2016 September

SEPTEMBER 2016

THE Lifestyle Magazine for Custom Vehicle & Music Enthusiasts

ALWAYS FREE

It's at the sweltering peak of summer in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada that Desire The Fire entered the legendary recording studio, "The Hideout", to begin the recording of their debut EP. The debut EP from Desire The Fire is tentatively set to release in the upcoming months with the goal in mind to breathe fire into the already thriving rock and metal scene that currently dominates Las Vegas.

We had a chance to sit down with the guys for an exclusive interview to find out more about the upcoming album and what they have been up to. p.6

Contents...

Press Release: New Single From Kobra & The Lotus & Tour Dates

3

Santana IV Album Review By Tim Cheney: Collaboration of Santana & Journey’s Neal Schon

5

Life On The Road: Tour Blog From The Adarna

24

Tour News: Dan Reed Network

Jamie Paullus Jamie Paullus continues to WOW our readers and travelled to Seattle to bring our readers: Pain In The Grass….

Page 40

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Order in the Chaos: What Does Being A Musician Mean To You?

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Tour Announcement: Butcher Babies Join Megadeth HAIR TRIGGER: A Comic from Anthony Hitaffer

32 50

Sherry Keith Mystic Photography traveled to Hollywood to bring our readers The Rainbow Labor Day Bash…

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KOBRA AND THE LOTUS Debut New Single "TriggerPulse" via Revolver Magazine "We are ecstatic to finally be releasing a new track from KOBRA AND THE LOTUS! After two years it's time to unleash something new and tasty Canadian Hard Rockers, KOBRA AND THE LO- so here we go...

TUS recently signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. They are set to release their fourth album and Napalm Records debut Prevail I + II as 'TriggerPulse' is coming for you and it's ready to two separate volumes of a double album. The first make some waves in the Omniverse!! See you out part will be released in February 2017 with the sec- there in space!!" ond part to follow in October of 2017.

New Double Album Prevail I + II Out In 2017

"TriggerPulse" is available for purchase via iTunes But don't worry as today KOBRA AND THE LO- and Amazon.

TUS are debuting their new single "TriggerPulse" taken from Prevail I. Check out the exclusive premiere courtesy of RevolverMag.com, the KOBRA AND THE LOTUS will take to the road this fall in Europe alongside label-mates Delain. online home of Revolver Magazine HERE. Fans can expect to hear a mix of KOBRA AND THE LOTUS classics and new songs from Prevail I + II. Of the song, KOBRA tells Revolver:

11.11.2016 IE - Dublin, The Button Factory KOBRA AND THE LOTUS LIVE

12.11.2016 UK - Manchester, O2 Ritz

24.09.2016 NL - Eindhoven, Poppodium de 13.11.2016 UK - London, Koko Effenaar (with Arch Enemy) 15.11.2016 UK - Southampton, Engine Rooms 16.11.2016 UK - Cardiff, Tramshed 30.09.2016 LT - Kaunas, Lemmmy* 01.10.2016 LV - Riga, Nabakab* 02.10.2016 EE - Tallinn, Tapper* 05.10.2016 FI - Helsinki, Elmun Baari* 06.10.2016 FI - Tampere, Yo-talo* 07.10.2016 FI - Oulu, Hevimesta* *Headline Shows With Delain 14.10.2016 DE - Köln, Essigfabrik

About KOBRA AND THE LOTUS: Led by frontwoman and classically trained vocal powerhouse Kobra Paige, KOBRA AND THE LOTUShave been making a name for themselves worldwide since 2009 with extensive touring and two well-received albums. KOBRA AND THE LOTUS is loaded with precision, heavy emotion, and grand-scale dynamics, highlighting the glories of Classic heavy metal and Hard Rock.

Known for their exceptionally strong live shows, they proudly carry the flag for all metal/rock fans.

15.10.2016 DE - Stuttgart, Im Wizemann 16.10.2016 DE - Hamburg, Gruenspan 17.10.2016 DK - Copenhagen, Pumpehuset 19.10.2016 DE - Berlin, Columbia-Theater 20.10.2016 PL - Cracov, Kwadrat 21.10.2016 PL - Warsaw, Progresja 22.10.2016 CZ - Zlin, Masters of Rock Club 25.10.2016 SK - Bratislava, Majestic Music Club 27.10.2016 AT - Vienna, Szene 28.10.2016 DE - Munich, Backstage 29.10.2016 DE - Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal 30.10.2016 CH - Pratteln, Z 7 3 01.10.2016 FR - Lyon, Ninkasi Kao 02.11.2016 ES - Madrid, Arena 03.11.2016 FR - Toulouse, Metronum 04.11.2016 FR - Paris, Elysee Montmartre 05.11.2016 FR - Lille, Le Splendid 06.11.2016 BE - Antwerp, Trix 08.11.2016 UK - Birmingham, O2 Institute 2 09.11.2016 UK - Glasgow, Classic Grand

For More Info Visit: http://kobraandthelotus.com https://www.facebook.com/KobraAndTheLotus https://twitter.com/katlofficial/

SANTANA IV ALBUM REVIEW We were recently asked to review the new album collaboration with Santana and Neal Schon.We were of coursed honored to have been asked and after listening to the album this is what our Cd Reviewer, Tim Cheney had to say.

Carlos Santana is one of those artists that has brilliantly maintained a music career since the late 1960s. He’s done so with a formula of both incredible music and an almost superhuman amount of patience. Santana, about once per decade (sometimes longer), will methodically thrust himself back into the spotlight. His early work in the late 60s and 70s was groundbreaking. Rock n Roll was born of several genres of Black Music that included The Blues, Jazz and Southern Gospel. Santana however brought Latin rhythms and chord progressions that Rock fans had not heard before. both Schon and Santana to share the solo spotIn the world of superhuman Rock guitar, White light. The playing styles are noticeably and distincpeople have Stevie Ray Vaughan, Black people tively different yet, blend together quite nicely. have Jimi Hendrix and Latinos have Santana. One of the most impressive accomplishments of He’s THAT good. That being said, Santana keeps this album is the fact that although the songs are pretty good company when it comes to the talent noticeably different, they don’t sound out of place he works with. His collaboration with Rob Thom- on the same album. From a song like “Yambu”, as on the mega hit “Smooth” is a great example. which is astonishingly reminiscent of “Oye Como Even in his early career he had an eye for superior Va” without coming across like a rewrite or a riptalent. His band in the early days consisted of Neal off, to “Blues Magic” which I highly recommend Schon and Gregg Rolie who later went on to form listening to with black lights and incense, to me, the hit making machine known as Journey. That Santana IV is about vibe. This is the kind of music brings us happily to Santana’s new album Santana that’s about putting your headphones on and just IV Which returns the band to its original Schon/ escaping somewhere else after a long tough day.

