the only rockstyle magazine in the universe
NO. 2 APRIL 2012
l. A. Guns iron maiden XIII. stoleti behemoth IN konieczkA's costumes make up that rocks THIS MUST BE THE PLACE venice beach
april 2012 2 editorial 3
news access
4
rock tribute
JIM MARSHALL
6
rock access
WILDNESS, JAZZ AND L. A. GUNS
16
dark access
IN THE LAND OF NOSFERATU - XIII. STOLETI
18
digging the rock
MORE THAN HITS... IRON MAIDEN
22
rock shop
23
news access
26
backstage access
KATARZYNA KONIECZKA DRESSED LUCIFER
34 undressed
MAKE UP THAT ROCKS, LET'S FACE IT
36
rock style
GET HIGH WITH CHEYENNE
40
rock savvy
Timeline of music formats: Part 1 Analog
42
map of rock
VENICE BEACH
44
rock shot
GIN & TONIC SKY
EDITORIAL En Vivo! by Iron Maiden was released at the end of March. It's fascinating that this British band evokes so many positive emotions in so many generations. You can't rarely find a band that is so addictive. Addictive in a good way. A few years back, attending a rather unusual Iron Maiden concert that took place in a theatre, a man, sitting (true story!) behind me, sang every lyric during the 1,5 hour show. He muttered mechanically all the time with the same melody and tone. Nevermind! Iron Maiden recorded a few hundred songs that we all know, appreciate and listen to. They created rules that are now key to heavy metal. Somewhere in the middle of the magazine you will find Iron Maiden discography presented by Bizon.
Your homework is to watch the video to Behemoth's Lucifer. Take a closer look at costumes of the band and models. Next, read the interview with Katarzyna Konieczka, who made those pieces of art.
These and many more metal goodies on the pages of Rock Axxess. Attack! Karolina Karbownik Editor in Chief
ROCK AXXESS the only rockstyle magazine in the universe editor in chief / creative director Karolina Karbownik [k.karbownik@allaccess.com.pl] deputy editor in chief / translation editor Jakub Bizon Michalski [j.michalski@allaccess.com.pl] contributors Marcelina Gadecka Agnieszka Lenczewska Leszek Mokijewski Katarzyna Strzelec advertising director Katarzyna Strzelec [k.strzelec@allaccess.com.pl] international advertising manager Marcelina Gadecka [m.gadecka@allaccess.com.pl] rock axxess logo design cover image Dominik Nowak Kobaru www.kobaru.pl publisher: All Access Media Karolina Karbownik ul. Szolc-Rogozinskiego 10/20 02-777 Warszawa, Poland
general contact: contact@rockaxxess.com
We do not accept responsibility for the content of the advertising published in the magazine.
news access
Jakub “Bizon” Michalski, Karolina Karbownik, Marcelina Gadecka
Let's Get Higher One of Norwegian airlines put itself in a whole lot of trouble recently. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the airlines announced a special contest for the customers - they would honor a deceased Norwegian hero by putting their face on the tailfin of their jets. It all seems quite ordinary up to this point, right? Well, the problem started when it turned out that the person leading the poll was ... Oystein Aarseth, better known as Euronymous – ex-member of a black metal band Mayhem, who was murdered in 1993 by a fellow musician, Burzum's Varg. Before Euronymous' life ended abruptly, he became quite known for being an avid photographer and collectioner. All because he took some photos of his dead friend and Mayhem's singer, Dead (that's what we call a suitable stage name...) after the singer commited suicide. One of those photos was later used as a cover artwork for Mayhem's bootleg recording. What's more, Euronymous reportedly collected some pieces of Dead's skull and made necklaces from it. Isn't it lovely? The airlines' management clearly underestimated Norwegian metal fans. Luckily for the airlines, they were saved by Euronymous' family who asked to exclude their deceased relative from the poll. It was so close...
Doctor Cooper?
fot. www.alicecooper.com / materiały prasowe
In March, Alice Cooper received the second doctorate in his life. Fortunately, this doesn't mean that he will be now treating patients with defecation problems or psoriasis. The famous rock icon received an honorary doctorate from the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. He delivered the graduation commencement speech to 600 Institute graduates. He started very much in his own style: First of all, the fact that I am here as your keynote speaker raises a lot of red flags. It show's an obvious lack of judgment on your part. Commenting on the number of similar honours he's already received, Alice joked: One more of these and I can write prescriptions. It kinda already makes you wish you were at least a little bit ill...
A Decade of We Will Rock You Musical We Will Rock You musical celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since the beginning of its run, WWRY earned itself a place in the top ten of the West End's longest running musicals. The show has now been seen by over 6 million people at London's Dominion Theater and 13 million around the world. The spectators included Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor (who occasionally appear on stage with the performers), Britney Spears, Pink and Beyonce, among others. The anniversary performance that will take place on 14 May is likely to attract both active Queen members and WWRY's co-producer, Robert de Niro, although nothing has been confirmed yet.
rock tribute
Marcelina Gadecka, Jakub “Bizon� Michalski, Karolina Karbownik
jim marshall He will always be known as The Father of Loud and a person responsible for the true sound of rock. He let the world experience the sound of an electric guitar the way we know it today. His name is among rock's greatest, along with Leo Fender, Seth Lover and Les Paul. In his youth, he was running a shop in London, where he was selling musical instruments. Among his customers were Ritchie Blackmore and Pete Townshend, who were looking for good guitars and amps. Marshall first brought in Fender amplifiers but they were expensive. Therefore, he decided to create his own line of amps. These have been since used by some of the greatest rock artists, including Zakk Wylde, Slash, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and many more. Jim Marshall was also a generous person, involved in many different charities. He passed away on 5 April 2012. He was 88. You can send your condolences at www.jimmarshall.co.uk Rest in peace, Jim!
The world of rock and metal sends condolences on Twitter and Facebook Slash
The news of Jim Marshall passing is deeply saddening. R & R will never be the same w/out him. But, his amps will live on FOREVER! \,,/,
Scott Ian
Just heard about Jim Marshall passing... I am lucky to have spent time with the man that created the sound of Rock music. A true LEGEND.
Nikki Sixx
R.I.P. Jim Marshall. You were responsible for some of the greatest audio moments in music's history and 50% of all our hearing loss......
Opeth
Jim's heritage is eternal and everytime I turn around I see his name on my amps and cabs. So does 1000's of musicians around the world. We wish to thank Jim for his genius and his name will resonate through our music this very evening.
