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This morning, My Chemical Romance announced an intensely anticipated 18-date U.S. arena tour — their first in nine years. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 31 at noon local time — find them here. Tour dates below.
Ever since My Chemical Romance (“MCR”/”My Chem”) started trickling out international tour dates following their sold out Los Angeles reunion show on December 20th, 2019, fans in the States have been on the edge of their seats and scouring the internet for any clues they can dig up — even analyzing the source code of the band’s website.
The disciples of the legendary emo/pop punk/post-hardcore group (the “MCRmy”) were quick to pick apart visuals they found in photos and the multi-cam full show posted on YouTube, comprised of a compilation of fan footage. They found a symbol on frontman Gerard Way’s jacket, which they learned was a sigil.
This behavior of MCR fans is clearly no secret to the band, and they put quite a bit into generating hype with media crafted to keep their fans anticipating what is to come. Amidst all of the taunting clues, those with knowledge of the occult, witchcraft, angels, and magic have been able to lend their knowledge to the fanbase. Many have speculated that considering all of the new branding and merch we have seen, there must certainly be a new album in the works. In the band’s videos, they have noted a star of which they believe the 5th point represents what would be the band’s 5th studio album — but this is purely one conjecture of many.
My Chem really started letting the cat out of the bag yesterday afternoon, when they posted a video that fans picked apart, just as they had been with other mysterious videos posted on Jan. 19, Jan. 16, and Jan. 9. By now, they were quick to recognize the sigils that flashed in the footage like subliminal messages, and they got to work deciphering them straight-away. It did not take long at all for the community to discover that they were U.S. cities.
Meanwhile, there were also allegedly leaks from a Houston radio station and a Dallas venue, which further cemented the belief that a tour announcement was impending.
Last night, a tweet requested that their audience visit their YouTube or official website at 8:35am PST/11:35am EST.
This morning, a cinematic video with the reveal was posted to YouTube at the promised time, and the suspected tour was confirmed.
The MCRmy’s theory was validated, but their hunger for more is insatiable after years grieving over the loss of the band since their hiatus beginning in 2013. Fans want a new song, a new music video, a new album… They want My Chemical Romance fully resuscitated.
North American Tour Dates
Sept. 9 – Detroit, Mich. @ Little Caesars Arena
Sept. 11 – St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
Sept. 12 – Chicago, Ill. @ Riot Fest
Sept. 14 – Toronto, Ontario @ Scotiabank Arena
Sept. 15 – Boston, Mass. @ TD Garden
Sept. 17 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Barclays Center
Sept. 18 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Wells Fargo Center
Sept. 20 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Music Midtown
Sept. 22 – Newark, N.J. @ Prudential Center
Sept. 26 – Sunrise, Fla. @ BB&T Center
Sept. 29 – Houston, Texas @ Toyota Center
Sept. 30 – Dallas, Texas @ American Airlines Center
Oct. 02 – Denver, Colo. @ Pepsi Center
Oct. 04 – Tacoma, Wash. @ Tacoma Dome
Oct. 06 – Oakland, Calif. @ Oakland Arena
Oct. 08 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Forum
Oct. 10 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Aftershock Festival
Oct. 11 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ T-Mobile Arena
International Tour Dates
March 20 — Ascot Vale, Australia @ Download Festival
March 21 — Parramatta, Australia @ Download Festival
March 25 — Western Springs, New Zealand @ Outer Fields at Western Spring
March 28 — Osaka, Japan @ Intex Osaka
March 29 — Hibino, Japan @ Download Festival
June 18 — Milton Keynes, U.K. @ Stadium MK
June 20 — Milton Keynes, U.K. @ Stadium MK
June 21 — Milton Keynes, U.K. @ Stadium MK
June 23 — Dublin, Ireland @ Royal Hospital Kilmainham
This morning, two-time Grammy nominated and multi-platinum band, Disturbed confirm their extensive 31-date The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour throughout North America, co-produced by Frank Productions and Live Nation. The amphitheater tour, with very special guest Staind and Bad Wolves, celebrates the two-decade anniversary of the band’s seminal album, The Sickness.
On this tour, the band will perform songs off the album, as well as tracks from their most recent studio release,Evolution, and their extensive catalog. The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour will run from mid-July through mid-September, with dates in cities including Tampa, Toronto, Cincinnati, Phoenix, and Irvine (full dates below).
Tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 31 at 10am local time (with the exception of the Rogers, AR show which will go on-sale at 12pm local time) here. Select presales will begin Tuesday, Jan. 28. Special VIP, meet & greet, and merch bundle packages are available for all dates – more info here. Disturbed’s tour will also be a part of Ticket to Rock 2020, an exclusive ticket package at select Live Nation amphitheaters across the country—additional details to be announced, for more info go here.
Disturbed Tour Dates:
May 01 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach (FM99 Lunatic Luau)
May 2 – Charlotte, NC – Epicenter Festival
May 9 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville Festival
May 16 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion (MMR*B*Q 2020)
May 24 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion (97.1 The Eagle presents BFD 2020)
June 5 – Nurburgring, DEU – Rock AM Ring Fest
June 7 – Nuremburg, DEU – Rock IM Park Fest
June 9 – Bremen, DEU – Bremen Buergerweide
June 11 – Nickelsdorf, AUT – Nova Rock Fest
June 12 – Interlaken, SWI – Greenfield Fest
June 14 – Donington, UK – Download Fest
June 16 – Gdansk, POL – Ergo Arena
June 17 – Hannover, DEU – Swiss Life Hall
June 19 – Copenhagen, DNK – Copenhell Fest
June 20 – Dessel, BEL – Graspop Fest
June 21 – Landgraaf, NLD – Pinkpop Fest
June 24 – Stockholm, SWE – Grona Lund Tivoli
June 25 – Oslo, NOR – Tons of Rock Fest
June 27 – Seinajoki, FIN – Provinssi Fest
July 15 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
July 16 – Cadott, WI – Rock Fest
July 18 – Grand Rapids, MI – Upheaval Festival
July 21 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre*
July 23 – Tampa, FL- MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre*
July 24 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre*
July 26- Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live*
July 29 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center*
July 30 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center*
August 01 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium*
August 02 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre*
August 04 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts
Center*
August 06 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones BeachTheater*
August 08 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview*
August 10 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater*
August 11 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage*
August 13 – Burgettstown, PA – S&T Bank Music Park*
August 15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center*
August 16 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre*
August 20 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre *
August 21 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center*
August 23 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center*
August 26 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP*^
August 27 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion*
August 29 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater*
August 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion*
September 01 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
September 02 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre*
September 04 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre*
September 05 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre*
September 09 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre*
September 11 – Ridgefield, WA – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater*
September 12 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre*
*The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour with very special guest Staind and Bad Wolves
New Music Video
Disturbed also share a new music video for “Hold on to Memories” directed by Matt Mahurin, who also directed their “Sound of Silence” music video. The video is inspired by the Mexican holiday “Día de Muertos,” a day of remembrance and celebration of loved ones who have passed, with which it shares the sentiment that as long as we keep their memories with us, a piece of them is still alive. Watch the music video for “Hold on to Memories” here:
The band previously shared their live video for “Hold on to Memories,” directed by Rafa Alcantara. The video captures a moment during Disturbed’s live show where the band perform alongside a video collage of their favorite memories, with photos and videos of their friends and families, both here and gone. Watch the live video for “Hold on to Memories” here:
Disturbed have continued their record-breaking streak at rock radio, claiming the title of “2019’s Most Played Artists” in the Active Rock format. The band earned their seventh consecutive #1 on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart and Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs Chart with their latest single “No More,” an achievement unmatched by any artist in history. Disturbed have earned ten #1 singles on the chart, including “A Reason To Fight,” the track that initially broke the record earlier this year. “No More” is the third top-charting single from the band’s #1 album, Evolution (Reprise Records).
About Disturbed:
Disturbed are one of the most successful rock bands in modern history. The multiplatinum-selling quartet accomplished the rare feat of achieving five consecutive number one debuts on the Billboard Top 200. That accolade historically elevated them to rarified air alongside Metallica, the only other hard rock group to do so in the history of the chart. Immortalized (2015) received a platinum certification and spawned the triple-platinum crossover smash “The Sound of Silence,” which garnered a nomination at the 2017 GRAMMY® Awards in the category of “Best Rock Performance.”
Since their formation in 1996, the band has sold 16 million albums globally and scored twelve No. 1 singles at Active Rock Radio. Their quadruple-platinum 2000 debut, The Sickness, formally announced their arrival as hard rock leaders, with that status solidified by subsequent GRAMMY® Award nominations as well as gold-, platinum- and double platinum-certified records, as well as countless sold-out shows around the globe. Named “Best Rock Artist” during the 2017 iHeartRadioMusic Awards, Disturbed continue to boldly forge ahead with the release of their aptly titled seventh offering, Evolution.
