"Stryper"!

Originally uploaded by Nicks Photography

I logged into my Flickr account, searched for the most recent photo associated with Stryper and I found this cool photo. Is this a true Stryper spotting or what?
I might be adding more cool band spottings later on…

I recently interviewed the new guitarist for Swedish Hard Rock band Crazy Lixx to see what hes got to offer the made for arena rock band.

Hey Andy, You have recently joined Crazy Lixx. Can you tell me how that feels, and how did the opportunity come about?
Yeah, it feels great!

Well, Danny contacted me a while ago and we started talking about the situation, i sent over some recordings and went down to Malmo to play with them and everything felt good, it sounded great and we connected very fast. It all went down very well.

So, as you know you have taken the position of guitarist in the band. A position originally filled by the now Hardcore Superstar guitarist Vic Zino. Its well known that Vic was a very close member of the band to the guys and it was tough for them when he left. Was it hard taking over the guitarist position and do you feel any pressure at all?
Well no, I mean it could have been hard but the guys made it very easy for me, they gave me alot of space and i’ve been hanging and playing guitar with Vic and become good friends with him but i understand the situation and i know those things can be very tuff but that’s the way it is you know.

You used to be in Swedish Hard Rock band Sharp. Which featured several members who are now in bands such as Jailbait and Dynazty. How does playing in Crazy Lixx compare to your time in Sharp and how would you compare the two bands?

Well first of all Sharp was never the style of music anyone of us really wanted to play, we thought it was when we started the band but no, thats why we broke up, we all wanted to play different styles. Crazy Lixx is exactly what i want to do and thats what makes it so easy, and of course the strongest reason for me to join.

Crazy Lixx recently announced they would be releasing their album in Japan, featuring two new songs. Do you play on those recordings? If not when will people be hearing new Crazy Lixx material featuring the Mark 2 line up?
Those songs were recorded at the same time as the album so no, i don’t play on them. I really don’t know exactly when you will hear new material but hopefully in the near future.

Who are your biggest influences?
Impossible to say just like that they are many, but to mention a few i would have to say hmm… Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Extreme, Def Leppard, Skid Row and Yngwie of course haha, the list goes on forever..

How do you think Crazy Lixx fits into todays music scene with alot of music popular generally being emo, indie, hip-hop?
Generally todays music scene is not good, not good at all but i know thats just temporary, I mean they’re alot of great hardrock today but i guess it doesn’t fit todays music scene in the way you put it but thats why we do this, to bring it all back!

Will Crazy Lixx be touring soon and are you excited to get out on the road with them?
Yeah i’m very excited to get out and play! It’s gonna be awesome, new places, new people, Very exciting

What does playing Rock N Roll give you Andy?
It gives me everything! Like when you put on welcome to the jungle or highway star for example you get that rush and thats what it’s all about. Rock n roll is about not being like everyone else and doin everything like you want to! I’ve always done everything my own way and i think thats the way it is.

Playin guitar gives me energy and strength and when i’m on stage, lookin down on that screamin crowd i let it out, it’s the only thing i wanna do!

Thanks for participating in this interview Andy. I wish you the best of luck with Crazy Lixx and i hope to see you guys touring in the UK again soon. Is there one last thing youd like to say on behalf of Crazy Lixx and yourself?
Thank you! I hope we’ll play in the UK soon, Well i would like to thank all of you Crazy Lixx fans who been writing, really means alot!

http://www.myspace.com/crazylixxmusic

This song seriously rocks. I cant get the chorus out of my head. Sorry the sound quality is a bit lame but its the only video of the song i could find. Check this song out if you want to hear an anthem!

Well this 4 manned Glam Metal from the unlikely place of Scotland have recently released their debut self produced album “Out For Blood”. While sporting a very punk gothic glam image and having an amusingly cocky write up about themselves on their myspace page, do they have what it takes to produce a great album?

Imagine a Glam Metal album, that takes influences from 80s glam, 80s thrash, 70s punk, 90s industrial metal (like Rob Zombie), and 00s Shock Punk (Murderdolls,Wednesday 13 etc) and shoves it all together.
Is it too much or is it just what a new glam band needs to produce something fresh and original?

