Archive for May 2, 2013

Jeff Hanneman, Slayer Guitarist & Founding Member Passes Away; Forever Shall Be Missed

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands with tags , , , , on May 2, 2013 by Metal Odyssey

Jeff Hanneman - publicity pic - 2010 - #1 - Slayer facebook credit

Photo Credit: Slayer band facebook

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As reported on the Slayer band facebook page, on May 2nd, 2013:

Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.

Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)

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Metal Odyssey extends condolences to the family, friends, bandmates and fans of Jeff Hanneman. This is a profoundly sad day in the world of Metal and the entire music world. To say Jeff Hanneman will be missed is an obvious understatement. Jeff Hanneman was a young 49 years old. Rest In Peace, Jeff Hanneman.

Jeff Hanneman - publicity pic - 2011 - #1 - Big 4

Jeff Hanneman – live on stage at the Big 4! (2011)

Photo Credit: Slayer band facebook

I guess I’m like every other Slayer, Metal and Extreme Music fan right now. Saddened to see a mighty warrior of Slayer fall. I never thought about a member of Slayer leaving us for the other side. No one from Slayer is supposed to ever die! Metal icons like Slayer are invincible! Slayer is about being the baddest, strongest and most prolific Metal band on the face of the Earth. A day like today is another somber reminder as to how precious and fragile life is. Reality check, please. What allows me to make sense out of dying so young, is that Jeff Hanneman is no longer feeling any pain and struggle.

I’ve never hid my belief in heaven and I am a man raised on faith, therefore, my faith will always kick into high gear during times like this. If a Rock ‘N Roll heaven really does exist (and I believe it does) then Jeff Hanneman is raising some noise right about now with Ronnie James Dio, Buddy Holly, Randy Rhoads, Dimebag, Paul Gray and… the entire Metal and Rock ‘N Roll family.

Slayer - Reign In Blood - promo cover pic!

It was back around 1987 when I first saw Slayer live. It was a medium-sized club then known as The West Hartford Ballroom, in West Hartford, Connecticut. Overkill and Motörhead opened for Slayer on that cold Winter night. Talk about a night of legendary Metal! Forget about The Big 4 for a second… that night was The Big 3 in my land of Metal memories!

Seeing Slayer take the stage and perform one blistering song after another made me spellbound. I never saw such a fast and heavy-ass band like this before and I had already seen Metallica live. Slayer and of course Jeff Hanneman left a lasting impression on me that night. I was already a fan of theirs; only this first experience of seeing them live made me realize how real they really were. No other band in the world like them. No other guitarist like Jeff Hanneman either. Metal memories are not bought, they’re made. Thank you Jeff Hanneman for the Metal memories.

Slayer "Reign In Blood" 1987 Tour Program!

Left To Right: Tom Araya, Jeff Hanneman, Dave Lombardo and Kerry King.

I bought this 1987 tour program from an independent record store; right after I saw Slayer in concert. I’m thrilled that I still own it. Metal be thy name.

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For more info, click on the links below:

facebook: Slayer band

http://www.slayer.net

http://www.twitter.com/SlayerBand

MetalOdyssey

REST IN PEACE, JEFF HANNEMAN.

SLAYER AND METAL ARE FOREVER.

January 31st, 1964 – May 2nd, 2013

Stone.

KILLER DWARFS – RUSS DWARF Announces Unreleased Killer Dwarfs Album “Start@One” Releasing This Summer!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock news, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, Metal, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on May 2, 2013 by Metal Odyssey

Killer Dwarfs - large band logo - B&W

KILLER DWARFS – The exciting Rockin’ news has broken! As officially reported on the (official) facebook page of RUSS DWARF, an unreleased KILLER DWARFS album, Start@One will be releasing this Summer! Metal be thy name! Check out the dandy-cool teaser video below! Whoa!

Russ Dwarf - 80s - publicity pic - Killer Dwarfs

RUSS DWARF – circa 80’s

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* For more info on RUSS DWARF & KILLER DWARFS:

facebook: Russ DWaRf

http://www.russdwarf.com/

https://twitter.com/RussDWaRf

Stone - Motorhead Tee  pic:small

LONG LIVE RUSS DWARF.

LONG LIVE THE ROCKIN’ LEGACY OF KILLER DWARFS.

Stone.

