Billy Sheehan, Holy Cow! on Mascot Records
by Ray Van Horn, Jr.
Now this is one motivated rock record! You have to think after the celestial aeronautics of Billy Sheehan’s 2005 solo album Cosmic Troubadour he worked a little something out of his system. That or he soon after reignited a passion for straightforward rock ‘n roll ala his Mr. Big, David Lee Roth and Talas days because Mr. Happy Fingers himself is absolutely on fire with his current solo project Holy Cow!
As Sheehan is dabbling in prog and funk in his side entity with Tony MacAlpine, Devil’s Slingshot, consider Holy Cow! Sheehan’s kid-at-heart playground just by the steadfast, goodtime feeling on “Dynamic Exhilarator” where he and famed guitarist Paul Gilbert go berserk in each other’s company with Army of Anyone drummer Ray Luzier pounding happily at their sides. “Dynamic Exhilarator” trucks on the heels of its preceding jam, the equally peppy“A Little Bit’l Do It To Ya Ev’ry Time,” the latter of which features leads from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.
Even with the midtempo lead track “In a Week Or Two (I’ll Give it Back to You)” and the steady gallop of “A Bloodless Casualty,” Billy Sheehan expounds his talents beyond searing bass licks by writing sharp-hooked rock numbers glossed with steady lead vocals, layered guitars and even some slicked-out harmonica on Holy Cow!. It’s hard not to get excited along with Sheehan on this album with the uptempo jive ‘n rock shuffling on “Just Another Humanoid” or the cheekily-titled punchy tunes “Two People Can Keep a Secret (If One of Them is Dead)” and “She Goes From Cruel to Missionary.” Returning to Sheehan’s private endeavors is Simone Sello(who previously appeared on Sheehan’s 2001 Compression album) on “Two People Can Keep a Secret (If One of Them is Dead).”
Scaling things back to a soulful twitch on “Turning Point,” Sheehan recruits one of hard rock’s most soothing voices, dUg Pinnick of King’s X, who gives the tune loft and essence. When you think about it, the more you listen to Sheehan’s own vocals on this album, they assume their own pinpointed Pinnick vibe, adding extraneous character to his songs you might not’ve expected coming to the table.
Of course, Billy Sheehan holds instrumental clinics with the aforementioned “Dynamic Exhilarator,” his dazzling “Theme From an Imaginary Sci-Fi” (nowhere even close in spirit to Mountain, but a funky enterprise nonetheless), “Sweat On An E String” and the dreamy sway guiding “Swimming Under Water” to the album’s finish line.
You’ve got to hand it to Billy Sheehan. The days of big arena rock are long gone, but not the artisans who were lords of the stage in their time. Simply stated, you can’t tell Billy Sheehan not to make an album as good as this. Were Holy Cow! released around the time of David Lee Roth’s Skyscraper, Sheehan could’ve possibly done his one-time employer in at that point. Holy cow, indeed!
Billy Sheehan
Holy Cow!
Mascot Records
Review by Ray Van Horn, Jr.
“Hello,
I recently head a song played that rocks but I didn’t hear the title or artist. All I can tell ya is the words, ” she’s all lips & hips”. I wondered if you could help me figure this out. Thanks for you time.” Greg
Greg, happy to help you out. The song is from the Electric Boys and it’s called “Lips N’ Hips”. Thanks for listening!
Iconic thrash band MEGADETH has just been confirmed to headline the first annual EPIPHONE Revolver Golden Gods Awards, presented by the Honda Fury April 7 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. America’s first-ever hard rock and heavy metal music award show will be broadcast on MTV2 as a one-hour special debuting Saturday, May 2. The ultimate evening of heavy music will also feature performances from Killswitch Engage, Hatebreed, All That Remains and Suicide Silence, along with a very special DJ set from Slipknot’s Corey Taylor to kick off the event. The night will culminate with rock legend Ozzy Osbourne being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
After over 20 million albums sold worldwide, metal legends Megadeth remain at the top of their game. The band are the reigning kings of thrash, with a classic catalog that stretches from Rust In Peace and Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? to their latest critically-acclaimed creation United Abominatio ns. Megadeth has headlined stadiums around the globe for 25 years and influenced a generation with their classic sounds, incendiary and thought-provoking lyrics and screaming guitars. The band is currently in the studio working on the follow-up to 2007′s United Abominations which will see its release in late ’09.
