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........

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....

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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!!

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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....

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.....