Santana formula that made them both famous in When I said earlier that I wasn’t prepared the first place. for what I was about to listen to, I really meant Upon first opening the album, I was not that. When classic bands try to recapture an old prepared for what I was about to listen to. The be- magic from their glory days, I’m often disappointginning of Santana IV is not only an immediate ed with the finished product. Fame, money, ego, flashback to the original chemistry between Schon the wrong producer or whatever it may be, causes and Santana, but is also a return to the original re- acts to lose their original magic. I’m pleased to recording style. There are quite a few tracks on the port that has not happened to either Schon or Sanalbum that I would almost swear was recorded in tana. In today’s musical wasteland of contrived, the old recording studio, on the old recording watered down and over produced crap. This new equipment, with the original microphones. It endeavor from Santana and Schon was refreshing to my ears. sounds warm and familiar like an old blanket.

Although there are songs with more modern guitar sounds, it somehow doesn’t sound out of place.

There’s a good blend of songs that include emotional vocals and brilliant instrumentals that allow

Tim Cheney

<CV> Let's start off with introducing the band and their roles <CODY> Cody Elliott - Vocals. Dylan Dice Guitar. Paul Draven - Guitar. Michael James Bass Guitar. Adam Fisher - Drums <CV> I understand you are based here in Las Vegas, tell us when the band formed. <CODY> We started writing in July of 2015, and everything fell into place. We were already good friends so the idea just made sense. <CV> Tell us how you came up with the name for the band? <CODY> The name just hit me one day and it was perfect. It is a name that can mean something very personal for anyone who hears it. For me, it represents the passion in my heart, the drive for my vision and creativity. The love I have for my brothers in the band as well as the fans. <CV> Give us a little background on each member. <CODY> Dylan is just an animal on guitar. His high energy and memorable solos make him a high caliber player for sure.

Paul is a technical master mind, his guitar work is impeccable. Even some of the best guitarist can’t go toe to toe with him.

Michael is a performer through and through. I personally love watching our live footage because Michael goes ape shit on stage. He is also very creative when we write.

Adam is a beast. just …. a beast. he's always on 11. The guy is dripping with technique and power. <DYLAN> Our front man is the greatest front

man that ever lived. I know that sounds arrogant to say, it's just a fact.

Just when you think Cody can't possibly outdo himself, he shocks us all. I remember when he first brought a real chainsaw on stage. None of us knew about it prior to that moment. We were just as shocked as the audience. <MICHAEL> He is very spontaneous and it keeps us on our toes. He has such versatility with his voice and charisma that owns every crowd. <CV> What brought you all together and how did you know this was a perfect fit?

<CODY> We were all great friends who decided to try and write some songs and see what happens. We had all been burnt by musicians we worked with in the past. So we decided no matter what, we are family first. Everything fell into place. The stars aligned, so to speak.. We did everything together and it seemed we could do no wrong. It was like together we had some unexplainable power over the universe. <CV> What got each of you into music and at what age did you know this is what you wanted to do? <CODY> I was raised around music my whole life. One of my earliest memories was a banjo lesson given to me by my father at the age of 4.

Growing up in the Southeast,I was playing Bluegrass Festivals at a very young age. In my teens I found my calling for Punk and eventually Metal.

This transition makes sense if you think about it because Bluegrass and Metal have all the same characteristics, play fast and sing about death. <MICHAEL>As early as I could remember, I used to listen to my mother and my sister play piano for hours, and I believe that early exposure to Classical music was extremely impactful on my eventual future in music. By the time I was 13, I got my first guitar and by 16, I was playing in my first band. It was from that first show I ever played that I knew that music would be something I would be doing, in some capacity, for the rest of my life. <DYLAN> I grew up in a musical family back in Lafayette, Louisiana. My mom was a child prodigy pianist and was featured on the Ed Sullivan show at 5. I didn't know that I would follow the musical path until I was 14,when I picked up my first guitar. I played in many bands until age 18, when I moved to LA and went to Musicians Institute. After, I moved to Las Vegas where I played sold out shows to thousands of tourists and toured the USA. <PAUL> I was exposed to music at very young age, as my family are mostly folk singers. So I literally learned how to play guitar playing folk songs such as John Denver, David Gates, Jim

Croche, James Taylor, Don McLean etc… It was not until one day, when I was watching TV, the promo for WrestleMania 6 (Hogan vs Warrior) came on and they had ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ in the background, that I knew I was going to be a metal head for life. Today I have the pleasure of jamming and collaborating with a bunch of musicians in Las Vegas and have joined forces with some of the best musicians the world has to offer. <CV> Who would you consider your biggest music influences and why? <CODY> Mine are rather obvious: Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, The Misfits, Danzig, Marilyn Manson, Screaming Lord Sutch, Ozzy Osbourne. Mostly because these guys can not only write a great song, but they perform the hell out of it. I admire the theatrical element they bring to their live shows. They also challenge my crea-

<CV> Who would you consider your biggest music influences and why? <CODY> Mine are rather obvious: Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, The Misfits, Danzig, Marilyn Manson, Screaming Lord Sutch, Ozzy Osbourne.

Mostly because these guys can not only write a great song, but they perform the hell out of it. I admire the theatrical element they bring to their live shows. They also challenge my creativity to be innovative with my own antics. <MICHAEL> It's difficult for me to narrow down my biggest influences because so many artists have been there for me at different points in my life.

Sevendust was a band that showed me early on the power of creating strong imagery in a listener's head. Virtuosos like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai taught me the relationship between technique and expressing emotion, while Mötley Crüe taught me to stop overthinking music theory and just embrace chaos. Blues artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan gave me the courage to pursue music all over again when I thought I had lost everything, and Alice Cooper taught me the art of how a brilliantly choreographed live show can make for a timeless experience. For me, it's always been about chasing that unexplainable feeling I get when I see and hear an artist that completely draws me into their world. <DYLAN> I’ve always liked the tough guy type of guitar players who brought a sense of danger with them, on stage. Hendrix literally burned his fucking guitar in the middle of a show. There’s videos of Dimebag Darrell playing guitar with the headstock broken off and he doesn’t miss a note and that’s what Desire The Fire is all about. We’re here to piss in your face, steal your fucking girlfriends, fuck your fucking mothers, and kick your god damned teeth in. <PAUL> Gilbert and Dimebag are probably my main influence as a guitar player. I remember learning every song of "Lean Into It" by Mr. Big and every song off "Cowboys From Hell" and Vulgar albums. I really developed a lot as a player just by playing my favorite songs. And then I was introduced to the God himself, Steve Vai. That's when everything changed. Being technical is all flashy and cool, but learning the art and theories are powerful. As they say knowledge is power!

