METAL SHOP Rocks was once again in attendance for the announcement of the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Awards at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California. This will be the fourth year of the award show and it will take place on April 11, 2012 at Club Nokia.

The Golden Gods will be broadcast live for the first time on X Box Live and will also be streaming live on Revolver Magazine’s Facebook page. Marilyn Manson, Slash, Black Veil Brides, Evanescence and Sixx AM featuring Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx will be preforming live and Gene Simmons of Kiss will receive this year’s Golden God Award.

Today’s press conference also announced that the Grammy museum will have The History of Heavy Metal Exhibit and Wendy Dio, wife of the late, great Ronnie James Dio presented the museum with the original handwritten lyrics of Holy Diver. Let’s just hope they get it right. We all know what the Grammy Awards have done to metal music in the past (Jethro Tull).

Special guest list for today was:

Alice Cooper Zakk Wylde (Ozzy and BLS) Vinny Paul ( Pantera) Vinny Appice (Dio and H&H) James Micheal (SIXX AM) Chris Jericho (Fozzy) Wendy Dio Mike Portnoy (Ex Dream Theater)

Looking forward to the actual award show in April… in the meantime Click Here for the nominees an cast your vote. Below are a few photos of the presser. Special thanks to Joe at Rogers and Cowan for making this happen! Enjoy. -Ralph.

This past Wednesday I had the privilege to witness one of Americas greatest and most talented rock band ever Van Halen!!

You had to be someone or a lucky radio station winner to get invited to this one time only special event “friends and family and free loaders” is what it was called at the Forum. I am a rocker/metal chick and I was in heaven! The event started at 7:30 with Kool and the Gang. Not bad if you like that kind of music. Intermission took a while, enough time to get a beer and walk amongst the likes of Slash, Duff McKagan, and John 5 who where some of the few rockers out enjoying the scene.

The lights then dimmed and out stepped legendary rockers Van Halen and Wolfgang! I was second row standing and my jaw dropped when I saw them. I fell in love with Van Halen at age seven when I saw the video “Hot For Teacher” which they ended up playing halfway into their set! Other songs that got me going were “Running With The Devil”, “Panama” and “Jump”. They played a lot of their new stuff which was super cool and the crowd seemed to like it. So did all the children in the crowd surprisingly enough. All ages in the crowd were rocking out! “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” and “Tattoo” back to back, that right there was memorable.

David Lee Roth is still crazy as ever with the wardrobe! It was definitely fun to watch his get ups. Eddie Van Halen killed it on the guitar with his solos! “Eruption” just had to make it in the setlist or it wouldn’t be Van Halen. It was my first time seeing Wolfgang and I have to admit he rocks it on the bass. He was very professional and sounded great! A cutie too! HA!

The show ended with one encore and then the magic was over ’till June when they hit the stage at Staples in L.A. for a sold out show. I think I just might make it out there again! Why not right?!

Rock ON! Raquel Figlo

The first new Van Halen album in 28 years ‘A Different Kind of Truth‘ (Interscope) is out today (Feb. 7, 2012). Wait, what’s that? The last new VH album was actually ‘Balance’ released in 1995? Well, yes that is correct. However, if you consider the original Van Halen with David Lee Roth in the band, the only Van Halen, then this is their first album in 28 years.

METAL SHOP Rocks received an advanced copy of ‘Truth’ for review. You may have heard that most of the songs are re-workings of old unreleased tracks and that may annoy you. Just the idea of that may not feel right considering how long it has been since Roth fronted the band. However, while listening we couldn’t help feeling nostalgic and this record sounds more like listening to a conclusion of the first Van Halen album (1977).

Looking at the big picture… if most of these songs are unreleased tracks and most of us have never heard them, and early Van Halen is really the best Van Halen, a new album (almost 30 years later) from one of the best bands in rock history, probably shouldn’t reinvent the wheel. Most of us long for the hunger of the old days combined with the sensibilty of today and considering that, this album works.

If you are a fan of the first few Van Halen albums, most likely you will love the new effort for what is is, a kick ass rock album. Thanks to Rob at Umusic for the early listen.

Track list:  

1. Tattoo
2. She’s The Woman
3. You and Your Blues
4. China Town
5. Blood and Fire
6. Bullethead
7. As Is
8. Honey Baby Sweetie Doll
9. The Trouble With Never
10. Outta Space
11. Stay Frosty
12. Big River
13. Beats Workin

Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel blasted into the House of Blues in Anaheim, California on January 23, 2012 as part of the second half of their North American Tour.

