Soundtrack Saturdays : The Last Note Of Freedom by David Coverdale

David Coverdale is one of those musicians who I feel gets looked over way too many times in the rock history books and I will tell you why before I get into this weeks Soundtrack Saturday song. The man started outplaying his career with Deep Purple before starting Whitesnake which might be the band he is known for the most and he has worked with the likes of Jimmy Page (Coverdale and Page), Barbi Benton, Eddie Hardin, Steve Vai, Bernie Marsden, and he has toyed with a solo career as well and that is not even mentioning all the guitar greats he has worked with as well. In 1990, Tom Cruise starred alongside Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, and Nicole Kidman in the Nascar film Days Of Thunder which is an incredible film. The film came complete with an amazing soundtrack that features the likes of Elton John, Guns ‘N Roses, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and our featured artist David Coverdale. The song on the soundtrack is called The Last Note Of Freedom and it was co-written with Billy Idol and Hans Zimmer. You can tell Hans had something to do with the song as it starts off with a string arrangement before it gets tribal and bluesy as David Coverdale commands your attention with his soulful vocals and apparently I heard Steve Vai played on the song as well. The track is very different from what we are used to hearing from David, but I think that is what is cool about the track and why I featured it this week.

2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Class Announced

This year, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled what I think is a controversial list for the class of 2015 all because of one name. The class of 2015 is Lou Reed, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble, Bill Withers, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Green Day. Ringo Starr is going to be receiving the award for musical excellence. Now let’s soak this in for a minute and understand that in order to be eligible for the rock and roll hall of fame, your first album had to have come out 25 years ago. Also, let’s soak in the fact that Joan Baez, Harry Nilsson, Dolly Parton, Deep Purple, Yes, Warren Zevon, The Cure, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Depeche Mode, Slayer, Bon Jovi, and so many more have still not been inducted into the hall of fame, but you decide to induct Green Day on their first year of eligibility? I get their first record 1000 Hours EP was released 25 years ago, but no one knew who they were until Dookie was released. I would have made the band wait a little longer, but they make the calls, not us. Let’s be honest, I would love to see Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Slayer get inducted into the hall, but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.I also can’t believe that they continue to ignore Deep Purple, it’s astonishing. I essentially do not have a problem with Green Day being in the hall of fame itself because after all my generation’s first compact disc purchase was Dookie (or at least everyone I meet says it was their first record they bought with their own money). Again, I just would have made them wait a little longer.I think it’s about damn time that Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble get inducted cause that was a given and I understand them putting Lou Reed in considering he died not too long ago. I’m just saying the hall has absolutely no clue.

The 2014 Revolver Golden God Awards Review

Everyone was looking forward to performances from A Day To Remember, Guns N Roses, and even Zakk Wylde’s, but nobody saw this coming at the 2014 Revolver Golden God Awards which was Slayer opening the show as the surprise performer. One of the things people expect at this particular awards show is to see who the surprise guest performer will be, but Slayer didn’t need it as the bulldozed their way through classics South Of Heaven, War Ensemble, and the premiere of a brand new track Implode. It was especially cool to see Marilyn Manson intro the band in. Right after Slayer was done with their set, it was time to meet this year’s hosts of the show since Chris Jericho wasn’t doing it this year. Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine of VH1 Classics That Metal Show were the hosts and their intro was horrible. Then it was off to the first presenters of the show as Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park came out to present The Best Vocalist Award (see below for complete list of winners), then that was followed by Dave Navarro and Jill Janus of Huntress presenting the Best Live Band Award.

Frankie Palmeri of Emmure came out next to present the next live band of the night which was A Day To Remember who brought something completely different than Slayer, but they pleased the crowd as the band performed hit songs such as Right Back At It Again, End Of Me, and their closer All I Want. They were the second band to perform and still no surprise guest on stage with which is unusual at this point in the show. Then there was some technical difficulties as we waited for the cameras to show us Tony Hawk and Carmen Electra who were presenting the best live band award which was won by Avenged Sevenfold. They weren’t at The Nokia Theater, but they were brought in via satellite from a gig in Minneapolis where they gave the award away to a fan from the crowd. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and a couple of members from Memphis May Fire came out next to present the best new band award.

