome sight in AC/DC, a kind of hard-rock Chris Hemsworth who could play.”
Matters performed live with AC/DC on a national tour in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, promoting the band’s debut album, but did not record in the studio, where bass duties were performed by George Young.
Matters quit music after his departure from AC/DC in 1975 and sold his bass guitar.
Earlier today, Wescombe wrote: “Shocked and sad to hear of the passing of Paul Matters.
“I first met Paul in 1973 when he was playing bass in ‘Armageddon’ at a gig in Hamilton, Newcastle N.S.W.
“When I was living in Toronto he would drop into the house in the late hours to party and he loved to party.
“In late ’75 after he departed AC/DC we played together in a one off band called ‘Miss Australia Band’ at a gig on a ferry on Lake Macquarie.
“I moved to Sunshine on the lake further south and Paul would drop in to chill whenever he was in the area. I recall he could always make me laugh when he was in the mood.
“After leaving New South Wales I lost contact with him as did many other people over the years.
“From all reports he lived a reclusive life in his later years and his early rock n’ roll life style led to ailing health.
“He will be missed by all who knew him.”
Fink tweeted simply: “Another former AC/DC musician has died: bassist Paul Matters. RIP, mate #acdc”.
Shocked and sad to hear of the passing of Paul Matters.
I first met Paul in 1973 when he was playing bass in “Armageddon…
Posted by Rod Wescombe on Wednesday, October 14, 2020
R.I.P. Paul Matters @acdc pic.twitter.com/YPCP1shNvP
— acdc.se (@AcdcSe) October 14, 2020
Another former AC/DC musician has died: bassist Paul Matters. RIP, mate #acdc pic.twitter.com/N9ZNAlvTfK
— Jesse Fink (@JesseFink) October 14, 2020

GREAT WHITE’s MITCH MALLOY Suffers ‘Serious Allergic Reaction,’ Misses Jackson, Mississippi Concert
GREAT WHITE singer Mitch Malloy was forced to miss the band’s performance last night (Tuesday, October 13) at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson, Mississippi after suffering a serious allergic reaction triggered by a long-standing food allergy.
One concert attendee wrote on social media that the rest of GREAT WHITE went ahead with the show by playing a number of previously unrehearsed covers, including songs by LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, ZZ TOP and WHITESNAKE. Guitarist Jeff Blando of SLAUGHTER, which was also on the bill, stepped in and handled lead vocals for some of the tracks, with GREAT WHITE and SLAUGHTER drummers swapping places for different songs. The set ended with GREAT WHITE’s “Once Bitten Twice Shy”, with keyboard player Michael Lardie singing.
Earlier today, the following message was posted on Mitch’s Facebook page: “Mitch would like to thank everyone for reaching out and sending their thoughts and prayers this morning. Last night before the GREAT WHITE show (where socially distanced measures were taken) at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, he had a serious allergic reaction triggered by a long-standing food allergy. Mitch would especially like to thank the first responders and the University of Mississippi Medical Center for their excellent and prompt care. Mitch is already home in Florida resting and recuperating.”
Last month, GREAT WHITE started taking pre-orders for a new live CD/DVD set apparently titled “Live”. The effort is expected to include the band’s August 2018 performance at the Kentucky State Fair, featuring Malloy, who joined the group earlier that year following the departure of Terry Ilous.
Ilous, frontman of ’80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).
The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012’s “Elation” and 2017’s “Full Circle”, before Terry was dismissed from the group.
This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE, which features original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Dan McNay on bass, Tony Montana on guitar and Dicki Fliszar on drums.
Mitch would like to thank everyone for reaching out and sending their thoughts and prayers this morning. Last night…
Posted by Mitch Malloy on Wednesday, October 14, 2020
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Snark Announces the Silver Snark All-Instrument Tuner
The ubiquitous clip-on tuner now features the newly designed Hyper Snark technology.
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Would COREY TAYLOR Ever Get A Face Tattoo? He Responds
In a new interview with GQ magazine (see video below), SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor was asked if he would ever consider getting a face tattoo. He responded “never,” before adding: “I get it, you know. A face tattoo is no different than a nipple piercing from 20 years ago — 30 years ago anyway. You end up looking like a shitty notebook from high school.”
While notable figures like Mike Tyson and Tekashi 6ix9ine have sported face tats in the past, recent months have seen more stars than ever tatting their cheeks and foreheads, including MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee, rapper Post Malone and model Amber Rose.
Ozzy Osbourne also recently said he would “never” get a face tattoo, explaining: “Anything above the collar should be stopped. To be honest, it makes you look dirty.”
