There Can Be Only One!! (Queensryche)

I've detailed the entire Queensryche controversy in the early days of  this blog, and now that its over, it seems only fitting that I go over the conclusion here too. Yep! Its over. The band with Todd LaTorre, Parker Lundgren, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield is Queensryche! Geoff Tate will have to call his band something else. Its official! The dust is still settling, but the paths for each party have been laid out, and it was done by agreement, rather than a nasty court trial. Both sides are apparently happy with the settlement.

Also, from this point on, when I mention 'Queensryche,' I will be referring to Queensryche, and not Geoff Tate and his band. (I always did mean that, but I just had to clarify.)

There can be only ONE!!!

But honestly, the proof was in the print. Queensryche's self titled album shattered Tate's Frequency Unknown in sales. It sold more in the first month than Frequency Unknown did to DATE. It has also outsold the American Soldier  and Dedicated to Chaos albums to date. Also, Queensryche's self titled album (QRST?) received rave reviews constantly, (here is mine) while not one person seemed to have anything nice to say about Frequency Unknown. I sure didn't. But, that fact is once again backed up by the record sales. It all boiled down to the fact that the band was listening to what the loyal fans were saying, and decided to go back to making the music that put Queensryche on the map in the first place. Tate was wanting to make some 'weird electronic progressive rock band thing', and the fans weren't having it. Hence the sales of Dedicated to Chaos. A line in the sand was drawn, and both sides agreed that there could be only ONE Queensryche, and ultimately, there is one, the only one Queensryche until kingdom come, who claimed the prize!

This was the best performance of Mindcrime, and the
only one I need to see.

Basically, the stipulations are this: Queensryche gets the name, and the rights to perform all the songs from all the albums, however, Geoff Tate is allowed to perform Operation: Mindcrime I&II in their entirety for such performances. That has confused lots of fans, and it will be clarified when the band makes its press conference in a few days. What it means is that while the band can preform any song they want from the Mindcrime albums,  they cannot do a tour playing the album(s) in their entirety. If they want to play all the songs on Mindcrime except for say...the short song intros to other songs, and Suite Sister Mary, they can do that. Its a lot like the settlement between Pink Floyd and Roger Waters. Personally, I am okay with this. Geoff Tate has ran Mindcrime into the ground over the past 2 years with his merry band of misfit performers. I really don't want to see it performed in its entirety. Besides, I saw it performed to perfection on the Empire tour with all 5 original members in one of the most amazing concerts I've ever seen. That's something you really only need to see once in a lifetime in my opinion. Plus, I own Operation: Livecrime. Also, Geoff Tate gets to do a farewell tour under the Queensryche banner this summer. I would imagine that it will be billed as Geoff Tate's Queensryche, but after that, he will have to call his band something else.

I have no earthly idea!

Now, as I eagerly wait for the next Queensryche album, there are a few things that I'm wondering. One, What will happen to Frequency Unknown? Will future copies of that album still bear the Queensryche name? It shouldn't really matter though. Its not like that album is having to be reprinted or anything. I'm just wondering if I should buy another copy in case it becomes a collectors item sometime in the future. (I trashed the copy that I reviewed)  Two, After Geoff Tate's farewell tour, what will he be playing live? His solo albums including Frequency Unknown? (He didn't like playing things off that album to begin with...and I don't blame him. lol)  Three, Since Queensryche has the rights to perform the songs from the Tateryche albums (Hear in the Now Frontier, Tribe, Q2K, OMII, American Soldier, and Dedicated to Chaos) will they allow Tate to perform those? I seriously doubt they will be performing any songs from those albums. Also, I gotta admit that I was slightly intrigued with Tate's performance of Lola on that morning news show in Seattle, with Vaudeville. If he was to tour doing that, I MIGHT go see it, as long as it isn't called Queensryche. It was interesting, and the blonde on the left was ridiculously smoking hot.

Queensryche: Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Todd LaTorre,
Parker Lundgren, Scott Rockenfield. Its OFFICIAL!

