Kissin' Dynamite Release New Video

Kissin' Dynamite, a glam band from Germany, just released a video for the track “Hashtag Your Life” from their upcoming album Generation Goodbye. That album will be out July 8, 2016.

Good stuff. These guys are definitely carrying the flag for modern rock bands with a classic feel.

Jackyl's New Music Sure Is Something

Jackyl have a new album available for pre-order. It's called ROWYCO (you should be able to figure out what this means) and the first single is "Rally." The music part, especially the guitars, are really good. The chorus... isn't. The repetitive "rally, rally, rally" is a bit much, but the weird tribal chant is what I find most distracting. I'm staying positive for the rest of the album - maybe the other tracks will be better. Or maybe I'm being too hard on the band. After all, new rock music is way better than just about any pop garbage shoved down our throats by mainstream radio stations.

So This Is Happening (L.A. Guns Version)

It's another reunion! Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis, back together on stage again. L.A. Guns will do a few shows together in South America and here in America. I don't know how long this will stick, but I sure wish I could see one of these gigs. What do you think?

Tour dates:

07.07.16 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA EL TEATRO FLORES 
07.08.16 ROSARIO, ARGENTINA TEATRO VORTERIX 
07.10.16 SAO PAULO, BRAZIL MANIFESTO ROCK BAR 
09.17.16 IRVINE MEADOWS, CA HAIR NATION ROCK FEST
10.27.16 JOLIET, IL ROCK N SKULL FEST

The Winery Dogs Release 'Captain Love' Video

The Winery Dogs just released a video for "Captain Love" from the album Hot Streak. The band will hit the road for a short run during June and July. Sadly, there are no shows near me. The Winery Dogs is one band I really want to see live.

Tour dates:

6/25 — Hinckley, Minn. @ Grand Casino Amphitheatre
6/28 — Eau Claire, Wis. @ State Theater
6/29 — Ashwaubenon, Wis. @ Green Bay Distillery
6/30 — St. Charles, Ill. @ Arcadia Theater
7/02 — Hazard, Ky. @ The Forum
7/03 — Sterling Heights, Mich. @ Stars & Stripes Festival
7/05 — Buffalo, N.Y. @ Taft Music Hall
7/08 — Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live
7/09 — Dallas, Texas @ Gas Monkey Live
7/10 — San Antonio, Texas @ Alamo

Belated RIP Nick Menza: 1964-201

Today's post is from our friend HIM. 

This is old news that needs a hearing. Nick Menza, best known for his work during the most commercially popular period in Megadeth’s history, passed away this past Saturday (May 21). He died doing that thing that rockers—the Lemmys of the music world—claim they want to do: playing.

That he was playing in OHM, alongside another former member of Megadeth, Chris Poland, matters only in terms of connective dots. But it points to a truth: Menza had been part of a band that featured a lot of incredible musicians.

 

It might seem off-putting to say this, but I will: I always enjoyed Gary “Gar” Samuelson’s drumming more.  Not being a musician myself, I can attribute that to the fact that Gar was the drummer on the albums that signaled Mustaine’s phoenix-like rise from the ash-heap of a situation he created in Metallica. Or the fact that he reminded me of, in some odd way, Bill Ward.

 

But what had I been listening to in recent weeks? Hidden Treasures. And what song always caught my attention? “99 Ways to Die”:

 

From the Beavis & Butthead movie no less. And what keeps me listening to that song? Those damn drums. So what I am saying is this: I love Gar, but I can’t stop listening to Menza. And the list of Megadeth songs that I consistently listen to these days trace more to him than to his predecessor. So perhaps I am a sucker for origins even if I have always been a Megadeth fan. While I resisted Megadeth’s rise, feeling like they were leaving Vic Rattlehead behind for a more ‘Tallica-like polish, I still can’t get the Menza (not Friedman, because it was Mustaine that mattered to me) out of my head.

 

And you want to see a man in his element, some 26 years ago, with the other components of Megadeth a distant sound in the background? Try this:

 

Again, I am no musician. But at approx. 1:50, Menza is amazing. And, throughout it all, you see something else: a smile. Slightly mischievous. But a smile that signals an artist who loves what he does. And, sadly or happily, died doing that very same thing not more than a week ago.

 

People on other sites can question Mustaine’s reactions to his death. I don’t. They can also bag on Megadeth itself, making that the story. I won’t. They can even question the actions that led him to being dropped and also led him to not being a part of Megadeth today. Not my place. What we can’t question is this: Nick Menza died of a heart attack, while playing music, in front of fans. We also can’t question the fact—not opinion, mind you—that Menza added something to music that will last long past his sad death.

 

Rest in Peace, Menza. Fans of metal, no less fans of music, mourn your passing.

Dokken Classic Lineup Reunites... In Japan

Dokken's classic lineup, featuring vocalist Don Dokken, guitarist George Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson, and drummer Mick Brown, will reunite in Japan later this year for six shows. The band is doing it for the money. Mick Brown announced that much on a podcast earlier this week. I mean, this isn't a hobby. Music is a viable - yet brutally cutthroat - career choice. We shouldn't be surprised to see a band we love reunite for cash above all else, right? During that same podcast, Mick also basically said none of the guys wanted to play together, so there's that. I would assume this means the reunion doesn't go any further than Japan, but who knows. Money talks.

Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee Go Back To Grade School

So apparently Tommy Lee just did an interview where he mentioned that Nikki Sixx unfollowed him on Twitter the day after Motley Crue's final show together. This seems completely absurd and yet I believe it. They don't need to be friends - in fact I think we'd all agree they hate each other - but they can be civil, right? Unfollowing Tommy seems pretty low and petty on Nikki's part. It's too bad there's no Motley Crue music to talk about these days. Just Twitter feuds.