This tiddly bloke had a great time at CES Vegas, and likely won’t even remember.
He got up on stage with Foo Fighters and swigged Champagne brought to him by Pat Smear, at the request of Dave Grohl.
He then “danced” to Faces cover “Stay with Me”
It turns out that what happens in Vegas, is less likely to stay there since social media took a hold….
Three Days Grace nominated for ROCK ARTIST OF THE YEAR by iHeart Radio
In February 2012 Headbangerwoman interviewed Bleeker Ridge.
Bleeker are metamorphosed.
We wanted you to read this fun piece again though…
Orillia is the Ontario home town of Canada’s Bleeker Ridge. A place once quoted by the band’s singer, Taylor Perkins as “Somewhere you would go and watch a movie, leave and go break things!”
Perkins, his brother Cole: guitar, Dan Steinke: guitar and his brother Dustin: drums are collectively Bleeker Ridge and that collectively, makes them shit hot.
There is no other explanation. Not a realistic one anyway.
Taylor Perkins and Dan Steinke are present, if not altogether correct during this interview!
In the real world of mere mortals such as you and me, the Bleeker boys would be hanging out on campus and playing the frat house. When of course, they weren’t working a menial 6-11 shift at the local fast food outlet. In a world of rock stars and gorgeous birds with oversized mammarial protrudences, they hang out in bars with topless painted ladies and play kick ass live music for the masses. Last year alone they supported Buckcherry and Papa Roach on the Canadian leg of the Jaegermeister tour, proving that who you know is always a big help. A former A&R guy for Roadrunner now working for Jaegermeister, had the band atop his list in anticipation of such events!
Three of the four band members met at age thirteen. Singer Perkins was 14. That was nine years ago. That’s right; the average age of this band is 21.5! They have come a long way since then, playing local blues clubs and being driven by their parents. “They took us everywhere,” Perkins says, sounding more than proud when he offers this information.
Having already given it to Canada fast and hard and with an ever growing number of fans, they are mentally heading to the border quicker than you can say Small Town Dead (the band’s first CD with Roadrunner Records).
Bleeker Ridge started life off as teen fans of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, touting CD store bought Tees and sporting long hair, while playing what Perkins described as, “music that was a lot more bluesy, we just progressed to the style we play now.” The tee shirts and long hair are now long gone. In fact Perkins is almost sporting a pixie cut these days.
Fortunately there is more of the “now” style music coming soon, Steinke explains. “We have been writing again and we are writing currently for record nymber two. There is a lot more in the mix, but we can’t say what right now,” he teases.
So, as Bleeker Ridge fans play the waiting game for the second record, the band plays several dates in Ontario and Quebec in the early part of 2012. What about live shows for the rest of the year? “There are always lots of festivals in the summer,” Perkins enthuses, “we love festivals.”
That may be so, but they were on the bill for Boonstock in 2011 and they didn’t make it. What happened? Perkins once again is the one to offer a reply, “Dustin and me were just discussing that. We were pissed because there were some great bands on the bill and we were routed, but it just didn’t work out.” Maybe this year? “That would be great, but what we really want to do this year is play the States, make ourselves known there,” he adds.
When you listen to the music this band produces, you have to ask where the ideas for writing come from. You Would Have Liked It is a real tear jerker. “I been through some shit,” Perkins says, with a giggle. “I’m just kidding; I’ve had a sweet life. We really get our ideas for songs from watching other people and what happens in their relationships. The music for that song was written in about three minutes and I went home, but just before I got into bed I sat at the computer and wrote the lyrics. It is still one of my favorites.” Impressively, all the song lyrics on Small Town Dead sound as if they were written by older, far more experienced souls and the music that carries them is equally impressive. Sick Of You is as emotionally touching as the former song, but in a harder, more aggressive manner. Little wonder there, when you consider that it was co-penned by Tyler Connolly, singer with Theory of a Deadman.
Dave Bassett (Shinedown and Sevendust) is also responsible for lending his professional penmanship on In Our Hands, Pick Me Up and Still Standing. The core of the record though, remains Bleeker Ridge, through and through.
Not only do these guys get an A+ for their CD, but they really are seriously impressive live too. They give their all and the crowd loves them for it. “It really is all about the crowd,” Perkins explains. “If the crowd is really into it, then it motivates us more too. We, like anyone are a little rusty for the first three or four shows of every tour. The more we play the more comfortable we get.” Steinke definitely gives it 150% live; how does he not have a permanent case of Metallica neck? “It’s usually sore for the first three days into a tour, but it’s nothing that a few Advil and some Jack Daniels can’t fix,” he confesses.
