Highwire Daze Issue #142

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MA Y|J UN2022

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AOR, BONNI EBRAE , CHE RRYST . , DI ANE&T HEDE DUCT I BL E S, T HEHARD WA Y ,MA YHE M,ORI ANT HI ,PA YT ON,ST E PHE N BI SHOP , T HESWANSONS, WI KKI DST ARRANDMORE . . .

NEW NAME – NEW LOGO – NEW ATTITUDE – NEW EDGE

Exciting New Releases May – June 2022

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BRIAN MANNIX & THE ANDROIDS – “HIT ME” CD/LP AVAILABLE: JUNE

AUDIO REIGN INTERNATIONAL EDITION CD AVAILABLE NOW

DEVOID – CUP OF TEARS CD AVAILABLE: MAY REISSUE

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Publisher Highwire Daze Magazine A General Partnership Editor Ken Morton Managing Editor Danny S. Pasley Senior Photographer Jack Lue East Coast Editor Jupiter Lee Contributors Ken Morton Jack Lue Jupiter Lee James Grover Kim Crain Vivian Ortega Tony F. Corpse

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERVIEWS with...

Saxon....................................................................14 Michael Schenker..................................................18 Visions Of Atlantis.................................................22 Stephen Bishop......................................................26 The Haunt..............................................................30 Payton....................................................................34 AOR......................................................................38 Cherry St...............................................................42 Wikkid Starr..........................................................46 Orianthi.................................................................50

THE HAUNT POSTER by JACK LUE...............................32/33 CONCERT REVIEWS Mayhem.................................................................56 Rock For Life Benefit Concert with Carry The Day, Against The Sun, Anson, Chasing Desolation, State Five.................58

Cover Art by Yannick d’Assignes of Smart Works Intl Cover Photos by Jack Lue HIGHWIRE DAZE 827 N. Hollywood Way PMB419 Burbank, CA 91505-2814 www.highwiredaze.com email: ken@highwiredaze.com Copyright 2022 Highwire Daze Magazine Opinions expressed within this publication do not neccessarily reflect those of the publisher.

All rights reserved. Nothing may be produced in whole or in part without the express and written permission of the publisher.

Supporting Noise Pollution Since 1990!

ALBUMS REVIEWS Bonnie Brae, Derek Davis, Madman’s Lullaby, The Swansons........................................................60 SKETCHES BY THE EDITOR................................................... 8 PRODUCT REVIEW BY JAMES GROVER...........................10 IN MUSICAL ORBIT BY JUPITER Audio Reign review..............................................12 Visit us at THE NAMM SHOW - June 3-5, 2022 The Anaheim Convention Center - Hall B - Booth 8500

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Classic Rock, Hair Metal, Black Metal, Metalcore, Heavy Metal, Pop Punk, Punk Rock HIGHWIRE DAZE

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Sketches By The Editor Editor Ken with Clémetine Delauney from Visions Of Atlantis

Welcome to Highwire Daze Issue #142, featuring interviews with Biff Byford of Saxon, Michael Schenker, Clémetine Delauney from Visions Of Atlantis and more!

This is also The NAMM Show Edition! The last time The NAMM Show took place at The Anaheim Convention Center was January of 2020 - right before the emergence of Covid-19, which would make a dramatic change on all our lives. And now June 3-5 in the year of 2022, we are back at The NAMM Show making new contacts and rediscovering our passion for this massive music industry. Highwire Daze will have a booth at The NAMM Show, sponsored by The Sandgaard Foundation. Thomas Sandgaard and his team continue the fight against the opioid epidemic, and Highwire Daze is proud join The Sandgaard Foundation in bringing awareness to this ongoing crisis. We are honored to have Thomas Sandgaard as our special guest at the Highwire Daze NAMM Show booth. Diane Adams of Diane & The Deductibles and Mila Hiles will also be at our booth, both who will be co-hosting once again. And of course our Senior Photographer Jack Lue will be there as well, documenting the entire event. I am grateful to call these wonderful people my friends and appreciate their amazing support!

I would also like to welcome Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography to our staff. She has photos in our Rock For Life Benefit Concert Coverage starting on Page 58 - and even more on the way in our next issue as well as online.

See you all at The NAMM Show - Hall B - Booth 8500 - and watch for signing announcements on Facebook and Instagram!

Down In Wuhan

‘Death’ Released May 14th2021

‘Furyous’ Released September 10th, 2021

New original 12 song Hollywood Hard-Rock album Down In Wuhan released world-wide on 8/28/21!

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Be sure to check out our animated lyric videos for both singles and subscribe to our YouTube Channel At:

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Product Review by

James Grover Product Review Boss CH-1 Super Chorus Stereo Guitar Pedal

In 1976 Boss released its first chorus pedal named the Boss CE-1, the “Big Grey chorus pedal” single-handedly catapulted the boss brand to the top of the guitar effects game, thanks to its unmistakable warm analog stereo chorus and vibrato sounds.

In 1989 they released its cousin version the Boss CH-1, since its debut in 1989 the Boss CH-1 has been heard on Countless hit records it has individual knobs for level, EQ, rate, and depth that can create smooth chorus effects into a stereo output to create classic clean swirls that have become standard in the studio and live applications.

I first got my hands on this pedal in 1989, I remember walking into a small music store in Los Angeles California and in the glass case was this really cool display of Boss pedals, so I asked the guy behind the counter if I could try out the Boss Ch-1 Chorus Pedal and I was blown away when I heard the chorus come out of that tiny pedal, at the age of 19 I was in college and broke, I just knew then and there I needed to have this pedal so I stood there and thought about it, after a while I bit the bullet to buy it for a hundred bucks! (Laughs) and today it is still a staple in my pedalboard. I have used this pedal for many years in studio and on stage and it has never failed. The individual controls help you dial in your chorus effect from faint too heavy. This pedal has been used in multiple recordings with artists such as Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Joe Satriani, Jerry Cantrell, Dave Mustaine and Robert Smith just to name a few. Today this pedal is still available for purchase and it still continues to dominate the chorus effects that we here on hit songs on the radio.

Likes:

Likes and Dislikes

What I really like about this pedal is that it’s very versatile with stereo outputs and great control it’s light and can fit easily inside your guitar case. The quality of the pedal is built for the road and the long run.

Dislikes:

If I had any dislikes about this pedal I would be making it up this pedal has nothing wrong with it other than it’s blue LOL

Reach James Grover at: https://www.facebook.com/james.grover.311 10

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Hey everyone! It’s Jupiter Lee - East Coast Editor. Check out my record reviews here and be sure to add me on Facebook! Link is at the end of my column...

Audio Reign: International Deluxe Edition Audio Reign MR Records Formed in 2011, Australian based rockers Audio Reign have just released the International Deluxe Edition of their self- titled album, Audio Reign. Musicians are JAKE FLEMING on lead vocals and guitar, ASHLEY LOVETT on bass and backing vocals, ALEK DYRYNDA on lead guitar and DIETER SCHOELL

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handling the drums and background vocals. Busting out of the gate with a fast, heavy, screaming tight riff is Betrayal.

Gives you a moment then the awesome voice tops it off immediately and you’re hooked! It’s also featured as a hit single. Another favorite tune of mine on here is track 03, Senses . Track 04, One Way has LOVETT and DYRYNDA completely in sync. Broken’ #05 contains absolutely riffs from Hell and kept me listening till the unexpected end. So hot! Then a calming break in the music and all of a sudden comes track 06, The Portrait. Beginning with gentle acoustic guitar picking and FLEMING’s clear voice but only for a minute until you’re used to it, then the song comes crashing into killing, galloping pandemonium.

The vocals and vocal harmonies seem to set up the perfect location for the guitar solo I’ve been wanting to hear. Awesome! Nearing the end of the album is track 09 Falling and felt to me like it could be one of their finest pieces on here. My version of the album contained 14 tracks including the three bonus tracks. This spectacular new release has hit it out of the ballpark!

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SAXON

SEIZING THE DAY WITH THE EPIC CARPE DIEM Interview by Ken Morton - Photo by Jack Lue

Since their beginnings in 1977, Saxon has been seizing the day in nothing short of an epic way, delivering their own legendary brand of classic heavy metal. And now in 2022, the almighty Saxon has unleashed Carpe Diem, their 24th studio magnum opus via Silver Lining Music, and this recording is sure to enrapture music fans all over the world. Highwire Daze recently caught up with Saxon’s dynamic front man Biff Byford to find out more about thier standout new album Carpe Diem and discuss other topics from their vast and brilliant legacy.

Let’s dive right in and talk about the new album. Is there any overall story or concept behind the Carpe Diem album title? It’s a very inspiring title for such a crazy time.

I came up with the song a little bit later than some of them. Yeah – Carpe Diem – there’s a place in Northern England about an hour away from where I live where there’s an old wall that the Romans built 2000 years ago that stretches from coast to coast across England. And I was up there during the end of Covid looking around and looking at museums. And on one of the walls is carved Carpe Diem and it spiked my interest. It obviously means Seize The Day. I just thought that would be a cool title for the album and a cool title for the song. It’s very positive coming out of Covid a little bit now, so it’s a bit like “Seize The Day” “Take every day as it comes.” So yeah, there’s a positive vibe to it, I think.

When creating Carpe Diem, how much did the pandemic and social unrest in the world influence your writing, if at all?

I think it influenced my lyric writing definitely. I think as far as the music is concerned, I wanted it to be a high energy album – everything positive and looking forward – not too much backwards. I think it did have an effect on us because there were no real tight deadlines because they all kept passing by – and I was able to just think about it a bit more lyrically and put a bit more thought into the lyrics. So, I suppose in that way, it affected me, yeah.

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Another major event that happened in your life prior to the recording was your heart attack. How did that affect the way you looked at your lyric writing and just life in general?

It definitely influenced the title of Seize The Day without a doubt! But yeah, it was a strange time, only because it wasn’t like a Hollywood type heart attack – it wasn’t like something on a hospital soap show. It was a very steady, slow thing that was happening to me. I had a lot of time in hospital sitting around doing nothing really waiting for the team to make up their minds what they were going to do with me. I was writing a few lyrics and things while I was in the hospital, so yeah, it was a strange thing. They couldn’t May/June 2022

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give me what you call stints. It was a little bit like a car really – they just went in and changed some parts while they were in there – give me a little bit of a service.

One of the singles is called Remember The Fallen. Let’s talk a little about that song and the inspiration behind it.

I wrote that song quite late again. I was thinking “Should I do a song about Covid? And if I did a song about Covid, how shall I approach it?” So, I just thought about what I thought about Covid. It obviously came from China – why and where and what happened we don’t know. You could have two people in one house and one of them died and the other one didn’t have any symptoms whatsoever. It’s a very strange virus really. But I just thought to put it down in words really. And I thought about doing a song about the people that died – obviously, family, friends, doctors, nurses, all the front-line people, a lot of the older people in the care homes and nursing homes – those were the ones that died first. But yeah, I wanted to put something down about it really. And I remember in the Fall – and I think it’s sort of treating it a little bit like a war – which actually I think it was definitely a war in the first year of Covid. That’s what was behind my thinking really. And I think people have taken it quite well.

Select any other song from Carpe Diem and what inspired the lyrics for you.

Pilgrimage which is the new single – I was thinking about the word Pilgrimage and what it meant to people and what the actual word means. A lot of people would think it’s a religious thing – that you go to a site of some church where a miracle happened – somebody was healing, or somebody saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary or something that healed them. But actually, when you look at the word itself, it means a lot of different things – like people go to Paris to see Jim Morrison’s grave, to see Jimi Hendrix’s grave in Seattle. People go to France to see where their grandfathers and great grandfathers fought in the first and second world wars. And going to festivals – I suppose modern day festivals is a bit of a pilgrimage. It’s someplace where to go to find something special – to that special place.

