RIPPER is on his SOLO tour now in South America NOW, check the dates
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HAIL! To Play FIRST Metal Concert Ever in Beirut....
The all-start band HAIL!, comprised of Andreas Kisser from Sepultura, Ripper Owens from Judas Priest, David Ellefson formerly of Megadeth, and newly announced sticksman, Paul Bostaph, from Slayer, Exodus and Testament, will be the first metal band to ever play live in Lebanon. On November 20th, HAIL! will play the historic concert at Hektic Hall in the capitol city of Beirut.
“Breaking ground on an international level is what HAIL! is all about,” explained manager Mark “Abba” Abbattista, “when we first started discussing the idea of HAIL! we wondered how far we could actually push the reality of a dream. Anybody can come up with a good idea, but to create a model that no one else has ever before conceived and then to execute that plan to the level that we have makes our chests swell with pride.”
David Ellefson added “This truly is a monumental occasion - to do something for the first time ever is a rare and special opportunity. I can’t believe that it was 25 years ago, but remember how astounding it was when Iron Maiden went behind the iron curtain and played in the eastern bloc? I relate it to that and I am thrilled to be a part of something that has this kind of historic significance.”
When confronted with any possible political backlash, Abbattista spoke from personal experience “None of us are strangers to the world. Megadeth played one of the first concerts ever in Northern Ireland years ago, Ripper is in Paraguay today, Sepultura has broken ground all over Asia, the Middle East, South America, even Africa and I was involved in a project called Music Bridges which was the first time Americans had been allowed in Cuba in almost fifty years. Obviously we are aware of the ongoing tensions throughout the Middle East but we have learned from our previous experiences that music transcends all the boundaries that geography, language, religion and politics create.”
Ellefson continued “We’re just a fun-loving metal band, we have no agenda. We all come from very different backgrounds and no matter where we are playing, everybody in the building shares the same music. Music is the message. We all love the same music and that’s the beauty of unity…that’s the beauty of HAIL!”
For up to the minute news on HAIL!, please visit the band’s new website at www.myspace.com/hailofficial and www.hailtheworld.com. For booking, press or management related inquiries please contact the band at hailkills@aol.com.
Ripper's Solo cd PLAY my game is in stores and online NOW
also Beyond Fear!!
plus download the Winters Bane cd now, you can do it below!!!
Tim uses Paypal, but you don't need an account in order to buy his merchandise.
- All Prices on Merchandise include Shipping & Handling
- Please allow 3 to 6 weeks for delivery
'Ripper' Fan pack USA:
$12.00 includes shipping NON USA:
$14.00 includes shipping
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Signed 'RIPPER' Promo Picture 8x10
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Signed 'RIPPER' Picture 5x7
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Postcard
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Sticker
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'Play My Game' Ad Card
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Skull Guitar Pick!!!
'Ripper' Hat USA:
$25.00 includes shipping NON USA:
$27.00 includes shipping
- Mens Shirts are $20 in USA - $23 for NON USA
- Mens Longsleeves are $22 in USA - $24 for NON USA
- Girlie T's are $17 in USA - $18 for NON USA
The public storm of enthusiasm for his great vocal performance on Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen’s Perpetual Flame (2008) haven’t even faded yet as the American Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens’s own impressive offering arrives at the stores: late May 2009 will see the arrival of his first solo album, Play My Game, proving that he’s not only an outstanding vocalist but also a highly talented and extremely experienced composer. Play My Game consists of around a dozen brand-new tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Mike Callahan (ex-Earshot) and John Comprix (Beyond Fear, Ringworm). “A lot of my fans suspected that the debut by my group, Beyond Fear, had basically been a solo project, but Beyond Fear are a real band. We rehearse together, we compose as a team, and we do everything together. Play My Game is my first real solo effort on which I controlled everything, from the song writing to the final mix. This album is 100% Tim Owens.”
The list some of the guest musicians featured on Owens solo debut is even more spectacular than the illustrious cast of his co-composers: along with Bob Kulick and Chris Caffery and the others, he was supported by the guitarists Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), Bruce Kulick (KISS), Michael Wilton (Queensr?che), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Craig Goldy (Dio), Carlos Cavaza (Quite Riot), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), and Neil Zaza, bassists Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake), Billy Sheehan (ex-Mr Big, David Lee Roth), Dave Ellefson (ex-Megadeth), Rudy Sarzo (Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), James Lomenzo (Megadeth), Tony Franklin (Blue Murder), Dennis Hayes (Beyond Fear) and drummers Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Ray Luzier (Korn), Bobby Jarzombek (Rob Halford), and Brett Chassen. Owens: ”All these musicians are not only great artists but also really good guys and loyal friends whom I only had to call, and they all came and played on my album. I asked Michael Wilton, for example, only for a solo on ‘To Live Again’, but in the end he recorded all the guitar parts of the song. Crazy! And Bob Kulick called Billy Sheehan when I was at the studio in Los Angeles. The next day he was sitting in the rehearsal room, playing bass for me. Sometimes I just couldn’t believe how smoothly it all went off.”
