Category Archives: Featured

Suicide is a promising solution for Davey Suicide

Courtesy FiXT Publicity

Suicide is usually a rather depressing subject. But when it comes to Davey Suicide, the it’s more of a glass-half-full kind of thing asserting that when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up. And with a celebratory sound that is equal parts industrial angst and heavy metal sleaze (think Rob Zombie meets Mötley Crüe), it’s clear that Davey and his band are having too much fun to want to off themselves anytime soon. With a self-titled debut album due out early next year (preceded by an EP this October), things continue to look up for this gothy-glam rock star (or, as his first single attests, “Generation Fuck Star”) in-the-making as he just finished a few dates opening for Wednesday 13 and hits the road on July 15 as the opening act for Static-X and Prong on the Noise Revolution Tour. As he prepares for his biggest tour to date, Suicide takes a moment to tell Wrestling with Pop Culture just how bright his future will be.

You just finished opening a few Northwest dates for Wednesday 13 before hitting the road again with Static-X and Prong. What were the shows with Wednesday 13 like for you guys?

I thought it was great. Our band goes really well with Wednesday’s band with the visuals and the crowd and stuff. I thought it was a great match, everyone got along really well and most of those fans were awesome. I like the Northwest, too. There’s a lot of trees and there’s just a different energy with the people up there.

The Static-X tour will be a much more extensive one. And the lineup is cool because there’s a thread of similarity between each band, but you’re all also unique within the lineup. What are your anticipations from that tour?

That tour goes all the way through September 2, so we’re on it for almost seven weeks. I think it’s going to be awesome, though. We’re probably the least metal of all of them, but I think we’ll probably be the one that stands out, for better or worse. We grew up listening to Static and Prong and stuff like that, so it’s cool to go from being a kid and knowing their music to touring with them. It’s a very interesting transition.

Your name has come up recently because of the upcoming album and tours, but I recall hearing of you a few years ago. Weren’t you doing some modeling or something like that?

Courtesy FiXT Publicity

I always get stuck being on sets with my friends and they’d be like, “Hey, we need somebody to do this shirt.” I wouldn’t say I was a victim of circumstance, but I’d always take pictures if someone wanted to take photos. But I started a clothing line called Killers Never Die, so you may have seen me doing stuff with that, if we were doing a big group thing where we had a bunch of models and stuff, I would jump in there with whatever shirt I liked at the time. But that was never an aspiration of mine. Getting photos taken is just part of being an entertainer and stuff, so it was just something that came along with being in music.

Your debut album comes out in a few months, but what’s your background when it comes to music and art?

This is the first album under Davey Suicide, but I’ve done music all my life. I also tattoo and paint and do art every second of the day. But this album embodies everything I’ve been working towards and it’s probably my proudest accomplishment. I’m excited to share it with people. I’m more excited for the future than where I’ve been. I was in some regional acts and stuff, but this is the first one that’s getting press in Revolver and doing kind of big stuff.

Who are the other guys in the band? Are they people you’ve worked with previously?

Courtesy FiXT Publicity

Needlz [keyboards] and Frankie [Sil, bass] grew up in Youngstown together and have been friends forever. Eric [Griffin, guitar] and Ben [Graves, drums] have been friends forever, and Ben was one of the first guys I met when I moved to Hollywood. We had talked about doing a band for a while, but the stars just kind of aligned at the right time as Frankie, Needlz, Ben and I were working together and needed a guitar player. Ben knew Eric, and the monster was born.

This tour ends just before your CD is scheduled to be released. Do you have any additional touring plans to promote that?

We’re working on a bunch of stuff. We’ll have a little bit of time off, then we’ll be back on the road again. We’re going to be road dogs and it looks like we’re going to get to the U.K. a little sooner than I thought we were. So we’re excited for people to finally hear the record. It’s tough, sometimes, playing for people who only know a song or two. So it’s going to be exciting for people to get the whole experience of what we are.

For more information, go to www.daveysuicide.com.

