CVWW April 2015

APRIL 2015

THE Lifestyle Magazine for Custom Vehicle & Music Enthusiasts

ALWAYS FREE

DORO

From Dusseldorf, Germany to the U.S. and all over the world, DORO, the Queen of Metal, has been inspiring and rocking audiences for 30 years, her beauty and voice unwavering, her smile warming even the coldest hearts.

She still can’t believe it’s all happening... p. 6

TOM KEIFER

From Cinderella in the hey days of 80’s hair metal to a solo record and tour even now going strong, Tom Keifer and his soulful, distinctive voice has been entertaining crowds all around the world. JJ Steele of Pure Steele Communications chats with Tom about life and music. p. 26

Contents...

The NAMM Show ...in closing

3

News You Can Use Motorcycle: Starting out the Season - what to do with your motorcycle before the riding season starts.

18 HAIR TRIGGER: a Comic from Anthony Hitaffer

36

Jamie Paullus Jamie Paullus and his partner in crime Kathleen Clarkson bring us HELLYEAH’s ‘Blood for Blood’ tour, with Archer, Like a Storm, and Devour the Day. Page 20

Order in the Chaos: Brien DeChristopher’s Music Blog

38

News You Can Use - Cars: 3 Quickie Maintenance Tips for your Automobile

40

Off the Beaten Path: A Perspective - the Death of Music Sales

CV WorldWide Magazine

Locally Owned / Nationally Known

42

Sherry Keith Mystic Photography brings us a few local Vegas favorites: the beautiful Leona X, up and comers FeverRed, and local rockstart Cyanide.

Page 33

Contact Us: Info@CVWorldWideMagazine.com

CV WORLDWIDE MAGAZINE © 2012-15 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without Publisher’s prior approval. Publisher assumes no financial responsibility for the errors in ads beyond the cost of space occupied by error. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are we responsible for the opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who are solely responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher is also to be held harmless from: failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond control; all suits, claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph.

GLOBAL MUSIC INDUSTRY COMES TOGETHER FOR RECORD BREAKING NAMM SHOW With a burst of innovation from new companies and products and the renaissance of handcrafted, traditional instruments, NAMM members from around the world come together in record numbers to prove once again that music is the original social network As the music products industry returns home to 100 countries worldwide, they leave the 2015 NAMM Show empowered with fresh ideas and products to amplify the power of music. Held January 22-25, NAMM welcomed a record number of exhibitors to Anaheim. Major product debuts, a bumper crop of new-to-NAMM exhibitors paired with engaging thought-leaders created what many NAMM members called the freshest NAMM Show in years. ―In an unpredictable and chaotic marketplace, the NAMM Show has become the reliable

and predictable platform where our members can come for business, education and inspiration,‖ said NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. ―From fledgling entrepreneurs to the most established brands, everyone here has an equal shot. The industry showed up with unparalleled energy and we hope they are leaving better prepared for success in the new year.‖ As the number of musical tribes attending NAMM expands, this year‘s edition grew to the largest and most inclusive event in the National Association of Music Merchants‘ (NAMM) 114year history. A record 1,621 exhibiting companies brought their entrepreneurial spirit to Anaheim.

That energy was palpable, as the show saw a 6% increase in exhibiting companies over 2014‘s event making for the largest NAMM Show exhibitor line up ever.

A mix of NAMM member buyers, exhibitors and their invited guests, NAMM‘s Generation Next and Music Education Day participants (college music students and school music teachers) along with media resulted in a record 99,342 NAMM Show registrants, the largest gathering in NAMM Show history. An 11% increase in international registration and a 2% increase in buyer numbers also made it the most diverse.

Even NAMM Show vets with decades of exhibiting under their belts hopped from their booths to note the heavy stream of buyers. ―Our traffic flow has been much higher than the last few years, and while attendance is clearly up these are quality visits, not just quantity. Dealers are here to make decisions on purchases, see what's new, but also to learn about ways that we can help them grow,‖ Terry West, president and CEO of Pearl Corporation.

While products rule the show floor, it‘s the face-to-face opportunities that draw the industry together. ―I've had the most honest, straightforward conversations with vendors on where we can take our business. Brands are here figuring out how we can work together beyond products. I've never worked harder,‖ said Gayle Beacock, Co-Owner of Beacock Music in Washington. ―Coming out of this show, I have a very clear plan and solidified direction.‖ For buyers worldwide, NAMM is the ultimate music store with limitless opportunities for growth. ―I tour the show floor imagining that I am a customer in my own shop—what things jump out at me—because if it evokes a reaction in me, chances are it‘s going to evoke a reaction on the part of my customer,‖ said Monster Music‘s Brian Reardon of Levittown, NY. New Brands Abound The number of new exhibiting companies more than doubled from 2014, as 331 companies showed at NAMM for the first time.

These new brands made up 18% of the total exhibit count, bringing a fresh sense of wonderment to the NAMM Show.

―We‘re seeing innovation and change everywhere – especially at this year‘s NAMM with the big guys releasing major new products and the infant industry of brands we‘d never heard jumping right in the mix with them.

Many products are going back to the old school, touch-sensitivity. People are here turning knobs and using instruments outside of the computer,‖ Peter Dods, Owner of Easy Music Center, Oahu, Hawaii.

Part of the hands-on resurgence Dods refers to can be credited to the hundreds of modular synthesizer brands popping up throughout the show. ―It's our first time showing together as a community. We are here to personally educate people that are interested in modular synthesizers, so that it‘s not too intimidating. Products like modular synthesizers you have to see in person to make a buying decision,‖ said Cyrus "Cyrusrex‖ Makarechian, owner of MuffWiggler.

Major Announcements NAMM opened to a flurry of headline grabbing product announcements from exhibitors including Korg, Moog and more. Avid used the NAMM platform to make a major announcement on day one. ―We‘re able to see all of our audiences at NAMM from students to studios to major media companies, engineers and producers,‖ said Jennifer Smith, CMO, Avid. To amplify their reach across NAMM audiences Avid featured demos with musical icons including Dave Mustaine, Butch Vig and Randy Jackson.

A Global Marketplace The NAMM Show‘s global stature grew with 13,208 international registrants traveling to Anaheim from abroad, an 11% increase over 2014. International exhibitors topped 600 companies in search of new opportunities. ―We feel we are producing a world-class product and this is a world-class show," said Albi Merz of Switzerland‘s Soultool Customized Guitars. ―The buyers and the people we want to see – they are right here at NAMM.‖

The world‘s most prominent retailers travel to NAMM to forecast trends. ―Compared to 10 or 20 years ago, there is an increasing presence of new areas besides traditional music. You can feel the change of the music scene every year by coming to the show, and you can convey that change to the retail customers in the Japanese market. That is why I come to the NAMM Show every year,‖ said Mototsugu Shimamura, Chairman of Shimamura Music Corporation, Japan‘s largest music instrument retailer.

From the other side of the globe, Robert Wilson of the U.K.‘s Sound Technology also taps into trends at NAMM. ―We attend the NAMM Show to find out what the latest trends are and to generally stay abreast of the industry—it‘s a very quick-changing industry. This is the place, the environment made especially for checking in.‖

Looking Forward Keep the momentum going in Nashville when Summer NAMM returns to the beautiful Music City Center July 9-11. Global growth opportunities abound at NAMM Musikmesse Russia, September 10-13 and ProLight + Sound NAMM Russia, September 10-12.

About NAMM The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $16.9 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,200 member companies located in 102 countries. NAMM events and members fund The NAMM Foundation's efforts to promote the pleasures and benefits of music, and advance active participation in music making across the lifespan. For more information about NAMM, please visitwww.namm.org, call 800.767.NAMM or folFull Days and Nights t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n Iconic guests shared insights that the in- l o w dustry will be quoting for years to come. Where on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. other than NAMM does the day start with Woz and close with Slash on the same stage?

Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak shared passionate insights laced with humor to the best-attended NAMM U session in history.

Chris Stuenkel, a buyer for Austin bazaar noted that Woz‘s session "Inspires you to see what you can do, what a big impact you can have.‖ Moby not only picked up the Music For Life Award, NAMM‘s highest honor, but also shared straightforward thoughts on the creative process with college students. Evening award events from the 30th Annual NAMM TEC Awards featuring Slash and Nathan East to the She Rocks Awards featuring Colbie Caillat and The Bangles added to the star-studded trade show‘s allure.

As Woz said during his breakfast chat with Joe Lamond, ―Music is like a magic dust bringing love to people.‖ The industry returns home from a busy NAMM Show with a sprinkling of magic dust, and a renewed love for the business of music.

