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Friday, December 29, 2017

WALKING INTO 2018, YOU HAVE TO HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH!!

The end of a year is always a great time to reflect. The past, the future, friends, enemies, mistakes you made and accomplishments you dream of...there are so many bits and pieces that make up our journey! Organizing thousands of photos has kept me very busy during my home time, the last 2 years. Many people say "oh, now you can rest," when I return home, but the truth is, Home is the precious chaos that links our life into one element. It links the tours, family and work into one solid streamer!


On this venture through the past, I came across photos of Max recording Head Up with the Deftones. I admit, we are addicted to their friendship. I am certain it stems back to when a smiling ear to ear Dana introduced us to a dreadheaded Chino and his band of pot smoking, smiling, sickest artists ever, soon to be at the time..friends. Is there a word that combines family and friends? Fremaly? Anyway, yes, we have a special affection for anything Deftone. Missing a son is rough but you know what? Lots of Mothers have lost children and it all aches the same. A great deal. But you can give up your life mourning or you can chose to do what your child would want you to do, and that's LIVE! Let's all send Chi Cheng's adorable Mother, Jeanne Cheng, a virtual hug right now! God knows how strong she is!


The photo above is from the time Chino came to our home to write First Commandment with Max. I love this photo. I love looking at every detail and recalling the tiny moments each object saw in our home. This path lead us to Seattle and the eventual recording of Head Up. I grabbed that little piece of paper with Dana's lyrics and took it to Chino. He loved it! Dana would have been freaking out to know the Deftomes used his lyrics! He was so happy when Max sat with him at our table and they wrote the lyrics to Attitude together! And if he knew Muse used the riff at their shows, that would be a straight up stage dive!





Enjoy these photos!!! They are raw, from a wound, a face plant, a bone sticking through. They are a glimpse into a time when I was just coming out of a mist and Max was in a moment of fury! In the New Year, let's all have more compassion, more spirit and less selfish behavior. I'm over it! Too many people speak with "I" or "Me" in every sentence. Let's return to "We" because that's what the Tribe is! Every day we add new members! And we pick each other up in the pit! HAPPY METAL NEW YEAR!! I resolve to bring Max and his pack to every place on the Earth, every destination there are Tribe waiting! No club is too small, no country is too far! Let's RAGE!!


Class dismissed......till next year!

Friday, December 22, 2017

THERE IS A PARTY AROUND EVERY CORNER!! OR...THE TIME CHRISTINA AND I PARTIED WITH IKE TURNER!!!

Back in the early 1990's, I was just getting jump started with my career as a manager. Yes, I started with Sacred Reich in 1986, but it took a couple years to get my Metal journey to the whirlwind it was to become. Christina and I travelled to NYC for God knows what and God knows why! I am sure it had to do with business and business was good!




I had placed my new band, Sepultura, with Universal Attractions, a booking agency located in the heart of Manhattan. Jack Bart was the owner and also managed several of the biggest R&B entertainers in the world, among them, James Brown! Jeff Allen was his right hand agent and was beginning to gather Metal acts, so I signed Sepultura with him. He was the reason Sep played in Indonesia years before Metallica or any other rock band had gone there since the mysterious death of Deep Purple's tour manager (fell down an elevator shaft!). He had great ideas and major connections. He was a huge part of my team and a person who helped me launch the Sep's to stardom! He also liked to party!





After taking in an Ozzy show, Christina and I were invited to Jack's super secret apartment near his office. Damn, what a fun time we had! We sang our hearts out cranking karaoke, listened to wild tales of James Brown, and even met Ike Turner!!! Jack eventually asked me if he could manage me! He said he would have my face splashed on every biker calendar in the world, that every talk show you can think of would want me and he would make me a star!! Hahaha I said no, as you can imagine!! I never craved attention and my path was cut already. There were enough "stars" around me anyway!!




After this hopping party, Christina and I met up with Danny Lilker, who was an old friend of ours and very tight with Christina. We moved the party to the famous, but now sadly gone, Parmount Hotel, in Times Square. We tore that place apart next!! Some times you just gotta do, what you gotta do!!!