Then the legendary Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein along with the sexy brand new lead singer of Arch Enemy Alissa White-Gluz to intro The Pretty Reckless who were the next band to perform that night. Taylor Momsen is beautiful and very sexual on stage as most of you may know, but she has an amazing band that backs her up as they had one heck of a performance. The band performed their tracks Fucked Up World, Heaven Knows, and Going To Hell. Zakk Wylde would eventually come out to do a special Piano performance of In This River to pay tribute to all that have fallen over the years, but who was working the special video screwed up saying that Jani Lane was the singer for Motorhead. Then more technical difficulties plagued the show as we waited for Suicide Silence to take the stage to perform for the first time with their brand new singer Eddie Hermida. The band would play the tracks You Only Live Once and No Pity For A Coward, but it was their last song that was amazing. The band brought out Max Cavalera of Soulfly/Sepultura fame and they performed Roots on stage together that had me saying thank God someone finally had a guest on stage.

Alice Cooper presented The Golden God Award to Joan Jett who mentioned The Runaways. After her speech, she wanted to perform, but they nixed it so that Alice could introduce the performance. She opened up her performance with a rocking version of Bad Reputation which was tearing up the house. The next track she performed was a track that she had written with Dave Grohl called Any Weather which captured the spirit of the Blackhearts. Then Joan Jett & The Blackhearts were on fire with the next song I Hate Myself For Loving You for which she was joined onstage by Taylor Momsen. What I didn’t understand is that after the performance was done they performed it again to which Billy Gibbons would join them on stage to be the cheerleader. It was one heck of a performance anyways, but I believe they may have been shooting a version for television.

Andrew Dice Clay came out to present the video montage for Axl Rose while Nicolas Cage presented Axl Rose of  Guns N Rose with the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award. Of course from that point on, we were wondering how long it was going to take for the band to actual perform. The crowd was definitely anxiously awaiting the band to hit the stage as we also knew that Duff McKagan would be performing with the band. The band eventually came out and started rocking right away with It’s So Easy. The band would blaze through one of my all time favorite tracks Welcome To The Jungle with a killer intro by DJ Ashba. One thing I will admit is that Axl’s vocals were a little off tonight when it came to his high notes. Then for the third track of the night they would dig into their latest album Chinese Democracy with the Better. The band would then perform This I Love from Chinese Democracy. Then the band kicked into the kickass Use Your Illusion II track You Could Be Mine. The band would continue with Sweet Child Of Mine and a Babe I’m Gonna Leave You/November Rain medley after Axl introduced the whole band to the crowd. My final thoughts on the show is that I thought it could have been executed a little bit better than it had been in the past. I certainly miss having Chris Jericho hosting the show, but after a while the boys from That Metal Show did fine.

Awards:

Best Vocalist- Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age

Best Live Band- Rob Zombie

Most Dedicated Fans- Avenged Sevenfold

Best New Talent- Twelve Foot Ninja

Paul Gray Best Bassist- Chris Kael

Best Drummer- Arin Ilejay

Comeback Of The Year- Deep Purple

Best Film & Video- This Is A Wasteland by Pierce The Veil

Song Of The Year- Lift Me Up by Five Finger Death Punch

Most Metal Athlete- Josh Barnett

Golden God Award- Joan Jett

Dimebag Darrell Best Guitarist- Zacky Vengeance & Synyster Gates

Album Of The Year- 13 by Black Sabbath

Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award- Axl Rose of Guns N Roses