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine commends Revolver on the awards, noting: “Finally a heavy metal award, of the people, by the people, and for the people! This evening’s line-up of talent is a heavy metal fan’s wet dream! Only Revolver would have the credibility to make our dreams come true with the First Annual Golden Gods Awards. To see Ozzy get a lifetime achievement is long overdue. It is an honor to say, ‘YES! Megadeth will headline!’…I doubt Jethro Tull will be getting an award.”
Hosted by actor/comic Brian Posehn (“The Sarah Silverman Program”), the night–a celebration of one of rock’s most enduring and fan-supported genres–will also feature special appearances by Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, Glenn Danzig, Maynard James Keenan of Tool and Puscifer, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Alice In Chains, Vinnie Paul, Scott Ian, Olympic gold-medalist Shaun White, Chuck Billy of Testament, Protest The Hero, Marta Peterson from Bleeding Through, Isis, Ken Susi and Trevor Phipps of Unearth, Brendon Small from Dethklok, Steel Panther, WWE wrestler CM Punk, Sirius XM radio host Jose Mangin, Chaos radio host “Full Metal Jackie” and many more.
Rock fans have the opportunity to experience this incredible night of rock and roll for a low ticket price. A limited number of tickets are now on sale to the public via Ticketmaster.com (http://www.ticketmaster..com/event/0900424B8FB53F45?artistid=735627&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=200), select Macy’s, all Ritmo Latino stores and 800.745.3000. Tickets for Club Nokia events are also available from 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday at the STAPLES Center Box Office. General admission tickets are $35.00 and VIP tickets are $75.00. Look for additional information about the EPIPHONE REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS to be announced soon and go to www.GoldenGodsAwards.com for updates.
The EPIPHONE REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS are made possible through the support of title sponsor Epiphone Guitar and presenting sponsor the Honda Fury, along with MySpace Music, MTV2, Affliction Clothing, Sinful Clothing, Monster Energy Drink, Lionsgate’s new release Never Surrender, Sirius/XM, Century Media Records, Roadrunner Records, Prosthetic Records, E1 Entertainment, Nuclear Blast, Metal Blade, Snap Jack, Guitar World, Metal Hammer and LA Weekly.
PRYOR, OK—Rocklahoma, the premier eighties music festival being held July 9-12 in Pryor, Oklahoma has announced thirty-two of over ninety of the bands that will be playing at the Third Annual Rocklahoma.
Signed on to appear at the 3rd Annual Rocklahoma is Twisted Sister, Great White, Vixen, Saxon, Hurricane Alice, Helix, Danger, Danger, Warrant, Night Ranger, Gypsy Pistoleros, Nelson, KEEL, KIX, Bang Tango, Beautiful Creatures, LA Guns, Britny Fox, Faster Pussycat, Lillian Axe, Dirty Penny, Legendary Scorpions Drummer Herman Rarebell and Bonfire. Icon, Big Cock, Baton Rouge, Lord Tracy, featuring ex-Pantera vocalist Terry Glaze, Silent Rage, Warrior, Pair-a-Dice, Julliet, Wild Street, Vougan
More bands are to be announced in the upcoming weeks including the other three main stage headliners.
Over ninety bands will be performing over four days on four different stages. On three of the four stages, Rocklahoma has partnered with Retrospect records to showcase bands of the eighties.
Rocklahoma is one of the largest Rock Festivals of its type featuring music from the eighties. Attendance has come from all fifty states and six out of seven continents.
Both Playboy and Rolling Stone in 2008 called Rocklahoma one of the top festivals that should not be missed.
Catch The Fever Festival Grounds is located four miles north of Pryor, Oklahoma and has 6,200 assigned and numbered seats, as well as general admission on the lawn for over 50,000 people. The grounds also feature over 4,000 campsites, on-site parking, bathroom facilities, a convenience store, Rocklahoma also has a Picture Alley that allows anyone in attendance to approach the stage during any performance and take photographs of a favorite artist at close range.
Rocklahoma offers a one-day and four-day general admission passes, along with V.I.P. Passes that includes all the food and drink, including Free Miller Lite for all four days. Rocklahoma offers a layaway program on all ticket plans that enables fans to reserve their ticket at the current price.
The public can also order tickets online at www.feverfest.com, charge by phone at 1-866-310-2288, or any of the 3,200 O’Reilly Auto Part Stores across the United States.