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Dave Mustaine
Joe Satriani
Dave Ellefson
Joe Perry
I have never been sadder than today. My dear friend and father figure Dr. Jim Marshall OBE has passed away. I am at a loss for words... Rest in peace to Marshall Amps founder Jim Marshall. Had the pleasure to meet him in 2001 at the factory in Milton Keynes, England. A gentle soul who carved out the loudest sound in rock 'n' roll.
John5
Sad to hear about the death of the king of loud, Mr Jim Marshall.
I'm deeply saddened on the news of Jim Marshall's passing. R.I.P. Lord of Loud, Jim Marshall. Great sorrow hearing bout the great Jim Marshall passing. Everytime we plug in and make people smile,we owe him debt beyond counting!!!
Zakk Wylde
GOD BLESS FATHER MARSHALL!!!! TBLO SDMF JM
photo. Slash: Jakub “Bizon” Michalski”/ Jim Marshall & Ed Mundell: Karen M. Mundell / Zakk Wylde: Karolina Karbownik
Bruce Kulick
above: Jim Marshall and Ed Mundell (The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic, ex- Monster Magnet) . left page: Slash, below: Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society)
The loss of Jim Marshall today saddens me greatly. My love of Marshall amps and the iconic company he created will always be a part of my life. I will never forget the clinic tour I did with him back in the early '90s promoting the 900 series amps, which I still use. His charm and grace in the English way made him unique to me. Knowing all the lives he changed with his products, and the artists he worked with through the years, made him a giant in the industry of the music business. I know Jim will never be forgotten, and that the legacy of his amps will carry on for generations to come. RIP, Jim Marshall.
Oasis
Jim Marshall, R.I.P. Turn up your amps to 11 in his honor!
Mick Box
What devastating news it was today when Russ phoned me, to tell me that the great Jim Marshall aged 88, had passed away. Jim has been a major part of my life with his amplification and speakers, and I have been an avid user since the late 60's. Where would rock music have been without him. He has continually re-invented the Marshall Wall of Sound over the years, and he has not only kept up with the times, he was in front of it. This is such a sad loss to the music world as we know it, and he will be missed terribly by not only his family, but musicians all over the world.
He was the Guv'nor, and his Marshall Stacks will live on forever. I hope he meets Les Paul in that great green room in the sky, as they really were a match made in heaven. Rest in peace Jim!
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wildness
rock talk
jazz
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L.A.GUNS SLUG! AND DELIGHT… DONI GRAY ENJOYS POLISH VODKA: KRUPNIK. 6
Karolina Karbownik photo: Karolina Karbownik / Katarzyna Strzelec
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t tastes like jazz! – Doni repeats several times. The rest of the band also likes Polish flavours. Only a few hours earlier the whole team tried some famous Polish sausage, as mentioned by Tracii Guns on his Facebook profile. In their room at backstage of Progresja club we see a bottle of milk, cans of Tyskie beer and Polish pickles. This is the first time the legendary band visits Poland. However, Tracii who, together with Axl Rose, founded Guns N’Roses doesn’t consider himself a legend: I’ve never said and thought about myself as a legend. I love music, I love playing rock. I’m happy that because of music I can get to places I haven’t been to. This is my first time in Poland. I don’t know if I would ever have a chance to visit this country if it wasn’t because of music. We all are excited about this stay and tonight’s gig.
ny and Scott will always find a place to let their energy flow. Despite the fact, that L. A. Guns oversteps every imaginable limits of line-up changes, and the current one is again completely new, the members of the quartet play as if they were meant to be together. They have fun on and off stage, they also connect very well on a musical level. Looking very young, the vocalist, Scott Foster Harris who joined the band just a few weeks earlier, is a very good frontman who feels what L. A. Guns is all about.
This evening, we hear the hits that topped the charts in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The Ballad of Jane, Electric Gypsy, Bitch is Back, Reap and Tear and Sex Action are sung loudly by a small audience. L. A. Guns take us for a wild trip to the years of their biggest success in the Sunset Strip glow. These were the days when so much was going on in that famous part of Hollywood. I feel obliged to ask the musicians about their most aberrant ideas and behaviour.
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Wild? Scott is ready: I think that the most crazy thing I’ve done was running naked on a ship. The rest of his story is being continued with jokes from his colleagues. There are some girls in the room who are very curious about the ending. So are we. The story ends up with Scott being arrested in one of the ship’s cabins. The fact that Scott’s activity had been noticed by the ship’s passengers seems to be obvious. >
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Pleasure from playing, commitment and passion are easily visible during the show. A small, club stage doesn't seem to limit the real, uncensored rock. It looks like Tracii, Doni, John-
Rock Axxess: Tracii, what was the wildest thing you’ve done in your life? Tracii: I??? I’ve never done anything wild! Rock Axxess followed by the rest of the band: We don’t believe you! Tracii: Hmm… well, let me think… There is nothing coming to my mind. Rock Axxess: No way. Take your time to think a bit. What about the rest, guys?
Doni shares his stories about braking the law while driving which caused him some problems with police. Tracii laughs: This is what everybody has done in their lives! Rock Axxess: So… Tracii? We’re still waiting for your story! No excuses, Sunset Strip was your business address, wasn’t it. Tracii: Well… I’m gonna tell you the story about my coming back to our bus, after one of our shows. There was our band and many girls inside. And I walked in, not caring about anything, got off all my clothes… Suddenly all the girls left the bus! What a loss! Doni: All of them? No way! Tracii: Well, something like 95%. Rock Axxess: Good news was that there was still 5% inside! Everybody laughs and makes fun, this time of Tracii. Rock Axxess: Was L. A. Guns one of those bands that>
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didn’t allow males to backstages? Tracii: Sometimes yes.
It’s been over an hour since L. A. Guns left the stage. After another shot of jazzy Krupnik vodka, Doni speaks about his ranch. Johnny Martin focuses on unraveling his white headphones. The band hits the road soon, it’d be nice for him to listen to his favorite music. For Tracii, his favorite musician has always been Jimmi Page. We could hear that during the show. The band plays a cover of Whole Lotta Love. It sounds great. The same with Hey Joe, sung by Doni. Scott wrings his shirt, soaking wet of sweat. The vocalist doesn’t look tired. Wow, one can really envy his fitness! As well as the beautiful, hand painted cowboy boots. They go really well with his bell-bottoms and a velvet coat. Scott looks more like a hippie than a rockman. Fot the late 80's and early 90's rock bands, a well thought image was crucial. Some people laughed at it, some loved and followed it. People still do. We see many fans at the club who look as if they have jumped out of the 80/90’s rock fashion guidebook. There's plenty of cowboy boots as well as 80's hairdos and sexy denim pants.
about. Rock Axxess: What about your mate, Nikki Sixx and his clothing label? Tracii: Oh Nikki. Well, you know, Nikki is a different story (laughs). I’m too old for considering every part of my image. I’m 46! Rock Axxess: No, you are not too old! Jon Bon Jovi turns 50 today. Doni: Yeah, Jon Bon Jovi is old! Johnny: Tracii, you are so young comparing to Bon Jovi! Tracii: Oh yes, I’m just 46. I’m young but Bon Jovi is old!
