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Metal Hall of Fame Gala Now Available on Amazon Prime Television

Johnnie Crow — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 02:59:08 +0000

2020 Metal Hall Of Fame Gala

Metal Hall of Fame All-Star Jam

L-R: Joe Satriani, Pat Gesualdo, Geoff Tate, Steve Vai, Chris Poland

Photo: Ron Lyon

The Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala – the most important night in metal – is now available exclusively on Amazon Prime TV and can be streamed on Amazon Fire, ROKU, Apple TV and Comcast Xfinity cable TV via the Amazon Prime Video app by its 150 million subscribers.

“The 2020 Awards Gala was a spectacular event, and the closing all-star jam was phenomenal,” says Pat Gesualdo, founder of the Metal Hall of Fame. “Now everyone can enjoy the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Awards Gala at home on Amazon Prime.”

The program features an overview with features of the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame including inductions, tributes and jams. Watch heavy metal legends Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Chris Poland, Stephen Pearcy, Graham Bonnet, Metal Church, legendary music promoter Jack Orbin and Prong as they are inducted into the Hall and amazing performances including Chris Poland, Riot Act (featuring members of Riot), and an epic jam featuring Steve Vai, Geoff Tate, Joe Satriani, Bjorn Englen, Chris Poland, and Pat Gesualdo. Modern Drummer magazine also joined forces with the Metal Hall of Fame to present the only official tribute to late Rush drummer Neil Peart.

The event was hosted by noted television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, and co-hosted by Whiskey A Go-Go Ultimate Jam Night /Almost Fama Show host Jes Fama.

Watch the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala:

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FT3JLRG

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08FT36Z9Y

“The 2020 Metal Hall of Fame is wonderful,” says vocalist Graham Bonnet.

About the Metal Hall of Fame:

The Metal Hall of Fame holds the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala. It is dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making hard rock and heavy metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they continue to inspire fans throughout the world from generation to generation. It is part of the 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities), which provides free therapy services for disabled children and their families in hospitals and community centers throughout the United States.

To include your Metal Hall of Fame vote, or for more information, please visit www.metalhalloffame.org.

2020 Metal Hall of Fame

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Metal Hall Of Fame 2020 Induction

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Metal Hall of Fame Gala Now Available on Amazon Prime Television first appeared on Game On Media.

Steve Vai To Stage Facebook Live Q&A on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Johnnie Crow — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 07:37:24 +0000

STEVE VAI TO STAGE TWO LIVE QUESTION & ANSWER SESSIONS

WEEKLY FOR GLOBAL FAN BASE VIA FACEBOOK

TUESDAYS AT NOON PACIFIC:

ALIEN GUITAR SECRETS LIVE: MUSIC AND YOU

THURSDAYS AT NOON PACIFIC:

UNDER IT ALL: HARD QUESTIONS

https://www.facebook.com/stevevai/

Los Angeles, CA – Steve Vai will stage two weekly question and answer sessions with his global fan base via Facebook Live. The series “Alien Guitar Secrets Live: Music and You” will focus on the guitar, music, his career and the business aiming to offer insights that enlighten perspectives for their own worlds. He will also be breaking down various songs from his catalog to show techniques, and will also be discussing anything from writing, recording, publishing, promoting, and touring. The second, “Under It All: Hard Questions” will enable Vai to engage in more esoteric life principles and topics where no question is off limits. Many of his filmed interviews include his perspective on deeper subjects, and comment boards frequently allude to a broad interest in further exploration of his personal thoughts. Whether sharing detail on his observations surrounding life, the creative process, spirituality or the human condition, UIA will delve into opinion that’s led by the free form forum.