“By the time you guys get your sweaty paws around this epistle, ‘Electric’ will probably be upon you. ‘Electric’, The Cult’s third album, The Cult’s electrifying new album that once and for all blows away certain accusations that continue to linger on much to the band’s distaste. To whit, that they are Goths/Hippies/post-Punk pinheads.” I wrote this back in the spring of 1987 in a four page feature for Kerrang! that rejoiced under the header ‘All You Need is Love’. In a nice touch the word ‘love’ was crossed out in that inimitable style created by the mag’s legendary designer, Steve ‘Krusher’ Joule, to be replaced by the word ‘rock’. The text goes to prove two things. Firstly, that I couldn’t write for toffee. I mean, ‘Epistle’?! Come on! And secondly, that I was right all along about The Cult.
From the first time that I saw the band, sometime back in ’85 in Oxford, when soon-to-be-dead drummer Nigel Preston was still in the band, I’d been in love with The Cult’s new manner of filtering rock through both post punk and psychedelic influences. I’d championed Astbury and Duffy with the fervour of a religious convert because I truly adored the band and thought they had something new and different and vital to offer. And at the age of 23 my love of The Cult’s music and my position at Kerrang! meant it wasn’t long before I came into close contact with them. It was a marriage made in heaven. A writer who wanted to expand his musical horizons and a band that was starting to realise that there was more to life – and more of a career to be had – outside of the UK’s limited and parochial indie scene.
Astbury was an interesting case. Aloof and intense, he wasn’t the kind of guy to sit drinking in the bar with you into the small hours, though judging by the size of him at the end of that band-breaking ‘Electric’ world tour he must have done a fair bit of it on his own. Duffy meanwhile, was the singer’s polar opposite, a fella who simply didn’t do pretence and who was much happier talking about a shared love for Man City than he was about guitar technique. I liked Duffy more than Astbury because I felt more comfortable around him, even though I knew he was a guy who used both who and what he’d got around him with the clear (if unstated) goal of becoming successful and making money. I’d already nicknamed him ‘Billy Business’ even back then! The Cult’s two driving forces were the ultimate odd couple and they didn’t seem all that matey. It looked more like they’d already worked out that mutual need was the best way to keep a band together, rather than adhere to my misplaced belief that you had to be the last gang in town for rock to work.
Of course ‘Electric’ was The Cult’s breakthrough moment, the album that took them out of the ‘weird Englishmen dabbling with guitars’ bracket and into the realms of America and the first foothold in the lucrative world of arena rock. Time and album sales proved that ‘Electric’ producer Rick Rubin knew what he was doing. Despite my protestations to the contrary in that Kerrang! article, though, deep down I was less than convinced about this Spinal Tap-style ‘hope you like our new direction’.
‘Electric’ was fun and it was undoubtedly rock, but its blueprint of ‘AC/DC thinned out’ just didn’t excite me in the same way as the earlier ‘Electric’ recordings with producer Steve Brown that had updated the band’s sound to be more riff-heavy and sinewy, but still retained plenty of ‘Essence Of Cult’. “We learnt to really look at ourselves and we learnt through Rick who it is that we really are,” Duffy told me in that interview. Maybe. Or maybe Rubin had simply explained to The Cult what it took to break America. Arena rock with easy-to-understand riffs, rock hair and rock clothes.
But whatever, I still loved The Cult. Loved their embracing of rock culture. Loved their swagger at a time when rock music only existed in a ghetto. They turned loads of British people with their heads too far up their own arses on to the power of rock. And loads of blinkered heavy metal fans onto a whole world of new. I can still remember Astbury playing me Soundgarden and Lenny Kravitz tracks on the tour bus way, way before they were household names. Astbury an early adopter of Seattle and grunge. Imagine that! So for me ‘Electric’ is still worth its place in the canon of work from a band I can’t help but hold very dear. But truth to tell for me it wasn’t until the following album, ‘Sonic Temple’, that the band really found their feet, their sound and their true moment in rock history.
And, the HOH love continues as we give congrats to the following 10 HOH listeners who each picked up a heavy four-pack stack of remastered Motorhead CDs. These are the brand new deluxe double CD packages of Ace of Spades, Bomber, Iron Fist and Overkill…enjoy your instant Motorhead library!
