Readers Poll Results
We asked and you answered! In random order, here are the results of our first reader’s poll.
TOP 20 GREATEST LOVE SONGS BY A ROCK BAND
always BON JOVI
warmness on the soul AVENGED SEVENFOLD
whole lot of love LED ZEPPELIN
closer NINE INCH NAILS
bittersweet APOCALYPTICA
crazy on you HEART
closer LACUNA COIL
I don’t want to miss a thing AEROSMITH
with or without you U2
goodbye to romance OZZY
forever AS I LAY DYING
solitude BLACK SABBATH
venus doom HIM
tallulah SONATA ARCTICA
everything dies TYPE O NEGATIVE
blurry PUDDLE OF MUDD
my immortal EVANESCENCE
every time I Look At You KISS
this love PANTERA
fade to black METALLICA
TOP 20 GREATEST ANTI-LOVE SONGS BY A ROCK BAND
love stinks JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS
best of you FOO FIGHTERS
love like winter AFI
piece of my heart JANIS JOPLIN
fake it SEETHER
in my darkest hour MEGADETH
heaven’s a lie LACUNA COIL
too late for love DEF LEPPARD
slackerbitch PLACEBO
4 words to choke upon BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
i hate everything (about you) UGLY KID JOE
cult SLAYER
leave this place KORN
should i Stay or should i go SEX PISTOLS
song or suicide HIM
i hate everything about you THREE DAYS GRACE
in your face CHILDREN OF BODOM
go away GODSMACK
unspoken LACUNA COIL
aesthetics of hate MACHINEHEAD
MOST BELOVE ROCK BAND
Your voted relentlessly and the winner by a landslide….
H.I.M.
Love & Hate: Eight Songs For Your Valentines
If you’re in love or if you’ve lost love, everyone who needs music in the veins knows that some songs sum up the way you feel far better than you could…
LOVE
Foo Fighters / “everlong”
“Everlong” is a contender for the best Foo Fighters track ever and a firm crowd favourite from an era before Foo Fighters became a household brand. Whilst first single from The Colour and the Shape kicked our doors in to demand attention, “Everlong” soothed us and reminded how everything would be okay.
Pearl Jam / “Last Kiss”
Pearl Jam’s cover of a 1960s country song by Wayne Cochran became an unexpected underground hit before it was properly released. This song makes no apologies about mixing a love story with a car crash and it is as bitter as it is sweet. Pearl Jam were one of the rock bands that helped define the American rock in the 90s and whether or not you agree with them covering a 60s country track, Eddie Vedder’s baritone vocals are undeniably well suited to sing about tragic love.
Goo Goo Dolls / “Iris”
This song changed the definition of success for a band who occupy a rare ground between rock and mainstream attention grabbing. “Iris” is one of the few film soundtrack songs that outlive the mass appeal of their accompanying music video made entirely of action film clips. Probably the only song that could ever make watching a woman through a telescope sound romantic, or perhaps it’s simply the anticipation of being so close yet so far which appeals.
Tool / “Schism”
“Schism” reminds us that rhythm is an art form; this song hit the public consciousness like a baseball bat and ushered in a new era of Tool, as the first single from the epic album, Lateralus. A prime example of music from a band that can’t be imitated; this song looks at one single aspect of relationships communication. As a relationship starts to rot we all face the frustration of knowing everything that we used to agree on has somehow broken down.
ANT-LOVE
Killswitch Engage / “My last serenade”
Writing songs about a girl is one of the best ways to charm her. This song explains what happens when love turns to rust and it’s complete with the aggression that you would expect of anyone who knew they were delivering their last serenade. The anger of this song makes a rare balance with the harmony in the chorus.
Tool / “Pushit”
Love is both an adventure and a struggle at the same time, this is a fact, and “Pushit” is one of the few songs ready to admit it.
“Pushit” first appeared on Ænima and was later reincarnated for the live album Salival, which starts the song with lead singer Maynard Keenan explaining that they’ve been looking “at one of their songs in a new light” before launching into a song that was even more epic and meaningful than the original.
