Chester Bennington...

"Happy 36th Birthday"

Chester Bennington...

Who was the missing ingredient to Linkin Park's ground-breaking sound? The answer came in the form of a twenty-year-old misfit from Phoenix, Arizona named Chester Bennington. Chester was a vocalist in a locally reknowned band named Grey Daze and was given a mixtape from a band named Xero by a Zomba Music A&R executive in the latter part of 1998. Xero were searching for a new vocalist in the wake of Mark Wakefield's departure and started handing out demo tapes to try and find a replacement. After listening to the tape and liking what he heard, Chester wrote lyrics and recorded them over the tracks, then sent the tape back to the band. On his 23rd birthday in '99, Chester received a phone call from his Zomba contact saying the band were interested to meet him in person to try out for the lead vocalist spot. Chester flew to Southern California and met the Xero bandmates, then proceeded to completely blow them away in the audition. Not only did he impress the band, his performance also intimidated another vying candidate into leaving before his audition! Chester was a shoe-in for the vocalist spot. The band soon renamed themselves to Hybrid Theory and released their first material recorded with Chester on the 'Hybrid Theory EP' soon afterwards in '99. Hybrid Theory would later change their name to Linkin Park.

Bennington is often labeled as the main source of raw emotion found in many of Linkin Park's songs. This stems from a problematic childhood plagued with the divorcing of his parents, sexual molestation, and heavy drug and alcohol abuse. Through writing music, Chester therapeutically released his pent-up frustration and anger. Instead of making the messages of his songs solely about himself, Chester's writing style uses universal emotions and relatable themes instead of situational lyrics to deliver his stories and help others. For this reason, Chester is regarded as a role model for millions of people who can relate to his messages.

Chester has also realized his creativity through a number of musical endeavours besides that of Linkin Park. What initially began forming in 2005, ultimately became Chester working alongside Amir Derakh, Brandon Belsky, Elias Andra, and Anthony "Fu" Valcic of Julien K & Ryan Shuck of Orgy to form the side-project, Dead By Sunrise. The band released their debut album "Out Of Ashes" October 19th 2008 and have played a number of shows in Europe. Chester also performs with his cover band, Bucket Of Weenies from time to time too, a band dedicated to performing classic rock hits. BOW is a collaboration of Chester on vocals, Ryan Shuck on guitar, Mike "Cheez" Brown on bass, Mike Rouse on guitar & Sean Dowdell on drums.

Chester has also devoted his talents to other projects outside of music, which include his very own clothing line in Ve' Cel, a label comprised of edgy designs aimed at embracing uniqueness and individuality in fashion. Chester also has a creative outlet in his tattoo business, Club Tattoo, which is a part-owned enterprise with long time friends Sean Dowdell and Thora Dowdell. -lpassociation.com

Facts about Chester...

Before Grey Daze, when Chester was 15 he played in a band called "Sean Dowdell and Friends" in which he was the lead singer. Currently the only existing evidence of this band is a 3 song tape that includes the following songs: "Painted Pictures" "Kill The Flies" and "God's Afraid".

Chester was the one who came up with the name Linkin Park for his band (taken from the then-name of a park in Santa Monica, California). It was originally supposed to be spelled "Lincoln" but since the band couldn't afford to buy the domain name lincolnpark.com from its owner, they changed the spelling in order to buy linkinpark.com. -Imdb.com

Personal Quotes from Chester~

"What I enjoy most about being in the band is having the opportunity to create and perform music with amazing musicians who have also become closest of friends. I would like to thank all who support us and make all of this possible." 

Chester on high school: "I was a geek who thought I was cool. I didn't hang out with a particular clique, but with different people from different cliques. I was a total nerd, trying to fit in. Luckily, I found music and that was my niche. That sorta took me out of my geekdom. I was never invited to parties as a teenager - I turned up with the popular people. That's where the lyrics to 'Guilty By Association' came from."   -Imdb.com

Just one of my favs...

Skillet...

Skillet

"Monster"

Video for Today...

"Monster" is the second single of the 2009 album Awake by the Christian rock band Skillet, and is the second track on the album. The single went on to become the bands breakthrough single charting at #4 on Mainstream rock charts and #101 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart. A radio edit version can be found on the Deluxe Version, which does not include the growling part of the song. It's also the fifth single by Skillet to be released to physical media.