CD winners are:
Sam Adams – Apohaqui, New Brunswick, Canada – 98.9 Big John FM (CJYC)
Steve Conrod – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada – 89.9 HAL-FM (CHNS)
Eric Drakes – Transfer, PA – 107.5 The Fox (WFXJ)
Todd Hetland – Long Prairie, MN – WHMH 101.7
Ron Lynn – Cleveland, OH, WMMS
Tom McDonald – Swanton, OH – 104.7 WIOT
Patrick Murphy – Mesa, AZ – KDKB 93.3
William Parks – Fresno, CA – 105.1 The Blaze (KKBZ)
Tony Ricci – Johnston, RI – 94.1 WHJY
Bill Warner – Conway, SC – WAVE 104.1 (WYAV)
Here’s a great pic of one of our winners, Patrick Murphy, with his Motorhead booty!
Prizes should arrive within 3 weeks of posted winner names.
Thanks to ALL the HOH and Metal Fans who entered the contest!
- Dee and the House of Hair Team!
Motörhead DELUXE CD CONTEST
Complete (or start!) your Motörhead CD library with Deluxe CD editions of four Motörhead classics – Ace Of Spades, Bomber, Iron Fist, and Overkill. Lemmy would be so proud! Seriously, any metalhead worth his/her salt needs this collection! The double disc deluxe edition CD has these great features:
• Digitally remastered from the original master tapes
• Deluxe packaging with extensive liner notes, rare photographs, and memorabilia
• And contains a second disc featuring single B-sides, alternate versions, outtakes, rarities, and live tracks
Fill in the Entry Form. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY, please. Incomplete entries will be tossed out – all address fields, station (or how you heard about the contest) field, and name fields must be 100% complete!
How we choose the winner:
Only entries received by 4/1/09 will be considered. The HOH staff will choose the winners in a random drawing.
Contest Start Date: Monday, March 16th, 2009
Contest End Date:Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at midnight
Did I win the CDs? Winners will be announced FIRST in the HOH newsletter and then on the website.
The HOH CD contest is open to residents of the USA and CANADA only.
Register for our weekly spam-free HOH Newsletter
DISC 1 (ORIGINAL ALBUM)
1. ACE OF SPADES
2. LOVE YOU LIKE A REPTILE
3. SHOOT YOU IN THE BACK
4. LIVE TO WIN
5. FAST AND LOOSE
6. WE ARE THE ROADCREW
7. FIRE FIRE
8. JAILBAIT
9. DANCE
10. BITE THE BULLET
11. THE CHASE IS BETTER THAN THE CATCH
12. THE HAMMER
DISC 2 (BONUS TRACKS)
1. DIRTY LOVE
(B-side of “Ace Of Spades” single)
2. ACE OF SPADES (alt. outtake version)
3. LOVE ME LIKE A REPTILE
(alt. outtake version)
4. LOVE ME LIKE A REPTILE
(alt. outtake version)
5. SHOOT YOU IN THE BACK
(alt. outtake version)
6. FAST AND LOOSE (alt. outtake version)
7. WE ARE THE ROADCREW
(alt. outtake version)
8. FIRE FIRE (alt. outtake version)
9. JAILBAIT (alt. outtake version)
10. THE HAMMER (alt. outtake version)
11. DIRTY LOVE (alt. outtake version)
12. DIRTY LOVE (alt. outtake version)
BBC Radio 1, David Jensen Session:
13. FAST AND LOOSE
14. LIVE TO WIN
15. BITE THE BULLET/THE CHASE IS BETTER THAN THE CATCH
BOMBER
DISC 1 (ORIGINAL ALBUM)
1. DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES
2. LAWMAN
3. SWEET REVENGE
4. SHARPSHOOTER
5. POISON
6. STONE DEAD FOREVER
7. ALL THE ACES
8. STEP DOWN
9. TALKING HEAD
10. BOMBER
DISC 2 (BONUS TRACKS)
1. OVER THE TOP (B-side)
2. STONE DEAD FOREVER
(alternate version)
3. SHARPSHOOTER
(alternate version)
4. BOMBER
(alternate version)
5. Step Down
(alternate version)
6. LEAVING HERE (live)
7. STONE DEAD FOREVER (live)
8. DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (live)
9. TOO LATE TOO LATE (live)
10. STEP DOWN (live)
IRON FIST
DISC 1 (ORIGINAL ALBUM)
1. IRON FIST
2. HEART OF STONE
3. I’M THE DOCTOR
4. GO TO HELL
5. LOSER
6. SEX AND OUTRAGE
7. AMERICA