<CV> Tell us about your very first show together, how did it go and how were you received? <CODY> I remember, it was at a strip club. We had a crowd of world class porn stars in the front row, and they were VERY receptive. <CV> I understand you are working on your first album and have already put out three singles. Tell us about that. <CODY> We are wrapping up our debut EP at the Hideout.

Our first single was “Sick Of You”.

Heavy and hard hitting, it addresses the common issues humans have when you are trapped in a world full of people you just can't stand.

"Dead Inside" was our second single. The title says it all. I wrote these lyrics at a time my heart had given up on humanity. I was numb, cold, and I just felt dead.

Our most recent single is “Sucker.” This one is very personal to me. It is about my ex who was an amazing actress and deceiver. This song came from a very dark place in my soul. <CV> Give us some insight on the song and music writing process. Is it a joined effort or does one person do all the writing? <CODY> It starts out with a riff or a hook, and sometime we communicate over the phone to expand on these ideas, but ultimately once we get together it is a joint effort. The collaboration aspect is important to this band because we all want to contribute to the common goal of making a song the best it can possibly be. <CV> Tell us about the recording process, anything you like or dislike? <CODY> The studio process is grueling. We have been working with some of the best producers money can buy and with that talent comes a perfectionist attitude. We basically hire these people to push us to extremes that we never knew existed. Doing, for example, a vocal take on a loop a thousand times is exhausting. As a singer, my instrument is biological so I literally put every ounce of my energy into every single take that I do. My muscles tighten up. I get angry. I even beat myself up in the studio to get myself to the right frame of mind to deliver the best take possible. By the end of a session, I am black and blue and in tears. <CV> What is the motivation behind the songs you write? Do any of them speak to you on a personal level and if so why? <CODY> Absolutely. Our hearts are in every line to every song. My inspiration as the lyricist for the band is fueled by experience. Putting pen to paper, you can see that my notebook is filled with blood, sweat and tears. My life has been pain. Lots of pain. And for the most part, my outlet is writing about it. I deal with my demons through these songs and bashing myself onstage. <CV> Tell us about the music industry today

and where you think "Desire The Fire" fits in? <CODY> The industry is constantly evolving.

With that being said, we couldn’t care less. We are in this for the ones that understand our message. We do this for the sanctity that is personal freedom and the art through chaos and disorder.

We do this for the ones that have had their hearts torn apart. The lost and the lonely. The descendants of broken homes. For anyone who has ever been a victim and overcame adversity.

For the ones that pray to the night sky to be delivered from this cruel world. We do it for you because you’re not alone. <CV> What are your thoughts on the use and necessity of Social Media? <CODY> We love it. Obviously we prefer social interaction. But the social media formats make it easier to interact with fans all over the world.

<CV> How do you feel about music download sales, would you prefer a return to CD's and Vinyl? <CODY> No way! We love digital distribution for the same reason we enjoy social media. Fans can engage our content from anywhere in the world at the click of a button. While I appreciate vinyl records as a personal collector, I look at that era as the dark ages of music. In regard to pirated music, we say go ahead. Our message is identifiable by anyone, therefore it is for everyone. We don’t do this for the money. <CV> Tell us about some of the shows you have played so far, do you have a favorite place to play and why? <CODY> The Hard Rock has always been good to us; Great energy, well received by fans and very professional. If you put a gun to my head, and I had to pick that one experience that stood out? For all its endless debauchery i would have to say Shiprocked, and for many legal reasons, I should not expand on that. I am just surprised I didn't get thrown overboard. <CV> Do you guys have a ritual at all before you play a show? <CODY>A lot of prep work goes into each show. Our crew is absolutely the best. They go above and beyond to make sure our shows run like a fucking machine. Our production manager Drew “Kannibal” Beddow, is always yelling at a crew member for being a fucktard. Every time I look at our soundman, Mike Scorch, he’s ready to slit someone's throat for touching something they weren't suppose to. Our head of security Jon Rufe is always throwing people out for being inappropriate to our merch girl Kayla Elliott. This all goes on while we (the band) are bathing in blood and black shit back stage. We are one big happy fucking family. <CV> Any funny stories to tell from any shows you have played so far?

<CODY> Oh wow! Soooo many stories.

But none that I can share with you simply for the legal impact it might have for some of us. Plus, I am also bound by the golden rule, “What happens on the road, stays on the road”. <CV> What can fans expect to see at a "Desire The Fire " show? <CODY> Our job as entertainers is to create a spectacle. I have a tendency to surprise even the rest of the band with what I do on stage. The element of surprise is the only thing I can guarantee at a Desire The Fire show. <CV> To Date, is there any one show that is memorable for you and stands out and why? <CODY> I remember the first show that I brought the snakes on stage. I hadn't told anyone, including the rest of the band. When I walked out covered in 12 feet of red tail boa constrictor, the look on everyone's face was priceless! I think Michael shit himself. <CV> Where do you think you are in the journey of "Desire The Fire" <CODY> It depends on how you would define a journey. If you perceive time as linear, then I would say it's only the beginning… and we have a LOT more shit to fuck up. <CV> What do you like to do in your down time? Who do you like to listen to? <CODY> I like to throw on some Rammstein while I work out and I enjoy Nine Inch Nails or David Bowie while I’m painting. I satisfy my curiosities through reading, watching documentaries and exploring the outdoors. <CV> Are any of you involved in any other projects and if so tell us about that.

<CODY> We stay so busy with Desire The Fire, we don't have time for any other projects. Even if we did, I couldn't see myself working with any other musicians. I have yet to meet a more talented and loyal group of guys. <CV> Are your families supportive of your career? <CODY> You would have to interview them. <CV> What advice would you give a band just starting out? <CODY> Perseverance, thick skin and a strong work ethic can go a long way in ANY industry. It takes true talent, charisma and some form of business savvy to rise above all the challenges you will face. Just never get comfortable. Stay hungry and devour everyone and everything.

<CV> What is your favorite thing about being on stage? What motivates you to do what you do? <CODY>I think i speak for all of us when I say it comes naturally. We just shut down the normal process, in which thoughts are registered in our brains, and let loose whatever demons dwell in our souls. When I am on stage, I am at my most masochistic.

<CV> What does "Desire The Fire" have planned for the rest of 2016? Any tours or projects in the works? <CODY> We have a fall tour in the works and some big events coming up. We were just recently asked to play Rocklahoma in May of next year and we will be touring in that time as well. I just show up for bus call honestly, but the best way to keep track is to visit our website at DesireTheFire.net.

