What's Coming Up In 2012

     Happy New Year! 2011 was great, but there is a lot more to look forward to in 2012! Bands are going to be touring like crazy so here is a list of some of the hottest ones (Click on artists' names for complete details):

1/5 - 1/22      Wednesday 13, Aiden, & Modern Day Escape touring US
1/10 - 2/18    Asking Alexandria touring Europe w/ 2 addition shows: 1 in Puerto Rico on 2/25 & 1 in Texas on 3/15
1/12 - 4/1      Black Veil Brides touring Mexico, South America, Australia, & Europe
1/13 - 1/21    Evanescence touring US
1/14 - 2/17    Falling In Reverse touring US
1/18 - 3/12    Theory of a Deadman touring US, Canada, & Europe
1/19 - 2/25    D.R.U.G.S. touring US
1/22 - 6/16    Anthrax touring US, Europe, & South America
1/26 - 2/28    Megadeth touring US & Canada
2/1 - 2/17      Halestorm touring Europe
2/1 - 6/7        Sebastian Bach touring US, Canada, South America, & Europe
2/24 - 3/6      Wednesday 13 touring Australia
2/24 - 3/15    Marilyn Manson touring Australia and Japan
2/25 - 3/5      Alter Bridge touring Australia
2/25 - 3/5      Slipknot touring Australia
5/23 - 6/10    Metallica touring Europe
5/25 - 6/22    Slayer touring Europe
6/16 - 8/5      Vans Warped Tour! (See the lineup for this year's tour below)
Van Halen WILL be touring in 2012. Dates TBA (stay tuned) First tickets will be going on sale on 1/10

Warped Tour 2012 Lineup:

Vampires Everywhere!

Bayside
Every Time I Die
Memphis May Fire
Sleeping With Sirens
Tomorrow's Bad Seeds
Chelsea Grin
I Fight Dragons
Polar Bear Club
The Silver Comet

A few other things:

     This is going to be a big year for Modern Day Escape. In addition to touring, (as you saw above) they will be releasing their new album "Under the Gun" on March 27th! 

     Haunted By Heroes will be on NBC's "The Today Show" on January 4th, at NAMM on January 19th, and at The Whisky on January 21st. And it just so happens that a little birdie told me that there is talk around the industry that the band may be making some TV and movie appearances in 2012. Keep an eye out for these guys!

     I've also been hearing that we can expect new albums this year from Vampires Everywhere!, Get Scared, and Escape The Fate!

  

     So, did I miss anything? What bands are you most looking forward to seeing live? Comment below!

~Paige

A Tribute To Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan

     
     While I'm sure every other Avenged Sevenfold fan feels the exact same way, I cannot believe that it has been 2 years since we lost The Rev. He seemed like he was an amazing person, and I wish that I could have had the opportunity to have met him. He is one of the greatest, if not the greatest musician of our generation. But this tribute isn't to mourn Jimmy's death. Rather, it's to celebrate his life. He has had such an incredible effect on so many people's lives, and he still continues to do so. As all of you may remember, I accepted submissions from fans who had something to share about the effect Jimmy had on them. These stories are a perfect example of the impact Jimmy made on so many people's lives, both musically and personally.

Max: My name is Max, and Jimmy is my favorite drummer. I truly believe that he is the greatest drummer of all time. He inspired me to start playing the drums. Now that I play drums, I truly realize how amazing he really was. I never got to meet him, but I hope to meet him someday on the other side...

Elizabeth: Jimmy meant the world to me. When I fell into a deep depression, he was the only thing that would brighten up my day and make me smile. When I starved myself and slit my wrists, Jimmy was the person that stopped me from killing myself. When he died, so many people, including I, broke down. He means so much to so many people and no matter what will never be forgotten. R.I.P. Jimmy "The Rev" Owen Sullivan

Lindsay: When I started listening to Avenged Sevenfold, I wanted to be able to play the drums like The Rev did. I mean, just listen to any of their songs and try and tell me he didn't play with all his energy, heart, and soul. The Rev was a musical genius, and I wanted to be just like him...Even now, after he has sadly left us, the Rev continues to inspire me to never give up and to put everything I have into playing the drums. RIP Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. You will be foREVer in our hearts! :')

This is a photo submitted by Carolina Arteaga García:   

My tribute to Jimmy:

     One of my favorite videos that Avenged Sevenfold has ever released is "So Far Away". That video not only shows the band's love and respect for Jimmy, but shows all of the amazing accomplishments they achieved together.