Malice returns with a “New Breed of Godz”

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Although today’s music fans may not be familiar with the name Malice, the band has become legendary in the heavy metal underground since its inception more than 30 years ago. Malice not only toured as the opening act for theatrical hard rock legend Alice Cooper and thrash favorite Slayer, but also had a then-unknown Metallica as an opening act in 1982. There has been an absence of Malice for the better part of the last two decades, with its last full-length release (Licensed to Kill) coming out in 1986. But the band is back with the same evil intentions it always had with the new album New Breed of Godz, a collection of re-recorded classics such as “Against the Empire” and “Godz of Thunder,” as well as four new songs. Core guitarists Jay Reynolds and Mick Zane were joined by original bassist Mark Behn in the studio to record New Breed of Godz, with new members including Helstar singer James Rivera. With some California shows this weekend, Malice plans to tour Europe next month, with a possible North American tour this fall. Staying busy with Helstar and Malice, Rivera takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about metal’s resurrection.

This being your first album with Malice, what was your input, especially considering that much of the album is re-recorded versions of older songs?

My input on the new material was where we need to be and go musically. Malice was a band that a lot of people don’t even know who they are. They had a big thing going on pretty much at home, but not anywhere else. The first time I remember seeing them was when I was with a friend of mine who was totally into them and kept insisting that I go see them. But back in the day, when I lived in the Southern California area in 1987 or something, there was a band I was helping out called Daggers Edge. They took me to a show and I want to say it was Stryper, W.A.S.P. and Malice, but they were all going to see Malice and it had nothing to do with the rest of them. I was like, “OK, who’s this Malice band?” I had no clue. Then I saw them and was like, “Wow! Killer. Sounds like Judas Priest.”

Ever since I’ve gotten involved with the band, I’ve really wanted to do stuff from the first record when they were a little bit more Judas Priest metal. The second album was a little more Hollywood, but there were some great songs throughout the band’s career.

You’ve been performing with other bands for about the same amount of time that Malice has been in existence. Did any of those bands ever play with Malice or anything like that?

Courtesy Freeman Promotions

No. The way I got hooked up with Malice was me and Jay were in a classic ’80s metal tribute band called Denim and Leather based out of Las Vegas. The guy that put it together used to have members from Leatherwolf, Metal Church, Malice, Helstar, and eventually he got Jay and me in the band and that’s how we met. It went back to that show in San Diego and here we were 25 years later and he would just not let up, saying, “You’re going to be singing for Malice, dude! This is going to be the best shit ever.” Then we got invited to play the Keep It True festival and that’s where everything started. That was about a year ago.

With the new album out for just a few weeks, will you be going on tour to promote it?

Things are in the works to do a tour from Los Angeles to Texas. What we’re doing right now is we’re trying to capitalize on the markets where we’re both strong – from their past and who I am. I’m from Houston, so I’ve got a big following in Texas, and they have a following in California. But the big plan is to do a full-on U.S. tour in the fall.

You’re best known for your work with Helstar. Will you continue working with that band or are you working solely with Malice now?

No, Helstar is still my number one priority. We just had our 30-year anniversary show and we’re releasing a double live album and live DVD of the show we just did in Houston. We’re touring in Europe starting August 29 through September 15. That’s going strong and Helstar is basically my baby. That’s my bread and water and it is a priority project. Malice is a band I’m hoping is going to run parallel along the lines of Helstar and I’m more than happy to give it that chance. I have a tribute band called Sabbath Judas Sabbath that I keep busy with and I have seven chapters all over the world. Between all of that stuff, I’m kind of like a carpenter: “Where can I build? I will build. Give me a hammer and some tools and I’m there.”

How does the dynamic with Malice compare to your other bands?

Actually, I’ve become a lot more melodic with my singing. I’m doing more high-pitched stuff constantly, which is what they were known for back in the day. That exercises my voice, which is a good thing, and it allows me to do something a little bit more straightforward and commercial. I think if everything is done right promotional-wise, label-wise and business-wise with Malice, this band could actually take leaps and bounds over anything I’ve ever done in my life. That’s where my head is at and my heart is with it because I’ve put so much work into it. Helstar’s always going to be more of an underground band at this point. We’ve all decided and realized we’re never going to be Metallica or any of that stuff. We can keep putting out great records, we can tour Europe, we can do this, but we’re going to have a fan base. But I think Malice can actually take me to another point if everything is done right.