PHOENIX — Imagine you’re in your teens during the early 2000’s, public school is the definition of a living hell, and one of the only things keeping you going day after day are the sweet sounds of whining pop punk vocalists leaking in through your earbuds. Sound familiar? This was a very real scenario for many people back in the days when Motion City Soundtrack were first gracing the music scene with their lyrically intelligent and synth-laden brand of pop punk. Many of those same people, among legions of others, were in attendance at their show in downtown Phoenix, supported by Doll Skin and Mom Jeans, and they were still as young at heart for their love of pop punk as they were back in the good old days.
Doll Skin
Kicking off the night were the incomparably talented band, Doll Skin who got their start right here in Phoenix. What they lack in size they most certainly make up for in aggressively inviting energy and excitement that most bands could only dream of achieving on their own. The charisma pouring from each member on stage, especially lead vocalist Sydney Dolezal, is something that cannot be easily described without witnessing it for yourself first. Doll Skin is a band that knows how to kick off a party and with songs like “Love is Dead and We Killed Her” and the excellent Florence + The Machine cover of “Shake It Out”, it’s very easy to see why.
Given the unenviable task of having to follow Doll Skin, Berkeley, California band, Mom Jeans took the stage with an undeniable sense of pure joy erupting from their faces. This is a band that truly loves what they do and that love is very contagious to members of any audience lucky enough to catch them. It’s incredible watching a band with only two studio albums to their name pump up a crowd so much with instant classics like “Now This Is Podracing”, “Death Cup”, and obvious crowd favorite, “Shred Cruz”. The mood was set for an exciting night ahead but no one could’ve prepared themselves for what came next.
By the time Motion City Soundtrack took the stage, one might assume that most people would’ve been easily exhausted from dancing to all the other great music preceding them. This was definitely not the case though considering the audience full of that many diehard fans crammed to capacity inside The Van Buren’s acoustically pristine walls. Motion City Soundtrack sounded more energetic and polished than ever by the time their turn to play came along. This is a band that has truly come into their own over the years and there’s no sign of them losing that momentum for the remainder of their reunion tour.
Lead vocalist Justin Pierre’s quirky and painfully honest lyrics still continue to ring true for the armies of screaming fans who have had them committed to memory for over a decade at this point. The loyalty of their fan base is certainly not to be underestimated; as with the help of Justin’s beautifully gifted voice, it’s highly likely that many of the audience members were able to train themselves to sing in key along to the band’s music over the years — a truly incredible feat that made the concert experience all the more enjoyable and fun.
The rest of the band had no shortage of energy either, and anybody who struggles with maintaining optimum energy levels during their 9-5 desk jobs would benefit greatly from learning their secrets. This was especially true for keyboard player, Jesse Johnson, who would regularly thrash around on stage at his own wild pace. At one point that daredevil even held a handstand on top of his instrument for no less than 5 seconds. The movements were as fluid, crazy, and natural as they’ve been since the inception of the band and it was a beautifully refreshing thing to behold.
Justin graciously thanked the audience for attending and supporting live music more than once throughout their set. This was another highlight of the show because he came off like an approachable, friendly person, which only confirms everything most people have already heard about him. Throughout the show he’d go back and forth with audience members shouting random things at him like “I named my dog after you!” which prompted him to ask, “Is your dog HERE? I’d like to meet him!” It was incredibly endearing and is something that other bands should definitely take notes on. After ripping into timeless classics like “Everything Is Alright”, and “L.G. FUAD”, the band continued tapping into people’s nostalgia with perfect renditions of “Hold Me Down”, “Make Out Kids”, and “This Is For Real”.
Capping off the night with an encore of “The Future Freaks Me Out”, this only solidified their legacy as an endlessly fun, receptive, and crowd-pleasing band.
LOS ANGELES – TOOL has won a GRAMMY Award® for Best Metal Performance (“7empest”). Danny Carey (drums) and Justin Chancellor (bass) accepted the awards at today’s Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles.
“7empest” is from the band’s fifth studio album: Fear Inocolum (RCA Records). The 10-song collection arrived in late August, debuting at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200.