She is known by “Doro” - like world class soccer players who traditionally known by a single moniker, say the name “Doro” and you see the sparkle in fans’ eyes, the joy of knowing the “Queen of Metal”. How fortunate are WE to sit in audience with the Queen; CV WorldWide presents DORO, up close & personal, uncensored, joyous, and timeless... <CVWW> First I would like to thank you for taking time to sit down and talk with me, I know how busy you are and we are honored to have this opportunity to speak to you. <DORO> Thank-you for having me, I am very happy to do this.

We know each other from you taking pictures, yes?

<CVWW> Yes, actually at two shows in Seattle, we met „at your show at Studio 7 and then again at El Corazon when you toured with Sister Sin. <DORO> Ah yes, it has been a while, this is so cool and thank you so much for having us.

<CVWW> Yes it has, two years now, and we could not be happier to have this opportunity. <DORO> We are so happy to be back in the U.S. The last time we played in Las Vegas was on the Ronnie James Dio Tour. We all are really looking forward to the show and ready to rock!

<CVWW) We are all really excited to have you here again as well.

Let‟s talk about your younger years - how did you get started singing? What originally inspired

chance to tour with him several times and we became such great friends. It was really really awesome. Then when the second album came out I decided I want to do this for the rest of my life and quit my job when we went on tour with Judas Priest, that‘s when I really decided I wanted to do music and I was really loving it.

<CVWW> Your amazing back story is that even after you started singing, you contracted tuberculosis - but came back strong after beating it - were you ever worried that you wouldn't be able to sing after getting sick? your interest in music? <Doro> Since I actually was 3 years old I wanted to become a singer and I think music was my destiny, I felt it early on. I had my first band when I was 15, and we did not even know we were doing heavy metal. The metal scene was very young and just forming. There was no magazine there, it was very exciting. I had many bands and then in 1982 we formed Warlock and one year later our first record came out. We were totally surprised that people knew about the band, it was totally shocking. As time went on we knew we were part of the growing heavy metal scene and playing all over, it was fantastic. We had a couple of really big chances; my first tour was back in 1986 with Judas Priest which happened to be our favorite band and everything went from there. The second tour was with the legendary Ronnie James Dio.

<CVWW> May he R.I.P. <DORO> Oh yes, we had the

<DORO> Actually before I started singing I was pretty sick the whole year, and actually music saved my life because it gave me a goal, something to look forward to if I ever got out of this situation alive then I want to do something nice. I got out of the hospital and two weeks later I had my first band.

<CVWW> Oh wow <Doro> Yea, it was really cool I don‘t even know how it happened. Two weeks later I got connected to some really cool people and we formed a band and it was called Snakebite.

<CVWW> How did your career in music start with that band? <Doro> We were all friends and we all were into rock, and heavy metal. We all were very young and liked to play together. We were rehearsing every day, every one was totally dedicated and committed, and I had my job.

For several years it was no sleep,

just working and then going straight to the rehearsal room and then going back to sleep for one hour and then back to work. It was intense. We were not planning on doing anything or even thinking of making a record, it was not even in our thoughts. We were just having fun, jamming out and writing some cool songs.

We had some people leave and other‘s come in, and then a few years later we formed Warlock with some of the people from Snakebite. We had a fan club; some metal heads formed a fan club and we did not know they were sending out cassette tapes to record companies. In a few weeks we had 4 record deals on the table, independent labels because metal was so young in Germany.

In Belgium and the Netherlands it was much bigger - the metal scene was bigger and that is why we signed with a Belgium label called Mausoleum; it was very small scale but they said ―hey let‘s make a record‖. We thought we would sell maybe 1-or-200 records to family and friends, and

then the record came out and within one month we sold 25,000. We couldn‘t believe it!

We had no idea how people could find out about our little band, it was unbelievable! Then next year we got more gigs and we played in England, which back then was very important because everyone looked to England to make decisions if you would get a worldwide record release or to go on tour worldwide, and I always wanted to come to America. It was always my biggest dream and biggest wish! We played many times in England, and then we played the legendary Monsters of Rock festival in ‗86, there was about 100,000 people there and the fans they all went crazy, they all went nuts! So then everyone said ―let‘s give this band a chance‖, and that‘s how I got my first record release in the states and I could go to the States and do a little promotion tour. So I went on a promotion tour for 23 days and I made up my mind that I wanted to stay, so I stayed.

I got connected with the right people at the right time and right place. Then we did the ‗Triumph and Agony‘ album and I‘m sure you know all the songs like ―All We Are‖

it. There really wasn‘t magazines then, people were doing everything by hand writing and photo copying and the whole metal scene evolved and we were part of it and it was aw some. Then we could go on tour with all the great bands like Ronnie James <CVWW> Oh yes, one of my Dio, Judas Priest, WASP, Motorfavorites, that whole album is head and Saxon; it was all very amazing! <Doro> Oh thank you! That was exciting and time was on our side as well. a big record and ―All We Are‖ was played in heavy rotation on MTV and it was just awesome! I <CVWW> Monsters of Rock was HUGE, was it intimidating love the states, love America!

at the time to go out on stage? <CVWW> Warlock that seemed Were you intimidated at all or nervous? to work right from the start in <Doro> Oh yea, always, always your opinion? <Doro> We actually had a lot of different people in the Warlock lineup. Some people would say I want to start a family, or I want to get a regular job, so the lineup was never really steady, but somehow I think there was some magic around, you know right time, right place. In the ‗80‘s when I started my first band metal wasn‘t as big, but the mid-80‘s was the peak of heavy metal and we were really lucky to be part of

at every gig. It‘s like the adrenaline is going and I am super excited but have stage fright, the whole thing. Especially that festival I remember because we did not know what we were getting into and it was so huge and all of our favorite bands were there, it was a great line up! Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions, Motorhead, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, it was unbelievable! All the people we admired and to be part of it is

Dio or WASP, they were super supportive. It was sometimes a little bit lonely to be the only girl, there was only maybe a handful of women like Lita Ford, Joan Jett and Girlschool, and we were all friends, we had a great friendship going and we all loved music so much.

<CVWW> What did you learn about touring & music from established bands like WASP & Judas Priest?

awesome! I remember standing on stage watching the show and thinking wow this is incredible!

<CVWW> Did you feel any pressure being the first woman to front a metal band at Monsters of Rock - did you see yourself as a trailblazer? Did you feel any pressure in that regard?

was in shock when I heard the news of his passing. <Doro> Oh totally, totally. We wrote a song for him ―Hero‖, it is on our ―Raise Your Fist Record‖ I don‘t know if you have heard it?

<CVWW> Yes I have, what an amazing song! <Doro> We sometimes do play it live .

<CVWW> "Triumph & Agony" put Warlock on the <Doro> Judas Priest I think back WORLD music map - touring then was as big as it could get. I with Dio & Megadeth... was think it was Judas Priest and Iron your success overwhelming at all?

Maiden, and we played all the big venues and you had to learn to be totally professional and I watched every night the show and from watching and listening and talking to them you really get it, you know. You can learn from their attitude, from their professionalism, they are all super nice but super serious and educated and you could tell. It was a fantastic stage show and I was like wow, it was amazing, mind blowing! They had the big stage sets which is what I loved about the ‗80‘s so much and you think wow and you want to create something serious as well and do your own thing and you learn from the best and that is what I am forever thankful and grateful for and I definitely learned from the best. You just have to be there to watch it and listen and it just resonated with me and I wanted to do the same and be totally dedicated and serious. The same with Ronnie James Dio you knew he is the one, he is strong.

<Doro> I thought ―it‘s good to be a woman‖ and I always had a great connection with the fans from day one. It never was a big deal, I was just loving it and loving metal. It doesn't matter if you‘re a man or a woman or where you are from and I just enjoyed it so much and I could see everyone else was enjoying it, and back in the day there was not any rules. There was no rules, not much security, you could do whatever you want, stage dive, crowd surfing, head banging like crazy. 100,000 people head banging at the same time it was really cool. Everyone was respected it was never a problem. Especially all the support from the bands we toured with when we opened up <CVWW> That was a very sad for Judas Priest or Ronnie James day when we lost him, I think I

<Doro> The Megadeth tour that was awesome! We played all the big places and it was actually my first big tour in the states. Then we did some little club tours and it was phenomenal. Everything was packed, sold out! The metal scene was alive and well. It was 1 1/2 years on tour in Europe and America. I think that was the most intense time for us.