Like for example, I hope to go to Wacken one day and make my pilgrimage there.

That’s right! You’re going to travel a long way and your expectations of getting there are going to be so great. It’s actually going to be a bit of a spiritual awakening when you get there! Music is in that certain cycle of pilgrimages. Especially a lot of younger people go to like Coachella things in the US. Wacken, Sweden Rocks, Glastonbury – I mean Glastonbury itself is a pilgrimage place. But I think the festival in itself is even more a pilgrimage place now.

What was it like working with your son on this album and HIGHWIRE DAZE

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will there be any other Heavy Water projects with him?

It was great working with Seb. He’s a great singer – he has a nice tone to his voice – he doesn’t should much like me, but the voices do match quite nicely. And we’re making another Heavy Water album right now actually as we speak.

He’s off surfing today, but we’ve done the drums and we’re working on the guitars at the moment. So yeah, that will be out at some point in the future – I don’t know when.

And of course, you recently did a solo album. What was that experience like doing something away from Saxon?

It was good fun actually. Some of the songs were a bit personal to me and all that on School Of Hard Knocks – some of the more laid-back stuff. I got to write with some other people – with some friends in Sweden – but yeah, it was good fun actually. I think I needed to do it because people were asking me. And Nigel and Doug had a solo album out – and Paul has his little club band called The Cards – so yeah, I’ll do a solo album. Why not? See what happens…

I saw Saxon with Motorhead at the Shrine Auditorium and I was wondering – what was the final Motorhead tour like with Lemmy?

It was a long tour we did with Motorhead. We did Europe and America – and then we went back to Europe again, It was great, but it was sad at the same time. Obviously, Lemmy was ill. Some days he would be okay and other days he would be really ill. He was just trying to do the shows. And some of the shows were great and some of them he couldn’t do. It was sad, because Lemmy’s always wanted to break America because he lived there, and it was important to him.

Saxon and Maiden went to America in the early 80’s, and 15

Motorhead didn’t go, and it sort of was a bit of a thing with him that they should be there. Their record company and management at the time didn’t think it was wise, so I don’t know. But on that tour, they actually had sold a lot of tickets – and they actually had broken America on that tour, I think.

It’s just sad that he didn’t live long enough to get to see that success really. When we played, the tour ended before Christmas in Europe that year, and Lemmy was texting me over Christmas saying, “I thought the tour was great and I can’t wait to get back on the road” and do some shows with us. But he died and it was quite sad. He was very ill – when you were talking backstage with him, you could see that he was quite ill.

And then another tour that you did was with the legendary UFO. What was that like?

I love UFO! We toured with UFO in the 80’s actually – in 1984, I think. So yeah, we knew the UFO guys and we knew the early band – we knew Michael Schenker really well. So, it was great. I love UFO – they’re great! Great songs! They’re a big influence on Saxon definitely. It was great playing with them – they’re all really cool guys!

Are there any plans to tour in support of Carpe Diem here in the States?

Yeah, we were trying to put something together for April/ May, but it’s really difficult to plan anything across the States upfront at the moment. So, we’re going to have to

wait. Some tours are going ahead, but they were planned a long time ago. So yeah, we’re just going to have to keep an eye on that – but we’re definitely going to tour with USA with the Carpe Diem/Seize The Day World Tour – definitely!

What has kept you so passionate about Saxon since 1977?

The thing with me – as I get older, I get more driven – I’m probably the opposite of a lot of people. I want to make great music. I want to make every album better and different – so that’s what drives me really. The focus and enthusiasm for writing music. I’m a songwriter and storyteller really – I put those words to British metal music – and that’s all there is to it really. It’s just what I’m driven to do.

And do you have any messages for Saxon fans out here in the States?

We have loads of Saxon fans in the States – and it’s growing! We have a growing fan base in America actually.

There’s a lot of word of mouth happening with Saxon at the moment with the album. “This album’s great – you should check it out!” So yeah – the Saxon fans – there’s a lot of them and they’re scattered all over America. We have a wide fan base – young and old and in the middle! It’s just a matter of getting over there and consolidating the success – and putting it all together into a tour really. That would be great!

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Michael Schenker Group and The Universe

Interview by Ken Morton - Photo by Jack Lue The legendary Michael Schenker goes intergalactic and well beyond with Universal, his latest and greatest magnum opus of hard rock now available via Atomic Fire Records. With the omnipresent Ronnie Romero on lead vocals and a cast of the finest musicians in the galaxy, Universal by Michael Schenker Group (aka MSG) is sure to send music fans into even greater stratospheric heights! In the interview, Michael Schenker discusses the making of Universal, his many artistic collaborations found within his auditory journey, the upcoming US tour, and more...

Is there any overall story or concept behind the album title Universal?

It’s just simply when I did my first Temple Of Rock album a few years ago, I had Captain Kirk – William Shatner from Star Trek – he was speaking on my album Intro – and 18

based on that I had an idea for an album cover. So, I made a little sketch, and I had my website kind of do a bit more to it. And then when I was doing this album, I remembered that sketch. It wasn’t good for the time when I sketched it, but when I was doing this album, I was thinking about album covers and I remembered that sketch. I showed it to my record company, and they liked it and they did something to it. Basically, it was already what the album cover was, and obviously there were lots of planets on there. And that cover kind of suggested Universe anyway – Universe – Universal – or The Universe. It was asking for it just by looking at it.

So, there’s some thoughts behind too of doing what we want to do, like flying through space and maybe doing concerts on distant planets (laughs) with a UFO behind me. And like with Universal – music is a universal language that can be understood by any nationality or any kind of being. So, it is connected to that kind of stuff. That’s how it came together, but it obviously has a lot of (meanings), and one can make out May/June 2022

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of it different things.

Your main vocalist Ronnie Romero is in every band under the sun and now he’s in the Michael Schenker Group. How did Ronnie become involved and what do you like the most about Ronnie’s voice?

Ronnie was on the Michael Schenker Fest Revelation album – he was already singing We Are The Voice. We were looking for somebody who was able to – because it was the last song on the Revelation album to be completed – and Ronnie was doing a really professional, great job and he left a lasting impression on me. Plus, he did something with Ritchie Blackmore – and Ritchie and I – we are kind of living in a parallel universe. A lot of stuff that happened to Ritchie happened to me. Everybody who left Rainbow joined Michael Schenker Group. Anyway, and here we go, and Ronnie started to become part of the band slowly. We started our rehearsal for a Japan tour, and that never happened because of the pandemic.

So, Ronnie was asked to participate on the Immortal album, and Ronnie was singing many songs on that one already.

And now we did this album. I wanted him to be the main singer on this album, and he agreed. He also agreed to going on tour with us – and so he became the singer of the band.

Someone you have worked with together consistently in Michael Schenker Fest and Michael Schenker Group is Steve Mann from Lionheart. What makes the both of you work so well together?

Steve Mann – he was in McAuley Schenker Group as well.

We have been working together for a long time. And he was actually doing a lot of the engineering for our demos. Steve Mann is a quite important musician – he’s very good – he’s a fast learner. He produces bands and stuff like that. He’s a very valuable musician for us. Since ‘85, that’s when I met him for the first time and that’s when we played together.

Since then, there were periods he was not in the picture. Then he came back to the foreground. I think it could have been that Wayne Findlay wasn’t available, and Steve Mann – I was thinking of him as like a great replacement – and that’s how it started.

You and Michael Voss from Mad Max make a great team.

What do think makes you both work so well together on these albums?

It just kind of developed. We have been doing things together for 12 years and it just developed and developed. Eventually now, we got to the point where I come up with all the music – I’m the motor to start something from the beginning. And then Michael Voss takes it from there on the vocal level and he writes lyrics and writes melodies for the vocals. And so basically, we put Skype drums and Skype vocals and bass Skype keys and so on. And he creates the blueprints, and when the blueprint is ready, Michael Voss would also be the engineer – and he would start to execute all the thing we had HIGHWIRE DAZE

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discussed should be part of the blueprint. Then the musicians and the singers – they add their personality to it and then it becomes that product – the album.

A King Is Gone is actually about Ronnie James Dio. Before we actually discuss the song, when was the first time you met Ronnie James Dio and what was that like?

I don’t know when the first time was. The first time I actually experienced Ronnie consciously was when Cozy Powell joined MSG and we played The Country Club in Los Angeles. And Ronnie came into the venue to watch the show – and everybody in the venue was standing up and clapping.

(Laughs) It was funny. And then I saw him in the 90’s at a session – and we talked about things – I can’t remember what we talked about, but he was a nice guy. And his wife was there – Wendy. He’s my favorite rock singer. I mean Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll is outstanding!

On that song, you have so many people who have worked with Dio in the past – Bobby Rondinelli, Bob Daisley, Tony Carey. What was it like assembling all those people for that particular song?

When I come into the studio with the music, we really don’t know how it’s going to shape up. So, everything happens in the moment, step by step. So, we really don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ll give you an example – for that song, A King Is Gone – let’s say I come into the studio, and I put my ideas down – record – and then I go back to the hotel. And then Michael Voss carries on working on the lyrics. And next morning when I come back from the hotel, he was telling me that “Okay, Michael, this is what I did last night. This is actually a tribute to Ronnie James Dio.” And I say, “Okay oh great! He’s one of my favorite rock singers.” And he 19

played it and I go like “Oh, this is fantastic!” Then Michael said, “What do you think if we get the rhythm section that used to play when Ronnie James Dio was in the band?” And I said, “Yeah, if you can get them, go ahead!” And he got them – and it was with Bobby Rondinelli, Bob Daisley and Tony Carey. And then Markus Staiger, the head of Nuclear Blast (and now Atomic Fire) said, “Hey that song, The King Is Dead! I have a great singer for it! Why don’t you try it?” And that was Michael Kiske. And when we heard it, it was fantastic. So that’s how it shaped up to that, and similar it happens with other songs. We really don’t have a specific concept, but everything shapes up as we go.

I believe you have upcoming shows with Robin McAuley as the main vocalist. Are you looking forward to working with Robin again and will you be performing any songs from the upcoming album?

Well, we have a set that’s been well rehearsed. Ronnie Romero – he had a situation – he was confirmed for the tour, but I had to let him go because of his personal situation. So, Robin was so kind to jump in. He’s very professional and he’s getting better as he gets older. We also played in ‘87 – we did a tour with Def Leppard in almost the same countries we play now. So, it should be great for the fans to see us again

together onstage. It’s not all that bad – it’s something to look forward to. But after this European tour, we’re going to carry on with Ronnie Romero – we do the festivals and then we go to America. We have Eric Martin opening the shows for us and then we play a few shows with WASP – that’s all with Ronnie Romero. And then we go to Japan with Ronnie and then hopefully to South America and Australia – and then it’s time for another album!

We are now here at your 50th Anniversary of recording.

What goes through your mind knowing that you’ve been recording and creating music for 50 years and counting?

You know, I don’t feel the 50 years. I still feel 18 years old to be honest. There’s just the now and it just doesn’t appeal that the 50 years have gone – it’s really kind of a shock. And when you’re actually 18 years old and you think of 50 years, that’s big! You’re like “Wow! 50 years! You must be joking!” But when it comes to 50 years, it’s almost like the past doesn’t even exist. I don’t know how it works, but I don’t feel the 50 years.

