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Ultimate Guitar Interviews Mike PortnoyPublished on August 20, 2010 @ 11:09AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!Ultimate Guitar did an interview with drummer Mike Portnoy and posted it on their website for us all to read. He also talks about his recording sessions with Avenged Sevenfold so be sure to read it!
Rockstar Uproar Festival Update: Denver, COPublished on August 20, 2010 @ 8:34AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!Ticketmaster sent out emails about a change of time:
The A7X Guys Take Good Care Of Mike Portnoy!Published on August 20, 2010 @ 6:47AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!Our guys are taking good care of their current drummer, making sure he doesn't get bored on the road. Mike took to his Twitter to inform us on what he's been up:
 Photos: Pointfest 27Published on August 20, 2010 @ 6:23AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!Another set of Pointfest 27 photos by FridayX. Check them out here!
 Photos: Minneapolis, MinnesotaPublished on August 20, 2010 @ 6:18AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!Check out a nice set of photos by Josh Olson of Avenged Sevenfold during the first show of the Rockstar Uproar Tour.
 Photos: Avenged Sevenfold At Mansfield, MassachusettsPublished on August 19, 2010 @ 6:47AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!I ran into a couple more photos of Avenged Sevenfold while playing at Mayhem Festival. Check them out here!
 Photos: Avenged Sevenfold At Minneapolis, MNPublished on August 19, 2010 @ 6:39AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!It's not much, but check out these couple of photos of Avenged Sevenfold at the Rockstar Uproar tour in Minneapolis, MN taken by Erica Cassella.
 The Metropolitan Online Gives Nightmare 4 Out Of 5Published on August 19, 2010 @ 6:32AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy, Sullivan’s drumming idol, was asked to drum for Nightmare, which was designed to pay tribute to Sullivan. He is impressive to say the least. Right off the bat, with their new single, “Nightmare,” Avenged Sevenfold wants to make the entire album about Sullivan. The guitar work is memorable, and M. Shadows, Avenged Sevenfold’s lead vocalist, gets the job done behind the microphone, but it’s Mike Portnoy that makes the difference because of the agony that the band faced after Sullivan’s death by giving a rare, memorable performance on drums. This album sounds a little depressing, especially around the midway point, but that’s to be expected when you lose an important piece of your puzzle. The heaviness in the album seemed to be a way for the band, as well as listeners, to get their minds off the depressing aspects of the content. Overall, however, this album is a great response to dealing with adversity. “Save Me,” the final song on the album, was an 11-minute opportunity for Avenged Sevenfold to say goodbye to their former drummer. What better way to help cope with a tragedy than to play music in memory of one of your own? |
Luckily the Rev left behind demos of every song. They were demos of him playing on an electronic kit. So they weren’t proper drum tracks but they were blueprints of every song with electronic drums. Luckily I had the ultimate roadmap left by the Rev himself. My purpose for doing this record with those guys was to bring his drum parts to life and finish what he had started with this record. When I’ve done other sessions and other projects, I’m usually hired to do my thing but that was not at all my mission with this record. My mission with this record was to do exactly what the Rev wanted to do and just wasn’t able to do for himself at this point.
Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Tuesday, September 14 with the doors opening at 2:30pm New time: the doors opening at 2PM!
Please note: Local act, Horse, has been added to the front of the show and will be playing for ½ hour.
Revolver Magazine Rockstar Uproar Contest!
Published on August 18, 2010 @ 10:13AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Revolver Magazine has set up a contest to give away some awesome Rockstar Uproar prizes! All you have to do is enter, so no difficult questions whatsoever. Just enter!
The prize package includes a Schecter Guitar, VIP tickets for Rockstar Uproar, a Revolver Magazine subscription and an Avenged Sevenfold box set by Revolver.
The contest ends September 1st, so don't waste your time! Enter now!!
Quick Q&A With Synyster Gates
Published on August 18, 2010 @ 10:08AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
The Metromix Denver recently had a quick Q&A with guitarist Synyster Gates:
You have the No. 1 album in the country. How does that feel?
It’s great. It definitely makes a statement. I think it’s an important album, it’s probably the last work we’ll ever hear from Jimmy. And we’d love for it to be on a bigger stage, because of the circumstances. None of us really ever cared about success, but this time, I do care. It helps out the Rev’s family, and makes us all proud. It’s cool.
With the Rev’s passing, did the music for this album change?
The songs were completely written, save for the lyrics. After he passed, we changed all but two songs lyrically on the record, turning it from a concept record into telling some different stories, all about Jimmy.
