HARDER BEAT METAL MAJORS

APRIL 2009

Harder Beat Magazine Online

Complied by Dale Lammers

Festivals
There have long been big festivals in Europe. Now there are more and more in the U.S. The South Texas Rockfest takes place in San Antonio on May 22 – 24. Bands confirmed include Saxon, Keel, Queensryche, The Rods, Axe and Dangerous Toys, with more to be added. See http://www.southtexasrockfest.com/

Confirmed acts appearing at this year’s Rocklahoma are: Twisted Sister, Great White, Vixen, Saxon, Hericane Alice, Helix, Danger Danger, Warrant, Night Ranger, Gypsy Pistoleros, Nelson, Kix, Bang Tango, Beautiful Creatures, LA Guns, Britny Fox, Faster Pussycat, Lillian Axe, Icon and Bonfire… The Rock Gone Wild Festival takes place in Algona, Iowa, on Aug. 20 – 23. Bands include Saxon, Puddle Of Mudd, Saliva, Candlebox, Skid Row, Tantric, Kix, Saigon Kick, Great White, Hardcore Superstar, Lizzy Borden, Dangerous Toys, Gypsy Pistoleros, Tigertailz, Tyketto, Dirty Looks, Helix, Rhino Bucket, Junkyard, Eve 6, Lita Ford and Sick Sarah. More info is available at http://www.rockgonewild.com/.

Tours
Nickelback and Seether stop by Superpages.com Center on Apr. 11… Black Label Society swings by the Palladium on Apr. 25, while Lamb Of God, As I Lay Dying, Children Of Bodom, God Forbid and Municipal Waste are there the next evening… Kreator and Exodus ascend to the Ridglea, May 7... Zebra’s Randy Jackson will play one of his extraordinary acoustic shows on May 9 at Poor David’s Pub, with special guest former Strangeways singer Terry Brock… The almighty Testament is at the Ridglea, June 4 with Unearth... Judas Priest and Whitesnake have confirmed they’ll tour the US together this summer…

Releases
Great White’s Rising is out now, as are HammerFall’s No Sacrifice, No Victory, Wolf’s Ravenous and Queensryche’s American Soldier… Duff McKagan’s Loaded comes out Apr. 7, and Lacuna Coil’s Shallow Life arrives Apr. 21… Bloodbound’s Tabula Rasa is due any day… Impellitteri’s new one is Wicked Maiden… while Lion’s Share’s is Dark Hours… Heaven & Hell’s The Devil You Know hits stores on Apr. 29… The first single “Bible Black” is now streaming at the band’s Myspace page…

Metal films
VH1 has acquired the exclusive rights for the critically acclaimed documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. VH1 will handle the television and DVD release and distribute the film theatrically. Showings will be in New York and Los Angeles on April 10, followed by a world television premiere and subsequent DVD release this summer.

Iron Maiden: Flight 666 is a full-length documentary film about the first leg of the band’s historic Somewhere Back In Time world tour in Feb. and Mar. ’08. Considered to be the most ambitious and adventurous tour in rock history, it’s a portrait of one of the world’s most successful rock bands and an inspirational and often humorous account of the chaotic world of a band on tour around the stadiums of the world. If you want to know what it’s like to be part of the most adventurous tour in rock history, the film is premiering in digital theaters across the country on Apr. 21. Nothing scheduled in DFW as of yet though.
See ya next month!