Do you have any messages for your fans here in the States?

Yeah! Keep on rocking! https://michaelschenkerhimself.com/

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Visions Of Atlantis: Pirates Invade The City Of Angels

Interview by Ken Morton - Photo by Jack Lue The mighty Visions Of Atlantis made their way back into the wilds of the City Of Angels, opening for DragonForce at The Belasco Theater. Performing an explosive set of grand and epic symphonic metal, Visions Of Atlantic won over the early arrivals with their intriguing auditory odyssey. Right after their set, lead vocalist Clémentine Delauney sat down with Highwire Daze to discuss their brand new Pirates endeavor on Napalm Records, thoughts on the final days of the DragonForce US tour, how the pandemic affected the band, and more!

We’re here with Clémentine from Visions Of Atlantis immediately after their set. What goes through your mind when at this point of the show?

Actually, not much. It’s like all the adrenaline to start is coming down and I just want to catch my breath – I want to catch some water – I want to settle. After I settle, some impressions could come. I just know I enjoyed myself onstage, and the crowd was really having a good time it seems.

It was an incredible show. And just to let everyone know, Clémentine is doing this interview literally five minutes after she stepped off the stage. Let’s talk about the new album. Is there any overall story or concept behind the new album Pirates?

Well, it’s mostly us coming out there with a strong identity. When we came out in 2018 with Deep In The Dark, it really felt like we were coming back from deep in the dark. We started to wander on this journey of self-discovery as people and as a band – who are we now?

We’ve changed lineup so much – there’s a huge history behind Visions Of Atlantis. I allowed myself to write for Visions also about my own journey in self-discovery – and Pirates was exactly the moment where the music got darker and heavier. We felt bolder and we said, “This is what we are!” But it was always there – the piracy was always there. If you followed us since Deep In The Dark, this is not coming out of nowhere.

How did the pandemic influence the writing of Pirates, HIGHWIRE DAZE

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if at all?

It did, in the sense that it gave us a lot of time – like suddenly we were stuck at home with other things to do – we had a lot more time to write than if we had to write Pirates within a regular tour schedule. Because we had the time, we also reflected on “What is Visions Of Atlantis? And what do we want to bring to this world music wise?” We figured out the assets of the characteristics of the band that we wanted to push further for this new release. And we wrote songs accordingly. We took time to reflect, and we took time to digest – to think and to write.

And we wrote more songs than ended up on the record.

We made different decisions during the entire process – if the process had been shorter we would have had to stick what had been decided. So, the pandemic actually totally helped us come up with that result. And we’re very happy about it.

I saw Visions Of Atlantis the last time you were out here in LA, and I believe that was one of your last dates before the pandemic took over everything. What was it like being a touring band on the road and then suddenly you’re stranded in this country because of a pandemic?

It’s completely surreal. We were in Minneapolis when they told us shows are cancelled all over the country.

“Show are cancelled all over the country...” – you have to repeat the sentences in your mind to understand what they mean and to really face the reality that there really is a pandemic in the 21st century that is causing the Western world to shut down. And that was crazy! We were so excited and so looking forward to playing that tour. It was an immense opportunity for us back then. It is absolutely now of course, but now it feels like it’s a revenge. But in 2020 it was the possibility – the dream to hit the US. It was a huge bummer, but we made the best of it.

And now you’re back…

And we’re back on a tour that’s three times longer.

You did a song on the last Leaves’ Eyes album. Did you record it in person or was it over the Internet?

No, I went there. It was actually my first international trip after the first very long lockdown that we had in 23

France. It was amazing to be able to, in the middle of that crisis, to go to another country and record a song. I know them – I’ve been on tour with them several times, so they’re no strangers. I had a very good time – they were so nice – so kind – hosting me very well. And that was it.

We wanted to tour together – Leaves’ Eyes and Visions – that’s the reason why we did that duet at first. Then that tour didn’t happen, but the song is there – and it was a very nice musical oasis in the desert.

Well maybe one day you’ll get to perform the song together.

Maybe one day of course.

Next year marks the 10-year anniversary of the album you did with Serenity entitled War Of Ages. When you look back on the album and that time in your career, what do you think of it now in retrospect?

I think it was a very first experience in a more professional, musical project, and I learned a lot through it. I learned a lot on my own mistakes also, and I loved the video that we did for Wings Of Madness. It was my first possibility to write lyrics for a project like that. It was like me being a newcomer discovering this entire world – and to me it was very positive because that was a good record – a lot of people got to know me through this and they followed me through Visions and Exit Eden and all.

I’m very – I don’t like to say proud – but I like that period of time – and if I had to do it again, I would totally do it all again. It was really nice.

So, can you growl like Adrienne Cowan in Seven Spires - who are also on this amazing tour?

Well, she’s way more trained and she’s used to doing way more than I do. I can if I want to, but I would have to train in order to keep the notes for long and all. But it’s a different singing technique of course. If it’s not done properly, you can totally damage your vocal cords. So, you have to find the spot that vibrates – I discovered it some years ago. I could do it, but for now, it’s not something that we want to put into Visions Of Atlantis. I already have so much to explore with the clean register – from classical to pop to folk – my voice is very versatile which is good – but also, I have to make a lot of choices – what colors do I want to push here and there? And sometimes I get lost in the possibilities.

So, no need to growl.

No need to growl for now…

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What goes through your mind knowing that this tour is almost over? You have one date left…

Yeah exactly! It’s pretty much the same feeling as going – like two months ago telling myself “Tomorrow you’re starting a US tour for two months!” It feels unreal. This is my new reality now. After two months of doing this every day, getting to know that after tomorrow, I’m back home, doesn’t make sense. So, we’ll soon realize that this is coming to an end. Also, I think that our bodies are starting to feel it, and I think we all need a good rest. So, it’s going to be sad that it’s over, but at the same time, it’s needed that we recover because it’s been demanding.

Do you have any messages for Visions Of Atlantis fans who are reading this right now?

Well, I want to thank everybody who’s been messaging us – writing us during the pandemic – making us feel like we’re still alive as a band – even though we couldn’t be on tour. I want to thank all the people who bought our DVD that we released during the pandemic – all the people who keep pre-ordering the record and buying merch – they support us directly. And I want to thank the people who joined my Patreon page as well during the pandemic, because all of this makes a real difference in an artist’s life.

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Stephen Bishop: On and Off and Beyond

Interview by Ken Morton Stephen Bishop, a songwriter since the age of thirteen, left his home in San Diego for Los Angeles at seventeen. He landed a job writing songs for a publishing company for fifty dollars a week. Years later, this veteran songwriter has had his songs recorded by Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, Kenny Loggins, Beyonce, and many others. He has written the theme songs to Animal House, The China Syndrome, White Nights, and countless other films. A two-time Grammy nominated recording artist and Oscar nominated singer-songwriter, his hits include On and On, It Might Be You (the theme from Tootsie), Separate Lives, Save It For A Rainy Day and more. Here is a recent interview Highwire 26

Daze conducted with Stephen Bishop to discuss his just released On And Off autobiography!

At what point did you decide it was time to write an autobiography and how much of it was written during the pandemic?

My manager and now wife, Liz Kamlet, suggested I write an autobiography about four years ago. At the time she was archiving photos and video footage for my documentary. I would tell her stories about my career and she would write them down as a ghostwriter of sorts. I finished the book in early 2020, right before COVID hit. All of the editing, rearranging, etc was done during the pandemic. Most people only know my musical journey. This autobiography May/June 2022

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talks about my childhood, trying to make it in LA, whacky experiences, famous friends and how I write songs. We also found all of my rough drafts from my first and second album.

So we included a few of them in the book as well. I’m glad it’s finally done and I am so excited to share my story with everyone.

Tell me about the title On And Off, and what does it reference beside one of your most famous songs?

My wife came up with the title. It represents my life, career, the failures, challenges and success I’ve experienced.

What was the name of the very first song you wrote, how old were you, and what was the song about?

The first song I ever wrote was really a terrible surfing instrumental called “Surfs Turf.” I was thirteen. After that I wrote a simple song on guitar without chords, it went like this: “I know that she loves me, I know that she loves me,” and repeat.

Describe the Stephen Bishop who left San Diego for Los Angeles to the age of 17 and what were your first impressions of LA? I was actually seventeen and a half, ha. I knew I wanted to be a songwriter and had the mentality that I was determined to make that dream come true. I was offered a job as a staff songwriter at E.H. Morris Publishing for $50 per week. I learned a lot in my early days. My first impressions of LA were mixed. I was just a kid trying to make ends meet. I would ride around on my bicycle for years before I could afford a car. I tried making friends wherever I could, hanging out at the Troubadour and similar places. San Diego will always be my hometown, but LA is where my career really got its start.

On And On was a massive hit for you from your very first album entitled Careless from 1976. Give us a little background on the song and do you still enjoy performing it after all of this time?

Yes it was. As I state in my book. On and On came from a chord. I would play it constantly, day and night. People from miles around would come just to hear that chord….just kidding, not really. I was walking down to the corner store from my little duplex in Silverlake, CA. The title just came to me as I was walking. When I got home, I sat in a chair in my room, where I had written a lot of my early songs and started writing. I was inspired by my landlady’s exotic flowers. They were from different countries around the world. That’s why I start the song with “Down in Jamaica…”

I still enjoy performing it after all this time. But only at shows. After nearly forty six years of playing the song, it’s nice to have a break every now and then. I save it as the last song in my set, it’s always been tradition to do that.

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What does the title of your first album Careless represent?

It doesn’t represent anything. Careless was the name of one of the songs on the album. I just liked the name and it fit.

What was it like having guests such as Eric Clapton, Art Garfunkel, and Chaka Khan on that very first album?

Looking back now, it’s amazing that all of those artists came together for my first album. I still keep in contact with all of those artists and have been good friends for years since we first met all those years ago. I was very lucky, a lot of things happened to bring all of these talented artists together and we still talk about that album in the present. I am grateful to them for adding their musical gifts to my songs, they would have not been the same without them.

It Might Be You from Tootsie was nominated for an Academy Awards in 1982. What was the experience like performing the song at the Academy Awards in 1983?

I talk about this in my book. I was a nervous wreck. Anyone would be. I was much calmer the second time around in 1986 when I performed my song “Separate Lives.” Which I was nominated for. No one prepares you for the pressure. I am glad I did it, the performance went well and for the opportunities it gave me.

What did you think of Frida from Abba’s cover of your song Tell Me It’s Over, which was also released in 1982?

I sent the demo tape to Phil Collins, who produced the track.

There is a video on YouTube where Phil plays the tape of me singing for Frida, who is listening. I think she did a great job.

I have always been a fan of ABBA. 27

What was it like working with John Belushi in National Lampoon’s Animal House?

John was one of a kind. We also worked together in the film Blues Brothers and on Saturday Night Live. I miss him every day. He was hilarious, an amazing person and I am so grateful I got to be his friend. His wife, Judy was great as well. She was in Animal House too. I also wrote the theme for Animal House and have another song in the film, called “Dream Girl.”

What is the story behind the title of your latest album We’ll Talk About It Later In The Car? The full story is in my book. But I got the line from Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds. We had been friends since the 1970s and hung out together a lot on the Saturday Night Live set. Carrie was talking at a phone booth on set and I heard her say that line “We’ll Talk About It Later In The Car.” I thought she was talking about me for some reason. She was really saying that to her mother, who used to tell her that. That line always stuck with me, it’s a great way to end a conversation. Well anyway….”We’ll Talk About It Later In The Car.” What do you hope the rest of 2022 brings for you? Any new music in the horizon?