Rock Axxess: When you founded L. A. Guns, you were only 17. Tell us sincerely, who was buying alcohol for you? Tracii:Oh no, I didn’t drink alcohol back then!
Tracii’s mates show their disbelief. The guitarist makes sure he was a very decent boy. After a while, he breaks and develops his story. Yes, he wasn’t drinking, however it happened several times that his older friends had left a can of unfinished beer in their rehearsal room. Few sips were enough for Tracii to taste the beverage. The other day somebody bought Rock Axxess: Who took care of your image back in the a bottle of tequila. Tracii had few glasses before his gig: I felt late 80’s? Did you have a hairdresser? wasted when I got on stage. It must have been the first time Tracii: No, we didn’t. Actually, we didn’t care about our look when I was drunk. My head was spinning. I wasn't feeling well that much. We were dirty. We didn’t wash our hair too often – he recalls. and before every gig we only shook them a bit, made them messy and that was it. When it comes to our clothes – we used The whole band stays far from the drugs. They have all to tear them. We were and are a real, wild rock’n’roll band. seen a lot in their lives. I wish I could spend more time with We don’t care about hairdressers. This isn’t what rock’n’roll is the band and listen to their crazy stories about the legen- >
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dary, rocking Sunset Strip. Luckily Tracii’s heavy gitar riffs played on his fancy Dean guitar are just like a time vehicle that moves us back to the 80’s and early 90’s. We are torn away from this dreamy journey by the band’s manager who announces that the band would leave in 20 minutes. Johnny still hasn’t unraveled his headphones. His effortful activity is being continued outside the club where, despite the fact it’s been hours since the show ended, many fans are still waiting for their chance to take an autograph and a picture with the band. They don’t know when the band will visit Poland again. And what would they play. The latest L. A. Guns album, Acoustic Gypsy Live is an unplugged record. However, the band does not have any acoustic tours in their future plans: Tracii: No, no, it has nothing to do with rock’n’roll. Doni: We wouldn't like an acoustic tour. But it was very cool to play that show and make such a record. Tracii: I was really nervous! Doni: Are you serious? Tracii: Yes, at the beginning. Later it was easier me me to play. The second gig was much easier. It was strange, though. Very intimate. Rock Axxess: What was the audience: sitting? Standing? Tracii: People were sitting. It was in a cafe, not a club.
Rock Axxess: Tell us something about your new, announced project: The Tracii Guns League of Gentlemen? Tracii: Oh yes, The Tracii Guns League of Gentlemen is our new band with this line-up you can see here. Let’s say that it is gonna be more of an adult project, more adult music and so on. Rock Axxess: More than Sex Action? Tracii: [laughs] Yes! Rock Axxess: Is there anything more adult than Sex Action, really? Everybody: Yes, there is! Cool! We're waiting for it!
* A few weeks after our meeting with the band, The Tracii Guns League of Gentlemen changed its line up. Johnny Martin went on to play with Steven Adler's new band, simply called Adler and he was replaced in Tracii's group by Steve Preach. �
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XIII. StoletĂ in the land of dark access
Nosferatu Leszek Mokijewski photo: XIII. Stoleti
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Wolves are howling. The children of the night. What sweet music they make. A voice announces the night’s arrival. XIII. Stoleti’s music makes the Transilvanian warewolves come alive.
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III Stoleti music takes us to the world of dark castles, labyrinth of corridors and old chambers which live their own lives. In these chambers still hang some paintings created with the words of Petr Stepan – the Czech band's frontman. Someone may say that XIII. Stoleti is another Sister of Mercy clone. However, the personality of the Czech group allows us to experience an incredible adventure in the mysterious world of legends and myths. The adventure animated by Petr Stepan and his fascination with vampires.
The images are gloomy and modest. Rhythms, at first simple, take on a sweeping tempo as they pass through the corridors. Massive guitar riffs pluck at the sensitive strings of our imagination. From the palace chambers we hear the powerful sound of the organs. Petr and his mates show us Transylvania as it is. Over the peaks we hear a plaintive howl of a werewolf. The ancient vampire hunger demands some fresh and warm blood.
...Všechny hvězdy vyjdou
a noc začíná tajemná je země Transilvania jé ó Transilvanie... By the black window we hear the clatter of horses' hooves.
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The sound of the rain makes us halt at the gloomy portrait of Nosferatu. Nosferatu is one the best albums of XIII. Stoleti. The voice of The Prince of Darkness perfectly reflects the atmosphere the Czech band surrounds us with. Petr Stepan becomes the idol of the army of followers dressed in black. He hypnotizes us. He mesmerizes us. The mist marks the thin line of the Carpathians, partly reflecting the most beautiful Gothic echo leading us through further passages. There we find Elisabeth Bathory. Dramatic, expressive sounds and Stepan's poetry paint a portrait of the bloody countess. Blood is life.
Elizabeth - tvá krvavá cesta Bohu hříchem se zdá...
Her spirit is floating over the audience at every venue. Petr Stepan is a unique guide to meanders of the dark. The founder of XIII. Stoleti is also an actor and writer. In 1998, he published a book Kniha Nosferatu (Vampírská Bible) (The Vampire Bible), in which he adds a further dimension to the inscrutable depths of darkness. He also creates music for the plays. The greatness of his artistic vision and passiongive us the guarantee of discovering every nook and cranny of his old castle. Anyone who passed through the gate of the thirteenthcentury building does not want to abandon it. The audience joins in the conversation with the Vampire. Or maybe they will discover a part of him in themselves?
Jakub “Bizon” Michalski
photo: Karolina Karbownik / promo
digging the rock
MORE THAN HITS...
Iron Maiden is one of those bands, whose name's known to all. Teenage metalheads, hardrock veterans, ...booze-lovers spending their whole days near 24/7 shops, who liven up almost every time they see the characteristic logo. Even if they've never heard a single second of the band's music. Iron Maiden is a classic example of a band whose most well known compositions do not always reach the level of their lesser known and sometimes forgotten tracks. This review is divided into two parts: part one is "going to the top" and part two is "the mature era".
