God is Dead? Nah, Black Sabbath is Alive!

Black Sabbath unleashed "God is Dead" today, the first single from their reunion album "13" and took the rock world and their followers by storm.

Hell yeah, Black Sabbath is back!

This marks the first time in 35 years that the original members: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler (with the exception of drummer, Bill Ward, who declined to join his erstwhile buddies for the project) of the pioneering heavy metal band have reunited to record an album under the watchful eye of veteran producer Rick Rubin.

In lieu of Ward, the band asked Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine to play on drums. "13" is set to be released via Vertigo Records/Republic Records June 11, 2013.

Lost in the darkness

I pain from the light

Faith of my father, my brother, my maker, and savior

Help me make it through the night

Blood on my conscience

And murdering mind

Out of the gloom I rise up from my tomb into impending doom

Now my body is my shrine

The blood runs free

The rain turns red

Give me the wine

You keep the bread

The voices echo in my head

Is God alive or is God dead?

Is God dead?

Rivers of evil

Run through dying land

Swimming in sorrow, they kill, steal and borrow, there is no tomorrow

For the sinners will be damned

Ashes to ashes

You cannot exhume us all

Who do you trust when corruption and lust, creed of all the unjust

Leaves you empty and unwhole

When will this nightmare be over? Tell me

When can I empty my head?

Will someone tell me the answer?

Is God really dead?

Is God really dead?

To save God my philosophy

Until my dying breath

I transfer from reality

Into a living dead

I empathize with enemies

Until the time is right

With God and Satan at my side

From darkness will come light

I watch the rain as it turns red

Give me more wine, I don't need bread

These riddles that live in my head

I don't believe that God is dead

God is dead

Nowhere to run

Nowhere to hide

Wondering if we don't need to gain on the other side

Do you believe a word

What the good book said?

Or is it just a holy fairytale and God is dead?

God is dead

God is dead

God is dead

God is dead

RIGHT!

But still the voices in my head

Are telling me that God is dead

The blood pours down

The rain turns red

I don't believe that God is dead

God is dead

God is dead

God is dead

*You can pre-order '13' HERE

*Shoutout to Takati97 for transcribing the lyrics of "God is Dead"

Crazy Train: The Prince of Darkness admits to returning back to the Dark Side

Ozzy Osbourne announced on his Facebook page today that for the past year and a half he was back to his old ways, cavorting with evil spirits (read: drugs and alcohol) but admits that he has seen the light and vows to kick them out of his system for good.

Here is Ozzy Osbourne's letter to his family, friends, and fans alike:

"For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place and was an asshole to the people I love most, my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober.

Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing. I’m just trying to be a better person.

I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my band mates for my insane behavior during this period………and my fans.

God Bless,

Ozzy"

Walk This Way

'Oh, shoot. It's the Rolling Stones!' 

-Darryl McDaniels (Run-DMC) upon seeing Aerosmith for the first time to record their collaborative version of 'Walk This Way' (NGC's series The 80s: The Decade That Made Us

 -- 'Lift-Off')

Never Surrender

Last Song Syndrome: Corey Hart's Sunglasses at Night, a song I never heard for more than 2 decades. Damn, Detroit FM radio; now I got these lines stuck in my head- 

 "Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh-no! 

Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh-no!"

Although I hate the said song, I used to like his other power ballad and hit, Never Surrender, which won him the 1985 Juno Award for "Single of the Year" in Canada.

Cheesy and all, I still love the 80s!

This Old Guitar

my old acoustic guitar, 

the sole witness 

during those rare 

times where i can 

wear 

my heart on 

my sleeve.

The Story of an American Band

 Going err soaring high watching "History of The Eagles" on Showtime. One of my favorite bands while growing up. Their albums were and still are a staple in my car's CD player, especially on long lonely drives along the Interstate highways that I found myself during my wanderings. Yes, the "warm smell of colitas" is still "rising up through the air" for this "Desperado."

For the Love of God

'Got tickets to Steve Vai's concert via 106.7 FM at the Royal Oak Music Theatre but missed the show tonight because of a bad case of migraine earlier. Dang...

Child in Time: Jon Lord, 71

The Lord of the Hammond is Dead.

Yes, Jon Lord, Deep Purple's legendary keyboard player, "suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism today, Monday 16th July at the London Clinic, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer."

Jon Lord was one of the driving forces behind the success of British supergroup Deep Purple. He co-wrote many of the band's hits, including the seminal "Smoke on the Water." Although he played with other bands (Whitesnake) and musicians, he will always be remembered for his days with Deep Purple.

