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Archive for January, 2009

Tito Jackson

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (born on October 15, 1953 in Gary, Indiana) is an American singer and guitarist and a charter member of the The Jackson 5.

Growing up in a large family, young Tito Jackson originally hid his musical talent from his father Joseph. Tito was considered to be the favorite of the 5 considering he was "favoured" by his daddy. While his father was at work, Jackson would play his father’s guitar while his siblings danced and sang. It was not until the young Jackson broke a string on the guitar that father Joseph learned about his musical aspirations. Joseph was then inspired to form a group around Tito and his two brothers, Jackie and Jermaine into a band in 1964 called The Jackson Brothers; eventually, younger brothers Marlon and Michael joined the group, and the brothers formed The Jackson Five in 1966. Tito didn’t play guitar on his brothers’ records until the group left for Philadelphia International in 1976 and changed their name to The Jacksons. Tito also started to contribute lead vocals and co-write several hit songs for his brothers after the release of the 1978 hit album, Destiny.

The Jacksons followed up with an album entitled Triumph which sold 10 million copies worldwide and 3 million copies in the US only, but Michael’s Thriller became the biggest selling album of all. In 1984, the group released an album called Victory and followed it up with a tour. Tito sang lead on a song known as, "We Can Change The World," and played many of the instruments, but his other contributions to the album were limited to backing vocals. The subsequent tour would be one of the Jacksons‘ greatest successes, but almost immediately after it ended, lead singer Michael Jackson resigned from the group. Marlon Jackson also quit following the Victory Tour.

The Jacksons‘ final release, "2300 Jackson Street" was a more "New Jack Swing"-oriented album, who’s title song reunited all of the members of the Jackson family, except LaToya. Tito didn’t contribute guitar parts to the record, according to liner notes. However, he did contribute vocals, including a narration that precedes the first song.

In 2008 it was thought that Tito had bought a house in Appledore, North Devon, UK. This was thought to be true after Tito was quoted saying. "We love the beautiful countryside and friendly people". It was thought that Michael Jackson would also consider life in North Devon to get away from the media. "In recent years Michael’s visited Devon and he would certainly like the idea of living here".

Matthias Jabs

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Matthias Jabs (born 25 October 1955) is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is a member of the heavy metal band, Scorpions. Before joining Scorpions, Jabs had played for the bands Lady, Fargo and Deadlock.

During the 1980s he had a 1963-64 black Fender Stratocaster, called his ‘trouble guitar’, which had a Floyd Rose floating bridge and a Bill Lawrence L90 pickup, and it featured on many tracks that needed a tremolo, including "Blackout". A copy of this guitar with a black Gibson humbucker is seen on the ‘Make a Difference Foundation’ video filmed in Russia, with other guests including Ozzy Osbourne and Gorky Park.

Jabs joined the Scorpions after Ulrich Roth left in 1978. The first album recorded by Jabs with the Scorpions was Lovedrive. His guitar playing contributed significantly to their signature sound.

Jabs favours Gibson Explorer guitars and designed a model for them, called the Explorer 90, in the late 1980s. He also has a signature Fender Stratocaster dubbed "Jabocaster". Nowdays, Jabs and the rest of the Scorpions play the German Dommenget brand of guitars, with all their signature models now made by them. His most recent signature guitar is his "Mastercaster" used mostly on stage and on their latest album, Humanity - Hour 1. Jabs is notable for his playing of a Talk box in some songs "Money and Fame", "Can You Feel It", and "Media Overkill".

Jabs had also once replaced the Marshall amplification logo on his amplifier cabinets with his own name, in the same font style as the Marshall logo. Besides Marshall, Matthias uses Wizard cabinets, Hiwatt, Fender Prosonic and Soldano amplifiers and cabinets, kitty hawk preamps, Dunlop picks, Seymour Duncan JB pickups, back on the 80’s he uses marshall JCM 800 2210 amplifiers which you can see on the world wide live DVD’s, acoustic guitars is Ovation 6 and 12 strings, D’addario strings, talk box from Heil.

