A Taste:

David Crowder, Rise Against, Sleeping at Last

Flyleaf’s new album Memento Mori is everything that a great rock record should be.

From unforgettable guitar riffs and raucous rhythms to massive melodies and hypnotic lyrics, Memento Mori is one of the best rock n’ roll albums this year. Singer Lacey bares her soul on each and every track, and she gives with every line that she belts out. Just take one listen to the first single, “Again,” for proof. However, “Missing” and “This Close” will close the deal for you…

Lacey sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what tunes she’s rocking these days!

Check out Lacey’s playlist below and pick up Memento Mori when it drops on November 10 everywhere!

Lacey’s Playlist:

1. Rise Against

I love Rise Against!

2. David Crowder

We’re going to buy the new David Crowder CD. He covered “All Around Me” on piano, and it’s really cool! I sang on “The Nearness” I went into that studio and screamed my head off and I can’t hear one scream on the final song though [Laughs].

3. Skillet

4. Muse

I really want their new record!

5. Sleeping at Last

I like a lot of Sleeping At Last’s stuff. I like a lot of Christian music. I don’t have to always listen to Christian music, but there are seasons in my life where that’s what I want to hear. I just want to hear something that’s going to speak to me.

—Rick Florino
10.26.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Avenged Sevenfold, Escape the Fate, Shiny Toy Guns, Flyleaf

“I tend to like newer bands more than older bands,” says Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider.

That’s a surprising statement from a genre mainstay like Snider. He was a big catalyst in pushing metal into massive popularity in the ’80s, and he remains a fixture in pop culture due to his radio shows, film projects and much more. However, the man loves new music!

In fact, his daughter is his biggest influence. He laughs, “She is always filling my iPod up with a new shit—a lot of screamo! I listen to it while I’m working out!”

One project that Snider is particularly psyched about is the sequel to the first film he wrote and starred in, the cult classic Strangeland. He tells, “We start principal photography in October. It’s called Strangeland: Disciple. Robert Englund is coming back reprising his role. Of course, I’m back. We’re looking at 2010 for release. Strangeland was my first movie. I’m happy with it. I launched the torture genre of movie with Strangeland. The makers of Saw and Hostel are all Strangeland fans. This movie is very intense, and I’m going to take back the sick motherfucker crown [Laughs].”

In between vying for his crown and releasing the fantastic reissue of Twisted Sister’s Stay Hungry [Rhino], Dee opened up his iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at his playlist. Check it out below.

Dee Snider’s Playlist:

1. Escape the Fate

I tend to discover things a little bit later because music isn’t my focus anymore. My kids turn me on to shit. I love Escape the Fate! I like that they get the ’80s without imitating the ’80s. They bring it into what they do but they have a very modern sound. I went to see them in New York, and they’ve sold a couple hundred thousand units but the place was sold out. People were out of their fucking minds! Young bands have got to stay on the road because that’s where they make their money. It’s a different world out there now.

2. Death Before Dishonor

I also like Death Before Dishonor. They’re a real sledgehammer of a hardcore band—just fucking brutal.

3. Dethklok

I like Dethklok a lot.

4. Shiny Toy Guns

One band I dig is Shiny Toy Guns. They’re fucking great!

5. Flyleaf

Flyleaf is great. They’re not screamo, but they definitely have their moments. There are so many factions within heavy music. Sometimes I’ll say a band is hardcore, and my kids will go, “They’re not hardcore! That’s screamo!” Okay, what the fuck? I just like it [Laughs]. Even back in the day, I really fought that notion of so many sub-genres. I’ve been around since heavy metal was born. I did my part to destroy the Woodstock Nation because it sucked. Even back in the ’80s, people would ask, “What’s real metal?” There was pop metal, hair metal, thrash metal, fake metal, etc. I always felt like we were only hurting the genre by subdividing and not supporting each other. Maybe you’re not a fan of some types of metal, but at least be supportive for the genre as a whole. Now that metal’s more popular again, the sub-genres exist. That’s basically the deal with that shit. The style hasn’t died though. Rock Band and Guitar Hero turn kids onto the music and break it down so they get why it was cool. They look at the song parts and say, “That’s fucking badass.” I can appreciate that. A lot of the newer bands do a lot more screaming than singing. Back in the day people thought what I did was screaming [Laughs].

I remember a conversation with the president of my record label. They were getting to introduce Twisted Sister and they wanted to introduce a more commercially oriented producer and video director. They wanted to bring these elements in but we were a metal band. I was arguing with these guys to death. I was like, “We’ve got to protect the fans!” He said, “How many fans do you think you have?” This was in ‘82 or ‘83. I said, “I don’t know, about 100,000.” He responded, “What do you want—the 100,000 fans you’ve got or the 900,000 who are going to make your album platinum?” Now, the correct answer is “both,” but I was kind of thrown off by the statement. You’ve got to get the masses involved. If you don’t crossover, you’re band is going to die. No record company is going to keep you around for 100,000 units. Back in the day, the majors would dump you for that. Throw all of your children in the ocean and keep the ones that don’t drown. What’s the logic there? A lot of good bands get lost because they weren’t able to hit the road hard on their own. From day one, Twisted Sister never really got any support. We had to make our own scene. We were fighting disco music, which was a nightmare. We thought, “What can we do to get people’s attention and make them remember us as opposed to other joe-blow bands that were there?” For awhile, it was putting on women’s clothing and makeup. I was buying my clothing at women’s shops. You’ve got to be remembered. So I was the scary Muppet guy [Laughs].

6. Avenged Sevenfold

I love Avenged Sevenfold. Their last album should’ve gotten a lot more appreciation than it did. It’s a sign of the times. People just move on to a new flavor too quickly.

7. Coheed & Cambria

Coheed and Cambria definitely deserves recognition.

8. Devil Wears Prada

Devil Wears Prada is on my iPod too.

9. Bullet for My Valentine

I’m enjoying Bullet for My Valentine’s shit too. My daughter’s 13 and she loads this shit up for me.

10. Drop Dead Gorgeous

I like Drop Dead Gorgeous too.

11. I Am Ghost

I Am Ghost is very cool. There are a lot of great new bands out there!

—Rick Florino
07.10.09