Was there a point where you thought you might not continue as a band?
Yeah, definitely, during the first two weeks after he passed. But we realized pretty quickly that we all want to continue.
Your fans attacked the Los Angeles Times for their review of the new album. Do you guys care what the media thinks?
I guess I kind of careI don’t like malicious reviews. You can tell who’s listened to our albums and who hasn’t, or only heard the songs of ours that are on the radio. I’m glad our fan base is so rabid, though.
Some of those album tracks, like “Danger Line” and “Fiction,” are very Queen-like in terms of being so grand and epic. Do you guys go into a song knowing it’s going to be so complex?
Our songs on the album are pretty much our demos, but better recorded. It’s a pretty collaborative process, but we write everything out in advance.
Your new producer (Mike Elizondo) is best known for his work Eminem and Fiona Apple. How did you pick him?
He’s actually a metal guy at heart. He knew our band, and he’s totally a walking trivia book when it comes to Iron Maiden, Pantera, Metallica, bands like that. And he’s a brilliant songwriter, bassist, good with orchestration…he’s sonically unreal.
Your dad’s a guitarist (session guitarist Brian Haner, who’s worked with Frank Zappa and comedian Jeff Dunham)…what’s he think of Avenged Sevenfold?
He likes it. He never pushed me to be a guitarist, but he was always supportive…even when I was getting in trouble. [Laughs] He’s actually on a track on the new album.
A few years back an indie label put out an all-string tribute to you guys. Did you hear it?
Yeah. It’s amazing!
Is there an Avenged Sevenfold tribute band? I just saw an all-female Metallica one called Misstallica…it could be cool.
Not that I’m aware of. But yeah, it’d be cool if there was one with all gorgeous females.
Source - Thanks to Angie for sending this in!
It’s great. It definitely makes a statement. I think it’s an important album, it’s probably the last work we’ll ever hear from Jimmy. And we’d love for it to be on a bigger stage, because of the circumstances. None of us really ever cared about success, but this time, I do care. It helps out the Rev’s family, and makes us all proud. It’s cool.
With the Rev’s passing, did the music for this album change?
The songs were completely written, save for the lyrics. After he passed, we changed all but two songs lyrically on the record, turning it from a concept record into telling some different stories, all about Jimmy.
Was there a point where you thought you might not continue as a band?
Yeah, definitely, during the first two weeks after he passed. But we realized pretty quickly that we all want to continue.
Your fans attacked the Los Angeles Times for their review of the new album. Do you guys care what the media thinks?
I guess I kind of careI don’t like malicious reviews. You can tell who’s listened to our albums and who hasn’t, or only heard the songs of ours that are on the radio. I’m glad our fan base is so rabid, though.
Some of those album tracks, like “Danger Line” and “Fiction,” are very Queen-like in terms of being so grand and epic. Do you guys go into a song knowing it’s going to be so complex?
Our songs on the album are pretty much our demos, but better recorded. It’s a pretty collaborative process, but we write everything out in advance.
Your new producer (Mike Elizondo) is best known for his work Eminem and Fiona Apple. How did you pick him?
He’s actually a metal guy at heart. He knew our band, and he’s totally a walking trivia book when it comes to Iron Maiden, Pantera, Metallica, bands like that. And he’s a brilliant songwriter, bassist, good with orchestration…he’s sonically unreal.
Your dad’s a guitarist (session guitarist Brian Haner, who’s worked with Frank Zappa and comedian Jeff Dunham)…what’s he think of Avenged Sevenfold?
He likes it. He never pushed me to be a guitarist, but he was always supportive…even when I was getting in trouble. [Laughs] He’s actually on a track on the new album.
A few years back an indie label put out an all-string tribute to you guys. Did you hear it?
Yeah. It’s amazing!
Is there an Avenged Sevenfold tribute band? I just saw an all-female Metallica one called Misstallica…it could be cool.
Not that I’m aware of. But yeah, it’d be cool if there was one with all gorgeous females.
Photos: Avenged Sevenfold At Pointfest 27!
Published on August 18, 2010 @ 10:00AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Photographer Ada King has uploaded her pictures of Avenged Sevenfold at Pointfest 27. You can check them out here!
Rockstar Uproar Festival Kicks Off Tonight!!
Published on August 17, 2010 @ 11:39AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Tonight is the night! Rockstar Uproar Festival will kick off in Minneapolis, Minnesota! To all those that are going to the show or any of the other upcoming ones: HAVE A BLAST!!