All parties are welcomed to tune in on Tuesdays or Thursdays, as he sits down live weekly at Noon Pacific. Vai shares, “For the past three to five years I have been bouncing around in my mind the idea of launching these two webinars, but was waiting for an organic opportunity, and it seems the world lockdown situation was the right time. I had no idea of knowing how these would be received, but the moment I went live, within minutes there were thousands and thousands of people logged in and the comments were tremendously encouraging. It was quite the shocker to get this kind of response, and quite humbling at the same time. My goal in these webinars is not to talk about myself so much, but to answer people’s questions that I may be able to assist with an answer based on my own experience.”

Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist, composer and producer, considered by many as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In over 40 years in the industry, Vai has sold over 15 million records, received three Grammy awards, and recorded with music legends like Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and many more.

Last year he released his inaugural music theory book via publisher Hal Leonard. Titled Vaideology: Basic Music Theory for Guitar Players, the gargantuan effort was designed to help both beginners and veteran guitar players. At the time he shared, “One of the questions that I’m usually asked by aspiring guitar players is, how much music theory do I really need to know, and is it necessary? My answer is usually, “You don’t need to understand music theory at all to be an effective player, but it will always help to at least understand the basics”. So, I wrote a book that I believe contains the basics of music theory that can aid the student to be musically literate, and perhaps much more.”

In the Fall of 2019, a deluxe package was issued celebrating the title STILLNESS IN MOTION via his personal record label Light Without Heat. The contents brought a visual experience to fans far beyond the original DVD release which captured his performance at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on October 12, 2012. This deluxe package contains 2-Blu-Ray disks, with two CDs. One of the Blu-Ray disks contains the bonus material titled THE SPACE BETWEEN THE NOTES (Tour Mischief). It’s an intimate and at times hysterically edited video diary comprised of more than three and a half hours of footage filmed around The World on-stage, off-stage, and behind-the-scenes during the World tour. This specific concert captured was the 49^th show of the aforementioned global excursion that consisted of 253 engagements in over 52 countries and is available via his webstore at vai.com.

Steve Vai To Stage Facebook Live Q&A on Tuesdays and Thursdays first appeared on Game On Media.

Metal Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Ceremony and Charity Gala

Johnnie Crow — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 00:42:10 +0000

2020 Metal Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebrity Charity Gala January 15, 2020 in Anaheim, CA

Pat Gesualdo & Jes Fama

The Metal Hall of Fame held their Annual Metal Hall of Fame Celebrity Charity Gala on January 15 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. The world premiere of the film will air in early 2020, reaching more than 100 million subscribers.

Geoff Tate

Metal Hall of Fame President/CEO Pat Gesualdo says, “Having the World Premier for the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala on Amazon Prime is a great honor. We are excited to share the most important night in metal with music fans everywhere, and to let so many people take part in our charity event.”

Pia Maiocco & Steve Vai

2020 Metal Hall of Fame inductees include Steve Vai, Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Don Dokken (Dokken), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz), Joe Satriani, legendary metal promoter Jack Orbin of Stone City Attractions, Metal Church, Prong, and former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland.

Don Dokken

The gala featured various bands and inductees performing throughout the night. The event was hosted by noted television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, and co-hosted by Whiskey A Go-Go Ultimate Jam Night /Almost Fama Show host Jes Fama.

Joe Satriani

Proceeds from the event will benefit disabled children in various hospitals and community centers throughout the United States through free music programs and therapy services. Previous beneficiaries have included NYU Medical Center, NYC JCC, West Orange JCC, United States Department of Defense Military base in Virginia for disabled veterans and United States Department of State – West Bank region of Israel for special needs children.

Stephen Pearcy

The evening featured a red carpet walk, and a pre-ceremony gala in the courtyard featuring live performances, including Heaven Below, Attack of the Rising, Trauma and Kodiak. After the inductions and performances in the ballroom ended, the music did not stop. An all star band performed several legendary tracks from Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Metallica. The band included Brian Allen, Carl Bensley, Jason Bittner, Ira Black, Dewey Brag, Charlie Calv, Jason Christopher, Jack Frost, Keith St. John, Marc Lopes, Steve Smyth and Michael Spencer.

