Starting today, Rodrigo y Gabriela are offering a free mp3 to their fans.  “Atman” is a Sanskrit word meaning the only deathless part of the human being.  The song is dedicated to Dimebag Darrel and Alex Skolnick of Testament guests on the track with a guitar solo.  Rod says:

“Dimebag is the best guitarist ever…and having Alex Skolnick playing on this track (Atman) was a dream come true…it’s an incredible solo.”

11:11 was recorded in Ixtapa, Mexico and produced by Rodrigo y Gabriela, with John Leckie co-producing one of the tracks. The album was mixed in Wales and London by Colin Richardson, best known for his work with Slipknot and Trivium. Comprising 11 new original compositions, 11:11 is the band’s personal “gracias” to 11 musicians, both past and present, who have inspired them along the way. Widely-respected acoustic veterans Strunz & Farah also appear on the album. 11:11 is the long-awaited follow-up to their 2006 self-titled debut that has so far enjoyed worldwide sales in excess of half-a-million albums. Listen to “Atman” here. (Right click and “save as…” to download.)

Check out their video with which includes footage of Alex Skolnick and a tribute to Dimebag Darrell:

Rodrigo y Gabriela New Album 11:11 Out Sep 09 from Gigiddy on Vimeo.

September
16 – Terminal 5, New York, NY, USA
19 – The Buell Theatre, Denver, CO, USA
21 – Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA, USA
23 – Fox Theater, Oakland, CA, USA
25 – Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA

October
10 – 4th & B Concert Theater, San Diego, CA, USA
12 – Schnitzer Hall, Portland, OR, USA
14 – Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, USA
16 – Riviera Theater, Chicago, IL, USA
19 – House of Blues, Dallas, TX, USA
20 – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre, Austin, TX, USA
22 – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA, USA
23 – Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA
24 – Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD, USA

Buy 11:11 now!

Post from: Metal Martyr

“So yesterday I am doing an interview, the third in a day-full of interviews, which I am so weary of, and their “certain” questions, that it can turn the mood of an interview into complete shit with-in seconds.

I mean do interviewers not know that I am onto them? That I know they are just waiting to spring an antagonistic question to get me to talk shit about someone?

You have no idea how much it sucks to be talking to a complete stranger, baring your soul, and then the person springs the questions that he has been salivating over asking, and with-in seconds, like I said, the interviews can turn south.

I think it is unfortunate that you, as my fans, or if you’re just lurking, and even if you are here under false pretences just to be a shit stirrer (and there are a few here), it still sucks to be reading an interview and then it sours, and you are left at the mercy of the guy telling the story in the press, because he will ultimately decide that selling his magazine (or whatever – some people don’t even have a job, and they just fool our publicity department at Roadrunner and get to the band) is more important than decency, character, and literary, journalistic integrity.

There are journos out there that do have these good qualities and character traits like this, but they are few and far between. Mostly because they are music fans too, and then want to be famous too, what started as an innocent desire to bring interesting information to a curious audience is surpassed be ego and vanity. The thought of asking questions that hurt peoples’ feelings or that could destroy lives, families, friendships, and ultimately the relationship that would result in selling more magazines (or whatever) by having said relationship versus an artist saying, ‘I never want to talk to this ‘person’ again.

Ok, so what brought all this on?

Yesterday, an interviewer was asking me about people that have said that they auditioned for us, but that they were too busy with their band, or that they were doing something that would have resulted in something bigger than joining Megadeth. Basically that they were too good for us, and I just shook my head. I tried to answer the question, but it just went completely south.

Here’s what happened . . . when we were trying to replace Jeff (Young) and before we found Marty (Friedman) we auditioned a lot of people. and most of them sucked. Therefore, anyone in-between Jeff and Marty, and that means EVERYONE that said they auditioned weren’t good enough, regardless of what they said. The fact that there are people saying that they were too busy with their own shit too is rubbish, There were only two people that I called. Junior may have called them, but if I don’t make the decision, then you ain’t in the band. So, you can imagine my temperament as this kept on.

