Music, the great life link.
Interviews
In 2014, Mother Love Bone will be eligible for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1989 they supported The Dogs D’Amour on their first tour of North America.
Pure Dynamite
The Dogs D’Amour had an almost obsessive, cult type following in the UK and Japan in the mid to late 80’s and they could have been huge.
The remnants of Mother Love Bone became Pearl Jam. The Dogs D’Amour stayed honest and did not sell out.
“Back in the day, major labels in the US would pay to have bands tour with more established outfits, when they wanted to get exposure for them… The Black Crowes supported us too. Reportedly we got paid $10,000 for that tour of the UK. We didn’t see a penny of it.” Scoffs drummer Bam. “Our Management nicked the lot! Looking back, we could have toured with some massive bands but we stayed honest, true to ourselves and of course, we were occasionally drunk!” Bam tells a great story and his smooth London accent just makes for a better delivery. “Tyla and I (J Pallas, Dogs D’Amour singer and artist) could sit in a room with six other people and pick out the two most thieving horrible cunts every time. It’s just a knack we have. This time we’re keeping it in house. Let’s just say we will be mis-managing ourselves.”
New and Tea Infused
“We always were misunderstood,” explains Bam when asked about their music. “We were really nothing to do with heavy metal. We were always more of a blues outfit. Better suited to touring with Bob Dylan or Tom Petty. We made well-crafted songs and we intend to make some more. The rest of the band will be coming out here to Florida before the tour. We will jam, write, maybe record and work on some video. We may be able to pull out a single or maybe an EP or who knows? I would love to bring in the heavy artillery, a well-known engineer, I don’t really fancy doing it all by myself.” Bam and his good lady wife Share (formerly Pedersen) formerly Vixen, now with JSRG, have a studio where the two produce and engineer part time.
“It’s been quite a long haul putting together songs across the internet, but I’m really proud of everybody pulling together. It has been a process of learning how to collectively work the technology, along with learning to work with each other again in this strange new way. It’s still not as quick as it would be if we were all in one room, but we’re getting there. If we actually create a new product it will be a miracle! There will most likely be thunder and lightning, tea, ‘n’ cake with the Pope where we all get Saint hoods!” Bam exclaims.
Graveyard of almost empty bottles!
“We will probably have an exorbitant tea bill this time around.” Laughs Bam. “I hear Tyla drinks a lot of tea now.” He continues; “no-one really drinks hard liquor these days, the odd bottle of red wine maybe. I was even thinking about writing a letter to our ex-groupies. You know, to warn them that there will no longer be an aroma of marijuana and Jack (Daniels) on the tour bus, more likely the stink of stale urine… and watch out for that wheelchair honey!!”
Moving on with life hasn’t restricted Bam in any way. Time has made him sit back and reconsider on more than one occasion, he diversifies well and adapts to the new and different quite easily and quickly. His skills also include raw cuisine and making silver jewelry. Bam tells Headbangerwoman how his love for crafting silver started. “I was in Brighton, England. I was down on my luck after the Dogs broke up. My ex had gone back to the US with our son, my first child. My friend Mini put me up. He’s still out there, Mini, top bloke. Mini worked for a jeweller and had a small set up in an attic room. It had a small window for the solder smoke to escape. I loved to work the silver, but after a while I returned to the US to look out for my son. It was there in Los Angeles, that I met Share. She had a small shed type building and she let me put a work bench in it. I didn’t even own a mandrel at the time. I used a drumstick. The first ring I ever made was made there; it became a kind of engagement ring for Share. She still has it. At one Bubble gig, she hit a 300 pound bouncer in the face with it and saved the day, but that’s another story.”
- Silver Charms
That was back in LA. Things changed; Share’s Mom and Dad passed away, as did Bams Dad. “Bubble gigging at the same old LA clubs was pissing us off, our credit card was maxed out after tours of Japan and the UK and more importantly, getting out to the beach would take two hours. The traffic in LA became so restrictive that we turned into homebodies, never going out, we were just watching movies and writing.” Bam’s voice sounds a little bitter when the West coast is mentioned, but quickly returns to chipper when the new chapter in his life is discussed again. The silver was set aside for a time, but is now back in production. “ I’m lucky,” Bam tells. “I have a lovely house with a garage now, I’ve been making jewelry again since January and it has helped me reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.”
After living in Los Angeles for a time, came the big move to Florida. You have to wonder, how did that happen?