2022, I am still working on my documentary and audiobook for this autobiography. So I will be working on that and new

music. I have a few songs that have been recorded and the rest need to be. I may release a single or EP in the future.

Do you have any messages for your fans who are reading this now?

I am super grateful to my fans. Without them I would not be where I am today. Thank you for continuing to support me, my music and career. I know that you will enjoy this book, it will make you laugh, cry, wonder and smile. Here is a snippet below.

“I sang background on a few songs for Phil Collins at the LA Forum in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. I had a blast doing it. At one point, I was backstage speaking with the inimitable and legendary Lee Sklar, Phil Collins’s bass player. He introduced me to the person he was speaking with, the great Stevie Wonder. I tried to hide my love for him. I have been a fan of Stevie’s work for a long time. We shook hands and then he left, walking down the long hall, about the length of two blocks. Stevie was at the end of the hall, really far away, when I whispered to Lee, “I don’t think he knows who I am or anything.” From way down the hall Stevie suddenly yelled out, “Yes I do, “On and On,” and he started to sing my song.

I was flabbergasted. Stevie Wonder knows that I exist.”

https://www.stephenbishop.com/onandoff

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Discovering The Haunt: Heartbreak and Guitar Riffs

Interview by Ken Morton - Photo by Jack Lue

The Haunt is an American rock band from South Florida consisting of siblings Anastasia Grace Haunt (lead vocals), and Maxamillion Haunt (vocals, guitar and production), alongside Nat Smallish on bass guitar, and Nick Lewert on drums. They’ve toured with the likes of The Hu and Palaye Royale, and recently released an EP entitled Social Intercourse. Current standout singles include Love You Better, Make Me King, and I’m Not Yours. The Haunt were in town to do a photo shoot with Jack Lue when Highwire Daze caught up with them to find out more on this amazing band on the rise...

How did you recent tour with The Hu go and what were some of the highlights?

Maxamillion Haunt: All of it. It was a ton of fun being able to – we were one of the first bands that were able to go out after the pandemic – and we were able to play these awesome rooms with The Hu, who have such an eclectic, beautiful audience.

It was like a dream come true to be able to tour after those miserable two years.

Anastasia Grace Haunt: We weren’t sure if their fans were going to like us because we’re so different from their music and their sound. But we really got a lot of people from those shows.

Maxamillion: It was really like a process of trying to win over the audience, because obviously no one sounds like The Hu. And so, the audience is always skeptical about what happens before them, and so we were able to win them over every night and it was a ton of fun to be able to do that.

You also actually did a European tour where we played with Palaye Royal. What was that experience like?

Maxamillion: Amazing. We had never been to Europe.

Before then, we had been to Iceland for a really short vacation. We had never been to mainland Europe. And we went – and European audiences are really, really involved. They just dance – they’re much more carefree I’d say than some of the American audiences. You have to win them over a little bit more. But the European 30

audiences were amazing.

Anastasia: The first show we ever played with them was in Europe, and the fans already knew songs and already knew us.

Maxamillion: They were super into it immediately.

They knew our music before we even showed up there and we had never been there. It was awesome!

Anastasia: And I was also their age, so they kind of related to me a lot. I was 15 when we first went out with them, and their fan base is like all teenage girls.

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What was it like recording and then touring in the middle of a pandemic? I imagine a lot of these songs were recorded during that time.

Maxamillion: We recorded the Social Intercourse album with Matt Good right before the pandemic happened.

So, we were ready to record that album and to start releasing it independently, but we didn’t know that the pandemic was going to happen. So, we went into lockdown mode, and we didn’t know what we were going to do for a while – and eventually we were sitting on the album for almost a year until we decided that we are going to start putting it out – fuck it!

Anastasia: And we have a whole new pandemic album that we wrote during the time.

Maxamillion: Yeah, so we wrote and produced an entire new record through the pandemic.

Anastasia: Our last two songs Make Me King and Hollywood were recorded during that time.

Maxamillion: We didn’t do any shows or anything like that through the pandemic – we didn’t want to put ourselves or anybody else in danger. But as soon as we got the green light, and we were able to figure out a way to tour safely with The Hu – we didn’t interact with audiences, and everyone had to be vaccinated in almost all the cities – so we were able to tour in a safe way. And now I think everyone is finally coming to the point like it’s basically over – knock on wood! So hopefully all of those restriction can start to be lifted and people can start to really let loose at shows and have a good time.

Let’s talk about a few of the songs. Make Me King.

What was the inspiration behind that song?

Maxamillion: She just told me one day like “I wish I was King.”

Anastasia: Yeah. I’ve always wanted to be king.

And so, you wrote a song about it Anastasia: Well basically, Nick wrote a guitar riff – I was heartbroken, so that’s all it took.

Maxamillion: Time to be mean…

Anastasia: Time to be mean and rock and roll!

Nick Lewert: And that’s how all rock songs are created – by heartbreak and guitar riffs. (Much laughter) And let’s talk about one more song. Love You Better.

What was the inspiration behind that one? More heartbreak? (Laughter) Anastasia: To me, and I wrote it – it’s just about not being able to love someone the way they love you – and that sucks – but that’s what it’s about. Being…

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Maxamillion: ...being in a little bit of a predicament.

Anastasia: Yeah. Maybe not loving someone, but not being able to be what someone needs. They want you to be what they need – and you’re not what they need. I say “I’ll love you better when I’m dead” – because it’s true!

Maxamillion: Over my dead body…

So, what is the best and worst part about having a brother and sister in a band together.

Anastasia: Well, I despise him. (Much laughter) No… Maxamillion: Obviously, I think it’s a good thing. I say this a lot, because you’re always going to argue with someone in a band, but there’s this thing when it’s your sibling. It doesn’t matter if you argue.

Anastasia: They have to stay! (laughs) Yup, they’re not going anywhere…

Maxamillion: That’s what it is. And as funny as that sounds, that’s why it works so well because we can scream and yell and get angry at each other, but you’re still going to go back to working on the song five minutes later. And it is what it is. We live in the same house Nick: You’re not just going to kick each other out.

And Nick, how did you get involved with this brother and sister and this band?

Nick: I stumbled into them when they were looking for a drummer. I was in between projects, and I was in the right place at the right time back in 2018. Back in the Fall of 2017 was when I met them, and in the Spring of 2018, I was in the right place at the right time – and they haven’t kicked me out yet. They knew I was a drummer, and I came to a couple shows and we became friends.

Anastasia: Also, we have a bassist – she’s not here right now. She’s in Florida right now. And we love her a lot.

Her name is Nat Smallish, and we love her a lot.

And in closing, if the music of The Haunt were a donut, what kind would it be and why?

Anastasia: (After much debate between Nick, Maxamillion, and Anastasia) I’ll tell you what it is. It’s a normal donut, vanilla frosting with Oreo crumbles on top. I think that’s all of us together Maxamillion: Can it be filled with Oreo cream?

Anastasia: If that’s what you think we are. But I feel like that’s right. It’s a black and white aesthetic. So yeah…

https://thehauntband.wixsite.com/thehaunt 31

HI GHWI REDAZ EMAGAZ I NE

PRE SE NT E DBY

J ACKL UEPHOT OGRAPHY

OF

ANAST ASI A GRACEHAUNT

Payton: Headlining The Echo on June 14th

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue Payton is a massively talented singer/songwriter on the rise who has gained quite a following over the last few months - 4.8 million and counting within the realm of Instagram land. His latest single and video is entitled All Wrong, now available on all platforms. Highwire Daze recently caught up with Payton to discuss his brand new song All Wrong, his upcoming show at The Echo on June 14th, life with such a staggering amount of social media fans, and more!

First of all, what are you looking forward to the most about playing The Echo?

Probably playing the new songs – the new music. Like the first time I performed live for an audience was on a tour, so I think doing my first stand-alone show – that’s my show that I’m headlining and all that, that we’re putting together will be super exciting. And just the feeling of performing alone – I’m super excited for that again – and to feel the fans and the crowd.

I just heard one of your new songs All Wrong. Tell me about the new song and the inspiration behind it.

I was talking to someone – kind of a relationship situation. You kind of get to the point sometimes where it’s like everything you do feels like wrong in a sense. You can’t do anything right in the situation – and you try, and you give all this effort, and you always get backlash for it. I found myself in that situation, and the song just came naturally. It’s just speaking about that and finding yourself in a place of not doing anything right. But not actually doing everything wrong – it’s just a saying from somebody else – you’re trying, and you can’t get anything right in their eyes. So that’s where it came from.

And tell me about the music video for All Wrong.

I have a music video coming out for that we filmed for All Wrong. I wouldn’t call it Part 1, but it leads to other things.

There might be a story line going through them. Each video plays a part into the next. I have three different videos, and this is the first that’s getting dropped, so it’s very exciting – it definitely tells a story – and it’s crazy visual! It’s an exciting video. I’m really excited about it…

Your previous song was Rich Boy, which was a bit different HIGHWIRE DAZE

May/June 2022

than some of your other songs. Tell me a bit about that song.

It was completely different – and I was completely against giving that song any light for the longest time. So, I made it as a trend on TikTok actually. There was this trend going around two years ago – it was called “Make A Song In 60 Seconds” – I was fresh into production, and I said “I got this!

I’m going to do this!” And Rich Boy came out of it – the chorus of it. So, I posted that on TikTok – and then about a year and a half later, someone sends me this sound – it had been edited and chopped up and slowed down – and they were like “This is your song.” And it had like 200,000 users on TikTok – and the label was like “Hey! Maybe this is a thing we should look at.” And we ignored it, and just the fans pushed and pushed and pushed – so we remade the song and released it and gave it to the people who wanted it. So that’s what that was.

Your song 3AM, once you hear it, you just can’t get it out of your freakin’ head! So, tell me about that song and the inspiration behind it.

Thank you. So 3AM, I was actually in a different relationship, and I had brought up some issues or topics that I was concerned about. I’ve talked to other people about this kind of relatable thing – you kind of feel things happening – you get this feeling inside of you like something’s changing – I don’t know what it is, but something’s off. So, I brought this feeling up – and it was a call – it wasn’t exactly 3AM, but it was a call late at night, and it was like “You crazy!” So that’s where that came from, and the rest of the song is just carrying out that vibe of these internal feelings – knowing something is changing. That was a fun song. I really enjoyed it and a lot of people have enjoyed it. It’s a great song.

You have kind of have that stripped down version of 3AM, that you did a video for. Tell me a little about that. It really works!

Yeah, 3AM MP3. That was a really exciting one too, because I had been wanting to do something like that for so long – just like take a song to a different level than where it was already at. 3AM was a perfect song for that as it turned out. So, I brought up the idea of doing an acoustic version – and the two producers I was working with – Riley Urick and Donald Philp – they had known a guy that’s does string stuff. So, they brought him in, did some strings – and we were like “Oh, 35

this is crazy!” So, we just played piano over it, and it just went to a whole different world. It was crazy, man. So that’s where that came from – just an idea to strip a song back.

Your very first cross-country tour – how did it go and what was the experience like?

It was fun – it was a good experience to get out there and perform these songs that I’d be working on for a while. It did get cut short unfortunately due to Covid and all that related to safety. But it was great. That was my first time getting out.

I had done Zoom stuff and live stream performances, but actually feeling the crowd sing back to me the lyrics and just the energy – it was great! Great experience and a great learning experience for me. Definitely got me confident for the June 14th show for sure.

Describe to me that very first live show you did on your very first tour.

