| Rockin' News for June 30 ,2009, p. 2 |
Slayer Ready For World Painted Blood
Headbanging icons Slayer have slotted a "late summer" release for
their ninth album, World Painted Blood, following the quartet's
co-headlining slot on this year's Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival.
It follows 2006's Christ Illusion, which itself came five years after
its predecessor, God Hates Us All.
"I figured, and I'm sure the other guys figured, that if there was
another five-year gap this would probably be our last record,"
guitarist Kerry King tells Billboard.com. "If we're going in five-year
gaps, that means two records in 10 years. I think we all didn't want
to wait that long. Not that we didn't have ideas -- we toured, put
out DVDs and box sets and had a lot of other stuff going on."
Slayer recorded "World Painted Blood" in Los Angeles with producer
Headbanging icons Slayer have slotted a "late summer" release for
their ninth album, World Painted Blood, following the quartet's
co-headlining slot on this year's Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival.
It follows 2006's Christ Illusion, which itself came five years after
its predecessor, God Hates Us All.
"I figured, and I'm sure the other guys figured, that if there was
another five-year gap this would probably be our last record,"
guitarist Kerry King tells Billboard.com. "If we're going in five-year
gaps, that means two records in 10 years. I think we all didn't want
to wait that long. Not that we didn't have ideas -- we toured, put
out DVDs and box sets and had a lot of other stuff going on."
Slayer recorded "World Painted Blood" in Los Angeles with producer
Greg Fidelman (Metallica, Slipknot, the (International) Noise Conspiracy), who was recommended to the band by executive producer Rick Rubin.
An October 2008 session yielded the punk-flavored "Psychopathy Red," which was released as a limited-edition red vinyl 7-inch in April for
Record Store Day, then Slayer returned to the studio from January to March. The group finished 13 tracks -- six by King, seven by fellow
guitarist Jeff Hanneman -- 11 of which will appear on the album.
"I like when Jeff writes as much as he did for this record," says King. "When you have one guy doing most of the writing you only get one
perspective. A lot of Jeff's stuff has a very punky vibe this time; the stuff I write sounds thrashy but with a hint of punk, and when Jeff
writes the stuff is more punk with a hint of thrash. It works together well."
World Painted Blood also marked the first time Slayer created material in the studio rather than coming in with songs fully prepared -- a
process that made King skeptical at first.
"I was kind of thinking, 'Man, this could be the first record in a long time that's got a little bit of filler,' " he acknowledges. "But I think
every song came out great. I was concerned some would sound similar, and every one is completely different. It's cool how it worked out."
Song titles include "Beauty Through Order," "Unit 731," "Playing with Dolls," "Public Display of Dismemberment," "Americon" and the title track.
King expects that Slayer will only play the already widely disseminated "Psychopathy Red" during its Mayhem Tour sets when the tour starts
on July 10. King says some Australian dates are "on the bubble," as well as shows in Europe and Japan before the group returns to North
America in early 2010. (Courtesy of billboard.com; article by Gary Graff)
An October 2008 session yielded the punk-flavored "Psychopathy Red," which was released as a limited-edition red vinyl 7-inch in April for
Record Store Day, then Slayer returned to the studio from January to March. The group finished 13 tracks -- six by King, seven by fellow
guitarist Jeff Hanneman -- 11 of which will appear on the album.
"I like when Jeff writes as much as he did for this record," says King. "When you have one guy doing most of the writing you only get one
perspective. A lot of Jeff's stuff has a very punky vibe this time; the stuff I write sounds thrashy but with a hint of punk, and when Jeff
writes the stuff is more punk with a hint of thrash. It works together well."
World Painted Blood also marked the first time Slayer created material in the studio rather than coming in with songs fully prepared -- a
process that made King skeptical at first.
"I was kind of thinking, 'Man, this could be the first record in a long time that's got a little bit of filler,' " he acknowledges. "But I think
every song came out great. I was concerned some would sound similar, and every one is completely different. It's cool how it worked out."
Song titles include "Beauty Through Order," "Unit 731," "Playing with Dolls," "Public Display of Dismemberment," "Americon" and the title track.
King expects that Slayer will only play the already widely disseminated "Psychopathy Red" during its Mayhem Tour sets when the tour starts
on July 10. King says some Australian dates are "on the bubble," as well as shows in Europe and Japan before the group returns to North
America in early 2010. (Courtesy of billboard.com; article by Gary Graff)
Eddie Van Halen – in Flip-Flops – Weds Girlfriend
Guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen is no longer a solo: Saturday night he married Janie Liszewski, his
girlfriend of three years.
The ceremony took place in the garden of his seven-acre estate in the hills above Studio City, Calif.,
starting at 7 p.m., when Liszewski walked down the aisle to Van Halen's "When It's Love," performed by
the Sonus Quartet.
The 54-year-old groom's 18-year-old son, Wolfgang, served as best man, while brother Alex Van Halen,
an ordained minister, officiated at the 20-minute, nondenominational service. Among the 100 guests: Van
Halen's ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli (they divorced in 2006, after 25 years of marriage.)
The bride, 39, was given away by her mother under the watchful eye of Kano, the 15-year-old
Pomeranian who walked Liszewski down the aisle. This was her first marriage and Van Halen's second.
Guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen is no longer a solo: Saturday night he married Janie Liszewski, his
girlfriend of three years.
The ceremony took place in the garden of his seven-acre estate in the hills above Studio City, Calif.,
starting at 7 p.m., when Liszewski walked down the aisle to Van Halen's "When It's Love," performed by
the Sonus Quartet.
The 54-year-old groom's 18-year-old son, Wolfgang, served as best man, while brother Alex Van Halen,
an ordained minister, officiated at the 20-minute, nondenominational service. Among the 100 guests: Van
Halen's ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli (they divorced in 2006, after 25 years of marriage.)
The bride, 39, was given away by her mother under the watchful eye of Kano, the 15-year-old
Pomeranian who walked Liszewski down the aisle. This was her first marriage and Van Halen's second.
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Liszewski wore a champagne and pink custom-designed Hanna Hartnell gown with matching Bulgari earrings and bracelet. Her sister, Jennifer,
served as maid of honor. Eddie and Wolfie dressed casually in Sy Devore cotton pants, un-tucked buttoned-down shirts and flip-flop sandals –
as did the bride and wedding attendants.
The couple wrote their vows and designed the rings – Janie's, a platinum band beside a nearly three-carat diamond engagement ring; Ed's, a
gold band with yellow diamonds. (Courtesy of people.com; article by Vicki Sheff Cahan)
served as maid of honor. Eddie and Wolfie dressed casually in Sy Devore cotton pants, un-tucked buttoned-down shirts and flip-flop sandals –
as did the bride and wedding attendants.
The couple wrote their vows and designed the rings – Janie's, a platinum band beside a nearly three-carat diamond engagement ring; Ed's, a
gold band with yellow diamonds. (Courtesy of people.com; article by Vicki Sheff Cahan)