Bam gets excited to talk about this. “We made the move to Florida after we had been to the Caribbean on holiday. We loved the climate, loved everything about it. We initially talked about making the move but it didn’t happen. Then we went to see friends in Florida for my birthday soon after. It was just like the Caribbean, the humidity, the sunshine. It was like the Caribbean with amenities, with Superstore or Target. Of course, then we fell in love with a fantastic house; retro with bright green shag carpet and that was it. I found a little statue buried in the back yard. He was carefully dug up and I drilled a hole in his ass and shoved a hose up there. He stands by the pool and pisses in it! We call him Austin Powers.” It really doesn’t get more rock and roll, does it?
Smokin’!
As everything falls into place there is the return of The Dogs D’Amour, not known to be too friendly at the time of their break up, can Bam explain the change of heart?
“It really all came about to help a sick friend by doing a benefit show. Paul Hornby, who filled in as the drummer for the Dogs on a recording trip to Finland, at the time of my first child’s birth, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. We all got together through the internet and one benefit show became eight in a row. We have had calls from promoters all over. Germany, Sweden, Italy and the like, begging for more shows, but we want to keep it simple to start. Who knows what will happen after this! ”
Dogs all dates
So, with two sold out shows at The Borderline in London, England, to kick off the tour on February 22 and 23 2013, followed by a post UK trip to Spain for three shows and then three more back in UK, the Dogs are far from The Trail of Tears and they are Gonna Get It Right this time.
The Dogs D’Amour are currently rehearsing in Florida!
NEW track. Old Dogs!
Viva Espania
By Karen Graham 12-12-12 Re-post 30-01-13
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Pearl Jam guitarist, Mike McCready shared with Jimmy Fallon on his Late Night Show that Pearl Jam are “Right now in a holding pattern. We are making a record right now, which should be finished by next year. Hopefully then we will do some touring!”
McCready appeared on the show as a guest guitarist. He was sporting a short mowhawk!
Band mate Stone Gossard appeared on the show with his other band Brad earlier this year.
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Whatever your opinion on her, it cannot be denied that Sean Yseult is a master multi-tasker.
Also a self-confessed “collector of the macabre,” she has admitted to owning a bizarre collection of human skulls, skeletons and coffins, Yseult is unbelievably bright and cheery when you speak with her. She doesn’t dress in the colours of the deceased and her designs could not be any brighter.
That said, her most recently released design will take music fans straight back to the days of White Zombie.
White Zombie
“Back in the days of White Zombie, we were supporting Astro Creep at the time, Mike from Schecter Guitars asked me to design a bass for them. I drew something for them and I had two built for myself, but I was so busy with the band that as a project it just fell by the way side. It was discussed several times over the years and was almost totally forgotten, but then I published my book ‘I’m In The Band, Backstage Notes From The Chick In White Zombie’ and talks of the bass were reignited. Now finally in 2012 we have an end product.” Yseult makes sure to let us know that she was first… “I know Zakk Wylde produced a line of coffin guitars a few years ago, but I want everyone to know that this is not a copy. It is not a rip off. This has been a work in progress for a long, long time. I admire Zakk greatly, he is a great musician. But I did this first!” The result is a high quality Schecter, Sean Yseult signature, coffin shaped bass, which was released in late October 2012.
Another first was her appearance at Donington, Monsters of Rock in 1995. Yseult was the first female bassist to ever take the stage at the world famous concert. “Someone told me a while ago that I was one of only two women that had ever played Donington. Doro Pesch of Warlock was the other one. I have to say, it would be great to play there again.”
This is amazing in itself, because Yseult actually has a degree in graphic design! “That’s where I met Rob (Zombie), at Parsons School Of Design. I think he was studying illustration, but he didn’t stay at college too long. I stuck it out and I have my degree.” Yseult adds “Rob is very talented at whatever he does and he doesn’t need a certificate! Of course graphic design, in fact design of any kind is very different in this day and age. After 11 years in White Zombie, I had to re-learn. I took lots of 8 hour intensive courses to help me to be able to design using a computer. Now anyone can design anything online. I still think that doing things by hand is by far more individual. It shows that a person has a specific talent.”
Talent is this womans middle name. Her design line proves it. Liberty of London and Barneys, have both sold items from the designer, a line of brightly coloured scarves/chiffons, archival prints, clutch wallets and business card holders to name a few items. On a musical design theme, Yseult is also still designing CD covers!
So, from zombies, bones and coffins, to silks in high end retail outlets the world over. How the hell did that happen?
Yseult gives a little insight, “It really started when I was around six years old. I would sit and draw for hours. It would be a continual stream of conscious doodle. I was always inspired by Ziggy Stardust, Planetary type design and outer space.” A bright imagination and hours of doodle has done her proud.
Yseultdesign.com sells worldwide.
So then there is the photography. Yes, another string in the bow…
After several years of showing her photography with other artists, a first solo photography show had been completed and another imminent in New Orleans, when Yseult spoke with Headbangerwoman in October 2012.
With all of this going on, music has stayed very apparent in the life of Yseult.