Frank Iero

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Frank Anthony Iero (born October 31, 1981) is the rhythm guitarist, backup vocalist and a member of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance. He is also the frontman of post-hardcore quintet Leathermouth. He was born in Belleville, New Jersey and attended Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington.

In addition to his band Pencey Prep, Iero also played with the bands Creed, Nirvana, Nickelback, and briefly with Panic! at the Disco. He is also involved in a tribute band to The Cure, named The Love Cats, after the song of the same name, and recently played bass with Reggie And The Full Effect on the ‘farewell tour’.

He won 2008 World’s Sexiest Vegetarian along with Alyssa Milano.

Chrissie Hynde

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Chrissie Hynde (born Christine Ellen Hynde, 7 September 1951, Akron, Ohio) is an American rock musician, best known as the leader of the band The Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history. Hynde has a contralto vocal range.

Daughter of a part-time secretary and a Yellow Pages Manager, Hynde graduated from Firestone High School in Akron, admitting "I was never too interested in high school. I mean, I never went to a dance, I never went out on a date, I never went steady. It became pretty awful for me. Except, of course, I could go see bands, and that was the kick. I used to go to Cleveland just to see any band. So I was in love a lot of the time, but mostly with guys in bands that I had never met. For me, knowing that Brian Jones was out there, and later that Iggy Pop was out there, made it kind of hard for me to get too interested in the guys that were around me. I had, uh, bigger things in mind."

Hynde experimented with hippie counterculture, psychotropic drugs, eastern mysticism, and vegetarianism. Hynde joined a band called Sat. Sun. Mat. while attending Kent State University’s Art School for three years. Hynde was on the campus during the infamous Kent State shootings. She knew Jeffrey Miller, one of the fatalities.

Hynde also developed an interest in the magazine NME when she wasn’t waitressing or working various other jobs to support herself, eventually saving enough money for the move from Ohio to London in 1973. With her art background, Hynde landed a job in an architectural firm but left after eight months. It was then that Hynde met rock journalist Nick Kent and landed a writing position at NME. However, this proved not to last and Hynde later found herself working at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s then-unknown clothing store, SEX, where Hynde was summarily fired for a fight with a customer in which Hynde was hit with a bell from the store. Hynde then made a fruitless attempt to start a band in France before her return to Cleveland in 1975.

Hynde resurfaced in France in 1976 for another stab at forming a band. She found her way back to London in the midst of the punk movement. In late 1976, Hynde responded to an advertisement in Melody Maker for band members and attended an audition for the band that would become 999. Jon Moss of Culture Club fame and Tony James of Generation X also auditioned. During this period she became closely associated with the Sex Pistols, and spent a good deal of time with Sid Vicious. She commented in an early 1990s interview that she "almost" became "Mrs. Vicious" in the late 1970s. Later, Hynde tried to start a group with Mick Jones from The Clash. After the band failed to take flight, Malcolm McLaren placed her as a guitarist in Masters of the Backside, but she was asked to leave the group just as the band became The Damned. After a brief spell in the Johnny Moped band, Mick Jones had invited Hynde to join his band on their initial tour of Britain. Hynde’s recollection of that period: "It was great, but my heart was breaking. I wanted to be in a band so bad. And to go to all the gigs, to see it so close up, to be living in it and not to have a band was devastating to me. When I left, I said, ‘Thanks a lot for lettin’ me come along,’ and I went back and went weeping on the underground throughout London. All the people I knew in town, they were all in bands. And there I was, like the real loser, you know? Really the loser."

Hynde opened a vegan restaurant in Akron, Ohio, in 2007 called The VegiTerranean. The restaurant, which opened in November, 2007, serves fusion Italian-vegetarian food. The restaurant’s head chef is James Scot Jones, who is good friends with Hynde. Prior to the restaurant’s opening, on 15 September 2007, she performed three songs at the restaurant with an acoustic guitarist, Adam Seymour, the lead guitarist of The Pretenders.

Donnie Iris

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Donnie Iris (born February 28, 1943) is an American rock musician known for his work with The Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo albums during the 1980s. He was responsible for writing the #2 Billboard hit "The Rapper", with the Jaggerz, and was a member of Wild Cherry after they experienced a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music". After going on to release five solo albums in the 1980s accompanied with many charting singles, Iris continues to release new material and tour in the Ohio River Valley area.

