By Ian Liberman
IN MEMORIAM
CRAIG MacGREGOR – FOGHAT
Foghat bassist Craig MacGregor died of cancer on February 9, 2018 at the age of 68. Foghat’s hit songs include “I Just Want To Make Love To You,” “Slow Ride,” and “Fool For The City.” When MacGregor discovered that he had brain cancer, he became an activist for patients to have access to all their patient records.
PAT TORPEY – MR. BIG
Founding member and drummer of Mr. Big, Pat Torpey, died from complications relating to Parkinson’s Disease, on February 7, 2018. Mr. Big was formed in 1988 by bassist Billy Sheehan, who recruited guitarist Paul Gilbert and vocalist Eric Martin (along with Torpey). The band’s hit songs include: “To Be With You,” “Alive and Kicking,” and “Just Take My Heart.” His last work with the band was on 2017’s “Defying Gravity,” which featured the #2 song on Hard Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2017 (“1992”).
DAVE HOLLAND – JUDAS PRIEST
Dave Holland (drummer, Judas Priest) died of unknown causes on January 16, 2018 at the age of 69. His peers recognized him as a prolific drummer who contributed to some of Priest’s best-selling albums. Holland was found guilty of sexual assault, but claimed to be innocent of the charges up until the day he died.
DOLORES O’RIORDAN – THE CRANBERRIES
Dolores O’Riordan, lead vocalist of The Cranberries, died on January 15, 2018. She was 46 years old. The official cause of death is still pending. O’Riordan joined the already formed band, and proceeded to direct the band on musical path with thought-provoking lyrics and creative harmonies. This was exemplified in the hit songs like “Dreams” and “Zombie.”
“FAST” EDDIE CLARKE – MOTORHEAD, FASTWAY
“Fast” Eddie Clarke died on January 10, 2018 at the age of 67 from pneumonia. Clarke was the last original member of Motörhead. After his passing, Clarke’s replacement in the band (Phil Campbell) stated…
“It’s such a shock. He will be remembered for his iconic riffs and was a true rock n roller. RIP Eddie”
MIKIO FUJIOKA – BABYMETAL
Mikio Fujioka, 36, guitarist for the Japanese metal band BabyMetal , died on January 5, 2018 after a severe fall on December 30, 2017. Fujioka was also distinguished as Ko-Gami or “the Little God.” His voyage with BabyMetal, provided an opportunity to open for GNR, MMM, Trick Box, and finally, Metallica who respected the band`s artistic approaches to hard rock and metal.
INTERVIEW WITH JOE COTELA (DED)
This month’s interview is with Ded frontman, Joe Cotela. These relative newcomers from Tempe, AZ have quickly started rising up the ranks of the Active Rock scene. From “Anti-Everything” to “Remember The Enemy” and their latest single, “Hate Me,” Ded continues to gain traction on Active Rock radio and SiriusXM’s Octane.
In addition to Cotela, the band features David Ludlow (guitar), Kyle Koelsch (bass), and Matthew Reinhard (drums). These four-piece unit does an admirable job of weaving a thrash guitar sound with aggressive vocals.
Ded was one of the bands prominently featured on Hard Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs 2017.
The following is the interview with Ded frontman, Joe Cotela…
HRD: Ded is a young band that has climbed the ladder of success quite quickly, having already played with bands like Korn and In this Moment. Is there a particular band (or bands) that you would like to tour with in the future, and why?
JC: Well, selfishly, we would all really like to tour with Gojira and Run The Jewels. I’m not sure if that would ever happen, but that would be nuts. We have played festivals with almost every band all the way up to Metallica at this point now. We have not had the chance to play with Deftones or Slipknot yet. That would be rad.
HRD: Is the song “Anti-Everything” a negative response to specific social or political values? Can you tell me what inspired this tune?
JC: It is and it isn’t. I would say it’s more social than political. I don’t pay attention to politics or the news that much, honestly. I don’t think it really informs me or tells me much about my life. I don’t trust any of it. I trust in my energy and my soul, I can definitely tell you that. I was never interested in labeling things or being labeled myself. I hate putting unique things inside of boxes; it cheapens them. I don’t want to be a part of any group and have any affiliates speak on my behalf. I am my own group. It’s made up of who I am and where I’ve been in my life. I want to be into whatever innately feels correct to me.
HRD: What musical influences or artists have contributed to your signature sound?
JC: What I think makes our sound is a combination of three things that I feel like I just realized this a week or so ago. We all come from playing in diverse bands over the time of being musicians, the most impactful being the metal, screamo & hardcore bands like Every Time I Die, Thrice, Emmure, Lamb of God, Glassjaw, etc. from the 00’s based on our ages. Growing up in the ‘90s, bands like Korn, Pantera, Deftones, Marilyn Manson, and Rage Against the Machine. We are also big fans of pop music, great songwriting and great hooks i.e. Michael Jackson, John Mayer, Third Eye Blind, and Justin Timberlake. I think we are a full culmination of these influences. We bring the honest underground elements of metal and core music to the Nü/Alt Metal genre, and then naturally press ourselves to have huge pop hooks intertwined.
HRD: A lot of hard rock and metal bands find that they are ignored by traditional music award shows. Examples include the Grammys, American Music Awards and even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rock music album sales almost triple pop music, while the subgenre metal is double the sales in pop music. How does the band feel about the lack of respect towards hard rock and metal in the music award system?
JC: We weren’t there back in the day when metal and hard rock ruled the world; we were just barely growing up in it. It would’ve been fucking rad to be there. If they don’t want to give the heavy community the recognition it deserves, that’s all good. When our genre becomes popular and trendy again (like it always does) they’ll have to deal with us, then and we will treat them accordingly.
SUGGESTIONS…
I’m interested in hearing any topics that you’d like to see covered, or bands that you’d like to see interviewed. Feel free to e-mail me at ianlib@rogers.com with suggestions.
INFERNO OF ROCK
The Inferno of Rock Game is now sold-out. Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy.
JANUARY 2018 TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWER
Who recorded the song “New Year’s Day”? U2
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