Find everything about the tour + dates on RockstarUproar.com
Family: Good Charlotte "Counting The Days"
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 11:48AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
From day one, I have been a massive fan of Good Charlotte, so I have to do a little promotion for my GC fellas! They have put up a new tour video today with a new track from their upcoming album "Cardiology", so if you like the band or you're into pop/punk, be sure to check this one out! It's called "Counting The Days"!
Good Charlotte's new album "Cardiology" will be out November 2nd!
Schecter Ad: Uproar Starts This Tuesday!
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 10:54AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Check out this new ad from Schecter Guitars featuring our boys Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance.
Thanks to Buffie for sending this in again!
A Scene From "Jacob's Ladder" - Looks Like A "Nightmare"...
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 10:43AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
One of our readers, Brittany, was so kind to send in this scene of the movie Jacob's Ladder. Now, I have never seen it before, but after seeing this video, I definately want to see it. And you probably do too...
Unfortunately the video can't be embedded, so you have to go watch it here on YouTube.
See any resemblance...? ;)
Audio: M Shadows & Synyster Gates Call Into Banana 101.5 Rocks
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 10:38AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
M Shadows and Synyster Gates called into Banana 101.5 Rocks and had a little chat! Enjoy!
Thanks to uzcaz for uploading!
Interview Translation: Geki Rock Interviews Zacky Vengeance
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 10:34AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Our friend Heather over at Deathbat-JP was so kind to translate Zacky Vengeance's interview with the Japanese magazine Geki Rock. Read a preview below, you can find the rest on Deathbat-JP.com!
Interviewer: Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater belongs to older generation compared to you and has different fan base. Could you tell us how you came to have him as guest drummer?
Zacky: Mike was one of the drummers Jimmy respected. We have had some chances to get to know Dream Theater in interview rooms and such. When Mike heard about Jimmy’s death, he was kind enough to get contact with us asking “Is there anything I can do for you? I’d do anything to help you guys”. He must have known we were working on new album. As for us, we couldn’t cancel or delay release of new record so we should work on schedule as planned. Mike happened to be our favorite drummer; of course Jimmy was at the head of list, so we asked him to be our guest drummer. Jimmy must be happy as Mike was his idol.
Interviewer: What do you think of Dream Theater?
Zacky: We are all huge fan of them from beginning. They are talented as musician and creative. I haven’t met with any of them before but Jimmy’s sudden death brought Mike to our band. Jimmy was the one who loved Dream Theater and Mike most in our band so it felt like having Jimmy around when we were with Mike, that feeling made us happy too.
Again, thank you, Heather!
Zacky: Mike was one of the drummers Jimmy respected. We have had some chances to get to know Dream Theater in interview rooms and such. When Mike heard about Jimmy’s death, he was kind enough to get contact with us asking “Is there anything I can do for you? I’d do anything to help you guys”. He must have known we were working on new album. As for us, we couldn’t cancel or delay release of new record so we should work on schedule as planned. Mike happened to be our favorite drummer; of course Jimmy was at the head of list, so we asked him to be our guest drummer. Jimmy must be happy as Mike was his idol.
Interviewer: What do you think of Dream Theater?
Zacky: We are all huge fan of them from beginning. They are talented as musician and creative. I haven’t met with any of them before but Jimmy’s sudden death brought Mike to our band. Jimmy was the one who loved Dream Theater and Mike most in our band so it felt like having Jimmy around when we were with Mike, that feeling made us happy too.
Photos: Avenged Sevenfold At Pointfest 27!
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 10:25AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Check out this cool set of photos from Avenged Sevenfold at Pointfest 27 taken by photographer Todd Owyoung. You can view them right here or click the photo below:
Looks like ZV got himself some new ink!
While you're at it, search his website for a few more shows that he photographed Avenged Sevenfold!
Looks like ZV got himself some new ink!
Mike Portnoy Tweets Some Drum Set Pictures!
Published on August 16, 2010 @ 10:20AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Dream Theater drummer, and current A7X drummer, Mike Portnoy posted some pictures on his Twitter for the 'gearheads':
For all you gearheads, here's my new office: The Nightmare Monster (the Mirage version)
Actually, here's a better a better shot of the Nightmare Monster...
One more drum shot from production rehearsals...
A big thank you to Mike for keeping us posted while on the road and posting pictures every now and then! :)
Video: Interview With Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance At Pointfest 27
Published on August 15, 2010 @ 8:42AM // SHARE ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK!
Check out this video interview with Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance backstage at Pointfest 27. If the video is not showing up below, you can view it here!
Thanks to Sammi for sending this in!
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