Class dismissed.....

Friday, December 15, 2017

LET'S GO SIX FEET UNDER!!!!

Many of you know the first band I worked with was Sacred Reich. I worked with them for several years, from their first show in our club, The Bootlegger's. It was Jason Rainey who called me when I asked if they wanted a manager, as it was Jason when I asked if the band wanted to pay their first show. He is the founder of the band. I got them their first tour in 1988, although prior to that year, we did many road trips to LA, playing with any one who would have us, anywhere we could get on the stage!

Tours started coming quite regularly after Surf Nicaragua was released. One of these tours took us to Canada, and on the way back into America, we would play cities in the state of New York...which is common routing as bands begin their descent towards home. When we went to Buffalo for a show, Cannibal Corpse was one of the local openers on this run, in 1988 or1989 (I think the latter..).




I admit I was a pistol in the '80's and '90's, weaving my way through cities, venues and striving to get my bands one foot ahead! This show with Cannibal wasn't any different! In no time at all, I was in the middle of a verbal brawl with Chris Barnes. I admit at the time I never knew how it even started. I just knew it had something to do with Phil Rind. That was all it took! I had to step up my game and stand up against Chris at all costs! It almost turned into an actual brawl! And I didn't even know wtf it was about lol!! Now, 30 years later, I like to think I am wiser, calmer and more logical than i was back in the day! Don't get me wrong! I am not afraid of stepping up to defend, but now, I try to know WHY!

Years fly by. My children grew up. Chris left Cannibal and formed Six Feet Under. I changed. I got secure and confidant with myself. I knew my direction. 2017 rolled on in. When Richie's Incite got confirmed on the Six Feet Under tour, I was like.."whoa!" I knew what I had to do!




As bad as I wanted to train it to one of the shows, I was on tour, TM'ing for the final Return to Roots tour. I messaged Richie to hit me up with Chris's cell phone number. I thought long and hard about what I would say. Truth is my platform, after being lied about for years. I don't diss people to make myself a hero, like many others. I am not aftiad to say I was wrong. And that is what I did. Chris was super cool and we talked long about our differences in the past. When I found out what started the decades long feud, it was really stupid! I was wrong. And now it's gone, cleaned up, smudged away! And you never know now what the future brings....but maybe you will be hearing some ballistic news in the near future!! Let's go Six Feet Under!!!

Class dismissed....

Friday, December 8, 2017

LET'S TALK BERIMBAU 101

I think the year was 1995 when Max, and I went to a berimbau university, of sorts, in Brazil. We were doing some type of work, scouting for a video idea Max had. There was a man in a capoeira circle, playing this percussion instrument that resembled a bow and arrow. The difference was, there was a dried, hollowed out gourd connected to the bow. The musician was playing it with thin wooden stick, while holding a flat rock against it.

Max later told me "I am going to play the berimbau on stage." I knew he would become a master. Others he told that night ridiculed him and told him that "only Africans can play that instrument." But we both knew. He would play it.




Now here we are, 22 years later and Max is still plunking away, bringing the sensual heartbeat of the berimbau wafting through the venues around the world...making peoples smiles grow, and emotions join together as one! He has replaced the flat stone with a Metal washer. I guess it was a natural evolution, Max Style! Attitude, Tribe, Back to the Primitive, Brasil, Unleashed..... these tracks all have the Maximum caress of the berimbau!! Max's Brazilian Roots will always remain!!

Class dismissed........

Friday, December 1, 2017

METAL....THE FAMILY CONNECTION....BROTHERS

There is something different about sharing your career with your family. While Max and I have achieved this to a high degree, there are many brothers that form bands together. Some don't work out, as we all know an English band that fought like maniacs on stage, don't we? On the Soulfly Point Blank tour of North America, I got to know the Noisem brothers, Sebastien and Harley, 2 of the new generation of blooded brothers in the Metal scene...also, 2 of the badass-est people and musicians to tour with. Most young musicians have something in common and that is parents who support them and let them follow their hearts and their journeys.