All recording and live perfections considered you have to wonder whether any professional training helped to produce such high standards?
“We all had different lessons in the same music store (belly laughing) but they didn’t last long,” Steinke offers, still chuckling. Steinke shows no comparison to a conformist in any way shape or form, so it is understandable that he is not a classroom-type guy. But, what does he like to do, other than music? “I just came home from Costa Rica yesterday and I spent all week out there surfing. When I’m home I like to snowboard and skateboard too.”
He also proudly adorns himself in large amounts of body art. “There is still room for more (starts laughing loudly again) and I intend to get one that says ‘hang loose,’ above my, you know. I think it would be funny.” Girls, you had better start praying for a Steinke rise blue jeans!
So then, what gives for the highly animated man with the killer voice? What floats his boat? Something equally high energy? Perkins calmly announces “I play music and I drink a lot of coffee and tea. I hang out with friends and I really like to drink beer too. I’m a big drinker.” Well, that explains the animation and also gives reason for his not being quite as adventurous as his band mate, just a little more tipsy and possibly friendlier?
While the rest of Bleeker Ridge is virtually drowning in sponsorship deals, due to their success and obvious talent, Perkins sounds a little sad when he announces “I don’t have shit. I sit here with nothing.”
Perhaps a deal with Depends would come in useful after all the liquid he consumes!
Apparently love, is not all you need!
John Corabi… Sammy Hagar…
Matt Walst!
At the height of their success these guys grabbed the reins of Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Three Days Grace, bringing us new memories, new meaning, and new music.
In the case of the latter, Walst is still up on stage alongside brother Brad, bringing it hard at every live performance.
Newer songs mixed with stayed favourites.
A little light banter mixed with an excellent acoustic interlude.
The last time Headbangerwoman saw Three Days Grace the crowd were bouncing off the walls at Rexall Place, Edmonton.
This show on December 12th 2018 at Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton was a touch smaller as were some in that crowd, (a good amount of kids present) and a little less rambunctious, but the crowd were rocking the bleachers and in full support of the headliners none the less.
A young lady on the floor was spotted signing songs to her Dad.
A member of the police presence during the last 20 minutes heard to say “this was the only good song they had”…The fans quite clearly in disagreement!
A quick Shout out to Jess Jackson of 100.3 The Bear…
Also in support of this Canadian staple of rock was Texan band Nothing More. These guys are not the boys next door, rather; Rage Against the Machine meets Jim Morrison, takes a good hit of crack and streaks repeatedly in from if the elderly neighbors house!
Producing an excellent mix of headbanging noise and attitude, and sounding great as live performers whilst doing so, this band was a pleasant surprise!
Arriving a tad late Headbangerwoman caught Bad Wolves mid-way through their third last song. A heady sound with a darker vibe, the crowd went crazy when they announced that their final song Zombie had just gone double platinum, and that all proceeds would be given to the children of late Cranberries vocalist Delores O’Riordan; who was found dead in a bathtub on January 15th 2018 due to accidental drowning on the eve of recording the song with this band.
Thanks were shouted out to General Manager Rose Slanic, who was in attendance.
Sombre. Moving.
You gotta love Mr Mike Motherfuckin’ McCready, and while we should laud him for a moment here…this ain’t about him.
Another of Seattle’s greatest; Duff Motherfuckin’ McKagan, is the focus here.
After the release of a book by the same title, originally in 2011, the cinematic version, of It’s So Easy: and Other Lies (2016), now on Netflix, provides some much needed depth, and great visual additions.
Taking to the stage and baring his soul to a live audience, Duff reads from the book as his family and friends, including Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Susan Holmes-McKagan, fill in in the gaps via interviews.
McKagan is open and honest, and shines a much needed light on the very real struggles of addicts. When talking of his recovery, he becomes animated.
He also shines when he talks of his thirty plus years as a musician with bands such as The Walking Papers, Velvet Revolver, and the the more recently reunited Guns N Roses.
The band and accompanying string quartet provide a moving soundtrack to the theater performance, and serve to add theatrical emotion.
If you are a fan of music, a survivor of addiction, or you just need a decent watch, this should be near the top of your “to watch” list.