Anyway, in closing, I just want to say congratulations to the one and only Queensryche, and I am looking forward to the future of this great band. I have high hopes because the band has said in interviews that the new songs they are writing are HEAVY! That is the word that every fan has been dying to hear 'spoken' from the band for years. The future of Queensryche is bright in the hands of Todd LaTorre, Eddie Jackson, Michael Wilton, Scott Rockenfield, and Parker Lundgren. The self titled album was great. Now, its time for the masterpiece.

Now that its all over, I think of the band I grew up with, and.......

....I remember now.

Hmmm..They KISSed and Made Up??

I seem to remember saying this about Kiss and the Hall of Fame:

 Still, after saying all this, I can’t help but wonder whether this whole feud is nothing more than a publicity stunt that Simmons, Stanley, Frehley, and Criss are all in on.

After all I documented HERE, for them to just 'KISS' and make up seems kind of unlikely. So, what am I saying in this short blog post? Not much really. Just watch this video:

Was I right or was I right??

I Have an AXE to Grind With Guitar Hero

I have always had a problem with Guitar Hero. So many things these days are taking the imagination away from kids, and Guitar Hero is one of them. How so? Well, I'll tell you. Two words. AIR GUITAR! That's right. When I was a kid, before I started playing guitar, my friends and I would jam out to music, and pretend that we had instruments. We were badass, and we all knew it. And, I bet that we had more fun than these kids today who play Guitar Hero or Rock Band because we didn't have some lame game telling us that we screwed up on a fake guitar that in no way, shape or form even resembles a real guitar. Guitars have strings and frets, and are made of wood. Guitar hero controllers (I refuse to call them guitars) are TOYS and nothing more. 

You might think that my hatred of Guitar Hero is irrational, and it very well may be. But, I have a reason, and its a good one. People who hate clowns usually hate them because of one particular experience. Well, I do hate clowns, and it is due to one particular experience, but I also hate Guitar Hero because of one particular experience...And NO, I didn't get embarrassed by someone who was better at it than I am. Actually, ANYBODY would be better than me at Guitar Hero because I've never played. Also, musicians who have tried it have said that its hard to do because it bears ZERO resemblance to actually playing a real guitar. Anyway, back to my hatred of Guitar Hero...I used to be a carpet cleaner. One day, I had a job to do, and it was raining. Pouring. Noah was pairing up animals. I got to this house, and of course, it had no overhang over the porch, so I was going to get soaked. I ran up to the door, and knocked. There was a window in the door, and I could see inside. There were 2 teenagers standing in front of the TV, playing Guitar Hero, and they ignored me. I knocked louder, and they still ignored me. I beat on the door, and they still ignored me. I was completely drenched, and finally, they put their toys down and answered the door. One kid said "Sorry, dude, but we had a wicked streak going." I have hated Guitar Hero ever since.  

Call me when you get the real thing, ok loser?

Before that, I still wasn't a fan. I still thought it was just toys, and thought that it was stupid, but I didn't have this deep rooted psychotic hatred for it like I do now. Lets look at it, shall we? It has nothing to do with playing an actual guitar. It has 5 colored buttons that you click for various sounds. But, that's not the half of it. There are people out there who actually think that being good at Guitar Hero is some type of status symbol or something. They will tell you about their sessions like a musician telling you about an awesome gig he played, and what's worse, they will even try to talk to you like they KNOW how to play guitar! I was talking to this guy, who was telling me about all the guitars he had. It actually took me a few minutes to realize that he was talking about Guitar Hero toys. Is my daughter a doctor because she has a toy stethoscope? NO! And these Guitar Hero players are not guitarists either. 

Did you ever see the South Park episode about Guitar Hero? It was brilliant. Long story short, the kids got into it, but when Stan's dad tried to get them interested in the real thing, the kids thought he was lame. Later, the kids scored a million points, and "unlocked super stardom." Once that happened, a guy popped on screen, and said "Congratulations on reaching a million! Now, here is your super stardom....YOU'RE FAGS!!!" They hit the nail on the head as they usually do.

Derp! Derp! Derpa Derp!