Star and Dagger ladies by Leslie Van Stelten
Star and Dagger; Yseults now band is current, individual and not a cliché.
Featuring; Vocals: Von Hesseling, Bass: Yseult, Guitar: Donna She Wolf, Guitar: Dave Catching, Drums: Gene Trautmann.
Star and Dagger fairylights by Leslie Van Stelten
There are hints of Native American music, Jimi Hendrix, Hawkwind, The Doors and Black Sabbath on the songs they have produced, but no one song contains them all and there are no copies, just an edge, and air, an inspired and artistic sound. Often hypnotic; it will likely suck you in and hold you in a state of void for a while. Yseult explains; “I am not trying to be anything specific. There are these days too many categorisations and Star and Dagger came from no certain style. I personally never listened to my own music until this band and I have found myself listening to 20`s and 30`s Paris Café music. There is a lot less out there right now that is original and I feel the need to go further and further back for inspiration.”
It will be helpful then when she travels back to the 18th and 19th Century, that Yseult is also classically trained on Piano and Violin!
I’m In The Band
The book is a great read…… and you can check out all things Sean Yseult if you dare by clicking the links below
http://www.facebook.com/staranddagger
by Karen Graham 1 December 2012
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2013 will see the 30th year in the world of rock for Doro Pesch.
She will headline Wacken Open Air Festival as part of her anniversary celebration.
In 2008 she celebrated 25 years at Wacken close to her home town of Dusseldorf, Germany. You would never know to speak with her. Pesch still radiates the vitality and enthusiasm of a 20 year old.
Her appearances on stage were not always so confident. At the Donington, Monsters of Rock Festival in England in 1986 Pesch recalls. “There were lots of steps on the way to the stage. It was unbelievable. I was so nervous my knees were like pudding.”
Early Doro with Warlock
Growing up in Europe, there was no easy ride for Pesch. The US market was a far and distant land, but Pesch is a fighter and her band Warlock broke free and made it onto the world stage. The music was loud, free and hard, the voice of Pesch recognisable as one of rocks heaviest and most influential and coming from a woman.
Post Warlock; they disbanded in 1989, her German connection gave Pesch the opportunity to take part in a promotional tour with fellow countrymen and 2013 Download Festival headliners Rammstein, back in 1995. “They were also with Polygram at the time, playing small clubs, doing meet and greets. I just love them,” Peschs enthusiasm for her fellow musicians is oozing as she speaks. “I truly feel that if anyone has not seen them they really should. They are great live; State of the art, with great pyro and so artistic. This kind of metal gives me my energy.”
Doro 2012
Courtesy of The Gauntlet
Pesch is not only famous for her vocal, but also for her for her bondage type clothing on stage, but despite what you may love to imagine, there is no perverse reason for this. Pesch explained in detail. “It’s just like a work uniform to me. It looks great too. You can’t go on stage wearing sweats or jeans and a Tee. I used to wear real leather, but I worked with Peta in recent years and I strive to wear leather look clothes now instead. It looks just as good and it doesn’t get nearly as stinky after two weeks on the road either. I just love animals and you know the way that leather is produced is really cruel.”
Pesch is also well known for being an incredibly fit person. How does she manage it with such a bust schedule? “Music keeps you fit and young and I will try to do this until the day I die. I work out when I am in New York. I jog and run on the beach. Of course then I will do a two or three hour show where I sweat like crazy. It’s so easy to keep fit that way. Once I go into the studio everything changes. Then it is not so easy. I have never been a drinker, all the boys in the band used to drink, so I would be the driver, so that was never an issue, but I did used to smoke. I loved to smoke, but I knew it was the right thing to do, to quit. My only beauty secret is Estee Lauder Resilience. It is the only thing I ever found that really works with my skin!”
From ThePlaugue.net
Despite being so athletic and with all the great energy, Pesch was hospitalised on tour several years ago after head banging caused a disturbance to blood flow in her arm and leg. She tells it like this, “It was really very scary; the Doctors said it was possibly some kind of nerve damage. Of course head banging is a big part of what I do on stage, so I have to be really careful. On the new cd, Raise Your Fist there are three songs that are head bangers!”
Raise Your Fist
Also on the new CD is Motorhead singer/bassist Lemmy. How did that happen? “Ah, Lemmy.” Pesch muses. “I was at the house of Andreas Bruhn, you know, he was the guitarist for Sisters Of Mercy. He was singing my song It Still Hurts, a song I wrote about someone I love dearly and I could just hear, well visualize, the voice of Lemmy singing. I said to Andreas, I hear Lemmy, this is his song. We called him and he agreed to sing for us. It was so worth the call. Lemmy has haunting vocal on our duet It Still Hurts.”