<CVWW> Many original mem-

bers of Warlock moved on, but you continue to put out major successes - "Force Majeur" went gold in 14 days...as a measure of success, how does that validate all your hard work to that point? <DORO> Oh wow, you know I didn‘t even know what you just said that it was 14 days, wow that is cool to know! *laughter* We lost the name Warlock and it was a little tricky and very sad and I wanted to continue no matter what. I got the rights to the name Warlock back after 20 years so that was good and we played all the old Warlock stuff. Then in 1990 Grunge was making it big, it was unbelievable because I never thought of anything bigger than heavy metal and then it started to get a little weird.

<CVWW> "DORO" followed you are now fully into your solo career - how did you get together with Gene Simmons? <DORO> I was a big KISS fan, the whole band was like Johnny Dee our drummer. We loved

KISS, growing up with KISS to us it was like wow! I had the chance to introduce KISS at the Monsters of Rock in Germany.

The promoter knew that I was a big KISS fan and he called me and he said ―do you want to introduce KISS?‖ I was like OMG yeah! I was living in the states then and I flew over to Germany and I introduced them and it was awesome! Then I met Gene Simmons for the first time and he was super nice and super sweet and then actually a couple of months later I wanted to do a new record and I talked to my manager and asked if it was maybe possible to write a song with KISS or something and he said ―oh I don‘t think they have any time‖. Then a couple of months later my manager back then, Alex was his name, he said Doro can you meet me at this hotel on 57th street in New York and I said ―ok for what?‖ He said ―well somebody is waiting for you and it‘s a surprise.‖ I thought maybe it was some family or friends from Germany. I got there and he met me outside the hotel and I said ―please tell me who it is‖ and he said ―oh no you will see who it is‖, and I said ―no please tell me.‖ He said ―somebody is waiting for you and you will be very surprised‖. When I said ―who‖, he said ―Gene Simmons‖. I said ―what?‖ Omg and I had to walk 3 times around the block because I was so excited and nervous! He said ―are you ready to go in now?‖ I said yes and so I walked in and Gene was sitting there and he was super nice and very much a gentleman and smart. He said ―Doro, what do you want to do?‖ I explained I wanted to do a new record and

do a song and he said ―well let‘s try it, maybe we can do one song and if it doesn‘t work out then we can just have a good time, no pressure.‖ So we started working together and it went really, really well. He was very kind and very caring and I showed him my ideas and he showed me his ideas and somehow we decided to record more than just one song and we recorded the record in 1990 at the Fortress which is the same studio KISS recorded ‗Hot In The Shade.‘ I‘m not sure if you are familiar with Tommy Thayer who is now the guitar player for KISS, he was was the CoProducer and he played all the guitar on the record. It was so awesome and very cool.

<CVWW> Yes, I actually met Tommy Thayer at the NAMM Jamm end of January, he got on stage with Steel Panther and played a few songs. He was very nice. <Doro> Oh cool, yea Tommy was very nice, he was in the band ‗Black and Blue‘, he was always helping Gene with production

immediately he was the guy, but we had to check out everybody.

<CVWW> Sometimes you just know when you hear someone and Nick is great. <Doro> I knew right away he was the one, but we had to check out everyone. He has been in the band since 1990.

<CVWW> Wow I‟m starting to feel old. *laughter* <Doro> *laughter* No, no, no, we are all young, everyone is young and excited and on fire.

etc, we became great friends. After this record was done I met my now bass player who has now been in the band 24 years, Nick Douglas. We did a little audition in New York City, I needed a new line-up and he was the first one that walked in, and we auditioned like 120 bass players and they were all good, all great and nice people, but Nick was the first one that went in and I knew

<CVWW> There are too many to mention, but we'll go with a few - "female artist of the year" in 1994 / and "Echo" award in Germany / and even "Sexiest Woman Alive" at Spark Magazine - how do you stay so humble and grounded with all these past & present accolades? <Doro> Wow, thank you so much for checking all these nice things out. You are very prepared, I have never had anyone so well prepared.

<CVWW> We do our research *laughter* <Doro> *Laughter* Yes I can tell, I can tell. It‘s great when positive things are happening and people have good things to say about you, and some of the awards, it‘s so nice ,because it is so much hard work and a lot of blood and sweat and pain and then you hear things like that and it is very rewarding, and the best thing is when the fans vote for you, to me that means the most, it‘s so awesome.

<CVWW> Tell us about how

doing a movie soundtrack (for "Warrior Soul") is different than a traditional music album... <Doro> It was great because you did not have to concentrate on writing hit songs, you could just vibe and then I saw the movie and it was about creating a nice atmosphere and that‘s how ―Warrior Soul‖ came about and it was really interesting. The guy

that was doing the movie is an independent movie maker and really creative and a free spirit and we became great friends too.

Then he said maybe we can do some music, do you want to play in my movie? I said I have never done that before but it would be awesome, so we did it and it was great. It was in Switzerland and in Ireland it was an experience of my life. It was very demanding on the body, I tell you I felt like I was in boot camp. It was so hard core, it was intense and crazy like creative people can be sometimes. We did a second movie, I think it‘s even better and I did a couple songs for the new movie and I think it will come out at the end of the year. He is a great friend of ours now, and that‘s the best part; when you work with people and you become best friends, is so awesome and we always inspire each other.

<CVWW> That is very important. <Doro> Yeah, and when other people give you input and I love that! Because when you‘re together with normal people like business people you don‘t get inspired. The second movie will be out by the end of the year.

<CVWW> In 2003, they paid a tribute to your 20 years in music in Dusseldorf... <Doro> Yes, there was a tribute album with other bands who covered their favorite songs of us. I never thought it would get that far. Some of our favorite bands played great versions. One was a Scandinavian band that was big and up and coming and a band from Sweden and wow their versions were awesome! It was so

great. We had so many great guests and we had a couple of big events and one big concert in Dusseldorf, my home town, the Scorpions came and other great people who all came together. On the 30th anniversary we have Biff of Saxon and Bobby Blitz and Jeff Waters of Annihilator and of course Wacken the big heavy metal Festival and it looks so great already. We are in the middle of working on it and it‘s 80% done. When we finish the tour I will go back to Berlin, there is a company in Berlin who is doing it and it‘s a dream! We will probably have two discs because it won‘t fit all on one. So two discs great to see other bands who said and one live record all the best we inspired them to play music songs live. or play an instrument.

<CVWW> And in 2008, they produced a DVD of your 25 years in rock as well. <Doro> Yup, and we are now working on a new DVD, it is the 30 year anniversary DVD and we want to try to top the 25th anniversary DVD, which came out so

<CVWW> Well I will definitely be in line for that and when it does come out we will help promote that for you as well! <Doro> Thank you so much, it will probably come out in autumn, around October.

<CVWW> What do you think is your biggest appeal to your fans, because one of your biggest fan bases is in Spain - you've been voted "Best Female Vocalist" in Spain what, 17 times now? <Doro> Yea at least 15 times in a row now. Maybe it‘s the mentality in Spain or South America, man they are die hard metal heads. They live and die for metal and they take it really serious, and when we play Spain or Brazil or Mexico or Argentina and Columbia, and now this year we will go to Peru and Ecuador for the first time, man I tell you it‘s overwhelming! They are so dedi-

women? <Doro> I love when people have something nice to say. To see that people care and like it, when people say I love your show and I love your record and I love your songs that is so cool, but anything nice, it always gives me inspiration to never ever give up and always give it my all and never take it to easy.

<CVWW> Never take it for granted.

cated and can see I am dedicated as well. We always try to perform EVERY show like it could be the last, no holding back, we give 180%. The people really do appreciate it and they totally get into it. In Spain they still have a big magazine going on, unfortunately in the States all my favorite magazines don‘t exist anymore, but in Spain it‘s old school and they love old school metal and they have so many magazines and radio stations and when the

fan‘s vote for you it‘s so great!

<CVWW> You've been in music for 30 years, what keeps you motivated to perform? <Doro> 30 years, wow, 30 years; well, hopefully we will do it for 40 years.

The fans are our main motivation, it can be a big venue, it can be Wacken, a big festival or it can be a small club where every metal head counts. If I see that everyone gets something out of it we want to give them something they will never ever forget. Not just make it a show, but it has to be something profound and deep.

I always want to touch people‘s heart and souls with lots of energy and lots of emotion and depth.

It‘s the fans that really keep us going, that‘s the most important thing and nothing else. Of course our love for music as well.

<CVWW> You are known as the Queen of Metal, do you get nervous being called that? Is there any pressure being a role model for a younger generation of musicians, especially young

<Doro> Yes, yes, and when people believe in you, you always have to step up to the plate and do what is expected. So every show has to be the best show, every tour. People appreciate it. I think it‘s different in the metal world then the pop world. They stay loyal, once they are your fan they stay forever and that‘s so cool. I feel the same way, that is why I love metal, the whole lifestyle, way of thinking or feeling.

