Scott Weiland: Going to Jail, then Touring

Whoa, whoa, don’t start the tour just yet STP Fans! Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland was sentenced on Monday (April 28) to 192 hours in jail for a November 2007 DUI in Los Angeles. Entertainment Weekly has now learned that the singer will serve his sentence, which the judge ordered he do before May 28, and be out in time to commence the band’s 65-date reunion tour, which kicks off May 17 in Columbus, Ohio. Weiland’s lawyer confirmed this to Entertainment Weekly via Weiland’s spokesperson. A statement from Weiland should be released soon, along with further details.

The singer also received four years’ probation, was fined $2,000, and was ordered to take part in an 18-month alcohol program. He was potentially looking at a year behind bars for DUI with a prior conviction. At the time of his November arrest, Weiland had just finished a previous three-year-probation for a 2004 DUI arrested. He declined to take a chemical test after the November incident. He was booked and released after posting $40,000 bail, subsequently checking into a rehab facility in February.

Nikki Sixx an Honoree for CHC’s 9th Annual Awards Gala

Covenant House California’s ninth annual Awards Gala will be held Friday, May 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This year’s honorees include musician and author Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe, Sixx:AM). The gala will feature a live and silent auction and entertainment by John Cassese, Los Angeles’ renowned Dance Doctor.

“Our organization is so fortunate to have such extraordinary and dedicated supporters,” said George Lozano, Covenant House California’s Executive Director. “We are extremely grateful for their providing this opportunity to showcase CHC’s work and life-changing programs for at-risk youth in our communities.”

Although Sixx is known primarily as the bassist and founding member of Mötley Crüe, he also formed the successful rock band Sixx:AM with James Michael and DJ Ashba to create the groundbreaking soundtrack to his recent book “The Heroin Diaries“, New York Times best-seller, of which a portion of proceeds go to Sixx’s charity Running Wild in The Night, a creative arts program for Covenant House California at their youth shelters in Los Angeles and Oakland.

Nikki Sixx’s accomplishments span a 25-year career and his longevity is a testament to his drive, determination and perseverance in a life that did not begin with the most ideal of circumstances. Sixx was homeless by age 16 and turned to a life of vandalism, thievery and drugs before moving to Los Angeles at age 17 to pursue his dream of rock and roll stardom. Today, Sixx is a musician, songwriter, producer, clothing designer, president of Eleven Seven Music, philanthropist and father to four kids. He has demonstrated a capacity to overcome tremendous obstacles with grace and humility.

Theory of a Deadman - Scars and Souvenirs

Label: Wind Up
Date: April 1st, 2008

Five Finger Death Punch Interview

Buckshot of Woozyfly.com’s Buckshot’s Bonanza recently conducted an interview with Darrell Roberts, Zoltan Bathory and Matt Snell of the Los Angeles-based metal band Five Finger Death Punch.

Watch the eight-minute chat below.

“The Way of the Fist” will be re-released on May 3 with “Never Enough” and two additional new tracks included.

Maynard James Keenen Stops by SuicideGirls.com

Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Prefect Circle, Puscifer) stopped by SuicideGirls.com headquarters last week for some lively conversation about Puscifer’s newest album, “V is for Viagra: the Vagina Remixes“, out today, April 29.

“I, personally, have only done Viagra once,” Maynard revealed. “I took a half a tab and it did nothing. Later that night I took the other half and it did nothing. By the time it actually kicked in I was actually at the airport going through security. Not a fun situation.”

Watch the video below:

Tantric - The End Begins

Label: Silent Majority Group
Date: April 22nd, 2008

Saving Abel

“You know when you hear a song on the radio and you don’t know who it is, but you love it and feel like you’ve heard it before? That’s our band! The first time someone hears us, they go, ‘I know that band!’ Then someone explains, ‘no, it’s a brand-new song and band.’ Saving Abel has an accessible and comfortable sound—you HAVE heard us before,” states lead singer Jared Weeks. On their self-titled Virgin Records debut, songs range from the wild road tale in “New Tattoo” to the sexual innuendos of the aptly titled first single, “Addicted.”