We even had some dunce named Steve Cox spouting that he wrote ‘Wake Up Dead’, and we were already writing R.I.P., so tell me, how the fuck is that possible Steve?

That is not the end of it. I had a friend, who is no longer a friend, that gave me his shit demo tape, and after The World Needs A Hero came out, he had the balls, no, let me rephrase that because he only had one ball, so he had the ball to say that “Dread And The Fugitive Mind” was his song. Staggeringly stupid statement, if you ask me.

I then got into what the difference is between a good guitarist and a great one. I think that Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, and Chris Broderick were the only noteworthy guitarists in Megadeth, Chris being the best. I also said that I thought that myself, Jeff Young, and Al Pitrelli were good, but not great like Polie (Chris Poland) and Marty, and certainly not one of us latter three I mentioned could touch the former three.

That is my opinion, but for some reason, I have a feeling that the interview would be a disaster if I didn’t explain this. The journo is not on my shit list, so no harm there, but the question and the fact that there are people out there that are saying stuff like this, and then to look at what they have done, which is dwarfed by Megadeth, I think just looks ridiculous.

Go ahead if you want to say you auditioned, but I think you look silly. Either way, Junior (David Ellefson) would know if they did or not, because like I said, anyone, EVERY SINGLE PERSON that auditioned between Jeff and Marty were not good enough!

There is only two people that I asked and one lived too far away, and was a bit nutty anyway, and that was my friend Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR). The other person was Darrell (Dimebag) Abbott (ex-PANTERA) and he would have been in Megadeth if I didn’t hire Nick Menza. Here’s why . . . Darryl and I talked, and he asked me, ‘Can I bring my brother,’ and I said who is your brother, and he said, “He is my drummer,” and I said, “shit, I just hired Nick Menza,” and we parted ways that day.

I would have loved to have played with Darrell and Vinnie (Paul) Abbott (ex-Pantera), no offense to Nick Menza, but I think that I made a mistake on this one. I am glad that I chose Nick and stuck by him, but the imagination has to go off the Richter scale when one thinks of what Darrell, Vinnie, Junior and I would have done. WOW! I guess I will have to wait for heaven to find out.

So, in closing, I don’t know if the two guys he asked about were ever ‘called’ to join Megadeth. I do know that they were not called by me, because I was NEVER familiar with their bands, in fact I have never heard one single note of either one of their music, therefore, I have no idea how they play, and I WOULDN’T KNOW WHO THE PERSON IS.

Guys like Steve Cox, you just end up looking really silly, me, I look like I am pissed all the time. I will admit I have anger issues, and this is helping!! [Snarl]

Moving on, I am off to the sporting goods store to go get some more fun stuff for the studio and the school here. I am also moving a lot of stuff down to the studio for our eBay store. Each tour we clean out the lockers of all the stage, dressing room, wardrobe, and gear that we accumulate and that we need to pass on to people who will really benefit and enjoy the items. We have a lot of stuff that we have been donating to local schools and churches too, which is a great feeling, so thank you for making all of this happen. Even the fun schismy parts of the day.

I love you all, and I am looking forward to finishing the interview I was doing yesterday, because they are supposedly inducting something of mine into their H.O.F., and I am honored to say the least. [Big Grin]

Have a great day, remember to do something good for yourself, and I would even try doing something good for someone else too, if you can stand it!”

Megadeth is releasing their new album Endgame on September 14th in Europe and the 15th in the US.