<CV> What would you like to say to your fans and our readers? <CODY> Stick around! You ain’t seen nothing yet!!

DESIRETHEFIRE.net DESIRETHEFIREOFFICIAL.COM https://www.facebook.com/ DesireTheFireOfficial https://twitter.com/Desire_The_Fire https://www.instagram.com/desirethefire https://www.reverbnation.com/ DESIRETHEFIRE

Life On The Road Through The Eyes Of William Moor Of "The Adarna" From Their Recent "Jet City Tour"

07/11/16 10:31PM Entry by William Perry stacles being a DIY band but you surround yourselves with people who are smart and talented.

Moore Here I sit scrambling to get tour posters out to the venues and my head is flooded with the amount There are 5 things that have propelled this band. of work we still need to do for our Jet City Tour. 1) Maintaining relationships with each other, We are scrambling and we've got a month left to family, bands, businesses, venues, and fans 2) get our asses together. Whether it is financially, We’re hungry fuckers -- you love us, you just physically, emotionally, spiritually or just trying don’t know it yet. 3) The members themselves. 4) to keep relationships in tact to survive a tour -- we Learn to play the game. 5) On/off stage, bring it. have to have this on lock down without burning Maybe I can go into greater depth when I'm not ourselves out before the tour. so burned out, but for now... there's the breadcrumb.

This is our 6th national tour and we just came off of our first international tour in January. Which means we're doing SOMETHING right. The 08/05/16 1008AM Entry by William Perry problem about making successful tours happen is Moore that you need to either top the last or meet the Tonight is our official tour kick off show/music same level otherwise morale drops. How are we video release. Super excited about the show todoing it? Well I'll tell you dear reader, it's not night. Juggling a few headaches right now. 1) easy and it's not money. There are constant ob- Tonight is the music video release but the music

video won’t be done in time. My guess is that since people will see it only once I can put a video out of where we are right now and buy our music video team a little more time 2) Wendy, our tour bus, isn’t done yet. We are pulling all of our efforts together to get this bus on the road in under a week 3) We’re already exhausted and the tour hasn’t started yet. Time to dig down deep :) Tour Blog - by R.G.B. Robb (Publicist/writer) As an outsider, it’s interesting to witness The Adarna and how this tour has unfolded from when I arrived. Don’t fret, this is about the band, yet I will be filling in from time-to-time if things get chaotic … which is exactly what has happened.

There’s something to be seen in watching the various members cope with the extreme nature of how everything has occured. Panic, anxiety, and sheer exhaustion. But that tends to happen when you begin working on a bus at 10 a.m. and don’t stop until 1 a.m. that night (or later).

Beyond that though, the opening night was an unmitigated success. In front of a packed crowd at The Skylark in Seattle, WA they debuted their new music video for the song “Echo.” It was met with much approval before the band hit the stage.

Andreka: I wasn’t nervous about the show or video -- which I think went over really well at The Skylark -- it was really exciting to play with Furniture Girls and Strangely Alright. We don’t play in Seattle often, so when we do play, we tend to have a good crowd. Also, we only play in Seattle one or two times a year. We’ve been doing a lot of national and international touring. (Sometime in North Dakota) Murdock: I think the first show was a big deal. It’s always a big deal to play in your hometown. They know you, and they’ve seen you come about, and they want to see you progress. So you always try to put out your best. There’s always that kind of nerve. It was really exciting. The Skylark is one of my favorite places to play. Despite the other stress-

es, it was a great show to play. (Sometime in North Dakota) Oliver: The people that were standing in front of us watching the video enjoyed it just as much as we did. (Sometime in North Dakota) Performing a high-energy set that included classics such as “Honestly,” “Superman,” and “Sugar,” the crowd was enjoying every minute, and you could tell so was the band. It’s always satisfying to see one of your favorite bands kill it in front of an amazing audience.

Oliver: As the first night of the tour, it was fantastic. The Skylark is a nice place but it’s also a tiny place, so it only holds so much; and then you’re elbow to a-hole next to every compatriot who may enjoy your band and the other band that’s there.

(Sometime in North Dakota)

great stage, nice sound system, a lot of open space.

The following night the band played to a more- When it came to the new song “Drugstore Cowthan-respectable crowd at the Ash Street Saloon in girl” I saw women dancing and smiling and enjoyPortland, OR. The night was alive with electricity ing themselves, especially bobbing their head to as not only was it the chance for the band to per- this song -- which they should because I am pumpform new music (something that they are doing ing it hard on the bass. It’s a very chunky-rhythm throughout the tour), but there were MANY fami- oriented song. When it comes to issues on stage ly members in attendance -- not just in blood, but like the one with Murdock’s drums, we excell also in music. It seemed that everyone there genu- 100% in BS talking while we need three minutes to inely enjoyed all of the music performed, and one make it happen. (Sometime in North Dakota) of the newer songs, “Drugstore Cowgirl,” was an immediate hit. It was with much sadness, but also We love Wendy. We do. However, there has been joy when the band left. Joy? That would be due to much source of discontentment from her. With a the fact that the beloved tour bus, Wendy, still complete engine replacement -- with many new wasn’t completed. The trip to Portland was done Transformer-like pieces -- this undertaking has in vans, AND with one of the opening acts’ gear. been extremely laborious. Watching Murdock and Will put it together has been extremely interesting.

Andreka: Leaving Seattle, we’re able to share our It’s like they have this language and way where it’s music with people who’ve never heard us before. just about getting the job done instead of getting They seem excited, as well as our normal fans are. into huge fights. Like watching two comrades (Sometime in North Dakota) about to traverse into something that is most-likely going to be apocalyptic in its time-taking, but they know it NEEDS done. It’s due to these issues that Murdock: The show went fine. But we have our the first few dates of the tour had to be cancelled. gear so we can assemble and use it, and if you It was with much sadness when the news was recan’t have it, it’s a little bit of a letdown. But we ported initially. Absolutely out of the hands of anmake it work, we still put on a good show. yone, time caught up. The good news is that things (Sometime in North Dakota) are indeed looking well, and will be out of here post-haste. With every intention on being their to Oliver: The next night in Portland was an ex- bring down the house at Balzano’s in Bloomsburg, tremely fun place, The Ash Street Saloon has a PA with Jet City Rock, The Adarna are looking

forward to getting back across the US. Will: 8/17 : 00:21 Somewhere in Montana Oh hello there. I've been officially off line for 6 days now. A record for me! As you might have read the team was purely focused on a plan B. Buy ourselves time and cancel the first few gigs.