Critically, the album was met with equal enthusiasm. NPR said “Fear Inoculum was worth the 13-year wait,” The Atlantic dubbed it “precise and devastating,” Revolver declared it “a masterpiece that will be dissected for years to come” and Entertainment Weekly said the collection is “deeply satisfying, both as a distinct artistic statement and as accidental fan service to a base that expects nothing less than unflinchingly unique artistic statements.”
The Los Angeles-based band has previously won three GRAMMY Awards®: Best Metal Performance (1998, “Ænima”), Best Metal Performance (2002, “Schism”) and Best Recording Package (2007, 10,000 Days).
TOOL Tour Dates:
January 28 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
January 29 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
January 31 Memphis, TN FedEx Forum
February 1 New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center
February 14 Perth, Australia RAC Arena
February 17 Sydney, Australia Qudos Bank Arena
February 18 Sydney, Australia Qudos Bank Arena
February 20 Brisbane, Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Guitarist Kane Roberts has announced a special upcoming director’s cut of his video for the song “Beginning of the End,” featuring appearances by the legendary Alice Cooper and Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White-Gluz.
Watch the original video for “Beginning of the End” here:
“Beginning of the End,” which appears on last year’s The New Normal, is a powerful track that required equally powerful voices and personalities to bring it to life.
“When Alice Cooper and Alissa White-Gluz both agreed to be in our ‘Beginning of the End’ video, I was blown away,” Roberts says. “Once the shock wore off, I realized I’d created the perfect storm. There was so much electricity in the air that it was obvious there was no safe place on the set, and the job was to capture it all in camera! As expected, their performances were truly iconic and I believe we created something both original and powerful.”
Alice Cooper and Alissa White-Gluz Comment on Collaboration
Roberts’ musical co-stars were equally enthusiastic about the collaboration on “Beginning of the End”:
“I go out of my way to work with Kane any time I can,”Alice Cooper says.“He’s truly a great guitarist with the brain of THANOS!”
Adds Alissa Gluz-White, “Working with Kane for ‘The Beginning of the End’ was interesting and challenging. To establish oneself in a song alongside Alice Cooper is no easy task! I feel we created a narrative in the song that just begged for a storybook type of video, so we got together and did that too!”
Most widely known for his work with Alice Cooper the mid to late ‘80s, Roberts’ studied Contemporary Music and Liberal Arts/Humanities at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Roberts’ resume includes a variety of work with high-profile artists including Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, Steve Vai, Desmond Child, KISS, Diane Warren, Berlin, Guns N’ Roses and more. He has also written and/or recorded music for films such as Light Sleeper, Penelope Spheeris’ Decline of Western Civilization, Friday the 13th IV Jason Lives, and John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness.
In addition to his musical career, Roberts has in acted in several films, including Wes Craven’s Shocker and John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness. Along with director Mike Goedecke, Roberts also created a rollercoaster of a sci-fi short film, Embryo, which features an engaging story, stunning special effects and evocative soundtrack.
Today global music icon and 15-time GRAMMY Award winner Alicia Keys announced ALICIA – THE WORLD TOUR, her highly anticipated return to the stage. Keys will bring her repertoire of worldwide hits to iconic venues across North America and Europe, including a stop at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in Key’s hometown of New York City. The celebrated singer/songwriter/producer will visit major cities on both continents including London, Paris, Berlin, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more on the tour produced by Live Nation.
ALICIA Album Artwork
The tour announcement comes fresh off Keys’ exciting news to fans last night that her forthcoming seventh studio album ALICIA is set to be released worldwide on March 20, via RCA Records. Keys also gave fans a first-look at the album’s stunning artwork. Pre-sale for the album is set for Friday, January 24, in celebration of Alicia’s birthday on January 25.
Keys released the anthemic “Underdog,” the album’s new single, earlier this month to critical acclaim (“A be-jewelled slice of pop-soul with a gently euphoric feel” – Clash). The track became the most added song at US top 40 radio upon its release. Previously released singles include “Time Machine” and “Show Me Love,” which earned Keys a record-extending 11th number 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs airplay chart.
In addition to new music, Keys will be bringing her classics – from “No One” to “If I Ain’t Got You” to “Girl on Fire” – to life in a special multi-media, artistic experience on the ALICIA – THE WORLD TOUR stage each night. A meditation on love and life, the show will be a true celebration, filled with the magnetic energy that only live music can create.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets to the tour before the general public, beginning Wednesday, January 22nd at 10am local time until Sunday, January 26th at 10pm local time across Europe and the US (timings may vary in Europe). Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, January 27th from 9am local time.