All the metal heads have such a big heart and that is what I love and appreciate.

<CVWW> What would you do different at the beginning, given the wisdom of time? What advice might you give to a younger Doro if you could?

<CVWW> How are the music fans different in the US vs Europe?

<Doro> I don‘t think they are much different at all. When they <Doro> Well when we first start- are die hard metal fans worlded out we had no idea that it was wide it‘s the same. They all go crazy pretty much to the same a business as well. I would recsongs. I think it‘s very similar, I ommend if you sign a contract that you take a lawyer and have don‘t see much difference at all.

Sometimes some cities you feel someone look over all the stuff rock more because they have you sign because you can sign more rock stations, it always away your life easily. You only have one life and you have only makes a difference, or people like you with a magazine or people one career, so be careful when you sign a contract. Get support and get a lawyer.

<CVWW> Yea, I have seen a lot of shady things. <Doro> Me too, me too! You live and learn. In the beginning we were a little naïve, we thought everybody‘s all friends and die hard metal fans, but sometimes people they are into the business, and when you are an artist you are more in tune with the writing the songs or performing or taking care of the fans. So getting a good lawyer is my advice.

who care or take care of metal or have heavy metal stations, you can tell everybody is much more into it. The support of metal is super important and it gets to the fans. Sometimes there are rock cities, like Cleveland for example, that you can really count on to be the rock city. Then there are some cities where there are no rock stations and no rock magazines that does not take care of heavy metal and you can tell. All the people like you behind the scenes who support heavy metal you can feel it, you can definitely feel it. If you have a rock station behind you can be sure the gig will be sold out.

<CVWW> Do you have a special/favorite place to play? <Doro> Sherry, any place, any place is my favorite place. Any place where people are coming to see the show, that‘s it for me. I live it day by day, small or big it does not matter. There are certain highlights, of course, like playing Wacken which is the biggest heavy metal festival and is so cool because people from all over the world come there and cele-

brate and it is really cool, and we try every year to be at Wacken.

It‘s also going to be on our 30th anniversary DVD, and you will see, it‘s 100,000 people going nuts and they are from all over; some are from the United States, Argentina or Russia or South America. It‘s like the whole world meets there, and some German friends as well. It is definitely a highlight, but other than that, any festival, any gig, any small club or big club that‘s it for me! It does not have to be a big nice club, sometimes it‘s really dirty or the P.A. sucks, but then it is more of a challenge to put on an even better show to compensate for the technical issues. I remember one time we played in Texas and I was crawling out of the bus and the road crew said ―no gig tonight‖ and I said ―why not‖ and they said the club there is no stage and there is some made up cabinets, it was not even a stage just some boxes. The city has no electricity, not enough. I said ―no way‖ and then I said ―I

want to play‖ and the road crew said no you can‘t. It was in an industrial area and it was on a Sunday so you could not get any electricity from anywhere because it was dead and there was nothing around and it was totally deserted. I said man I want to play, I want to play. Then I saw some diehard fans with their whole record collections, stacks of old vinyl, magazines, they were there and told me they were so happy to see me and looking forward to the show and how they drove ten hours from somewhere. I said ―ok, we have got to play‖ and I told my road crew we have to play no matter what. So they said let‘s try and I said yes, let‘s try. So we tried and I said we can play as long as we have electricity because we don‘t have enough. So I said let‘s do it, let‘s treat it like it‘s a punk show. Just jump on stage and shred it out we did, and it was one of the GREATEST shows in my whole life! People were there and we were having the time of our lives and everything was so screwed up, not a real stage, not enough electricity, but it was awesome. It

was so small, it was like a living room.

<CVWW> I‟ve been to shows like that.. *laughter* <Doro> *laughing* Yea, sometimes they are really fun, especially when you don‘t expect it.

You are like wow, and the people really make it great. We can play it acapella, I really don‘t give a s***,elt‘s just play, so we played and of course all the diehard fans loved it. So any show, any show in any country or any city.

<CVWW> Tell us about one special memory that helped you feel "this is all worth it" Is there one thing that sticks out in your mind? <Doro> It‘s not one particular thing, it‘s the overall feeling that I feel really wanted and loved. I have a huge fan base worldwide and that makes me want to go on, give my best and never ever give up. I have that feeling really deep in my heart. I have had so many ask me to sign their tattoos and it‘s the ‗Triumph and Agony‘ or ‗Fear No Evil‘ and I wanted to

get a tattoo for the fans that no one even has to ask. It‘s on my right arm and it says ―The One Who Loves The Fans.‖ Für Immer Wich means forever. I love the fans. I love people and I always want to make people happy. Even when I was a little girl, I didn‘t know how to do it but I always wanted to make people happy; especially in this day and age and time. Times are so tough and heavy, the whole situation worldwide, times are not so much fun anymore. In the ‗80‘s it was so much better, we were having a much better and freer time.

There were not many big problems that we knew of. Now when you watch the news every day it‘s just like wow, it‘s so hardcore what goes on in the world. Then I think with music it gives people good energy, good power and hope. You have to gain more

power to survive every day.

<CVWW> I could not agree more, I often say music has gotten me through the toughest times in my life, music is very important to me. <Doro> I can say the same, I believe the same as you do. Yes.

<CVWW> What would you like to say to the fans? <Doro> I would like to say that I am forever grateful that they supported us all the way. I am so grateful for all their love and commitment and I am just as committed and dedicated to the fans and I always will be. They will never have to worry that we will do a good-bye tour or give up. I will always try my best to give them good music, good songs and amazing shows and juice them up with power. I am

so happy and grateful that they are there and I am so excited to see them on this U.S. Tour and I am REALLY excited to come to Las Vegas again! I just want to say that I love them and they are always deep inside my heart always and forever. I am here for the fans and I am here to make them happy. That is my little mission in life. That is the reason I have never been married or have any kids, I am totally dedicated to the fans and the metal heads.

<CVWW> I personally want to tell you what a pleasure and honor it is to have this time with you, it means a lot and we are very honored to have you as our feature interview and cover. <Doro> Thank you so much for having us and we will see you in Las Vegas!

This was my first time seeing Doro live and before she took the stage, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. Five years ago in 2010, she celebrated her 2500th live show in her home town of Düsseldorf Germany. Since then, she's done multiple tours and has also released the album "Raise Your Fist" in 2012. How could anyone perform that many live shows and still give it their all? Was this going to be just another cookie cutter set where a band comes into town, runs through their songs and is on the plane to the next gig before everyone has finished their drinks?

Not this time friends. Not this time at all...

Doro took the stage like a wild horse out of the gate and displayed all of the energy of an up and coming act in their prime. She looked great, sounded great (despite having to deal with a nasty flu...and the sound crew nearly going to blows over broken equipment) and put 110% into every song. This was the kind of set a fan expects to see at Wacken... not at a Vegas dive bar.

First up was "I Rule the Ruins" followed by "Earthshaker", "Burning the Witches", "Fight for Rock"... you know, good ol' fashioned Heavy Metal. If you were expecting someone in the band to whip out an acoustic guitar and start singing "Kumbaya"... you were clearly in the wrong place. Unlike many bands these days, their newer material like "Raise Your Fist" stood strong beside the older, more well known stuff and would have been right at home on a Warlock album.

Near the end of the set, special guest Doug Aldrich (Raiding the Rock Vault, Dio, Whitesnake, Revolution Saints and many others) strapped on his six string and rocked out Doro's version of Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law". For those who aren't familiar with Doro's version, it's not a "cover"... it's clearly Doro's version. You know, in the same way Quiet Riot's "cover" of the Slade song "Cum on Feel the Noize"... isn't exactly a "cover".

After the show, the band came out and took pictures with every, single person in the venue. After all of the pictures were done, the fans lined up yet again so the band could sign autographs. When the place cleared out, there was no question that every member of that band was happy to be there and that Doro truly loves her fans.

Most metal fans may casually watch her perform some songs and just assume that she's doing it to earn a living, tour the world and make a name for herself. If only they knew the truth about what really motivates this amazing woman...

Doro has stated publicly in the past that she's made the deliberate choice to not marry or have children.

The reason? She considers her fans to be her family. Doro Pesch is the real deal and I for one, feel honored and humbled to be a member of it...

"The world is turning cold and dark Our lives are so wounded, full of scars And when I'm out here on my own I don't have to face it all alone 'Cause I know you're my family"* -Beau Fox *Lyrics from Doro's "You Are My Family" off the abum "Warrior Soul" .