Chris Poland & Thom Hazaert

The ceremony included introductions and acceptance speeches by all inductees. There were also several live performances throughout the night, including Don Dokken, Prong, Chris Poland, Riot Act, Budderside and a very special rendition of the Black Sabbath classic “Paranoid” featuring Geoff Tate on vocals, Pat Gesualdo on drums, and three legendary lead guitarists trading off solo after solo after solo – Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Chris Poland.

Tommy Victor & Aaron Rossi of Prong

About The Metal Hall of Fame:

The Metal Hall of Fame holds the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala. It is dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making hard rock and heavy metal music what it is today. Through their contribution to the genre is invaluable, these inductees continue to inspire fans throughout the world from generation to generation. It is part of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities), which provides free therapy services for disabled children and their families in hospitals and community centers throughout the United States.

Metal Church

For more information, please visit: www.metalhalloffame.org, www.dadprogram.org or call 973-725-5150.

Jack Orbin of Stone City Attractions

2020 Metal Hall of Fame

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Metal Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Ceremony and Charity Gala first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala Featuring Vai, Satriani, Tate, Pearcy, Dokken to be Filmed for Amazon Prime

Johnnie Crow — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 05:28:02 +0000

2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala to be Filmed for Amazon Prime Original Film

2020 Metal Hall of Fame to Take Place January 15 in Anaheim, CA

The Metal Hall of Fame has announced that the 2020 Annual Metal Hall of Fame Celebrity Charity Gala will be filmed live and will air on Amazon Prime.

Hard rock and heavy metal fans in attendance will be featured in the filming, which will take place on January 15 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. The world premiere of the film will air in early 2020, reaching more than 100 million subscribers.

2020 Metal Hall of Fame inductees include Steve Vai, Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Don Dokken (Dokken), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz), Joe Satriani, legendary metal promoter Stone City Attractions, Metal Church, Prong, and former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland.

The gala will feature various bands and inductees performing throughout the night. Additional inductees and performers will be announced over the next few weeks, along with the lineup for an all-star jam band. The event will be hosted by noted television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, and co-hosted by Whiskey A Go-Go Ultimate Jam Night /Almost Fama Show host Jes Fama.

Tickets for the 2020 Annual Metal Hall of Fame Celebrity Charity Gala are $35-$45 and may be pre-ordered at www.thehallofheavymetalhistory.org.

About The Metal Hall of Fame:

The Metal Hall of Fame holds the Annual Hall Metal Hall of Fame Gala. It is dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making hard rock and heavy metal music what it is today. Through their contribution to the genre is invaluable, these inductees continue to inspire fans throughout the world from generation to generation. It is part of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities), which provides free therapy services for disabled children and their families in hospitals and community centers throughout the United States.

For more information, please visit: www.metalhalloffame.org, www.dadprogram.org or call 973-725-5150.

2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala Featuring Vai, Satriani, Tate, Pearcy, Dokken to be Filmed for Amazon Prime first appeared on Game On Media.

Vai, Malmsteen, Wylde, Bettencourt, Abasi to Release Generation Axe: The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live in China)

Johnnie Crow — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 05:54:44 +0000

STEVE VAI, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ZAKK WYLDE, NUNO BETTENCOURT & TOSIN ABASI

TO RELEASE GENERATION AXE: THE GUITARS THAT DESTROYED THE WORLD (LIVE IN CHINA) ON JUNE 28

BILLBOARD PREMIERES “SIDEWAYS” HERE:

www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8510512/steve-vai-generation-axe-sideways-premiere

Pre-Order: https://GenerationAxe.lnk.to/GuitarsThatDestroyed

Hamburg, DE – Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi, collectively Generation Axe, will release The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live in China) via earMUSIC / Edel on June 28. The performance of “Frankenstein” can be previewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dsIXp3q2tU. Generation Axe first staged a North American tour in April – May, 2016, and then travelled to Asia in April, 2017. They returned to the road this past November and December, 2018 for an extensive 32-date tour of North America.

