Billy Idol

What can you say about Billy Idol?  That the mold was broken after he arrived on the music scene with his pioneer punk band Generation X in 1976?  That he was music video pioneer?  That he lived the life of a rock star while retaining his punk rock beliefs?  After a serious motorcycle accident and some substance abuse problems, Billy Idol took a well-deserved twelve-year break from the music business.  His latest album, Devil’s Playground [Sanctuary Records] is pure unadulterated Billy Idol.  I interviewed Billy Idol via email while he was between tours in August 2005. 

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Iron Maiden

Simply put, Iron Maiden had to co-headline OZZfest 2005. From the band’s perspective, spending the summer on OZZfest would expose the legendary Maiden machine to a vast new, younger audience. And from OZZfest’s perspective, Iron Maiden were the only remaining band left to headline the summer caravan. It was the best of both worlds for both parties, and creates an even better world for fans of heavy metal, as the double-billing of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden creates one of the most potent top-heavy package tours in music history. Ironically, while neither band are boasting new material, there are three solo albums being released this summer from their cumulative forces, two from Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, and one from Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson. We won’t be hearing any of the new material this summer, and there’s only a possibility that any of them will tour solo this fall, which makes their presence on the road this summer even more monumental. Especially in the case of Iron Maiden. While Black Sabbath tours have become an annual occurrence as of late, there’s no telling what the future holds for Maiden, especially in America. Their last album, Dance Of Death, was a chart success for the band, but it resulted in only two domestic tour stops in New York and Los Angeles. And with frontman Bruce Dickinson being a full-time airline pilot outside of Iron Maiden, we have to approach any opportunity he takes to tour as privileged circumstances… 

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Imperial Battlesnake

Firmly seizing upon the bombastic hammer of thundering metal, comes Imperial Battlesnake. This Chicago-land experience consists of King James and his aggressive drum beating, Doom Wop Costanza hopping up the explosive bass playing with intestinal fortitude, Greazy Dave Reece augmenting the relentless guitar killing with powerful staring and tongue tornados, Ronnie James Theo exemplifying skin-scaring guitar riffing with quicksilver solos, and Wes Nile spewing forth a mouth-warping vocal rampage while sporting a Napoleon Complex. 

With so many colorful characters to choose from, one can hardly go wrong! Recently I touched base with the Imperial Battlesnake troupe for a quick e-interview.

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In This Moment

After the recent release of their new album, “The Dream” on September 30, IN THIS MOMENT find themselves on tour. Somewhat familiar with Wisconsin, after hitting the stage hard for Band Camp ’07, they have returned, opening for Five Finger Death Punch.

The band has gone through a lot of sound adjustments in their four years together and have developed what Chris Howorth (guitarist) defines as “melodic rock and roll with a little bit of heavy metal.”  The new album concentrates more on song development rather than the almighty riff.  Maria Brink’s (vocalist) screams are less apparent than their previous release, but the band still manages to stay heavy with melody.  Howorth and Jesse Landry (bassist) account their changing sound to the diverse musical choices of the group. Howorth is the appointed “metal guy,” but they account everything from Kiss and Pantera to Ratt and Def Leppard as influences.

Each band member seems to have their own preferences as to which of their songs was the favorite, but their live favorite was a resounding, “Daddy’s Fallen Angel.” Landry explained that it was one of their heaviest songs in the set list and really seemed to click with the more rambunctious crowds. The live show seemed to be their favorite part of the whole lifestyle, and even though budgets are tight these guys plan to continue doing what they love.

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ILONA EUROPA

Singer/Songwriter Ilona Europaʼs unique sound of pop combined with rocktronica has landed her to features in Billboard Magazine, REMIX Magazine, Women Who Rock Magazine, EQ Magazine, and Best Magazine, to name a few. Her single “Live Forever” debuted at #66 on the Billboard Global Dance Traxx chart and her single, “Degree of Love” was licensed (along with numerous additional Europa tracks) for the blockbuster dance game HELIX which debuted on the NIintendo Wii system in the USA and is scheduled for International versions on Wii, Playstation and Xbox. Her single, “Because I Love You” remixed by Madonna and Seal favorite Josh Harris is enjoyed 10 weeks on the Soundworks Record Pool Chart. Ilona’s music is a mainstay feature in Abercrombie and Fitch and Adidas stores, and on CW TV and Playboy TV. Known for her singles, her latest full album release, “EURO-CIZE, By ILONA EUROPA,” is currently available world- wide on CD and is available for download globally through every digital music store. Ilona Europa also holds an agency position as talent agent for the prestigious VOX agency in Los Angeles, California, and is a music producer and corespondent for CWG Music Magazine. Ilona is the only named vocalist ever to provide a professional loop library for SONYʼs Acid Loop libraries – ILONA: Universal Female Vocal Toolkit, and she was called on by Sony to support their CineScore Film Library with her vocals.