GOING TO THE TOP Iron Maiden (1980) 9/10 To many fans, the success of Iron Maiden is inseparably linked with the presence of the band's best known singer, Bruce Dickinson. But the first two albums, recorded when Bruce was still singing with the local rivals, were the two that helped the young band make their mark on the music map. The debut album is today considered a heavy metal classic. Paul Di'Anno, whose vocal range doesn't match Bruce's, shows here his punk rock roots and aggression. And it works! Running Free and the title tracks quickly became Maiden classics. But the best track here is Phantom of the Opera. It's also worth noting two compositions that show the band's more subtle side – Remember Tomorrow and Strange World.
Killers (1981) 9/10 The second album is generally considered weaker than the first one. This, however, doesn't seem fair to Killers since we have such classic tracks here, as the title track or Wrathchild. The album is really dynamic but also diverse. The album's
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strongest moments are: the powerful instrumental track called Genghis Khan and the punchy Purgatory. In an attempt to change the mood, we have the partially-acoustic Prodigal Son, a track that's as far from the typical heavy metal gallop as it gets. Songs like this one were the main reason Maiden stood out from their heavy metal contemporaries.
The Number of the Beast (1982) 6/10
Bruce Dickinson joins the band and he immediately records one of the most well-known albums in the history of metal. However, looking at the album 30 years after its release, it seems a bit overrated. The title track and Run to the Hills are true metal classics but the quality of those songs doesn't really match their fame. It's a rather unoriginal stuff, less interesting than the two previous albums. On the other hand, the closing number, Hallowed Be Thy Name, deserves every bit of its cult status. You cannot miss the Dio-esque Children of the Damned and Total Eclipse – a song that appears only on selected version of the record.
Piece of Mind (1983) 7/10 The fourth Iron Maiden release is the first one recorded by five musicians that are still in the band to this day, although some of them were out of Maiden for some time in in the 90's. Along with having a more stable line-up, the band clearly revved up. Music on Piece of Mind is in similar vibe to its predecessor but the band managed to avoid dull tracks like Total Eclipse or Run to the Hills. What we have are some amazing vocals in Where Eagles Dare and Flight of Icarus, a classic (this time fully deserved) metal tune The Trooper and an excellent and complex album finisher To Tame a Land, based on a science fiction novel, Dune.
Powerslave (1984) 8/10
Previous two albums were mainly based on a perfect cooperation of the band's rhythm section. Powerslave focuses more on guitars. We get the first proof right in the album's opener – a model heavy metal track, Aces High. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, one of the band's more complex tracks, majestic and full of suspense is another one that gained a cult following among fans, along with the title song which has a distinct Egyptian sound in the main riff, fitting the cover artwork perfectly. Two compositions dealing with fencing are also worth mentioning, especially the first of them, Flash of the Blade, with a marvelous and noisy twin guitar "solo". Powerslave is heavy metal's hidden gem, somewhat in the shadow of its two more known but not as great predecessors.
Somewhere in Time (1986) 8/10
First two Iron Maiden albums constituted a whole. The same can be said about their next three releases. Somewhere in Time is also the first of twin albums. It's the first time we hear not only guitars but also guitar synths in the band's music. Heavy metal gallop known from previous albums made way for compositions that are more spacious and catchy. Dickinson doesn't strain his voice as often. His high vocals on previous albums were indeed impressive but also a bit tiring to the listener when overused. The whole album sounds great but the tracks that are definitely worth mentioning, apart of the hit single Wasted Years (probably the best of those most popular Maiden songs), are a dynamic Deja Vu and a complex closing composition, Alexander the Great.
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988) 8/10
Developing the sound known from Somewhere in Time even further, the band decided to add keyboards to the mix. It certainly adds to the overall impression that 7th Son is the catchiest Iron Maiden album. Almost every song was a potential single (keep in mind that this was in the 80's when TV and radio stations played a lot of rock and metal tunes), and actually half of the record was released as singles. The most interesting track here is the title one, forecasting the more progressive direction the band would take on a decade later. But don't miss the highly energetic single The Evil That Men Do and the two closing songs, The Clairvoyant and Only the Good Die Young.
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No Prayer for the Dying (1990) 5/10 Early 90's brought some serious changes within the band. For the first time in years, the group was joined by a new musician. Adrian Smith left and was replaced by Janick Gers, guitar player of English and Polish descent. The band's music changed as well. In a away, Iron Maiden went back to its roots. Dickinson's voice was a bit lower and raspier than in the 80's, the band got rid of guitar synths and keyboards, and the lyrics focused more on social issues. Looks great, right? Only in theory, I'm afraid. The truth is, this CD lacks this "extra ingredient" that used to make the difference between Maiden and other heavy metal groups. It also lacks good melodies. What saves this album, at least partially, is the amazing title track and the most popular song on the album, Bring Your Daughter... . Also worth noting is a dynamic tune called The Assassin. The rest, however, is surprisingly forgettable.
Fear of the Dark (1992) 5/10
Fear of the Dark is a continuation of the previous album in almost every. The same line up (for the last time), similar sound and lyrical content. Unfortunately, the overall impressions are also similar. Most of this record is painfully dull. It's not like it's hard to listen to but why would you even bother doing that if you can play any Maiden album recorded in the 80's. The only interesting things happen when the band goes back to the previous decade. These include the title track (a fan favourite), Afraid To Shoot Strangers and the catchy Judas Be My Guide. The world would not lose much if the rest was never recorded.
THE MATURE ERA:
The X Factor (1995) 6/10 Everything changes, so did Maiden's line-up. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson left to pursue solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley. Dereck Riggs was no longer responsible for
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the artwork (although his works were already rejected by the band when the previous album was released). And what about the music? The overall sound is not far from two previous albums, but it got heavier and darker, thanks in part to the new singer, who had a distinctly lower voice than his predecessor. Unfortunately, the album is far from amazing. The main problem here is its length: there's simply not enough good material here for 71 minutes. What's more, two tracks that were not included on the album, Judgement Day and Justice of the Peace are much better than most of the songs that ended up on the record. However, you have to appreciate the monumental track The Sign of the Cross, the dynamic duo of Lord of the Flies and Man on the Edge, and the rhythmic Look for the Truth. But it must be noted that these tunes happen to be on the first part of the record. The further it gets, the more boring it becomes.
Virtual XI (1998) 5/10
Similarly to the previous release, Virtual XI lacks dynamics and memorable moments. The band sounds tired and the choruses are usually repeated so many times that it really gets annoying. But I must admit that the beginning was quite promising, because Futureal, the opening track, is one of Maiden's most energetic compositions. Another one, The Clansman, is now a true Maiden classic and it goes back, both sound-wise and lyric-wise to the band's output from the 80's. Don't miss the closing tune - the sublime Como Estais Amigos - it's the most precious, though not widely known, gem on this album.