The addition of Lemmy and other musical guests such as guitarist Slash and drummer Eric Singer ensured an easy return to the US market in 2000 when Calling The Wild was released, a place Pesch had been away from for a time. “You know that’s great, that North American fans love the music, but seem not to have such great love for the artwork as we do in Europe. With the picture discs and vinyl, I know it is still really popular back home. In North America they do not seem to notice!”
Calling The Wild
No matter the visual art. Wherever there are metal fans, Pesch is always likely to draw in a great crowd. So, for those fans anticipating live and loud here is a link to Peschs website where, among other great information, the new Doro tour dates are listed;
By Karen Graham 3 November 2012
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The man and his axe
“I blame Keith Richards, really. I mean he was the one to do it first right?”
Blaming a guy with probably very little memory of much of his life as a rock guitarist for anything, is either very smart or a little rude, but either way this was the explanation given when Stacey Blades was questioned about his dress sense. “Still rock n roll, but less lycra!”
“You know, now it’s more just denim and a tee everyday, but it really is a way of life. All part of rock and roll.” That too can be said for the teased black hair and guy liner!
Blades who is a guitarist with the band LA Guns has been around a bit! YES. He has lived in Calgary, Toronto, Florida and Los Angeles.
Of course Blades job takes him all around the world, but Hollywood is now home and many references are made to the movie capital of the world in LA Guns music.
More often than perhaps not, LA Guns frontman Phil Lewis is not far from wherever Blades can be found. Blades explains; “I think it’s because we are very similar, Canadians and Brits. We have the same sense of humor, we use the same words and we even have the same candy.” All of that may be true, but it’s well known that the folks in the US have always had a great love for LA Guns as a whole.
Pure rock
As a Canadian you have to wonder if Blades has any special affinity for Hockey? “I skated as a kid,” he tells, “But you know, I was more of a Baseball and Football player. My dad played hockey with the New York Rangers farm team back when there were only nine teams in the NHL! Golf was really my thing though. If I hadn’t become a musician I would have definitely become involved in the world of golf.”
Many music fans thank god Blades didn’t become a golfer. He works well as a guitarist with LA Guns, but not so long ago there were two bands, both bearing the same name. How did Blades feel about that?
“Tracii (Guns, former founding LA Guns guitarist) had left the band to do The Brides of Destruction project with Nikki (Sixx, Motley Crue bassist and founding member). It didn’t work out well for them, but instead of coming back and making amends Tracii just started another LA Guns. Tracii’s new band was never a stable thing; he had a constantly revolving line-up, probably five singers. It was a tough battle for us as a band when that was happening, but it finally stopped in early 2012. We are the only LA Guns now. We kept on making great records and it even got us an article in Rolling Stone magazine. We always stayed positive. It doesn’t help things to waste energy on the negatives when you can use it on the positives.”
Living for the music
As the only LA Guns the decision was recently made to cancel a UK tour. There were many disappointed fans. Headbangerwoman asked about the reasoning behind that call?
“The dates were not great. It’s not that we don’t like the UK. It’s just that sometimes you have to have pride in your bands worth. It was a call we had to make. We will be on The Monsters of Rock Cruise in March 2013 and we had a busy summer with lots of shows, but it will be a little quieter now into winter.”
Winter may be quieter on the show front but the new cd Hollywood Forever is making quite a bit of noise….
Hollywood Forever
“It was a bit of an experiment.” Blades is honest about the origin of the record. “We all came to the table with four or five songs and we picked thirteen out. We had all buckled down at home for five weeks or so and as each one of us have a slightly different style; it gave us lots of variety.”
Variety may be the name of the game, but the voice on the record is undeniably Phil Lewis, the sound is definitely LA Guns. Belting drums and screaming guitar are present throughout. Songs such as Sweet Mystery and Underneath the Sun providing a snippet of flashback to Lewis singing Ballad of Jayne. Tattoos and Vine Street get a deserved mention. This is about Hollywood rock n roll, right?
In other recent news LA Guns appeared in Slice TV’s Ex-wives of Rock. Blades made a cameo appearance in more than one episode of series one. The explanation of how that happened is as follows…
“I’ve been friends with Athena (musician, mom and mogul) for a really long time. We met up when they were on the way to Las Vegas to start filming and she suggested I hang out from time to time. The girls are cool and fun, Athena is just an awesome chick. She played a show with us that was shown as part of an episode. I haven’t seen it yet though. I hope to very soon!”
Ex-wives of Rock is currently only airing in Canada.
LA Guns are currently hanging out in Hollywood and being cool.
by Karen Graham 30 October 2012
Pictures courtesy of Stacey Blades
Happy Halloween ;)~ Headbangers :)~
Turn It Up To Twelve 