Why do you think the band has already reached that level previously?

Courtesy Freeman Promotions

Well, they kind of did. So far the album has gotten phenomenal reviews. For me, we’re talking about filling the shoes of some guy that was considered one of the greatest singers in the world. I think with all the great reviews, the one thing that’s different – and this is not only coming from major magazine writers in Germany and major promoters in Germany – when we did that Keep It True festival, the one thing I always heard was, “I just hope you can nail the stuff live because when we saw James Neal, he sucked live.” I said, “I kind of have to agree with that.” When the Keep It True show was over, that’s when the guy from SPV came to us and said, “I want to do a contract.” That’s a really big compliment to me. What you do in the studio and what you do live are two different things. Then I also heard straight from the horses mouth of the band, “Yeah, he was never good live. He did a couple of shows that were OK, but for the most part he never could do it.”

When you have Atlantic Records backing you up with thousands and thousands of dollars, I guess you can sit in the studio for two fucking months and do the vocals. I never had that treatment. I go in and I do the vocals in two weeks for every project I’ve ever done in my life. That’s it because I figure a song a day is all you need, not three months. I think that has a lot to do with why things are in a more positive spin now. The producer took what James Neal did and incorporated it with me. When I started this thing I would do everything just like James Neal did and he’d stop. He’d be laughing through the glass and be like, “Come here.” I’d be like, “Oh, shit. What did I do wrong now? What’s flat and what’s sharp?” And he’d be like, “Everything’s killer, but it sounds just like the old guy. I don’t want that. I want it to sound like you. So what we’re going to do is change that line.” I was real skeptical at first. But then when the band started hearing it, it was like, “Fuck yeah. This is metal now.” So I was like, “OK. Let’s keep going this way.” So being in this band has been a great thing for me.

This style of metal has never gone away, but it’s definitely been a while since it’s been mainstream. However, it also seems like there has been a resurgence of ’80s metal a of late. Do you think Malice could ride that wave to bigger success?

It’s resurfacing, that’s for sure. And it’s a good thing to know that we’re still some of the main ingredients from the old school that are around, because if we weren’t around it wouldn’t exist. Accept is fucking bigger than ever, Iced Earth and all these bands from back in the day are bigger now because of a new generation of kids that are into it. My son just graduated from high school and when he comes to the shows he brings 80 people that are all into metal. It reminds me of the old days in the ’80s when you’d have a garage band and play a backyard party and, dude, you’d have 500 people in that backyard. It’s kind of going back to that again and I think people are just getting tired of garbage and going, “Hey, this is the real music. This is musicianship. This is what it takes.” There’s a lot of bands out there that are very corporate and boring and I often wonder how the fuck these guys got there.

For more information, go to www.malicemusic.com.

Georgia Wrestling Now welcomes Rev. Dan Wilson and Casey Kincaid

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Things have been known to get a little weird on Georgia Wrestling Now, but a dark storm brewed (literally and metaphorically) when Team All You Can Eat’s Matt Hankins and Wrestling with Pop Culture took to the air this week. First we heard from the Rev. Dan Wilson, longtime manager of the Devil’s Rejects and the Hate Junkies at NWA Anarchy, NWA Chattanooga, Dragon*Con Wrestling and other promotions, and host of the Midnight Black Mass pop culture radio show. Then we talked to Empire/Platinum Championship Wrestling’s Casey Kincaid about his transformation from the masked Phantom to the latest winner of the prestigious Platinum Classic. Hankins recounted ghost stories with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper at Days of the Dead in Indianapolis, and we discussed recent and upcoming events in Georgia’s wrestling scene and more.

