This Week’s SHAZAM Winner!!
Congrats to Stephanie Zapata in Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY who listens to 101.5 WPDH in Poughkeepsie, NY and is this week’s Shazam contest winner, scoring a House of Hair t-shirt!
Be sure to Shazam the House of Hair Request of the Week when you hear it each week. Whip out your cell phone and open the Shazam app to get info on the song and register to win an official House of Hair t-shirt, too! One winner will be chosen randomly each week.
METAL NEWS
Ronnie James Dio Appears as a Hologram at Wacken Festival
Over 75,000 fans at the Wacken Open Air music festival in Germany this weekend were treated to a song from the late Ronnie James Dio as he was reunited with his bandmates via hologram. The surprise performance took place at the end of the Dio Disciples set to close the world’s largest annual live heavy metal event.
Dio Disciples features members of the Dio band, who last performed with Ronnie in 2008. Eyellusion, a hologram entertainment company focused on the live music market, created the hologram and produced the groundbreaking performance. Watch video footage here.
Almost one year in the making, Eyellusion’s Ronnie James Dio production represents the world’s first rock hologram performance and the first time a hologram has been accompanied by a live band in a traditional concert setting. The Wacken Open Air Festival marked the debut of the Ronnie James Dio hologram, which features the singer’s actual live vocals and will be toured globally in 2017, with further details to be announced.
“When I first experienced the full production of Ronnie performing with his band as a hologram, I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears,” said Wendy Dio, Ronnie’s widow, who manages Dio Disciples and is also a member of the Eyellusion team, supporting industry relations. “With Eyellusion, we have been able to get Ronnie back up on stage where he belongs, ensuring that his music and memory live on. I want Ronnie’s fans around the world to share this experience.”
Find out more about the Ronnie James Dio Hologram here.
Twisted Sister Frontman Dee Snider’s Granddaughter Born on Los Angeles 405 Freeway
The new granddaughter of Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider was born on the Los Angeles 405 Freeway on Sunday, August 7. Patty and Jesse Snider were rushing to the hospital when Parker Pryde Snider couldn’t wait any longer. Jesse Snider posted the Instagram video, here, from his car.
“We were a little surprised by it all,” Jesse Snider, the son of Dee Snider said. “We waited a little too long to leave I think.” Dee Snider tweeted: “My 4th grandchild, a girl was just born… in the car on the way to the hospital! Welcome to the world Parker Snider! Way to get attention!” And he also commented to House of Hair, “Now that’s METAL!”
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi’s Cancer In Remission
Black Sabbath guitar legend Tony Iommi’s cancer is finally in remission, reports BirminghamMail.co.uk.
But he will need to have blood tests every six weeks for the rest of his life to check for any sign of the stage three lymphoma’s return.
The 68-year-old star confirmed the news as he unveiled a plaque at the hospital where medics have been treating his illness.
Ozzy Osbourne Responds to Bassist Bob Daisley’s Lawsuit Over Unpaid Royalties
Ozzy Osbourne is being sued by his former songwriting partner and bassist Bob Daisley over unpaid royalties related to the Prince of Darkness’ hit “Crazy Train.”
Daisley has filed a suit against Osbourne and his company Blizzard Music Limited seeking $2 million he claims is due to him. But Osbourne denies any wrongdoing and says the Australian musician’s legal action is “tantamount to harassment,” citing previous lawsuits he [Daisley] has all lost to Osbourne.
NME reports Daisley’s suit claims that “although royalties have been paid to Daisley over the years, an audit conducted in 2014 showed that Osbourne and his company had been improperly deducting undisclosed fees before distributing royalties to Daisley and improperly withholding Daisley’s rightful share of royalties owed under the publishing agreements for the commercial exploitations of the songs.”
Nightclub Fire Victims’ Families Upset Over “Pokémon Go” Stop at Rhode Island Site
Survivors and relatives of 100 people killed in 2003 at The Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island are upset that the site is a stop in Pokémon Go. The West Warwick site is currently surrounded by a chain-link fence while a memorial is being built. Some family members and survivors called it outrageous when informed about the stop and called for it to be removed. “You’re kidding me,” said Chris Fontaine, whose 22-year-old son, Mark, was killed. “It’s not a gaming kind of place.”
Survivor Victoria Potvin Eagan called it awful and disgusting. “That is just so disrespectful,” she said. “Graveyards and memorial sites especially are meant to honor and respect a certain person or event, not to make light of it.”
Robert Bruyere’s stepdaughter, 27-year-old Bonnie Hamelin, was killed. “For them to use a memorial site, that’s just wrong,” he said.
NEW RELEASES
Twisted Sister Announce “The Best of the Atlantic Years” Greatest Hits Album
The veteran glam rockers will be releasing a 19-track compilation, The Best of the Atlantic Years, on Aug. 28 through Rhino Records. The release marks the 40th anniversary of the group (since Dee Snider joined) and will contain a previously unreleased cover of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.”
Twisted Sister notably spent an entire decade in the bar scene, packing clubs and banging heads until finally securing a record deal in 1982. The debut album, Under the Blade, was eventually remixed by Atlantic in 1985 following the raving success of Stay Hungry, which brought powerhouse hits like “I Wanna Rock” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Both cuts are featured on The Best of the Atlantic Years along with other ageless classics from the first five albums. Highlights include all-time opener “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You),” “You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “S.M.F.,” “The Fire Still Burns” and more.
Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime Unveil New Song “The Fight”
Former Queensrÿche singer Geoff Tate’s band Operation: Mindcrime will release their latest album Resurrection on September 23. After earlier unveiling the track “Left For Dead,” they have now unleashed the song “The Fight” that you can listen to here.
Tate says, “The album Resurrection is the second part of our three album presentation or trilogy. It continues the story that began on the first album The Key with the near death experience of the lead character known as ‘H’ and his subsequent recovery of the missing encryption key. With the Key finally in his possession, ‘H’ has everything he needs to finally launch his long awaited project called ‘The New Reality’. Or does he…”
The album features an all-star cast of guest musicians including bassists David Ellefson (Megadeth) and John Moyer (Disturbed), drummer Simon Wright (Dio, AC/DC) and vocalists Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth) and Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden). You can pre-order the disc via Amazon or iTunes.
ON TOUR
Megadeth Visit Fan in Hospital After Argentina Show Stabbing
Megadeth visited a hospitalized fan after he was stabbed three times at the band’s show in Neuquen, Argentina on August 5.
The fan, named in some reports as Fabian Young, reportedly got into an argument after a woman robbed him of 5000 pesos (about $271) at the venue. An alleged accomplice of the woman then stabbed the victim in the arm, body and near his spine.
After the gig, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine said via Twitter that he was going to see the fan in hospital, along with his bandmates. Mustaine said, “Gotta split. A fan got hurt last night. I’m gonna visit him in the hospital. Love you guys, and please for God’s sake be nice to each other. I would do the same thing for our fans no matter where they are from.”
He followed up later with the news the fan was recovering, and said: “I really was happy to see him. Our promoter is flying him to Buenos Aires to see the show.”
Iron Maiden Release End of Tour “Thank You” Video
Iron Maiden have been traversing the globe since February, jetting around on their custom Ed Force One 747 in support of 2015’s The Book of Souls. Playing to over 1.5 million fans, completing 72 shows in 36 countries, Eddie and the boys have issued a thank you video to their fans following the final show of the tour at Wacken Open Air in Germany.
Check it out above, along with some fan-shot video of frontman Bruce Dickinson’s speech from their last show at the Wacken Open Air festival.
Dokken Announce Only U.S. Reunion Show for Sioux Falls, SD
The classic Dokken lineup of vocalist Don Dokken, guitarist George Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer “Wild” Mick Brown have announced a string of dates in Japan this October. Reuniting for only six shows, this lineup will perform in Japan for the first time in 21 years.
Dubbed “Unleashed In The East,” Don Dokken comments on the upcoming shows: “I am very excited to come back to Japan and play with the members of Dokken that I spent so much time with. Being that its only 6 shows, we are going to make it as spectacular as possible.”
Prior to the Japanese dates, Dokken will play their only US reunion show on Friday, September 30 at Badlands Pawn, Gold, and Jewelry in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Rocker Gabbie Rae will open the show. Details and ticket information will be revealed soon.
Queensrÿche Announce October Australian Tour
Queensrÿche will tour in Australia this October for four dates and tickets are available online. Queensrÿche will also headline a US tour beginning in November, where they will be joined by the iconic Armored Saint along with Midnight Eternal on all dates. The band continues to perform across the world on the strength of their latest full length album, Condition Human, which was released in October (2015).
Anthrax to Perform on Late Night with Seth Meyers on August 24
As part of their 35th anniversary celebration, thrash legends Anthrax are confirmed to guest on Late Night With Seth Meyers, on Wednesday, August 24 – performing their new single, “Monster At The End”. This will be the first time Anthrax will appear on Late Night. Late Night With Seth Meyers airs on NBC at 12:35 AM/11:35 PM, CT.
“Monster At The End” is from the band’s critically-acclaimed album For All Kings (Megaforce) Anthrax will join Slayer for a major North American Fall tour that launches September 9. Tour Dates are here.
Blast from the 80s Past
MTV launches with the original VJ’s thirty-five years ago this month, August 1, 1981. Can you name ’em all?
(L to R: Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman (top), Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn and J.J. Jackson. Photo courtesy Mark Weiss.)
Metalheads Say The Damnedest Things
“I wish these guys all the best and hope they can resolve their issues. Ratt was a house band at Gazzarri’s when Stryper was a house band. Blotzer wasn’t in the band at the time and they were amazing. I used to chat with all of them back in the day and they were great guys. I think it’s sad and unfortunate when a member of a band (who isn’t really even an original, mind you) decides to drag the name and reputation of the band through the mud because he feels he has the right to do so.
I’m looking forward to seeing/hearing what Ratt (NOT Bobby Blotzer’s version) does. One of my favorite bands from the 80’s and here’s to more…”
~ Stryper frontman Michael Sweet commented on the conflict between the two Ratt camps – one with original members Stephen Pearcy (vocals), Warren DeMartini (guitars) and Juan Croucier (bass) and the other with Bobby Blotzer (drums) who is currently involved in a lawsuit over the Ratt name with his former bandmates.