That was LA – we were in Los Angeles – and my mom was there and everybody – and it was nerve-wracking! I was very, very nervous. I walked out on the stage – and I was sitting on the side of the stage like ready to go up – I had a person performing before me. So, I was ready to go onstage – ands my Intro started playing and my heart was just boom, boom, boom, pounding! And I walked onstage, and I had this mentality like I could just get onstage, and everything would go away, and I would be fine. And I got up onstage and I was like “not fine!” I was shaking for little bit, but it was fun. I got the hang of it after the first couple of songs – and I kind of settled into it. But dude, it does not – the second show, the third show – every show after that is still the same feeling.

Right before you go onstage, you’re like, “Man, so many things could happen! It’s never going to be perfect.”

But there’s no feeling in the world like it…

There really isn’t. Nothing will give you the adrenaline rush like that. That’s crazy!

On Instagram – I just happened to go on your Instagram.

4.8 million followers! Good Lord! How does it feel to have 4.8 million people following you?

It’s crazy! I don’t even know how it happened! I just really kind of got here, but it really doesn’t feel like that. I used to think like before when I was younger – when I just started social media – when I hit 100,000 or a million there would be some significant feeling of “Wow! I made it!” But even now it’s hard to look at it – there’s definitely a lot of people and a lot of support, but it’s super hard to look at it and be like “Wow!” It’s a crazy milestone and a crazy achievement – but 4.8 million people is so hard to wrap your head around. It never feels like there’s that many people there. It’s a crazy feeling and you can never really wrap your head around it ever.

36

A lot of TikTokkers and YouTubers recently did a boxing max. Is that something you would ever do?

(Laughs) On different standards, yeah, I would do it for sure.

Now I’ve been on a huge workout kick, so now I would do it.

If someone was like my size, yeah.

You don’t want to go into the ring with some fat sumo dude…

(Laughs) Yeah, I would be destroyed! Probably. You never know…

And do you have any messages for your fans who are reading this right now?

Keep listening, keep streaming, keep supporting. I appreciate everything that you guys have done for me so far and I have a lot of stuff on the way – a lot of different stuff – and I’m super excited about it – so yeah, just stay tuned…

https://www.instagram.com/paytonmoormeier/

May/June 2022

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PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR MUSICIANS THE NEW BOOK TO HELP LAUNCH AND MANAGE A SUCCESSFUL DIY CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASES PITCHING MEDIA RELATIONSHIPS INTERVIEWS TOUR PR CRISIS MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND MORE

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AOR PRESENTS L.A. SUSPICION

Interview by Ken Morton

L.A. Suspicion, Frédéric Slama’s brand new AOR album is now available from Perris Records. The CD features an incredible line up such as Tommy Denander (Alice Cooper, Steve Walsh), Steve Overland (FM, The Ladder), Paul Sabu (Only Child, John Waite), Robbie LaBlanc (Blanc Faces, Find Me), Steph Honde (Hollywood Monsters, Scream Taker), and more - celebrating the timeless genre of AOR! Highwire Daze recently caught up the mastermind Frédéric Slama to find out more about the current happenings of AOR, and the musicians behind the auditory world of L.A. Suspicion. Read on...

Is there any overall story or concept behind the new AOR album title L.A. Suspicion?

As you may know, all my 21 previous albums have the word “L.A.” in it since the first of the AOR series in 2000 was called “L.A. Concession.” Except for a couple of compilations without the word “L.A.”, one out of two albums starts with “L.A.” (“L.A Concession”, “L.A Attraction” etc..) and the other one ends with “L.A.” (“Dreaming Of L.A.”, “Journey To L.A.” etc…). So after “The Ghost Of L.A.” it was time for “L.A. Suspicion,” who’s main theme (but not the only one) revolves around people who have a suspicious nature. The cool way of life of the 70’s & 80’s have left its place to a tougher world where people look at the other as a potential enemy, not anymore as a friend. So several songs, but not all, talk a little bit about these changes.

Who did the cover art for L.A. Suspicion and how much input did you have on it?

As for all the previous covers since album number 1, I did the artwork myself. I like to be in control of my music and what I release. That’s why I do all the artwork, the booklet and everything else, so the release is perfect to my eyes. (If there are any mistakes it will be my fault). This perfectionism drove crazy some labels and I’m sure several CEO’s are locked down in mental health institutes after working with me ha! ha! Luckily Perris Records still hold out, that’s why we did more than 10 releases together. But it’s not excluded that you will find Tom Mathers, the head of Perris Records, in a madhouse in a few years from now ha! ha!

What has it been like working with Steve Overland of FM over the years and what is the background behind the track Stronger Than Desire?

I met Steve 15 years ago and we hit it off right away.

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Strangely his band is called FM, and mine is AOR, so we had a lot in common ha! ha! Steve Overland is someone I really admired as a singer since the 80’s, so I was overwhelmed when he accepted to sing for the first time in my 2009 album “Journey To L.A.” (that by the way will be re-released in May by Perris Records in a brand new edition with different tracks and artwork, fully revised). Then after 2009 I had the honor to have Mr. Overland on several other albums and he was the perfect choice for the song “Stronger Than Desire”. This song is about the hardness of a breakup and the indecision in a relationship. The girl wants to move on, but her past is still grasping her by the arm, so the desicions are tough.

Robbie LaBlanc of Find Me has such an amazing distinctive voice. What has it been like working him and what is the background behind the song Cold Logic?

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For me Robbie LaBlanc is before all from the band “Fury” and of course “Blanc Faces”. He is such a nice guy and such a talented singer. I always admired him and I thought about him for this song when Tommy Denander talked to me about him. It’s someone I’ve always wanted to work with, but I don’t know why it never happened . I must admit that I have more than 200 guests in my 21 previous AOR albums, so I can’t invite the whole world to sing and play. Concerning the song “Cold Logic,” it comes from a girlfriend who told me that I was right about many things analysing it with some kinda “Cold Logic.” So I wrote the song around that theme, and it seems it has a lot of success. The lyrics combined with the incredible vocals of Robbie are a match made in heaven.

It’s true that the video showing L.A. and hot girls helped a lot too ha! ha!

Paul Sabu has been on a lot of your albums, included a recent compilation that was all him. How did you initially meet Paul Sabu and talk about the new song Street Of Illusions?

I met Paul during the recording of the 1st Chasing Violets albums I wrote and produced in 2012. I really wanted to have him as a guest with the 2 sisters who were the lead vocalists of the project, so we talked several times on the phone. And I don’t know by what miracle we became good friends right away, like if we knew each other since childhood. Then from this day Paul sang on most of my albums that led to the compilation with new tracks called: AOR “The Best Of Paul Sabu”. I always admired Paul Sabu since the early 80’s, and mostly with his 1983 classic album released under the “Kidd Glove” name. In the 90’s I was a big fan of his “Only Child” project. So when I wrote “Street Of Illusions,” I had him in mind to sing this track in the vein of his previous work. And people were blown away with the result, mostly due to Sabu’s incredible vocal range and power. He made this song the perfect Melodic Rock song reminiscent a little bit of bands such as Van Halen, Def Leppard or Journey.

Steph Honde is quite a find and is featured on three L.A. Suspicion tracks. What is the background on Steph and the tracks from L.A. Suspicion?

Steph is a French singer who worked with some of the best American bands among others and with Carmine Appice (Rod Stewart, King Kobra). Tommy Denander introduced me to him in 2021 and that meeting led that he sang two songs on my 2021 album, “The Ghost Of L.A.”. For this new album I wanted to have him again cause I knew he would fit perfectly on the 3 songs I had in mind for him.

He sounds a little bit like a young David Coverdale, so it adds power to these songs, and sounds a bit like Foreigner, Journey or Survivor. Steph opens the album with “A Smile In My Heart” a powerful melodic tune, then he is back in the middle of the CD with “Arrow Thru’ My Heart” a Foreigner influenced song. Then he ends the album with the beautiful HIGHWIRE DAZE

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“A Broken Heart In Tokyo.” 3 great performances he can be proud of!

Tommy Denander is almost like your AOR co-conspirator.

How did you initially meet Tommy and what has it been like working with him?

Tommy contacted me 20 years ago after the release of my 2 first AOR albums, “L.A. Concession” and “Next Stop L.A.”.

He wanted to participate on my 3rd album “L.A. Reflection” and we became friends right away. We had the same taste in music and incredibly we lived in the same small street in West Hollywood a few years apart. We went to the same Ralph’s supermarket and at the same places within a 2 or 3 years time difference. Tommy helped me a lot with my 3rd album, and then was part of at least 20 more albums of mine.

When I saw he could do in 5 minutes what I used to do in days (I’m a very slow worker), I thought it would be good to leave my ego out the door, and have a fantastic guitar player such as him playing many parts!

What is your latest book in the AOR series and tell us a little about that volume?

I wrote 18 music books called the AOR Bible and the Westcoast Bible(s), all exclusively available at Amazon worldwide. They are reference guides about the best and rarest albums in that style. I’m a big music collector with a collection of more than 16000 CD’s & LP’s in that style. I was also a music journalist in the 70’s & 80’s in France’s biggest magazines, and I brought this style of music to my native country through thousands of reviews and interviews of the biggest stars in the genre. But at the time I also interviewed hundreds of rock stars like Pink Floyd, Queen, The Rolling Stones, 39

Status Quo, Rod Stewart, The Eagles, Toto, Genesis, Dio, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and hundreds of others. So all that to tell you that AOR music is my passion, my life, that it’s the blood that runs through my veins. The latest book is about Japanese AOR music (volume 3) - it features many U.S. musicians and artists we love playing and singing alongside Japanese artists. The next book for will be The AOR Bible 2 with more Melodic Rock gems and AOR rarities. Expect it for summer.

What do you hope the rest of 2022 brings for you and AOR? First in May, there will be a fabulous AOR reissue! “Journey To L.A.” my classic album from 2009 has been remastered and revised, with a couple of different songs and new artwork and a new booklet. It’s the release the way it should have been in 2009 and even a secret track (well not so secret now that I tell you ha! ha!) has been added. This is a release not to be missed featuring vocals by Fergie Frederiksen, Steve Overland, Bill Champlin, Philip Bardowell and others.

I’m also starting to record the next AOR album for 2023. It’s going to take time to make it better and bigger than this one that many fans already consider as my best CD so far. As a songwriter I’m also working on songs for different people in various countries such as Japan or France. And many other projects I can’t talk about now, cause it’s still a big secret, and if I told you, I would have to kill you, and that would be a shame since you’re a really good journalist ha ha!

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!

Thank you for your great questions! Keep on rocking!

http://www.slama101.fr http://www.perrisrecords.com

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Cherry St. Revisited: 30 Year Anniversary with Tom “Monroe” Mathers of Perris Records

Interview by Ken Morton The Sunset Strip was bustling with musicians and fans, all creating what would become a music scene that would be heard all around the world. One of the bands to create kickass tunes and other havoc in Hollywood was Cherry St. who would sell out shows at iconic venues such as Gazzari’s, creating quite a buzz in the music business. The band would find themselves signed with JRS/BMG, where they released Squeeze It Dry - their only output on a major label. You can’t keep an awesome band down - ever! Guitarist Tom “Monroe” Mathers would create Perris Records to release their first batch of demos prior to the BMG experience. And once grunge reared it’s head to basically obliterate anything having to do with hard rock and hair metal, Mathers and Perris Records would continue to issue Cherry St. albums as well as other bands within the realm of hard rock, hair metal. and AOR. Highwire Daze recently interviewed Tom “Monroe” Mathers to discuss the 30 Year Anniversary re-release of their sought after Self-Titled debut on Perris Records, the stories of Cherry St. and those crazy nights on the Sunset Strip, what the members are up to today, and more...