For the record, in 4 years, we've cancelled 7 gigs out of over 350 shows. We don't cancel shows, we figure stuff out and keep out word. So switching to Plan B and dropping shows was definitely a blow to the ole ego and brand. something, you have to follow through. That was Sleep deprivations seems to have had a similar ef- my job. My role here is that I make sure our transfect to me it did to Murdock. We were averaging 2 portation is good-to-go, and a couple of other hours a day for the past 6 days and here were the things. If I fail at that, I feel personal failure. So symptoms we noticed: phase 1) irritance and working those long hours thinking ‘I’m not going laughing at weird shit seems to have kicked in.2) to fail, I can’t fail, I need to work this out. So I so many cuts, grease and dirt. We were filthy. need to make sure I give it everything I’ve got.’

Why even bother showering? 3) about day 3 Mur- Personal perseverance. The biggest frustration was dock and I started losing feeling in our hands 4) that we decided to go down a path about a month day 5 we can't tell if we are hungry, thirsty, or before the tour, and that path cost us two weeks of need to go to the bathroom. It's all blending to- time. It was the biggest frustration ever. The biggether 6) day 6 numbness is spreading up the gest stress was that we just ran out of time. The arms. My theory is that this is the body's way of next step when I get back is to take a brief breather, then I’m going to be back at it until it’s done. saying “fucking stop already or I'll stop you.”

At 7am Tuesday morning, after relentlessly trying That’s our vehicle. We take her to every show, to aim to make Wendy happen, we make the call even in town, and I won’t stop until it’s done. and move to Plan C. Van and trailer, forego Wen- (Sometime in North Dakota) dy. Gotta think long term. It's frustrating but if Oliver: Arduous and painful. EVERY troublethere's anything this team is good at, it's adapting shooting, every problematic issue you could focus quickly. on and try to fix the next thing so it’s functional We had a van and trailer and were on the road by has been a deteriorating mess. Considering there 4pm. Thank you Craigslist. Gonna try to sleep have been multiple people putting pieces of it tosome more but my right hand is starting to feel gether, it is still a non-functioning bus on day five normal and my sentence structure is getting better. of a tour that you should have left and should be playing your fourth show already. (Sometime in Hooray!! Zzzzz North Dakota) Andreka: It was really stressful. We ended up leaving five days late because of the bus. Everyone 8/17/16 8:52pm Entry by William: was on edge, but now we’re in North Dakota on Less than 15 hrs of driving left from our 40 hour our way to Bloomsburg. It’s great to finally be on trip. Everybody is in good spirits and excited to the road. see our friends, fans, and family soon. Feeling to Murdock: I like to honor my commitments. I feel, my left arm has returned and my voice (appears) like as anybody would, that if they have to do unphased by the fatigue of working on the bus. So no harm, no foul. something or have someone rely on them to do In past tours, my voice was the first to start to

wear out before my body. So I'd have to make that cares enough about me to allow me to pursue choices each day based on how my voice was re- a dream that the odds are drastically against me. acting. Blah blah going to sleep.

So in summary, apart from doing a random The last time The Adarna checked in, there was Queens of the Stone Age cover at the end which much grimness in the camp. With Wendy, their was a poor choice… I think we did well. beloved bus being unable to start, the band had to Oliver: I didn’t live through the 60’s or 70’s with adopt Plan C: rent a van, trailer, and drive 46 LSD, but that type of driving 20 hours with maybe hours straight to their show at Balzano’s in 20 minutes to two-hour clips of sleep at a time Bloomsburg, PA. It was with extremely heavy leaves your brain a little disillusioned and conhearts that the Jet City Rockers had to turn back to fused. You would wake up in different states litera tried and true method: haul ass cross-country to ally on how you feel. I thought I was in Indiana, make the show on-time. Upon arriving to their but I’d wake up in Wisconsin; little things like destination and making load-in with a little time to that. They trip your brain out when you do fall spare, they got their gear set-up, grabbed a bite to asleep and you wake up with no concept of how eat, and returned to the hotel to shower, eat, and far you’ve travelled, how much time has passed catch a little sleep. There was a certain sense of sat- until you look at a phone or somebody gives you a isfaction that they had made the trek -- especially real answer … brutal. I’ve never driven across when you have fans who were in attendance at America period, let alone in a two-day time period that night’s show who drove 90 minutes just to see to get to a specific place; from Seattle to Bloomsyou play -- though it came with much physical ex- burg, Pennsylvania. The word, I guess, would be haustion. With the band not having played togeth- fortitude. A different kind of fortitude to stop and er in over a week due to the work-load with the get gas, pee, get a snack, and just keep going forbus, there was much concern as to how tight they ward. Four dates had been cancelled, so you do would be. They were fine, and the show went not want to cancel any else, and that to me was my without a hitch. thought: no more cancelling. I thought the Balzano’s show went very well. I enjoyed the acoustic first-half of the set better than the electric because I Will: Balzano's is a particularly interesting gig for think there is so much deadening wood in that me. I grew up as a military brat moving every year place that the volume just slaps back to you like all across the globe. I've never felt like I had a another quarter-second of what you just played home base and honestly I kind of like that. Howev- back at you with the volume. So as an acoustic set, er, Balzano's is in Bloomsburg which has very fantastic. As an electric set, we played good, I strong ties to my family. It's kind of like a very cen- guess we were too loud and a little too obnoxious tral hub that I tend to meet up with my family for that environment that night. members at. As a result if I was to say I had a home base, in my heart, Bloomsburg has been Murdock: A lot of the trek was a blur. Beginning that. So imagine my tension I felt as I was 1) per- the first day, Will and I were beyond delirious. We forming The Adarna's music electrically for my fa- tried to sleep for the first day. We’d lay down and ther for the first time 2) performing a song called that first day is trying to get through Montana, all lithium kiss, which Central theme revolves around of North Dakota. I feel like my first memory was Alzheimer's. My family they're lost a number of really Wisconsin; I missed everything up until family members to Alzheimer's. 3) The venue then. But by the time we pulled into Balzano’s I owner actually knows my cousin and went to was feeling good. I wasn’t fully rested, but I knew the gig meant a lot to Will because it’s his family, school with them. it’s a town he knows really well because as a travThere was a lot of stress to do well and the audi- elling military family, it was one town that was faence (my family) I desperately wanted to impress/ miliar and consistent since his parents are near justify my commitment to the band to. They have there. It’s always good to see Will there and being never faltered in their support for me or my band. I around his family, especially his grandparents who can honestly say I am so lucky to have a family are getting up there in age. I can kind of relate, be-

ing that far away from family, it kind of gives you some personal guilt sometimes because you can’t see them as often as maybe you’d like to. So I think there’s some kind of relief there for Will when he gets to visit his family. All of those things together, by the time I pulled into Bloomsburg I was feeling pretty good about the show. It felt comfortable and familiar … yeah, I was feeling good. In the set there was a big difference: nobody liked the electric set. The reason being is that it’s a restaurant and between that and the audience we had; they were much more into the acoustic set.