To rock and roll fans, he was the 'master of the keys' who in his heyday made his presence felt with his legendary 'duets and duels' with Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple's guitar god and legend on many of their hits, wherein their instruments competed for attention and dominance -- riff by riff, keyboard versus guitar, Hammond and Stratocaster that made their music click and unique.

Jon Lord made the keyboard a major part, if not the centerpiece of the relevant Deep Purple songs. Jon Lord can speak with you, play with you and travel with you to parts unknown with the sound coming from his keyboard. Yes, he can tell a story with the tips of his fingers and help you explore the hidden universe with the power of his music. Who can forget the intense and explosive playing that he did in Child in Time or the fast and furious waves on Highway Star or the soaring, hard-driven riffs on Burn?

I have been a life-long Deep Purple fan ever since I bought their Machine Head album in the early 80s, and I now own every single album and record of the band. And just like many rock music fans, I lament the fact that Deep Purple is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but the likes of Madonna and other rap stars are in. It is really a shame that one of the pioneers of hard rock, an influence on many of today's best rock groups (including Hall of Famers Metallica (2009) and Aerosmith (2001)), and considered to be among the best musicians in rock and roll history, is being snubbed by the people in Cleveland, Ohio for whatever strange reasons that they have against the band.

But with or without the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame enshrinement, Deep Purple and Jon Lord's legacy is secure. Their music will live in the hearts and minds of true rock and roll fans. As long as there are people who love quality rock music, rock and roll will never die and Deep Purple and in essence Jon Lord's music will live forever.

It was really unfortunate that I have not seen Jon Lord play live since he retired from touring with the band in 2002. I have been to two Deep Purple concerts since 2008 with Jon Lord's very talented and very capable replacement, Don Airey, but still, his performance of the classic Deep Purple hits was not the same and will never be the same.

Jon Lord's death is not the end but only the beginning of another chapter in his musical journey. His website says it best, "Jon passes from Darkness to Light."

Goodbye and Goodnight, Mr. Jon Lord.


photo credit: Jon Lord The Official Website
Note: This article was previously published on Yahoo! Voices

Free SEX

Yes, for 24-hours, Motley Crue is giving away their latest single 'SEX'.

Get free SEX, HERE

A Pocketful of Stones

Today is the birthday of David Gilmour, vocalist and guitarist of the legendary British band Pink Floyd. Call it a stroke of genius or 'a momentary lapse of reason' (pun intended) but David is giving his fans a gift on his birthday by allowing them a free download for 48 hours of "A Pocketful of Stones", a single from his 2006 album, 'On an Island.'

The single, with lyrics by Polly Samson, was written by David Gilmour, who aside from doing the vocals, also played guitars, percussion, Hammond organ and bass on the track. The song also features Polish classical/jazz musician Leszek Mozdzer on piano and Alasdair Malloy on glass harmonica.

You can download "A Pocketful of Stones" in MP3 or WAV form HERE, and will be available until 11:59pm UK time on Wednesday, the 7th of March.

Simply Beautiful

The song 'Simply' by Sara Hickman holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I hear this song, I cannot help but stop whatever I am doing and just let myself be carried away by its haunting melody.

It reminds me of Beth, my best friend in college who passed away a month and a half after our graduation in 1991, an event that I had to skip due to some important matters that I had to attend in Manila.

This was not the first time I've shared and written about this song and its significance in my life. I wrote 'Simply Beth-iful' in 2009 when I first came across a video of Sara Hickman playing the song for some close friends in YouTube. Just like before as it is now, the power of the song, the lyrics' message, and the effect of its melody remain the same to me.

Anyway, I found this video on YouTube today and I suddenly remembered that Beth's birthday was five days ago. Also, this time around Ms. Hickman performs 'Simply' in a duet with her teenage daughter, giving it a different take but still retaining the beauty of the song.

Sara & Lily Hickman: Simply from Andy Cafa on Vimeo.

And we all shine on...

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"

- John Lennon

There's something about Mary

"All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary, but it's simply impossible. The only friend I've got is Mary and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that's enough for me."

-Freddie Mercury on the love of his life, Mary Austin.

Foo Fighters: Tickets for the documentary film premiere now on sale

For Michiganders, tickets can be purchased at the MJR Theaters in Southgate, Brighton and Marketplace.

Dear John...

Today is the 70th birthday of John Lennon, my favorite Beatle.

John Lennon: poet, singer, songwriter and rebel.

So, how does he celebrate his big day on the other side?

By rockin' and rollin' of course.