Brave New World (2000) 9/10
This record marks the beginning of the newest era in the band's history. Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith are back and Maiden now plays as a six-piece, because Janick Gers, who replaced Smith years earlier, stays in the band. Three guitars? Why not! The easiest way to describe this record? It's a natural follow-up to Seventh Son... Lots of background
keyboards, jaw-dropping solos and brilliant vocals from Bruce, who dropped his raspy vocals from early 90's and at the same time, his high screams are much more ear-friendly than in the 80's. It's as if the previous four albums never happened. The only leftover from the band's recent work is that the compositions here tend to be more complex than in the early years. Brave New World is Maiden's first album that gets so close to the progressive area. The most complex tracks are also the best ones - the dynamic title track, the totally insane Dream of Mirrors, The Nomad spiced with some East-inspired guitar licks and the beautifully swaying Blood Brothers are certainly the best offerings of this record. But two closing tracks - Out of the Silent Planet and The Thin Line Between Love and Hate - are also worth mentioning, as well as that amazing Adrian Smith's guitar solo in the album's first single - The Wicker Man.
Dance of Death (2003) 8/10 The direction from Brave New World is further developed on Dance of Death. The main focus is again on longer, monumental tracks, this time supplemented by orchestrations. It's easy to go one step too far with pathos but the band is careful not to make that step. There are also some shorter tunes - New Frontier sounds almost like a song from The Number of the Beast sessions and Rainmaker has some really catchy guitars. But still, the most complex songs shine the brightest. The title track is one of the band's greatest masterpieces, the same can be said about the monumental Paschendale. No More Lies sounds almost like a lost track from the Blaze Bayley Era and the closing number, Journeyman, is the group's first ever composition to feature acoustic guitars only, with a chorus that's perfect for a live show singalong. But the album is not perfect. Apart from this hideous cover (the idea was great, though), we have two or three fillers here this album could do without and its total time would have been much closer to the classic 45 minutes.
A Matter of Life and Death (2006) 9/10 A continuation of Dance of Death mixed with The X Factor's darker mood. The band almost entirely dumped shorter forms. Apart from Different World, the album's second single, none of the songs is shorter than five minutes. If you waited for short, heavy metal gallops with lyrics about magic or paranormal activity, you will surely be let down. AMOLAD is filled with religious and martial themes, and most tracks can be described as monumental, mighty or - that's a popular one recently - epic. Brighter Than o Thousand Suns is surely one of them. It's one of the best and most ambitious compositions in the band's catalogue. The same can be said about other complex tracks - The Longest Day, Lord of Light and The Legacy. But it has to be mentioned that the band fell into a routine in writing these longer tunes. A slow start, a gradual development and the opening sequence repeated to end the song - this pattern, after a while, stops being surprising to anyone. It's the main, maybe even the only, drawback of this album.
The Final Frontier (2010) 7/10 The latest Maiden album is based on the overall mood and sound of previous albums recorded by this line-up. It sounds quite good with its best moments being the awesome Starblind and well-swaying Coming Home. These two are among the best songs from the band's newest era. But as a whole, there's too much of self-repeating here. Iron Maiden has never recorded more than three similar albums, but now it seems that the band got stuck a bit in this progressive heavy metal genre without any idea how to develop it any further. All we can do is hope that the next one will mark another turning point for the group. To be fair, however, I must admit that they've never before recorded anything like Satellite 15, which is the album's intro. Do I like it? I'm not sure. Is it new for Maiden? It sure is. It gives us some hope that Maiden will not get caught permanently in a trap of similarly sounding albums.
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Karolina Karbownik / press release photo: John McMurtrie © 2011 Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd.
EN VIVO!, IRON MAIDEN'S NEW LIVE ALBUM WAS RELEASED ON 26 MARCH 2012. YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICHEVER FORMAT YOU LIKE: BLUE-RAY, DOUBLE DVD, DOUBLE CD OR DOUBLE LP.
EDDIE in the box T
he concert was recorded on 10 April 2011 in front of 50,000 fans at Estadio Nacional in Santiago de Chile. It's a two hour show that will give each fan what's best in Iron Maiden: spectacular stage design, Eddie, plus the power and dynamics of the always reliable musicians. The gig was part of The Final Frontier World Tour 2010-11. Steve Harris, the band's bass player commented on the release: It was really important to me that we filmed in South America as we're always so overwhelmed by the fans' reaction when we go to that part of the world and I wanted to reflect that in the filming. After much consideration, we chose the Santiago show as we felt it was one of our best performances of the entire tour and to play at the prestigious Estadio Nacional was a landmark moment for us. For reasons known to our fans, it took a long time before we got to play our first show in Chile, and once we did get to play a show, the response was so phenomenal we just had to keep coming back and it's got better and better each time! This show also features the gigantic new Eddie. He wasn't due to make his appearance until our European leg of the tour later in 2011, but we managed to transport him across the sea in a special huge container just in time for the latter end of the South American dates so it was great we were able to immortalize him for the DVD as he really has to be seen to be believed! The concert was filmed digitally using 22 HD cameras and an octocam (a flying camera which captures aerial crowd scenes), recorded in both stereo and 5.1 audio and mixed by Maiden's longstanding producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, all of which serves to accentuate the incredible atmosphere of this compelling performance. Extensive use is made of split screens so fans can follow the
individual members closer and the set list moves seamlessly between songs from Maiden's most recent studio album, 2010's The Final Frontier, through to classic fan favourites via the band's vast and varied catalogue.
DVD Disc Two is a bonus disc containing an 88-minute documentary, Behind The Beast. This is also an entirely in-house production by Maiden's own Krew, led by Andy Matthews, and is intended as an interesting and revealing high-quality "home movie" for their fans of how to put on an Iron Maiden tour and what goes on behind the scenes at a show. It describes the extraordinary story of one of the most acclaimed and ambitious touring shows in the world. It illustrates the day-to-day life and complex tasks of the Maiden Killer Krew and the other characters behind the scenes. It also includes footage of the live show in this comprehensive guide to the intricacies of staging massive, live stadium shows around the world out of the belly of a Boeing 757. The bonus disc also contains an extended version of the promo video Satellite 15…The Final Frontier, a video about the making of Satellite 15…The Final Frontier plus the opening video sequence to The Final Frontier World Tour. In addition to the Blu-Ray, the two-DVD is available as a limited-edition double DVD in collectors' steel book case and double vinyl picture disc. As well as a traditional two-CD soundtrack album, En Vivo! is available as a digital download CD soundtrack album and digital download video.