Lower volume, a little more intimate, so that was a big difference.

Andreka: I was pretty delirious the whole time, but I’m glad we made it. I did not get much sleep, it was very in-and-out, if you could call it sleep.

The show at Balzano’s was great. I think the acoustic went over really well, and the electric was a lot of rock in a small venue, but it was awesome!

“Of course, no rock tour is complete without a bit of insanity when it comes to the scheduling department … this one was no exception. After having traveled across the nation, making the show just in time, the next day would be spent performing both an acoustic set in the early evening at House of Guitars (all with different gear than what they are used to), followed by an electric show at Pineapple Jack’s that night. Each show was completely different in its energy. The acoustic show, you expected to be subdued and it was.

What was completely surprising was in the level of energy these delirious troubadours were able to amass for the show that night. I mean, Will did scale a bass amp and leap to the stage at one point. That’s the thing you’ve gotta respect about this band: they will never give you anything that is sub-par. Well, a few hours of sleep and off to Syracuse.”

TO BE CONTINUED IN OCTOBER ISSUE…..

DAN REED NETWORK ANNOUNCES US TOUR DATES Earlier this year, DAN REED NETWORK re- 10/12: Teaneck, NJ @ Mexicali Live leased their new album "Fight Another Day" via 10/14: Los Angeles, CA @ The Whisky Frontiers Music srl. The album marked the first album in 25 years from one of the most infectious 10/21: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon and gifted bands to come out in the Melodic Rock 10/22: Portland, OR @ Star Theater World in the second part of the 80's.

DAN commented on the upcoming tour: The band's multiple hit singles and albums between 1987 and 1991 in places like the UK and Scandinavia indicate that there is something "This will be the first time DRN has performed in uniquely appealing about DRN's hybrid sound New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles in over and multi-racial line-up. They toured with Bon Jo- 20 years and the band is truly excited about returnvi and the Rolling Stones. Then Dan Reed walked ing to the US after reuniting, making a new studio away from the music at the height of his fame. album and after having performed some amazing club shows and rock festivals in Europe! We have such great memories of playing to packed houses The release of the new album has been accompa- at the Cat Club and The World's End in NYC, nied by the first Dan Reed Network shows in dec- and our sold out show at The Roxy in LA still ades. Sold-out shows in the UK and Europe were ranks as one of our favorite shows of our career accompanied by rave reviews. back in the day! DRN will be kickin' up the funk rock and performing a ton of DRN classics and new tracks from our 2016 album 'Fight Another And now the band returns to the road in the US! Day', and truly can't wait to get everyone's reacIn support of "Fight Another Day" DAN REED tion to the live set once again!"

NETWORK have scheduled a handful dates in The US including stops on both the East and West "Fight Another Day" is available for purchase via iTunes and Amazon. coast. The dates are listed below.

Make sure to check out the band's new videos for "The Brave" and "Divided".

DAN REED NETWORK: The new album was recorded primarily in the 10/11: New York, NY @ Iridium Jazz Club hometown of members of DRN, Portland, Ore-

gon, while most of the writing process took place in Dan Reed's private studio in Prague in the Czech Republic, where Reed currently resides with his family. Demos were sent back and forth between Derek Shulman (A&R for Frontiers), Brion James, Melvin Brannon Jr. and Rob Daiker, making notes and refining the songs over great distances via the Internet. This process was not unlike with DRN composed songs back in the late 80's and early 90's as Dan Reed used to demo out songs on his Akai 12 track machine and bring the songs into rehearsals where the band members would then arrange and flesh out the band's classic 'funk rock' sound.

Watch an EPK for "Fight Another Day" HERE Enjoy the album EPK here: https://youtu.be/IzC_qaMfA0 DAN REED NETWORK is: * Dan Reed - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitars, Piano, Synth Programming, Moog Bass * Brion James - Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Synth Guitars, Synth Programming, Drum Programming * Dan Pred - Drums, Percussion, Videographer * Melvin Brannon II - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Bass, Electric Contra Bass, Synth Bass * Rob Daiker - Vocals, Keyboards, Synth Programming, Drum Programming

For More Info Visit: http://danreed-network.com/ www.facebook.com/DanReedNetwork

BUTCHER BABIES Join Megadeth North American Fall Tour BUTCHER BABIES have announced that they will be hitting the road with the legendary Megadeth this Fall as part of the band's Dystopia tour in North America. Also joining them will be Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, and Metal Church.

The month long tour starts in Casper, WY on September 20 and concludes on October 16 in Camden, NJ. In addition to the tour, both Butcher Babies and Megadeth will be performing at this year's "Ozzfest Meets Knotfest" event, which takes place on September 24 & 25 in San Bernardino, CA Speak about their enthusiasm for the upcoming tour, Butcher Babies vocalist Heidi Shepherd states, "We're incredibly honored to join forces with some of our idols, legendary musicians and bands! Megadeth is a staple in metal music and we can't think of a better way to round out our 2016 touring schedule than with these metal gods.

Who didn't grow up with a Megadeth poster

glued to your wall with dreams of dreams of sharing the stage with them. Bucket list... Check!"

TOUR DATES: Sep. 20 - Casper, WY @ Casper Event Center Sep. 21 - Magna, UT @ The Great Salt Air Sep. 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint Sep. 27 - Seattle, WA @ Wamu Theater Sep. 28 - Eugene, OR @ Mathew Knight Center Sep. 29 - San Jose, CA @ National Civic Oct. 1 - Broomfield, CO @ 1st Bank Arena Oct. 3 - Council Bluffs, IA @ Mid-America Rec. Center Oct. 4 - St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium Oct. 5 - Chicago, IL @ Sears Center Oct. 7 - Moline, IL @ iWireless Center Oct. 8 - Milwaukee, WI @ UWM Panther Arena

Oct. 9 - Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena Oct. 11 - Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Events Center Oct. 12 - Worcester, MA @ DCU Center Oct. 13 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena Oct. 14 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center Oct. 15 - Camden, NJ @ BB &T Pavilion

Order in the Chaos

What Does Being A musician Mean To you? And Just How Much?