RUSS DWARF “WIRELESS” – An Acoustic Rock Prize… From Start, Middle To Finish

Posted in acoustic rock, classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Music, rock albums, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on May 2, 2013 by Metal Odyssey

russ dwarf - wireless

RUSS DWARF – The legendary Russ Dwarf, (most famous as the frontman/founding member of Killer Dwarfs) has taken me on an acoustic Rock journey; one that is so memorable, it’s like being given a prize! The prize is Wireless and it’s the new Acoustic Rock album that Russ Dwarf has released, filled with songs from his Killer Dwarfs catalog and featuring some of the finest musicians in the industry today. (See musicians listed at end of post).

I am now convinced that Russ Dwarf has become equally famous as a solo artist; now that he’s excelling in such quality musical fashion during his post-Killer Dwarfs era. Transforming Heavy Rock songs into acoustic versions of themselves can be a risky move for any famous name within said genre; Tesla, Mr. Big, Nirvana and Foreigner (to name a few) have all succeeded with an unplugged stopover and Russ Dwarf can be rightfully added to that grand list, in my respectful opinion.

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On Wireless, the vocals of Russ Dwarf are as engaging as they’ve ever been, with his immediately identifiable voice reminding me of an era when Heavy Metal was loud, proud and unequivocally colorful. With that said, the atmosphere of Wireless is upbeat and gives way to a feel-good listening experience. Wireless and its ten songs comes across as such a natural progression of acoustic gladness, that it’s undeniably refreshing to even my Extreme Metal soul.

Once I listened to the album opener Keep The Spirit Alive, the realization had set in that Russ Dwarf hasn’t lost a micro step as a veritable Rock star; he has brought his Rockin’ past into the present with a confidence that I both hear and feel. Wireless isn’t the acoustic Rock album to wind the party down to; it’s actually just the opposite! The animated vocals of Russ Dwarf, coupled with the vibrant acoustic tones that blankets Wireless, makes this album one of the foremost of its kind that I’ve listened to in years.

Russ Dwarf - Publicity Pic - 2013 - #1

WIRELESS – Track Listing:

Keep The Spirit Alive

Stand Tall

I’m Alive

Startin’ To Shine

Doesn’t Matter

Comin’ Through

Dirty Weapons

Look Around

Four Seasons

Driftin’ Back

Russ Dwarf - Publicity Pic - #7 - 2013

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Musicians:

Russ Dwarf – vocals

Glenn Belcher – guitars, sitars, banjo, wood

Rob “Zaks” Zakojc – bass, all backing vocals

Additional Musicians:

Kevin Simpson (guitar), Dan Lear (guitar), Kevin Reid (guitar), Fred Duvall (bottles of anger), Cosimo Crupi (keyboards), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (guitar) and Glen Drover (guitar).

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For more info on RUSS DWARF, click on the links below!

facebook: Russ DWaRf

http://www.russdwarf.com/

https://twitter.com/RussDWaRf

Stone - Motorhead Tee  pic:small

LONG LIVE RUSS DWARF.

Stone.

DEEP PURPLE – Current Classic Rock Magazine Covers Are: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Heavy Metal, rock albums, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on May 2, 2013 by Metal Odyssey

Deep Purple - 2013 - Russian - Classic Rock Magazine - promo pic

Above: CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE – RUSSIA – MAY, 2013

The new issue of Classic Rock also comes with a fabulous free CD: 24 Carat Gold with 15 nuggets from Deep Purple, Big Country, Alice In Chains, Black Star Riders, Tracer and more…

Deep Purple - Classic Rock Mag - 2013 - promo cover

Above: CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE – UK – JUNE, 2013

Stone Says: Deep Purple has spanned across 6 decades. Deep Purple has had world-class musicians representing their Mark I through Mark VIII lineups, with sub-lineups in-between. Legends ALL.

The family tree of Deep Purple is a Rock History lesson in and of itself! Deep Purple helped pioneer Heavy Metal and Hard Rock simultaneously. There shall never be another band like Deep Purple. Metal be thy name.

Deep Purple - Now What ?! - promo cover pic

NOW WHAT?! is the 19th studio album from DEEP PURPLE, released on April 30th in North America, via Eagle Rock Entertainment.

Deep Purple - Now What?! - promo band album banner - 2013

* For more info on DEEP PURPLE:

facebook: Deep Purple

www.deeppurple.com

http://www.deeppurple-nowwhat.com

http://www.eagle-rock.com

* For more info on CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE:

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com

facebook: Classic Rock Magazine

Stone - Motorhead Tee  pic:small

LONG LIVE DEEP PURPLE.

LONG LIVE CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE.

WHY ISN’T DEEP PURPLE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME?

Stone.