Born Dominic Ierace in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Iris began singing at weddings at age five, and by eight was performing on local television and entering talent contests. When his voice changed, he took up the drums but later got back into singing while in high school. Donnie learned how to sing from his Mother and then from Tony Bennett and Marvin Gaye. A self-taught guitarist, he formed Donnie & the Donnells while in college.

The first true compilation album by the band was released in 2001, The Best of Donnie Iris. In 2004, the band celebrated its 25th anniversary with a new album, 25 Years, and performed live at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for 4,000 people. This concert was known for featuring a four drummer lineup of current and previous drummers for the band; Kevin Valentine, Tommy Rich, Brice Foster and Mark Avsec’s daughter Danna Avsec, who was the guest drummer. Since then, the band has used a three drummer line-up for several concerts. The band’s newest album, Ellwood City, released in 2006, is a tribute to Iris’ hometown, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. Today, Donnie owns and operates his own mortgage company in Aliquippa, PA. Iris also received special commendations and awards from United States Congresswoman Melissa Hart and Pennsylvania state representative Frank LaGrotta. Now a middle-aged grandfather, Iris says he’s’ still hopeful that someone somewhere might hear his new stuff and make it available.June 17, 2006 was recognized throughout Lawrence County, Pennsylvania as Donnie Iris Day by Ellwood City Executive Council President Glenn Jones and Mayor Roy P. Meehan.

Chris Impellitteri

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Chris Impellitteri (born September 25,1964 in Connecticut) is a guitarist. According to Guitar One Magazine, he is the second fastest shredder in the world, but it is not uncommon for him to be ranked first on other fastest player lists.

He has played in several tributes through his career, has led his own-band, Impellitteri since 1987. In 1988 he worked together with ex-The Marbles, ex-Rainbow, ex-Alcatrazz singer Graham Bonnet. He is now working in a project with a Los Angeles band.

One of his most famous songs is his cover of "Over The Rainbow" on lead guitar.

Chris Impellitteri has earned the utmost respect among the greatest shred guitar players in the world, and became famous in the neo-classical metal scene. He is also widely regarded as a virtuoso by many fan sites.

In 1987 he recorded the Mike Davis-produced CD Impellitteri. Chris took care of the guitar and bass parts, but the CD flopped because of mediocre production and gained very little success for the band.

In 1988 Chris formed a new lineup with Graham Bonnet, Chuck Wright, Phil Wolfe, and Pat Torpey still under the name "Impellitteri" and soon they became big in Japan with Stand in Line, produced by Cliff Cultreri with a guest appearance from bassist Randy Rand. Wright and Torpey left soon after their breakthrough and the band had to look for a new drummer and bassist, respectively Stet Howland and Dave Spitz. In 1990 Bonnet and Wolf also left the band and were replaced by singer Mark Weitz and the French keyboard player Claude Schnell. They tried to record a few tracks known as the Holy Grail but eventually the band fell apart.

In 1996 they recorded Screaming Symphony and in 1997 they recorded Eye of the Hurricane. Both were quite successful, especially Eye of the Hurricane, which was the strongest release yet. Finally they were noticed by the European audience and they launched a European tour. In 2000 Impellitteri recorded Crunch, which was the most experimental record yet with drum loops and samples ricocheting between the shredding guitar sounds Chris is so famous for.

Although their success had never been greater, the band again fell apart when Rock left. Thus they had to cancel their upcoming tour and the return of singer Graham Bonnet. The album didn’t sell well, partly because of a lack of promotion and the experimental hook. Between 2001 and 2002 they recorded System X, a definite fallback to their roots but without the neo-classical elements they were known for. This album had good critical response and sold much better than its predecessors.

In 2003 the band employed singer Curtis Skelton, and in 2004 they released Pedal to the Metal.

Angel Ibarra

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Angel Ibarra (born in Los Angeles, California on April 30, 1987) is guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for the band Aiden. He was one of the founding members of the band when it first started back in 2003, during his high school days.