Weeks and Jason Null formed the band in their small hometown of Corinth, Mississippi in 2004. They met when Weeks, who was in a band, was playing guitar at his best friends house, when Null, who was in a rival local group, walked in to rehearse with his band. Within days of that meeting, Null and Weeks were writing and honing the intimate writing style that now defines Saving Abel. In early 2005, the pairs songs caught the ear of noted producer Skidd Mills (12 Stones, Saliva, Submersed), who took the band into his 747 Studios in Memphis. Mills notes, “It was ‘18 Days’ that hooked me. The first time I heard it I was like, ‘these guys are the real deal; they’ll be doing this for a long time.” Jason and Jared have always understood that the most important part of the music business is having great songs.

Saving Abel gradually came together in the final electric lineup of guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor, and drummer Blake Dixon, and the band paid its dues both onstage and off. Weeks would toss Saving Abel demos onto the stage when bigger bands played in town, and between playing gigs, working day jobs, and Weeks and Null constantly driving from Mississippi to Memphis to record their self-titled EP with Mills, it was a busy and prolific couple years. Weeks remembers; “I used to work at a hospital. I’d have to be there at 4:30 in the morning drawing blood. I’d wake people up and stick a needle in their arm. I’d be walking around the hospital, singing “Addicted” in my head, writing down the lyrics on patients’ clipboards and doctor script pads.

Null and Weeks bring in differing songwriting approaches influences, giving Saving Abel a well-rounded sound. Null comes from a musical family, and recalls Saturday nights at the local community center as a child. “We didn’t miss it, ever! It was bluegrass band after bluegrass band. We’d hoot and holler, as we used to say. My brother traded my bike for a guitar for me when I was 6, and I learned ‘Johnny B. Goode’ that night! I go back to Willie and Waylon, but as a kid of the ’80s, I also love Metallica. Also, Angus Young is one of my main influences, as well as the guitar sound and solos of Seattle bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.” For his part, a teenage Weeks played basketball and went to state twice in tennis before music consumed his life. A big fan of the blues and Southern Rock, Weeks calls himself the more “literal” songwriter of the two, explaining, “If something is really bothering me, or how I’m feeling at that moment, I’ll write about it. For me to get the most out of a song, I have to get it almost to the point I’m ready to cry if I can’t get it out, and that makes people relate to it.”

After shopping their indie EP for almost a year, a copy of “Addicted” found its way to one-time Virgin A&R Consultant Scott Frazier and manager partner Rick Smith. They were so excited that they sent the song to the label’s Chairman/CEO Jason Flom. Flom was impressed upon first listen and immediately sent A&R vet Kim Stephens (Collective Soul, Matchbox 20, Edwin McCain) to see the band in Jackson, Tennessee. The band was signed the next day. Says Stephens, “I was sold on the merit of the songs and instantly recognized this was a band with huge potential.”

Saving Abel, the Virgin debut produced by Mills, features mostly brand-new tunes, plus a few favorites from the indie EP, including the poignant, perfectly crafted “18 Days,” “Running From You,” and “Drowning Face Down.” Null explains that “18 Days” was lyrically inspired by sheriff Buford Pusser of “Walking Tall” fame, while laughingly admitting that the rowdy road trip in “New Tattoo” (”The blue is for the bruise you left in my heart / and the red is for the color we’re about to paint this town”) is “based on a true story.” Null furthers: “Our goals are always to concentrate on the song, not just one cool part to make a kid bop his head. Every person I talk to loves a different song of ours.” Null was also the one who gave the band its name: ”I Googled the story of Cain and Abel and found a line about ‘there was no Saving Abel,’ which just jumped out at me.” Everyone agreed and the name stuck; such like Saving Abel’s songs get instantly stuck in the minds and ears of everyone who hears them. With a radio-ready sound combining big riffs and memorable melodies, Saving Abel has created a polished combination of Southern and Alternative rock, 2008 style. Get Addicted. Get Saving Abel.

Music As Morphine

Under the Flood - The Witness

Label: Koch Records
Date: May 13, 2008

Jared Weeks of Saving Abel

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