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“I have always absolutely loved George Michael and his work, especially this song,” says Raymond Watts, mastermind behind celebrated post-punk band <PIG>, about his cover of WHAM!’s “Last Christmas”. “It’s equally cheesy and gorgeous!” Taken from the holiday EP BLACK MASS which is released today, December 7, 2019 via Armalyte Industries, this single joins other holiday covers of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” and John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” Available as a FREE download on Bandcamp at armalyte.bandcamp.com/album/pig-black-mass, there is a donation option in which 100% of the profits will be donated to INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE. Watts continues, “George Michael died two years ago this Christmas so this is a little tribute to his genius and I hope he would have enjoyed the <PIG> version and the charity which will benefit from it.”

The video for “Last Christmas” which premieres today online, is a festive animated video that includes cameos by both Watts and George Michael as well. “Grete Laus [director] made the fantastic video for ‘Last Christmas’ and after a brief chat about ideas and a direction I left her to it,” says Watts. “She immediately understood what I was looking for and took it to another level. It is equal parts charming, funny, sinister and slightly malevolent. The perfect ingredients for a regularly dysfunctional Christmas.”

Still reeling from their North American invasion this Fall on his thunderous ‘HELL TO PAY… IN THE USA’ tour as well as support on Killing Joke’s latest swing, <PIG> recorded this EP immediately after getting off the road at their Ranch Apocalypse studio. Following the success of his duet with SASHA GREY on their dark-disco interpretation of “That’s the Way (I Like It),” Watts and regular collaborator EDEN (who takes the production reins on this particular sleigh ride) have created a fascinatingly dark and twisted porcine interpretation of these seasonal classics.

“I wanted to pay homage to the great Christmas songs, have fun with them but also take a stand against the ever rising tide of toxic bigotry in this increasingly brutal world while remembering there is a better part of ourselves,” Watts says.

Black Mass Tracklisting

1. Last Christmas
2. Blue Christmas
3. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Legendary drummer Carmine Appice (BLUE MURDER, VANILLA FUDGE, KING KOBRA) has slammed the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, saying that the name of the institution should be changed to reflect the musicians that have been inducted. “It shouldn’t be called [Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame] — it should be called the Music Hall Of Fame,” he said in a brand new interview with Rock Titan. “Because they’re bringing in rap artists; they’re bringing in all these pop artists. They’re not rock and roll… They’re getting some of these people in there that have nothing to do with rock. They should have a Pop Hall Of Fame or R&B/Pop Hall Of Fame and Rock Hall Of Fame. Don’t put these pop singers into a Rock Hall Of Fame. They didn’t influence anybody.”

For the past few years, the Rock Hall has broadened its base to include rap artists such as the late Tupac Shakur and N.W.A. The move has drawn criticism from many fans and fellow musicians who have taken issue with hip-hop acts — and other non-rock artists — being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

“I thought it was about influence — not popularity,” Carmine said. “Influence on the business, influence on people. All my bands — CACTUS, VANILLA FUDGE and BECK, BOGERT & APPICE — we influenced so many people. I know that, because people tell me that all the time and over the years. But [Jeff] Beck is in there. CACTUS ain’t in there. Me and Tim Bogert aren’t in there.”

Carmine went on to say that he doesn’t really care about getting into the Rock Hall. “Because, like I said, they’re bringing in rap artists; they’re bringing in artists that really don’t mean nothing. And now, the people who are bringing them in are so young, they don’t even know who VANILLA FUDGE is. So I assume we’re not even gonna get in ever. But it don’t matter. I mean, I know some rock people that are in there — Rock Hall Of Fame — and they’re broke and they’re not playing and they never really influenced anybody. So it doesn’t really change your career.”

 
Carmine’s autobiography, “Stick It!: My Life Of Sex, Drums, And Rock ‘N’ Roll”, was released in May 2016 by Chicago Review Press.