 

 Jimmy,

     I can't believe that it is two years since you've left us. There isn't a day that goes by that your music and your legacy aren't inspiring people and changing their lives for the better. Just know that we love and miss you SO much! We promise to keep you in our hearts foREVer <3

                                                                                                                   -Paige

     True legends never die, and I can't think of anyone who is a better example of this than Jimmy. Thank you so much to the fans that submitted comments and photos. We all love and miss Jimmy so much, but I think it's great that Avenged Sevenfold still continues to keep The Rev's legacy alive. The love and support that A7X fans give the band as they continue forward in their music is incredibly inspiring!

R.I.P. Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan

~Paige 

LAST CHANCE to be a part of The Rev's Tribute

    
     I know that I had the deadline for Jimmy's tribute as November 18th, however, I have had fans asking if they can still submit photos, comments, etc. I have decided to give everyone one more chance to submit things. You have until December 25th at midnight EST to submit your contributions to RevTribute@gmail.com  Help us make an amazing tribute to one of the greatest musicians of our generation!

*For more info click here*

~Paige

Check out Underride

     A five-piece band from Seattle, Underride is "trying to save rock n' roll" according to lead vocalist Rev. In addition to Rev, the group consists of guitarists Suzuki Sixx and Princess, bassist El Barto, and drummer Double A. They have opened for acts such as Static X, Duff McKagan's Loaded, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Blackie Lawless among many others. Underride recently released their sophomore album Distorted Nation- the follow-up to their 2008 release One of Us. I recently spoke with Rev; here is our conversation.


Front Paige Metal News: How did you get your start? How long has the band been together?

Rev: This line-up has been together since 2009. We had the chance to bring in a couple new guitar players and knew Princess and Suzuki Sixx from two other local bands. They jumped on board right away, and we started writing the new record Distorted Nation.


FPMN: For those who haven't heard you, how do you describe your music?

Rev: It's just straight up meat and potatoes hard rock. We like to call it Camaro Rock! No gimmicks, no emo, screamo, rap rock, or turntables...just rock.


FPMN: What is coming up next for the band?

Rev: We're wrapping up our first national tour with Tantric, Man Made Machine, and Eve To Adam. We'll head back to Seattle to refuel the jets and head back out in January again. We have a couple new songs cooking in the oven too. So, expect bigger and better shows and new tunes!


FPMN: What has it been like opening for bands such as Duff McKagan's Loaded? How does it feel to already have the support of such a notable artist?

Rev: Playing with Duff was cool on a couple different levels. Of course, it's always great to share the stage with a rock legend like Duff but it was even better to play with his new band Loaded because we're fans of their music too. I got to spend some time in the green room with Duff and his wife Susan. They were really nice, down-to-earth people. It was cool to meet a rock icon like Duff, but it's even better to find out that he really is a nice guy with a great family. He has it all.


FPMN: What do you and the rest of the band hope to accomplish in your career?

Rev: We're trying to connect with as many rock fans as we can find. We wanna put on rock shows that entertain our fans because when they have a good time, we feed off of their energy. It's the next best thing to sex when you're onstage and people are going off on your tunes. I'd like to get some of our songs on radio and tour as much as possible!


FPMN: When my readers check out your music, what do you hope they take away from it?

Rev: I think they'll find that it doesn't really sound like anything else in the Active Rock charts. It's recorded in our rehearsal space, and it's a pretty honest record that represents the band just as we are. There isn't a lot of production and gloss. It's a rock record the way we think rock should be recorded. Give it a spin, and let us know what ya think. People always try to pigeonhole the band. I've read everything from the Beach Boys to progressive metal. Can you believe that?


     You can check out Underride's official website here. Have you heard Underride's music yet? Have you seen them live? What did you think? Comment below!

