Jason Roche

(L-R) Ellefson's 1983 roommate Brad Schmidt

When Megadeth's David Ellefson Met Dave Mustaine

Megadeth bassist David Ellefson's autobiography My Life With Deth follows him from battles with drugs during the band's early days through his religious awakening as a soon-to-be-ordained Lutheran pastor. (It's out tomorrow, the same day he reads at Book Soup and Megadeth performs at Shrine Expo Hall.) Many will find......
Slayer 2013 Lineup (L-R): touring guitarist Gary Holt

Slayer On Jeff Hanneman's Death: Our Interviews

Only six weeks after the May death of fellow founding member and guitarist Jeff Hanneman due to liver failure, metal legends Slayer went back to the grind and performed at festivals throughout Europe. Hanneman had been off the road for the previous three years battling complications from flesh-eating bacteria brought......
Spindrift; Credit: Julie Patterson

Let Spindrift Tell You About the Real Old West

In 2001 Spindrift was a psychedelic-pop band spinning its wheels in Newark, Delaware. Band leader Kirpatrick Thomas rented the 1968 Sergio Leone classic Western, Once Upon A Time In The West, which struck a chord with Thomas -- particularly its soundtrack. "It was the fuzz guitar that Ennio Morricone puts......
GWAR; Credit: Courtesy of Slave Pit Inc.

Here's What a GWAR Super Bowl Halftime Show Would Be Like

Recently a petition to have GWAR play the 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show went live on Change.org. It's got over 44,000 signatures, but let's be honest: Even if it had 44 million, we doubt the NFL would let the costumed metallers perform on their biggest event of the year. (Too......
Gene Hoglan; Credit: Courtesy of Gene Hoglan

Gene Hoglan on The Early Days of L.A. Thrash Metal

Gene Hoglan is one of the most in-demand drummers in metal. The virtuoso is currently juggling duties in animated metal greats Dethklok and Bay Area thrashers Testament, along with pinch-hitting gigs when other metal greats are in a bind. His drumming style is a dizzying blend of maximum speed and......
Orange Goblin; Credit: Courtesy of Candlelight Records

The Best Los Angeles Metal Shows To See In October

Saturday, October 5 Orange Goblin The Satellite Orange Goblin call themselves "beer core," and indeed we'll drink to that. These Brits throw down soulful Sabbath-style riffs with a rowdy swagger that evokes images of biker gangs in early '70s Britsploitation flicks. The mighty bellows of vocalist/guitarist Ben Ward on albums......
Carcass; Credit: Adrian Erlandson

Carcass Reunited After Much Trial and Tribulation

Few metal bands are considered to be pioneers of two distinct subgenres. As teenagers, British group Carcass brought gore-obsessed grindcore to the forefront with their 1988 debut Reek of Putrefaction and the next year's follow-up Symphonies of Sickness. As the band progressed into the '90s, their sound became more complex......
Credit: Lindsey Byrnes

Touché Amoré Is Going Through a Death Phase

Burbank hardcore group Touché Amoré developed a worldwide following after the 2011 release of Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me, sparking strong reactions from newbies and longtime genre fans alike. AbsolutePunk.net called it "one of the most endearing and truly therapeutic records of the year." But to really get......
Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson (third from left); Credit: John Mcmurtrie

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Is Brewing Beer and Fixing Up Airplanes

Legendary British metallers Iron Maiden return to Southern California tomorrow, headlining San Manuel Amphitheater with Megadeth, Anthrax, and Testament. Now 35 years into their career, they continue to transcend the heavy metal scene. From a tour stop last week in St. Louis, Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson credits their longevity......