All three bands are playing Kick Ass sets and the MOSH PITS are in full force!!!!! So if you love to get “Caught in the Mosh” (pun intended) you don’t want to miss this concert.

A little side note – as I was waiting for Anthrax to hit the stage there were four guys in the front, all squeezed up against the barrier and each other. I asked them are you guys still in high school and they all said YES! It just shows you that as long as we have high school kids that listen to Anthrax, Testament, Death Angel… Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica, Etc., METAL WILL NEVER DIE!!!!!!!

Here are a few photos of the show and video shot by Ed Flores… Enjoy. -Ralph

(1/19/12) METAL SHOP Rocks was in attendance for Day 1 of NAMM 2012 (National Association of Music Merchants) and it turned out to be a very good day. It started with a meet-up with Marketing Director for Dean Guitars Curse Mackey and he was able to get METAL SHOP Rocks a pass to the Dean Guitar NAMM JAM with Testament. As the day progressed I was able to see Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot), Craig Goldy (DIO) and Fred Coury (Cinderella) holding autograph sessions with fans. The highlight of the day was seeing the Tommy Lee Drum Set (Roller Coaster) on display right in the middle of one of the halls at the Anaheim convention center. As my day came to an end, I noticed a band rocking out on a stage outside. As I approached to see who it was, I noticed it was a bunch of kids who where no older than 13… let me tell you theses kids have a great future… they rock… Look out for Haunted by Heroes. -Ralph

(1/20/12) It was autograph day for METAL SHOP Rocks at Day 2 of NAMM. As I arrived at the Anaheim Convention Center, I ran into Ritchie Faulkner, the new guitarist who replaced K.K. Downing in Judas Priest. I was able to talk with him for a moment and even got a photo. Throughout the day I was able to get autographs from Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Kerry King (SLAYER), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and Charlie Benante and Frank Bello (Anthrax). Alice Cooper was to start a autograph session at 4pm local time. Unfortunately, he did not make it to the scheduled appearance and was very late to his second meet and greet at Fender where I was waiting to grab an autograph. Alice was so Late that he only signed for about 15 minuets to the displeasure of many of his fans, who had waited in line for about 90 minutes… bummer. -Ralph

(1/20/12) Today was our last day at NAMM 2012 The fun always has to end. However, that being said, I was able to get a few more autographs and video of Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) at a meet and greet at Remo drum. We were looking forward to a meet and greet with Black Sabbath Bassist Geezer Butler. Unfortunately, he had to fly back to England at the last minute. All 3 days we spent here was an unforgettable experience. -Ralph

Here is a list of some of the musicians in the hard rock/metal industry who attended NAMM 2012:

1. Anthrax (All Members)
2. Megadeth (All except Dave Mustaine)
3. Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
4. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)
5. Mike Inez (Alice In Chains)
6. Kerry King (Slayer)
7. Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
8. Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot)
9. Craig Goldy (Dio)
10. Claude Schnell (Dio)
11. Doug Pinnick (Kings X)
12. Fred Coury (Cinderella)
13. Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest)
14. Steven Adler (Guns N’ Roses)
15. Rikki Rocket (Poison)
16. Carmine and Vinny Appice (King Kobra and Dio)

Big thanks to the Lippin Group for allowing METAL SHOP Rocks to attend this convention. We really appreciate all you have done for us and we are looking forward to NAMM 2013. YOU ROCK! See you next Year!!!

Guns N’ Roses rocked The Forum in Inglewood, California on December 21, 2011 and blasted through a three hour set that even I thought was just a little too long. Gn’R opened the show with the song ‘Chinese Democracy’. At first we couldn’t really hear Axl Rose singing… turns out his microphone was not working to well, but it was quickly fixed and from then on, it was in your face rock and roll, as the band blasted fan favorites like ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘It’s So Easy’ and ‘Mr. Brownstone’.

About 15,000 fans were really into Gn’R and the atmosphere, but as the show continued it seemed to drag. It also didn’t help that every member in the band had some kind of solo or jam. I thought it could have been a solid two hour show with them just playing all the hits, instead they also covered songs from AC/DC and Pink Floyd. As the show approached the third hour, I could see that many fans had left and those still in attendance were looking really beat, that included me.