~Paige
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Black Veil Brides - 'Rebels' EP Review

     Black Veil Brides released their new EP Rebels today on iTunes. It contains their original song "Coffin", a cover of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell", and KISS' song "Unholy" which also features a guitar solo by the one and only Zakk Wylde. The EP also comes with an extended version of BVB's latest music video "Rebel Love Song" and a digital booklet.
     I definitely feel like this EP really shows Black Veil Brides' growth as musicians. They are undoubtedly on their way to becoming a major part of rock history. You can listen to the songs below:

"Coffin":

 

 "Rebel Yell":

 

"Unholy":

     So, what do you guys think? Comment below! You can download 'Rebels' here!

~Paige
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Check out Girl On Fire!

     
     If you haven't checked out the Seattle-based, alternative rock band Girl On Fire, you are missing out! A few months ago, they released their single, "Revenge", from their EP of the same name. The band consists of vocalist Austin Held, guitarist Nick McMahan, bassist Josh Mouser, and drummer Harry MacDonald. They have been battling several other bands on Seattle's radio station KISW and are 3 wins away from being inducted into the KISW Hall of Fame. I recently spoke with Austin; you can hear our conversation below:

"Revenge":

 

     So, what do you think of Girl On Fire? Comment below! Be sure to check them out on Facebook and download their EP on iTunes!

~Paige
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Sixx A.M. to Release "7" EP

   
     James Michael, vocalist for Sixx A.M., announced on the band's official Facebook that they will be releasing a new EP entitled 7. It will feature stripped down, remade versions of songs from both The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack and This Is Gonna Hurt. James also said:

"This was an incredible experience for the three of us, because it caused us to explore way beyond the initial creations and rediscover the songs in a light that you helped us find. We are so excited to share this with you."

     James, Nikki Sixx, and DJ Ashba have all shared this sneak preview. Check it out!

Preview of 7 EP:

 

     Are you guys excited?! What do you think of Sixx A.M. re-doing the songs?

~Paige

Alice Cooper- "No More Mr. Nice Guy" Tour Recap

     I went to see Alice Cooper at The Palace in Albany, NY, this past Wednesday, and I have two words for you....FREAKING INCREDIBLE!!!!! I have never seen Alice live before, and I was stunned. I've always heard about how amazing his shows are and I'd seen videos, but nothing compared to seeing him in person.
     The show began with the UK band, Livan. I personally feel like this was the perfect band to open for Alice. They have a great presence onstage and great songs. As I'm sure all of you have seen, audiences don't always respond well to opening bands, but that was definitely not the case with Livan. They immediately got the crowd into the show and were a great lead-in to Alice's show. Livan's music can be heard here.
     Alice's set began with the oh-so-recognizable Vincent Price opening to "The Black Widow". The curtain dropped and the crowd got a view of the set which, down to the last details of smoke and cobwebs, was in perfect "Alice Cooper" style. Alice stood at the top of a giant staircase dressed as none other than The Black Widow.

*All Photos Courtesy of Neil Pearson (@NeilMPearson)*

     It's not often when you can go to a concert and every song that the artist plays is a hit, but that is exactly what happens at an Alice Cooper show. He played classics like "I'm Eighteen", "Poison", "Billion Dollar Babies", and of course, "No More Mr. Nice Guy". He also played the single off of his latest album Welcome 2 My Nightmare, "I'll Bite Your Face Off". As even Alice himself has said, that song is amazing because even if people haven't heard it before, they're able to sing along by the second chorus.
     The performance aspect of the show was insane! Lights, fog, a beheading....ah, sounds like a perfect night at an Alice Cooper show.

     Alice's band, which now includes guitarist Orianthi as the first female musician to ever play in Alice's band, is absolutely amazing. Each of the musicians bring their own personality to the show and all have opportunities to display their talents in solos periodically during the show.

     Alice originally closed the show with none other than "School's Out". He brought out a bunch of giant balloons and began popping them, sending confetti over the audience in the first few rows. However, he also came back out for an encore of "Elected" and walked around the stage with a giant American Flag.

     One of the things that I really love about Alice is his appreciation for his fans. Before he and the rest of the band left the stage, they bowed and very graciously thanked the audience for coming to the show. All I have to say, is I will most definitely be going to see Alice again the next time he tours.

Note:

     Be sure to keep checking back for my interview with Orianthi! Follow us on Twitter (@FrontPaigeMetal) and "Like" us on FB so that you don't miss anything! Find the links below!

~Paige
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