Stone Temple Pilots / “Sour Girl”
This slow and reflective song felt like a contradiction for a band better known for loud ‘n’ fast songs, yet it remains one of their best. Lead singer Scott Weiland tells the tale of two people who were happy when apart and sour when together. It doesn’t make any profound statement on love, but it has one of the best and most effective choruses of any love song, giving the song an uplifting yet melancholy edge.
Nickelback /“How you remind me”
The song that single handedly made millions of people run out and buy Nickelback’s Silver Side Up tells the story of falling in love with someone who will happily stamp on your heart. Many of us have been there, and the smart amongst us will not go there again. It tells the story of learning to value yourself in a world full of other people through loud guitars, rather than through self-help DVDs featuring a man in a jumper insisting “you can…” do whatever it is you’ve been stalling on due to lack of spine.
Andrew S Valentine
The Guitar Center’s Drum Off Grand Championship
There are only two people in the world. Adam and Eve. Gronka and Onka. It doesn’t matter. Suddenly one of them is in peril and the mate is nowhere to be found. For the purposes of our story, let us say that the female half of the population has a headache. She wants her temples rubbed. Onka, or is it Gronka, picks up a stick and bangs on the boulder beside her. Even picks up a sheep’s bone and bangs on the hide of an animal that has been stretched taut around a crude wooden frame.
Adam hears the pounding and comes running. Gronka (Onka?) does the same. Gentle fingers are applied, headache vanishes, and six million years later we’re here writing about that same concept – no, not massaging a lover’s forehead. Banging on something to make a noise, to communicate.
Here, on Saturday, January 5th, at the Music Box in Hollywood, Guitar Center hosted the Drum-Off Grand Championship. Three months ago, droves of drummers were driven to sign up for the preliminaries of this event. Two hundred and thirteen Guitar Center stores played host to the bangers, knockers, kickers, thumpers, bumpers, and beaters. Winners advanced from store preliminaries to store finals; store finalists went on to compete at the district level at one of twenty-four GC outlets. This whittled down selection of players proceeded to one of four regional events held at the Guitar Center stores in New York City, Hollywood, Chicago, and Houston. And the final four winners of these drum-offs advanced to the heads-up battle on January 5th.
The four finalists included Paul Stoot, Sherman Arnold, Daniel Marple, and Ivan Garcia. Each of the four contestants played a 5-minute solo spot before a judging panel that included: Steve Smith (ex-Journey); Kenny Aronoff (studio man extraordinaire); Vinny Appice (Heaven and Hell); Joey Castillo (Queens of the Stone Age); Alan White (former Yes); David Garibaldi (Tower Of Power); Ray Luzer (Army Of Anyone and Korn); John Tempesta (Rob Zombie); Thomas Lang (Queens of the Stone Age); and several other hip stickmen.
Prior to the four-way battle, drummers Steve Smith and David Garibaldi were singled out and presented with the “Drum Legends Award.” Named one of the top 25 drummers of all time by Modern Drummer in 2001, Steve Smith, occupied the drum chair for the rock band Journey from 1978-1985. He returned to the band in 1995 for their 1996 comeback, Trial By Fire. And David’s stickmanship with Oakland’s Tower Of Power truly set the standard and style of what a funk drummer needed to sound like.
After these special commendations, rhythmist Paul Stoot was up first. He worked a lot of patterns off his bass drum and was not tremendously engaging. Though he admitted, “I can’t go anywhere without a beat in my head,” he must have left his pattern book at home because he truly didn’t make much of an impression.
He was followed by Sherman Arnold, a musician with 16 years of experience. There was a little more show in his solo outing but his use of a double bass pedal provided for some strange transitions between passages and the overall effect was weak. A better player than Stoot, his stick twirling would not be enough to save him.
From the moment Daniel Marple sat down and announced, “Let’s get rad,” there was no question about the level of his technique, the execution, and simply his overall presence. His fills and rhythms were more technical than the previous two competitors, and he fused everything together with a real sense of imagination. During one wonderful passage, he held two sticks in his right hand so that one stick hit the top of his hi-hat while the other one caught the bottom of the cymbals. Very unique. Audience and judge response was loud and long.
Closing the evening’s competition was Ivan Garcia. He embodied a very funky/Latin feel and while he was superior to the first two combatants, he was not at the same level as Marple.