The Single has so far peaked at number #11 on the iTunes Rock charts, #1 on Christian Rock radio, #2 on Christian Hard Rock radio, #20 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart, #7 on the Billboard Heatseeker charts, #4 on the US Active Rock charts, and number #4 on the Mainstream rock charts, making it the most successful single in the band's history. It is also the first single to make the Alternative Songs chart, debuting at #40, peaked at #28. On November 10th it was announced that the song had reached the "Elite 8" on MTV's rotation slot. The song was also the tenth most played halloween song of 2010. -Wikipedia.com

This was the second single from American Christian rock band Skillet's eighth studio album, Awake.
Front man John Cooper explained to StereoTruth.net: "It's a song about being fake and putting on a face for people that's not the real you. But it's basically about the nature of sin and the nature of the divine, which is the duel nature we have as Christians. Everyday we have to strive to throw away the old and be that new person in Christ."
Cooper expanded on the song to Christianity Today magazine: "In a theological sense, the song is about original sin. You are born into the human race, you're guilty or sinful, no matter what you hope to be. "Monster" is about the fact that there is somebody we know we don't want to be. Some people call it the old man or the old self. That guy wants to creep out when you're driving and somebody cuts you off. You wonder as a Christian, how do I keep it at bay? I liken it to the idea of a '50s horror film of this beast inside you coming alive."
This song was used as the theme for the 2009 edition WWE pay-per-view "Hell in a Cell." It is also featured in WWE video game Smackdown vs Raw 2010 and was used in the NBC telecast of Wrestlemania 25, highlighting WWE wrestler Randy Orton's quest to become the WWE champion. -Songfacts.com

I feel it deep within, It's just beneath the skin I must confess that I Feel like a monster I hate what I've become, The nightmare's just begun I must confess that I Feel like a monster - Monster 

Randy Rhoads...

1956~1982

30 years ago today (March 19, 1982), Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist Randy Rhoads was killed in a tragic plane crash in Leesburg, Fla.

After co-founding Quiet Riot at the age of 16, Rhoads went on to become one of the most influential and respected hard rock/heavy metal guitarists in history, despite his relatively short career. After breaking through the late-'70s L.A. rock scene and playing such famed clubs as the Whiskey a Go Go, Rhoads played guitar on Quiet Riot's first two albums ('Quiet Riot' and 'Quiet Riot II'), which initially only saw their release in Japan.

In 1979, Rhoads auditioned in front of a drunken Ozzy Osbourne, who was looking to piece together a new band after his departure from Black Sabbath. Randy played on Ozzy's famed 1980 release, 'Blizzard of Ozz,' and his trademark guitar playing can be heard on such hard rock classics as 'Crazy Train' and 'Mr. Crowley.'

After the 1981 release of Osbourne's 'Diary of a Madman,' Randy contemplated the idea of going on a hiatus from rock music to attend UCLA and study classical guitar. He continued to tour with Ozzy, however, supporting 'Diary of a Madman' into early 1982.

Tragedy struck on March 19, 1982. Rhoads, who had played what would become his last show just the day before in Knoxville, Tenn., was heading to a show in Orlando when the band's tour bus stopped in Leesburg, Fla. Parked next to a small airstrip, the bus driver, Andrew Aycock, took some of the band members for joyrides on a plane he owned there. On the second flight of the day, Aycock took Rhoads and the band's hairdresser/seamstress, Rachel Youngblood, with him.

Aycock decided to "buzz" the bus full of sleeping band members. On the third pass, the plane clipped the bus, and all three who were flying were killed instantly. He was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino, Calif. Since his death, Rhoads has been the subject of tribute albums, has appeared on countless "best of" lists, and has even had a special edition amp and guitar released in his memory.

On the 30th anniversary of his tragic passing, Noisecreep reached out to Rhoads' former Ozzy Osbourne bandmate, the great bassist Rudy Sarzo, who shared, "Though I mourn Randy Rhoads' passing 30 years ago today, more importantly I celebrate his life. His unmeasurable talent and friendship lives on forever in my heart." -Noisecreep.com

A cool tribute video...

Billy Sheenan...

"Happy 59th Birthday"

Billy Sheenan...

Billy Sheehan has changed the way bass guitar is played. Rising to cult status in the 80's with his Buffalo, NY based band Talas, Billy was recruited by David Lee Roth when Roth left Van Halen in '85. He recorded two platinum selling albums with the former Van Halen front man before setting out on his own. Forming Mr. Big in 1989, the band achieved a Billboard #1 single in the US and 14 other countries with "To Be With You" from their 2nd Atlantic Records album release "Lean Into It". While developing his trademark style of playing he has performed over 4000 live gigs on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. 

