RIP CHI CHENG
By now you’ve no doubt heard the tragic news that Chi Cheng of Deftones has passed away four years after the car accident that left him in a partially conscious state. He was 42. His family broke the news on the oneloveforchi website: “This is the hardest thing to write to you. Your love and heart and devotion to Chi was unconditional and amazing. I know that you will always remember him as a giant of a man on stage with a heart for every one of you. He was taken to the emergency room and at 3am today his heart just suddenly stopped. He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear. He fought the good fight. You stood by him sending love daily. He knew that he was very loved and never alone. I will write more later. I will be going through the oneloveforchi site and any other information may not be reliable. If you have any stories or messages to share please send them to the onelove site. Please hold Mae and Ming and the siblings and especially Chi’s son, Gabriel in your prayers. It is so hard to let go. With great love and ‘Much Respect!’ Mom J (and Chi)”
JOE SATRIANI VISITS MELBOURNE, TEARS HEADS OFF
For the past few days I’ve been listening to a media preview of the new Joe Satriani album, Unstoppable Momentum, which features Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai), Vinnie Colaiuta (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Megadeth) and Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction). It’s a brilliant album with plenty of beautiful melodies and breathtaking musicianship. On the weekend Joe held a masterclass in Melbourne thanks to Thump Music, and I was lucky enough to be invited up on stage to jam with the man himself. It was a mindblowing experience – especially since there was no opportunity to warm up and I was on an unfamiliar guitar, so it was real fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants stuff. Photo by Jon Carruthers.
NEW CITY OF FIRE OUT NOW
Trial Through Fire, the long-awaited second album by City of Fire, is finally out! Trial Through Fire features Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory), Byron Stroud (Strapping Young Lad), guitarist Terry “Sho” Murray and drummer Bob Wagner, and the band is an offshoot of sorts from Stroud’s pre-SYL band Caustic Thought.
BLACK MAJESTY HIT THE STUDIO
Aussie melodic power metal masters Black Majesty enter Grapow Studios in Slovakia in July with producer Roland Grapow (Masterplan/ex-Halloween) to begin recording their next album, but before then they’re at the Madhouse on Friday May 3. Later this year the band will also release The Royal Collection through Limb Music. It’s a compilation which will also include bonus rare material.
MUNICIPAL WASTE ADD SECOND MELBOURNE DATE
North American thrash metal legends Municipal Waste are now playing a second Melbourne show, this one being in the nice and cosy 300 capacity venue The Bendigo on Johnston St in Collingwood. Tickets are extremely limited to 300 only. This is in addition to their June 23 date at the Corner Hotel. The band will also host a meet and greet party for 100 of their closest hardcore fans: ticket holders to ANY of Municipal Waste’s shows get to attend a very special Meet and Greet party on Tuesday June 18 at Eureka Rebellion Trading (Collingwood), 6pm-8pm.
GIG ALERT: KING PARROT
Extreme thrashers King Parrot are at the Corner Hotel on Thursday June 13 and Arrow on Swanston (all ages) on Friday June 14.
GIG ALERT: NORTHLANE
Northlane are at the Corner Hotel on Sunday June 9 and Monday June 10 in support of their album Singularity. Special guests are Structures, Stray From The Path and Statues.