As the show came to its conclusion, the band jumped into ‘Paradise City’ for the final song as tons of streamers and confetti flew in the air to mark the end of the concert. In all, it was a pretty good performance. You have two more opporunites to catch Guns N’ Roses on this tour, they play at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on December 30th and 31st.

See below for some photos and video. Special thanks to Kymm Britton at 60 Cycle Media.

SET LIST:

• Chinese Democracy
• Welcome To The Jungle
• It’s So Easy
• Mr. Brownstone
• Sorry
• Shackler’s Revenge
• Estranged
• Rocket Queen
• Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond Theme)
• Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney & Wings cover)
• This I Love
• Riff Raff (AC/DC cover)
• Motivation (Tommy Stinson song)(Tommy Stinson on lead vocals, with Band Introductions)
• Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Baba O’Riley)
• Street Of Dreams
• You Could Be Mine
• DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (Ballad of Death)
• Sweet Child O’ Mine
• Instrumental Jam (Another Brick In The Wall: Part 2)
• Axl Rose Piano Solo (Gran Torino/Goodbye Yellow … more)
• November Rain
• Bumblefoot Guitar Solo (Pink Panther Theme)
• Don’t Cry
• Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC cover)
• Civil War
• Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
• Instrumental Jam
• Nightrain

ENCORE:

• Instrumental Jam
• Madagascar
• Better
• (Axl wishes a merry christmas … more)
• Instrumental Jam
• Patience
• Instrumental Jam
• Paradise City

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On December 6th, METAL SHOP celebrated eight years streaming on the web via Live365.com and we’re thrilled to be one of the most listened to Rock Stations Online in the ‘metal’ genre.

A ‘Big Thanks’ to everyone who tunes in daily from your desktop at work or increasingly, with your smartphone or other mobile device. Live365 makes it easy with free mobile apps, so you can listen anywhere, even in your car!

So you get the audio on your mobile device, but what about the 80s Metal Hair news and other content available on the desktop version of the METAL SHOP website? Certainly, it’s tough to navigate on your iPhone or Droid.

As a result, a simpler version of the site was implemented using mobile website builder ‘DudaMobile,’ a free service that allows businesses and individuals a quick and easy way to convert their desktop site to a mobile site in only minutes.

Now, when you visit www.metalshoprocks.com or sister station Hair Band Radio at www.hairbandhits.com on your mobile device, you will be automatically forwarded to the mobile site, that features a lot of the cool stuff on the desktop version, including news items, photos, videos and more.

If you haven’t done so, please check it out. Your feedback is appreciated.

Thanks again for listening and Happy Holidays!

‘Dimebash 2011′ took place at The Key Club on Dec. 14th to honor the late great Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott and Ronnie James Dio.

The event was hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jameson from VH1 classic’s ‘That Metal Show’. Special guests included Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Vinny Appice (Dio and Heaven and Hell) and many, many more.

Here are a few photos of the show and a video of Jerry Cantrell, Scott Ian and others performing Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here.’ All proceeds from this event went to the Ronnie James Dio Cancer Foundation! -Ralph

With so many shows (Judas Priest, Anthrax, Megadeth) and events (Ozzy book signing, That Metal Show, Black Sabbath Reunion Annoucement), I hadn’t had a chance to read the new Tony Iommi book “Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath” from De Capo press until now.

Formed in 1969 by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill ward, Black Sabbath became one of the biggest bands in the history of Rock and Metal. Iommi’s book covers Black Sabbath from the early days in their native Birmingham, England to the height of their careers, including all the drug use and band in-fighting that went with it. From Ozzy being fired by his bandmates to Iommi getting arrested in Modesto, California for not paying child support, I found this book an interesting read and for Black Sabbath fans, a must have.

Thanks to Tony Iommi for signing my copy at the recent press conference in Hollywood on 11-11-11, the day Black Sabbath announced they will reunite for a tour and new album in 2012.

On November 11, 2011 (11-11-11), Black Sabbath announced they will be getting back together and embarking on a world tour in support of a new album to be released sometime in the fall of 2012.

Black Sabbath will headline the download festival in the U.K. on June 12, 2012.

METAL SHOP Rocks Ralph Cartel was at the press conference and able to snap a few photos. Special Thanks top MSO for making this happen.