Take Care of Her and She'll Do the Same (How to start out the season) Has your scoot been sitting in the garage all winter, just dying to be ridden? Or have you had the chance to only get her out a couple of times? If you answer yes to either of these questions, then this article will interest you. This article lets you know what I do every year right before riding season starts.

Living in the lower Midwest, there seems to be several chances to ride during the winter. Usually, a day here, and a day there. But for the most part the bike still sits on a pretty regular basis. Sitting, in and of itself doesn't do any harm to your bike but some of the less durable stuff has a tendency to break down even when sitting. Another thing, in order to help you have a safer and problem free season it's just better to run the checks listed below.

winter. I don't know what works best, but I do know that a battery that has sat for awhile might not have all of the kick it really needs. Before you go out for the first time, give the battery a good check. Look for leaks or anything that looks unusual. If you've got a battery charger, give it a good charge before you go out. It might just help keep you on the road.

Oil and Primary Drive Fluid - Now I don't know if oil breaks down by just sitting, but every March 1st I do an oil change regardless of the milage since the last one. One of the things that was suggested to me was that by doing an oil change after the bike has sat for awhile helps get more of the stuff that gathers in oil out.

Belts and Chains - Wheather you have belt drive, chain drive or shaft drive. Make sure all the parts appear in good order and everything that is supposed to be tight is tight.

Air Cleaner - During the winter the critters that live in your garage all scamper to find someplace to hide your air cleaner could be one of them. I pull out my air cleaner and clean it and oil it every year at the time that I do my winter oil change. By doing that I'm sure that my Fuel - Gas tends to break down first ride will be a nicer day. as it ages. If you've ever smelt a gas can that been sitting for Spark Plugs - To me it just seems too easy to not awhile you know what I mean. pull the plugs and give them a quick once over.

If my bikes been sitting for a Plugs in general can tell you a lot about how your over a month, I will drain the motor is running. Why not check them and replace gas and put new fuel in it. them now, instead of on the side of the road.

Battery - Winters can be rough on batteries. I know some people who take theirs out during the winter and store it in a warmer place. I also know people who keep it on a battery charger all

Tires and Wheels Make sure your tires look ok. That they don't have any cracks or worn spots and that tire pressure is good. (You should do this regularly).

As for your wheels. If you have solid wheels or mags or anything other than spokes checking your wheels is pretty easy.

You only have to check for any corrosion, or dings. If you have spokes, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TIGHT. Loose spokes can cause you to get a flat or even worse, have the spokes to break. Check them carefully.

Cables- During the winter you can get quite a bit of condensation in your cables. This can cause all kinds of problems. These might include rusting the cable or weakening the cable. Check them and lubricate them if necessary.

Lights - Make sure that all of your lights and other electrical components are in working order. Especially, at the beginning of the season, since the cagers aren't used to seeing us out there.

Chassis - Make sure that everything is tightened up. Some of us who ride bikes that have a tendancy to really loosen things up need to really check the bike over during this step.

Gear - Now that the bike is already to go make sure you are too. Check your eye protection, condition leathers, and protect your helmet with a new head wrap. Also don't forget, you might still be wearing gloves so check those zipper pulls also.

All of these are important checks for starting out the season and during the riding season. You don't have to be a great wrench to be able to do these checks and there are several books available that can help you with these basic maintenance tasks.

By Jeff Sinason

Hell Yeah - Devour the Day - Like a Storm - Archer The Knitting Factory Spokane, WA Rock 945 and the Knitting Factory presented HellYeah‘s ―Blood For Blood‖ Tour with Devour the Day, Like a Storm, and Archer and let me tell you, it was one hell of a show.

Opening the show was ‗Archer‘ from Santa Cruz, CA. They made for a great opening band; they were full of energy and the crowd really enjoyed them.

After a short change over ‗Like a Storm‘ was up next. They are a Spokane favorite. They kicked it off with ‗Chemical Infatuation‘ - they had a few minor glitches throughout but hell Spokane loves them so no one cared. Chris pulled out the didgeridoo and everyone got all riled up, then the crowd started clapping in sync. They did a cover of Coolio‘s ‗Gangster‘s Paradise‘ and immediately into ‗Wish You Hell‘ - by this time the crowd was in a complete frenzy of moshing. They next did a classic cover of AC/DC‘s ‗TNT‘, and Chris went into the pit for this one. For their last song they played ‗I Love the Way You Hate Me‘ - as always ‗Like a Storm‘ was amazing, they never disappoint.

Devour The Day was direct support for HellYeah. They are hard and heavy, by this time the crowd was ready for some serious moshing. They played about 8 songs , ‗Blackout‘, ‗Respect‘ ‗You and Not Me‘, ‗Get Out of My Way‘, ‗Check Your Head‘, ‗Faith‘, Heaven Sam‘ and ‗Good Man‘.

HellYeah is finally up, Vinnie Paul is the first to come out doing his famous twirling of his drumsticks. The rest of the guys join him and they come out strong with Chad running

all over the stage. Tom is wearing his cowboy hat as always and Kyle‘s dreads are completely unruly. Vinnie Paul is a powerhouse on the drums with the first song ‗Matter of Time‘. The crowd is in a frenzy of a mosh pit. During the song Chad says ―I‘ve been here before‖. After the song ended Chad said ―Feels like home‖ He said ―people say what‘s my favorite city?

My favorite city to me is Spo-fucking-can, you know why, turn the fuck around, this is why‖.

The Knitting Factory is literally wall to wall people no chairs or tables they take them all out for sold out shows, there are at least 1500 people at the show. They follow this up with ‗Blood for Blood‘ as if it is not crazy enough but that is what HellYeah is all about, non-stop craziness. I have to give credit to Chad, he is a hell of a motivational Rock and Roll speaker, an advocate for the rock industry. Maybe he should be the next MC for the Grammy‘s he has to be better than Kenyan. ―Most important moment is right now live right now everyone, is a star in my book, so thank you very much, learn from yesterday, if you fuck up don‘t do it again.‖ HellYeah then slowed it down with ‗Moth‘. Some of the other songs they played were ‗Drink Drank Drunk‘, ‗Alcohol in Ass‘, ‗Cross the Bier‘, ‗Demons in the Dirt‘ and ‗Band of Brothers‘ and an encore of ‗Cowboy Way' and ‗You Wouldn‘t Know‘. HellYeah is one of the hardest playing bands out there, always giving it all they have. Every show I have seen them play has been better than the time before and I look forward to the next HellYeah experience.

CV WorldWide presents to you the complete and unedited transcript of an exclusive interview with none other than Tom Keifer of Cinderella, by our media partner Pure Steele Communications and the MAN JJ Steele. Tom took time from his busy solo tour promoting his album “The Way Life Goes” to speak with JJ during his Vale of Steele show. <PSC>: Thank you everyone for tuning into the Vale of Steel with J.J. Steel. I know that you have been waiting all this time for this interview and finally we have the one and only Tom Keifer, formally with “Cinderella” with us tonight and as you all know he has got a new album “The Way Life Goes” out right now. How you doing tonight Tom?

<TK>: Good to be here. Thanks for having me.

<PSC>: Any time, anything we can do for you, please let us know. I am going to start with the first question. You have been with “Cinderella” for so long - it has been 31 years now. Why a solo album now?

<TK>: Well, it really came together over a period of time and when I started we were on the heels of <Tom Keifer>: Doing well. How about you? record deal for Cinderella and it ended up going <PSC>: I am doing excellent. It is so good to have south and languishing in the courts and we were restricted from recording together for a number of you with us tonight and there are a lot of people years. So I started producing tracks at that time dying to hear this interview and we have been with no label involved because of what had just pushing this all week. happened with Cinderella and I didn‘t want to deal

years and I think this record is a continuation of where we left off on ―Long Cold Winter‖ and ―Heartbreak Station‖. You know, I was the lead singer and did the majority of guitar work in Cinderella, or a good bit of it anyway, and did pretty much 100% of the writing; so when I do a solo record, it‘s not going to be whole lot of different from Cinderella. For me it‘s just a continuation of what I was doing with that band.

<PSC>: Right, so how personal of an album was this for you as opposed to what you have done for Cinderella. <TK>: Oh they all are personal. You know when you are writing a song I always try to write about real things. ―Don‘t Know Whatcha Got‖, ―Nobody‘s Fool‖, ―Night Songs‖ are all personal songs and it‘s the same with this record. There are some songs which are very personal in this record.

Like ―Thick and Thin‖, the piano ballad I wrote for my wife on this solo album and they‘re all from either a culmination of your own experiences or things you have witnessed or observed and you know people‘s lives are involved so that‘s what I draw my writing inspirations from. I grew up on rock bands and rock artists that were all influenced by the American roots music which are blues, country, and gospel which are all about real things.