Iron Maiden's Final Frontier World Tour 201011 saw the band circumnavigating the planet for the third time in their customized Boeing 757, Ed Force One, piloted by lead singer Bruce Dickinson, and playing 98 shows in 36 countries to over 2 million fans.
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rock shop Karolina Karbownik
Show me your socks and I'll tell you what music you listen to In this edition of our review on what you can buy here and there (here: in the bands' official shops, there: in various metalshops, ebays and so on), we have some nice socks for you. Remember! The logo should be clearly visible even if you're wearing shoes!
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news access Marcelina Gadecka
Slayer's a molten steel
photo. www.robzombie.com / www.slayer.com / www.metal-shop.com / www.lucky13.com
In 1983, a young band called Slayer was interviewed by Whiplash magazine. However, the interview was never published. Until now! After 29 years, the text has finally seen the light of day. Let's see what Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman had to say in 1983.
backstage access
KATARZYNA KONIECZKA
dressed lucifer
EMOTIONS, DIRT, ROAD. GRAINS OF SAND FROM THE LIFELESS DESERT. LOVE, DEATH, TORTURES. NEKROMANTIC SHAKES OUR MIND. JUST LIKE THE COSTUMES THAT KATARZYNA KONIECZKA HAS DESIGNED FOR BEHEMOTH.
Karolina Karbownik photo: Mia Look / Kobaru www.kobaru.pl / Behemoth "Lucifer"
photo. Behemoth Lucifer
What kind of message is hidden in a stage costume? The artist must identify with all that the costume expresses. The artist is the protagonist of his own film or story and it’s him who creates it. When it comes to Behemoth, one of the band’s members jokingly said: our characters like the sound of burning altar because it spits nice. These characters don’t wear denim jackets on stage; they wear skeletal like ribbed costumes covered in old cloth coated with dust from the deserts and desolate, otherworldly, wastelands their characters have wandered through. It's all about emotions, dirt and the road. When I was designing costumes for Doda (extravagant Polish pop star), I thought that such a sexy woman should look like a modern Barbarella. It’s hard to dress up a sexy singer. I had to find a completely new line for her which would live up to her expectations.
What about Nergal’s expectations? What did he ask you to do at the beginning of your collaboration with Behemoth on the Lucifer video? The band found my collection Nekromantic pretty insane and barbaric enough for them, that's why the models were shackled in those metal adornments just like in the collection. Both Nergal and Darek Szermanowicz (who directed the video clip) liked the idea and the effect. I had made Nergal's costume >
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earlier when asked me to make a jacket for him like the one from my collection Very Twisted Kingdom; although, he wanted his to be dirtier, ragged and more bedraggled looking! What did you start with when designing for Behemoth? We began with conversations about our expectations. To be honest, at the start I was too focused on details and was forgetting the fact that the band members go really crazy on stage. So, it was not only something new for me but was difficult as well. Everyone wanted to have a unique costume but at the same time there had to be consistency between them all. It wasn’t an easy project.
If a costume could speak, what would Nekromantic collection say? Nekromantic was perfect for Justyna Steczkowska (Polish art-pop singer). I remember she had a very masochistic personality a few years ago. She is a kind of woman who represents that special type of sexuality: soft, womanly, aggrieved. This is what Nekromantic is about: harming someone but, at the same time, doing it in a caring way. The fabrics used for the costumes have to suggest some drastic pictures. This is reflected in the way the costumes were made, taking many hours of handiwork. They also reflect a the nature of a woman. Part of a woman’s soul desires to be harmed. This is also what all these tools that look like medical equipment are about, torture. The truth is that it is all about love and the relationship between women and men. Love, the most magic one, is never unrequited. Sometime ago I wrote something like this in the description of my collection's photos : In past ages, poems and sonnets were about platonic love – the one idealized, unrequited. This kind of love is the most dramatic one. It is as if it were possible to love a dead person – one whose body gets colder with every minute and seems to be more and more distant. Thoughts are so messy… “No, we can’t be together…”. Skin begins to be slippery, begins to smell awful. The object disappears. This moment is a big test for the power of feelings. Difficulties pile up because there comes physical disgust. On the other hand, caring for such relationship is something that really touches me…
photo. Mia Look
Did the musicians interfere with your work? Did you argue with each other or did you have creative brainstorms? Technical issues were the hardest for me because I’m used to making outfits for photo shoots; let’s call them sculptures. When it came to this work, I had to make sure that they were both durable and impressive at the same time. The members of the band were my customers so I had to hide my art-manner, forget my know-it-all attitude and understand that they were right. They really were. It was a great experience for me.
It sounds both beautiful and disgusting. How has the world welcomed this collection? Well, not everybody understood the technical aspects of it. People thought those metal tools were ortho- >
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dontic tools or some other stuff that had been used in medicine and that my role was limited to styling. But no, I assembled these devices by myself and it took a huge effort and, of course, people were confused. I had to wait a really long time for anybody to appreciate it. Some designers praised me for designing a consistent collection and the others, so called common people were terrified but also intrigued by my, probably sick, mind. Of course, there was this little scandal ;)
How is your work related to Lady Gaga’s styling? It wasn’t copying, but something that is well known, not described precisely but very common: an inspiration. Gaga’s stylists might have received my products and they certainly saw them on pictures or live and asked a company whom they had been collaborating with to make something similar. It's easily noticeable on Vogue photo shoot and in the video clips as well. It wasn’t only me who noticed it. There were people who knew that I had sent my products to the singer and when that video was made, they called me and congratulated me on it. I had to watch it twice, very carefully, to notice that the items weren’t mine. The artist sees those important differences: details, elements, hinges and splints placed differently.
The Polish fashion community has split into two more or less equal groups: your defenders and your enemies who accused you of copying Lady Gaga’s costumes. It had to hurt. The funniest thing about it was that it didn’t come to many people’s minds that I could be in touch with Lady Gaga’s stylists. I’m not a graduate of any of those world famous schools; what's more, I’ve never been abroad and yet they still know my work. Being in touch with the a famous singer’s stylists made me some more enemies. I know that it sometimes hurts when other people succeed. Years ago I thought the same too. I used to admire many designers, but later their faces were looking at me from every magazine. I thought they were overrated and definitely not visionary in any way. Some people were even offended. There's a lot of jealousy in Poland's fashion circles. Despite not having a manager, an assistant or any PR people around me, my portfolio was seen by a world famous singer, and some people can't stand it. To reach the point I'm in now, I had to be really determined, even a real pain in the ass sometimes to all those stylists and managers, sending my outfits to so many people all over the world just to make them notice me in a hope of establishing some contacts. In this whole story, the most painful experience was with the fans and pseudo-fans of Lady Gaga. My Facebook profile was a total shambles.