Introduce yourself and tell me what you do/did in Cherry St.?

My name is Tom “Monroe” Mathers. I played guitar and did the all of the business responsibilities for the band.

What was the local Los Angeles music scene like when Cherry St. was on the scene playing shows in the late 80’s / early 90’s?

The scene was crazy. There were thousands of people lining Sunset Blvd every Friday & Saturday night. Thousands of bands hanging out, handing out flyers, and trying to sell their pre-sale tickets if they were lucky enough to have a show at one of the clubs.

The Cherry St. debut being reissued is from 1992.

Looking back, what do you think of the music now being reissued on this 30th Anniversary edition?

I can’t believe it has been 30 years.Time flies by so quick.

Some of our music is being bootlegged in Russia and other places. Unfortunately, there are many thieves in the music business ripping off labels and bands by releasing their 42

music without authorization and keeping all the cash.

I realized it was 30 years ago we released the “Self titled” so I thought it was great reason to re-release it again now, and also hopefully keep Russia from making money on unauthorized versions. It is also a major milestone for me since it was the 1st CD on Perris Records and started a lifetime career for me. The CD is almost sold out, being a limited pressing of 500 CDs. I still love the music and I’ve really enjoyed people telling me they are digging it and are glad to hear it again.

What was it like being on the Pay To Play segment of MTV with such bands as Guns N’ Roses and Warrant?

There was major buzz about the band on the Sunset Strip when they were filming the segment. We met with Carla Diamond from MTV and shot the interview for the Pay To Play segment that aired for a couple weeks with heavy rotation on MTV. Our phone blew up with calls from all over the USA. By that time, we were headlining the clubs in Hollywood and preparing to tour the USA before even having a record deal.

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What was Bill Gazzari like and what is your favorite memory of him and the legendary Gazzaris?

Bill Gazzari really supported the bands and so many went on to be major stars like Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Poison and many more. He never had an attitude with me, you just had to prove yourself once and he had your back after that. Having Bill Gazzari come out on the stage and present us with the first colored star to go on the club was mind blowing. Many bands like Bang Tango, Razzle (Lit) and many others also had stars on the outside wall at the club.

What was the experience like sharing bills with Foreigner and Warrant, and did you get to meet or hang out with them at all?

Foreigner is still one of my top favorite bands ever and to be the only band appearing with them at a sold out 10,000 seat concert was dream come true.

Warrant really helped Cherry St before we got our record deal. We first met Jani Lane after our Whisky show when doing our meet and greet at our merch booth.

We had hundreds of fans around our booth, which was a common thing for us after a show. We sold T-shirts, group photos, single photos, buttons and other items at every show. I remember Jani was amazed at how many fans we had. Later on, he did a cameo appearance in our “The Walk” video. We also met Eric Turner that night and kept in touch with him. The next show we had at The Roxy, Eric came and brought Joey Allen. They went up on stage and introduced the band before we went on.

Eric Turner also co-produced our “Squeeze It Dry” release on JRS/BMG label with Tommy Thayer.

Everyone had an encounter with Lemmy back in the day on the Sunset Strip. What are some of your favorite Lemmy stories and memories?

I met Lemmy many times at The Rainbow and we were lucky enough to have Lemmy with CC Deville do a cameo on our video “The Walk”. CC and Lemmy introduced the video. Lemmy was a super cool guy.

When you look back on the Squeeze It Dry release, what do you think of it now in retrospect?

Having the chance to work with Pat Regan in his studio right after recording Shotgun Messiah and before Deep Purple was amazing. His credits include Warrant, Kiss, Mr. Big and so many more.

Of course having Tommy Thayer (Black ‘N Blue, Kiss) and Eric Turner (Warrant) co-produce the release was amazing and I think it turned out really great. The release came out in ’93 and the scene had already changed; grunHIGHWIRE DAZE

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ge was taking over. I really think if it was released in ‘88 or ‘89 it would have done alot better, but that was the case with many other bands as well.

The story is that grunge killed rock and roll and the Sunset Strip music scene. How did the oncoming grunge movement affect Cherry St., if at all?

Yes, it sure did. The Strip was already getting shut down by the new mayor. The jerk was stopping bands from handing out flyers on Sunset. He had the police moving the crowds off the street and not letting them hang out by the clubs. It really affected the scene in a negative way.

What inspired you to start Perris Records and have Cherry St. as the first release for the label?

Well we had distribution on our 3 song tape that sold over 8,000 units on Important/Reality. So we started Perris Records to release the “Self Titled” CD. Within a few months we secured a deal with JRS/BMG, I really think doing that helped us get a deal.

After the band broke up, I had many bands contact me about working with them and it just took off. This was way before the internet. I started doing some Metal Edge magazine ads for these releases and as a result, I got many customers and European distribution companies that ordered thousands of CDs from the label.

Do you still keep in touch with any of the other former Cherry St. members?

Pretty much every Cherry St. member has lived in Texas at some point, which is where I currently live. Right now, Jaimie Scott lives in Dallas, and Todd “Taz” Anthony 43

lives in San Antonio. Chris VanDahl, Redd Rosell and Tom “Kelly James” Dobrentey all lived in Austin at one time. We all keep in touch through social media and emails. Using Facebook makes it real easy to keep in touch.

How likely is a Cherry St. reunion and more new music?

You never say never. I know if we do get together, a lot of people will want to hear it for sure. I think we should, you only live once and music last forever.

Any messages for Cherry St. fans?

Thank you for all the support. I made so many friends that I still keep in touch with over the years. Hundreds of fans have picked up the “Self Titled” CD. I really appreciate it so much.

http://www/perrisrecords.com

Bill Gazzari and Cherry St.

Promoting the all new full length album “Down In Wuhan” out August 28, 2021 World-wide on all major platforms DOWN IN WUHAN TOUR - 2022 Friday May 13. 2022 7:30 PM WHISKY A GO GO with BANG TANGO

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Rockin’ Upon A Wikkid Starr Interview by Ken Morton Wikkid Starr is back and ready to launch into the stratosphere with the arrival of Return To Glory - their new album on Lion’s Pride Music.

Upcoming shows include direct support for the likes of Jefferson Starship and Quiet Riot!

Highwire Daze recently interviewed front man Toney Richards to find out more about the very amazing Wikkid Starr! Read on...

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in WIKKID STARR and how long has been together?

Howdy, I’m Toney Richards the Lead Vocalist, Lyricist, P.R. Guy, Booking Agent, Producer and co/founder of WIKKID STARR. The band was originally formed in 2006 by myself and guitarist Ashlyn Childs (Black Star Sinners). Ashlyn had to abandon the project, due to some personal issues and our engineer, Bill Krodel (Gilby Clarke, Great White, Ratt, Don Dokken, Bullet Boys, etc.) - passed away from cancer which complicated matters even further. I thought about aborting the whole project and putting together something new but after playing songs like Karma, Zombie TV and Feed Me to musician friends of mine, they encouraged me to go balls out and make it happen - so I did. In 2015, I hired a publicist and went on a promotional tour of South America - Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay and passed out 800 CDs of our first album Collision Course - (if you have one, keep it- it’s a collector’s item). The highlight of the trip was definitely connecting strongly with the Hard Rock/Metal community in Buenos Aires. In 2016, I came back out to Argentina and headlined two shows in Buenos Aires- La Roca (The Rock) and Red Bell. Both shows were sell-outs but the highlight of the trip was without a doubt playing the Roxy in Buenos Aires and opening up for fellow American Jeff Scott Soto. I appeared on the biggest Rock Station in Argentina- Vorterix Radio and also appeared on the biggest music channel in Buenos Aires (Canal Musica).

All in all, it was a great experience and that’s how I was able to restart my music career. We’ve had several line-up changes through the years but I’m proud of everyone that has been a part of this band. I’ve been lucky that I have managed to improve our line-up with every change and feel like the current line-up, is the best one yet!!

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Is there any overall story or concept behind the Return To Glory album title?

The concept behind the album is symbolic and the album cover says it all. The dragon symbolizes China and the East and the Arch Angel Michael symbolizes the U.S. and the West. The Arch Angel is chopping off the dragon’s head meaning we are victorious, thus remaining the number one super power in the world and doing our best to keep the planet safe from any sort of aggression from negative forces.

WE can never allow a foreign adversary to divide us. WE must stay united as Americans and learn to agree to disagree.

WE are the last vestige of hope for the free world. If we fall, our whole way of life will fall with it and the world will become a much different place. On a personal level, Return To Glory is about empowering ourselves. It’s about overcoming our own fears, deficiencies and mental limitations. It’s about having a deep understanding of who we are and believing in ourselves and our ability, to manifest whatever reality we create- through intention, focus and actions. It’s our own personal triumph in the physical world- it’s our personal Return To Glory- victory is ours and it’s there for the taking.

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Select two songs from Return To Glory - what inspired the lyrics?

It’s hard for me to select two songs off this album. All 10 songs kick ass!! I’m dead serious when I say that. Return To Glory is a damn good album and I know that it’s going to launch us to new heights of success. If I had two songs to pick that were inspirational, I would pick Never Fear The Unknown and Unleash The Fury. Most of the lyrics on this album were inspired by my wife and her devotion and commitment to her dying parents- my mother-in-law and father-in-law. One has passed and the other is not in good shape right now. Although our relationship was severely tested, we somehow managed to work through it and our relationship is now stronger because of it. Never Fear The Unknown was inspired by my wife’s devotion to her parents.

The compassion, empathy and love. However, it can also apply to all of the people out there in everyday life who go out there and help those in need - like a firefighter, doctor, nurse, ambulance driver, bus driver, school teacher, mental health therapist, policeman, lawyer, air traffic controller, a commercial airline pilot, military soldier in combat, etc. Stepping up and doing your part to help someone in need by lifting their spirits, by offering moral support and encouragement, after they are completely depleted of their own kinetic energy because they’ve given so much of themselves- to help others, is what this song is all about. It’s also about not fearing death itself and being fearless when it comes to the after-life. This can apply to all of the brave, courageous people in Ukraine who are protecting their homeland. Looking at it deeper, it’s a song that all of humanity can relate to.

Unleash The Fury was inspired by the division that our country faces at the present time and how democracy and the free world are under attack, both on the home front and on all social media platforms. There is misinformation that is being manufactured by ignorant people who have no clue how our country works. The lyrics are about self-empowerment and fighting for what you believe in, as long as it’s positive - with no harm to self or others. Here is a verse from the song - “Right is wrong and wrong is right. I’ll just tune out and live my life. Mind control from the world elites. Must slay the dragon to set us free. Divide and conquer is their one technique, never surrender to those evil creeps. The sword of justice will lay down the law.” Good Stuff!!

What are you looking forward to the most about opening up for Quiet Riot at the Whisky on June 4th?

I’m just looking forward to having a good show and being able to win over some new fans. It is NAMM weekend, so you never know who is going to be in the audience. I’m also using it as a measuring stick in terms of how we stack up against the band like Quiet Riot. It’ll be fun..!!

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You also have a show coming up opening up for the legendary Starship. What are you looking forward to the most about that show at the Libbey Bowl on September 4th?

I’m a huge Starship fan and I love Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick, when Grace was in the band. The chemistry that they had together was awesome. I love songs like Stranger, No Way Out, We Built This City” and so many other hits that they have. Being able to share the stage with such an iconic band will be an honor for me. It’s going to be a memorable show. I know in my heart that we will deliver a great performance and will be laser focused by the time this show comes around. I am really looking forward to this one.