[image: Newscom]

Post from: Metal Martyr

Darrell Lance Abbott was born August 20, 1966 to Carolyn and Jerry Abbott in Dallas, TX. His father owned a recording studio in Dallas, and as a child Darrell would be inspired by the many country and blues artists that he’d see come and go. Upon discovering Kiss, and more specifically guitarist Ace Frehley, Darrell became interested in heavy metal. Inspired, he started entering guitar talent competitions as a teenager. After winning pretty much everything he entered, he knew that his course was set. In the early 80’s, Darrell started going by the name “Diamond” and formed Pantera with his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul and bassist Rex Smith. With frontman Terry Glaze, the early glam metal style of Pantera was influenced by bands such as Def Leppard and Judas Priest. After releasing three albums (1983’s Metal Magic, 1984’s Projects in the Jungle, and 1985’s I Am the Night), Terry Glaze left the band.

Pantera then found a young singer by the name of Phil Anselmo, and the history of metal was changed forever. Disowning their three previous albums, Pantera began to reinvent their sound. In 1990, Cowboys from Hell was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world, featuring a much heavier style. However, with their release of Vulgar Display of Power in 1992, Pantera cemented their position as legends of metal. In 1994, Darrell changed his name from “Diamond” to “Dimebag”. 1996’s The Great Southern Trendkill earned the band their first Grammy nomination for “Suicide Note, Pt. 1”, and 1997’s release of Official Live: 101 Proof earned them yet another Grammy nod for their live version of “Cemetery Gates”.

-

Simply called “Dime” by most of his friends, Dimebag was known as the friendliest, most giving person most had ever met. Fans in Texas considered Dime to be the “people’s rock star”, as he was known to eat at chain restaurants and wave “hello” to fans while strolling through a local Target store. He was very approachable, and Dime never seemed to let stardom go to his head. Rarely seen without his favorite drink (called a “Black Tooth Grin“) in his hand, friends said that Dime lived his rock and roll lifestyle with grace. He enjoyed dousing his friends and family with gifts, and cherished the time that he spent with them. Dimebag Darrell was a class act.

In 2003, Pantera broke up, leading Dimebag and brother Vince to form Damageplan with Pat Lachman on vocals and bassist Bob Zilla rounding out the new band. In February, 2004, Damageplan released their debut album New Found Power, which sold 44,676 copies it’s first week, debuting at number 38 on the Billboard 200. Tragedy struck the night of December 8, 2004, when Damageplan took the stage at Alrosa in Columbus, OH.

During the band’s opening song, 25 year old Nathan Gale rushed across the stage and opened fire on Dimebag Darrell, hitting him several times and killing him instantly. Gale then killed three other people and wounded two more before being shot and killed by a Columbus police officer. I would write about his motives, but this article isn’t about the deranged man that murdered several people and took a legend from us, it’s about honoring one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Dimebag Darrell Abbott. His death has been covered, and while we still grieve for the loss of such a phenomenal brother… I believe that we should celebrate his life, and all that he gave to us in his years of performing.

RIP, Dime. We love you.

[images: ZUMA Press]

Post from: Metal Martyr

The ride starts this year at 2:30pm at the Longhorn Harley-Davidson/Buell located at 2830 W. Interstate 20, Grand Prairie, TX. This ride will be 38 miles long, with a special trip past Dimebag’s house and studio, and end up at The Palladium Ballroom, located at 1135 S. Lamar in Dallas, TX.

At 6:00pm, the BBQ & Bash All Star Jam begins, hosted by Jose Mangin and featuring performances by Souless Intent, Bound, and Texas Hippie Coalition. The all star lineup includes appearances by Ace Frehley (KISS), Corey Taylor (Slipknot and Stone Sour), Aaron Lewis (Staind) and members of Shinedown, Snot, Machinehead, Buckcherry, Testament and more.

All the proceeds from Ride For Dime go to several charities, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Covenant and Little Kids Rock.

[image: Newscom]

Post from: Metal Martyr

A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage And Carnage At The Alrosa Villa

It starts off by telling you about the first time Nathan Gale made an assault at a Damageplan concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. A lot of people didn’t know or hear about this incident in April of 2004. That night nobody died and the only person that got hurt was Gale, after security dragged him out in back of the venue and subdued him until police arrived. No charges were pressed by the band at that time. Maybe if they pressed charges this book would have never been written.