Maximum Ink: What was it like when you first knew you wanted to be a musician?
Ilona Europa: I remember this day very well. I was maybe 7 years old. It was a very cold winter early morning. My father woke me up for school and the radio played one song after another that I loved. I closed my eyes and saw myself on the stage singing with all the singers,  I was listening too. 15 years later I was singing with them professionally in many shows and tours. I believe in the power of visualization of your dreams and always say - what is important is not the goal but the journey to get there. Of course I was studying music ‘till I was 23 and finished the Music Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in vocals. I also won many talent festivals and toured the world singing with bands and orchestras.

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I Fight Dragons

Bratfest 2009, Saturday May 23rd - stage two, early afternoon; the six-headed monster that is I Fight Dragons grab their joysticks and commence to rock with old school video game samples, digitally modified vocals and fanboy fantasies of conquering worlds and getting all the girls. Smarmy and cynical, IFD’s boyish charms and killer riffs pick a part hearts and kick out the jams. “I just tried to keep the guiding principle that it had to be fun, joyous, and smart,” says lead vocalist Brian Mazzaferri. A glib, gleeful stew of polished geek-pop anthems, old school video gamer gambits and rockin’ smartass scholarship, IFD take their Super Mario soundbites, new wave power-ballad cravings and studio noodling to a whole other level.

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In This Moment

Still rolling on the release of their newest album, The Dream, IN THIS MOMENT will be back in Wisconsin at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, and the Orpheum, with MUDVAYNE on February 9th and 18th respectively. Whether you are a veteran fan or a first time listener this quintet is bound to grab your attention both live and with their amazing studio talents.

Digressing from their first album, Beautiful Tragedy, the new record takes a lighter approach to heavy music. Showing true diversity and gusto, the new album is “more song oriented rather than focusing so heavily on riffs,” explains Maria Brink (vocals). Their influences span from, the riff masters, Pantera to Johnny Cash creating a very diverse sound in their music. Brink attributes the more melodic take on the new album to seeing Ozzy play when they were on the Ozzfest Tour. “Watching a massive crowd sing all his songs back to him really inspired us to twist our songs in a different direction,” explains Brink. Her highly recognizable screams are still present, but there is a whole new layering with melody and harsh sounds. Brink continues, “I was really angry on the first album, and I write about my passions and experiences,” and there is a whole new understanding with The Dream.

Brink explains that singing is, actually, much more challenging for her than the screaming. She digresses about Cash not being the greatest singer, but “you can feel what he is singing.” Music becomes about an escape from the reality that all of us are stuck in, and Brink feels the album keeps the heavy sound while being lighter because it still conveys “that specific attitude of not falling into what everybody else does… independence and power.” As a female lead, a somewhat unique position in hard rock and heavy metal, Brink feels that people often blow such an aspect out of proportion. “People sometimes don’t take our music as seriously, but that all disappears when the music starts,” explains Brink.

IN THIS MOMENT constantly challenges themselves to play better live. Being onstage is “where I feel most free and alive, everything stays away,” and Brink certainly displays this passion on stage with more enthusiasm that many of her peers. The most inspiring part is Brink’s battle with anxiety. She explains that she has only suffered on stage twice, and in reality the stage is what allows her to transgress above such complications. In fact, she continues, “fear is the greatest adversity I’ve had to overcome,” not from anxieties, but rather the fear and doubt while chasing a dream. She expressed her gratitude, the greatest thing as a musician is, “inspiring fans and being able to do what I love everyday.”

Whether it’s the older pit favorite, “Daddy’s Fallen Angel,” or the new crowd mover, “Mechanical Love,” these musicians deliver. Through her mother’s influence, Brink easily found metal and she uses those influences to develop an ever-changing genre of music with her bandmates. Heavy melodies and screeching overtones, as well as incredibly high energy and a true passion for music are what make them a band to watch. After their dates over the next couple months, IN THIS MOMENT plans to head for Europe as well as being scheduled to play the Warped Tour. Brink explains with the utmost excitement, “this is what I feel like I’m here to do… it makes me feel alive.”

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