That‘s what I have always written about.

with lawyers or record companies or with anything like that. This record started off as not really being a record, it was more about just going out and making music for the sake of making music. There were piecemeal recordings and some songs here and there over a period of about 9 years and I woke up one day and I realized that I had a record, after having put all the time into it and everything; and you know Cinderella remained a band throughout but we only toured. When I realized that I was sitting on a record after all these years of just recording tracks here and there we compiled them massaged them, shopped them to labels and found a great label release in 2013. And here we are. So it just really came together. Shall I say un- <PSC>: Yea, basically written from the soul, right from the heart. The solo album “The Way Life intentionally?

Goes” how long this album been in the making? Is <PSC>: That‟s great. I have heard some of those this something that‟s been 10 years, 15 years? songs played and you can tell there‟s a difference <TK>: It took about a little over 9 years. I would between Cinderella then and how seasoned you say, from the time we actually started recording the have become over the course of time as a musician tracks and tuned it, mastered it and completed it and you can tell that with that nice bluesy rock feel you are doing this from the heart not just for the label, not for anything. I mean this is you. <TK>: Well, the Cinderella records were too. We never allowed any of our people or record companies to tell us what to play. We were always doing what we loved to do, and I always wrote songs from the heart, starting with ―Night Songs‖.

<PSC>: Beautiful song… <TK>: The sound, the production and instrumentation and then the writing, that just grew over the

ning to come out any time soon? <TK>: Yeah. I am sure we will. We played ThrottleFest back in August in Kansas City. That was really a fun show.

<PSC>: Have you been touring lately outside of that? Behind this album and if so how is it going?

Do you have a bunch of tour days you have been doing?

almost 10 years.

<PSC>: Wow, that‟s a long time in the making, so you know you‟ve definitely got a lot of hard work into that and I will tell you what just based on what I have been seeing around me, it‟s definitely blown up. I mean I would definitely say it‟s as big in this day and age as “Cinderella” was back then, in my personal opinion because it was huge. So many people around me like the idea that you are back. <TK>: I mean the word is definitely getting up there. It‘s harder in this day and age because you know the social media and the internet is a catch 22, there are a lot of positives; part of the positives are that you can make a lot of noise with it but negative is that so is everyone else, so there is always a lot of noise to cut through - I think it takes longer these days for a record or a project or a piece of art or something that someone is trying to get out there. I think you have to stay with it and I feel lucky because my label is in for the long haul on this and they have been very supportive and just plugging away so I think more and more people are finding out about the records and we have toured a lot and will continue to tour next year with my solo band, we‘re just having a blast doing it

<PSC>: So we are based on Kansas City, plan-

<TK>: Throttle fest is part of ―The Way Life Goes‖ tour. It‘s one of the shows we did and we have been touring since February 2013 with the solo band. We started playing then which was a couple of months before the record actually released.

It‘s just because I wanted to get a band out beforehand on the road and become a band. We have toured both 2013 and 2014. We have done a quite a bit and just finished this leg at the end of October at Whiskey out in LA. We are going to take a break through the holiday and we will be firing up next year some time. And touring will be active.

<PSC>: I have recently been out there in the strip about two years ago and in my opinion the strip has changed a lot since the 80‟s when I was hanging out back there. So it‟s a whole different atmosphere there now. But Hollywood is always gonna be Hollywood. I still love it. <TK>: Yea, it‘s forever changing out there, it‘s always been that way.

<PSC>: I know it‟s crazy. Do you remember the very first album that you bought? <TK>: The Monkeys.

<PSC>: Oh! That‟s great. Did you say that in the metal show? I just got up with that episode recently. <TK>: Probably. That‘s just the first record that I bought with my own money.

<PSC>: That‟s cool. Mine was the KISS “Destroyer”, 8 track, 1977. That was my very first one. Who has influenced you musically? Was it the Monkeys or was it more of the Blues influence? <TK>: I initially wanted to pick up the guitar and sing and play and being musician after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. And that progressed after hearing some harder rock bands, the Stones, Zeppelin, Bad Company, all these great bands of 70‘s when I grew up. And at some point I realized that they were inspired and had influences which were the ―Blues‖. And I started digging back as a teenager and started listening to a lot of the things that inspired my heroes and really got into the blues, and some of the R&B stuff; I loved James Brown and I think it‘s really great for any musicians to go back and listen to the people who inspired you.

<PSC>: Who influenced you to write “You Showed Me”; I got a chance to listen to that song and I personally feel that that was a dig deep song for you. I mean probably deeper than most. I know a lot of songs hit you in the heart. Is this one of your favorites or the one got you the most? <TK>: Well, that‘s one of the songs that I wrote for Savannah. It‘s two that I have on the record. ―Thick and Thin‖ was about how I would be always there for her and ―You Showed Me‖ is about how she was really there for me when I was in a dark place and helped lift me out of it.

<PSC>: Tom I got a good question for you. On the last segment we touched on this a little bit and that lead me into this question now. What do you think of social networking as a way to communicate with your fans versus back in the days when we had to go and handshake, kiss the babies, and hang with the rock stars and at the clubs? <TK>: Well, we still do that now. One of my favorite parts of the tour is after the show we get to meet everyone who hangs out, take pictures, talk and sign on their stuff and I still love doing that. I am fairly new to this social media. I never had any FaceBook or Twitter or anything like that until this record was released. My label helped to set it up for me and showed me how to run it. They gave me the keys and I have been off to the races and

learning every day. I think it is fun. It‘s a cool creative outlet. I look at it as having your own TV show. You can be in touch with the fans, share cool things from something funny to something inspirational and you can tell your fans what you are up to. I think it‘s cool. I am really enjoying it.

<PSC>: Yea. That‟s what we really do. We try to reach out, especially on FaceBook. We try to drop around Social networking platforms. That‟s the way we really like to reach out the way too. I definitely understand. Now been a musician I can say this to you because I remember walking Hollywood and I remember playing. I am a musician myself of 30 years and I know the difference between musicians then and now. Do you have any advice to give to the upcoming musicians given the way it was back then versus now with social networking <TK>: Yea, I think that is important and in terms and media involved?

of how the industry has changed, now the record companies and publishing companies have lost tons of money from streaming networks that don‘t pay much and there is illegal downloading also.

One of the areas that really affects greatly and sadly is the artist development. So I think more and more labels are looking for artists to deliver finished products. So the days of being able to hand a <PSC>: Music is an emotion and should always guy a crappy demo and they have an imagination come from heart. I don‟t think it needs to be any- where they see through it and they take it to their bosses and they put together a budget and get a thing attached that would be fake. great producer, and they say ―We will make a great record with these kids.‖ Right, you know those days and those kinds of opportunities are fading more and more. It doesn‘t mean that you can‘t sign with a major label. It‘s just that labels that want to invest in creating the projects and developing the artists are becoming less and less common. <TK>: Well, the first thing I would say is that no matter what you cater to you should try truly with your heart. Do not chase trends. That‘s rule number one to me. You have got to be yourself, be as good as you can be at that and hopefully one day you will be the trend because people respond to the real. I think it‘s universal and always will be.

<PSC>: But with the social networking and everything nowadays so different than what it used to be it seems like artists that are smart enough will have the creative ability to get out there probably more than they could get back then with the major labels. Because it seems the major labels were the only one that had that kind of connections. <TK>: Well, it‘s not a breeze to sell the records via the internet, believe me. Yeah, things do go viral, but most of the time no one really knows why,

for and he has doing that for a long time and Eric is in the studio now making a record with his new band with Tracii Guns and Ricki Rockett.

<PSC>: Oh, they were in Kansas City very recently. That‟s very cool. I haven‟t had the opportunity to hear them yet but I hopefully will be hearing them very soon. So I know that you had vocal cord issues a while back; you had a partially paralyzed vocal cord. This I have to ask; if your voice hadn‟t come back do you think you would have stayed in the industry, maybe just as a guitar player or something like that? Personally, I think that in your heart you would have stayed in there somewhere because I don‟t think you would have ever gotten out from music entirely. <TK>: I am sure I would have stayed. I would have played guitar too but I really love singing and that‘s something that has been part of me since I first picked up the guitar. Even though I thought I was learning guitar that first teacher of my guitar made me sing the songs that he was teaching me on guitar so, he is responsible for making me a front man I guess. Back when I was 8 years old little did I know that was been formed even back then. It‘s hard to say, but probably in some capacity I still would, but I can say that I don‘t think I would have felt whole…

that‘s not something you can plan. 20, 30 years before it was a real challenge for the artists and for the artist decades before us there were lots of challenges to achieve success in the music businesses and there still is, but it‘s a different set of challenges. Those are my observations in terms of that. It‘s always good for an artist to have a label behind them. It‘s just that labels approach signing an artist a little different these days. They don‘t put much into the development of artists. They are looking more and more for the finished products, you know, finished records coming in. I think you have <PSC>: Yeah, I know the feeling. I am a druma better shot of getting signed, I guess that‘s what I am saying.

