I wanna get... down
Don't think that I don't know, cause I do... cause that's what you're really like.
Ok, that was sort of totally unrelated to my post. I was in a very interesting discussion with a good friend of mine the other day (specifically yesterday)
Looking over the list of bands that I truly love, it disturbs me how many of them either do not exist any more, are on permanent hiatuses (not sure thats the correct pluralization, but I'm going with it), or have been forced to put their projects on hold due to health or drug issues or just crappiness... my ever dwindling list of bands I can/want to go see live makes me sad.
For starters, Korn... there are like, three members left, and they're all working on their own thing. Chances are, I will never see another Korn show in my life... and this was the band that pretty much shaped my opinion of music as a whole, and comforted me during my angsty teen years. I truly and honestly love this band, and they're gone. Even if they do get back together, it won't be the same, and it breaks my heart.
Deftones... they're technically still a band, and the last report I heard, they were having someone fill in for Chi. In case you were not aware, Chi has been in a coma since the beginning of November. I don't know what the plan is for touring and album completion, but I miss them. It's been like, two or three years since I saw them last, and I do not think that's right. I physically cannot listen to the song "Change" without getting tingles up my spine and having to close my eyes for at least a few seconds. With Chino's voice, and the perfect blend of sound in the background, the Deftones just make me feel.... everything, I don't even know. They do something to me that I cannot explain.
Nirvana... yeah. Exactly. Rest in peace, Kurt.
System of a Down... on permanent hiatus. The only thing I take solace in is the fact that I did get to see them live once. It was miraculous. Serj has one of those voices that when I hear it, I know it's him. When he sings certain lines, I get goosebumps (of course, it's nothing like I get when I hear Chino sing... he sends shivers down my spine). SOAD was one of those bands that gave you a little bit of everything, and I could listen to them no matter what kind of a mood I was in.
tod.... my most favorite indie band ever in the history of life. I didn't even get my hands on their CDs until a few years after they broke up. I fell in love with them with "Medicated and Down," and began my two-year long quest to obtain their CDs. I finally got in touch with the guitarist, and he was nice enough to sell me the CDs for half price (hey, why SHOULDNT he make a profit?) and he threw in a free hat. Well, the hat went to someone else as a birthday present, but I still have the CDs... I never got to see them live, and I never got to see them make it big, but don't think I'll ever stop listening to them. They really could have made it, I think...
Marilyn Manson... as my friend said, in his prime, he was a God. Now, he's unlistenable. It's such a sad, sad fall from grace... He used to be capable of doing no wrong in my eyes, and then he came out with that last album of his... I think I might have cried when I heard it. The artist I had loved was completely gone...
Dog Fashion Disco... not a big band, by far, but they had a national following, and they fucking rocked. Seriously, they were awesome. I only got to see them a few times, my favorite occurance being at the Webster underground in Connecticut, but despite the fact that there were like, twenty people watching them, they put on one hell of a show. Todd, the lead singer, was wearing a dress with an upside-down cross painted between his eyes, and he STILL rocked harder than 90% of the bands that exist today. I wanted so badly to go to their farewell show in Baltimore, but I just couldn't wing it... horrible, I know. For some reason, I haven't been able to bring myself to look into Polkadot Cadaver, Todd's new project. Maybe I should do that.
40 Below Summer... broken up. Really now, if you haven't heard 40BS, you're missing out. I adore this band. I've seen them live quite a few times. First time I ever heard of them, they were promoting "Invitation to the Dance" and they were on tour with Mudvayne. For reasons that I need not mention, that concert was filled with really good memories for me, and 40BS stuck in my memory. I ended up loving them, and following them to various venues around New England. It was at the Webster Theater (damn, I have a lot of memories of that place) that the guitarist, Joey, gave me my very first guitar pick... two of them actually. I'm listening to them right now, as a matter of fact. They were fun to watch, fun to sing along to, and the perfect accompanyment for a long summer drive. I don't know why they broke up, and I don't know what the guys are doing these days, but I still miss them and pray that they'll get back together.
American Head Charge... lead singer in rehab. AHC was one of those CDs I picked up randomly at CD Spins during my many days there in my teen years. The lead singer (real name Cameron Heacock, but goes by Martin Cock) formed the band while in rehab, so I guess it's only appropriate that he end the band in rehab. In all fairness, I do not know if the band is broken up or if we're just waiting for Cameron to get better (which I really hope he does), but American Head Charge is worth the wait. These guys are incredible. Cameron has one of those silky smooth, lull-you-into-a-false-calm sort of voices that drags you in. Before you know it, that smooth voice turns into a gravelly scream. It's a perfect harmony. If only he would take care of himself long enough to not have to go to rehab, but I'm glad he's there. I'd rather him be in rehab than having him found dead somewhere. Speaking of which, rest in peace, Bryan Ottoson... he was the guitarist who was found dead on the tour bus just a few days after I saw them for the last time. Prescription drug overdose... man, it sucks when such talented guys end like that. My lasting image of Cameron is from a show in Manchester, NH... we were waiting for AHC to get started after being in this god -awful venue for six hours. Someone walks over to the stage, which was just about a foot or two in front of us (small venue, no real room for guard rails), and sits down. He sat slouched, holes all over his jeans and an inhaler in his pocket, and just sort of twiddled his thumbs for a while. Once he was given the ok signal that the audio was working correctly, he got up and left. It was just such a cool moment, because you could see that the band felt exactly like we did, and when I was 19, I ate that stuff up. I lived for those moments. I thank him for that.