The album opens with an appropriately titled number called “The Stand”. Before i go on to talk about this song, kudos for using a HUH within the first few seconds of the album . Now this song is great, its like punk meets Def Leppard with a healthy dose of GNR! The verses are full of sleazy riffs and the chorus is just great with its chain gang vocal shouts of “Make a Stand” and melodic guitar pieces. Its really great how versatile the song is, there are so many influences in it and it all out rocks and oozes with charisma thanks to Johnny Gunns unique vocal style (which he can pull off live).

Next is “Turn It Up”, this song….is an anthem. I love how the drums have been recorded in this mix, theres a great part where they go around the speakers, really emphasizes the song. The riffs are great, again heavy riffs mixed with melodic parts. What i love about this song is, it has a sense of honesty about it, it feels real. These guys dont sound like they are forcefully writing make believe lyrics to fit in with what is expected of glam metal songs. The lyrics are honest, relatable and raw, just like Peep Shows music. I would also like to add a special mention to the guitar solo in this song, it completely rocks and i love how the song takes a bit of a slower temp half way through the solo, it is one of those solos where you could hum the tune. Some of the best guitar solos are ones you can hum to.

The album then follows up what is already two great tracks with the ferocious “Out For Blood”. This song is Thrash metal in the vein of Scottish punk band The Exploited meets Glam Metal. From what i gather from the lyrics, and i hope they are about this. The lyrics are about taking the music scene back from all the boring music clogging up the charts here in England, something the people living here crave for. This song is just filthy, Johnny Gunns vocals work perfectly, they are rough but have alot of range. It also has an infectious chorus with giant “Woah Ohs” and you should all know by now i love “Woah ohs” like i love cowbell. I also love the giant “HEY” in the middle of the riffage at the end of the song. The screams Johnny produces are just awesome in this song. Check him doing it live

Next is a very Towers Of London-esque song except with better vocals…”Teenage Nightmare” (a title i would expect from Hanoi Rocks), this is one of my lesser liked songs on the album, i love the lyrics but sometimes i feel the musics rythym is a little interrupted, most likely from the constraints of having one guitarist. But i do like the lyrics ALOT in this song (but thats just me). As i said above most of the songs is in the vein of Towers Of London but the chorus sounds like good ol’ Hanoi Rocks. A cool punky sounding song.

Then its followed by the song “Peep Show”, im not a fan of bands doing songs on there own band name…always felt a bit cheesy. But the song itself, is far from cheesy. This is like CRASHDIETs “Breakin The Chainz” meets Black album Metallica. Lyrically though its just plain dirty haha, its a really cool rocking song and quite catchy. One issue i have, i havent got the album in physical format yet (although i intend to) so i havent got access to the lyrics, but im sure one of the lines in this song is “Ghetto Sleaze Monsters”, i hope im mistaken because thats some serious cheese and a little break from what otherwise are great lyrics.

Next is a great song called “Nice Night To Die”. There is no denying this song isnt directly influenced by Wednesday 13. Its definitely taken huge influence from his work. Although its got more balls because this is Peep Show and i think by now im safe to say in the wise words of Sebastian Bach that they like their Rock N Roll down and dirty. This song is one of the heaviest tracks on the album, definately one of the more metal songs, along with “Out For Blood”, except its got that shock rock feel to it and a chorus that sounds like its come straight off “Too Fast For Love”. Its great. i think this influence comes out on the bands stage show as Johnny Gunn often has fake blood around his face and all down his chest, which is cool to see because i think it sets them out a bit from other glam bands today. These guys look very cool, just check their photos on myspace, they are rock n roll stars.

Now, my personal favorite song off the entire album “Take The Fall”. With huge woahs, perfect melodic intro (very CRASHDIET). Greatly melodic, but not so much that its weak, buts still very rocking. This is one of the catchiest songs off the album. Rustys guitar riffs and melodies combined with Johnny’s vocals make this song. I rate this song highly. It also has a wicked guitar solo. I cant praise it enough so lets leave this short and simple. Great song, get the album just for this song if you dont like the sounds of their other stuff (which i find impossible if you like sleaze).

“I Want You” is a cool punk-metal sounding song, with a chorus which is quite dancey. Best comparison by what i mean by that is The Cults “She Sells Sanctuary”, the song rocks but not too hard and has quite a dancey chorus. The song has various orgasm songs over it may i add just incase anyones funny about that, looks like the boys had some fun making the album….Its a very cool song however, i like the chorus, reminds me of Iggy Pop i dont know why.

