Interviews
M. Shawn Crahan aka Clown, talks about retirement from Slipknot.
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Jani Lane, long time, on/off, singer with the band Warrant was once asked about being in a Hair Band. His reply was along the lines of; “if you mean do we have hair and are we in a band then yes!”
Sadly, Jani is no longer with us, but the remaining and newer members of Warrant all have a little and in some cases, a lot less hair. Jerry Dixon however has been one of the lucky ones. He still has his flowing locks. “I credit that to my Dad, it’s in my genes” he confesses.
Music too, it seems is in the blood. Dixon and his business partner, Warrant guitarist, Erik Turner are now competing with the big guns that used to control them.
“It’s all about having fun, discovering, helping and fulfilling” is how Dixon, also long time bassist with Warrant, described a day at the record company, Down Boys Records.
What made them make the decision to take the helm on the side of the enemy?
“We were drawn to it after years of getting ripped off and dealing with the frustration that came from dealing with big companies as part of Warrant. You learn to do it yourself. We noodled around with it for probably ten years before we got really serious. For us it is all about giving a chance to those bands ignored by others. Not only do we give them a shot at recording, but we also concentrate on film and TV placement. If you are not cut out to be mainstream you might just be well placed somewhere else. We have to pop a lot of egos, but as a band at this time, if you put all your eggs in one basket you are screwed. We help find your niche. It’s not about being famous!”
As a show of trust in themselves Warrant has put out a couple of projects with the company.
Of course Warrant is still on the lips of the world, putting themselves out there not only on tour, but also in commercials and the like. “Some people would and do laugh at that, but it is great business sense. If a music fan hears the song Heaven on a laundry commercial they are so much more likely to go, after years of not hearing it and purchase a record. TV is just so powerful. We will continue to market ourselves that way, it makes so much sense to us and we’ll take whatever!”
On the road again this summer, Warrant are playing with other bands reminiscent of the 80’s such as, LA Guns, led by Phil Lewis, Trixter, Firehouse, Skid Row and Winger.
“We usually do ten weeks during the summer, but it is not like it used to be,” Dixon sounds a little relieved, “we play a lot of festivals and one offs, there is no six months away, no tour bus. It is mostly just flying in and then out, but that is really tiring, it can definitely mess you up. Of course the shows are all still really great. But it is a different world now.”
On top of all this the band donates to several different charities. How do they spare the time? “At this point we just donate funds. We really need to try and make the time for personal visits, but right now it just doesn’t work, we don’t have the spare time, so we do what we can by making donations. Eric gives to St Jude, Robert became involved with Wounded Warrior because his neighbor is a Veteran and my wife and I donate mostly to animal sanctuaries. What we give is worked out on a small percentage of certain things. We really do wish we could give more time.”
Asked about endorsements, Dixon is very frank. “I suppose there was a day when we would take anything. Fortunately for us we are in a position now, where we can pick and choose. We don’t take it because it’s free and there is a lot of crap out there. I want to be on stage and know that I like what I am playing”
It is well known that Jani Lane was the primary writer for Warrant during the 80’s and 90’s. What does Dixon think happened to the writing process when Lane left the band?
“Writing was Jani’s calling. He would come in and produce things to us that he had written and we would just go with it, he was so good. When he was no longer around for the first time, probably nine years ago we really did wonder what if the songs suck now. I, well we all had to learn the cool, creative part of the business. There is really nothing like it. I personally really enjoy it. We are writing here and there right now, but there won’t be a record until around Summer 2013, it’s slow, what with pre-production, preparation and studio time, it’s all a formality, but it needs to be done.”
For fans that cannot wait watch out at Xmas 2012….
Warrant are currently mixing and editing a live DVD and CD pack which was filmed at M3 and will be the perfect stocking filler for hair or less hair metal fans.
In the meantime, summer festivals in the USA are where these Down Boys go.
TOUR 2012
07 19 12 Warrant & Winger /Waterfest Leach Amphitheater – Waterfest Oshkosh WI Warrant Shows & Events
07 20 12 Warrant, Skid Row & LA Guns AVA Amphitheatre / Casino Del Sol Tucson AZ Warrant Shows & Events
07 21 12 Warrant Freemont Street Summer Concert Series Las Vegas Las Vegas NV Warrant Shows & Events
07 27 12 Cherry Pie Tour: Warrant , Firehouse & Trixter Mohegan Sun at Poconos Downs Wilkes Barre PA Warrant Shows & Events
07 28 12 Warrant Grizzly Rock Lakewood CO Warrant Shows & Events
08 5 12 Cherry Pie Tour Warrant , Firehouse & Trixter + Jukebox Zeros, Frank Hannon of Tesla Sioux Empire Fair | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Grandsta Sioux Falls, SD Warrant Shows & Events
08 6 12 Cherry Pie Tour Warrant , Firehouse & Trixter Easyriders Saloon Sturgus SD Warrant Shows & Events
08 18 12 Cherry Pie Tour Warrant , Firehouse & Trixter South Coast Winery and Spa Resort Temecula CA Warrant Shows & Events
08 25 12 Warrant & Firehouse Sweet Corn Festival / Downtown Urbana , IL Urbana IL Warrant Shows & Events
08 31 12 Warrant & Trixter Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom Hampton Beach NH Warrant Shows & Events
10 13 12 Cherry Pie Tour: Warrant , Firehouse & Trixter The Lakeland Center Lakeland FL Warrant Shows & Events
By Karen G
http://www.downboysrecords.com/
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Lamb Of God frontman speaks out for the first tim since his arrest.