If WIKKID STARR could open for any band from either now or from the past, who would it be and why?

I would have loved to open up for the original Van Halen with David Lee Roth singing @ Perkins Palace with my friend Gina Zamparelli promoting it. RIP Gina. To me, Van Halen revolutionized Rock N’ Roll in the States. The 80’s would have not had so many guitar heroes, if it wasn’t for Eddie Van Halen. The fact that they are from Pasadena and I live in Pasadena, gives me a sense of pride that I sort of live on “Holy Ground”. Victor Gordo the Mayor of Pasadena, is a huge Van Halen Fan. I hope that a statue of Eddie is erected in the new future- he definitely deserves it. KISS would also be a dream come true if we could be able to open up for them. I did call McGhee Entertainment recently and left a message for Doc, letting him know we would love to play the KISS Cruise. It was worth a shot putting it out there but I have no idea if Doc will ever call back?

How did esteemed keyboardist Eric Ragno become involved 47

with WIKKID STARR ? His credits are epic!

I called Eric Ragno up and asked him back a few years ago if he could do some live shows with us and in typical Eric fashion, he said: “I don’t hear any keyboards on these songs. Do you want me to create some keyboard parts?” He was right though - Sudden Impact (our second album) did not have any keys and was not as melodic as Return To Glory.

It would have been cool to have him create some keys but we didn’t have that much time because we were committed to do some shows. Eric is a Jersey guy and right, wrong or indifferent- he will speak his mind. That’s what I like about him. He speaks my language. I like to be upfront about stuff and have everyone be on the same page. His credits speak for themselves. He has played with many big-name acts on several album releases and done many live shows with some heavy hitters in the music industry. Eric is a great talent to have. He gives the song what it needs and will not over play.

I consider him a friend, who I can trust and depend on. I’m looking forward to playing with him for these upcoming shows.

Since we also have Sunset Strip Rockers Cherry St. in this issue, what are your recollection of the Sunset Strip circa 1990-1994 and the oncoming grunge movement? And what bands were you involved in at the time?

WOW- Cherry St.!! I remember Roxy Dahl when we were kids playing on the Strip. I attended a few of their shows and I believe he attended a couple of our shows when I played in a band called Firestarr. I know he ended up playing in an Aerosmith Tribute band and then I lost track of what he did.

I know he was originally from Michigan. Tom Mathers, who was also in Cherry St. moved to Texas and started Perris Records. My recollection of 1990-1994 was that there were still lots of good bands in Hollywood at the time.

The 2nd Wave of Hair Metal started in 1992 and lasted until 2002. It was known as the Hollywood Underground Movement with bands like: Gutter Sluts, Revlon Red, everything that Lesli Sanders did was impactful, Heart Throb Mob, Suicide Alley, Dead Girl, Mother Mercy, Spiders & Snakes (Lizzy Grey’s band) RIP Lizzy and so many more.

The movement became the anti-grunge movement and kept the Hair Metal/Glam scene alive in L.A. before it switched over to Stockholm, Sweden in 2002 and they kept it going.

I was in a band called Pistol Whip and we were putting out some good hard blues-based rock. The problem was that in 1992, the scene in Hollywood was over and the whole Seattle grunge stuff took over. It was surreal because it all happened so fast. When KNAC went off the air, I knew it was over. In 1992, I left Pistol Whip and moved the San Franci48

so. I needed to get away from Hollywood.

I came back to L.A. in 1993 and joined a band called Road Angel. In late 1995, I started D-ZIRE and we became part of the underground Hair Metal movement.

We were together until 2003. We put out a 15-song album called: The Awakening on September 16, 2002 and had our record release party at Paladino’s opening up for Rik Emmet of Triumph.

Back to the present, what’s up next for WIKKID STARR? We have a new album coming out called Return To Glory on June 27th that we are all excited about. It will be available for purchase on the Lions Pride Music label based out of Denmark, both as a digital download and there will be actual CDs as well. WE know that 2023 will be a BIG year for us.

WE are looking at the playing the Blizzard Festival in Hamburg, Germany as well as planning a small tour of Europe where we will play Paris, London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin and Copenhagen. It will be a lot of fun. This will take place July of 2023 but we are already in the planning stages right now. As far as 2022 goes, we will be filming a lot of music videos for our label and will end up doing some more shows once the new album is released so stay tuned we will post everything as it starts materializing. WE will be at The NAMM Show on Friday June 3rd @ 1pm at the Highwire Daze booth signing autographs, taking pictures and promoting our show with Quiet Riot at the Whisky on Saturday June 4th. Our guitar player Rafa Souza will probably play for about 30 minutes, demonstrating some of his skills.

Come on out and be one of the lucky ones that will win a pair of tickets to the Whisky show on Saturday June 4th.

See You All @ The NAMM Show. A BIG Thanks to Ken Morton for making it all happen.

Any final words of wisdom?

I just want to say that we need to support the original music scene here in the States and give newer bands the opportunity to get some consistent airplay on the radio, invites to some of the BIG ROCK Festivals, etc. The older generation of bands are retiring and dying out, so it’s important to let the bands that are ready to take over and kick ass, have the opportunity to do so. WIKKID STARR is the real deal. WE live it, eat it and breathe it..!! WE are ready to ROCK and we hope that you give us your support and come check us out when you have the opportunity to do so. Check out our new album Return To Glory, on the Lion’s Pride Music Label. It comes out on June 27th. You will not be disappointed!! NEVER STOP ROCKIN’..!!

https://www.facebook.com/wikkidstarrusa May/June 2022

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A Moment in Time with Orianthi

Interview by Kim Crain

Orianthi Panagaris, an Australian singer, songwriter, guitarist, started her career at an early age. She has performed with some of the biggest names in the music industry, and has worked with notable artists such as Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Alice Cooper, Prince, Steve Vai, Michael Bolton, ZZ Top, Adam Lambert, Richie Sambora, Dave Stewart, Carrie Underwood, Brian Ray, Dan Rothchild and Chris Wyse to name a few.

In a world dominated by male musicians I had a great opportunity to sit down with one of the worlds finest female lead guitarists and Platinum recording artists, Orianthi.

Kim Crain: How’s it going?

Orianthi: Going great, super busy, recording away.

I have a new album coming out called “Rock Candy,” that will be coming out in a couple of months. I have a live DVD coming out. It is a documentary we shot live here in Hollywood. Yes, and lots of stuff in the works.

I am excited to get out there on the road and play some shows as well.

Kim: Wow! That all sounds fantastic! You have been working hard! What age did you start playing guitar and whom were you influenced by?

Orianthi: I started playing guitar at six years old. My dad put the guitar in my hands. He played me Elvis videos, BB King, Beatles, Roy Orbison. I started strumming first and then got into playing lead when I was 11 years old. When I saw Santana perform - I think it was the Dance of the Rainbow Serpent tour in Australia - I was just blown away by his guitar playing, and it really hit me, and I was like, this is what I want to do. Thanks to Carlos Santana and that song Europa, it really pulled me in.

Kim: How did you end up working with one of the greatest entertainers on the planet, Michael Jackson?

Orianthi: He saw some of my Youtube videos and then saw me on T.V. when I was playing guitar for Carrie 50

Orianthi -w/ Micheal Bearden,Richie Sambora Photo Credit - Kevin Mazur Underwood. Not too long after that we performed at the Grammys, and I got a message on Myspace when that was happening. I got a message from Michael saying; “you are what we are looking for, can you come in and meet me and be part of the band?”

Kim: Wow, incredible, what are the chances?

Orianthi: Working with Michael Jackson was an amazing experience. I made a lot of life long friends, from Michael Bearden to Judith Hill, and Jonathan Moffett. They have become such dear friends.

Michael’s songs are not easy. They were definitely about the groove, the sounds, the rhythm parts, and just playing into it! I am a better musician for working with Michael, because he is a better performer. He pushed everybody in a really good way, so we could reach our highest potential. We took his perfectionism with us after working with him. He was so much about the ‘attention to detail.’

That makes a lot of difference when you have a lot of musicians onstage. It’s all about detail and making it all fall into place for the show to run smoothly and the entertainment value and all that.

Also it’s the way you make people feel. As artists we are here to serve people. When you come to a show it’s an artist’s job to make the audience feel good and connect May/June 2022

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and all that on an emotional level, and on an entertainment level as well. I learned a lot from Michael. I worked with Alice Cooper as well. Both are very theatrical shows, to be a part of. I loved working with both of them!

Kim: I remember seeing the Supergroup the Hollywood Vampires at the Greek 2019 and I was blown away, what a great band. Alice Cooper is an incredible performer, very animated.

Kim: In a world dominated by men what was your biggest fear breaking into the music industry?

Orianthi: I didn’t have any fear! I guess I just didn’t at all!

I went through enough fear at school. I left when I was 15 ‘cause I was really badly bullied, and it was horrible for me, and I just got out of there. School was the hardest part for me. I have terrible scars from that abuse.

Going to the end of the schoolyard and being bullied and beaten up being called names and all that. I guess it kind of groomed me for the music industry.

Kim: That is horrible. I’m sorry to hear that.

Orianthi: When you are really honest with yourself and you realize this is what I’ve been through, you kind of use this as an artist, because you know when you write songs, you just try to put everything into each one. Maybe there are a few experiences that I have been through.

Some people can connect, ‘cause they went through that too, so they wont feel alone! Music helped me when I was a kid. It helped me through those hard times. Going through that tough time, then going home, then picking up my guitar, that was my escape in a way. The guitar has always been my weapon of Peace, and everything that I feel I can express myself through.

Kim: Wow, I love listening to you! You have a lot of wisdom.

Kim: I know the Pandemic has put a damper on the music industry. I know that a lot of musicians started writing material, what did you do?

Orianthi: - I released an album. I put out an album called “O” during the pandemic with Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith.) It was a really weird time. I was doing all those zooms and by the end I was sick of the iPhone and the iPad. I was like, I can’t do this any more, all of these interviews. I was going insane. I just played a couple shows, no touring going on due to Covid. A lot of things got canceled. We got through it, now I have HIGHWIRE DAZE

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Photo credit: Rock Candy Photography another record coming out and lots of new material to follow.

Kim: I heard some new clips of a couple of your new songs online. Really tasty guitar parts, very seductive and catchy. I get this incredible great vibe for this new music you will be putting out.

Orianthi: On Instagram I put up a lot of clips and things that I’ve been working on. Lately, I have been putting out a few things. I feel Like Instagram is kind of like a T.V. If you don’t put different stuff up people get bored.

I’m always posting either my cat, or cooking. There’s something always going on there; entertainment value.

I started a meditation record a long time ago, and I am finishing it now. It’s about healing frequencies. Every song has a different healing frequency in it resonating through the track. That was really fun to do! I play all the instruments myself and recorded it myself.

The other clips I put out with “Rock Candy,” who is another friend of mine, Jacob Johnson. He does a lot of movie soundtracks. He’s worked with everybody from Mariah Carey to Mick Mars. The guy is very talented. We did a track together called “Illuminate,“ on the album, “Rock Candy.” We did the whole album in 15 days. We wrote a song a day and recorded a song a day.

Kim: What are your goals for the future in music?

Orianthi: - Definitely giving back. I would like to encourage more kids to get into music as a hobby or a 51

profession. It is a great outlet. Music can fill you up so you don’t feel so alone.