Our kids have grown up in the Metal scene since they first became a flutter inside me! Richie got the kiss of Metal from Rob Halford in the office of our Metal club, the Bootleggers, years before I ever managed a band. He made his first band at the age of 4, and continues that path today, with Incite. He paved the way and I must say, for me, the School of Richie taught me very much about how I one day would raise a family and a Tribe!


Some brothers are not particularly prone to attention. and like to remain behind the scenes and take the bullet for the family. We have Jason, aka Scone...always tinkering with logic and privacy at the same time. You may see an occasional Scone sighting but the fact is, no oe can tell him and Richie apart, so they support each other throughout the day!


When Max asked me to have his child, I swear the next days in Russia, Zyon was beginning to BE!! One child on the road 24/7, would change my day for sure, and then when Igor was doubling his cells inside me, things got to where it is today...organized. I knew that I could do anything I wanted, like everyone in Life, and we wanted family and wanted careers. It all flowed together. Yes, I admit I can flop back and forth, wife to manager, mother to manager, and so forth, with great ease. It all becomes one circle. From their first band Probation to the current Lody Kong, to Z drumming for Soulfly and Igor repping Alex Newport playing Nailbomb's Pont Blank live, it all became one. thing...our normal Life.



And I cannot overlook my husband and my brother-in-law, 2 polished brothers with over 33 years in Metal together! They showed me the connection could be done and be successful all at the same time. Withstanding many curves in time, it eventually returned to the vey first day.




Now that Zyon and Igor have fulfilled their destinies and are writing a new Lody Kong. Richie is on tour with Incite and Six Feet Under and Jason is on stage with Tony, I wonder how far will it go? How many generations of brothers jamming together..that thread running through the riffs and beats...and then...I get this photo sent to me....



Class dismissed........

Friday, November 24, 2017

RETURN TO ROOTS...THE FAREWELL TOUR

On Friday the day after Thanksgiving in America, Max, Iggor, me and Co. will board airplanes to Holland to begin the last run of the Return to Roots package. I want to thank the thousands of fans who came out to kick it up in the pit, sit at the bar and just watch the show. We played gigs all the way from NYC to Perth, Australia, from the freezing tundra of northern Canada to the tip of South America in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from the sunny sloes of LA to the deep ass snow in Moscow, and from rocking London to the sports hall in Bulgaria! We extended the tour a year longer than I originally planned because the fans demanded it!


The last run will see Max and Iggor's Return to Roots sharing the stage with Overkill, Insomnium and Deserted Fear. Marc Rizzo will be breaking glass with his riffing and Tony Campos will be thumping bass like the G that he is!!! Our travels will take this pack of wild men and one bossy lady across Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium, ending in London!! I will be looking for all of you in the sea of faces, spread out in front of the stage!! Don't be shy!! And maybe one day, you will hear of some special news....Return to Chaos. or Return to Arise or.....the possibilities are endless!! Time will tell... Attitude and Respect!!

Class dismissed.....

Friday, November 17, 2017

POINT BLANK....THE BREAKDOWN!!!

Our country is in a strange position these last months. Many things not acceptable are bring forced down our throats. FAUX NEWS spills its garbage all day and many people choose to believe it. I have heard people defending Nazis and others talking about hunting in animal sanctuaries. Having a Mother who was a concentration camp survivor, a slave in a forced labor camp and a Russian immigrant during the Cold War, I was raised with certain values regarding freedom and human rights. This upbringing gave me strong impressions regarding freedom, the gift of food and shelter and the strength of the family. Because of this, one day last summer, I thought that maybe it was time for Max to present Nailbomb to the Tribe.


Written in 1993-94, Point Blank has worn the crown of all releases I have ever done. True, I have worked many legendary recordings, singles and videos, but none compare to the experience we all had making Point Blank. Besides laughing and expanding creative design, the lyrics were hard and hit home back then, now and most likely well into the future. We all called it a Hate Project (as we laughed our tails off), but in this century, I realized it was a protest record from the first note of Wasting Away to the last rumble of Sick Life. Recently I discussed the lyrical content with Max and Alex and thought I would break it all down here, for my Students. Let's dive in!!