John Lennon: Come Together from Andy Cafa on Vimeo.

Mark David Chapman's denied parole again

This month, nearly 30 years after killing John Lennon, Mark David Chapman's sixth parole application was denied by a three- member Parole Board and thus will remain at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York. He is eligible again for parole in 2012.

The saga of the Walrus and the Chapman continues...

Meanwhile here's a clip of John Lennon, George Harrison, Yoko Ono et al while having a creative session on the song, Oh My Love; a painting of how these geniuses were at work and how their creativity was able to churn out those beautiful lyrics and melodies that we became so familiar with.

Sonisphere Festival: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax 'live' in Bulgaria

On Tuesday, June 22nd, if ever there is heaven on earth for metalheads, it would be Sofia in Bulgaria, the home of the Sonisphere Festival wherein an estimated 40,000+ fans are expected to bang their heads in ecstasy when the Big Four of trash/ heavy metal music will perform in a historic concert that will be beamed live via satellite to over 600 theaters worldwide.

Yes, the Big Four, which is composed of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, for the first time in history shared and will share the same stage this year in various Sonisphere Festivals all over Europe. The concert in Bulgaria is expected to be a concert for the ages as these four legendary American metal bands will treat their fans to almost 4 hours of non- stop metal hits plus behind the scenes footages.

And for just $18 many American metalheads can watch the concert live in High Definition in their favorite theaters without having to travel to Europe and spend thousands of money to see and listen to their gods strut their thing and play their brand of music on stage.

The heavy/ trash metal fans in the Motor City will surely not be left behind as this writer has talked to some of them as they are gearing up for the unique concert experience in the movie house complete with the trademark black metal shirts of the bands. Some were even practicing the ‘two big horns up’ routine in anticipation of the giant event that will take place at the Sonisphere Festival .

So, let’s say, up the irons!



The live feed will start at 7:30 p.m. and the following theaters will be showing the Big Four concert in Michigan- AMC Livonia 20 (Livonia), Ann Arbor Showcase Cinemas (Ypsilanti), Commerce Township 12 (Walled Lake), Quality 16 (Ann Arbor), Showcase West 12 (Flint), and Celebrations Cinema Lansing (Lansing).


Here are the expected Set Lists of the Big Four:

ANTHRAX

Caught in a Mosh; Got the Time; Indians; Antisocial; Madhouse; Only; Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.); I Am The Law.

SLAYER

World Painted Blood; Jihad; War Ensemble; Hate Worldwide; Angel of Death; Dead Skin Mask; Disciple; South of Heaven; Raining Blood.

MEGADETH

Holy Wars… The Punishment Due; Hangar 18; Take No Prisoners; Five Magics; Poison Was the Cure; Lucretia; Tornado of Souls; Rust in Peace… Polaris; Headcrusher; Sweating Bullets; Symphony Of Destruction; Peace Sells.

METALLICA

Creeping Death; For Whom The Bell Tolls; Fuel; The Four Horsemen; Fade To Black; That Was Just Your Life; Cyanide; Sad But True; Welcome Home (Sanitarium); All Nightmare Long; One; Master Of Puppets; Blackened; Nothing Else Matters; Enter Sandman; Stone Cold Crazy; Hit The Lights; Seek & Destroy.

Visit Films Premieres Footage of New 'Journey' Documentary at EFM

by Nigel M Smith

Footage from the rock documentary “Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey” will screen this week at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin. A Visit Films production directed by Ramona S. Diaz, the film chronicles Filipino musician Arnel Pineda’s rise to fame, from battling drug addiction to becoming iconic band Journey’s new lead singer.

The band (best known for their anthem “Don’t Stop Believing”) discovered Pineda through a YouTube clip of him singing for a cover band. “What could easily have been a five-minute film - rock band finds lead singer through You Tube - is a much bigger story because of the camera’s unfettered love for Arnel Pineda,” Diaz said in an official statement. “Arnel returns the affection by being the most candid and captivating character I’ve ever had the privilege to film.”

Journey’s manager John Baruck feels the film will have cross-over appeal with fans and film lovers alike.

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey Trailer from john on Vimeo.

This Is It: Dancing Inmates

Note: The Philippines' "Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison, were treated to a visit by Michael Jackson's long-time choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid to learn performances from THIS IS IT.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

Among the names enshrined in the pantheon of music, there is only one name that stands out among the legends. Among the names etched in our memory, there is only one name that is never forgotten. And in the history of Rock and Roll, there is only one true King-

ELVIS

John Lennon summed it all up best, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”