Master Renato Tavares interview in Blitz Magazine Australia by Lui

MotorHead return to Australia to raise hell in the service of Rock n’ Roll in 2011!

Proudly presented by Red Ant Touring

“Lemmy is a God. He is the reason. He is the last man standing and no one comes close”
- Dave Grohl

Motörhead play – correction – Motörhead ARE loud, fast, dirty, bluesy rock ‘n roll with an unrivaled, ruthless attitude; obnoxious yet dignified. For over 35 years the band has maintained their strong hold as a force of unrelenting sonic power, pounding their music into the ear drums of audiences all over the world; reducing the masses into exhausted, sweat soaked, tinnitus-suffering submission, and leaving them begging for more.

The band has uniquely pioneered both heavy metal and punk rock, and is revered by aficionados of both genres. Theirs is a sound and a way of being that sees their fan base continue to grow year after year, and that has rightfully solidified Motörhead as living legends of hard rock.

Although Motörhead’s line-up has changed since its formation in 1975, the band’s main auxiliary consists of three long standing members; guitarist, Phil Campbell, drummer Mikkey Dee and founding member, figure head and demi-god, Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister.

Motörhead is personified by the gravel-laden vocals, phenomenally articulate lyrics and rumbling bass playing of Lemmy. From his days as a roadie for the Jimi Hendrix Experience to playing bass in ‘70s psychedelic rock band Hawkwind, to forming Motörhead, Lemmy has mowed his own path, defying odds, balking stereotypes and ignoring fashions, fads and trends. Of him, ex- Guns ‘N Roses guitarist, Slash (who played on Motörhead’s 1992 album, “March or Die”) says, “Lemmy’s like one of my all-time f*****g heroes… I really appreciate everything about him”.

Phil Campbell joined Motörhead in 1984 and has weathered the band’s transformations from a duel guitar line-up, back to its original trio configuration where it has remained since 1994. Discussing the band’s longevity, Campbell remarked “We don’t care about musical trends; we just look after Motörhead….Sometimes I think it’s a life sentence but if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t still be doing it.”

Swedish drummer Mikkey Dee first made a name for himself with King Diamond in the 1980s. Dee’s drums on the first four King Diamond records are widely considered to be among the finest drumming performances in the history of heavy metal. Lemmy had been asking Mikkey to join Motörhead repeatedly from 1985 until Dee finally accepted in 1992. In an interview in 1994 Lemmy stated, “Mikkey Dee, in a way, saved us, because he is the best drummer that we’ve ever had. He’s excellent.”

To their fans, Motörhead are the unholy trinity, more worthy of worship than any religious icon. Kim Thore (All Access Magazine) described the fans outside a recent Motörhead concert; “these were followers; rock ‘n roll Pilgrims at the Mecca of Motörhead.” It’s a scene that’s sure to be replicated in Australia as Motörhead crusaders turn out in their masses to witness the return of their rock ‘n roll prophets.

Forget your bibles. Bring your earplugs. This communion is sure to be sacrilege.

‘Eavy British Rock legends return ‘DownUnda’ in 2011 with a greatest hits tour.
Proudly presented by Red Ant Touring

“This was a rock concert as it was supposed to be – no flashy pyrotechnics, no flying pigs, just hard and heavy rock for the faithful.”
- Mark Robertson – BBC Music Review

It’s been over 25 years since the legendary Uriah Heep have played on Australian soil. In that time we’ve witnessed a lot of changes to our musical landscape: the birth, death and rebirth of trends; musical marriages and mix-ups; assassinations and cultural revolutions; and of course the dawn of the digital age. Through all of this, Uriah Heep has ensured at least one constant on the horizon – a hard, heavy rock band that continues to deliver.

Uriah Heep’s unique, progressive, hard sound has made them a mainstay of the rock circuit for four decades. Famed for their accomplished musical chops, diverse song writing and powerful live performances, the band has released some of the most popular and defining music of their genre. With a catalog that includes albums such as 1972’s ‘Demons and Wizards’, 1982’s ‘Abominog’, and the 2001 release ‘Future Echoes Of The Past’, it’s no surprise that the band has sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Australian audiences in particular have taken Uriah Heep into their hard-rocking hearts, with the band scoring consecutive charting albums and singles in the country on more than one occasion. Heep’s remarkable popularity in the Great Southern Land spawned the exclusive Australian compilation ‘Downunda’, released to commemorate their 1974 tour. What’s more, in 2003 Uriah Heep enlisted the vocal talents of none other than Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes on the ‘Relentless’ album, thus cementing their affinity to this country.

Uriah Heep have toured consistently throughout their 40-year career, performing in over 48 countries to millions of faithful fans, including headline performances at Redding and the prestigious Sweden Rock Festival. In 1987 they became the first major rock act to perform in the Soviet Union, playing to audiences of 185,000 people.

Uriah Heep bassist Trevor Bolder (ex-David Bowie & the Spiders from Mars) revealed the secret of the band’s longevity is its passion for live performance. He says, “You go in and out of fashion but we’ve always wanted to play… we love being on the road.”

Make sure you catch Uriah Heep on their triumphant return to Australia in 2011.

Skillet Australian Tour Trailer

Awake and Alive Australian Tour

Proudly presented by Red Ant Touring

Everyone power up as Grammy-nominated rockers, Skillet are coming to town. With critical acclaim and longtime fans, who go by name Panheads, Skillet are set to show everyone why they are speeding towards a gold sales status.