Last year, SLAYER and EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt said that he was alarmed by the number of younger rap artists having face tattoos. “That’s what dudes looked like when they passed out on the bus — we’d Sharpie the fuck out of you,” Gary said. “And now that’s what they look like on purpose. It’s crazy. They’re all fucking Sharpied up.”
A few months ago, Post Malone added a new inking of a buzzsaw dripping with blood. He also has the phrase “Always Tired” tattooed under each of his eyes.
Earlier this year, Malone opened up about his many face tattoos, telling GQ Style that there’s more to it than aesthetics.
“I’m a ugly-ass motherfucker,” he said. “[The face tattoos do] maybe come from a place of insecurity, to where I don’t like how I look, so I’m going to put something cool on there so I can look at myself and say, ‘You look cool, kid,’ and have a modicum of self-confidence, when it comes to my appearance.”
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH frontman Ivan Moody sports a couple of tattoos on his head: a mohawk tattoo made to look like reptilian scales and feathers on his scalp, and a phoenix in flight, which marks his first year sober.
Back in 2014, Moody’s FIVE FINGER’s then-bandmate Jason Hook got the word “Driven” added to his right temple.
KORN bassist Fieldy has a couple of face tattoos: a crucifix on the left side of his face, and the word “love” in Hebrew on the right side. KORN guitarist Brian “Head” Welch also has several symbols on his face, including stars, teardrops, music notes and a cross.
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AC/DC’s ANGUS YOUNG Shoots Down Rumor MALCOLM YOUNG’s Guitar Playing Appears On ‘Power Up’
Last week, AC/DC released “Shot In The Dark”, the first single from the band’s long-awaited comeback album, “Power Up”, which is due on November 13. The follow-up to 2014’s “Rock Or Bust” features AC/DC’s reunited lineup of Brian Johnson (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), Cliff Williams (bass), Angus Young (guitar) and Stevie Young (guitar). Johnson and Williams both left in 2016 for health reasons; and Rudd was sidelined in 2015 with various legal issues.
In a recent interview with Keith Roth, host of SiriusXM’s Ozzy’s Boneyard, Angus stated about how “Power Up” came together: “Our management people had contacted us around 2018 and ahd said, ‘Are you up for making an album?’ I had a lot of material together from [late AC/DC rhythm guitarist] Malcolm [Young] and myself, which we had worked on through the years, and we had quite a bit, so I thought, yeah, ‘I’ll put together a whole heap of these ideas and we’ll see who wants to be a part of it and get in the studio.’ It was great, because everyone wanted to be on board to do the project — Brian and Cliff and Phil and Stevie and myself. It was all great that we could get back together and do some new rock and roll tunes for the world to hear.”
Asked if “Power Up” was originally supposed to arrive earlier in the year before the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, Brian said: “We shot the video in Holland, and then we spent about two and a half weeks — maybe even more — rehearsing with a full backline, the whole bit. We got such a buzz playing together for the album, it was just too good an opportunity to miss. And we all got together and it was like lightning. It was fantastic. And then, straight after that, the album was supposed to get ready to come out and all that, but then, honestly, within the space of about four days of us all leaving, the COVID hit and stopped everybody dead in their tracks. So, out of respect for the disease and all that, they held it back a bit to see what was gonna happen. We thought it was all gonna be over in five to six weeks, but that hasn’t been the case.”
Regarding which other AC/DC album “Power Up” is most musically similar to, Angus said: “When you hear it, it’s AC/DC — you hear it straight away. Most of what we do, that’s the thing we’ve always aimed for. You want people to hear it for the first time and go, ‘That’s them. There’s no one else like [them].'”
Angus also set the record straight about a rumor that Malcolm’s guitar playing can actually be heard on “Power Up”. He said: “Malcolm’s contribution is mainly the song ideas, which he did with me. So that’s basically what Malcolm’s contribution is to the whole album. He was there in spirit, and you always feel him. He’s there, especially with me — he’s always part of my thoughts. I’m always thinking of him. As [is] everyone else.”
According to Angus, there is no end in sight for AC/DC, and fans can expect a lot more activity from the band going forward.
“I keep doing it,” he said. “It’s part of me. That’s from my perspective. I like making AC/DC music and playing it. And I’ve been doing it so long now. I think I know that more than anything else. I even think I know that better than what I learned in my shool years.”
“Power Up” was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O’Brien, who also worked 2008’s “Black Ice” and 2014’s “Rock Or Bust”.