Aside from the obvious reasons I hate Guitar Hero (its a stupid toy that has actually nothing to do with playing a real guitar, its taking imagination away from kids, and making them appreciate real musicianship even less) Another reason is that people just look freaking stupid when they play it. They just stand there, looking dumb, with a blank expression on their faces. What's even worse is when you go to a store that has a display set up. There will be a line of teens and even young adults waiting to play it, watching and cheering like the people who are playing currently are actually shredding on a guitar.

One picture shows a real badass musician. The other shows 2 grown men with toys.

Look, if these people want to spend their time playing with toys, that's fine. But, I guarantee you  that a Guitar Hero master will NEVER know what it feels like to wail on a guitar solo in front of a huge group of people. It is one of the most unique feelings that there is, and more power to them if they never want to experience it. You could say that its just like any other video game, but its not. If these Guitar Hero 'Masters' put the time they play with their toys into learning to play a real guitar, they would be VERY good guitarists, and they might actually get to experience playing in front of crowds. But, they won't. They will just look at you with the same blank stare, and tell you that you're crazy for bringing it up.

Now, as I wrap this up, I do have to say that there is a positive from Guitar Hero. One single little positive. It is exposing kids to the great music of the past that they otherwise might not have heard. I also don't blame bands like Aerosmith, The Beatles, Megadeth, Metallica, and others who have had editions come out featuring their music. Its another revenue stream for them, and it also, like I said, exposes kids to music they might have never heard. Other than that, Guitar Hero is garbage. 

"My grandkids always beat me at Rock Band. And I say, Listen, you may beat me at Rock Band, but I made the original records, so shut up."

-Paul McCartney 

What's Up With Me Lately?

I've been slow to post lately. I'm sorry. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? Its just that I've been super busy. And, yeah I know, everybody says that, but I think that once you read this, I'll be worthy of your forgiveness. But, honestly the only thing I can think of lately to write about lately is politics, and that's not a good idea since my political posts get the fewest reads.

But, I have been really busy. I've been really trying to build the Will and Thunder Show. <ca-ching!> We've had lots of guests lately, and the show gets better each week. 

3D In Your Face! Buy their album!

We made some great friends with an 80's metal band from Omaha, Nebraska, called 3D In Your Face. I actually got in touch with them as a result of the review of them that I did for Sleaze Roxx. They have been on the show twice now, and I am actually bringing them to the city I live in, Fayetteville, NC for a concert in September. Their guitarist was a member of the 82nd Airborne, and was stationed here at Ft. Bragg. We are doing the show so that he can perform in front of his fellow soldiers. I'm not only doing this for the troops, because I've always been a strong military supporter. I'm also doing it to have a current promotion to add to my portfolio, as I begin to start my own promotion company. 

But, that's not all that is going on with the Will and Thunder Show. We are looking at several different things to grow the show exponentially, and to get it onto a more professional format than Blog Talk Radio. (Blog Talk is a great place to start, don't get me wrong, but there are much better avenues for an online radio program.) We have 2 other avenues interested in taking the show, and I have also made an offer to someone big to endorse the show. (Can't discuss that at the moment) 

In anticipation of leaving Blog Talk, I have been transferring the archive to YouTube. That is a major pain in the ass because I am editing the shows, adding pictures to them to make a slideshow, and uploading them to YouTube. It takes a total of about 5 hours per episode. So, yeah. It takes a lot of time. But, once I only have to do one a week vs one or more a day, that will free up lots of time. Check out the YouTube page here. Both 3D In Your Face shows are already there. :)

                                                               Here's one of the shows!

You will KNOW!

Another thing I have going on is a writing project that I have been working on for almost 2 years with a friend in Australia. He's probably been a little frustrated with me over the past month, because I haven't been able to do ANYTHING with that project. I can't say much more about that one other than when its finished, and I am ready to promote it, you WILL know. I promise. :)

All this is going on while I am trying raise my 4 year old, and trying to find employment somewhere. Thanks to the 0bama recovery, jobs are very hard to come by these days. Luckily for me, my wife has a good job, or I'd be living in a van, down by the river!!! I couldn't resist ONE 0bama jab, and why not? Although, Pelosi DID say that being unemployed will be a good thing because it will let you follow your dreams. I would rather have a paying job, Nancy. Why don't YOU give YOUR dreams a follow?