The judges took a few minutes to tabulate their votes and, not surprisingly, chose Keyser, West Virginia Daniel Marple as the winner. Coming in first place, the young drummer received money/prizes totaling about $50,000. This is a far cry from the first Drum-Off held 19 years when the competition was held in the parking lot of a Guitar Center and the winner walked away with a t-shirt and three pairs of drum sticks (or some suitably under whelming prize).
In fact, the winner took home a Toyota FJ Cruiser, $10,000 cash; a feature in a Guitar Center ad campaign; a $2,500 Levi’s shopping spree; a custom designed drum kit from DW, Pearl, Tama or Gretsch; a Roland TD20 electronic drum-set;a set of cymbals custom printed with the winner’s signature; a one year drum, cymbal, stick and head endorsement deal; and a write up in Modern Drummer magazine.
Marple is a gifted player and deserved the prize. Given a couple years in the trenches as a studio player and serious touring sideman, he may well go on to make a real name for himself.
Daniel made a few comments after scoring first place.
“These guys (his other competitors) are awesome. I truly felt honored to be on the same stage with these guys. I want to thank Guitar Center, my friends. I want to thank God.”
Some of the previous Drum-Off winners have become real mainstays in the world of rhythm. Cora Coleman, first place taker in the 2002 battle now plays with Prince, appeared on his recent 3121 album, and was part of the purple one’s performance at Super Bowl XLI.
Coleman was present this night and, in fact, was the sole female drummer represented. After appearing on a sort of makeshift red carpet where all the arriving drummers/judges stood for a couple minutes in order to field questions and pose for shots, she stopped for a few comments.
XS BS: Obviously Prince could play with any drummer he wanted to. That must be a real compliment to be playing with him?
Coleman: “I’ve learned a lot working with him. He’s definitely a genius. My experience with Prince has helped cultivate my musicianship. It is a treat to see him navigate through so many realms of performance, recording, marketing, and business. He has totally maximized his life with knowledge of everything from engineering, to gear, musical content…. pretty much every aspect of his musicianship is so on point! So it demands that everyone around bring it up a notch! Sometimes he will suggest things that he hears already and sometimes we just vibe or it can be a combination of his groove and my lil’ thing on top. He may even come in and just sit on the kit and play what he feels. I wouldn’t generalize it as demanding (though, sometimes it can be) but pretty awesome to make tangible history with such a timeless music icon!”
XS BS: What were your feelings about the Drum Off? What did you think of the winner (Daniel)? How did you like his performance?
Coleman: “I’m really in awe of the evolution of the Drum-Off as an event most looked forward to by, not just aspiring drummers but now the general public. The way GC has incorporated the video interviews and the killer bands that performed, it really has grown tremendously! I was glad to be a part of the event! Daniel really represents the winner’s chair! He had a very versatile solo that spoke volumes. The other competitors were fierce but he really left his mark!
XS BS: You were the only female in attendance at the Drum Off - how does that feel? The reality is, I can only think of a few female drummers/percussionists. Do you in any way feel like you have to carry the banner/mantle for female drummers? Or do you just go out there and do your thing?
Coleman: “I guess being the only female around does sort of stand out, huh? I totally recognize that my visibility in the music world and especially in the community of drumming is a banner for female drummers. I think everyone on all levels is a role model whether they play in a small band or in a large arena simply because there is always SOMEONE watching and to whatever that degree is, that is your influence. So I do “my thing”, but I try to do it well and enjoy myself and the experience! (smile”)
XS BS: And finally, what are you final observations about the word of drummers?
Coleman: “I think there is an endless realm of possibilities with drumming, music and life in general!! On whatever level, I exhort folks to dream, pursue and enjoy!!!”She’s a remarkable player and just the way she handles and presents herself is completely engaging.
You must be a great player to make your bones at this highest level. But many times, it comes down to the personality – does this person draw you in while they’re playing? Does this drummer really appear to be having fun?
Coleman, though only present on the red carpet for a few minutes, conveyed all these elements. You can read between her words and understand that this individual is the same Cora whether she’s back there mixing it up with Prince or simply taking a few minutes to answer some not-tremendously-profound questions at a local Drum-Off. She has passion for everything.
She also mentioned that winning the 2002 competition earned her endorsements with dozens of companies. Another benefit of being the best.
