Festival Line-UpThe North West of England had a pioneering role in the growth and development of Progressive Rock music. From Jethro Tull to Jon Anderson of Yes, the area was a hotbed of music for both bands and fans alike. What's more, there is a massive latent audience starved of this pioneering and innovative musical genre.The Electric Garden festival will (for the first year) be a 2 day celebration of Progressive Rock in May 2011. Starting on the Friday night we'll have 8 of the best UK and Overseas acts to entertain you with an excellent sound system and convivial atmosphere.
The first acts have been announced but more will be added so please sign up for our mailing list (top left) to be kept up-to-date about the latest news.
Tickets are on sale at a hefty advance discount and will also entitle you to a free programme for the event. We hope you will buy in advance and help make our inaugaral festival a runaway success.
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News of the Summers End Festival at Lydney Town Hall on October 8, 9, 10. Accept no imitations! http://www.summersend.co.uk/The amended draft timings are now as follows...
We are delighted to announce that The Resonance Association will complete this year’s line up by opening the Festival on Friday 8th October.
Formed in 2006 in Croydon the band is Daniel Vincent and Dominic Hemy. Their three albums - Failure Of The Grand Design , We Still Have The Stars and Clarity In Darkness have blurred the line between krautrock, progressive rock, drone, ambient, shoegaze, industrial and even apocalyptic folk. Blimey. http://tra.moonfruit.com/
Festival Co-organiser Stephen Lambe explains the reasons for the choice:
“We could have offered the slot to any number of conventional prog and rock bands, but given our history of throwing the audience the odd left of field act, we thought this was the perfect opportunity to stir things up a bit.”
"All (members of Metalium) are involved in many other activities (private as well as music-wise) and after nearly 13 years with 9 CDs and 2 DVDs, the chapters will come to an end in 2011. The bandmembers share a deep friendship underneath and want to say thanks to our longtime label Massacre Records and all fans and supporters around the world who kept the flame burning since the band's beginning in 1998."The band will play several farewell shows which will be recorded for a final live CD.
After the tragic passing of co-founding Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow in 2007, many figured that the band was over. But while going through the vaults of vintage video material for an upcoming documentary of the band's history, the spark was reignited once more for drummer Frankie Banali to kick QR back in gear. The easy part was filling the guitar and bass slots - as former members Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar) promptly signed on. However, having to fill DuBrow's large shoes was no small task.You can hear clips of Mark Huff singing Quiet Riot classics via their official website at http://www.officialquietriot.com/.
A longtime fan of heavy metal, singer Mark Huff came to Banali's attention while fronting a California-based Van Halen tribute band (that focused on the "Sammy Hagar era"). A true Cinderella story, Huff auditioned via a cattle call audition, promptly blew Banali away, and got the gig. After getting the blessing from DuBrow's mother to carry on with Quiet Riot (and to celebrate her son's music), the group was ready to rock once more.
Quiet Riot is currently firming up plans for a full U.S. tour - their first in three years. And with the aforementioned documentary on the horizon, and the band's music being used in hit films ('The Wrestler,' 'Tropic Thunder'), video games ('Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's'), and even musicals ('Rock of Ages') - as well as QR being name-checked in songs by Weezer and Ben Folds - Quiet Riot remains a major force in heavy metal.
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"I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write.
"After 25 years, I have decided to leave DREAM THEATER... the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.
"To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so....
"After having had such amazing experiences playing with HAIL!, TRANSATLANTIC and AVENGED SEVENFOLD this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in DREAM THEATER.
"Please don't misinterpret me, I love the DREAM THEATER guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them... it's just that I think we are in serious need of a little break.
"DREAM THEATER was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985... 24/7, 365... never taking time off from DREAM THEATER's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was 'off' between cycles)... working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band.
"But I've come to the conclusion that the DREAM THEATER machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DREAM THEATER spirit hungry and inspired.