Next is the song they should of closed the album with “Until Its Gone”, this is a brilliant ballad type song. Hanoi Rocks could of wrote this its that good a song. Think “Million Miles Away”, just a bit more metal in tone. Johnnys vocals create a very haunting atmosphere with the effects over his voice, its really cool and in general this is a great song. I LOVE the lyrics (again). This song left me with shivers down my spine first time i heard it. Its a beautiful song and if you like Hanoi Rocks youll love this. I wish they had close the album with this song, it would of finished on such a great tone.

Annoyingly, they finished on the only song on the album i dont think very highly of, “Cat Boy”. I dont know why, i just really dont enjoy this song, it feels like Aerosmiths “Mama Kin” Riff in a higher key, feels like ive heard it all before. Bit of a let down considering all of the other tracks are so fresh in sound. But as a song its not that bad, just not good by Peep Shows standards.

My overall opinion on the album is, its just genius, its so aggressive. These guys to me, have pulled off what Motley Crue said they were going to do with “Saints Of Los Angeles”. Peep Show are producing songs which have the formula of glam but with so many influences new and old it sounds modern, fresh and very real. These guys have made an album essentially representing this era of time, i would say this is a classic stripped down album, perhaps like “Mystery City”, “Too Fast For Love” or the legendary RATT E.P. Like the three albums i just mentioned, its not perfect, the band still has room to grow, but it is raw and it totally rocks. I think the reason i like it so much lyrically is because the lyrics are similar to what i used to love about the late great Dave Lepard, they feel honest. These guys are going to be big, if they tour alot and make a name for themselves they WILL get signed, Airbourne has proved this and i truly hope Peep Show can do the same because this album deserves to be pushed and heard. My message to the band would be, get out of Scotland, repeatedly tour around the UK, get your asses signed!!!

Get this album if you like your glam raw.

www.myspace.com/peepshowROXX

/Mrlee

The SRF report is getting bigger everyday. I am remembering more stuff everyday and the things I want to write, must be in there. I might even write a whole book now I guess, hehe. Well, the report will hopefully be out tomorrow.
I also have to tell you that, without my brother the site wont be alive anymore. Because of economical reasons I couldn’t pay the host of the site, but my brother came and told me that he could pay it as long as I can pay him back
Salute my brother, and remember to read the SRF report tomorrow.

I want to remind you of something that would change the rock scene in Sweden, and perhaps the world. This day 28th of May, David Hellman was born. David was also known as Dave Lepard while capturing the dream of a teenage boy, the dream of becoming a rockstar.
He did fight for it, struggled for both the attention of the main-stream audience and showing what rock music is about.

We all read, on that sad day, that we had lost a star. Dave was someone who changed the music scene here in Sweden, he and his band were well criticized by the media and their fans.
When Dave left us, he gave the torch to his team-mates, his band, to carry on this rockstar dream. CRASHDÏET is now touring around the world, with Dave on their shoulders.

We should all remember this day, remember the day when he for the first time popped into our lives. He changed a lot of hearts and made people see the fun in rock n’ roll.
Don’t forget to play Rest in Sleaze on the max, for him.

I just want to report from Rhodes, a worm country in Greece. I love it here, I can walk to a grocery store and buy a beer, and just walk away. I cant do that in Sweden, cuz its illegal, but here its legal. Hahah, so tomorrow we will be watching the land, you know it is very beautiful here.

This is a country I want to recommend for you all, cuz it is all love-able. And I think that Dr. Lee can manage all the news for you cuz I dont have the time here in Rhodos, 1 hour on the net costs me 3 euros. Well that is all for me today, maybe I will come back and tell how my day have been e.t.c.

over and out / Dr. Rock

All fans of glam metal or 80s rock/metal should know of RATT!

RATT are one of the most under-rated 80s bands ever, for the fact that, they were a pretty big band and somehow are all but forgotten now. They wrote some of the best riffs of the 1980s and did some really kick ass albums. My personal recommendations would be

Out Of The Cellar, Invasion Of Your Privacy (my favorite), Dancing Undercover.
All RATT is good, but the above 3 albums i think is the band at their strongest.

Id like to also say Rest In Peace to Robbin Crosby RATTs original rythym/joint lead Guitarist who wrote alot of the great riffs. Hes mentioned various times in Motley Crue-The Dirt and Nikki Sixx’s Heroine Diaries