So, winning this award is no small achievement for a player. It is a real kick start for an up-and-coming musician. There is no guarantee of continuing on and landing a gig with Prince or scoring major endorsement deals. But the doors have been opened and now it is up to the player himself to mark out his own territory.
Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins was the evening’s host. When he first walked onto the abbreviated red carpet, he said:
“I’m so happy to be flashed (referring to the cameras). Tonight we’re gonna be plastered by rhythms and paradiddles. Just tell me … I look great! The drummers will be judged on stage presence, creativity, and chops.”
XS BS: Tell us just a little bit about your own playing?
Perkins: “My first influences were Gene Krupa, Keith Moon, and John Bonham. Then there was African tribal music, the tiger drummers of Japan … I wanted to play in between the beat.”
Later, he introduced the Street Drum Corps with Adam Alt, Bobby Alt, and Frank Zummo, as they beat the hit out of everything on the stage. Then, Perkins brought up the various celebrity judges and as each judge took the stage, an accompanying video was flashed on huge side screens.
Perkins indulged in a brief marimba segment that was a little too strange to be taken seriously. But he was having fun and the audience acknowledged that.
Following his marimba thing and the competition proper, he brought out uestlove for a set uestlove has certainly stamped his unique funk/rock style on the music he creates. The band, Go Get a Late Pass!!! and the Roots took the stage for a set that combined the weird musicality of Frank Zappa with the psychedelic pulse of Jimi Hendrix with just a soupcon of Archie Bell/Drells and Buddy Miles tossed in. With Tuba Gooding on sousaphone and Capt. Kirk Douglas on electric guitar, they ran through a list that included bits and pieces of Hendrix’s “Machine Gun,” Dylan’s “Masters of War,” and various segues held together with uest’s ultra-funky backbeat (he really is reminiscent of what Buddy Miles brings to the drums), Douglas’ distorted guitar, and Tuba’s sousaphone-as-bass guitar riffs. Truly, Tuba’s approach to the instrument is remarkably unique and at moments it was uncanny in the way that his brass instrument really sounded like and conveyed the punch and essence of a regular electric bass guitar.
Angels and Airwaves closed the evening. Tom DeLong did his sort of normal spastic dance routine and the band – David kennedy, Matt Wachter, and Adam Willard – ran through a number of songs. The U2 influence was especially heavy on this evening and the triggering of what sounded like auxiliary music loops and rhythm tracks didn’t do much but litter an already bass heavy and muddied sound.
As the band was running through its routine, drummer Nate Morton was seen walking down the aisle. Morton, the drummer for the House Band that backed the various singers on the Rock Star: INXS show, was certainly one of the most gifted players in attendance. He agreed 100% with the panel’s selection of Marple as competition winner. Morton is a remarkable player, versatile, a rock pocket locker like few others. He has recently played with Paul Stanley and Richard Marx and is one paradiddle away from becoming a monster presence in the world of drummers.
Leaving the building, he summed it all up:
”If the bass goes boom and the snare goes crack, I’m happy!”
And that’s the real truth. You can play behind the most expensive set available and have a dozen mics on your kit. But if you don’t have it in the hands – that sublime connection between the fingers and the stick – no amount of gear will make you a real drummer. Certainly not one to compete on a level with the likes of Smith and Garibaldi and Marco Minnemann (also present this evening) – and absolutely not with Nate Morton.
STEVEN ROSEN
The Crowes Declare War
The Black Crowes first hit the scene with “Shake Your Money Maker” in 1990, the Crowes bucked commercialism and brought their own funky seventies infectious rock blend to light.
Eighteen years later and after a hiatus, their back declaring war with their upcoming release “Warpaint”. Slated for release on March 4th, the seventh recording from the Crowes features eleven tracks, and the addition of two new band members; Adam Macdougal (keys) and guitarist Luther Dickinson. On the same day, their entire back catalogue will be available on Itunes.
As always, thriving on individualism, the Crowes are scheduled to do a series of “one night shows” where they will play their album in it’s entirety. The shows start March 2nd in New Jersey and end March 20th in Los Angeles. They will then hit the road on an overseas tour starting off in Australia and follow that up a US tour in May 2008.
