On June 20, Single Print Index (Code Orange, etc.) performed live for the first time during Pain Clinic’s “LOVE HURTS” album release show at Preserving Underground in New Kensington, PA. You can see some fan-filmed footage from that set below:
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Silent Planet On Performing In Ukraine: “The Unity We’ve Experienced Here Is Unlike Anything We’ve Seen”
Yesterday (June 20), Silent Planet performed at the Atlas in Kyiv, Ukraine. Notably, the band were the first American artists to perform in the country since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
The group, who are also booked for today’s (June 21) !FESTrepublic in Lviv, Ukraine, commented:
“Last night we had the honor of singing with the beautiful people of Kyiv. After the show, we were informed that we are the first American band to come since the horrific Russian invasion began in 2022.
After the show we met people who have lost their homes, families, and even limbs. Yet these people aren’t merely surviving – they somehow thrive in the face of annihilation, and meeting them has forever changed our lives. Their joy is proof that the war machine will falter and the human spirit will live on long after the bombs and tanks are ground to dust and become fuel for sunflowers.
I will never forget meeting Michael, who lost his leg in the war but still managed to go so hard in the pit that his wheelchair fell apart.
During the show we took a minute of silence for those who lost their lives during this war… and just thinking about it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The unity we’ve experienced here is unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime as a band.
The fight for Ukrainian freedom is the fight for human freedom. And we will make sure to come back to this place that has forever changed us. Thank you, Kyiv. Now it’s time to take the stage in Lyiv. Lovers Forever 🌻”
You can see fan-filmed footage from the set below:
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Former Godsmack Drummer Shannon Larkin Defends The Band’s Decision To Hire The “Overqualified” Mike Mangini
As previously reported, Godsmack recently recruited Mike Mangini (ex-Dream Theater) to handle drums on their current tour. Now, the band’s former drummer, Shannon Larkin, has defended the group’s decision to hire someone viewed as “overqualified.”
Larkin said the following:
“The talent level of Mike Mangini being supremely high in the drum world does not mean that Mike Mangini can’t come in and slam a drum like me or John Bonham or whoever plays a simpler style of music. And for what it’s worth, these people that feel this way, prog rock nation or whatever, they probably only heard the songs that everyone hears from GODSMACK, and they don’t listen to the rest of the records where we’re not progressive, but we play more intricate metal riffs and songs, like ‘Locked & Loaded’, like ‘Livin’ In Sin’. I mean, I could name songs that aren’t just ‘Keep Away’ and ‘Voodoo’ and ‘Speak’ and ‘Cryin’ Like A Bitch’ or whatever. And I’m certainly not defending it, because you just look at success, people. And we were very, very successful, and GODSMACK will continue to be very successful, whether it’s Mike Mangini playing the drum or [GODSMACK frontman] Sully Erna, who played on the first two records and could play the drums if he wants anyway. But I know that Mike would not overplay and wouldn’t feel bored playing in a big rock band like GODSMACK if it’s not… I just hate the word ‘overqualified’ in drumming. And then everybody, of course, has to shoot their examples. Rod Morgenstein [playing with] WINGER, right? And so I dare any of those dudes to try and learn some DIXIE DREGS Rod Morgenstein, and then they have the nerve to try and diss him for joining a rock band like WINGER, who’s very simple. I don’t know their songs, but they were famous. And everybody then has to throw their two cents in about money, cash, money, ‘Oh, it’s for the money. Selling out. Terry Bozzio played for MISSING PERSONS for the money. He wants money.’ It’s, like, well, how else are we gonna pay our rent? Or if you wanna, God forbid, get a mortgage, buy a house, maybe get married, have a kid. What are you gonna do? And then you got all this talent ’cause you can play fucking — I don’t know, whatever hard prog song that y’all prog dudes say that’s the holy grail. Like it used to be in thrash, ‘Angel Of Death’ [SLAYER] or whatever, if you could play that. Or on guitar, ‘Eruption’, that kind of thing. I’m sure there’s a prog song that y’all say, ‘Oh, ‘La Villa Strangiato’, it should be.’
So anyway, all these people are… They like to say, ‘That’s like if Virgil Donati played for AC/DC.’ And in every example that I’ve read, and as I see all these comments, I’m thinking, man, everybody that you’re naming, whether it’s in the positive sense, your Virgil or your whoever, you people will never be that. You can have all the talent in the world, but what you don’t have is vibe or feel. And see, Mike has that too. But Mike’s not a man that would sit there and write, ‘Oh,’ negative remarks. Because with accomplishment on your instrument also comes these scores of hours, weekly or daily, of practice. And so once you get to the level of a Mike Mangini, you gain humbleness. It just happens with greatness.