Voted the "Best Rock Bass Player" 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honor which placed him in their "Gallery of Greats" (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few), he has also won readers polls in Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, and many other countries. On January 27, 1999 Billy's handprints and signature were preserved in cement on the Hollywood Rockwalk at Guitar Center. An honor attributed to those artists who have made a significant contribution to Rock and Roll. In Japan, Billy has won the prestigious "Player Magazine" (Japan's #1 Music mag) Readers Poll for Best Bass Player an unprecedented 14 consecutive times and Burrn! Magazines (Japan's #1 heavy metal mag) Readers Poll 5 times while selling out Budokan arena 3 consecutive nights with his band Mr. Big.

He started the new Millennium 2000 by performing before 40,000 fans with Mr. Big at the Osaka Dome in Japan then began work on his long awaited solo album. With recording completed, Billy's first solo album entitled "COMPRESSION" was released on April 25, 2001 on the Favored Nations label.

On "COMPRESSION", Sheehan wrote, sang, played Baritone 12 string and 6 string guitar, played bass and programmed drums on the entire record, except for 2 tracks featuring Terry Bozzio on drums and an amazing Steve Vai solo on the song "Chameleon" (the first pairing of Steve Vai and Billy since the David Lee Roth days). Other upcoming records include a new Mr. Big album (their 6th) slated for release in Fall 2001, an all instrumental bass album, an experimental Bass & Drum record w/ Terry Bozzio, and the 5th Niacin album featuring Dennis Chambers on drums (Funkadelic, Steely Dan, and Mahavishnu Orchestra). Niacin is an all-instrumental Bass, Drums, and Hammond B3 band at the cutting edge of a new musical movement. -Yamaha.com

Billy Sheenan Quote:

At night I could hear the bass reverberate through the neighborhood. The guitars and drums were muffled, but the bass traveled everywhere. I loved that, and wanted to have the power to shake buildings. Also, the bass was big and manly; guitars were little and wimpy, with these thin little strings that looked like Velveeta cheese cutters. 

10 Years...

10 Years

"Beautiful"

Music Video of the Day...

 From their fourth album, Division, which is their second major release under Universal Records. The song was released as the album's first single to iTunes and rock radio outlets in 2008 performance.

"Beautiful" debuted on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks at number 34 for the issue date of February 23, 2008. It peaked at number 6, spending 26 weeks on the chart. The song has also charted on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks, peaking at number 14.

The music video for "Beautiful" premiered on April 21, 2008 at Universal Republic's video site and on YouTube a few days later. It depicts a celebrity (Rebecca Ginos) going inside her house due to the paparazzi invading and watching her every move. -Wikipedia.com

"Beautiful" Lyrics...

Beauty over wisdom to fit in with their style
Your Cinderella story's for a price
Vanity's a business built to fleece the unique
Silicon and stars collide, the rest will fall in line

Just as beautiful as you are
It's so pitiful what you are
You should have seen this coming all along

Visually you're stimulating to my eyes
Your Cinderella syndrome's full of lies
Your insecurities are concealed by your pride
Pretty soon your ego will kill what's left inside

Just as beautiful as you are
It's so pitiful what you are
You should have seen this coming all along

It's so pitiful what you are
As beautiful as you are
You should have seen this coming all along

You're everything that's so typical
Maybe you're alone for a reason
You're the reason

It's so pitiful what you are
Should have seen this coming all along

Just as beautiful as you are
It's so pitiful what you are
Should have seen this coming all along

It's so pitiful what you are
As beautiful as you are
Should have seen this coming all along 

Elyrics.net

Dee Snider...

"Happy 57th Birthday"

Dee Snider...

Dee Snider (born David Daniel Snider, on March 15, 1955 in Massapequa,

 New York, USA) is the heavily made-up frontman for the U.S. band Twisted Sister.

As a child he sang in a church choir, and several school choruses 

(Snider's father is Jewish, but "left the faith when he was 15" according to Snider, 

quoted in The New York Times. His mother is Catholic. Both sets of families opposed

 his parents' marriage. His parents raised Snider and his siblings as Episcopalian 

Christians as a strange compromise). He developed a habit of dressing differently 

from his peers, and a strong desire to become a singer in a makeup band. 