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Randy Blythe of Lamb of God at Ozzfest, Jones Beach, New York July 14, 2004 http://piningforthechords.blogspot.com/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In early June, Headbangerwoman put in a request with the Lamb of God PR company for an interview. It was subsequently denied. No issue, that happens frequently, we are a small fish in a huge lake.
Since this occurence, Lamb Of God singer David Randall Blythe has been incarcerated on a Czech prison for an incident that allegedly happened two years ago. Randy is getting all kinds of help from the North American media, including Headbangerwoman.com, who posted the official press statement from the band just last week.
Headbangerwoman is also a long time follower of the singer on Twitter.
We are certain there will be a good outcome for this situation and wish Randy all the luck and hope for his safe return to the US very soon.
Meanwhile, we hope that this will open the eyes of the publicists just a wee bit! We may be small and insignificant, we may not have the amount of readers required for you to grant us an interview, but we still care. It is with passion that we will do whatever we can, even if that is just placing an ad or a link, re-tweeting a post or press release, but we also hope that this opens up the eyes of those that were put where they are by the music fan. The general public. We here at Headbangerwoman.com are not put down or discouraged by those assuming that they are controlling what can be written and who can take photographs. This is what we do and this is what we love. There are always ways and means to get an interview and take a picture. We will continue to deliver for the fans. The musicians know full well that without the regular Joe, the people who listen, buy merchandise such as books and Tee shirts and support the music, they too would be in the audience and not on the stage revered and worshipped. 2000 readers a month, is better than no readers ever….would you not agree!!
Maybe this should be the start of change?
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Mayhem is as follows; VIP parking becomes “pay $40 to park here,” VIP packages become “wait in the line, no that line, no, go here” and Press are lined up for almost two hours and then made to take shifts for photographs, you just know that there are too many organ grinders and the Monkeys are really just lab rats!
The saving grace from all this fuckery in 35c, swelteringly, melting heat?
The musicians we all know and love.
They too had suffered logistical bollocks and as Motorhead drummer Mikki told Headbangerwoman “I am really still jet lagged and I haven’t even seen my kit yet.” That kind of statement not an hour before your show is not generally a good thing!
Anthrax were the first big name to hit a stage. Headlining the Jaegermiester platform. They may be getting there in age, but they still give it like a 20 year old doing his 18 year old prom queen doggie style. A head dress would have added to the spectacle, but the large crowd loved them without it!
Dr Lemuel Kilmister did appear to have a slight vocal issue. None the less he kicked major ass during his set. Mikki gave a blinding drum solo and Phil kept the audience suitably engaged. Is it possible this might be the last tour for this epic threesome? All we know is, that if it is, they will do it with no style, no poise and a kick in the bollocks for you, matey!
SLAYER
We repeat; SLAYER
Of course we could leave it at this. No additional words are really required, but it has to be said that after 31 years at the helm these guys are still sailing a straight and steady course to hell, where they will, naturally be joined by headbangers the world over, when the time arrives.
Kerry is still King and Mr Araya is a vocal Bielzibub, horned and yet almost godlike in his performance. Even if you don’t understand Slayer, you sort of get it after a live show!
If you have recently been on the search for the biggest cake, with the most yummy, delicious sweet and colorful frosting, you missed the bus by a week.
SLIPKNOT at Shoreline even had a whole tree full of cherries to top it off. This was not the bowl of icing that you save for the kids. This is the stuff you dip your fingers into, or maybe even your whole fist. Yes, an icing, fisting fest, slurping, smakcing your lips and dribbling the sweet sickly mess down your chin. Hungry for more and being drip fed just enough to fend off the Jonesing.
Musical theatre is here to stay. This is the way it is supposed to be! Choreographed to keep your attention for the entire set, like a jigsaw puzzle, being placed piece by perfect piece, to bring a full picture at the end a conclusion that you are sad has ended, but damned certain you will be doing another and soon. Perfection, but for the extreme loud bangers that were occasional to the set, but hey, what’s an eardrum between friends?
Of course Kudos must be given to ALL the bands performing in such a sweltering climate. Each band gave their all and each were appreciated by the fans that for sure got their moneys worth in performances.
The venue is spectacular and if the organ grinders can get it together for next time, then what a pleasure it will be for those in attendance and maybe even for the lab rats!
Dedicated to Steph who could not be at the show x
Turn It Up To Twelve 