When asked which song performed captures the true essence of Generation Axe, Steve Vai shares, “For me, I might say that our arrangement and performance of “Highway Star” captures a good essence of what Gen-Axe is about. In this song we all came together and worked out a spectacular five guitar arrangement of this classic masterpiece, with an interplay of harmonies that is uniquely structured and potent. There are shifting solo sections tailor made for each guitarist, and a deep respect to the structure of wicked fast harmonies engineered around Richie Blackmore’s historic solo. And then there’s Yngwie’s powerful vocal performances on this track too. It has a high degree of rock and roll energy in it.” On Nuno Bettencourt’s reflection, he offers, “Personally, ‘Sideways’…was part of these connections we’d have with two of us from time to time throughout the show… It was great to see intimate numbers like ‘Sideways’ and ‘Black Star’ with Vai and Malmsteen.”

For Steve Vai, the song most enjoyable to play within the set was the opening number “Foreplay.” He offers, “I like the feeling of going out on the stage to open the show with the whole band, all the guitar players, and hitting that song. It’s some great blow-away factor in it. But ‘Highway Star’ as the closer of the show, with everyone out there playing off of each other, is like living the childhood fantasy.” For Nuno Bettencourt, it was “Frankenstein.” He reveals, “Everyone on stage and the audience probably thought that when these guys trade solos they are going for blood and try and cut each other’s heads off. Which is the norm for typical guitarists. But instead, what was beautiful is we had an amazing, and fun conversation using our own voices, techniques and notes. So, to me, the conversation we have with each other on stage using guitars, symbolized what Gen Axe was all about. A village, a community, respect for each other’s art and skill.”

The complete track listing features: Generation Axe – “Foreplay”; Tosin Abasi – “Tempting Time”; Tosin Abasi and Nuno Bettencourt – “Physical Education”; Nuno Bettencourt – “A Side of Mash:’ Nuno Bettencourt and Zakk Wylde – “Sideways”; Zakk Wylde – “Whipping Post”; Steve Vai – “Bad Horsie”; Yngwie Malmsteen ‘ “Valhalla” / “Baroque n Roll” / “Overture” / “From a Thousand Cuts” / “Arpeggios from Hell” / “Far Beyond The Sun”; Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai – “Black Star”; Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi – “Frankenstein”; and Generation Axe – “Highway Star.” Generation Axe: The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China) will be released as a CD digipack, limited edition colored 2-LP set with download, and digitally by earMUSIC on June 28. Additional repertoire from this event release will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Many artists fit easily into a single category, while Steve Vai remains unclassifiable. He is a virtuoso guitarist, visionary composer, and consummate audio producer who sculpts musical sound with infinite creativity and technical mastery. He is one of the most in-demand, versatile, eloquent and soulful guitarists in the business. The GRAMMY Award-winner has sold over 15 million albums and toured the world as a solo artist, a member of G3, and with Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake. Vai launched his successful solo career with the release of Flex-Able in 1984 and has written, produced, and engineered all of his solo albums. He has appeared as a guest artist on more than 40 albums and created music for blockbuster films, best-selling video games, national sports franchises, and corporate brand initiatives. Vai has earned honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Musicians Institute. For more info, visit: www.vai.com.

GRAMMY Award-winner Zakk Wylde’s legendary career includes a lengthy tenure with Ozzy Osbourne in which Wylde co-wrote and recorded several albums, including the multi-platinum No More Tears, Osbourne’s largest selling solo album featuring the classic hit single, “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and the bulk of the double platinum 2002 set, Ozzmosis. With Osbourne, Wylde has played on countless world tours and television appearances, with his signature bullseye Les Paul in tow. Wylde has his mitts imprinted on Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame; guest-starred alongside Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston in the movie “Rockstar”; and even momentarily joined Axl, Slash and Duff in Guns N’ Roses. But nothing offers the pure expression of Zakk Wylde’s animalistic “id” like Black Label Society, the stomping, heavy, bluesy, recklessly unhinged hard-rock-metal quartet who are quick to rip up a solo as to dip into a piano-fueled anthemic ballad. For more info, visit: www.zakkwylde.com.