<PSC>: I know that Jeff LaBar has been doing a lot of work and he got with a very good friend of ours Marcus Allen Christopher of the band „M!SS CRAZY” and they started „Freakshow‟ together and believe it or not his guitar playing is so phenomenal and now also it‟s one of my all-time favorite album; Jeff also went on to do another album recently on his own. Have the other guys been doing anything? Creatively? Musically? Anything like that? <TK>: Well, Fred does a lot of TV music, he has got a studio out in LA and he is doing lot of music stuff and is working constantly in the studio; I can‘t even keep up with what he is working on but he has got some television shows that he does music

mer at heart and I am always gonna to be but I also play base for 25 years and you know I could play base all day long but I gotta have my drums.

You know, it‟s just me… <PSC>: Ok, your solo album “The Way Life Goes”. Would you call it “new” or “fairly new” now? <TK>: It‘s actually new for me because that‘s the only thing that I have out.

future or it‟s just done? <TK>: Right now everyone‘s doing their own thing and I am going to tour next year with my solo thing, and will release some more singles and stuff. I am sure we will tour again, although I don‘t know about a record. I always say it‘s not for a lack of desire on our part. I have gotten burned a couple of times by the labels. We get offered record deals quite regularly. I must say that we must be pretty careful about what we sign. If the right opportunity comes along, I am sure we will consider it.

<PSC>: What should we expect to see at a show not at another Cinderella show but at a Tom Keif- <PSC>: This is going to be my last question. er show?

What kind of gear do you use? What kind of gui<TK>: Uh, well, you know my performance is tar and amps? very similar; it‘s high energy, lots of sweat, loud guitars, rock and roll, the solo band we put through a mixture of Cinderella songs and stuff from ―The Way Life Goes‖, it‘s a big high energy rock show.

The band is amazing and we have really great chemistry, amazing background vocals, everybody sings. My wife Savannah, who produced and wrote the record with me, is out on tour and we did a couple of songs together acoustically but also on some of the songs like ―Nobody‘s Fool‖ and ―Shelter Me‖, all those songs which have got big background vocals, she joins Kendra, a singer we have out with us on tour. We have got 8 voices up there when it comes to those big back ground vocals, the voices are pretty great.

<TK>: Well, the amps? I have always played through the early 70‘s Marshall Super Leads, with 25 watt greenback celestians, I usually have 3 or 4 of those; sometimes I have a black panel Fender Bassman. But the main workhorse amps are those old Marshalls. I use those a lot in the studio but I also have a lot of weird little amps, like Fender tweets or stuff I might pull out when I‘m in the studio for a special little color here or there in your sound. The Marshalls really do the trick live, they are very versatile.

<PSC>: There‟s a beautiful sound to everything that you are doing and it just gives that bluesy feel. It‟s not too harsh. It‟s very melodious. Any<PSC>: Like being at a big church type of thing? way, we are here at the end; Tom, I really appreciate you doing this for me, it‟s been a pleasure, <TK>: Yea, exactly. thanks a lot. <PSC>: If you can form a super group and have a <TK>: Thank You. choice of any musicians in the world, alive or dead, who would they be? <TK>: Oh man, it‘s hard to put together one. I have got some many heroes that I love. I think in the super group I will just play the guitar. Because it will be fun to lie back, a little less pressure. Let‘s put Rod Stewart on vocals and the other guitar player will be Joe Walsh, John Bonham on drums and John on keyboards and John Paul Jones on bass.

<PSC>: What‟s the current status of Cinderella?

Do you guys foresee getting back with Cinderella for any kind of touring or recording in the near

CV WorldWide is proud to carry the artistic genius of Anthony Hitaffer, drummer for Saints of Rebellion.

As you know from reading our interview with the boys from SoR, Anthony has a love of art and drawing comics, and has given CVWW permission to carry his work “Hair Trigger”.

It is a story about the adventures of a gunman for hire named Rooster and his anthropomorphic feline sidekick Luula.

It is a story that hits home in his heart and life, but we’ll go into all that later.

For now, enjoy!

Order in the Chaos Helpful Band Tip #2 - Finding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;SOUNDâ&#x20AC;?

E

ddie Van Halen (a selfdescribed "tone chaser") achieved his distinctive tone, known as the "brown sound," by using the EVH "Frankenstrat" guitar, a stock 100-watt Marshall amp, a Variac (to lower the voltage of the amp to keep the same tone as an amplifier running full-blast at lower volumes), and effects such as an Echoplex, an MXR Phase 90, an MXR Flanger and EQs. Eddie constructed his now legendary Frankenstrat guitar using a Boogie Bodies factory "2nd" body, Charvel neck, a single vintage Gibson PAF Humbucker pickup sealed in molten surfboard wax done at home in a coffee can to reduce microphonic feedback (which also warped the bobbin of the pickup), a pre-CBS Fender tremolo bridge (later to be a Floyd Rose bridge), and a single volume control with a knob labeled "Tone".

Let's face it, not every guitarist is as ambitious in finding that unique sound (like Eddie) that others will immediately identify as THEM upon hearing. But, then again, some of us ARE wired that way, and thus, so is our gear. We strive and scheme and try different combinations to obtain that elusive tone that just floats our boat and allows us to progress past scales and style.

That tone that just forces the gui-

tar to bend to YOUR will as opposed to the other way around.

I have always been a firm believer in intentionally NOT copying somebody else's sound or tone. Actually, nothing gets under my skin faster than a copy-cat.

They say that mimicry is the ultimate compliment... but, I see it more as just being lazy.

The kid that puts on the latest Alter Bridge and says...

"Now THAT'S the sound I want!", and immediately goes down to guitar center and buys a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier and a Paul Reed Smith guitar... goes home, hooks it up, and then says, "WTF! This doesn't sound ANYTHING like Tremonti!" -- What an expensive and humiliating lesson to learn.

But, enough of that.

There are certain combinations of gear that will almost always sound good (if you are a decent player)... a Gibson Les Paul straight into a Marshall JCM800, a Fender Stratocaster into a Fender Bassman Deluxe or Twin Reverb. But, those are good

for that traditional player that either has no desire to call attention to himself, or one that is recording and wants a consistent and successful tone for the track they are recording. There is nothing wrong with that. But, this article is for those that want MORE from the experience of playing guitar.

You see, I look at the guitar as more than just an instrument. I see it as an extension of my body,soul, heart, and mind.

An extension of my ego and self.

And my personal self is not purchased off the sales floor of Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or Long & McQuaid. It is derived by countless years of searching and trial/ error scenarios. Because it means that much to me.

Whenever I play a show, there is almost always someone

who approaches me and comments on my tone/sound. Example: We (Agents Of Chaos) played a contest at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtwon Seattle a year or so back, and won our first night hands-down. A few months later I ran into one of the judges in the studio while we were tracking pre-pro guitars and drums.

He said, "You guys had that competition in the bag as soon as YOU hit your first chord. Because your sound was so professional and sculpted that it showed a level of professionalism that we had not seen on any other night of the competition." (I'm slightly para-phrasing here, because it WAS a while back and my recall is not as sharp as it used to be. But, the truth of the matter is, he NOTICED it, and REMEMBERED it. My SOUND...

Now, I will not bore you with a list of gear or what I use live/in the studio. But rather, I want to challenge you to delve into professionalizing your tone.

So that you not only sound good, but assist your band in sounding better than the bands you play with.

A really good tone that you have created for you and your style is necessary for success in the music industry. Nobody will remember what you sound like if you only use a store bought Mesa and a stock PRS. Nobody will even care. Because the Mesa amp and PRS guitar Tremonti uses isn't even stock. They have been upgraded and modified to HIS specs and style, not yours.

So, even if you DO copy his gear exactly, you still do not play like him... and why would you want to? Be yourself! Unless you are in

a Creed/AB tribute band... and if you are, that is another column in itself.

Search your amps, search your guitars... play with them, ask questions, emulate, but don't copy. But, always remember the words told to me recently, "Tone Costs Money!"