2014 Revolver Golden God Awards News

Loudwire.com

I have some news for all of you regarding this years Revolver Golden God awards, the one award show that celebrates metal the right way. If you thought the previous Golden God Awards shows were cool, this year is going to blow your mind. Joan Jett is going to be receiving the Golden God Award which will presented to her by 2011 winner Alice Cooper. When he was asked about Jett, Cooper said, “No one deserves this award MORE than Joan Jett. She’s never compromised who she is — she’s a rocker through and through. I wish some of the younger bands had the balls that Joan Jett does!” Guns ‘N Roses frontman Axl Rose is going to be presented with the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award. The next piece of the news that absolutely rocks is the fact that Guns ‘N Roses, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Korn, Black Label Society, The Pretty Reckless, and A Day To Remember are the performers at this years event. Fans will also have a chance to vote for all the categories including the newly renamed Best Guitarist award which is being renamed The Dimebag Darrell Best Guitarist Award. Vinnie Paul had this to say about the name changing of the award, “I am very honored that Revolver is renaming the Best Guitarist Award after Dime! He was and always will be what heavy-metal guitar playing is all about. This award is given to the person with those special skills that sets them apart from others. Dime always went for it and I know he would be proud of the winner of this award. So go for it and may the best shredder win! Getcha pull!!” Here are all the categories that fans will get to vote for and if fans want to vote you can do that here.

Album of the Year
Avenged Sevenfold, ‘Hail to the King’
Black Sabbath, ’13′
Five Finger Death Punch, ‘The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 and 2′
Korn, ‘The Paradigm Shift’
Queens of the Stone Age, ‘…Like Clockwork’
Volbeat, ‘Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies’

Best Vocalist
Jeremy McKinnon (A Day to Remember)
M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold)
Ivan Moody (Five Finger Death Punch)
Papa Emeritus II (Ghost B.C.)
Jonathan Davis (Korn)
Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)

Dimebag Darrell Best Guitarist(s)
Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance (Avenged Sevenfold)
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
Zoltan Bathory & Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch)
Munky & Head (Korn)

Paul Gray Best Bassist
Johnny Christ (Avenged Sevenfold)
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
Chris Kael (Five Finger Death Punch)
Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill)
Fieldy (Korn)
Emma Anzai (Sick Puppies)

Best Drummer presented by Razor & Tie
Arin Ilejay (Avenged Sevenfold)
Brad Wilk (for his work with Black Sabbath)
Vinnie Appice (Kill Devil Hill)
Matt Halpern (Periphery)
Chris Adler (for his work with Protest the Hero)
Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs)

Best Live Band
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Gojira
Lamb of God
Mötley Crüe
Slayer
Rob Zombie

Song of the Year presented by Randall Amplifiers
Alice in Chains, ‘Hollow’
Avenged Sevenfold, ‘Hail to the King’
Bring Me the Horizon, ‘Shadow Moses’
Five Finger Death Punch, ‘Lift Me Up’
Of Mice & Men, ‘You’re Not Alone’
The Pretty Reckless, ‘Going to Hell’

Best Film & Video presented by Eagle Rock Entertainment
Behemoth, ‘Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel’
Huntress, ‘Zenith’
Lamb of God, ‘As the Palaces Burn’
Metallica, ‘Metallica Through the Never’
Motionless in White, ‘America’
Pierce the Veil, ‘This Is a Wasteland’

Best New Talent presented by Victory Records
Deafheaven
Heaven’s Basement
Issues
Scar the Martyr
Twelve Foot Ninja
††† (Crosses)

Comeback of the Year
Black Sabbath
Carcass
Deep Purple
Nine Inch Nails
Queens of the Stone Age
Suicidal Tendencies

Most Metal Athlete
Tony Alva (skateboarder)
Grant Balfour (MLB)
Josh Barnett (mixed martial artist, UFC)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, NBA)
Derek Garland (Metal Mulisha, motocross)
Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins, NHL)

Most Dedicated Fans
A Day to Remember
Avenged Sevenfold
Five Finger Death Punch
Of Mice & Men
The Pretty Reckless
Slayer