Murry Wilson: Managed the Beach Boys
when they worth millions. Sold the songs
out from under them for thousands.

Now, before I end this one, I just gotta get something off my chest. A while back, a band booked on the Will and Thunder Show. They were supposed to be on April 15th. They never returned my calls when I called to confirm, and today, I called, and their "manager" picked up the phone and hung up on me. Wasn't even man enough to tell me he wanted to cancel. This "manager" is the father of one of the band members. You would think he would want his kid's band to get exposure right? I guess that because the Will and Thunder Show isn't as big as 'That Metal Show,' it isn't good enough for his kid? Seems he is doing the band a disservice. Hopefully, the band will fire him before they get big, (and I believe they will. They are VERY good.) before he does anymore damage to them. I am reminded of a father of a few kids in a band got jealous, and wound up selling everything the band was worth for pennies on the dollar. This doesn't really have anything to do with me personally. It happened today, and I thought it was really screwed up.

Anyway, that is what's been up with me lately, and why I haven't been posting lately. Hopefully soon, I will be able to blog more, rant and review more. Although, I have been writing for Sleaze Roxx regularly though. So, in the meantime, GO WHOEVER YOUR TEAM IS!!

-Sincerely, William Telltale

My readers rule!!!

Kiss: All Hell's Breaking Loose

Play the damn show!

I like Kiss as well as anybody. I saw them in concert once way back in the old days…You know, when they did not wear makeup? I saw them on the Hot in the Shade tour with Danger Danger and Slaughter opening up. But, that doesn’t make me a diehard fan. I know several diehard fans that have been to MANY Kiss concerts, own every album, and have spent thousands of dollars on merchandise. I am not knocking them at all. I’ve spent thousands on Miami Dolphins merchandise, and have been to many of their games. There is no difference here, other than one being a football team, the other being a legendary rock band.

"old school" when they didn't wear makeup

Legendary, and there is now a legendary feud going on. You would think that their induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame would be cause to celebrate right?  Kiss fans have been demanding the induction for decades, and now its happening. So, what is the feud about? Here it is in a nutshell:

The HOF is only honoring the original Kiss members, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley, so that would require Gene and Paul doing a brief reunion with Ace and Peter if they were going to play at their induction. Gene and Paul don’t want to do that, so there will be no performance. This has started all sorts of bickering between the original members of the band. Ace and Peter want to do it, (who wouldn't) and Gene and Paul will not allow it.

Simmons, Carr, Stanley, Vincent

You would think that that they would do it for their fans if for no other reason at all. You know, the fans who have made them multi millionaires? But rather than to do that, Gene Simmons would rather exclude the original members from any ceremony, and are throwing childish insults back and forth. For example, Gene recently said that Ace and Peter are no longer worthy of wearing the makeup. (Using that logic, Thayer and Singer must NOT be worthy of having their own makeup and costumes like Vinnie Vincent and Eric Carr were.) He has also criticized Ace Frehley’s guitar playing, saying that it could have been much more. That’s funny, because speaking of Vinnie Vincent, he played very simple guitar riffs, and ultra basic solos while he was a member of Kiss…But after he left, he put together a band and 2 albums that established him as a guitar god, in every sense of the term. Things that make you go hmmmm…..

Eric Singer/ Tommy Thayer

Ace and Peter have fired back with comments and opinions, as well they should.  They are part of the lineup that founded Kiss, and are part of the lineup that is being inducted. Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are not. And while the feud is getting Simmons and Stanley free advertising, and Ace and Peter back to the spotlight, the only people who are being hurt by this are the diehard fans…The Kiss Army who love this band so much.