Casey Kincaid (formerly the Phantom) recently picked up a lot of momentum in Empire/PCW by winning he Platinum Classic (photo by Harold Jay Taylor)

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Georgia Wrestling Now welcomes Matt “Sex” Sells and Mr. Pump Yo Brakes

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We had some proverbial fireworks on this week’s pre-holiday edition of Georgia Wrestling Now as Team All You Can Eat’s Matt Hankins, “The Human Hand Grenade” dany only and Wrestling with Pop Culture spoke to to The New Tradition Pro Wrestling‘s Matt “Sex” Sells, who had a special announcement following the events of last Sunday’s show. We also talked to Empire/Platinum Championship Wrestling’s Mr. Pump Yo Brakes. And we heard from some tag team calling itself the Windy City Sweepers. The Jagged Edge called in to challenge only at PCW’s Revolutionary War Games on July 4. We also discussed recent and upcoming events in NWA Anarchy, TNT Pro Wrestling Empire Wrestling, PCW and more.

Former TNT Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Matt "Sex" Sells

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“The Amazing Spider-Man” spins a somewhat darker new web for Spider-Man mythos

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Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) reveals his secret to Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) in "The Amazing Spider-Man" (photo courtesy CTMG./ImageMagick)

Though it does seem odd to already be re-spinning the Spider-Man web, there’s not much else to complain about in The Amazing Spider-Man. In theaters July 3, this reboot retells a familiar tale, focusing on different aspects of Peter Parker’s past to give it an entirely different feel than the Sam Raimi trilogy from just a few years ago. And while the origin story is mostly the same, director Marc Webb (whose last name alone could have qualified him to direct this film) seems to be more interested not only in who Peter Parker is, but why he does some of the things he does and, more importantly, why he becomes Spider-Man.

The new Spider-Man is The Social Network‘s Andrew Garfield, whose gawkiness makes the teenage Peter Parker’s awkwardness all the more apparent. But Garfield’s take on Parker is more of a rebellious outcast than a social one. He stands up to the hallway bully, he rides a skateboard and he catches the attention of the equally dorky cutie Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). The nervous tension between the two is quite adorable, and it only gets more strained when Gwen learns of Peter’s secret.

Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans) doesn't realize the side effects of the otherwise positive results (photo by Jaimie Trueblood)

But perhaps the most interesting difference between Raimi’s and Webb’s take on Spider-Man is how he comes to acquire his powers. In The Amazing Spider-Man, Parker is trying to find out why his parents left him with his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field) at a young age, and why his father’s past is so mysterious. A science wiz himself, Peter uncovers a secret formula his father had come up with that could be incredibly positive or devastating, depending on who else possesses this knowledge. In order to find more answers, Peter tracks down Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), a prominent Oscorp scientist who once worked very closely with Peter’s father. It is upon a visit to Oscorp that Peter is bitten by a genetically-enhanced spider (also the result of his father’s previous research). Though Connors seems like a trustworthy person to reveal his father’s secret to, Connors’ interest is not purely professional as it could result in the regeneration of his missing limb. And when Oscorp decides to shut down Connors’ research efforts (while claiming all of his progress as its own), Connors resorts to drastic measures that result in a Godzilla-like rampage through New York City.

Stylistically, The Amazing Spider-Man is just as impressive as Riami’s interpretations, but in very different ways. Spidey’s costume has a more sleek appearance (thanks to Cirque du Soleil designers) and even though there’s no wrestling match against Randy Savage like we saw in Raimi’s first film, Peter’s decision to wear a mask is inspired by luchador imagery. Though all of his powers aren’t genetic this time around (Peter actually makes the wrist-worn web slingers, as was the case in the original comic book story), it is interesting to see Spider-Man’s behavior and mannerisms becoming more and more like those of an actual spider. Webb continues to play on the natural tendencies of spiders, as well as Connor’s lizard-like traits, as much of the action takes place in subterranean sewers (a natural urban habitat for spiders and lizards). But whether it’s underground, on street level or high above New York skyscrapers, The Amazing Spider-Man has some, um, amazing stylistic shots, including some very Nosferatu-like shadow play in the sewers.