I bought my own first electric guitar myself. It and I was on my way. was not given to me, gifted to me, or stolen. And, First, we stopped at JC Penney for the guitar. I it was a complete piece of shit by anyone’s stand- bought a Global Stratocaster knock-off in threeards and if you were to compare it to the guitars I color tobacco sunburst for $59.95. He bought a own and play today; you’d immediately under- Fender P-Bass knock-off of the same color stand why I described it that way. Do I wish I scheme. Then we went to Sears where we each still had it? Of course. Am I sorry I got rid of it? bought a little amp. I chose the guitar version of Not one bit. Because ditching it brought on even their cheap amp called the “SR-10” (a 10 watt better tools for me to express myself on. But, to Sears & Roebuck combo amp with a cheap 10” this day, that first guitar will always hold a spe- speaker) for another $89.95, a cable, some cial place in my thoughts. strings, a strap, and a handful of guitar picks. I I was about 13 years old when I had decided to brought them all home, set it all up, flipped on play. I immediately went and told my mother the amp… and my mother hit the roof! that I wanted a guitar and that I wanted to learn I think that she was more pissed that I had gone how to play it. Her answer was not what I ex- around her to obtain my goals, than that I had pected. She told me, “I will buy you a guitar purchased the gear. Even considering that she when you can sit down and play me a song on was a single mother struggling to house and feed one.” Even though I was still a child, I heard three sibling children and more than likely sufferthose words and quickly deciphered that she was ing from a shortage of funds. Perhaps, even, emhanding me a catch twenty-two. And, that by barrassed to a point. Either way, she called up those words, she would never have to buy me a my friend’s mother and tore her a new ass for guitar, and I would never become that which I taking me to the store to buy my gear. But, was meant to be. strangely, she didn’t take it away from me. She The plan did not take very long to formulate. All let me keep it all. And, other than a few condeI needed was a little cash. scending statements as she walked by my room Since I had a friend on the other side of town in reference to my trying to teach myself how to who worked at a diner clearing tables (under the play this thing I had spent a whole summer earntable) on Saturdays and Sundays, I asked him if ing, she left me alone. But, she did let me rethey needed help during the summer months so I hearse in her upstairs room in her house when I could earn enough for a guitar and an amp -- I got older, and she did come out to one of my lohad been scouring the Sears and JC Penney cata- cal shows one night. So, she obviously wasn’t too logs and already knew what I wanted. Coinci- hard against that I stuck it out. dences being fortune to the less fortunate, It just When I began to play other people’s music, I so happened my buddy was of similar mind and started off pretty lightweight. I think the very first had a strong desire to be a Bassist… which was song I taught myself by playing along to a casthe reasoning by which he came to work there, sette was AC/DC’s “Live Wire”. And, over the himself. So, with a few kind words from my bud- following years and on throughout high school, I dy, they hired me and we earned our money to- worked on that guitar mercilessly; I played along gether. When we had earned enough, I asked to AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and later him when his mom was taking him to buy his Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, WASP, Dio, and Bass and asked if I could tag along? He said yes, Motley Crue. What I couldn’t figure out on my

own, I picked up off of a friend I went to school Di Meola: A Guide to Chords, Scales & Arpeggiwith who also played guitar. os” by Al Di Meola. These two books taught me Hanging around with other guitarists showed me more than any teacher ever could. And by studythe significance of tone altering foot pedals, like a ing them and working hard at it, I was eventually Reverb or an Overdrive. And, based on input and able to stand up and jam with folks who were quite statements regarding who used what, I started fig- advanced compared to myself. uring out how to use the pedals to sound more like I got in with a group of guys, and we jammed old the guys playing on the records I was learning Priest, Dio, etc. Then I joined a gigging band dofrom. But, it didn’t take long to realize that old ing 80’s covers in the clubs around town and my Global Strat was a good reason why I wasn’t pro- whole life changed. I realized that I could pretty gressing with my speed. It just so happened that much pick-up on other guitarist’s playing styles my buddy had a guitar under his bed that peaked and adapt to them fairly quickly. After a few years my interest. We were sitting around, listening to of club playing around the Tampa Bay area, I some Priest and getting high, I asked what it was joined an all-original band with a CD out, and my in the case under his bed and he says, “Oh that?” life changed again. My mind was opened to the he went over and reached under the bed to pull the concept of CREATION instead of regurgitation. case out while struggling against the pile of dirty And, a new “ME” was born. I learned that I could clothes that occupied the floor of his room. “It’s a not only write riffs, but could also play those same guitar I was painting like an American Flag.” riffs over and over, consistently. I still couldn’t He pulls it out, and it’s a completely stripped down play leads worth a damn, but I could damn sure be Flying V with oil-based paints all over the beautiful the best rhythm player you ever saw. And I pretty Mahogany wood. It was a mess. He sold it to me much was. And still am. I can lay a solid foundafor $5.00. I took it home like it was a sick kitten tion for any soloist to rip to their heart’s content that I intended to breathe life back into. I reassem- over. Give me a good drummer/bassist team, and bled the guitar and found that the headstock on the you’ve got three quarter’s of a dollar. neck was broken. So, I called up a friend who had I played in one band for almost ten years. We a bunch of guitar parts laying around, and asked if played some fun and rather large shows. Maybe, he had a neck I could use on my V… he gave me a not huge. But large – Auditoriums, Civic Centers.

Fender Strat neck that fit like it was made for the And to take a step back into small clubs was a guitar. With the new neck, I was able to finally get MAJOR step back, in my opinion. But, after her all set up properly. I plugged her in, and awhile, the band seemed to lose direction, ambiwow… what a difference! It was so much easier to tion, and we couldn’t keep a sound drummer. play, and sounded a million times better than my Global. I played that V for years. I must note, however, that I removed the terrible oil paint flag paint job, but since the paint stained the wood, I covered the entire body in red crushed velvet. With black pickups and knobs, it looked so “Port Tampa Hooker” it was crazy.

Anyway, I got better and better at playing, learned more and more songs and a few scales. And, while my hair kept growing, my ego evidently had not, as I was constantly embarrassed that other guys around town played so much better than I. So, I picked up two very important books that were suggested to me by a friend. I bought “Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer”

by Ted Reed, and I also picked up a copy of “Al

Wearable Art

From a production standpoint, in the ten years I Sadly, however, being the ringleader in a scenario was with the band we had only written perhaps 10 where nobody is getting paid means you can hardnew songs, and sadly, all my songs were getting ly expect to get much accomplished. Though, I dropped off the set list. And, since we only record- am exceedingly grateful to the fellows who helped ed about 4 songs together over that time I got frus- me accomplish one of my bucket list items. If I trated, I quit and moved out to Seattle where I knew then, what I knew now; I would have taken networked around a little and met some pretty those other songs and re-wrote them as instrucool talent, but couldn’t find a band I wanted to mentals and I WOULD have a full length album join. with my name on it – and, of my own creative At some point, my tenaciousness led to my be- guidance. coming friends with Scott Rockenfield of Oh well, “Hindsight” and all that…

Queensryche fame (one of my favorite Prog Metal Since that, I have recorded a few songs here and bands ever). We met, had coffee, and immediately there, and released a single with a very talented started getting creative together – we even tracked gentleman out of Seattle that I think turned out a score for a commercial in his studio with me very nice. His vocal work was outstanding and contributing some guitars and voice-over work to exactly what I was looking for to go with my lyrhis drums, keys, and voice over work. It was a ics. blast.

