Weiland Falling Over….

What a mess.  And kind of like what we saw a few months back at the K-Rock PNC show, although Scott managed to stand up for that.  Just.  If you’re going to Jones Beach tomorrow I hope he manages to hold it together.

Mayhem Fest……

Just wanted to let you know I was in Houston at the weekend to check out the Mayhem Fest and it was great.  Sometimes these kind of events have some teething problems in their first year but everything at this show was first class, even in 110 degree Texan heat!

If you’re heading to the gig next week at Nassau Coliseum you will have a lot of fun.  There are three stages so there’s a lot to see, but my favourites were Airbourne, 36 Crazyfists, Disturbed and of course Machine Head and Slipknot.

Slipknot are really on fire right now.  I heard their new album last week.  It’s less experimental than their last (Volume 3) and more of an old school thrash album overall, although there are some softer elements that wouldn’t be out of place on a Stone Sour album.  It’s good, very solid. 

Slipknot’s set at Mayhem fest only featured the new single Psychosocial from All Hope Is Gone as the album isn’t out for a few more weeks.  But the show they put on was phenomenal.  Tons of energy, a revolving drum kit, Sid the DJ in a wheelchair (due to a previous on stage accident) but still clinging on to the clown’s rising platform at one point so he was suspended in mid air. 

The new Sliknot album has probably the best musicianship they’ve committed to disc.  Amazing guitar and drum work.  And lyrics that suggest those who think the band are just a novelty act in masks have got it very wrong.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky was on the show this afternoon.  He’s at MSG this week, you have tonight and tomorrow left if you wanna go.  If you’re a fan you really should.  Topics include fat people, Hitler and anal sex!  What more do you want from 90 mins of stand-up?  A fat bloke dressed as Freddie Mercury as Queen’s One Vision plays?  Well that’s how the show begins!

Look out for Ricky’s new movie Ghost Town out in Sept.  And if you missed the interview today, you can check it out on this web site.

Burn Notice

My new favouite show is back on USA tomorrow.  Last summer I was in the States and my friend had recorded a few Burn Notice episodes from season one cos she knew how much I’d love it.  So I am so happy to be living here now and have the show return.

It’s basically the new MacGyver!  A spy gets his “Burn Notice” - meaning he’s fired from being a spy, but this guy needs to find out who fired him and why.  In the meantime he has to earn money so he hires himself out to people who have problems - just like the A Team!  What a combination!

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better the blonde one from Cagney and Lacy (I don’t know which is which) plays the spy’s Mum.  She’s mental and smokes all day long - she’s also possibly the best thing in the show!  Set your DVR - TiVo / whatever!  We need the new MacGyver in 2008!

4th July

So I am back after a week off.  It was nice to visit family in the UK, but seven days of warm beer is enough for me.  At one pub I asked them if they could put a glass in the fridge to chill it for me, I just got a blank stare from the barman, who then told me I also couldn’t get any food as it was 8pm and the kitchen had closed!  This is just one silly story to demonstrate how much better it is in NY!

So, this is my first 4th July in the States and I’m quite excited.  In the UK I used to hang out with American friends who lived there, we’d have a BBQ and drink Budweiser, but I’m looking forward to doint it properly here.  However, can some people please tell me the best things to do.  I just spoke to one of my friends who said she was planning to hire a bike and ride around Central Park!  I was hoping for something a little more exciting!

Metal, Metal, Metal…….

I probably should have written this blog this morning, but to be honest I was far too hung over!

I went to see Maiden at MSG on Sunday night.  The gig was outstanding, the same set as they played in March in Jersey, but the stage show was much bigger.  A lot of pyro and a bigger mummy Eddie who appeared during Iron Maiden.

When Bruce was in K-Rock on Friday were talking of how this tour in terms of ticket sales has put Maiden on a par with The Stones and U2.  The band’s performance is also comparable, not only with those aforementioned superstars, but also with today’s metal outfits half Maiden’s age.  I love the likes of Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium, but they could still learn a thing or two from checking out Maiden.  Something Trivium actually mentioned when I ran into them post show.

There was an unoffical after party in a bar where Trivium and Maiden were hanging out.  At one point at about 2am Trivium decided it would be good if the bar played their new album.  Loudly.  This is a place which often has quiet Jazz bands performing in the corner, while diners quietly enjoy the French cuisine available.  So this was hardly like Axl playing Chinese Democracy in a Vegas strip club, but then I hate predictability.

So let me tell you, what I heard was great!  There is some shredding stuff on this CD.  And there’s a lot more screaming.  Matt Heafy sings too, and there are moments where the full throttle nature lets up, but if you thought The Crusade missed some of the ferocity of Ascendancy, it’s back on this new album.  Only the song writing and musicianship is above and beyond anything the band have done so far.  And while Trivium still proudly wear their influence on their sleeves (or their albums), what I heard will silence critics who considered The Crusade to be a Metallica facsimile.

I also heard a great cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘Iron Maiden.’  They nailed that classic.  It’s not a part of their new album, but will  be available on a Maiden tribute CD that you’ll be able to get free with Kerrang magazine in about three weeks time.  So look out for it!

Election

So as a Brit I can’t vote, but having arrived here in Jan it’s entertaining to watch all the election coverage.

I’ve noticed that the usual left / right wing spectrum isn’t as big a factor this time around as it seems age is.  The 25 years difference between Obama and McCain has led to this amusing website.  The sandwich is my favorite observation…………….

http://www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com/

Maiden

I know from the amount of you who keep calling in saying “Play some Maiden” or those who have called to share their excitement that they’ve bought tickets for this weekend’s shows, there are a lot of people out there who love Iron Maiden!

So, I’m just letting you know Bruce Dickinson will be joining me on the show at 4pm on Fri.

Also, we have more tickets for the PNC show to give away and I’m also gonna hook you up with the Somewhere Back In Time CD and Live After Death DVD.

I saw this show in Jersey back in March, it was amazing.  And this time around the show is on a bigger scale.  The set is from the Powerslave era, possibly Maiden’s best stage, and there are two Eddies!

Tap Are Back……..

……. Well sort off.

Check out the link bellow, and enjoy Nigel Tuffnell from Spinal Tap in a recent discussion about Stonehenge!

As much as I like all the Christopher Guest’s work (Best In Show, For Your Consideration etc) I wish he’d do more Tap stuff. How great would it have been if their Live Earth gig last year lead to a full tour?!!!! Anyway, enjoy this………

www.roadrunnerrecords.com

No More Dirty Harry…

Check this story…

www.cbsnews.com

Clint Eastwood has said he won’t be playing Dirty Harry again, thank God! I love Dirty Harry, but Eastwood is 78. I’ve decided that Charles Bronson set the president for the age limit of old men reprising an action role - in Death Wish 5 he was 73. No one should be older than this if they’re making another instalment of a franchise, unless it’s Peter Falk playing Columbo and maybe James Garner as Jim Rockford.

However, this does mean Stallone has enough time to make a couple more Rambos, which I’d quite like.