Spider-Man's luchador-inspired look was designed by Cirque du Soleil (photo by Jaimie Trueblood)

To make Parker/Spider-Man’s journey for self discovery all the more complicated, it turns out that Gwen’s father (Denis Leary) is also the police captain who thinks Spider-Man is a menace rather than a hero. But despite Captain Stacy‘s attempted smear campaign, the rest of New York recognizes Spidey’s heroism and rallies behind him in his final battle to save the city (and Gwen) from the Lizard’s evil plot to turn everyone into monsters like the one he has become. Such an empowering gesture is not lost on Peter, an outcast not used to having the support of so many people, especially when he’s dressed in a skin-tight outfit and swinging from skyscrapers and cranes.

The Greek-like comedy and tragedy that have become woven into the Spider-Man mythos remain intact here, and Webb really seems to have fun with the interaction between the characters and Peter’s attempts at understanding and harnessing his newfound powers. None of the characters are completely good or evil, which adds a sense of realism to the otherwise appropriately comic book-y tone. And with a closing-credits hint at who Spider-Man’s next opponent will be, it seems that a new Spider-Man franchise has been born (at least until someone decides it’s time for another reboot or whatever).

The Amazing Spider-Man. Directed by Marc Webb. Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans and Denis Leary. Rated PG-13. www.theamazingspiderman.com.

Tumbler Tour offers a close-up look at Batman’s vehicles

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Unfortunately we still have to wait a few weeks before we see Batman take on Bane and Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. But in the meantime you can see the intricate details of the actual vehicles you’ve seen in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as they visit cities across the country on the Tumbler Tour. And given the technologically-advanced nature of the Tumbler (the tank-like vehicle commonly known to fans as the Batmobile) and the Bat-Pod (the Tumbler’s motorcycle-like escape pod), it takes a special person to operate these vehicles. Wrestling with Pop Culture caught up with Jim Johnson, the transportation manager for Wayne Enterprises, on a recent tour stop. But as you might expect from someone who works for a reclusive billionaire like Bruce Wayne, Johnson wasn’t willing to reveal too much about the vehicles, the new movie or any possible connections between Bruce Wayne and Batman.

As the only authorized driver of the Tumbler and the Bat-Pod on the Tumbler Tour, how did you become qualified for such a job?

I work in the transportation department of Wayne Enterprises. The vehicles were built by Wayne Enterprises and Batman uses them for fighting crime.

That implies that there may be a connection between Batman and Bruce Wayne, and there’s already some speculation as to who Batman is. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Nobody knows who Batman is.

These vehicles appear to be military in nature, which means operating them probably isn’t very simple. What was your background prior to being hired by Wayne Enterprises that led to you being chosen to operate these vehicles?

I’ve always been in the transportation field. I drive everything and we’re just taking them on tour to promote the new movie.

I understand the original intended use of the Tumbler was for bridging for military purposes…

Yeah, it was originally designed for the military to bridge open areas and to cross large distances. It’ll jump about four feet high.

As we saw in The Dark Knight, the Bat-Pod was originally inside the Tumbler for use as an escape pod. Since they are being displayed as individual vehicles, does that mean we will see both of them used separately in The Dark Knight Rises?

We just want to show them both on the Tumbler Tour. He uses the Bat-Pod to escape from the Tumbler when he needs to. It’s more agile for moving around the city. But I have not seen anything about the new movie and I’m very limited about what I’m allowed to say.

How often do you actually talk to Bruce Wayne? What is he like?

I’ve never talked to him. Wayne Enterprises is a big company and he’s a very busy man.

For more information, go to www.tumblertour.com.

Cirque du Soleil immortalizes Michael Jackson with music, theatrics

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As is the case with any significant artist or musician, the spirit often lives on long after the person is no longer with us through the music and images he leaves behind. And when you’re talking about someone as eclectic as Michael Jackson, you should expect nothing less for his remembrance than the elaborate costumes and unique circus performers of Cirque du Soleil. Having started in Cirque’s home town of Montreal last October, Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour features MJ favorites like “Beat It,” “Ben” and “Man in the Mirror” while Cirque dancers, aerialists and acrobats add to the costumed spectacle seen in his iconic videos. Having performed in more than 60 North American cities since October, the tour continues through August before heading to Europe for the rest of the year. With a three-night stand in Atlanta starting tonight, tour spokesperson Laura Silverman talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about The Immortal Tour‘s spectacle.

