It has just been announced that drummer Paul Bostaph will rejoin Slayer. Bostaph played with Slayer from 1992-2001, on the albums “Divine Intervention” (1992), “Undisputed Attitude” (1996), and “God Hates Us All” (2001).
Bostaph at the Jeff Hanneman memorial earlier this month. Photo by Stephanie Cabral.
Bostaph will be rejoining the band full-time, beginning June 4, at the start of Slayer’s European tour.
Exodus guitarist Gary Holt will continue to fill in for deceased guitarist Jeff Hanneman.
Thrash metal band Huntress has started an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the upcoming Mayhem Fest tour.
Among some of the prizes for contributing to the campaign are: the sword prop used in the “Eight of Swords” video, vulgar drawings by singer Jill Janus, and guitarist Blake Meahl’s custom van.
They created this humorous commercial to promote the yard sale.
“Eight of Swords” music video:
Huntress’ sophomore album, Starbound Beast, will be released in the US July 2.
Fans and prominent figures in the metal community congregated to celebrate the life of guitarist Jeff Hanneman. The memorial took place yesterday afternoon at the Hollywood Palladium.
Exodus and Slayer guitarist Gary Holt and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. Photo by Stephanie Cabral.
TBOS has compiled coverage of the event from various sources.
Metal Hammer gave an excellent run-down of the event, elaborating on those who were in attendance and the speeches they gave. One of the most memorable passages from the article:
A video montage of Jeff’s life kicks off. Pictures of Jeff as a small child drive more than a few audience members to tears, as Fade to Black accompanies the footage. When the tunes change to South of Heaven, five or six circle pits break out across the main floor. From the balcony it looks like a map of tropical storms forming across the Caribbean. Circle pits at a memorial service. Epic.
Blabbermouth.net posted an elaborate article on Hanneman and his legacy, along with fan-filmed footage of the memorial.
Loudwire also did a recap of the event, with emphasis on the various speeches.
Brian Slagel (Metal Blade Records): (Jeff was) such an unbelievable player. Really, back then, you had the feeling that something special was happening when we made (Show No Mercy), but none of us really realized how special that would become.
Brian Slagel speaking at the memorial. Photo by Kathy Flynn.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo on behalf of producer Rick Rubin (who produced Slayer’s most famous album, Reign in Blood): He was an innovator, an original and a creative force who we will all miss everyday going forward. Thankfully he left us with recordings we can listen to anytime we want to feel his presence.
Robert Trujillo speaking at the memorial. Photo by Kathy Flynn.
Slayer guitarist Kerry King insisted that the event was a celebration and told the audience funny stories about the band’s early days.
Though the Westboro Baptist Church had planned to protest at the memorial, the group was nowhere to be seen.
Megadeth debuted their newest single, “Kingmaker,” on Twitter today. Let us just say that it blows the previous single, “Super Collider” out of the water.
Phoenix thrash metal band Warhead will release their debut album, “Death Row,” tomorrow May 15. You can stream three of the tracks from the album here.
Philip H. Anselmo and The Illegals will release their debut album, “Walk Through Exits Only,” on July 16.
The track “Usurper Bastard’s Rant” is now available for streaming.
Anselmo revealed that the song was inspired by how predictable and watered down music has become. He told Rolling Stone, “Traditions were meant to be celebrated and/or destroyed. The celebration is worn out in my view. It’s time for more destruction, and this is exactly the point of ‘Usurper Bastard’s Rant.'”
Last time TBOS talked to Hands of a Traitor, they were in the process of planning their newest music video for their single, “Paper Prisons”. The new video can be seen below.
They will be competing in the Battle for Mayhem Thursday, May 23 at Rocky Point Cantina in Tempe, Ariz.
Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars was knocked over by a fan who jumped onstage during the band’s concert in Canada last night.
Mars suffers from a rare condition called ankylosing spondylitis, which fuses his bones together. Though the disease usually stops spreading when a person is in their 30s, Mars has a rare form of the disease where it continues spreading up his back into his brainstem.
Last night was arguably the metal equivalent to the Grammys. But if you were too busy or too drunk to watch the black carpet being rolled out, TBOS brings you the highlights of the Revolver Golden Gods 2013.
