by Bill Pearis and Andrew Sacher

Ex Cops DJing at Other Music, RSD 2012 (more)

We're about a week out from Record Store Day 2013. When it began in 2008, RSD was a celebration of brick-and-mortar stores in the face of digital downloads, offering up exclusive releases to get people out to stores. It's blown up considerably since then, with hundreds of RSD-only releases. (Many of which fall into the hands of folks who turn it around on Ebay that same day, but what can you do?) While it is a mob scene these days, there is no doubt it helps what record stores there are left -- though not enough, as Record Store Day will be the last day for Williamsburg's Sound Fix. Participating stores around the country are listed here.

There are always some pretty cool exclusives too, items that may have never seen the light of day without RSD. With that in mind we've gone through the list of North American RSD exclusives to highlight a few things to keep an eye out. This isn't comprehensive, just stuff we wanna get. What records are you trying to get this year?

We've written about the Sacred Bones comp, the Astralwerks comp, Old 97s, Frightened Rabbit, Austra, Sonny & the Sunsets, and Titus Andronicus Check out our new list below...

Continue reading "a guide to Record Store Day 2013"

Deceased Type O Negative frontman and ex-NYC park worker Peter Steele had an oak tree planted in his honor in Brooklyn's Prospect Park recently thanks to the effort of a Facebook group called "Peter's Tree". More pictures from the planting (with clues on how to find the tree) HERE.

In related news, original Type O drummer Sal Abruscato (who left Type O to drum exclusively for Life of Agony) has a new project called A Pale Horse Named Death which is playing the Studio at Webster Hall on December 9th. Type O's 2nd and final drummer Johnny Kelly (who also plays with Danzig including recently at Fun Fun Fun Fest) plays drums for Sal who has moved out from behind the kit for this band as you can see in the video below...

Continue reading "Peter Steele tree planted in Prospect Park"

"R.I.P. Peter Steele. Thankyou for creating the ultimate & most influential New York bands ever. Love to his family & close friends." - Keith Caputo

Posted: April 15, 2010.

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Type O Negative front man, bassist, and our band mate, Peter Steele passed away last night of what appears to be heart failure.

Ironically Peter had been enjoying a long period of sobriety and improved health and was imminently due to begin writing and recording new music for our follow up to "Dead Again" released in 2007.

The official cause of death has yet to be determined pending autopsy results. The funeral services will be private and memorial services will be announced at a future date. We'd like to share our thoughts and those of Peter's family below.
We are truly saddened to lose our friend and appreciate the tremendous outpouring today from around the world.

Sincerely,

Josh, Kenny and Johnny

Individual statements from all three of them, and a message from Pete's family, below...

Continue reading "Type O Negative & Peter Steele's family issue statements "

"Treat each other the way you'd like to be treated" - Pete Steele

TYPE O NEGATIVE manager Mike Renault has confirmed to CBS News that the band's frontman, Peter Steele, has died. In an email, Renault said, "Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That's all the details we have right now."

According to unconfirmed reports, Steele had been ill for days leading up to his death.

TYPE O NEGATIVE's web site left a message to their fans this morning around 5:15 a.m. It read, "The forums have been re-opened. Please play nice and expect statements from the band and family later today. Thank you for your understanding and support."

Steele was born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. He stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.

Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE. [Blabbermouth]

Type O Negative's final tour ran from October 16, 2009 at Starland Ballroom to Halloween in Detroit, Michigan. The NYC show took place October 22nd at Nokia Theatre (right in the middle of CMJ). Two days after that they played a show at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, New York. That's where HardTimes.Ca caught up with Pete Steele for a revealing video interview that included such topics as Pete's recent sobriety and religion. In it they discuss why Josh Silver wasn't playing keyboards on that particular tour. Pete says, Josh was too busy with his family and working on his "plan b". "He's smart. I wouldn't depend on me 6 months ago either." It ends with the "final words" quoted above. A must watch for any Type O and Carnivore fan - especially in light of today's tragic news. It's below with footage from the show too...

Continue reading "recent video interview with Pete Steele, live Type O footage"

No official statement has been issued, and Pete is known for faking his own death, but Blabbermouth points out that...