When Yngwie J. Malmsteen hit the scene in the early 80s, he turned the entire guitar world upside down. Never before was guitar playing like his ever heard. Drawing inspiration from his love for Baroque and Romantic classical music, Malmsteen employs classical violin techniques such as four and five octave arpeggios, pedal notes, and harmonic minor, diminished and Phrygian scales, flawlessly delivered at mind-boggling levels of speed and clarity. In doing so, he has single-handedly created a brand-new style of guitar playing and composing that is still derived from today. In addition to having written and produced 35+ neoclassical rock albums, Malmsteen composed and orchestrated the “Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra,” which he recorded withthe prestigious Czech Philharmonic in Prague, conducted by Yoel Levy of Atlanta Symphony fame. Malmsteen subsequently performed the piece live with the New Japan Philharmonic and the Taipei Symphony, among others. Malmsteen has received numerous Grammy nominations, hundreds of magazine covers, dozens of Reader’s Poll and Composer of the Year Awards, a plaque on the Rock Walk of Fame, signature model guitars, amps, pickups, strings, picks, pedals, microphones, and more. TIME Magazine placed him as one of the top ten guitarists of all time. Some 35 years and 25 million+ album sales later, Yngwie shows no signs of slowing down. Recently, he released a new studio album titled Blue Lightning. For more info, visit: www.yngwiemalmsteen.com.

Guitar virtuoso, singer-songwriter, and record producer, Nuno Bettencourt rose to international prominence as a guitar player with the GRAMMY-nominated, Boston-area band EXTREME, one of the most successful rock acts of the early to mid-1990s selling over 10 million records worldwide. Musically, EXTREME is dominated by Bettencourt’s blistering guitar riffs, often with funky, syncopated timing, and incendiary, high-speed rock/metal solos. Bettencourt penned the acoustic ballad “More Than Words” that went to #1 on the Billboard charts and “Hole Hearted” that reached #4. He has released multiple solo albums as well as with bands he founded including Mourning Widows Population 1, Dramagods and Satellite Party. Bettencourt has written, produced and performed with many legendary artists including Rihanna, Steven Tyler, Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson and many others. For more info: www.nunobettencourt.com.

Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide Abasi,better known as Tosin Abasi, is a Nigerian American guitarist known as the guitar player and founder of the instrumental progressive metal band, Animals as Leaders. Abasi’s compositions of intricate music have garnered critical acclaim in a few short years. Abasi is part of the breed of new contemporary players who are raising the bar on the concept of electric guitar virtuosity. His approach to the guitar stems from a passion for advanced techniques and harmony. Using 7-, 8-, and 9-string guitars have allowed Abasi to create a highly unique and individual sound. For more info, visit: www.facebook.com/animalsasleaders

In front of the last North American tour, Steve Vai shared, “The Generation Axe experience goes way beyond simply gathering five guitar greats on one stage to jam. The idea was to create a seamless show with one backing band and 5 completely accomplished and astonishing guitarists that take to the stage in various configurations, performing some of their solo music and merging together as cohesive co-creators of lushly orchestrated guitar extravaganzas. Guitar Jams like this can get really messy when there is no organization and my idea was to create parts for everybody to play in harmony and off each other so it’s not a mess of noise. This worked out remarkably well. There are places where everyone is playing together in wild harmony.”

Vai, Malmsteen, Wylde, Bettencourt, Abasi to Release Generation Axe: The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live in China) first appeared on Game On Media.