I have done a lot of charity work, and will continue to do so. When I was in Australia my goals were, I want a platinum record, I want to tour the world, and I did all that! So, I think anything you put your mind to, and your have your heart behind it, and you are enthusiastic, and the intention is right, it usually works out.

Kim: Now that you have recognition in the music industry, are you focusing on a solo career or as a session player or both?

Orianthi: Oh, all of it! When I first came out here I was a solo artist collaborating with Michael Jackson & Alice Cooper, That’s been a real honor. Writing for other people too, guesting on records. It’s been eclectic too from country artists to pop artists, heavy rock, blues, all that kind of stuff, all across the board, I love music, that’s it!

If there’s something across that looks really interesting or fun to do, a challenge, yea, I’m all in! I rarely say no to something unless it is a terrible thing.

Kim: You sound like a beautiful person on the inside and out. It is very inspiring to talk with you today.

Kim: I really love your guitar line. Is it your guitar line that you have? Can you tell us about that?

Orianthi: The Signatures. Yes, I am very grateful, very blessed. I got to work with two amazing companies.

First Paul Reed Smith guitars. It’s been 22 years now.

I started playing those guitars because of Santana. Four models through PRS now. One is available now. It is a private stock, custom 24. It’s like a Lotus blue. It’s so beautiful, it’s like the color of my first Jimi Hendrix T-Shirt. It looks Tie-dyed, purple and pink, very electric looking. It’s wild looking, really wild. It plays amazing!

Gibson Guitars: I have my own electric line with them as well! They said what kind of guitar would you like doing? I said the J200, the kind that Elvis played. It’s a massive, massive acoustic. The sound you can’t beat.

(The sound is so full) It is a 345 neck. It’s smaller and easier to play when you’re recording or playing live.

They said are you sure you want this one? I said, hell ya!

I went down to the factory in Montana, picked out everything, made it red, and I put a 345 electric guitar neck on a acoustic body so its easier to play, and its the first hybrid in history that I have ever done. I am honored 52

Photo credit: Rock Candy Photography they trusted my judgment. It’s a great guitar. We also modified the pickup as well by L.R. Baggs, an incredible pick up maker!

Kim: That’s awesome, I love it! Especially your new album “Rock Candy” coming out soon. It’s going to be fun!

Orianthi: It’s been a great experience for me making records with my friends.

Kim: So nice to have talked with you today. Thank you so much!

Orianthi: Thank you too!

Follow Orianthi at: @Orianthifans - Twitter @iamorianthi - Instagram

Reach Kim Crain at kimcrain.com www.facebook.com/kim. crain.9231 www.instagram.com/kimcrainmusic

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COMING SUMMER 2022 https://ampage.com/

MAYHEM at The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA., March 8, 2022

Review by Tony F. Corpse - Photo by Jack Lue The moon was at it’s zenith, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite freezing. Waiting in utter spellbound anticipation were over 2,000 black clad metal denizens, all in revelatory splendour for the imminent arrival of Norway’s most incendiary Black Metal export. Erupting onto the stage after a majestic intro, Mayhem attacked in a rabid frenzy of ultrasonic decibel ridden violence and barbaric, tribalistic, blastbeat frenzy.

Every blasphemous utterance emanating from Attila’s lips were envenomated with poisonous bile. Especially during Pagan Fears. Here his vocal regurgitations were completely unpure and ominous. Scarily cavernous and wicked. The operatic refrain of Life Eternal sounded like a secretive sermon being preached to a subterrenean sect of devil worshippers.Catching everybody by suprise was the inclusion of Crystalized Pain In Deconstruction from the 56

unfairly maligned A Grand Declaration Of War. The audience was aghast. Mouths openly salavating as clean pate guitarists Teloch and Ghul strategically maneuvered the precise chords that the epically monumental mindfuck of a song requires. Towing the line was the imcomprable Hellhammer. A deity forged in the fires of gehenna, beating out complicated polyrhythms like a fierce beast let loose. The intimitable Necrobutcher manipulated the bottom end with his bass of archaic majesty and showed why he is a pioneer in the field of the most brackish of metal. Going on nearly 36 years now as a commanding maelstrom of fire and fury, Mayhem once again prove their potency and regal standing. Hail thy mighty gods of vicious hellfire!

Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando EP by Mayhem, which features cover songs of their influences such as Discharge, Dead Kennedys, Rudimentary Peni and Ramones is now available via Century Media Records!

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Carry The Day, Against The Sun, Anson, Chasing Desolation, State Five

The Rock Collective’s Rock For Life Benefit Concert Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA., April 24, 2022

Carry The Day

Against The Sun

Review by Ken Morton - Photos by Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd hosted The Rock Collective’s “Rock For Life” Benefit Concert to Benefit Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund and Check Your Head Podcast on Sunday, April 24, 2022. The concert featuring popular Los Angeles based bands paying tribute to artists the industry has lost too soon including Taylor Hawkins, Chester Bennington, Elliott Smith, Paul Gray and Amy Winehouse.

Anson, performing his heart out on vocals and guitar, accompanied by Nico Triumphant on an improvised cajón drum. Anson was paying tribute to the late, great Elliott Smith, and presented a super impassioned rendition of the classic Say Yes. Although Anson and Nico played acoustic, on display was a lot of power, memorable tunes and good times to be found in their set. Of their own original songs, highlights included the supremely catchy Runaway, his off the charts Spotify megahit Hailey, and a brand new selection entitled Fall Into My Arms.

Opening the show was Los Angeles based solo artist

State Five from Long Beach was up next, and what a

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stunning tribute this amazing post hardcore band performed in honor of Amy Winehouse - their version of Back To Black was nothing short of stratospheric. Other brilliant tunes from their segment of the show included What’s Killing Me, Hysteria, and Dance In The Raim. Definitely a band to seek out and rediscover in future days ahead.

Chasing Desolation was performing in memory of the legendary Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, and their unveiling of The Messenger was absolutely epic!

The band also presented songs from their recently issued The Moth Collection full length manifesto, with selections such as Back From The Grave, Maze Of White, and Night Things sounding absolutely tremendous within a live setting. You can bet Highwire Daze will be checking out this band again soon and so should you!

Against The Sun was vibrant and energetic, unleasing an outstanding live show!

Opening their set with a rousing rendition of Left Behind by Slipknot as a tribute to Paul Gray, Against The Sun did this classic song and brilliant musician proud.

Another cover performed was Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo, with Against The Sun rocking this ditty out with a glorious sense of conviction. Vocalist Brad West introduced It Should’ve Been Raining as a tribute to his late mother, and there was not a dry eye to be found in the house. Another selection Falling Apart featured a guest appearance from their friend Joshua Gomez. Their last song and latest single Chelsea Said rocked and raged hard, leaving quite a lasting impression on the crowd. Against The Sun are truly inspirational live with the dynamic tunes to back it all up, and they are not to be missed!

Carry The Day headlined The Rock For Life Benefit, and their set had everyone on their feet singing along and doing circle pits in a venue maybe not so well known for that kind of activity. The band’s tribute would be for Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, and their cover of All My Life was both grand and blistering. Their own original songs were through HIGHWIRE DAZE

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the roof, with Backup Plan, Better Days, Outcast, and State Of Emergency (their latest single) leaving quite an impact. A brand new tune Picture Perfect was well received by the audience. And for a very well deserved encore, Carry The Day performed The Ones We Hate, leaving The Rock For Life Benefit with an absolutely rapturous grand finale. With an audience response this passionate, we will definitely see Carry The Day headlining venues above and beyond the City Of Angels in no time at all!

Congrats to David Swanson of The Los Angeles Rock Collective and the five amazing bands for a very memorable night in the wilds of Tinseltown! Mental health is so important. It was an honor to cover this show.

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ALBUM REVIEWS The Way EP Bonnie Brae Self-released

Review by Ken Morton If Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin shared a night to remember, the resulting offspring would be Bonnie Brae! The down and dirty songs found within The Way EP are sludgy hard rock that tantalizes the senses! Commencing with the scorching World On Fire, the band then blasts into the blistering reveries of Slut with it’s wickedly infectious “you spread your love all over town” chorus. OFF oozes rude girl punk rock attitude gone wild with its “I might be going to hell but I don’t miss you” inflections. Dirty Love Song reverberates with sensual lyrics and pulsating melodies setting the imagination in flight.

And then closing out the EP is the intensive madness of band moniker Bonnie Brae, and it is a breathtakingly fierce grand finale! Bonnie Brae is presented by Gwendolyn Casella on lead vocals, David Coltrane Levin on guitar, Derby on bass, and Scottie Carneghi on drums., Y’all should come down Bonnie Brae Way for a hard rockin’ good time! https://bonniebraeband.com/

What Is Up Is Down Derek Davis Apocalypse Records Review by Ken Morton Derek Davis is best known as the frontman for the hard rocking Babylon A.D. His solo output is even more compelling, including his latest single What Is Up Is Down, now available worldwide via Apocalypse Records.

The subject is cancel culture in this modern age, rendering a scathing social commentary as “the world goes round and round.” Done in the bluesy style of his solo work with a dash of the smooth grooves of Marvin Gaye, Derek Davis pulls absolutely no punches with this one - and the results are both lyrically devastating and sonically rewarding. There is no common ground with the great divide in the world of today, and What Is Up Is Down is the perfect documentation of society’s sorry state of affairs. This song should be all over the radio airwaves, because music is the universal language and it’s one Derek Davis speaks with a persuasive amount of passion and conviction. Here’s hoping we hear a lot more from Derek Davis in 2022 and beyond! https://derekdavismusic.com/ 60

Nocturnal Overdrive Part 2 Madman’s Lullaby MR Records

Review by Ken Morton Nocturnal Overdrive Part 2 has arrived, and Madman’s Lullaby reach even greater stratospheric heights. The five selections contained within are absolutely epic, destined to captivate fans of the Foo Fighters, Queensryche and beyond. From the opening refrains of the supersonic Thick and Thin, Madman’s Lullaby unleash tapestries of sheer artistry that are vibrantly intriguing. Each and every performance on Nocturnal Overdrive Part 2 is overflowing with passion and imagination, featuring the participation of Chris Michaels on lead vocals. Mr. Brett on lead guitar, Luis Barillas on bass, and Eric Arbizu on drums. Inside Out, Falling, Tell Me I’m Right, Ask For Nothing - the bangers just keep on arriving and the intensity and brilliance will remain in your head long after the disc spins to it’s thrilling conclusion.

Nocturnal Overdrive Part 2 by Madman’s Lullaby is an all triumph - and like it’s predecessor - the EP will easily wind up the Highwire Daze Top 10 of the year when all is said and done for 2022. https://www.mmlrocks.com/

Amazing Love The Swansons

Golden Goose Entertainment Review by Ken Morton Amazing Love is the perfect title for The Swansons’ upcoming album - they not only possess an amazing love for one another but also for their artistry. A husband-and-wife country pop alternative duo, The Swansons now present the next glorious chapter of their musical journey, and the 12 songs found within the realm of Amazing Love are blissful and inspiring. We All Fall Down has hit single potential written all over it while Take My Chances oozes playful bluegrass vibes that are absolutely endearing. Don’t Lead Me On is introspective and vulnerable, delivered with so much passion and commitment. A Little Breakdown adds a bit of blues to the proceedings and is an infinite highlight.

The title track exudes a heartfelt liberation from the darkness of this world. Fervent Fire is beautiful hymn of worship and praise while the rollicking Voices is an all out celebration of life and perseverance. Joe and Angie Finley have delivered a dozen wonderful reasons to check into Amazing Love. One of the most inspirational and uplifting albums of 2022! https://theswansonsmusic.com/ May/June 2022

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