V Shape Mind... broken up. Despite my email pleas to Brad Hurst, lead singer, the band did break up. Brad wrote me back and thanked me for the electronic ass kissing I had provided him with, but it obviously did not change their minds. I know that the reason they broke up was because of contractual issues, but that doesn't make it any easier. One CD... that's all I got. One. And a shitload of V Shape Mind stickers which are now mostly gone. Having Chad Gray as your best friend doesn't hurt your chances of getting people to listen to your music, so when I found out Chad was singing on the track "Monsters" well... of course I had to have it. I went through weeks at a time when their one little CD was all I would listen to, and I made anyone within a ten foot radius of me listen to it as well. Sadly, I had hooked a bunch of people on a band that didn't exist... but at least Brad wrote me back. That made my life.
Erase the Grey... broken up. I got five songs from this band. I thought one CD was bad from V Shape Mind, the five songs I managed to get from ETG was just a tease. I found them at CD Spins as well. They weren't really hard metal or anything like that, but they were good. "Pariah" is a nice song to scream to, and "Rain" works really well for those quieter moments of musical intrigue. I know nothing about why they broke up or where they are now, despite searching. The problem is, when I find a vocalist that I really, completely adore, five songs is not enough for me. I have no idea what Jon Sayre is up to these days, but if anyone ever finds out, let me know. I'd love a new band for my iPod. (Edit... forget that last part. I found out the name of his new band and I'll be looking into it later. They're called Burning Vegas.)
Breaking Benjamin... i heard they were working on an album, but that was back in '07. They might still be working on it. Then again, they might not, I really don't know. If they do decide to continue, I'll be more than happy to give them my money. They deserve it. People who entertain me deserve my money.
Does Rob Zombie make music any more?
Man, I really need to find some new music
Ok, that was sort of totally unrelated to my post. I was in a very interesting discussion with a good friend of mine the other day (specifically yesterday)
Looking over the list of bands that I truly love, it disturbs me how many of them either do not exist any more, are on permanent hiatuses (not sure thats the correct pluralization, but I'm going with it), or have been forced to put their projects on hold due to health or drug issues or just crappiness... my ever dwindling list of bands I can/want to go see live makes me sad.
For starters, Korn... there are like, three members left, and they're all working on their own thing. Chances are, I will never see another Korn show in my life... and this was the band that pretty much shaped my opinion of music as a whole, and comforted me during my angsty teen years. I truly and honestly love this band, and they're gone. Even if they do get back together, it won't be the same, and it breaks my heart.
Deftones... they're technically still a band, and the last report I heard, they were having someone fill in for Chi. In case you were not aware, Chi has been in a coma since the beginning of November. I don't know what the plan is for touring and album completion, but I miss them. It's been like, two or three years since I saw them last, and I do not think that's right. I physically cannot listen to the song "Change" without getting tingles up my spine and having to close my eyes for at least a few seconds. With Chino's voice, and the perfect blend of sound in the background, the Deftones just make me feel.... everything, I don't even know. They do something to me that I cannot explain.
Nirvana... yeah. Exactly. Rest in peace, Kurt.
System of a Down... on permanent hiatus. The only thing I take solace in is the fact that I did get to see them live once. It was miraculous. Serj has one of those voices that when I hear it, I know it's him. When he sings certain lines, I get goosebumps (of course, it's nothing like I get when I hear Chino sing... he sends shivers down my spine). SOAD was one of those bands that gave you a little bit of everything, and I could listen to them no matter what kind of a mood I was in.
tod.... my most favorite indie band ever in the history of life. I didn't even get my hands on their CDs until a few years after they broke up. I fell in love with them with "Medicated and Down," and began my two-year long quest to obtain their CDs. I finally got in touch with the guitarist, and he was nice enough to sell me the CDs for half price (hey, why SHOULDNT he make a profit?) and he threw in a free hat. Well, the hat went to someone else as a birthday present, but I still have the CDs... I never got to see them live, and I never got to see them make it big, but don't think I'll ever stop listening to them. They really could have made it, I think...