In the world of active rock, people are very judgmental towards any kind of… It a comparison thing. They like to compare. And so the best comments that I saw on the whole Mangini thing were the GODSMACK real fans that were going, ‘Wow, that could be a different sound for GODSMACK even, having that much of a different player.’ And so they’re looking at it like it’s not a comparison of, ‘Oh, is he better or worse?’ than Wade Murff or Shannon Larkin or Will Hunt or Tommy Stewart, all the drummers now that have been behind the throne with GODSMACK. Joe Darko was the first one.
To get in that situation anyway, you gotta have high skills. You don’t get in the audition room unless you have a name somehow. All these people saying these negative things, they didn’t get an audition. They wouldn’t get an audition. And they can justify, ‘Oh, we’re way overqualified.’ Be way overqualified as you’re managing Best Buy, you know what I mean? And then you go home on your Neil Peart kit and you can play every DREAM THEATER song, and you’re overqualified. And you can feel good about yourself, but you’ll never get the call, you know what I’m saying? So, negativity and karma is a bitch.
My point, it’s about feel and vibe. You gotta have the talent to get the audition and get in there, but then, for whatever reason, Wade Murff, it didn’t work. And I watched the videos, and I was cheering Wade Murff on. What a great drummer and great dude. But sometimes it’s not about that. And I know he’s such a good dude, it wasn’t personal either. It wasn’t because they couldn’t get along or some bullshit. It wasn’t that. But Sully is a perfectionist. My boy, my friend Sully Erna is a perfectionist, especially when it comes to drums because he’s so good as a drummer. That dude’s my level. And I’m not bragging saying I’m high level, but, yeah. You know, experience.
The only thing I could see in any kind of criticism towards Wade Murff, as I watched videos back through the shows — every show’s online — was the interaction of tempo push and pull wasn’t as smooth perhaps, but Sully and I have been on the same page for over two decades playing live shows and making records together. And so what I try to explain to people about tempo and when you’re not a band that’s a click-track, backing-track kind of band. So GODSMACK uses no click tracks, no backing tracks. It’s a thing that a lot of other musicians talk about too, I notice now. I’m really noticing it. We’ve been saying it for years as we watched the advent of everybody started adding some, the rhythm guitar or something being played, but there isn’t a guy behind the amps playing it. It’s on a track. Oh, it’s a new thing, kinda. And backups, you see Nikki Sixx up there [with MÖTLEY CRÜE]. He’s not really singing, he looks away, but you still hear his voice. Well, it’s a track playing. But in order for those things to happen, the band has to be on a click track — and the band doesn’t have to. It’s just us, the drummer. We’re on a click, so it’s always the same every night. So it’s a homogenization of what used to be the dangerous feeling of a rock show — dangerous from the band’s aspect on stage too. You don’t know what’s gonna go on.
We’re humans. We do make mistakes. That’s another thing that I did notice [while watching videos of Wade with GODSMACK], was little tiny mistakes that I’d see. And, of course, it’s a brand new gig so you can’t… But I do know that Sully is a perfectionist and that he was used to somebody that didn’t make mistakes. And when I say that, it’s not a bragging thing. I can say it now ’cause I saw [former MOTÖRHEAD and current SCORPIONS drummer] Mikkey Dee say, ‘I never fuck up,’ quote, on Blabbermouth last week. And then I had to read that, of course. And he’s, like, ‘Yeah, if you’re well-rehearsed, and you don’t get drunk or do drugs or something before the show, and you show up, you have all the songs in your mind, and you’re a good drummer, well, why would you fuck up?’ So he goes, ‘I don’t fuck up.’ He even went as far as saying, ‘I told the SCORPS when I joined that I don’t fuck up.’ So I’m not being conceited saying ‘I don’t fuck up. I’m saying I don’t fuck up.’ Unlike Mikkey Dee, I do fuck up some time, and it was approximately once a year. And when I fucked up, I fucked up. And I’d start the wrong song. And the band’s, like, ‘That’s a fuck-up,’in front of 10,000 people. And you’re, like, ‘Oh.’ And all you can do is laugh it off. ‘Oh, Shannon’s nervous tonight,’ or something. But that’s it.
But anyway, if indeed Wade was making little mistakes even, but repeatedly, then I could see my perfectionist friend, Sully Erna, just probably realizing, it’s gotta be perfect for him or it’s not gonna be perfect.
It looks like Mike has joined the band. Is that forever? Probably. And I know if anybody can do it, Mike Mangini can do it. He has the beast in him, too, to be a big rock drummer and not have to do a zillion notes or something. So don’t underestimate big Mike. And he’s got a Boston accent, fits in with the the guys, I feel. And he’s an interesting drummer to watch, that’s for sure. He’s quirky. He does some cool, quirky, crazy shit back there. So he’s a showman. And he’s gonna be off the click. And he knows the push and pull, see? It’s experience.”