Each chapter introduces one of the victims and summarizes their life, from birth leading up the the tragedy. You get to know each person on a somewhat personal level…even Nathan Gale. At one point, you actually feel sorry for Gale because you realize that he had mental issues. But when the read through Chapter 11: By Demons Be Driven, you no longer see him as a human being. You get to know Nathan Bray as a hard working family man with a love for metal and everything Dimebag Darrell. You get to know Jeffrey “Mayhem” Thompson, a big man with a huge heart. You learn about Erin “Stoney” Halk, a U.S. Marine turned Roadie. Of course you get to know Darrell Abbott a little more too. In between chapters is “Dime Time” contributions about people that new or loved Darrell Abbott.

There are plenty of photos in the book and tons of reference. The Author, Chris Arnold did a lot of research in the writing process of this book. Chris A. took the time to make sure the details were there and accurate in recounting the events that unfolded on December 8th, 2004. He also stresses that although it will be a night that most everyone remembers the death of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, that there were three other people that died there that night. People that made an effort to stop Nathan Gale and/or help other victims of the shooting. Sure Dimebag loved and was loved…but so where the other people that died that night. If you want to learn about the shooting at the Alrosa Villa and the people involved then this book is a great read and will open your eyes to a lot of things.

Image Source: Amazon.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

“Dimebag” Darrell Lance Abbott

Aug. 20, 1966- Dec. 4, 2004

Four years ago I was still in the military and was overseas. I was going through my daily ritual of checking email, news and such before heading to work when I heard them say something about someone being killed at a Damageplan concert. I didn’t catch the whole thing so I ran a search on Yahoo! and it returned with a bunch of headlines reading “Damageplan Guitarist Murdered On Stage During Concert“, Or “Four Killed At Ohio Heavy Metal Concert“.

I thought, “This can’t be possible!” and shortly afterwards I found out that it was Dimebag Darrell that had been killed along with three others. My heart sank to my stomach and I could feel a big lump in my throat. I’d be lying to you if I said that I didn’t cry just a little bit. It was a sad day for so many people and the thought of Vinnie Paul seeing his brother shot in the head at point blank range was just awful.

Like so many others, I never knew Darrell personally, but every time you saw him in a non-performance video he always seemed to be this shining star of personality. He always seemed happy and really cool just as everyone that knew him personally described him. It’s still kind of hard to believe what happened was real even after 4 years. There’s nothing that can turn back the hands of time and restrain his murderer and the only person to blame is Nathan Gale. Nothing anyone says or does can change that so there is no use in pointing fingers anywhere else anymore.

On this 4 year anniversary of Dimebag’s death, let’s pay tribute by having a virtual Black Tooth Grin and never forget the metal masterpieces that he gave to us. Rest In Peace, Dime’.

Let’s not forget the three other people that were killed that night: Jeffrey Thompson (Damageplan crew), Nathan Bray (An audience member), and Erin Halk (Club security).

Image: Newscom.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

Now I don’t know exactly who is designing this stuff but I’m not finding many of the Dimebag Hardware T-shirts appealing but that’s just my personal opinion. I really only like the two I have pictured (click images for a larger view). You can check out more of the designs and other products there as well. Some of this stuff is kind of pricey, but you’d spend more on a t-shirt at most concerts. There’s not a whole available just yet, but give it some time.

Image Source: Dimbag Hardware Store

Post from: Metal Martyr

In the first part of this article I talked about bands that are hated because they changed styles or just are not really accepted by a lot of metal fans in the community of the huge dysfunctional family we call Heavy Metal. Now I’m going to talk about some of the Metal stars that somewhere along the line thought that they are better than other people and look down upon people, both fans and other bands as peasants in their kingdom of fame. Some of the stars become cocky and self righteous douche bags. Now lets have a little fun and throw some names out there.