Under the moniker APPICE, Carmine and his brother Vinny released “Sinister”, their first joint studio album, in October 2017 through SPV/Steamhammer.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Friday, December 7, 2018 — Having become the first Swedish rock band ever to win a Grammy Award – 2016’s Best Metal Performance for the song “Cirice” – today, Ghost has nabbed two new Grammy nominations, Best Rock Album for Prequelle and Best Rock Song for “Rats”.

“Being nominated a second time is a big honor,” said Ghost’s Tobias Forge. “What gladdens me even more, besides our two nominations this time around, is to see my fellow Swede and Lincöpian, Ludwig Göransson, being nominated for four awards. Six Grammy nominations is pretty freaking cool for two guys from Linköping.”

 
Prequelle, released June 1, 2018, entered the Billboard 200 chart at #3, and has already been named #1 on the “Best Rock/Metal Albums of the Year” lists in Revolver, Metal Hammer UK, Sweden Rock, All Access and Grunge. The album has been streamed nearly 100-million times.

“Rats,” the fist-pumping first single from Prequelle, maintained the #1 spot at Active Rock Radio for eight consecutive weeks, setting a record as the chart’s longest-running #1 song of 2018. Loudwire named “Rats” one of the best metal songs of 2018, the song has racked up more than 16-million streams and the companion music video, with its “gleeful, ‘Thriller-esque choreography,” has accumulated more than 15-million YouTube views.

Ghost wraps up its Fall North American tour next Saturday (12/15, remaining dates below) with a headline show at New York’s Barclays Center. The band will take a quick break from its February 2019 headline European tour to attend the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10. Ghost will be main support on Metallica’s 25-date European Stadium Tour next summer.

DECEMBER

7 Place Bell, Laval, QC Canada (Montreal)
8 Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, ON
10 The Hippodrome, Baltimore, MD
11 Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA (Philly)
13 Palace Theater, Albany, NY
14 Wang Theatre, Boston, MA
15 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

 
ABOUT GHOST

 
The Swedish-born Tobias Forge, who has been referred to as “the Andrew Lloyd Webber of Rock,” is Ghost’s creative force, singer, songwriter, musician, and architect of the elaborate storylines that are woven through the band’s four full-length studio albums, EPs, music videos, webisodes, and live shows, all of which advance the Ghost storyline. Forge grew up listening to a wide array of 70s and 80s rock – Alice Cooper, Journey, Kansas, Boston, Black Sabbath, Jefferson Starship, Iron Maiden, and Foreigner. He’s a hardcore music junkie; at home in Sweden, he has a most impressive collection of vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and VHS tapes, and when on tour, he regularly arranges for visits to local record haunts and ships back even more treasures. He plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and kazoo. Ghost’s new album, Prequelle, is loosely based on The Black Plague of 14th century Europe, a metaphor Forge hopes will apply to the societal ills of today.

Ghost’s music began as being much heavier, harder and “more metal,” but over the band’s recent history, their songs have evolved to embrace a more catchy, rock sound. Four of the band’s songs have hit Billboard’s Top 5 Rock chart – “Circe” claimed the #4 spot in 2015, “From The Pinnacle to the Pit” went to #5 in 2016, and both “Square Hammer” (2017) and “Rats” (2018) held the #1 spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Ghost’s music retains its rock edge as well as its dark lyrical themes like The Black Plague, the Antichrist, the Inquisition, avarice, and the Apocalypse. Ghost won a Grammy Award in 2016 for “Cirice” in the category of Best Metal Performance.

Paul Stanley will release his second book, “Backstage Pass”, on April 30, 2019 via HarperOne, HarperCollins’s San Francisco-based unit that specializes in publishing books in religion, spirituality, and personal growth.

Stanley told Philadelphia’s WTXF that the follow-up to his 2014 autobiography, “Face The Music: A Life Exposed”, “is almost, in a sense, a companion to the first [book], and maybe what it goes into more is how I accomplished what I’ve accomplished and what my approach is,” he said. “I’m certainly not preaching to people and telling people, ‘Do this,’ but I think people can get some insight into what’s possible for them by seeing what I’ve done. I don’t think we accomplish much by telling people, ‘If I were you, I would do…’ Because when you do that, first of all, well, you’re not me — you’ve never lived a moment in my shoes — so [it’s] much more important that you figure out for yourself. But I think we can all learn something from what other people do. So what I’ve tried to do in the book is express my point of view and how I got from point A all the way to point Z.”

