Tom Morello, Simon Neil, Nile Rodgers and More Celebrate The Fender Stratocaster’s 70th Anniversary with Cover of “Voodoo Child”



Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Stratocaster® guitar. To commemorate this milestone, Fender’s year-long celebration encompasses the release of seven new models, each designed to pay homage to the Stratocaster®’s enduring legacy. Joining the celebration, 10 revolutionary artists: Nile Rodgers, Tom Morello, Simon Neil, Ari O’Neal, Mateus Asato, Tyler Bryant, Rebecca Lovell, REI, Tash Sultana and Jimmie Vaughan, have come together to cover Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, for the brand’s campaign hero film, Voodoo Child: Forever Ahead of Its Time. Keep reading below for the “Voodoo Child” video and more information.
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INTERVIEW: Mike Vennart and Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) of Empire State Bastard Breakdown “Rivers of Heresy”


Ghost Cult Keefy caught up with Mike Vennart (ex-Oceansize) and Simon Neil of Empire State Bastard. The supergroup features the duo from Biffy Clyro, along with Dave Lombardo (Mr. Bungle, ex-Slayer, Dead Cross, etc.) After getting rained out at Riot Fest, the guys were kind enough to circle back with Keefy to pick up the chat with us. They discussed their love of extreme metal including Grindcore and Death Metal, a breakdown of the new album, subverting the expectations of Biffy fans, working with Lombardo, adding Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon) to the live line-up on bass, signing to Roadrunner Records, their first USA gigs, and much more!

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ALBUM REVIEW: While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society


While it may be OK to not be OK, as the main refrain of the thumping anthemic opener ‘Enlightenment?’ insists (and while it absolutely is, we still have much work to do as a collective mass to support each other), Sleeps Society (Sleeps Brothers, in assoc. with Search & Destroy, Spinefarm, UNFD, Universal) takes a step and seeks to provide a place, a community packed with a kinship of like-minded souls who will be there with and for each other. It would be easy for the Sleeps Society (a Patreon-based family) to be empty words and hollow platitudes, but there is integrity to the missives that are as important to the overall point of While She Sleeps in 2021 as the songs. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist


Please indulge me for one moment. I am not usually one for breaking the fourth wall when reviewing an album but bear with…. Back in 2004, I had a polar response to two albums in a way that encapsulates a particular dichotomy that fans (and bands) often find themselves caught up in that has stuck with me as a point of reflection ever since. To change, or not to change, that is the question… I remember the unshakeable feeling of disappointment at just how much Slipknot had changed their sound and attack on Vol III: The Subliminal Verses compared to Iowa (both Roadrunner), and the same deep sigh of discontent that Soil hadn’t changed enough (or at all, with Redefine, J Records).Continue reading


While She Sleeps Shares Video for New Single “You Are All You Need”


 

While She Sleeps has shared a new single from their upcoming new album, Sleeps Society due out on April 16th via Spinefarm Records. Pre-orders are live at the link below. The band recently launched a new fan-oriented platform Sleeps Society and the band is just getting warmed up for what is shaping up to be a huge year. Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro on “Nervous” and Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 on “No Defeat For The Brave.” Featured on the track “Call Of The Void” are members of The Sleeps Society, showing this community will be a collaborative force in the future of the band!

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