Keys will be returning to host the Grammy Awards on Sunday, January 26th, airing on CBS. She will release her book More Myself on March 31, via Flatiron Publishing.
European & North American Tour Dates —
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Tempe, AZ all-female punk rock trio The Venomous Pinks has released a new single and music video, a cover of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ “I Want You,” which will appear on the band’s upcoming album of the same name.
“From poppy sensibilities to heavy riffs, the new new track “I Want You” from The Venomous Pinks is the perfect soundtrack to your weekend.”- New Noise Magazine
Check out the video, starring dominatrixes Soma Snakeoil and Lady Scorpiushere:
Guitarist and vocalist Drea Doll says, “I Want You is an in-your-face, unapologetic, punk rendition of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ timeless classic. We set out to infuse our unique style and uncontrived attitude to change up the cover while lovingly nodding to its original roots.”
About The Venomous Pinks
If members of Bikini Kill and TSOL musically collided in a Russ Myer movie, the soundtrack scoring the scene would be orchestrated by The Venomous Pinks. Hailing from Mesa, Arizona the three-piece trio creates an unapologetically, uniquely addictive, in-your-face punk sound, that instantly makes the soul hurt so good, you can’t help but yearn for more.
Newly signed to Die Laughing Records, music is the religion they worship, and their church is the road. Having formed in 2012, they have blasted their way from the garage and into the spotlight, shredding the stage with some of punk rock’s finest bands, such as: Bad Religion, Iggy Pop, Anti-Flag, The Bouncing Souls, just to name a few. Even though they have been touring all over the country, they have street cred to back them since their loyalty to their local roots runs deep.
“The Venomous Pinks are a punk band. Not a “girl” band or a “chick” band, but a punk band.”- New Times
Los Angeles, CA — Derek Sanders, the frontman of beloved Tallahassee emo/alternative band, Mayday Parade, has announced the release of his first solo EP, My Rock and Roll Heart, out on Friday, February 14 via Rise Records.
New Record Features Acoustic Covers of Songs by Something Corporate, Saves the Day, and More
Comprised of five stripped-back covers of tracks from Jimmy Eat World, Something Corporate, Saves The Day, The Juliana Theory, and local Tallahassee band Goodbye Love, the acoustic EP acts as a snapshot of songs that inspired Sanders to become a musician. The first single, Sanders’ stunning version of Jimmy Eat World’s “A Praise Chorus,” debuted today and includes a guest feature from fellow Tallahassee native, Daniel Lancaster (Stages and Stereos).
“When I started getting into music, I got an acoustic guitar when I was ten years old. I spent all of my time with that guitar, just learning to play and writing my first songs. I’ve been in so many bands since then, and it’s cool to go back to playing acoustic and singing the way it all started,” Sanders says of the EP.
Listen to “A Praise Chorus” (Jimmy Eat World Cover)
Stream the track, and digitally pre-order the EP here:
My Rock and Roll Heart Track Listing:
But Lauren
Rocks Tonic Juice Magic
A Praise Chorus
Punk Rock Princess
August In Bethany
The track listing of My Rock and Roll Heart is all music that Sanders loved as a teenager, anchored by the “But Lauren” cover, which he gifted to his wife for Valentine’s Day in 2017. The song was originally recorded by Sanders’ favorite local band, Goodbye Love. The group was the brainchild of Mike Hanson, who had been in several Tallahassee bands throughout the years, and whose music served as a major source of inspiration to Sanders.
For Sanders, the EP is not only a chance to cover a song by one of his heroes, but also to expose people to the track for the first time. “This was before the internet, and Mike never really broke out of Tallahassee,” he says. “It’s such a shame his music never had a chance to do more than it did, and it’s cool that people will be able to hear it through me.”
Considering that “But Lauren” was an impactful song for him in high school, Sanders looked for other songs from that time in his life to round out the record.
“All of the songs on the EP are ones I was listening to at 15 or 16 years old,” he says. “I was like, ‘I gotta do a Saves The Day song, I have to do a Jimmy Eat World song.’ It was very nostalgic.”
Limited Headline Tour Begins in February – Tickets on Sale Today
Despite already having a successful career in the music industry, Sanders isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In support of My Rock and Roll Heart, he will play a limited run of headline shows in the U.S. next month in Orlando, Atlanta, and Nashville. A full list of dates is included below, and tickets go on sale today at 10am local time HERE.