Official “Backstage Pass” book overview: “The New York Times bestselling author and legendary frontman and rhythm guitarist of KISS offers grants fans an all-access backstage pass to his personal life, and shows them how to pursue a royal rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of their own, offering hard-won advice and rules to live by from a rock ‘n’ roll legend.

“In this follow-up to his popular bestseller ‘Face The Music’, the Starchild takes us deeper into his personal life and his home today, life on and off the stage, revealing what he eats, drinks, and does with his friends and family, [what] he’s learned from a lifetime at the frontman of the iconic band KISS, and how he brings his unique sensibility not only to his superstar music career but to every area of his life — from the business to parenting to health and happiness. kitchen and the bar to the gym and the office.

 
“Showcasing his unique lifestyle, ‘Backstage Pass’ is a rare look at the man beneath the modern rock god persona. Paul shares fascinating details about his life — his fitness routine, philosophy, business principles, how he finds inspiration, passion, and joy after nearly 50 years filling arenas and selling out shows, and even his favorite meals, and includes recipes from friends such as Anthony Bourdain, Rocco DiSpirito, Mario Batali, and other star chefs.

“‘Backstage Pass’ divulges more true stories of the rock legend’s relationships, hardships, and wild nights, contains intimate four-color, never-before-seen photos from Paul’s personal collection, and offers surprising lessons on the discipline and hard work that have made him one of the healthiest and most successful rock ‘n’ roll frontmen in history — and a model superstar for the modern age.

“This is the book for fans who love living large, but also want to kick ass at everyday life. From doing shots at the bar to enjoying a glass of red on the patio, Paul shows you how you can rock ‘n’ roll all night and party every day — without missing a beat or looking like you do.”

Released in April 2014, “Face The Music: A Life Exposed” debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times’ Best Sellers list for Print Hardcover Non-Fiction. On top of that, “Face The Music” debuted on the Times’ Combined Print and E-Book best seller list and E-Book best sellers list at No. 3 and No. 13, respectively.

In the “Face The Music”, Stanley talked frankly about his early struggles with hearing — he was born with Level 3 Microtia and is deaf in his right ear. Microtia is a congenital deformity of the cartilage of the outer ear that can affect normal hearing.

Coming to the “my favorite bar in America” as quoted by yours truly, Alex Zander, a great night of fun, food, booze and rock n roll! Saturday December 15, 2018 at the Looney Bin 201 S Schuyler Ave, Bradley, Illinois 60915 9P-2A

Electric Revolution from Kenosha WI is one of Milwaukee/Chicago areas prominent hard rock power trios, playing many regional and national showa.

Walk Among Us is the only Punk Rock Piano Tribute to the Misfits!

Order food from Bull’s BBQ: Located in the Looney Bin in Bradley, nobody does BBQ like Bull’s do. Their rubs & award winning barbecue sauces are made from scratch and they are good! Craving a pub burger? Theyve got a long list of gourmet burgers too! Bring your appetite, and get in there.

AZ and Electric revolution drummer Billie Pulera will also be celebrating their birthdays. So join in the festivities.

This is big news, folks!

The old Wilson Avenue Theater at 1050 W. Wilson will once again have musical acts for the first time since 1919. The property is owned by Cedar Street.

1050 W Wilson in Uptown

Double Door closed its doors in Wicker Park back in 2017 and has been searching for a new home since. While in Wicker Park, Double Door hosted acts like The Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones, The Killers, Kanye West and John Legend.

Neighbors first knew something was up when a pop-up Smashing Pumpkins merchandise sale was announced for today at 1050 W. Wilson and a sign proudly announced that patrons were standing in the future home of Double Door. The sale runs today from 1PM-7PM.

In this case, Wicker Park’s loss is definitely Uptown’s gain. This will make an amazing addition to our Uptown Entertainment District. The project will have to navigate a few neighborhood hoops. More as it becomes available…