INTERVIEW: Billy Sheehan of The Winery Dogs on Their New Album, and Longevity in The Music Business


 

Ghost Cult caught up with bass guitar legend Billy Sheehan of The Winery Dogs! Billy discussed the new album “III” – out now on Three Dog Records, launching their own label, the evolving role of labels in the music business, how Billy – Mike Portnoy, and Richie Kotzen all write together, the return of touring, how many guest sessions Billy really did during the height of the pandemic, and much more! Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: The Winery Dogs Live at Tupelo Music Hall


 

Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, and Mike Portnoy. Three dynamo musicians that need no introduction on their own, much less as a three-piece supergroup. The Winery Dogs rolled into Derry New Hampshire’s Tupelo Music Hall this past Sunday on their 2023 World Tour. Intimate venue, the cold weather outside, and hot music. Let’s dive in…

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The Winery Dogs Announce Share Their New Single and Video for “Xanadu”


The Winery Dogs, by Evil Robb Photography

Prog-Rock supergroup The Winery Dogs, featuring Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan – already announced their upcoming new album III, is set for release on February 3, 2023, via the band’s Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard). Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, III was once again self-produced by The Winery Dogs and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston (Anthrax). Pre-orders are available today, December 9 on CD and all digital formats, which include an instant download of the album’s first single “Xanadu” – out now. A vinyl edition of III will also be revealed in just a few months. Watch the video, stream the single, and also a chance to win a guitar from Richie Kotzen.

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The Winery Dogs Announce European Tour Dates, New Single Out This Week


The Winery Dogs, by Evil Robb Photography

Prog-Rock supergroup The Winery Dogs, featuring Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan – already announced their upcoming new album. Now they have announced addtional 2023 tour dates, this time in Europe. III is set for release on February 3, 2023, via the band’s Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard). Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, III was once again self-produced by The Winery Dogs and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston (Anthrax). Pre-orders will be available starting Friday, December 9 on CD and all digital formats, which include an instant download of the album’s first song to be released, “Xanadu.” A vinyl edition of III will also be revealed in just a few months.

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Blind Guardian, Parkway Drive, Lamb of God, Stone Temple Pilots, Kreator, The Winery Dogs, Sepultura, Testament, Skid Row and More Booked for the First Summer Breeze Festival in Brazil


 

 

the legendary Summer Breeze Festival will have its first ever event in Brazil in 2023. The first edition of Summer Breeze Open Air in Brazil, which will take place on April 29th and 30th, 2023 at the Memorial da América Latina (SP), has announced new headliners! Blind Guardian, Parkway Drive, Lamb of God, Stone Temple Pilots, Kreator, The Winery Dogs, Sepultura, Testament, Skid Row, and many more will perform!

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Graspop Metal Meeting Books Pantera, Slipknot, Disturbed, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Kreator, Meshuggah, Gojira, Parkway Drive, Testament, Voivod, and More


Pantera, Disturbed, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Architects, Behemoth, Kreator, Meshuggah, Gojira, Parkway Drive, Testament, Voivod are among the 103 artists who have been added to the 26th edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting, set to take place June 15-18, 2023 in Dessel, Belgium. Tickets are on sale tomorrow at the links below. Continue reading


The Winery Dogs Announce Their New Album “III” – World Tour Dates Incoming


The Winery Dogs, by Evil Robb Photography

Prog-Rock supergroup The Winery Dogs, featuring Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan – are back in full force with their aptly named third album III, which is set for release on February 3, 2023, via the band’s Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard). Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, III was once again self-produced by The Winery Dogs and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston (Anthrax). Pre-orders will be available starting Friday, December 9 on CD and all digital formats, which include an instant download of the album’s first song to be released, “Xanadu.” A vinyl edition of III will also be revealed in just a few months.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Liquid Tension Experiment – LT3



It’s been twenty-two years since Liquid Tension Experiment, the Progressive Metal supergroup formed by Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, The Winery Dogs) John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), and Tony Levin (King Crimson), released a record after their critically acclaimed album Liquid Tension 2 (Magna Carta). In this new album entitled LT3 (InsideOut Music) these musicians prove once again why they are part of the biggest bands in the genre and why they are considered to be among the best in their respective instruments and their craft.

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Watch Mike Portnoy Sing and Play All the Instruments Covering The Ramones “We’re A Happy Family”


A lot of artists have been doing covers to pass the time thanks to quarantine due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Watch Mike Portnoy (Sons of Apollo, The Winery Dogs, Neal Morse Band, BPMD) cover The Ramones classic ‘We’re A Happy Family’ on vocals and all the instruments. Extra points if you catch where he changed the lyrics to his own happy family!

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Billy Sheehan Signs with Metal Blade for Talas Debut Album


Billy Sheehan (Sons of Apollo, The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big), who emerged from the upstate New York music scene in the late 1970s with the band Talas, has signed a deal with Metal Blade Records for the release of a new studio album, their first formal album ever. Talas earned its reputation performing gigs in the Buffalo and Rochester scenes. Although Talas started out by playing covers, it eventually introduced originals to its setlist. Sheehan later was well known as a studio musician before joining David Lee Roth’s late 1980s solo band, and later chart-topping stardom with Mr. Big (‘To Be With You’). The news of TALAS’s new record deal was broken by Sheehan’s longtime manager Michael Faley, a former roadie with Talas who also works for Metal Blade. On Friday (January 17), Faley posted a photo of Sheehan signing the contract with Metal Blade and included the following caption: “Billy Sheehan signing contract for a new TALAS studio album with Metal Blade Records. The 4 piece TALAS never recorded a studio album and there is soooo much material to pick from.”Continue reading