On the heels of a direct support slot through Europe with the infamous Lindemann, the soloproject of Rammstein’s Till Lindemann, industrial pop trio Aesthetic Perfection will set out across the US with the legendary Lords of Acid on the Make Acid Great Again Tour.
Make Acid Great Again Tour Begins Friday, March 13 in Los Angeles
With a newly revamped live show, audiences can expect a spectacle like never before.
“In the 20 years I’ve been a part of this project, I’ve never felt that all the pieces fit just as perfectly as I do now,” says Aesthetic Perfection founder and frontman Daniel Graves. “Each one of us is committed to taking this project to the next level and evolving every aspect. We want this to be an audiovisual experience, created within a community where everyone feels accepted for who they are.”
Since forming Aesthetic Perfection nearly two decades ago, producer Daniel Graves has released five full-length albums, numerous singles and music videos, all the while reinventing what it means to be a dark electro artist. Blending industrial, pop, goth, and everything in between, Aesthetic Perfection defies definitions in a world that demands them.
For a sampling of Aesthetic Perfection, check out the video for “Gods & Gold” here:
Aesthetic Perfection’s latest studio album, Into the Black, hit stores last year via Close to Human Music. The album features acclaimed drummer Joe Letz, recognized for his work with artists such as Emigrate (also featuring Richard Z. Kruspe), Combichrist, Wednesday 13, Genitorturers and several other top heavy-music artists. An all-star cast of collaborators such as Richard Z. Kruspe, Jinxx of Black Veil Brides, Mick Kenney of Anaal Nathrakh and Krischan Wesenberg of Rotersand also contributed to the album.
Into the Black is the most mature Aesthetic Perfection album to date. Dark and gritty, yet undeniably catchy and melodic, Into the Black builds upon the band’s past while solidly keeping its eyes focused on the future. From the haunting electronic melodies of “Supernatural” to the twangy guitars of “Echoes”, from the punch-to-the-gut beat of “No Boys Allowed” to the soaring highs of “Mourning Doves,” Graves takes the transgressive art form known as industrial pop to the next level.
Into The Black is available via Apple Music, Amazon and Bandcamp. Physical editions and merch are available here, and the album can be streamed via Spotify.
Click to Enlarge
Make Acid Great Again Tour Dates
Mar 13 – The Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 14 – Hard Rock Live – Las Vegas, NV
Mar 15 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
Mar 17 – Club Red – Mesa, AZ
Mar 18 – Sunshine Theatre – Albuquerque, NM
Mar 19 – Rockhouse – El Paso, TX
Mar 20 – Trees – Dallas, TX
Mar 21 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
Mar 22 – Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX
Mar 23 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
Mar 25 – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Mar 26 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL
Mar 27 – Music Farm – Charleston, SC
Mar 28 – The Underground – Charlotte, NC
Mar 29 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA
Mar 31 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Apr 01 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
Apr 02 – The Rapids Theatre – Niagara Falls, NY
Apr 03 – Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
Apr 04 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
Apr 05 – Crafthouse – Pittsburgh, PA
Apr 06 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
Apr 07 – The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
Apr 08 – The Oriental Theater – Denver, CO
Apr 09 – Vertigo @ The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Phoenix, AZ – Grey Daze, the ‘90s era band helmed by Chester Bennington and featuring drummer Sean Dowdell, bass player Mace Beyers and guitarist Cristin Davis, give fans an early listen to their as-of-yet untitled Loma Vista Recordings’ debut album with the release of the single, “What’s In the Eye”. Listen here:
“An honest voice of pain and anger for a generation” – Rolling Stone
Before he sang, screamed, and serenaded audiences of millions throughout his storied career in Linkin Park and a host of other projects, Chestercut his teeth in Grey Daze. The mid-‘90s band released a pair of albums (Wake Me and No Sun Today), but unsurprisingly, the young Phoenix-based band was lacking the expertise and financial resources to fulfill their vision.
Prior to his untimely passing, Chesterpersonally announced a 2017 Grey Daze reunion on social media —which would see the band members, now with those previously lacking resources, re-working and re-recording a collection of songs from those early releases. The resulting music represents an important, yet unheard chapter—the origin story of one of modern rock’s most recognizable voices—and also a full circle moment among friends.
As he never got the chance to launch the reunion himself, his bandmates, friends, family, and various collaborators stepped up to give the music the second chance it deserved, finishing what the late singer started.