Mistress Juliya of Fuse TV wrote on her Twitter page earlier tonight that she spoke to TYPE O NEGATIVE guitarist Kenny Hickey just before midnight New York time, and that Kenny confirmed that the rumors were true.

Revolver magazine's editor-in-chief Brandon Geist also posted on Twitter that he has heard reports of Steele's passing. "Hoping [the rumors] are not true, but the source is good," he wrote.

The rumor is that it was heart failure. Hopefully it's not true.

UPDATES: Type O keyboardist Josh Silver confirms the news to Blabbmermouth. Type O Negative's official website says to "expect statements from the band and family later today"

UPDATE: Official statements have been released.

Life of Agony's Alan Robert, tweeted that he "Woke up to the news that Pete Steele died. Horrible. Seemed like he was finally getting himself together, too. It's a real shame. RIP brotha", and that "It's a sad, sad day. Damn."

RIP Pete! A selection of videos (that I'm sure Pete would approve of), now slightly updated too, below....

Continue reading "Peter Steele rumored dead, band members confirm"

Danzig O' Lantern (joebeone)

It's been a long time since Chuck Biscuits played drums for Danzig, but his NOT-sad passing reminded me that Danzig has some shows coming up. Not only is he one of the headliners at this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest (coming very soon to Austin), but he'll be back in his home state for a show on the day after Christmas (when he'll probably be visiting mom). Tickets are on sale now for the show at Starland Ballroom.

One of the openers at the NJ show will be Doyle's band Gorgeous Frankenstein which means maybe Glenn and Doyle will do some Misfits songs together again. The other opener is Seventh Void whose members include Kenny Hickey (guitar) and Johnny Kelly (drums) of Type O Negative. They both also usually play in Danzig's band so I'm guessing that will be the case at this show too.

Seventh Void are currently on tour with Type O Negative, and opened the shows at Starland Ballroom and Nokia Theatre earlier this month. Seventh Void play their own show at Trash Bar in Brooklyn on November 21st.

"Misfits" (no Doyle. no Danzig) play Starland Ballroom on Friday night (Mischief Night), and then BB King's on Halloween (tickets).

Continue reading "Danzig playing Austin & NJ (w/ Doyle & Type O members)"

Now finished touring with The Killers, Wolfmother are going on their own tour in October and November. They play Terminal 5 in NYC on November 8th. Tickets are on sale (@ noon). All dates below.

The Cult headlined a show at Terminal 5 on September 11th. They played their album "Love" in its entirety...

"Last night I saw the Cult play live at Terminal 5 with my friend Daniela. A spectacular show. Ian Astbury voice is as strong as ever. This was the Love tour, and they played all their best songs... She Sells Sanctuary, Rain, Hallow Man, Revolution... To be honest, when they first started playing, it sounded like them, but Ian looked so different. To be fare, I was up on the balcony, so I couldn't see any details of his face. But long gone was the long black hair and bandana!

The crowd was great! A true mix of their 80's followers; heavy metal throwbacks, bikers, goths, old punks. And then the rest of us.. mainly the above 40 crowd." [mommy drinks style]

After that show The Cult added a November 10th show at Wellmont Theatre in NJ where they'll perform the same album again. Tickets are on sale.

And last but not least (for this semi-themed post), Type O Negative tend to surface near Halloween every year or two. This year it will be October 16th at Starland Ballroom, October 22nd at Nokia Theatre in NYC, and October 24th at Northern Lights. Tickets for all three are on sale (@ noon). Detroit gets the Halloween show. All dates below...

Continue reading "Wolfmother, The Cult & Type O Negative - dates & tickets "

by Black Bubblegum

Saint Vitus @ Roadburn (the decline 88)

Hey doom fans! Are you sitting down? The legendary Saint Vitus has announced three east coast dates, including Europa in Brooklyn on Oct 16th. According to Blabbermouth, "these dates will mark frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich's (THE OBSSESSED, WINO, SPIRIT CARAVAN, PLACE OF SKULLS, THE HIDDEN HAND, PROBOT) first appearances in these cities with SAINT VITUS since 1987!" Tickets for the NYC show are on sale (though there seems to be a problem with Ticketweb at the moment). Support is still TBA, though Type O Negative and the "Misfits" (who are playing BB King's on Halloween) are opening the October 17th show in Worcester (weird lineup). We'll keep you posted when more details surface.