8. SHUT IT DOWN
9. SPEEDFREAK
10. (DON’T LET ‘EM) GRIND YA DOWN
11. (DON’T NEED) RELIGION
12. BANG TO RIGHTS
DISC 2 (BONUS TRACKS)
1. REMEMBER ME, I’M GONE
(B-side of “Iron Fist” single)
Live In Toronto (Maple Leaf Gardens 1982)
2. OVERKILL (live)
3. HEART OF STONE (live)
4. SHOOT YOU IN THE BACK (live)
5. THE HAMMER (live)
6. JAILBAIT (live)
7. AMERICA (live)
8. (DON’T NEED) RELIGION (live)
9. CAPRICORN (live)
10. (DON’T LET ‘EM) GRIND YA DOWN (live)
11. WE ARE THE ROADCREW (live)
12. NO CLASS (live)
BITE THE BULLET (live)
13. THE CHASE IS BETTER THAN THE CATCH (live)
BOMBER (live)
OVERKILL
DISC 1 (ORIGINAL ALBUM)
1. OVERKILL
2. STAY CLEAN
3. PAY YOUR PRICE
4. I’LL BE YOUR SISTER
5. CAPRICORN
6. NO CLASS
7. DAMAGE CASE
8. TEAR YA DOWN
9. METROPOLIS
10. LIMB FROM LIMB
DISC 2 (BONUS TRACKS)
1. LOUIE LOUIE (SINGLE A-SIDE)
2. TEAR YA DOWN
(B-side of “Louie Louie” single)
3. TOO LATE, TOO LATE
(B-side of “Overkill” single)
4. LIKE A NIGHTMARE
(B-side of “No Class” single)
5. LOUIE LOUIE (alternate version)
6. TEAR YA DOWN (instrumental)
7. TEAR YA DOWN (alternate version)
LIKE A NIGHTMARE (alternate version)
BBC Radio 1, John Peel Session
9. LOUIE LOUIE
10. I’LL BE YOUR SISTER
11. TEAR YA DOWN
BBC Radio 1, In-Concert 1979
12. STAY CLEAN
13. NO CLASS
14. I’LL BE YOUR SISTER
15. TOO LATE, TOO LATE
16. PAY YOUR PRICE
17. CAPRICORN LIMB FROM LIMB
Get your hair in the air and prepare, metalheads, cuz a two-hour, old school, heavy metal rager is about to go off!
The House of Hair is headed your way this week with Ozzy, W.A.S.P., my band Twisted Sister and a bunch more. Not only that, I have a pile of your heavy requests plus a killer Motorhead and Duff McKagan giveaway. Want in on the action? Then tune in, my metal minions! The House of Hair has the Aqua Net cannons primed and loaded! You don’t wanna miss it!
There’s a storm a brewin’ and it’s not about gray clouds and rain, my friends!
This is a category five, radio rager, full of old school, heavy metal, hairspray and pounding riffs! Oh yeah! So are you up for some old school head banging? Then come on in, metalheads–the music’s fine! The House of Hair is headed your way with Motley Crue, Slaughter, Guns N’ Roses and a whole bunch more! It’s a two-hour trip back to the finest and hairiest era of rock! You don’t wanna miss it!
FROM THE HALLOWED LIPS OF DEE SNIDER…
“In every great religion or society there are pilgrimages to be made and homage to be paid. The Islamic have Mecca, the Jews and the Muslims have the Wailing Wall, the Catholics have St. Peter’s Basilica, the Irish have the Blarney Stone and so on and so on. But, the ultimate pilgrimage for the old school, metal community is Rocklahoma. Each and every one of us must make the trip and pay homage to the Gods of Metal. Wait a minute….that’s me! And that’s why I’ve just got to go back to Rocklahoma this year…’cause there’s nothing quite like being paid homage to! It’s better than sex!”
That’s right bangers – Twisted Sister is headlining Rocklahoma Sunday night July 12th and closing down the whole festival. They did it in 2007 and this year will be even bigger, better, and more insane! AND, the House of Hair team will once again be covering all the action and giving our listeners a chance to win airfare, hotel, tickets and VIP access to all the rock stars.
The rocklahoma dates this year are July 9th – 12th. Superstar acts are being announced every week and the lineup is gonna be SICK! Check back often right here for all your rocklahoma updates. You can also purchase tickets to Rocklahoma at any of the 3,200 O’Reilly Auto Parts Stores across the U.S., by calling 866-310-2288 or by going online at www.feverfest.com.