Sadly, this whole feud is nothing more than a slap in the face to the fans, and also a lesson in ‘Be careful what you wish for…you just might get it.’ Finally, the HOF is allowing rock bands to be inducted, which is a relatively new concept for them, and you have one of the (if not THE) most iconic rock band in history bickering back and forth like school kids. Rather than to set aside their personal feelings and just play ONE damn show with the original lineup, they are proving to the world that they are spoiled brats, who want their fans money and loyalty, and in return…more crap for the fans to buy!!!

Needs to mobilize!

I have a message for Kiss…Either do the show, or kiss my ass! If I were a diehard fan, that’s exactly what I would be saying to them. They may be one of the most iconic bands in Rock, but they got there because of the fans. The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame is not just for the bands who are inducted. Its for the fans too, and Simmons/Stanley need to realize that. They may be the biggest band in the world, but they are NOT bigger than their amazing fans. If I were a diehard fan, I would refuse to spend one more dollar on them, unless they pull their heads out of their asses, and do the right thing. And, if they do, Ace and Peter need to  accept it, and do the show, and not make a spectacle of themselves.

Still, after saying all this, I can’t help but wonder whether this whole feud is nothing more than a publicity stunt that Simmons, Stanley, Frehley, and Criss are all in on.

Oh...In true Kiss fashion, let me take this opportunity to say that THIS IS MY 100'th BLOG POST!!! (actually, its about the 110'th. I lost 10 posts when the blog crashed last month) And, to do it on a post about Kiss? How fitting is that?

What if the Same Standards Were Applied to YOU?

Everybody knows the story. Michael Vick, former quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons got busted for hosting a dog fighting ring. Every animal rights activist in the world, every animal lover, and every Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan was posting online and in front of every willing reporter about how much they would love to see this guy be fed to live sharks, or cut up to be used as dog feed at the local kennel. People with Vick jerseys were sending them to the local animal shelters to be used as bedding. I've read much worse than that as well.

The guy did the time he was sentenced to. He apologized to everyone, and did I mention, he did the time he was sentenced to? And by the way, he did the time he was sentenced to. A judge decided the amount of time that was necessary for the crime, and Vick served the time. He did not get into trouble while in prison. He worked out, read the bible, and was very vocal about doing the right thing to the younger inmates. In short, he learned his lesson, and cleaned up his act. Last time I checked, that is what you are supposed to do while in prison

Michael Vick now is a spokesperson AGAINST
dog fighting. No news story about that.

Now, I am in no way defending dog fighting, and I'm a dog lover So, don't go accusing me of supporting dog fighting just because I am not on the 'KILL MICHAEL VICK' bandwagon. And, I have never been a Vick fan. I always thought he was overrated, even when he had his best seasons in Atlanta. And, for the record, I am also not saying that people shouldn't dislike the guy. But, this hatred and calling for his death is stupid. I am not suggesting that everybody forget about the incident. There is a difference between saying "If that jerk harms my dogs, I'll kill him." and "Kill that dog murderer just because!!!"

Let's talk theoretically here. Let's imagine that when YOU were younger, you did something stupid. Lets say you robbed a store. Nobody was killed, but ran over a dog, as you were making your getaway. You still robbed the store, and got caught. That would land you a sentence of around 2 years, depending on the circumstances, much like Vick. YOU did the time you were sentenced to, (Just like Vick) and YOU were released from prison. Should YOU ever be allowed to work again? Should YOU have constant slander and death threats? Well? Should you?

Should you?

I'm guessing you said no. If you said no, then why not? I'm guessing that you said that you served your time, and you should be able to move on with your life. So, why isn't Vick allowed to do that? Why should Michael Vick be banned from playing in the NFL? Is it because he was involved in animal cruelty? I've seen far less outrage over countless murders where a HUMAN was killed. I saw far less outrage when Rae Carruth of the Panthers was found guilty for killing his girlfriend. I also saw far less outrage recently when Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots was arrested for the murders (of people) that he committed. I also saw FAR less outrage over Kermit Gosnell, who killed living babies outside the womb. Granted, these people aren't out of prison, and playing in the NFL, but the point is still valid. People were not posting all over the internet, and on TV that these people should also be viciously murdered.