Wino will also be in NYC with his solo band less than one week before the NYC date, supporting Clutch. Tickets are still available for both dates at Irving Plaza, 10/9 here and 10/10 here.

Our man JJ Koczan recently caught Saint Vitus at Roadburn. Dates below...

Continue reading "Saint Vitus schedules east coast dates - Wino included!"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Bloodbath - "Slaughter The Will To Live" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Samothrace - "Slaughter The Will To Live" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: North - "Eidolon" (MP3)

Attila Csihar of Mayhem, The Winterdemon (metalnorge)

Highly influential black metallers Mayhem have announced that they will tour the US in spring of 2009! The 21 date tour will be announced soon, but in the meantime, look for the band to announce a new guitarist to replace departing axe-slinger Blasphemer. Mayhem's Attila Csihar lent his unholy vokills to the new Jarboe record Mahakali due Oct 14th on The End. Skip on down for video of Thurston Moore discussing Mayhem.

Doomriders are currently grinding away at their new album due on Deathwish in 2009! In the meantime, look for the band to hit the Autobahn on a European tour with Disfear & SSS. SSS is currently streaming two new tracks from their upcoming record The Dividing Line. Doomriders recently played Europa.

Metallica is streaming six tracks from Death Magnetic. Check out my review for their new record below.

Guitarist Kris Norris has left Darkest Hour and is "actively pursing some producing routes and any band that might want a guitarist".

Corrupted LIVE (tawaraya)

The extremely elusive Japanese doomers (in fact, the above is one of the only pictures I have ever found of them), Corrupted announced a brief West Coast tour with Asunder, check out the flyer here. Asunder's Works Will Come Undone recently dropped on vinyl via Kreation Records, pick it up here. Corrupted's (current? these guys are elusive I tell ya!) bassist Lowell Isles's old band, YOB recently reformed.

Vikings Amon Amarth are streaming a new track, "Guardians of Asgaard", from their upcoming Twilight Of The Thunder God.

Bloodbath, the death metal supergroup featuring Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Martin "Axe" Axenrot(ex-Witchery, Opeth), and Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson, will drop their new studio album The Fathomless Mystery on Oct 28th via Peaceville Records. Filled with ""nothing but hateful brutality", check out "Slaughtering The Will To Live" available for download above and stream another track, "Mock The Cross", at their myspace.

Bloodbath's cover art, plus news on Danzig, Celtic Frost, Landmine Marathon, sunn 0))), Necrophagist, Immortal and so much more....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/15/08)"

DOWNLOAD: Alabama 3 - Woke Up This Morning (MP3)

Pictures from the Sun City Girls show surface....

Brothers Unconnected (SCG) @ Knitting Factory - June 22, 2008 (nana untel)

today in NYC & NJ
* FREE STUFF
* The Feelies @ Maxwell's
* 50 Cent @ Nokia Theater
* Alabama 3 @ Irving Plaza
* Pearl Jam @ Beacon Theater
* Type O Negative @ Starland Ballroom
* Death Vessel & Deer Tick @ Knitting Factory

Alabama 3. You're probably familiar with the song on the top of this post.

I went to see Type O Negative at Terminal 5 on Saturday. I've seen Type O Negative a lot and Saturday was not a great show - I think partially because half the crowd was there just to see Hatebreed who went on last and partially because frontman Peter Steele just doesn't seem to be doing so well.

Sonic Youth tickets will be available that morning.

Video of Lykke Li performing at Glastonbury below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Mmmm, it does go well with the Jose Gonzalez

Playing a certain type of music can enhance the way wine tastes, research by psychologists suggests.

The article says that Jimi Hendrix is good with a Cabernet, Blondie goes with Chardonnay, and that Jose Gonzalez is your man when you're drinking Merlot.

Continue reading "Naturally I'll say it's the wine. "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Pulling Teeth - Live @ Sound & Fury 2K7 (ALBUM ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: Gnaw Their Tongues - Bubonic Burial Rites (ALBUM ZIP), ALBUM ART
DOWNLOAD: Gnaw Their Tongues - Vomiting Helplessly (ALBUM ZIP), ALBUM ART

Opeth!