Angel was born in Los Angeles, California before moving to Fife, Washington. He along with Jake Davison founded Aiden during their high school years Angel is often the band member that the rest of Aiden pick on, including being called one of the ‘The Emo-lumpas’ along with Nick Wiggins, Aiden’s Bassist.

Whilst Aiden have been playing on their "Suffer Little Children tour" through out Europe it is believed that Angel is of a Mexican background as co band member wiL Francis made several jokes about him being a Mexican on stage.

Jesse Hughes

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Jesse Hughes (born September 24, 1972) is an American musician from Greenville, South Carolina. Hughes is known for his role as frontman of the California-based rock band, Eagles of Death Metal. He cites Little Richard as his biggest musical influence and inspiration.

At age 7, Hughes‘ mother moved him to Palm Desert, California. In high school, Hughes became friends with Josh Homme. Hughes graduated from the Greenville Technical College with a degree in journalism and worked as manager of a Video Depot in the Palm Desert for several years.

Hughes is known to go by many different nicknames, including "J. Devil" as well as "Boots Electric" and "Fabulous Weapon". In an interview Hughes revealed that his band mate Josh Homme gave him "The Devil" nickname when he was thirteen. "I used to get picked on a lot," says Hughes, "And when I would get picked on severely, or if it really made a point to me, I would get vengeance, but I would get vengeance in the way that I could, which was mostly clever and all consuming. Joshua once witnessed me in the moment I was about to enact vengeance upon someone, and he just said, ‘You’re the fucking devil dude,’ and it stuck."

Hughes worked as a speechwriter and activist for the Republican Party. He worked for former Congressman Sonny Bono. He remains a devoted Republican, and has called President-elect Barack Obama a "communist".

Hughes is a registered member of the National Rifle Association, but claims not to hunt as he believes it isn’t fair - "I don’t like hunting because they can’t shoot back."

Dann Huff

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Dann Huff (born 1960) is an American musician, singer-songwriter and producer. His brother, David Huff, is also a musician and accomplished drummer, and together they made up the core of the 80’s rock band Giant. Since then, he has found work as a session guitarist, in both rock and country music.

Some songs he’s played on include, Man in the Mirror, My Heart Will Go On, I Could Fall In Love, Rythym of the Night, The Glory of Love, One Sweet Day, as well as numerous Madonna songs.

Brodie Foster Hubbard

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Brodie Foster Hubbard (born 1978) is an American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, relocated to Los Angeles, California, an event which was simultaneously celebrated and mourned at a going away roast and show at in December 2006.

After several years in various punk rock and hardcore punk bands, Hubbard began playing his own compositions in a solo capacity in October 1999. He caught attention for his catchy hooks and melodies, deeply personal lyrics, and his guitar playing style; across his lap, using his thumb across the frets, the strings in Open D tuning.

In the beginning of his career, the majority of his works were about romantic relationships prior to his marriage, and were categorized as indie pop. After his divorce, Hubbard began to delve into darker material such as murder ballads that would become his signature, a style Hubbard has dubbed as "outlaw indie rock," his own version of outlaw country.

Hubbard’s lyrics have made literal and figurative comparisons between love and heartbreak to vehicular manslaughter, strangulation, and stabbing. His songs have broached such topics as domestic violence, poverty, narcissism, and revenge.

His song, "Powers", was nominated for Best Song in the 2006 Arizona Ska Punk Awards. The lyric, "the broken heart I wear on my sleeve says everything" is a reference to the broken heart tattoo on Hubbard’s right shoulder, surrounded by his initials, which subsequently became his logo.

He has independently released four CDs: American 1978-2001, Legacy Of Sentimentality, Don’t Screw Up Like I Did, a split release with Father’s Day, and "You Know Me".

Hubbard appeared as a drug dealer in the interactive film "The Weathered Underground." and as himself in both nationally distributed and award-winning documentary "Hi My Name Is Ryan" and short film "Back From Reality." He has been a guest on Failpire, The Paul Goebel Show hoted by Paul Goebel, and The Dork Forest hosted by Jackie Kashian.

Hubbard continues to play shows and film comedy videos in Los Angeles while also pursuing a career in writing and production in film and television.