Anthrax and (Half of) Pantera Play Tribute to Jeff Hanneman
Anthrax opened the show with guest appearances by Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown by Pantera. They performed “This Love” and part of “Raining Blood” as a tribute to Jeff Hanneman, who passed away yesterday morning.
Afterwards, Kerry King held a “moment of noise” (instead of a moment of silence) in order to honor his fallen bandmate.
The Dillinger Escape Plan Perform With Chino Moreno
In perhaps the most controversial event of the night, The Dillinger Escape Plan put on a bloody performance alongside Deftones’ Chino Moreno.
Halestorm and David Draiman Cover “Whole Lotta Love”
Distrubed/Device frontman David Draiman and Halestorm covered the Led Zeppelin classic, giving both powerhouse singers the opportunity to show off their chops.
Five Finger Death Punch Perform with Rob Halford and Rob Zombie
5FDP performed alongside the legendary Judas Priest frontman and horror mastermind.
Slipknot and Stone Sour Cover Sabbath
After Stone Sour played songs from their House of Gold and Bones series, Slipknot’s Clown and Chris Fehn joined Corey Taylor’s other band onstage to perform “Children of the Grave”.
Danzig Plays Misfits Classics
Danzig played a five-song set featuring hits like “Last Caress” and “Mother”. Misfits guitarist Doyle von Frankenstein joined him, and his guitar broke at the end.
Metallica Gets the Lifetime Achievement Award, Play With Rob Halford
Metallica received the ended the show with a four-song set, opening with “Disposable Heroes”. Rob Halford joined in during “Rapid Fire”.
More highlights:
Ghost B.C.’s Papa Emeritus II removed his hat when presenting an award in order to honor Jeff Hanneman.
After winning the Song of the Year award, Black Veil Brides were apparently booed by the crowd and decided to respond by insulting the audience.
The full list of winners can be seen below:
BEST GUITARIST – John 5 (Rob Zombie & solo) – Stephen Carpenter (Deftones) – Alex Lifeson (Rush) – Misha Mansoor (Periphery) – Brendon Small (Dethklok) – Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
BEST DRUMMER – Abe Cunningham (Deftones) – Mario Duplantier (Gojira) – Arejay Hale (Halestorm) – Gene Hoglan (Dethklok & Testament) – Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour) – Neil Peart (Rush)
PAUL GRAY BEST BASSIST – Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill) – Steve Harris (Iron Maiden & solo) – Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead) – Geddy Lee (Rush) – Jason Newsted (Newsted) – Sergio Vega (Deftones)
BEST VOCALIST – Phil Anselmo (Down & solo) – Maria Brink (In This Moment) – Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) – Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) – Chino Moreno (Deftones) – Corey Taylor (Stone Sour & Slipknot)
BEST NEW TALENT – Device – Ghost – Kvelertak – Miss May I – Of Mice & Men – Young Guns
MOST METAL ATHLETE – Tom Crabtree (Green Bay Packers, NFL) – Tanner Faust (Rally and drifting car racing) – Clay Guida (Mixed Martial Arts fighting, UFC) – Triple H (WWE wrestling) – Geoff Rowley (Skateboarding) – CJ Wilson (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, MLB)
BEST LIVE BAND – Anthrax – Five Finger Death Punch – Hatebreed – Lamb of God – Slipknot – Volbeat
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR – Aerosmith – The Darkness – Quicksand – Refused – Soundgarden – Tenacious D
SONG OF THE YEAR – Asking Alexandria, “Run Free” – Avenged Sevenfold, “Carry On” – Black Veil Brides, “In The End” – Dethklok, “I Ejaculate Fire” – Halestorm, “Love Bites (So Do I)” – In This Moment, “Blood”
MOST DEDICATED FANS – Black Label Society – Black Veil Brides – A Day To Remember – HIM – Rammstein – Slipknot
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – Deftones, Koi No Yokan – Gojira, L’Enfant Sauvage – Halestorm, The Strange Case of… – Marilyn Manson, Born Villain – Soundgarden, King Animal – Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 1
Do you think the winners were deserving of their awards? Do you think some of the performances were outstanding or sub-par? Sound off in the comments section!
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