Twenty six. Thats how many days we have left until the new Opeth record hits the streets. Mikael Akerfeldt & the boys have put in WORK when it comes to publicity for this record so check out a few interviews that they did here, here, here, here, here, and a seven-parter here. Whew! And here's a taste of their setlist from the Universal City, CA date (May 2nd) of the Progressive Nation Tour:

Master's Apprentices
Baying of the Hounds
In My Time of Need
Wreath
Heir Apparent
The Drapery Falls

Tickets are still on sale for Opeth's two shows at Terminal 5. We have a pair to giveaway too. Want them? Email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Opeth). Include your first and last name. One winner will be picked at random and contacted.

More dates have been added to the Cavalera Conspiracy tour.... check for the full tour dates below. Missed the presale? Don't worry, tickets are back on sale as of Friday morning @ 10am.

Speaking of the Cavaleras, check out the cover for the new Soulfly record Conquer here, as well as the tracklisting below. Conquer will feature guest appearances by David Vincent (Morbid Angel) and Dave Peters (Throwdown).

Speaking of two nights at the venue formerly known as Irving Plaza, tickets are still on sale for the first of two At the Gates reunion shows. The second night is sold out.

much, much more...............

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (05/09/08)"

Tickets are on presale for the Type O Negative/Hatebreed tour (password= JAGER).

by Black Bubblegum

Type O Negative (Gonzuuh)

Black nail polish, camo shorts, AND denim vests? Dark lords Type O Negative will hit the road in May with kings-of-the-breakdown Hatebreed and goat-horders 3 Inches Of Blood. Tickets for a New York date at Terminal 5 are not on sale yet, but a Type O Negative show at Starland Ballroom on May 5th goes on sale Friday, March 28th at noon. Tickets are also currently being offered on pre-sale for select shows (not NYC so far). Tour Dates and videos for "September Sun" and "Trial Of Champions" below....

Speaking of Jamey Jasta's band, he's got another one as well with the six-string king of N'Awlins Sludge, Kirk Windstein of the thoroughly awesome Crowbar and Down, called Kingdom of Sorrow. It's out now, and it sounds pretty much what you would think it sounds like.... Jamey "crooning" over Kirk's doom heaviness. Check out KoS jamming on the Crowbar classic "All I Had (I Gave)" below.

UPDATE: Kingdom of Sorrow have some shows coming up too, and it ends up.....they're opening for Type O Negative. All dates below.....

Continue reading "Type O Negative, Hatebreed, 3 Inches of Blood - Tour Dates"

Siouxsie Sioux @ Irving Plaza - Feb 9, 2008 (Lori Baily/Prefix)

* The Cliks play Knitting Factory
* News Analysis Who Won the Writers Strike?
* Bon Jovi is playing Hammerstein Ballroom
* The Kooks & The Duke Spirit are at Music Hall
* Foals, Team Robespierre & The Teeth play Bowery Ballroom
* Saviours & Titan play Luna Lounge (Witch cancelled)
* Bobby Brown almost peed on Dee Snider
* Type O Negative 'Dead Again' re-release party @ Duff's
* world's first "vegan strip club" opens in Portland

What else?

Lordi (cred)

I'm a sucker for a good stage show - schtick or not. I like the music to be good too though. That is possible. Gwar used to be great - original, talented and creative. Somehow I tricked myself into believing that Lordi - despite not looking at all original - would play good music, and that overall it would be a good time. Hey - they're big in Europe (yeah I know, so is David Hasselhoff) - "Hardrock Halellujah" rocks like Kiss - they even won the Eurovision Award. So last night (Oct 29, 2007) I went to see them open for Type O Negative at the venue formerly known as Irving Plaza (their first NYC show I think). One word: horrible. Not even "so bad they're good" (ok, maybe that a little - sometimes I laughed). Just kind of unoriginal, cheesy (with cheap props), and bad. Luckily I was mainly there to see Type O anyway.

Worth noting at least: Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French came out to play one song with Lordi (without a costume on). Twisted Sister play the same venue on December 21st. Lordi & Type O Negative play two more shows together - tonight in Philly, and at Starland Ballroom in Jersey on Halloween.