“Over the years we’d become more knowledgeable, more experienced, and had more resources, so we decided to pick a selection of songs from our previously released albums and re-record them the way they deserved to have been treated back in the ‘90s when we initially wrote and released them,” explained the band in an open letter posted to their social media channels in December. “By February 2017 we started recording and in June, Chesterand Seanannounced the reunion, with a live performance planned for that Fall. Unfortunately, as we all know, that never happened.”
Chester Bennington | Photography: Tom Preston
Originally recorded in 1993 and 1996, “What’s In the Eye” was re-written and modernized by Grey Daze under the guidance of producers Chris Traynor (Bush, Helmet, Orange 9MM), Kyle Hoffman, and Jay Baumgardner. Using Chester’s original vocals, the song showcases that, even at the age of 17, Chester was already “delivering intense, almost physically palpable emotion” (New York Times).
“What’s In The Eye” was written lyrically in different phases by both Seanand Chestercollaboratively. The song focuses on a friend’s premature death in a car accident and trying to understand the loss, relaying an emotional intensity that every listener will not only understand, but instantly connect with. The beauty of Chester’s gifts were that he made others able to understand and cope with their own emotional pain, simply by listening to Chester’s vocal expression.
“As a teenager, when these recordings were done, he had this incredible raw and somewhat undeveloped voice that had an incredible tone. He had this ability to sing great rock melodies punctuated by that unmistakable guttural scream.Chester’s voice had a personality that made you a believer,” said Loma Vista Recordings founder and President Tom Whalley. “Listening to the new versions of these tracks, I think it represents everything that the band members and the family told me that Chesterwanted to achieve with re-recording this body of work.”
“One of the finest male voices of a generation” – NME
Additional details about the album will be revealed in the coming weeks. A series of letters about the project and passion behind its release were posted on various social media channels in December. Aside from his Grey Daze bandmates, Chester’s widow, Talinda Bennington, his mother, Susan Eubanks, and his son Jamie Bennington, shared their thoughts about the forthcoming release:
Open Letter from Talinda Bennington (Chester’s Widow):
“One of Chester’s greatest gifts was music. The only thing he took more pride in was being a father to his children. Given how much he cared, he wanted fans to hear everything he did, and his musical journey started with Grey Daze.
“In February 2017, Chester and his bandmates began re-recording their music for a planned re-release of the band’s early music and by June, he announced that Grey Daze was reuniting and would be playing a 20th-anniversary reunion show that fall. He was so enthusiastic about doing this, and he was eager to play rock music with messages that he knew would be meaningful to fans. It also meant a lot to him to be working with his Grey Daze bandmates, Sean Dowdell (with whom he had a very special friendship, and was a business partner in Club Tattoo), along with Mace Beyers, and Cristin Davis. He’d knownthem more than half of his life.
“When Chester passed away, Grey Daze’s reunion seemed like an afterthought to everyone involved; they were suffering, I was suffering, and there were way too many emotions to work through before we could even think about what would happen to that project. Once the clouds lifted a bit, once we could focus on what Chester would want us to do, we looked for a way to continue what Chester was working on—the things he was proud of and wanted to share with his fans. The Grey Daze project is one of the ways we can continue to tell Chester’s story and connect with his fans.
“Through our foundation, 320, I endeavor every day making sure Chester’s legacy shines a light for positive change. For us, releasing a new Grey Daze album will shine a light on where my husband started and hopefully give his fans a better understanding of his art and a more full picture of his journey through this incredible music”.
Open Letter from Susan Eubanks (Chester’s Mom):
“It’s hard for me to remember a time when Chester didn’t tell me he was going to be a rock star. He had discovered music at a very young age, and I can even recall the first time I saw him sing: a two-year-old mimicking the songs to “Grease!” he loved to sing Olivia Newton John’s!
“Music was a constant for him. He was always listening to bands, but it was when he was 13 that he began to tell me that he was going to be a singer. He was trying out for local bands, playing with friends, and doing what normal teenage boys do when they dream about becoming a “rock star.” I was encouraging, but obviously wanted him to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground and focused on his education.