“Power Up” will be available in multiple configurations, including digital, CD, and deluxe versions. The limited edition, one-of-a-kind deluxe “Power Up” box is the ultimate fan package. Hit the button on the side of the box and watch the flashing neon AC/DC logo light up while the opening bars of “Shot In The Dark” blast out of the built-in speaker. Inside the box is the full CD package in a soft-pack with a 20-page booklet that features exclusive photos and USB charging cable allowing the box to remain powered up and on display. The vinyl LP will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket. Limited-edition variants of the LP will be available at select retailers nationwide, as well as the band’s online store. The album will be available on all digital platforms.
“Power Up” track listing:
01. Realize
02. Rejection
03. Shot In The Dark
04. Through The Mists Of Time
05. Kick You When You’re Down
06. Witch’s Spell
07. Demon Fire
08. Wild Reputation
09. No Man’s Land
10. Systems Down
11. Money Shot
12. Code Red
Photo credit: Josh Cheuse
Malcolm, who co-founded AC/DC with Angus in 1973, died in November 2017 at the age of 64 after suffering from dementia and failing health for several years. His condition forced him to leave the band in 2014, with his nephew Stevie Young stepping into Malcolm’s position.
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Album Premiere: False Gods – No Symmetry … Only Disillusion
Thou shall bear witness to New York’s False Gods singular debut full-length. Hear No Symmetry … Only Disillusion in its entirety right here.
The post Album Premiere: False Gods – No Symmetry … Only Disillusion appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

An Evening with Loud Night: The Mixtape
Current and former members of Ramming Speed, Battlemaster, Backstabbers Inc, and more unite to bring you an extremely Loud Night.
The post An Evening with Loud Night: The Mixtape appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Where Did EDDIE VAN HALEN’s Finger-Tapping Technique Come From? CHRIS HOLMES Weighs In
Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, who grew up in the same Pasadena, California neighborhood as Eddie Van Halen, spoke to Canada’s The Metal Voice about the origins of Eddie’s two-handed tapping technique.
“I took lessons from [Eddie’s lifelong friend] Terry [Kilgore] probably, say, ’74 or ’75. And I was painting a house in La Cañada at the time, and there was a guy [that] had gold records on the wall. It was [CANNED HEAT guitarist] Harvey Mandel’s house. And I never met him, but I met his wife. We were painting [their house]. And I told Terry, ‘Hey, there’s this guy Harvey Mandel. Who’s Harvey Mandel?’ And Terry says, ‘You know him?’ I go, ‘I don’t know him, but I know where he lives. I’m painting his house.’ And Terry goes, ‘Could you ask him if I could meet him?’ I guess he’s some special jazz guitar player or whatever. So I asked Mandel’s wife if I could give Terry’s number to him, and Harvey called him, and Terry went up and met him and learned some tricks from him, and he learned to finger tap. Terry was doing that as one of the lessons. And about maybe a month later, Van Halen was doing it. I think that’s where the finger tapping comes around — from Harvey Mandel.”
“I’ve heard Ed say different stories [about where he got it from], but that’s where I think he [picked it up],” Chris added.
According to Holmes, Terry and Eddie were both influenced by each other, as well as by other players.
“Terry and Ed were guitar rivals around town,” Chris said. “They were friends. And Terry had a certain style. Some of it I’m not saying Ed stole; Ed just played like [him]. Everybody stole everybody’s tricks or licks or whatever. Some of the early style that Ed had, a bit of it came from Terry.”
Eddie has said in the past that he was inspired to start doing the finger-tapping trick after watching LED ZEPPELIN at the Los Angeles Forum in the early 1970s. Jimmy Page played the solo from “Heartbreaker”, using both hands to tap out notes on the neck of the guitar, which inspired Eddie to take the technique and refine it, enabling him to play a seemingly impossible flurry of notes and pinched harmonics.
“It’s like having a sixth finger on your left hand,” he explained in 1978, according to BBC. “Instead of picking, you’re hitting a note on the fretboard.”
DEEP PURPLE’s Ritchie Blackmore reportedly claimed that he had seen Mandel using tapping onstage as early as 1968. DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch corroborated this, mentioning that both he and Van Halen saw Mandel employ “a neo-classic tapping thing” at the Starwood in West Hollywood during the 1970s. Mandel used extensive two-handed tapping techniques on his 1973 album “Shangrenade”.
Eddie used the finger tapping technique during his legendary solo on VAN HALEN’s “Eruption”, voted the second best solo ever by Guitar World magazine.
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