Watch for “Warpaint” in stores March 4th. For tour dates and more info visit www.blackcrowes.com
10 To Fall For
Sometimes the best way to find some great rock music is to go through the vaults or check out other countries. We’ve done that for you and unearthed 10 bands for you to fall for.
EYES OF EDEN
Sounds like: Goth / Metal / Rock
Location: Germany
Web: www.eyesofeden.de
Clean, mystical metal that sounds somehow familiar but not quite placeable. This is guitarist/producer Waldermar Sorychta’s project who you may know as Lacuna Coils producer.
JONAS
Sounds: Radio Rock
Location: Canada
Web: www.jonas-music.com
With front man Jonas’ Morrison like charisma coupled with strong vocals and well crafted songs, we predict future commercial sucess for Jonas.
THE RASMUS
Sounds like: Pop/ Radio Rock
Location: Finland
Web: www.therasmus.com
Another band that’s been together since the 90’s and still keeps turning out sold rock songs featuring lead singers Lauris easily recognizable
BENEDICTUM
Sounds like: Metal
Location: California
Web: www.benedictum.net
Horn worthy metal with kick ass vocals. This band is fronted by Veronica Freeman on vocals whom you can easily imagine to be the spawn of Ronnie James Dio crossed.
AIRBOURNE
Sounds like: Metal
Location: Australia
Web: www.airbournerock.com
Fun, contagious 80’s injected rock ‘n roll. I definitely hear a bit of ACDC throughout the tracks.
THE HIVES
Sounds like: old school garage rock
Location: Sweden
Web: www.thehivesbroadcastingservice.com
A lot of retro bands have surfaced over the past few years and this is one of them. Good clean rock fun kids!
APOTYGMA BERZERK
Sounds like: Electro/Goth/Rock
Location: Norway
Web: www.apoptygmaberzerk.de
This band has been around since 1991; you’ll find a variety of catchy techno, electro, goth rock tracks throughout their discography.
KATATONIA
Sounds like: Metal/Goth/Rock
Location: Sweden
Web: www.katatonia.com
Kickin’ it since the 90’s, most of Katatonia’s tracks have a real moody, tangible vibe to them.
ASRAI
Sounds like: Goth/Metal /Rock
Web: www.asrai.net
Initially formed in the 80’s and reently released “Pearls in the Dirt”. This female fronted dutch band serves up a vareity of memorable hook laden metal tracks and some ballads tossed in for balance. If you like Lacuna Coil, you’ll likely take a shining to Asrai.
QUEENADREENA
Sounds like: Goth/Rock / Alt.
Web: www.queenadreena.net
Imagine Kate Bush singing with a hard rock band. With vocalist Katie’s vulerable, trippy, sometimes angry vocals infused into the music, the best way one could describe this band is unique.
The Poodles
Some of Sweden’s most experienced metal musicians have assembled to spread metal to the people. That’s the mission of the mighty Poodles from Sweden. “We want to make people feel great and powerful. In a world full of powerful people, cowardice and lies does not exist” says Jakob, lead singer of The Poodles.
The Poodles is more than just a normal rock act. During the years the members have worked in different contexts with international celebrities like Motörhead, Whitesnake, Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy and Swedish colleagues like Europe and Candlemass.
In the fall of 2005 the current line-up was completed and in the spring of 2006 The Poodles competed in the Swedish version of the “Eurovision Song Contest“, which also marked their big break-through in their native Sweden.
The debut album “Metal Will Stand Tall” was released in Sweden & Finland in May 2006 and soon after in Japan by King Records, IROND in Russia and the CIS. It topped the Swedish sales charts, and the debut single “Night Of Passion” sold gold in Sweden after just three weeks.
Web: www.poodles.se
Day Eleven
Equal parts fun-loving clowns and deep thinkers, this group has over the years thinkers, this group has over the years found the way to be thought-provoking and deep with their music, without losing the all-important sweat, honesty and recklessness of true rock music. Day Eleven’s sophomore album Sleepwalkers was released to great reviews in Finland in March 2007. The album got major radio and TV airplay and the European release for Sleepwalkers came in September 2007 when the band toured in Germany supporting Negative.
Web: www.day-eleven.com
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