I have been playing for over thirty years now, and One day, we were working on something and we cannot imagine my life without it. I fire up my started talking about bands and the mindsets of amps, strap on my guitar, and I’m 20 again… some musicians. Of course, I was talking from my looking to plant my seed. Sad thing is, the older perspective, and he from his. Which led to me you get, the better you get at playing, but the playing the songs my old band and recorded. He slower your body is to respond to the changing said two things about it. “Who’s the singer?” and, musical tastes of the next generation. Strange, “You guys were ahead of your time. This is good how things work out so ironically. material.”

So, if you read this article all the way to this I told him about my issues trying to find a band in point, you now know quite a bit about my life.

Seattle to play with. It prompted him to tell me that both he and myself were in a strange place.

At the time, his band was going through some Now, let’s say it was YOUR life I just outlined, rough times, you may have read about it. He what if someone comes into the rehearsal room mentioned that if he were to leave Queensryche, and says, “Maybe the rest of us don’t care as he would have to start a new career in scoring or much about what you are trying to do as you do!” something like that. Because, he said, both he and myself have come to a point in our musical careers where it’s very hard to step forward from What would you do? How would it affect you? where you are, and way easier to take too big of a Would it piss you off? Or, would it break your step back. Especially when the talent isn’t there heart? Would it make you want to cram that jerk’s from those you attempt to work with. So, in his head through the wall? Or maybe just break his opinion, he suggested that instead of looking to jaw? join a band, I should start my own.

Dude. Let me tell you from personal experience, So, in 2009, I began the journey of assembling the it feels like all of the above. And that is why my team I would need to record my album. I had al- response was pretty much, “Bye. Don’t let the ready written close to fifteen original songs, and door hit you in the ass on the way out.” Because, with the right talent, the next logical course would when somebody starts talking stupid like that to be to record it. In 2012, the album was finally fin- you, in a band YOU assembled… they’d better ished and released in March 2012 as a five song show some respect, or show themselves out. BeEP. I wanted 13 songs. And I wrote 13 songs. cause disrespecting the director of any production

will always get you bounced. Because what that Again, this type of person hasn’t the slightest idea guy did was the musical equivalent of mutiny, and of what it means to be a musician. completely lacks in any shred of human decency And, if you are this type… Screw you. You are a and respect, in my opinion. blemish on this field of struggle and toil. You are Anyway, so I go back to my original question; the reason others fail. And you deserve to a huge What does being a musician mean to you? And penis tattooed on your forehead for being such a just how much? dick. But, I digress.

Are you willing to fight for it? To love it? Cherish However, If you have never stopped playing, and it? Be willing to be loyal to it for life? Groom it, have never stopped trying to better yourself at the express it, record it, put money into it and nurture craft. You have invested countless sums of money it? and time into it over the years. You show up for If your answer is “no” to any one of the above, rehearsals without complaint. You take a gig maybe you should go get a bicycle or a video whether it is in front of five people or a million. game, instead. Because if you are not willing to do You take care of your gear and you actually all those things, then you will never get anything LOVE what you do. You respect those in the out of it in return. And if you are the guy that says room with you, you do not believe for one mosome stupid horse-shit like that idiot said to me ment that you are the most enlightened person in while having an instrument strapped to your torso, the room. And, you leave your ego and personal you deserve your head being run through the wall. life at the door… then YOU, my friend, are a Because you obviously haven’t got a clue what it MUSICIAN. And, you have the right to defend your position and craft, and you deserve to call is to be a musician. yourself a musician in front of others.

How about this… what about the guy who started playing when he was twelve, quit playing when he Why? Because MUSICIANS love their craft. Just was thirteen, and then picked it back up in his thir- as a person who paints, does needlework, builds ties and acts like he’s the sh-t! Or that his view- bridges, or starts a new company. All are pioneers, point is the proper viewpoint when it comes to in their own prospective genre. They all strive to how the band should best proceed… he’s the loud- do the best they can at what they are attempting. est voice in the room. Always bitching and com- As so do true musicians. plaining about EVERYTHING. He wants the Now, if you were to ask a true musician how name changed, he wants the drummer changed, much their craft means to them; you might get an he wants a new logo, he wants endorsements and answer like, “It’s my life” or “It’s who I am.”, expects YOU to get them for him, he thinks prac- “Music defines me.” Or “Get the F-CK off my tice is too long, He thinks it also stats too early. stage!”

He thinks everything you say and do is contrary to Question them on their integrity, their respect for the betterment of YOUR band and actively sets each other, and their selflessness in the creation of out to turn other members against you? their product, and you expose yourself as a Come on, you KNOW that you know a guy like “novice” a “noodler” an “amateur” or a “fool”. this. There is one in every three bands. And, they If you wonder why the Professional Musicians are probably the biggest reason that so few bands Group is so small… then you still aren’t getting it. last or even have a chance to succeed. I call them, “Band Killers” – not musicians. And they are bet- I have been very fortunate to create my own busiter off fired cold and dead in their tracks before ness where I have the privilege of working with they tear your band apart. And, unless you are ob- some of the biggest names in the music industry. servant enough, they will strip it all away, right And I sometimes get to see into the back door of some of their homes (so to speak) and in most casout from under you. es, there is a high level of respect for one another of a given group. And, an understanding that what

they are doing is a JOB. It is not a playtime scenario, but most still have fun doing it. When in rehearsal, or getting ready to get on stage, they get serious. And, the reason their band is successful is because most of them know that they are going to be expected to be accountable for their performance.

So, you say, “But they are pro. They are getting paid. Of course they see it that way!”

Sorry, from all of the professional groups I have gotten to know personally, they were already seeing it that way before they got signed. There is the difference. They already saw it as a career, and already had the mentality that this is what they were going to do. And, I can tell you, out of all of those bands I have worked with, not ONE member would dare say, “I’m just not as in to this as you guys.” And expect to keep their position. Try going to your boss at work -- better yet, the OWNER of the company – and tell him/her that. I bet Friday’s check will be your last.

So, now ask yourself, “How much does all this mean to me?”

If you cannot even imagine yourself muttering those words… congratulations. You are a MUSICIAN! Brien DeChristopher Musician/Entrepreneur/Owner of Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps https://www.facebook.com/brien.dechristopher? fref=nf http://www.linkedin.com/in/btomassetti1 http://www.sicskinz.com

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