MONSTER CIRCUS brings one of the most distinctive voices in rock to Las Vegas to perform in the inaugural Monster Circus shows. Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider will hold court for the month of March with show dates March 19-21 and March 26-28.
While best known as the lead singer of the acclaimed rock band, TWISTED SISTER, Dee Snider is more than a musician…Dee is a radio personality, television host, author, voice over artist, screenplay writer and actor. Dee begins his 12th year in radio hosting House Of Hair which is nationally syndicated to more than 200 stations in North and Central America. Additionally, Dee is the voice behind “Fangoria Radio,” a highly successful radio show that airs on both Sirius (Channel 102) and XM (Channel 155) satellite stations. Dee’s most recent project is the start of production on the feature film Strangeland: Disciple, the much-anticipated follow-up to Strangeland (1998), which he wrote and starred in. Dee now brings his unique voice to Monster Circus performing some of his favorite songs from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. For more information on Dee Snider, visit www.deesnider.com.
Tickets for Platinum Masters’ Monster Circus are $39-$66. A rock star VIP package is available for $86 and includes a meet-and-party pass, seating on the stage, photos and an opportunity to hang with the band after the show. All ticket prices exclude tax and fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box office, online at www.lvhilton.com, www.vegas.com, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361. Guests 12 to 17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
A truly unique spectacle, Monster Circus combines a high-octane live rock concert with sexy dancers, human circus acts, aerialists, freaks and of course, a tour bus full of platinum certified rock stars. The Monster Circus band features artists Rudy Sarzo (DIO and formerly of WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT and OZZY OSBOURNE), John Corabi (formerly of MÖTLEY CRÜE and RATT), Fred Coury (CINDERELLA), Bruce Kulick (formerly of KISS) and Tony Montana (formerly of GREAT WHITE). Special guests join Monster Circus during the 75-minute show performed inside the legendary Las Vegas Hilton Theater. For more information on Platinum Masters’ Monster Circus, visit www.myspace.com/monstercircuslasvegas.
Tuesday, April 21st is “Maiden Day”!! Iron Maiden’s first feature-length film, ‘Flight 666′, will be shown at over 400 theaters around the world – but for one day only. The film follows Iron Maiden on their 2008 ‘Somewhere Back In Time Tour’, which saw Iron Maiden’s first feature-length film, ‘Flight 666′, will be shown at 400 cinemas around the world – but for one day only. The film follows Iron Maiden on their 2008 ‘Somewhere Back In Time Tour’, which saw singer Bruce Dickinson fly the band and their crew around the globe on a specially commissioned Boeing 747 for most of the tour. Iron Maiden’s manager Rod Smallwood said,” ‘Flight 666′ is an access all areas-style documentary that sees the band performing onstage, travelling and relaxing in between shows.”
Congratulations to all the winners in the House of Hair’s recent Duff McKagan giveaway. Nah, we didn’t give away Duff himself, but we did hand out 25 copies of the new CD from Duff McKagan’s Loaded called Sick. One lucky winner also scored the grand prize – an autographed guitar and personal phone call from Duff! In fact, she’s gonna talk to Duff at 2:15pm today, so don’t be tying up her phone line!
Grand Prize Winner:
Suzanne Palafoutas, Chula Vista, CA – KZOZ
Suzanne’s winning entry:
Ten random reasons why I should win the contest: 1. “Sick” fits my physical state – I’ve been on cold medicine for a week. The CD would be a homeopathic solution to my ailment. 2. I have call waiting, so Duff won’t ever get a busy signal, and yes, I do click over. 3. I never wanted to get loaded with Duff — in this case, I would make an exception. 4. I’ve completely worn out my Wasted Heart EP and need a replacement. 5. I am anti-eBay and would keep the guitar forever — you cannot put a price on that! 6. I’ve been a fan of Duff’s since AFD and truly appreciate his musical talents. 7. The guitar would likely come from LA and since I live in CA, House of Hair would save on shipping costs. So, economically it’s a win-win for everyone. 8. I am proud of Duff’s musical achievements, his proverbial writings, and his overall genuineness as an individual and it would be awesome to tell him directly. 9. I would only let skilled guitar players touch the guitar because anyone else is not worthy of playing such an instrument. If Duff’s name is on it, only beautiful sounds shall it evoke. 10. Loaded rocks and so must I!