“At 15, he came home with his slightly older friend, who seemed immensely older to me in comparison to Chester, Sean Dowdell. I laugh now when I think that Sean was a mere 17 at the time. Sean was forming a local band that was in need of a singer, and Chester was eager to fill that role. That band would become Grey Daze. As any parent would be, I was reluctant to have my 15-year-old son going to clubs but I cautiously gave my permission once I saw how Sean treated Chester, not just as a new bandmate, but as a protective older brother. Over the past 25 years, Sean has become a part of our family.
“Missing Chester is now a part of my daily life but of course, grief comes in waves, so most of the time I try to remember the joy he brought to me, and the happiness his music brought to so many people. It was in that mindset that I gave Sean my blessing to continue the work he and Chester had begun on reimagining the Grey Daze music. A year later, Sean very proudly played me the results of his, Mace, and Cristin’s work, allowing me to be one of the first people to hear it. When that voice rang out, I remembered the teenage Chester and Sean and thought of how remarkable they would have found all of this. I am grateful that because of Sean’s efforts Chester’s fans have the opportunity to hear his music again.“
Open Letter from Jamie Bennington (Chester’s Son):
“To be honest, I didn’t know that Grey Daze was coming back. My dad was the type to keep his work private if it wasn’t finished, so I never heard about his reunion with Sean Dowdell and Mace Beyers to revitalize his first ever rock band. All that I knew was that my dad was looking, once again, to reinvent himself as an artist. Something that was far from unusual considering he was, and always will be, one of the most amoebic vocal talents to ever live. With that being said, to say that getting a call from Sean nearly two years after his death concerning an album they had been working on together in secret was a surprise is an understatement.
“Sean asked me to come down and record some backup vocals at NRG. I said yes. Of course, I said yes. And what an experience it was. In a lot of ways, I got to meet the teenage version of my father. I got to reconnect with my own childhood friends. And I got to pilgrimage to the very place that Linkin Park got their start.
“Most importantly though I got to work on one of the last things my dad ever made. Something I had so many questions about, like: ‘How were they going to continue to work on an album when the lead vocalist was no longer in the picture?‘
“I had been told that there were no plans to bring in another vocalist to replace my dad on the album, but I didn’t understand at the time what that actually meant. It was only when I stepped into the studio that I saw the magic being performed. And by magic, I mean magic. Sean Dowdell, Esjay Jones, and Lucas D’Angelo are miracle workers who not only had massive holes to fill in the production of album but had rather limited means of filling them. But they did it. They did it with only masters of old Grey Daze recordings and the goodwill of friends and family.
“Thank you so much for having me and congratulations on accomplishing the impossible.“
Open Letter from Grey Daze:
“We met Chester when he was a scrappy 15-year-old and we were “seasoned” 17-year-olds. We’ve been friends, bandmates, and in Sean’s case, business partners (via Club Tattoo), ever since. We were present for the highs, and witness to the lows. Chester was the heart and soul of Grey Daze, it was his enthusiasm, lyrical prowess and emotional integrity that propelled us to record and release two albums and a demo and it was with great pride that we watched the magic we knew was in him shared with the world.
“Reuniting Grey Daze was something that we’d been kicking around for years, but because of work and family commitments, we hadn’t had a chance to turn the idea into reality until early 2017. Over the years we’d become more knowledgeable, more experienced, and had more resources, so we decided to pick a selection of songs from our previously released albums and re-record them the way they deserved to have been treated back in the ‘90s when we initially wrote and released them. By February 2017 we started recording and in June, Chester and Sean announced the reunion, with a live performance planned for that Fall. Unfortunately, as we all know, that never happened.
“When Talinda, Chester’s widow, and his parents, gave us their blessing to move forward with the project, we did so with the utmost care, making sure to honor his legacy as well as handle the music we had written together with the utmost care.
“We all wanted to fulfill Chester’s dream of people hearing Grey Daze music as he always envisioned it.
“We also wanted to make sure we had the proper steward for this. We reached out to Tom Whalley, the person who had been the head of Warner Bros. Records for the first nine years of Linkin Park’s existence and someone who knew Chester well, with hopes he’d be interested in doing this release via his Loma Vista Recordings. Executive Producer Jay Baumgardner and Tom helped us to see our vision through, re-recording the music but keeping Chester’s vocals intact. The fact that we got to re-track and rewrite the music around his vocals was an amazing experience. This is what our good friend wanted. He wanted the music to feel fresh and relevant, so people who knew his music but not his original band, could relate to it. That’s what we’ve tried to do with this Grey Daze record now.
“We cannot wait for his fans and the world to hear this new album, we hope we made him, and you, proud.”