[via Blabbermouth]
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I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe On New Single “Paradise”: “There’s Something Cool We Did With It”
During an interview with Wall Of Sound, I Prevail vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe discussed the band’s new single “Paradise” (out June 26). According to him, “there’s something cool [the group] did with it.”
Eric Vanlerberghe said the following:
“It’s got some singing. It’s got some screaming. It’s got some special… I don’t wanna give too much away, but there’s something cool we did with it, and I can’t wait for people to hear it. But, yeah, it’s coming up quick, and I’m excited for people to see what we’re cooking.”
He also explained why the track wasn’t featured on their latest album “Violent Nature”:
“Honestly, we wrote it after the record was done. What’s been great about this last few years is, in the past we would tour, tour, tour, and then go, ‘Okay, we’re gonna take some time off and work on a record.’ And the last few years, honestly, having Jon [Eberhard], our bassist, be our producer, we’ve been able to go, ‘All right, let’s start demoing some stuff. Let’s rent a studio and just start working on some stuff.’ We were over in Europe, and, ‘Oh, okay.’ We got a big hotel room. We can just jam in the room for a little bit and start working on ideas and just be more fluid and more creative on the spot rather than go, ‘Okay, we gotta lock down and sit down and work for six weeks to do something.’ So, as soon as ‘Violent Nature’ was out, we were already just keeping the muscle of creativity fresh and continuing writing. And we got stuff that I don’t know if it’ll ever come out, but it’s just fun to create and write and keep that muscle flexing.”
[via Blabbermouth]
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Filter Frontman Richard Patrick: “Having A Political Opinion Is A Dangerous Thing These Days”
During an appearance on Rocking With Jam Man, Filter’s Richard Patrick opened up about the death threats he received for his outspoken views. The frontman, who has been known to criticize the Trump administration and right-wing ideals, says “having a political opinion is a dangerous thing these days.”
Patrick said the following when asked if artists have a responsibility to speak out about political issues:
“No, I think it’s a personal choice, obviously, if someone wants to use their platform politically. But guys like Bono and Joe Strummer and Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello and Robert De Niro, and people that speak out against the Trump administration, I think they’re incredibly brave. I’ve received death threats. So that’s why I’ve kind of silenced myself, because I don’t want… I have kids and… I was doxed, and there was a whole bunch of shit that went down that I don’t want to really talk about.
So I’ve kind of had to shut up because I can’t really… You know Filter‘s a big band and we’ve traveled the world over, but I can’t afford 24-hour security and that’s what Bono and Bruce Springsteen, luckily they have that. Because the death threats are real. You have to take them seriously.
And it’s so easy to make them, you start up a fake account on Instagram, you DM me that you’re going to kill my family and now that’s a threat, and so I have to worry about that. And I have friends in the FBI and stuff like that. So I feel protected, but yeah being outspoken is a dangerous thing these days, which is really sad. That’s really one of the things that pisses me off about this world we live in.”
He continued when asked if it’s harder to speak out:
“Absolutely. People want to say how they feel and they’re criticized for it by the other side, whether it’s right or wrong, you know? And in my case getting death threats, and horrible things getting said about my kids online, there’s a whole litany of things I could go through and tell you about. But the repercussions of just having a political opinion is a dangerous thing these days.”
He also added the following about stage banter:
“I don’t talk politics. I let the lyrics do the talking. I don’t preach from the stage. I try not to… I don’t have a soapbox on the stage. I just try and bring everybody together. If they pick up on what I’m saying in the lyrics, good for them. But I mean I just played a show in Arkansas, I’m not bringing in politics to it. Because at a certain point you just you realize people are set in their ways. And I probably could have…. We saw what happened with The Black Crowes, you know, he brings up political stuff, and half the audience just walks out, like they’re just not going to listen, you know?
So, it’s one of those scary things where you just have to artistically say your mind, speak your mind, which I’m doing. And I’m very political when it comes to the lyrics of Filter songs or A Place To Kill songs. But you have to kind of know your audience and know that some people just don’t want to hear it. So you have to, in an effort to bring people together musically, you have to kind of be very skilled at how you say it.”
He also agreed that fans can still connect with artists who don’t align with their beliefs:
“I mean, yeah, I would hope that people… I’m a fan of a band that is Christian. They’re a Christian band, and I’m not a Christian. I’m an atheist. And when they start bringing up, you know, lords and saviors and stuff like that, I feel a little alienated. But at the same time, I respect where they’re coming from, and I appreciate the sentiment behind what they’re saying, because universally it’s it’s good what they’re saying. So I tend to accept the way an artist is and just appreciate their music.”
[via The PRP]
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