CD winners are:
Jason Knight, Graniteville, SC – listening online
Cheyenne Hennessey, Grahamsville, NY -WPDH 101.5
Troy Maturin , Kaplan, LA – KXOR 106.3
Rick Roggow, Reed City, MI – WCKC 107.1 The Bear
Hunter Williams, Leland, NC – WXQR 105.5
Robert Glover, Madison, TN – WRQQ 97.1
Janice Golden, Cross, SC – WIXV 95.5
Erin Cosgrove, Fort St. John, BC Canada – CKNL 101.5 The Bear
Patti Gonyea, Syracuse, NY – listening online
Jennifer White, Dubuque, IA – KXGE 102.3 The Eagle
Kenneth Bishop, Hinesville, GA – WIXV 95.5
Adam Volpe, Brockton, MA – WHJY 94.1
Ken Bigora, Remsenburg, NY – WRCN 103.9
Cassie “BHC” Hawks, Alexis, IL – WLSR 92.7 The Laser
Wilbert (Webb) Reffitt III, Westland, MI – WRIF 101.1 & WIOT 104.7
Lacie Hensley, Weaverville, NC – WTMT 105.9 The Mountain
Marissa Oberhelman, Flagstaff, AZ – KMGN 93.9
Steve Langford, Nanaimo, BC Canada – WRCN in NY
Jeff Hunt, Duryea, PA – WEZX 106.9
Denyse Gipple, New Sharon, IA – KAZR 103.3 The Lazer
Joseph Perozzi, Audubon, NJ – WMMR 93.3
Jason Alberts, Oshkosh, WI – WTCX 96.1
Mary Beth Mohnach, White Plains, NY – listening online
Tim Lay, Las Vegas, NV – listening online
EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS to Mike Jakubow at Century Media for already sending out the guitar and the CD’s and setting up the phone call with Duff. If we had your organizational skills, Mike, we’d rule the world!!
Prizes should arrive within 3 weeks of posted winner names.
Thanks to ALL the HOH and Metal Fans who entered the contest!
- Dee and the House of Hair Team!
Get “LOADED” with Duff McKagan!
Win a copy of Duff McKagan’s Loaded new “Sick” CD, and qualify to win his autographed guitar AND a personal phone call! 25 winners will get the new “Sick” CD and one grand prize winner will be chosen to win Duff’s autographed guitar and a personal phone call. Hey, maybe you can ask him about some of your favorite riffs!
Just tell us why you should win the CD, the guitar and the chance to talk to Duff. Entries will be judged on sincerity, humor, and general “rockness”. Blow us away – in 200 words or less! Only enter once, or your entries will be tossed. And don’t leave those fields blank – how will we get in touch with you when you win the guitar??
Following 2008′s “Wasted Heart” EP from DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED, the band will release, “Sick” on April 7th. It’s the first full-length studio album in eight years from the former GUNS N’ ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER bassist.
Duff McKagan. A man with a big reputation through his involvement with major bands. Guns n’ Roses and Velvet Revolver…you know the drill. But this isn’t about mega headlines, superstar status and volcanic ego mania. Loaded isn’t a band merely to fill in time, to allow the famed bassist to massage a hyper publicity drive. This is all about…music!
“When this band started in 1998, I was at college studying business,” recalls McKagan, who actually plays guitar and sings with this lot. “But I was sickened by all the crap music going around at the time. Seriously, I hated all these big bands who were coming through. So, I put together Loaded to play rock music the way I wanted to do it. We had no great gameplan or philosophy. We just wanted to get into the rehearsal room, begin writing songs and play music we felt.”
To some, Loaded might appear to have a punk rock influence. Actually, this is closer to the mark than you might believe. Forget about the musicality being close to punk, it’s the attitude, as McKagan is keen to explain: “When I was about 14, I saw The Clash play at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. That was in 1978, and it was amazing. I was expecting this superstar band to come onstage. Instead, the opposite occurred. The Clash were telling everyone that, ‘We’re all in this together. The musicians, the fans, we’re part of one family’. That idea’s never left me.”
McKagan has hand-picked the members of this band, feeling that each brings something special into the camp. “It’s not as if I bumped into all of them on the street and things happened by accident. I saw Geoff Reading play drums with Green Apple Quickstep (a cult mid-1990s Seattle band) and he was just an animal behind the kit. I knew then that I wanted to work with him at some point. Mike Squires and Jeff Rouse (guitar and bass, respectively) I watched with their band Alien Crime Syndicate, and again they really impressed me. “It’s not that I’ve taken these guys out of other bands, either. It’s not like that in Seattle. Good musicians tend to play in more than one band. And our producer, Martin Feveyear, is also part of the band in many respects. He’s also our tour manager and our live sound engineer! It’s the Seattle way. A small town mentality”.