It was recently announced that Finland's shameless (but rockin') Gwar look-alikes Lordi are opening the upcoming Type O Negative tour. I think the Irving Plaza show will be the first time they play in NYC. Danzig also added a few shows. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Lordi opening for Type O + updated Danzig Tour Dates"

I wasn't even going to post the upcoming Misfits tour dates, because the only thing that bothers me more than Jerry Only keeping the Misfits alive without Glenn Danzig on vocals, is his new Misfits taking it even a step further by calling this their "30th Anniversary Tour". Scam.

Then I found out that Danzig is also touring. Not only that, but former Misfit Doyle will once again join him - maybe just as opener, though I'd be surprised if he didn't get on stage with Glenn to play at least a few Misfits songs. So since I'm posting Danzig's dates anyway, why not combine the post and try to make them one big happy family again. So check this out:

NYC
Oct 27 - Danzig & Doyle @ Nokia Theatre
Oct 29 - Type O Negative @ Irving Plaza
Oct 31 - Misfits & Balzac (NOT from Gwar) @ BB King's

Happy Halloween. Danzig tickets are now on presale, and will soon be on regular sale. Type O Negative is still on sale, and "Misfits" are on sale too. Danzig's and Type O's dates overlap, so unfortunately I guess that means that Johnny and Kenny from Type O won't be playing in Danzig's band (like they both have been lately).

Danzig recently put out a great collection of lost tracks. The first and only video from that, and all tour dates, below....

Continue reading "Misfits, Doyle & Danzig Tour Dates & new video & presale"

Now that I've veered off into a slightly-punk direction, I thouht it would be a good time to post the news of yet another classic not-indie-rock band I hold dear to my heart. Type O Negative have announced another Halloween tour (it's a tradition). There's a pre-sale and a regular sale, and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Type O Negative - October 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: The Arcade Fire - Black Mirror (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (lies) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - All the Wine (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - Wasp Nest (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - Murder me Rachael (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - Slipping Husband (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - High Beams (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - Fake Empire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - Lit Up (remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The National - Secret Meeting (remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Type O Negative - I Don't Wanna Be Me (MP3)

The Arcade Fire kicked off their first of three NYC shows at United Palace Theater last night...

Arcade Fire @ United Palace, NYC - May 7, 2007 *

The National opened....

The National @ United Palace, NYC - May 7, 2007 (CRED)

How was the show?

I needed to cleanse my soul a little, so I instead went to see Type O Negative at Irving Plaza (the Fillmore). It my first time at Irving since it became "The Fillmore" - there were apples, there were posters on the wall, but yeah - that's about the only thing I noticed was any different. Type O, my LONG time Brooklyn rock 'n roll obsession, was great. I would go again tonight if I could (they're playing 2 sold-out nights in a row), but my obsession with Bjork is even greater (not to mention all the rest of the competition).

More photos by Michael Gruen from United Palace below....

Continue reading "ARCADE FIRE & THE NATIONAL played United Palace & TYPE O NEGATIVE played the Fillmore ++ lots 'o MP3s"

Roadrunner Records proudly announces the signing of Nashville’s pop stunners De Novo Dahl. The name, a combination of Latin for “the new” and the last name of creative and visual author Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), translates roughly “the new Dahl” – which is a good way to describe their collective approach to music.

The first picture is a screen grab from the mostly-metal Roadrunner Records' homepage. The second picture is one I took of De Novo Dahl at Cake Shop. A match made in heaven?

Roadrunner Records, who actually (well obviously) are branching out, is also the home of Dresden Dolls and the new New York Dolls record (Dahl, Dolls, Dolls). They also used to be the home of Type O Negative, and Type O have a new album coming out on their new label SPV on March 13th. Supposedly this is the cover to "Dead Again":

Peter Steele is in fact alive and well. Listen to De Novo Dahl at MySpace.

from Type O Negative's Management:

"Type O Negative postpones fall dates.

During a recent medical exam, undisclosed anomalies were discovered and it was suggested that Peter Steele, lead singer, bassist and songwriter, undergo further tests.

As a firm timetable for the tests and the subsequent results is indeterminable, it has been decided to postpone the fall tour to a later date when there will be no foreseeable conflicts with scheduling.

In the meantime Type O Negative continues to work on the forthcoming release, the first for new label SPV, due in 2005."

I hope it's nothing serious. Get well soon Peter.