It does. And it is NOT cheap. Shoot, I have over $300 in upgrades and setup in each of my 16 guitars alone. Not to mention $1,500 worth of mods in my amp heads and another $500 in each speaker cabinet. But, to me, it is entirely worth the price... because what I get out of it is a tone and expression that people remember almost as much as the performance and material... and that is worth it to me.

So, do yourself a favor and see what you might find, because even though Eddie would probably still have been a great guitarist with a store-bought amp and guitar... his personality and curiosity made him a LEGEND!

Brien DeChristopher is the guitarist and primary songwriter for Seattle Seale-based hard rock band "Agents Of Chaos". He has logged countless hours on stage in live performance, and studio recording time.

You can see this and other Pearls of Wisdom at http:// www.blogster.com/ briendechristopher/

QUICKIES: 3 QUICK TIPS FOR CAR MAINTENANCE

By Rick Popely for Cars.com

Do You Need To Change Your Car's PowerSteering Fluid?

Replacing power-steering fluid generally is not listed among the regular maintenance items that should be performed, so on most vehicles replacing it is at the owner's discretion.

When you take your car in for routine service you may hear an urgent pitch for having your power-steering pump flushed and filled with fresh fluid because the current fluid has turned dark.

Bear in mind that engine oil and transmission fluid also become darker over time, so a deeper shade of red doesn't mean the power-steering fluid is bad.

Before you jump at paying for this service, see what your owner's manual or maintenance schedule says. You probably won't find mention of changing the fluid.

You should check the power-steering fluid reservoir monthly to make sure it has the proper amount and that the power-steering system isn't leaking. Reservoirs on many vehicles are the seethrough plastic type, so you don't even have to remove a cap to check the level. Consult your owner's manual for the location of the reservoir in the engine compartment for help. You also should check the manual for the type of power-steering fluid that is required. The manufacturer may call for a specific type of fluid instead of a generic type found at parts stores.

Losing sleep worrying about the powersteering fluid in your vehicle because of its appearance or age? You could refresh it without draining all the fluid and flushing the system, but that may be more complicated than you're comfortable doing yourself (or paying for). Instead, find a turkey baster that will fit inside the reservoir and drain as much old fluid as you can. Then, you can refill it with fresh fluid to the proper level. You won't get all the old fluid, but do this a few times and you should be able to replace most of it.

How Often Should You Change the Engine Air Filter?

Vehicle maintenance schedules vary on how often the air filter should be changed. On most Chevrolet engines, for example, the recommended interval is every 45,000 miles, but Ford says it should be done every 30,000 miles on many of its engines. Hyundai also says every 30,000 miles but shortens it to 15,000 for "severe" driving conditions, which includes heavy traffic in hot weather and frequent driving on unpaved roads or dusty conditions.

You might be able to tell by looking when a filter needs replacing, such as finding black areas on the section through which outside air enters. Air filters on most engines are fairly easy to access, and you can check the location in your owner's manual if you need help.

If you can't tell by looking, but it's been more than 3 years or 30,000 miles, you probably should get a new one (especially if you can save money by doing it yourself). However, you should be leery if every time you get an oil change the repair shop says you also need a new air filter. We would expect most drivers can go more than a year, at least, and probably more than two years.

A clogged air filter won't significantly affect fuel economy, according to a 2009 study conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, but it can hurt acceleration by 6% to 11%. Acceleration is harder to measure than fuel economy, so you may not notice a gradual performance loss. For that reason, it's a good idea to periodically visually check the engine air filter.

Do You Really Need to Change the Transmission Fluid?

Yes, though how often this service should be performed varies by manufacturer and vehicle, and it's open to debate.

The manufacturer's maintenance schedule for many automatic transmissions doesn't call for fresh fluid until 100,000 miles or, with some Ford transmissions, even 150,000 miles. A lot of mechanics say that is too long and it should be done at least every 50,000 miles. Manual transmissions may be on a different schedule, so it's best to consult the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual.

Like other vital automotive fluids, transmission fluid deteriorates over time. Hard use - such as frequent stop-and-go city driving, hauling heavy loads, trailer towing - will accelerate the deterioration. That kind of driving raises the operating temperature of the transmission, and heat puts more strain on the transmission and the fluid, which helps facilitate gear shifts, cools the transmission and lubricates moving parts.

If you do a lot of driving under high-stress conditions, you should check the transmission level more often and have a repair shop check the condition of the fluid. Transmission fluid often is red but can come in other colors, and as it deteriorates it tends to turn darker. It may also acquire a burned odor that could indicate it needs to be changed or that the transmission is developing mechanical problems. Another indication it needs changing is dirt or other debris in the fluid. When you take your vehicle in for an oil change or other

routine service, the repair facility may urge you to pay for a transmission-fluid change or flush. Even if they can show you that the fluid is darker than original, that might not mean you need fresh fluid right now. Step back, check the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual and see what the manufacturer recommends before you decide. This also will give you time to price shop.

Many repair shops use flush systems that force out the old fluid and pump in new fluid.

Though that sounds good, some manufacturers say you shouldn't do that (Honda is one; there are others), so you need to know this before you agree to a flush. Look in your owner's manual. Some manufacturers, such as Honda, also call for their own type of transmission fluid and warn that using other types could cause damage. Moreover, some automatic transmissions have filters that should be cleaned or replaced when the fluid is changed.

Make sure the repair facility is using the correct fluid and procedures for your vehicle.

If you have never changed the transmission fluid in your vehicle and have more than 100,000 miles on the odometer, should you change it now?

We have seen mixed opinions on this, with some mechanics suggesting you should just leave well alone if you aren't having shifting problems. Adding fuel to this theory are stories about older transmissions failing shortly after they finally received fresh fluid. We have a hard time accepting that fresh fluid causes transmission failure, so our inclination would be to have it done if you're planning on keeping the vehicle a few years or longer. However, fresh fluid is not a cure for gears slipping, rough shifting or other mechanical problems, so don't expect a fluid change to be a magic elixir.

The Death of Music Sales: If CDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are Dead, so is iTunes

By Derek Thompson

CDS ARE DEAD...

That doesn't seem like such a controversial statement.

Maybe it should be. The music business sold 141 million CDs in the U.S. last year. That's more than the combined number of tickets sold to the most popular movies in 2014 (Guardians) and 2013 (Iron Man 3). So "dead," in this familiar construction, isn't the same as zero. It's more like a commonly accepted short-cut for a formerly popular thing is now withering at a commercially meaningful rate.

And if CDs are truly dead, then digital music sales are lying in the adjacent grave. Both categories are down double-digits in the last year, with iTunes sales diving at least 13 percent.

The recorded music industry is being eaten, not by one simple digital revolution, but rather by revolutions inside of revolutions, mouths inside of mouths, Alien-style. Digitization and illegal downloads kicked it all off. MP3 players and iTunes liquified the album. That was enough to send recorded music's profits cascading. But today the disruption is being disrupted: Digital track sales are falling at nearly the same rate as CD sales, as music fans are turning to streamingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and music blogs.

Now that music is superabun-

dant, the business (beyond selling subscriptions to music sites) thrives only where scarcity can be manufacturedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in concert halls, where there are only so many seats, or in advertising, where one song or band can anchor a branding campaign.

Nearly every number in Nielsen's 2014 annual review of the music industry is preceded by a negative sign, including chain store sales (-20%), total new album sales (-14%), and sales of new songs online (-10.3%). Two things are up: streaming music

and vinyl album sales. Somewhere in America, an enterprising sociologist is fitting this into an interesting theory about how the emergence of new technologies in media ironically amplifies our interest in pop-culture anachronisms.

So what about vinyl? It is rising, yes, rising like a wee baby phoenix, from a prodigious pile of ashes. Nine million two hundred thousand vinyl LPs were sold in 2014, up 51 percent annually, even faster than the growth in video streams. Nine million is

a lot more than zero, but commercially speaking, its overall impact on the market is meager. Vinyl accounts for 3.5 percent of total album sales. The CD market (which is dead, remember) is 15times larger.

And how about the hits?

The top 1 percent of bands and solo artists now earn about 80 percent of all revenue from recorded music, as I wrote in "The

Shazam Effect." But the market for streamed music is not so concentrated. The ten most-popular songs accounted for just shy of 2 percent of all streams in 2013 and 2014. That sounds crazy low. But there are 35 million songs on Spotify and many more remixes and covers on SoundCloud and YouTube, and one in every 50 or 60 online plays is going to a topten song. With the entire universe

of music available on virtual jukeboxes, the typical 3.5-hour listening session still includes at least one song selected from a top -ten playlist that accounts for .00003 percent of that universe.

The long tail of digital music is the longest of tails. Still, there is a fat head at the front.

from The Atlantic