This isn’t Cirque du Soleil’s first show based on a particular pop musician. For those of us who have yet to see MJ, how does it compare to other Cirque du Soleil performances?

Aerialists perform to “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” in “Michael Jackson: The Immortal Tour” (photo courtesy OSA Images)

This show is much different from any other Cirque du Soleil show, including the Beatles and Elvis shows. It’s very much Cirque du Soleil meets rock/pop concert whereas the other shows are much more theatrical. This one really feels like you’re at a Michael Jackson concert. It’s taking Cirque du Soleil elements that people know the company for – contortionists, aerials, acrobatics and all of that – and pairing it with Michael Jackson’s music, his iconic dance moves and the flashy costumes that both Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil are known for. So it really has a high-energy concert feel to it as opposed to it being a theatrical show.

Was Michael Jackson creatively involved with the show before he passed away?

Unfortunately this specific project didn’t come about until after his passing, but he was a fan of Cirque du Soleil. He saw one of the very first big top shows in Santa Monica in the 1980s and he visited our international headquarters in Montreal in 2004. So there had always been a mutual respect between Cirque du Soleil and Michael Jackson. Cirque du Soleil is always trying to outdo itself coming up with new ideas for its shows and costumes and technology, and Michael Jackson was the same way. He was always thinking ahead of the curve, always coming up with ideas for things you couldn’t even do yet. In that respect, I think that partnership was natural.

Since the focus of this show is on the music and you said it is more like a rock concert than a typical Cirque du Soleil show, are most of the performers dancers or does it have the different types of performers we might see at any other Cirque du Soleil show?

A somewhat macabre seen from Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal Tour” (photo courtesy OSA Images)

We have a great mix. There are 61 total artists in our show, so that breaks down to about 12 musicians, 26 acrobats and 23 dancers. We have our duo aerial artists, a man and woman swinging and flying together in the air; we have a contortion act; and there’s a pole dancer act and she’s a two-time world champion in pole dancing, so she’s just phenomenal. There’s a Japanese acrobatic team that does a really amazing number to “Sream.” And there’s aerial stuff interjected into the dance numbers, too. So for “Thriller,” for example, you’re going to see our dancers doing the signature “Thriller” moves that most people will recognize, but you’re also going to see our acrobats flying through the air.

Speaking of “Thriller,” is the show a collection of interpretations of his songs and videos or is it more trying to capture the overall spirit of Michael Jackson, or maybe a little bit of both?

It’s definitely a little bit of both. The idea of the show is to pay tribute and celebrate everything that Michael Jackson left to us, from his music, his voice, his dance moves, his costumes, his messages and the overall idea of his spirit. So in the numbers where there are iconic Michael Jackson moves or costumes, we’ve paired those with Cirque du Soleil. So with “Thriller,” there are not only werewolves and zombies, but our artists add mummy costumes to the “Thriller” dance and we also add acrobatics to that. And with “Smooth Criminal,” for example, you’re going to see that iconic lean move, but we have pyrotechnics involved in the number. It was easy to coordinate this because there were a ton of choreographers that worked on the show, many of whom had actually worked with Michael Jackson for many years. So they were able to take moves that Michael Jackson was known for and sort of elaborate on that.

Has this show changed or evolved very much since it started last fall?

Cirque du Soleil recreates the “Smooth Criminal” lean in “Michael Jackson: The Immortal Tour” (photo courtesy OSA Images)

With any Cirque show we’re always working to make things better and evolve it as necessary. Nothing has changed in the show, but we always consider our projects sort of a work in progress and tweak things to make it the best it can be.

Once this tour wraps up in Europe next year, are there plans to do another Michael Jackson show that might incorporate some of his other songs?

There’s nothing like that planned for this show, but there is a completely different show planned to open in Vegas next year. But I’m not sure if that one will include different songs. It will be at Mandalay Bay sometime next year.

For more information, go to www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/show/michael-jackson-tour.