"We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a 'hiatus' to recharge our batteries and 'save me from ourselves'...
"Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather... I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be...
"While it truly hurts for me to even think of a DREAM THEATER without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way...so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes.
"Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DREAM THEATER and I talked about 'always following your heart and being true to yourself'... Sadly, I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with DREAM THEATER...and I would simply be 'going through the motions,' and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.
"I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come... I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played....
"I'm sorry to all the disappointed DREAM THEATER fans around the world... I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work... I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)... but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within.
"You DREAM THEATER fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me.... (and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future Mike Portnoy projects!)"
"To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with profound sadness — regret — we announce that Mike Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has decided to leave DREAM THEATER.http://www.dreamtheater.net/
"Mike's stature in the band has meant the world to all of us professionally, musically, and personally over the years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major force within this band.
"While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other ventures and challenges, we can assure you that DREAM THEATER will continue to move forward with the same intensity — and in the same musical tradition — that you have all helped make so successful, and which is truly gratifying to us.
"Fans and friends: File this episode under 'Black Clouds and Silver Linings.'
"As planned, we begin recording our newest album in January 2011, and we'll follow that with a full-on world tour.
"'The Spirit Carries On.'
"All of us in DREAM THEATER wholeheartedly wish Mike the best on his musical journey. We have had a long and meaningful career together. It is our true hope that he finds all he is looking for, and that he achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be missed."
We're getting psyched up for our return to Australia and New Zealand next week . . . it's been six long years since we've visited and we're ready to throw down! The nice people at Universal Music were so darn excited that they actually suggested that we release something special to commemorate this last run of World Magnetic tour dates, so . . . ta-da . . . we present the "Six Feet Down Under" limited edition EP! Coming to Trans-Tasman record stores and right here at the Metallica.com Store on September 20."Six Feet Down Under" track listing...
Here's the story . . . the collective brain trust came up with what we thought might be a kinda fun idea . . . how about some live recordings from each time we have been lucky enough to visit the area? It was all well and good until we realized that we did not start making multi-track recordings of every show until 2004 . . . oops! But you guys, the fans, came to our rescue with some pretty decent bootleg options and we trimmed those down to two songs from each tour in 1989, 1993, 1998, and 2004. In digging a little deeper, it occurred to us that we had tracks that had never before been released as "live b-sides" (we're not counting the bonus songs on i-Tunes, okay?) and that that added to the adventure of pulling it all together.
Be gentle with us . . . a few of these songs are, well, we'll say "rough," which may be an understatement!! They do, however, capture the live moments and hopefully you'll have as much fun listening as we did playing on those nights.
"As many of you know, Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan has fallen ill and could not make the North American tour.
"We have been rehearsing like madmen here in Tampa — the band is tighter than ever and (previously announced replacement vocalist) Michael Eriksen from CIRCUS MAXIMUS is truly an amazing singer; if there is one male vocalist in this world who is on par with Roy, it is Michael! However, after today's rehearsal, we all decided that we do not feel right about doing the North American tour as anything less than a 100% KAMELOT experience.
"We appreciate that many fans have waited more than two years for new material and to see us perform together.
"Our new album, 'Poetry for the Poisoned', represents a labor of love from us, and to present it at anything less than full strength seems a disservice to all involved.
"Though we will suffer financial losses on this late-hour cancellation, we still feel it's the right decision for us as a band to make.
"We regret disappointing all those who worked so hard to shape this tour, and especially those fans who were still so willing to come through and support us despite Roy's absence. We are humbled by that type of support, and we sincerely hope that our return in full-form KAMELOT strength will be more reward for your unwavering loyalty!
"We will reschedule all shows in the near future, once Roy is able to return.
"Refunds can be obtained at the point of purchase.
"To thank Michael for his effort, the band will still appear at the sold-out ProgPower (USA) festival, as a one-off show with him and many special guest singers from the festival.
"Again, we want to thank all of you for your amazing support!!"