A lesser known MLK quote. And, I have seen comments
from people saying Vick should be lynched.

Michael Vick got signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, and ultimately dropped. He was just signed to another team this week. But whenever there was a story about him on TV or the news, there were more comments advocating murder and hate than there was about whatever the story was about...like Vick making the Pro Bowl.

Ultimately, I really don't care what you think of Vick. That's all on you. I just want you to consider what would happen with YOU if you had done something stupid, and served your time. You would think that you deserved the benefit of the doubt that you had learned from your mistake, and you would hope that any prospective employer would feel the same way. And, rightfully so. The United States is supposed to be a place for second chances.

In other news,
Michael Vick, Dog Killer, animal abuser, who
was sentenced to 2 years in prison, and made the
target of countless PETA protests, and
deserves to die a gruesome, horrible death
made the Pro Bowl.

I guess it is as long as you don't hurt an animal. Humans,

okay, but don't hurt an animal!

All this being said, I now HATE Michael Vick. Why? Because he just signed with the stinking New York Jets. You want a reason to hate him? There you go. But, don't hate on the guy because of the dog fighting issue. I've said it over and over, he served the time he was sentenced to, and you wouldn't want the things that are being said about him to be said about you if you did something stupid.

Album Review, KXM: George Lynch+ dUg Pinnick+ Ray Luzier= Awesome

KXM is a power trio of George Lynch of Dokken/Lynch Mob, Ray Luzier of Korn, and dUg Pinnick of Kings X. I heard of this trio shortly after listening to and reviewing the T&N album, and specifically, the amazing version of Tooth and Nail with dUg Pinnick on vocals. As a long time Dokken/Lynch Mob and Kings X fan, I was VERY excited to hear this album. And, while the name isn't the most creative, (Korn, King's X, Lynch Mob) the music is. In fact, it is exactly what you would expect if you combined Lynch Mob and Kings X.

You have the soulful melody, with picked out guitar chord verse progressions that Kings X was known for, but you can also tell that George Lynch is playing it. His style is unmistakable, as are Pinnick's vocals. You also have the same style backup vocals that Kings X used.

Lyrically, the songs are very deep and powerful. Even political at times. For example, the song Gunfight speaks about what is likely to happen when the citizens rise up against the government after the government has shredded the constitution and made us all into slaves. The song Sleep is a very dark and descriptive song about a domestic violence. Great songs. Pinnick has always been known for his very descriptive lyrics. There is a lot of Pinnick on this album. I'd have to say that it is more him than Lynch, but that certainly is not a bad thing.

George Lynch's guitar work on this album is spectacular. I would have to say that it is one of his all time best performances. His rhythms are pure and raw power, and his leads get better with age. Everything that Lynch does is a work of art. It was this way on the Dokken and Lynch Mob albums. And, if this trend continues, which it will, I am going to be picking myself up off the floor after hearing his upcoming collaboration with Michael Sweet.

The collaboration of Pinnick/Lynch works on every level. You have one of the all time great guitarists, with one of the all time great bassists teaming up with a great drummer, in Ray Luzier. They gel very well.

This is one of the best 'supergroups' to date, and the album is up there with The Winery Dogs as far as how good it is, and the chemistry between the musicians. Plus, there are quite a few extremely memorable hooks. The first single off the album, Rescue Me has a good riff with an offbeat that messes with you at first, but after listening to it a couple times, it is awesome. All of the songs are great, and they all rock. Hard, except for the song Never Stop, which is a Kings X style ballad. Kings X with George 'Mr. Scary' Lynch on guitar.

I recommend this album to any Dokken/Lynch Mob or Kings X fan. You will love it because there are the styles of both all through this album. Musicians will love it too, but every day fans will also like it. I mentioned The Winery Dogs. I am NOT saying that the album in any way sounds like The Winery Dogs. But, one thing that reminded me of them was the fact that like their album, the KXM album while an exploration into guitar and bass wizardry also has a commercial appeal to it.

Do yourself a favor, and buy this album. You will not be disappointed. Amazon Google Play And, follow them on Facebook