WASTING AWAY--This is a song about the struggle to have an independent thought process. Trying to think for yourself and not just fall into the line of sheep. Sometimes seeking answers for yourself and not just relying on what church, school or work drills you with, can wear you down. The struggle to be free can end up trapping you.

VAI TOMAR NO CU-- This is anti-authority, anti-government, anti-our respective government's military policy and also about fake people, dishonest people, etc. It's telling them to "stick it up their ass."

24 HOUR BULLSHIT--This track is pretty literal. It's about being brainwashed by TV and commercials.

GUERILLAS-- Total anti-war lyrics.

BLIND AND LOST--Ths song pokes fun at people who are eager to conform to society's standards, or people who get sucked into a certain type of politics or religion and become zealots.

SUM OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS--This is a sad song. Talking about how with all the technological advancements humans have made in the last 100 years, many of them are geared towards war and death, instead of something that makes life better. An example is hatred towards scientists who invented the atom bomb.

WORLD OF SHIT--This talks about how violence, racism and hate is deliberately stoked by politicians to sow division among the people. Sound like anyone current?

EXPLOITATION--This is a cover song by the band DOOM. The lyrics are about animal testing and how it is wrong.

RELIGIOUS CANCER--This track is pretty literal, saying religion has no relevance in modern society and it is like a cancer, draining people's money and brainwashing them.

SHIT PINATA--this track is about fake people and dishonest politicians. Short and sweet!

SICK LIFE--this song is about drug addiction and how it ruins people's lives.

There you go! For the Nailbomb fans, the Soulfly fans, the Max career fans! Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide!!


Class dismissed....

Friday, November 10, 2017

POINT BLANK FROM A TO Z!!!!

24 years ago, a comedy became a reality and that reality became a Punk Metal legend! Nailbomb, made from the cultivation of 3 babies and 2 musicians' who could not contain their art. The beast came to life and in 1995, played the only 2 shows the fans would ever see of Nailbomb. Talking to fans throughout the last year's Return to Roots, they made me realize how special it was to hear Max singing the entire records in his vast catalog. Since Soulfly will be entering the studio in January, 2018, I wanted to get them together and solid, before going into the studio. They had already toured Archangel, Roots was widely accepted, why not give the Tribe what they want? Nailbomb, the rarest gem in Max's crown..the protest record that stood timeless on its lone mountain in the range of all things Metal. And so it was, Point Blank in your face!






The bill varied a bit as it started out with Cannibus Corpse, Noisem and Lody Kong and eventually evolved into Harm's Way as main support. Cannibis carried another way and Harm's Way slid in. The first date started on October 6 in San Diego. The bands played daily until October 30-31. For the days off, we hung in Sarasota, Florida with Igor's finance, Aggy Fleshgrinder and her family. They are Argentinian so we knew we were in for a treat!! Great BBQ, grilling, laughter, beer and LOTS of hugs!











Typically on tour you b]visit with a lot of different personalities, labels, press, musicians and friends. 30 years on the road have given us some solid friendships! Monte Conner, Billy Milano, Dave Chavarri, The Sword, Jose Mangine, and Paul Booth were just a few of the bros who got fired up with some World of Shit!



And let's not forget Max, Zyon and me visiting Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions...Max's obsession with American football brought his feet to the turf of the Detroit Lions' stadium! He walked through their locker room, sat in the private lounges, stood at the press conference podium and walked on the field!! He even stuck his head in Matthew Stafford's locker!!! Walking through the tunnel where the players walk out to the fans...gives me chills still, just thinking about it.




The set was the record in its entirety! From Wasting Away to Sick Life, it's a dream come true to see this set every damn night!! I get excited just writing about it!! It's a kick in the ass, a smack across your face, a hammer to the skull!!


There will be one more leg coming up and I will take this package to a freezing part of North America...where Return to Roots never went...where Soulfly will carry Point Blank...you can all guess...



Class dismissed.....