In 1975 Snider changed several rock bands, and in early 1976 he joined 

the recently formed Twisted Sister.

In 1998, he wrote and starred in the horror film "Strangeland".

In 2001 he was the voice of Gol, the main villain for the PS2 videogame Jak & Daxter: 

The Precursor Legacy.

Snider played himself in the 2002 TV-movie "Warning: Parental Advisory."

In 2004 and 2005 he was the narrator for a live show known as Van Helsing's

 Curse which tours the US around Halloween giving a mix of 

famous music with dark overtones and an occasional part of a

 storytelling to accompany the music. The concert has also been released on CD.

As of 2005 Snider is the host of the nationally syndicated House of Hair radio show. 

He lives part-time in Setauket, New York, where he raises and trains dogs.

Snider is also a narrator for many shows and specials on VH1.

Snider has been married to his wife Suzette since 1981. They have 4 children.

 They are Jesse, Shane, Cody, and Cheyenne. -Strangelandsadie.tripod.com

fact about Dee:

Twisted Sister was one of the first rock groups to come under fire by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), a "watchdog" group founded by Tipper Gore, wife of former VIce Prresident Al Gore. The music videos for "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" (c. 1984) depicted violence, and in both videos Mark Metcalf plays a bullying authority figure, either a dominant father or school principal. As a result of the Senate hearings in 1985, parental advisory stickers were placed on records that contained "explicit" lyrics--especially rap music--and vulgar sexual overtones or that promoted misogyny, racism and anti-cop lyrics.

He took on Tipper Gore and her "watchdog" group, the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), when she tried to get his band Twisted Sister's album banned, and he spoke in favor of musicians rights included in the First Amendment. He actively campaigned for Arnold Schwarzenegger in that actor's campaign for the California governor (even going as far as to sing his song "We're Not Gonna Take It" at rallies for both men). -Imdb.com

One of my favs....

Lynch Mob...

Lynch Mob

"Wicked Sensation"

Video of the Day...

With the break-up of Dokken, members George Lynch and Mick Brown came roaring back with a similar sounding band called Lynch Mob. Songs like "Wicked Sensation" (the first single), "River Of Love", "She's Evil But She's Mine" and "No Bed Of Roses" really rock and showcase George Lynch's excellent guitar work. 
  The sound on Wicked Sensation reminds me of a heavier edged Dokken, and even though the album reached the Billboard Top 50, if it was released five years earlier it would have been huge. George Lynch has recently reformed this band and put out new rock material. Wicked Sensation receives two thumbs up! -sleazeroxx.com 

George Lynch Bio....

George Lynch was born in Spokane, Washington on September 28th 1954 and was raised in Sacramento, California, and is best known for being in the 80s hard rock band ‘’Dokken’’. He is a highly respected modern guitarist, compared to such players as Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen. He is well known for his stunning legato technique and the common use of the scale he calls the ‘’Gothic Octave’’.

George auditioned to be Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist twice, once in 1979, losing to the late, great, Randy Rhodes (and another time in 1982 to replace Brad Gillis). According to George, he was hired for three days until Ozzy changed his mind and decided to go with Jake E. Lee. Lee, however claims that Lynch ‘Got the gig’, but only went on the road for two weeks to watch the show, and never actually played with Ozzy.

He came to fame with Dokken in the 80’s, whom which he had been a member of since the 70’s. Dokken had a string of successful gold albums and Lynch’s lead work was highly acclaimed on all of them and cemented his place in the legion of guitar heroes. Despite being hugely successful, Lynch left Dokken in 1990 due to tension with lead vocalist Don Dokken. George went and formed his own band ‘’Lynch Mob’’ whose style was similar to Dokken’s, but were never as successful.

Into 1993 and Lynch released his solo album entitled ‘’Sacred Groove’’ which was well received amongst fans. By 1994 George and Vocalist Don Dokken settled their differences and reunited the classic line-up of Dokken, releasing 2 albums but Lynch still found time to tour with his own band, do guitar clinics for ESP guitars (which he has endorsed as part of Dokken since the 80’s) and attend the annual NAMM show.

In 1997, tensions flared again over creative differences and Lynch left to pursue other projects. He began a number of side projects, reforming and touring with Lynch Mob, releasing more solo albums, and forming a project with Dokken Bassist Jeff Pilson called ‘Lynch/Pilson’. He currently lives in Arizona where he continues to record, lives healthily, and embraces body building. -Shredaholic.com