After a couple of delays, the new TRIBE OF GYPSIES album, Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants is out in Japan on JVC as we speak.The offical release date was actually January 1, so it's very likely that 'Standing' is actually the very first release of the 21st century! Sound clips are available at www.tribeofgypsies.com. Furthermore, the song 'Dreams' from SOTSOG is included on the Unerhort - Best Of The Unsigned CD that comes free with the current issue of Rock Hard, Germany's leading hard rock publication. [read it]

This page contains several reviews of Q2K concerts that have been posted through various Dynamite channels. [read it]

This is a marriage between Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony, recorded at two shows in San Francisco in April, 1999. The result is an interesting, albeit aurally confusing result at times. The union of conductor/arranger Michael Kamen and Metallica is not new - he arranged the orchestral parts to the original "Nothing Else Matters" in 1991 (as well as the orchestra on Queensryche's "Silent Lucidity", btw). But this time, the symphony and band are equal partners on a night of harmony. [read it]

This week, BRUCE DICKINSON gave BW&BK lessons on screaming his lungs out in South America as well as screaming alongside Steve Harris and Co. at an undisclosed location in Europe (rumoured to be Paris, France), rehearsing and now recording the forthcoming Iron Maiden reunion album. His head is abuzz from a long-winded Maiden band meeting, not that Bruce is ready, willing and able to disclose any information, with management ready to "cut his balls off if he says anything!" [read it]

It was a hot Texas Night, and the Scorpions waited until a little before sunset to start their set. Klaus, Rudy, and Matthias were a little flat, and the set came off a little like a Vegas review. The new stuff sounded like Disco, but the metal starved crowd loved it anyway, as they saved the old hits to the end. I can see why the Scorps are thinking of making this their last tour. They looked bored. [read it]

Straight out of the Arizona badlands, guitar great George Lynch marches his Lynch Mob back into battle with their new, hard-hitting, 13 track release, SMOKE THIS. George debuts his all-new lineup along with a fresher, much more aggressive sound. [read it]

IRON MAIDEN IS BACK!! If tonight's show was indicative of future shows, and there's no reason to think otherwise, Iron Maiden are back and with a vengeance!! [read it]

Well, folks, they're back! I saw Iron Maiden last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York (7/16). What a show! This is the sixth time I have seen Maiden ('85, '87, '88, '90, '98 and last night). It is clearly the best they have ever sounded. First, the three guitars work fine - and interesting thing I picked up is that on the old tunes where Janick took over Adrian's solos - Janick still plays them. They do triple harmony, rhythm guitar under double harmony, and even harmonizing solos! It sounds great, and the band is very tight. [read it]

I conducted the following interview in May 1999 via e-mail with Jeremy Colson, drummer for the hot new prog-metal band Dali's Dilemma. [read it]

The lights dimmed and a sea of lighters filled the black night as Scottish bagpipes played a tantalizingly long intro. Then the "Lights Came Down" on Williamstown - Dan, Pete, Darryl, Jimmy, and Ronnie took the stage and rattled the walls of the LongBranch Saloon. I must say, the live version of "Light Comes Down" sounded more intense than its studio rendering. They immediately shifted gears and took us back 26 years in time with "RAZAMANAZ" - a real treat. [read it]

On March 19, 1999, I spoke with Sergio Curbelo, lead singer of Puerto Rican metal/salsa/mambo/rock en espanol band Puya. We spoke about their debut MCA release Fundamental, along with what the experience has been like thus far. [read it]

On Friday, October 30, 1998 I attended yet another great metal show in catching Motley Crue at the Beacon Theater in New York City. I have followed this band since the days of "Too Fast for Love" and "Shout and the Devil" and am, even now, a continuing fan of the Crue's music and bad boy antics. [read it]

Do we need Black Sabbath these days? Do we need to hear these old songs again? Can they still play their instruments? Are they as good as they were? The questions about this album and the whole Reunion thing are many. But the answer is just one simple YES. We need them and they still rock. [read it]

As a long time fan of "The Hottest Band in the World", I have always enjoyed getting my hands on a new release from KISS. When it is the first studio album with the original four members since the Late 70's, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, it makes it a sweet addition to one's cd collection. [read it]

If you wanna be totally correct when you write about Black Sabbath these days you should just ignore all the albums they released after Ozzy left. Sure, even I think that the first Sabbath albums stand pretty much as milestones in music history. The songs are very dark and they have influenced a lot of my favorite bands. But now I want you to open your eyes to the Sabbath that lived from 1980 and to the present day. [read it]

I am a preppy 21-year-old college girl with a simple wish...to touch Mike Portnoy. That's it. When Joel told me he was offered an interview with him and that I could come with, my heart leapt like a gazelle. I figured Joel could ask all of the questions, and I could just stand there beaming, having touched Mike Portnoy. [read it]

Let me preface this by saying I'm a diehard Crue fan. I've gotten to know Nikki and Tommy somewhat and I support them, so this post might tend to be a little slanted... [read it]

Is Helloween planning on staying heavy as their 'BTR' album, or will you take a step back to their more melodic selves as in 'Time Of The Oath'?

No for the second...there are movements inside the band to keep it as heavy as it is...there nevertheless will be enough commercial tracks and ballads as well in the future. [read it]

On Sunday, August 9, 1998, I attended the Hair Band Spectacle of 1998 - formally known as the Rock Never Stops Tour. Being a solid fan of all four bands on the tour, I was really psyched up to see the likes of Quiet Riot, Warrant, Slaughter and Firehouse all on the same bill. I will tell you one thing, this show was great from beginning to end. [read it]

Last night, Friday July 17th - I had a chance to catch Metallica live in concert at Giants Stadium in NJ. I guess the theme of the night was "the times they are a changin'". [read it]

Don spoke at length about the history of the band. In the early days, the whole band was poor, and guitarist George Lynch actually lived out of his car. Original bassist Juan Croucier (who went on to join RATT) dropped out of the band because he didn't get along well with George. [read it]