Marilyn Manson... as my friend said, in his prime, he was a God. Now, he's unlistenable. It's such a sad, sad fall from grace... He used to be capable of doing no wrong in my eyes, and then he came out with that last album of his... I think I might have cried when I heard it. The artist I had loved was completely gone...
Dog Fashion Disco... not a big band, by far, but they had a national following, and they fucking rocked. Seriously, they were awesome. I only got to see them a few times, my favorite occurance being at the Webster underground in Connecticut, but despite the fact that there were like, twenty people watching them, they put on one hell of a show. Todd, the lead singer, was wearing a dress with an upside-down cross painted between his eyes, and he STILL rocked harder than 90% of the bands that exist today. I wanted so badly to go to their farewell show in Baltimore, but I just couldn't wing it... horrible, I know. For some reason, I haven't been able to bring myself to look into Polkadot Cadaver, Todd's new project. Maybe I should do that.
40 Below Summer... broken up. Really now, if you haven't heard 40BS, you're missing out. I adore this band. I've seen them live quite a few times. First time I ever heard of them, they were promoting "Invitation to the Dance" and they were on tour with Mudvayne. For reasons that I need not mention, that concert was filled with really good memories for me, and 40BS stuck in my memory. I ended up loving them, and following them to various venues around New England. It was at the Webster Theater (damn, I have a lot of memories of that place) that the guitarist, Joey, gave me my very first guitar pick... two of them actually. I'm listening to them right now, as a matter of fact. They were fun to watch, fun to sing along to, and the perfect accompanyment for a long summer drive. I don't know why they broke up, and I don't know what the guys are doing these days, but I still miss them and pray that they'll get back together.
American Head Charge... lead singer in rehab. AHC was one of those CDs I picked up randomly at CD Spins during my many days there in my teen years. The lead singer (real name Cameron Heacock, but goes by Martin Cock) formed the band while in rehab, so I guess it's only appropriate that he end the band in rehab. In all fairness, I do not know if the band is broken up or if we're just waiting for Cameron to get better (which I really hope he does), but American Head Charge is worth the wait. These guys are incredible. Cameron has one of those silky smooth, lull-you-into-a-false-calm sort of voices that drags you in. Before you know it, that smooth voice turns into a gravelly scream. It's a perfect harmony. If only he would take care of himself long enough to not have to go to rehab, but I'm glad he's there. I'd rather him be in rehab than having him found dead somewhere. Speaking of which, rest in peace, Bryan Ottoson... he was the guitarist who was found dead on the tour bus just a few days after I saw them for the last time. Prescription drug overdose... man, it sucks when such talented guys end like that. My lasting image of Cameron is from a show in Manchester, NH... we were waiting for AHC to get started after being in this god -awful venue for six hours. Someone walks over to the stage, which was just about a foot or two in front of us (small venue, no real room for guard rails), and sits down. He sat slouched, holes all over his jeans and an inhaler in his pocket, and just sort of twiddled his thumbs for a while. Once he was given the ok signal that the audio was working correctly, he got up and left. It was just such a cool moment, because you could see that the band felt exactly like we did, and when I was 19, I ate that stuff up. I lived for those moments. I thank him for that.
V Shape Mind... broken up. Despite my email pleas to Brad Hurst, lead singer, the band did break up. Brad wrote me back and thanked me for the electronic ass kissing I had provided him with, but it obviously did not change their minds. I know that the reason they broke up was because of contractual issues, but that doesn't make it any easier. One CD... that's all I got. One. And a shitload of V Shape Mind stickers which are now mostly gone. Having Chad Gray as your best friend doesn't hurt your chances of getting people to listen to your music, so when I found out Chad was singing on the track "Monsters" well... of course I had to have it. I went through weeks at a time when their one little CD was all I would listen to, and I made anyone within a ten foot radius of me listen to it as well. Sadly, I had hooked a bunch of people on a band that didn't exist... but at least Brad wrote me back. That made my life.
Erase the Grey... broken up. I got five songs from this band. I thought one CD was bad from V Shape Mind, the five songs I managed to get from ETG was just a tease. I found them at CD Spins as well. They weren't really hard metal or anything like that, but they were good. "Pariah" is a nice song to scream to, and "Rain" works really well for those quieter moments of musical intrigue. I know nothing about why they broke up or where they are now, despite searching. The problem is, when I find a vocalist that I really, completely adore, five songs is not enough for me. I have no idea what Jon Sayre is up to these days, but if anyone ever finds out, let me know. I'd love a new band for my iPod. (Edit... forget that last part. I found out the name of his new band and I'll be looking into it later. They're called Burning Vegas.)
Breaking Benjamin... i heard they were working on an album, but that was back in '07. They might still be working on it. Then again, they might not, I really don't know. If they do decide to continue, I'll be more than happy to give them my money. They deserve it. People who entertain me deserve my money.
Does Rob Zombie make music any more?
Man, I really need to find some new music