Metal Diva #1. Dave Mustaine. Good old Dave is hated by not only a lot of fans but a lot of other metal stars. He’s made more enemies than friends throughout the years and always has something to say about something. A lot of times Dave speaks intelligently and says some very pointful things on controversial issues. Then there are those times that Dave says some really stupid and ego-eccentric things that make you say “WTF?”, like when he has to remind people that he’s a “Legend”. We know you are Dave but it just sounds ridiculous when you actual say it.

Rob Zombie has become somewhat of a metal diva. I don’t know if you want to call him that, but when you start demanding stuff on your rider before shows and insisting that other bands on tour do not talk to you or even look at your wife/girlfriend then you just come off as a complete ass. I almost forgot…Also Rob put out a greatest hits CD and didn’t credit the former members of White Zombie anywhere in the credits…not even a mention of any of them.

Sebastian Bach…nothing more to add.

Axl Rose…I could use Axl for the complete subject of part 3. But I don’t want to make this a three parter.

Ozzy Osbourne. Dude…your the “Prince Of Darkness” not the god of metal. Did you know that almost nobody on the Ozfest card gets to actually meet Ozzy unless you already know him and are in tight with Sharon and Ozzy. It’s kind of crazy what fame does to people.

Phil Anselmo is hated because he also comes off as a cocky, arrogant prick. A lot of people attribute their hatred to the fact that Phil broke up Pantera which leads others to blame him for the death of Dimebag. Rita Haney blames a big part of Dimes death on Phil saying that if Pantera had not broke up then Dime would not have been playing that shit-hole of a club. I think Dime liked playing those shit-hole clubs and a lot of big names play the Alrosa Villa. Quit trying to point fingers Rita. The only one you can blame is the Schizo that pulled the trigger.

Tommy Lee, once a legendary drummer (why? I don’t know), Tommy ventured into doing a solo record that bombed, a crappy band that bombed and at 40 something years old he’s trying to be a DJ. Thankfully he will always have Motley Crue to lean back on.

I could go on about a lot more Metal Divas but honestly it would start to become redundant. The thing about a lot of the Metal stars is that no matter how huge their egos get, no matter what they say, we still have an undying loyalty to them in a sense. There are times that you are embarrassed to be a fan but you would not let that stop you from banging your head when you hear your favorite song from that band. It wouldn’t stop you from sticking up for that person or band when someone that is not a metal fans talks trash about them. It’s like sibling love. You can pick on and talk shit about your brother or sister all you want but if someone else does it then “Them there are fightin’ words”. We can talk trash about them because in the end we are fans and that’s part of what we are and have become. I said in a recent comment to someone that opinion are opinions, but the truth pisses people off. We’ll see how many people get pissed at me for this post.

Sometimes it gets to be a bit ridiculous but we carry on in one big love/hate relationship with each other as fans and bands and I wouldn’t have it any other way!!!

Image Source

Post from: Metal Martyr

As some of you may have heard on Blabbermouth, some scum bag that went by the alias Doug Goldstein has been contacting organizations and venues claiming to be a representative for the great Ronnie James Dio. He tried scamming the Ride For Dime charity and Alabama concert promoter Mat Raymond,offering up the Dio act for clubs and venues and the obvious Ride For Dime Charity event. Both parties put down a deposit check for the chance to have Dio perform at their events and the Ride For Dime even announced that Dio would be part of the show but later reported that they had been scammed and that it would not take place. On a good note both the Ride For Dime coordinators and Mat Raymond immediately put a stop to the check payments and didn’t lose their deposit money.Sooner or later this jack-off is going to get caught and hopefully sued and/or serve jail time for fraud or whatever they can get him on because they have been pulling this crap for the last two years. It’s bad enough they are trying to scam someone in the first place, but to scam a charity is just lower than snake-shit!

For more on the story and the full article at pollstar, follow the link below.

Dio Scammer Double-Foiled

Ride For Dime Logo from ridefordime.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

Click on the picture to go to guitarcenter.com (The Source of the image) and check out other Dimebag Hardware available.

Post from: Metal Martyr