When you talk about tortures, death, body and skin… It reminds me of The Silence of the Lambs. Can Hannibal Lecter serve as an inspiration? I’m very familiar with the movie but even more inspiring to me is the man who was the inspiration for the story. That man, I can’t remember his name, was making a whole range of accessories and leather stuff using human skin. The story of his life made a big im- >
photo. Mia Look
photo. Mia Look
pression on me. I never dig into things that inspire me. I care about that first memory, first impression – things that sink in my memory. Such drastic inspirations come from my personality. I’ve always been stimulated by strong impulses and they are the only ones I react to.
What about horror movies? Do they stimulate you? When my stylist friend saw your Lucifer works, she thought of that film, The Saw and few others movies This is a very common association. In that movie there are some well thought out tools set to kill after a set time elapses. I watched a few scenes of that film and I remember a girl who had some kind of snares on her face. I think that the tools are a continuation of The Cell where women were slaves shackled in metal collars. Stuff like gags and splints were also used there. I’ve also been inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; young Willy Wonka had these old orthodontic braces fastened to his head and arms. Your costumes are worn by many pop artists (Doda, Steczkowska) and now also by Behemoth. Which kind of music suits you better? I used to spend hours listening to Steczkowska. Now I tend to listen to all kinds of non-commercial music. I like Rammstein and Marilyn Manson. Visually they are very close to what I like.
Does this kind of music (Manson and Rammstein) simulate you the way you like? Manson has a perfectly thought out image and it goes well with his ideology. Both his video clips and lyrics make fun of show business. It's very grotesque and I love it! Everything is so perfect. Manson is always up to date with all the trends. The last video clip contains scenes inspired by The Holy Mountain which has been extremely popular for the last three years or so. When it comes to Rammstein, what I like the most are live shows. These are huge performances. I’m very thankful to my friends who introduced me to the world of such music by recommending me live video clips to watch.
What are your memories from making of Lucifer? Anything particular that you remember? To be honest, we had a blast. Lots of fun. Total havoc at times even. There were many creative people around and all was spiced up by Maciek Malenczuk (Polish singer who appeared in the video clip) and his sharp tongue. He's one of those Show Business guys who's in no way overrated. photo: Kobaru www.kobaru.pl
Where can we see your costumes in the near future? I believe the next opportunity will be in Paris. We're still fixing some details. It will be an exhibition of costumes and photographs. Probably in May. � Special thanks to Kat Smith for help in the translation.
undressed
make up that rocks
let's
FACE IT
Agnieszka Lenczewska photo: Karolina Karbownik /promo
From the viewpoint of cultural anthropology.
T
he homo sapiens have used body decoration, tattoos, scarification, and finally make up on their bodies since times immemorial. This may be indicated by the artifacts found in caves in France or Spain. The look of our body and our skin forms the first impression and has a significant impact on the perception of our attractiveness. Body drawings had a huge importance for American Indians, for primitive people, ancient Romans or the Maori. Submission to the scarification was a major event in human life, it often became part of one’s initiation. In many cultures, submission to scarification served as proof of the strength, bravery and courage. As a result, scars made one admired in society. Tattoos to this day have retained a symbolic meaning too. The same applies to makeup and the deference to the pale skin, which still serve as a determinant of beauty. For centuries, pale skin was considered to be a symbol of a higher social status. Women in ancient Rome and Greece valued fair complexion. Suntan was a sign of vulgarity, associated with the lowest social class. It may come as a surprise, but we should also thank Hollywood and its concept of pale beauty. went crazy for the pale faces of Twilight's and True Blood's characters. The pallor has become desirable. Modern trends in makeup use these five minutes of vampire beauty.
Show me your face, and I'll tell you who you are. Some cultural anthropologists think that during a rock concert (treated as a mass), the participants have to do with their kind of a rite of passage. The sounds from the stage, lights, films and finally artists help the audience to pass through. Face painting, clothes, gestures strengthen the message of music. From the very beginning of rock music, artists (such as Chuck Berry) have painted their faces.
Make up was frequently used by Arthur Brown. The heyday of stage make up came in the seventies. All members of American band KISS wore unique make-ups on their faces. Gene Simmons said: The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, makeup all express something. There would have been no KISS without demonic makeup. Glam rock musicians (e.g. Mark Bolan, Gary Glitter, David Bowie) did not despise this type of an embellishment. Alice Cooper did not apply male makeup in rock music without reason. Instead of sweet and shiny glam make-up, the American rocker dished up to the public the image of a horror-show.
Using make up also did not go by in progressive music. The first to come to my mind in this respect are Peter Gabriel (Genesis) and Fish (Marillion). A paratheatrical show with a magical atmosphere, plus an incredibly disguised face introduced a lot of freshness. This very extensive bag of male make up in music could include The Cure, Boy George, or a herd of metal poodle fanatics. A musician from Danmark, King Diamond, borrowed the idea of black and white makeup from Alice Cooper, added inverted cross earrings, a top hat, and plenty of other oddities. The world music has changed.
How did make-up make its way into black metal? What is a corpse-paint? Is it only a decoration? No, corpse paint is a way of life. According to Wikipedia’s definition corpse-paint is a style of black-and-white makeup, used mainly by black metal bands during live concerts and photo shoots. This kind of makeup was used to intensify the bands' imagery of evil, inhumanity, and corpse-like decay. It is most commonly used just on the face, but also on arms and torso. Sometimes it involves other colors than black and white. Norwegian black metal bands from the late 80's and early 90's (such as Mayhem, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Darkthrone and Dimmu Borgir) are arguably responsible for maintaining the popularity of the corpse paint among today's black metal acts. Early corpse paint designs were intended simply to accentuate an individual's features and make them look dead. The Norwegian black metal scene of the early 90s spawned one of the world's most extreme fashion statements in history. Vocalist Dead of the infamous Mayhem even buried his clothes in the ground to get a more rotted feel to them. And the pale face reminded him a freshly excavated human body in state of decay (the smell of death!). This necrophilic approach not only characterized Mayhem, but the whole school of Norwegian black metal. �
photo: promo
Way to black metal.
rock style
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CHEYENNE
I entered the ciemna room to watch a movie about a guy who looked like Robert Smith. I left cinema after having watched "This Must Be The Place", a fantastic movie about a man who sets off for a journey to look for somebody and finds himself.