Fans and experts alike will love this sensational all-star line-up and may rest assured that the haunting songs will effortlessly live up to this illustrious cast of musicians: Tim ..Ripper.. Owens has never sounded more impressive, melodic and multi-faceted! “I’ve gotten better as a songwriter,” Owens explains. “And I also write songs that the fans can really get into and get their fist pounding in the air. I’ve always been a great fan of the Black Sabbath line-up featuring Ronnie James Dio, and I love Judas Priest. Both bands delivered records that are straight forward and go directly to the bloodstream – which also happens to be my compositional approach.”
And this approach is based on the roots of heavy metal, even more than Beyond Fear’s music. “Beyond Fear has a sound more direct and aggressive, while Play My Game is more melodic and allows more space for my voice. From a vocal point of view, I took all the liberties I needed to make the melodies as interesting as possible.” A thoroughly successful process, as the 13 songs prove impressively. Play My Game has Owens present his wide vocal range, combined with an unmistakable penchant for traditional metal the way it was perfected in the 1980s and ‘90s by the protagonists of the scene. “Those are my roots, that’s the music I grew up with. That’s why it’s only logical that my enthusiasm for Sabbath, Priest and even Soundgarden transpires on this album. But this is still my music and my cd, I’m not trying to be anybody else, and that is nice. And what could be better for Owens’s fans but a tour to promote the new album? “I want to play as many shows as possible and put together a great band featuring my guests. Whoever happens to be available could play, and I’m sure the fans would love to see a top-class band with changing line-ups.”
HISTORY
Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens is without doubt among the most important metal vocalists of the past ten years. When he succeeded Rob Halford, joining Judas Priest in May 1996, the press rubbed their eyes, surprised as well as impressed: Owens had previously been a fairly unknown quantity to international music journalists and only a few new of him from the band Winters Bane, but he recorded his first Priest album, Grammy nominated Jugulator (1997) with more aplomb than even insiders had expected. Following successful tours with the British metal legends, the strong studio recording, Demolition (2001), and the live recordings, Meltdown - 98 Live (1998) and Live In London (2003), and the movie Rockstar, that was loosely based on Tim’s experience with Judas Priest, Halford’s return put an end to Owens’ stint with Judas Priest. More or less immediately, he was enlisted by Jon Schaffer to team up with Iced Earth and sang on The Glorious Burdon in spring 2004. Three years later, Owens followed suit with the Iced Earth album, Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Pt.I), which succeeded the self-titled highly praised debut by his own band, Beyond Fear. Spring 2008 saw Owens move on to join One of the worlds best guitar players Yngwie Malmsteen, debuting with a sensational vocal performance on Perpetual Flame.
Wyrd Ways Rock Show is now up. Bit of a remembrance vibe to this one. Not only for fallen military, but also for Mike Alexander. The show features an interview with two members of Evile, conducted by Alexander Milas of Metal Hammer. In Shock Of The New this week, you'll be hearing from Shudderwall, Francis Soto, Daisy Cutter, Thaurorod and Morphine Killer.
Here’s where you need to be: http://www.wyrdwaysrs.com or PureRockRadio.net every Friday from 10pm GMT.
As usual, if you want to get in touch with me to ask for a song, contribute a Lie Back And Enjoy It, suggest a band for Shock Of The New (including your own!) or start a new round of The Connection, click on the Contact Form link on the homepage. Remember I also want photos of you to go in the Listeners Gallery and Miss Wyrd Ways Rock Show. Send your shots to mail@wyrdwaysrs.com.
Thanks for the nice message. People from Montréal remember the super performance you gave last year and they were glad to hear from you last night. They were touched that you took the time to say hello from Brazil! Take care, Danielle, Potion13
it's the weekend time for freakin' she's sneakin' outside, telling her homegirls we can do the do with who- ever we want to cuz we're the fly girl crew
That's an LL Cool J lyric. And even though I'd rather sand myself faceless with a fistful of gravel than listen to hip hop, I think it really sums up everything we're feeling in these troubled times.
XOXO Peace, love, and other overused expressions...
Hail, Ripper! It was pretty cool to meet you at the shopping mall one day before the gig in Manaus, Brazil! And the gig on Oct 30th at the All Night Pub was fuckin' amazing! Many Metal classics mixed with your own songs, it couldn't be even a little bad, hehehe!