The band released albums in 1999 and 2001, namely ‘Live Episode’ and ‘Dark Days’, before other commitments meant Loaded were put on the back burner to some extent, although they never split up. “No way! We’ve been playing Xmas charity shows in Seattle on an annual basis over the last few years,” says McKagan. “These have been growing in popularity as well. Then last Xmas, we started to talk seriously about doing a record, which is what has led us to this place. Now, I’ve been stockpiling songs for Loaded all the time. I’d write something and store it away for future use, so the idea of doing a new album has always been in my mind.”
The process of working on the new record, has excited Duff beyond expectations. “We all knew it would be fun to go into the studio (Jupiter in Seattle) and do a new album, but it’s actually been so inspirational. This isn’t a stellar Pink Floyd kinda effort. But it perfectly represents what we do so well.”
An EP, ‘Wasted Heart’, has already given everyone a taste of what’s to come, and the foursome’s togetherness is reflected in the fact that they took the opportunity to work on fresh songs during their recent tour of the UK and Europe.
“We practically lived on a tour bus, and we’d break out the acoustic guitars and write some new material. So ‘Sick’ is constantly evolving.” That tour itself has given Loaded another major boost. “We never expected the gigs to be so packed, and there were a lot of younger people turning up as well. Everyone seemed to appreciate what we’re about. Gilby Clarke [former Guns n' Roses guitarist] came to see us in Los Angeles at the Viper Room not so long ago, and he couldn’t believe how we did things. He called up the next day and was just amazed that we were so down to earth. No egos. No big star trips. Four guys enjoying the music and loving being in the same band.
“To me, Loaded is a group of equals. This isn’t a solo project where I pay some hired hands to play my songs. I might have the name, but we’re a real band. These guys aren’t afraid of me. And people are coming to the shows because they like Loaded, not because they’re fans of something else I’ve done.”
So, how would McKagan sum up this band for those who’ve never seen or heard them before? “Loaded is the band to make you realize how seriously the music industry takes itself.”
The album’s first single, “Flatline”, is now streaming at Playboy.com (where Duff also pens the weekly “Duffonomics” financial column). In addition to his new blog on Playboy.com – where McKagan says he hopes to “shed some no-nonsense light on day-to-day money issues” – Duff has penned a two-page “Success” column in the new March issue of Playboy magazine. He also continues to contribute his “Reverb” column to the Seattle Weekly.
“Sick” track listing:
01. Sick
02. Sleaze Factory
03. Flatline
04. IOU
05. The Slide
06. Translucent
07. Mothers Day
08. I See Through You
09. Forgive Me
10. No Shame
11. Blind Date Girl
12. Wasted Heart
13. No More
Fill in the Entry Form here. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY, please. Just tell us why you should win the CD, the guitar and the chance to talk to Duff. Entries will be judged on sincerity, humor, and general “rockness”. Blow us away – in 200 words or less! Only enter once, or your entries will be tossed. And don’t leave those fields blank – how will we get in touch with you when you win the guitar!
How we choose the winner:
Only entries received by 3/25/09 will be considered. The HOH staff will choose the winners based on sincerity, humor, and general “rockness”.
Contest Start Date: Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Contest End Date:Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at midnight
Did I win? Winners will be announced FIRST in the HOH newsletter and one week later on the website. Register for our weekly spam-free HOH Newsletter.
Yo, hoes! I’m getting ready to fire up this heavy metal dragster and spin some doughnuts on your neighbor’s lawn…wanna come? We’re gonna scream through two raging hours full of hard music with Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ratt and a ton of requests. Plus, a couple of twisted giveaways – a copy of Twisted Sister’s new DVD/CD, Live At The Astoria, an autographed Jay Jay French Epiphone guitar, and Duff McKagan’s Loaded new “Sick” CD AND his autographed guitar! You like free stuff, right? It’s all coming up on this week’s House of Hair, so grab the volume knob and sit tight!
Thanks to ALL the HOH and Metal Fans who entered the contest!
(1) copy of all 4 deluxe CD packages – Ace Of Spades, Bomber, Iron Fist, and Overkill.
One GRAND PRIZE WIINNER gets the “Sick” CD AND Duff’s autographed guitar AND a personal phone call!!