GET HIGH WITH Karolina Karbownik photo: ITI Cinema
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C
heyenne, who has Sean Penn’s face and Robert Smith’s image, has been looking at us from movie posters for over a month. Perfectly modeled physically on The Cure’s leader: black hair, lipstick, eyeliner, Dr. Martens black boots, black pants, shirt, bracelet with a Maltese cross, an earring and necklace. His moves, face expression and the way he spoke reminded me of Ozzy Osbourne. At the beginning of the movie I thought that there would be almost 120 minutes of a pretty silly comedy to watch. I agreed for that because I have already loved Cheyenne. A comedy? No, not at all. Yes, there are many funny moments which not only make me smile but laugh as well. Cheyenne is funny with his every move, gesture and glance. However, he has a second face too. The face of a guy who hides a drama, who wants to find himself, who misses something, who hides regrets…
Cheyenne is childish, but not capricious – the director, Paolo Sorrentino tells about the main character. Like many adults who remain anchored in their childhood he has a knack of maintaining only the limpid, touching and bearable qualities of kids. His prematurely quitting the scene, due to a trauma, has obliged him to live a life that he can’t bring into focus. It drags along, oscillating between boredom and slight depression. Cheyenne is recognized either in a local mall or in an American province. It was many years ago when his band, Cheyenne and the Fellows (inspired by Siouxie and the Banshees) was on the top and played with artists like Rolling Stones.Cheyenne’s wife, Jane (phenomenal Frences McDormand) wants
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to break her husband’s everyday routine by finding different activities for him. Above all the couple likes playing pelota in their swimming pool reservoir. Cheyenne finds it more attractive than swimming. When he asks his wife why there is a French sign cuisine hanging on kitchen’s wall as he knows it’s kitchen already, Jane replies that it is to make his surrounding more varied. Besides playing pelota and watching Jamie Olivier TV show, Cheyenne spends his days shopping, seeing his friends and playing the stock market (he follows Tesco shares). He also finds a new mission to complete: marrying off two young people. What eventually breaks up Cheyenne’s routine is the news about his father being terminally ill. Cheyenne hasn’t seen his father for 30 years. His everyday life doesn’t go upside down just yet. The man isn’t in hurry – because of his fear of flying, he decides to go to New York, where his father lives, by ship. A funny scene takes place on the ship: Cheyenne advises women how to apply a lipstick to make it long lasting. Yes, the lipstick becomes him. Seeing him close-up, backstage, I understood just how beautiful and touching contradictions in a human being can be. A fifty-year-old who still completely identified with a look which, by definition, is that of an adolescent. But there was nothing pathetic about it. There was just this one thing that, in the movies and in life, creates an incredible feeling of wonder: the extraordinary, a unique and thrilling exception. Months later I had the same extraordinary experience when, on a very hot July day in New York, we did the first makeup and costume tryouts with Sean Penn. A minor miracle happened before my eyes as I silently watched the actor Sean Penn
being steadily transformed, step by step, first with lipstick, then mascara and the costumes and finally as he moved around – in a natural way but at the same time different from the way he usually moves – and becoming a completely different person: Cheyenne. Music is a very important part of the movie. It was David Byrne, the vocalist of Talking Heads, whom Sorrentino made responsible for music. David Byrne also appears as himself in a short, but important scene. We also can hear Talking Heads music several times: band performing live, being covered by a
young band The Pieces of Shit and played on an acoustic guitar by Cheyenne. We can also hear Iggi Pop’s The Passenger and other soft rock tracks.
A journey across United States, a journey through good music and a journey inside an interesting personality of a man who loves lemonade. Recommended to all adults who still like to wear motocycle boots, play on the market stocks and polish their nails with black. And also, to all white collars who had to cut their hair. �
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rock savvy Marcelina Gadecka photo: archives
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Timeline of music formats: Part 1 Analog
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map of rock It's the place where the whole story of The Doors started. The place that was home to hippies and beatniks. The place people keep returning to. Karolina Karbownik, photo: Karolina Karbownik
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VEN
ICE BEACH V
enice Beach: A vast area, long promenade with numerous gift shops, cafes, tattoo and piercing studios. You can buy jewellery that will suit your chosen image perfectly. Between the promenade and the beach there's a grassy area: a bit hummocky with an irregular edge. It has high palm trees, playgrounds, showers, a gym and a skatepark. Although recently it has become a place dominated by the skaters, Venice Beach used to be a mecca for beatniks, who joined the artists that had lived and spent their time here for many years. The salesmen still remember about those times offering vintage photos and posters, as well as tshirts with old bands and pop icons. Jim Morrison looks down from one of the buildings. He was painted in 1991 by Rip Cronk (the corner of Speedway and 18th Pl.). At another location, there's a wall with various quotes from the poems written in the beatniks era. Yup, Jim
Morrison is there as well. He lived in Venice Beach in the 60's, in a garret at the corner of Speedway and Westminster. There are many more places familiar to every fan of The Doors, places that's been shown, e.g. on album covers. But we will elaborate on that in the August edition of our magazine. Julia Roberts, Nicholas Cage, Anjelica Huston, Kate Beckinsale and many other famous people reportedly live in the area. No wonder. I wish I could. The place is really colourful, lovely and warm. The only thing that was strange, was the still of the night. Once I decided to have a long evening walk along the ocean all the way to Santa Monica. On my way back, around 11pm, I was passed by a cyclist and two highly confused Italians who showed me their guidebook with a description of Venice Beach's rich nightlife. Venice is asleep. The dark echo of its past hums the melody of Moonlight Drive. Or maybe it's just the ocean whispering.
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rock shot
GIN&TONIC sky
Katarzyna Strzelec photo: Jakub “Bizon� MIchalski / 123rf
B
eautiful Mess is not only the title of one of Jeff Scott Soto's solo albums. It's also a phrase summing up the events in his life that took place in a couple of years period. A divorce, quitting Journey, constant touring and recording subsequent solo albums. It was time to stop, think about what's been left behind and take some time to appreciate the surrounding world. Bitter feelings like these can only be compared to the taste of gin & tonic. Is this drink a perfect companion when one contemplates life and everyday problems? You can find out about it in Jeff's song, Gin & Tonic Sky while sipping this easy to prepare drink.
To make one drink you'll need: 50ml of gin 200ml of tonic some ice you can add a slice of lemon a highglass a stirrer
Preparation time: 5 minutes Drinking time: half of the above
Preparation: Pour your gin into a highglass with ice already inside. Add tonic. Put in a slice of lemon. Serve with a stirrer.