Since forming in 1996, Skillet have released 8 albums, all of which have been met with great excitement, they have spanned across many styles and genres; using orchestration, male and female vocals and piano in contrast with hard hitting riffs. This chameleon-like musical ability has made an army of fans and has allowed them to tour with the likes of Flyleaf, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace and many more.

Having started as a side project for the members, they jokingly named the band Skillet in reference to their different styles all being put together to create something unique. But now it is obvious that the band is serious, with the melodies and lyrics showing their opinions on life and its difficulties, frontman John Cooper stated “the songs will let you know you’re not alone”. With songs such as “Don’t Wake Me”, “Monster”, and “One Day Too late”, one can see that through the variety of musical styles and experimentation, their lyrics have the same theme tying them all together.

Skillet have reached new heights with Awake and their loyal Panheads is growing at an unbelievable rate, so when the floodgates open you better be ready to grab your ticket.

AFC Australian Fighting Championship

November 12th 2010 Melbourne State Netball & Hockey Centre.

Underdog Promotions presents the Australian Fighting Championships - Uniting Australia’s most prolific, up and coming stars to do battle in the ring for the prize of being crowned the next AFC champion. For the first time, 3 Ultimate Fighters Jesse Taylor, Jeremy May and Richie Whitson will be fighting Aussies Dylan Andrews, Ross Dallow and Masaya Doi!

This will be a showcase of the most exceptional homegrown talent Australia has to offer. With all the styles under the one banner.. BJJ, Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Karate, Wrestling, Boxing this is going to be an event you will not want to miss.. Hip Hop legend Phrase will also be performing live at the opening ceremony!!

Ice Cube Australian Tour Trailer

Presented by Red Ant Touring and Knowledge Music

“Simply put, Ice Cube is an Icon.”

Ice Cube announces a New Album and a National Tour.

White picket-fenced Australia, consider yourself warned.  Legendary West Coast rapper Ice Cube is touring the country this October, and we are predicting a lyrical riot.

You do not need much knowledge of rap music history to know that the name Ice Cube is synonymous with controversy. From his early days with N.W.A. to his subsequent solo career, Cube’s music has been blamed for a lot of bad stuff: inciting violence, racism, homophobia and sexism to name some. There is no denying that on the surface his lyrics are often irreverent and vulgar, but listen a little more closely and you will also hear the prophetic voice of a misplaced urban mass in turmoil. Out of Cube’s mouth, the profane becomes the prolific and the rap becomes the voice of revolution.

Today, Ice Cube is recognised around the world as one of the most influential and important figures in rap history.  He has recorded eight studio albums, which together have sold in excess of 10 million units. His debut solo EP Kill At Will was the first hip-hop EP to reach both gold and platinum record sales in the U.S, and his 1992 album The Predator debuted at number one on both the pop and R&B charts; the first album in history to do so.

In 2008 Ice Cube brought his ‘Straight Outta Compton’ show to Australia, playing to rave reviews around the country. The tour included two consecutive sold-out nights at Sydney’s iconic Enmore Theatre, and left punters desperate for his return. Now, the wait is over…..

Don’t miss your chance to catch the explosive return of Ice Cube.”

Soilwork Australian Tour Trailer

Presented by

Red Ant Touring, Riot Entertainment! and Utopia Records

Soilwork Australian Tour October 2010

“Soilwork are one of the 25 most important bands in Metal” – Alternative Press Magazine

Sweden’s melodic death metal masters Soilwork will be ripping up Aussie shores for only the third time in October this year. Touring on the back of the release of their eighth studio album, The Panic Broadcast, which drummer Dirk Verbeuren has described as “the true musical path of Soilwork”, the band will be bringing their killer live shows that The Metal Observer have dubbed “Metal with the fun factor in the driving seat”.

In terms of Swedish metal bands, Soilwork has proven themselves as the crème de la crème, still a cut above other native Swedes such as In Flames, Meshuggah, Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity and The Haunted. Thom Jurek of All Music Guide writes “Their anthemic chorus’, with killer backing harmony vocals, takes Soilwork beyond most of their Swedish peers” adding that “Punters at their shows are absolute putty in singer Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid’s hands”. Artistically empowering on stage, the band demonstrates their use of textured guitars and keyboards, instrumental sounds and pristine echoing vocals, as if letting the audience in on a secret. Because of this Soilwork’s live shows never cease to entertain and amaze, with PyroMusic describing the atmosphere of their shows as “an extremely fun mass sing-a-long with a destructive twist often leaving audiences in a pool of blood, sweat and tears”.

Jane Hawkes of Crossfire MusicZine’s review of Soilwork’s last Australian tour read “The band are immensely watchable and towards the tail end of their night, they steamroll into ‘As We Speak’ with a near-unbearable intensity which leaves revelers in awe. Wrapping it all up with a white hot rendition of ‘Follow The Hollow’ to near euphoric cheers, the wait seemed absolutely worth every minute. Amazing, all consuming stuff.”

OverKill Australian Tour Trailer

Proudly presented by Red Ant Touring, Riot! Entertainment & Utopia Records

First time in Australia!

“First ever thrash band? Definitely Overkill! They were the first and they’ll be the last.” – Ultimate Metal

“Overkill live? F******’ right on!!” – Chronicles of Chaos

Prepare your neck braces everyone, thrash metal legends Overkill are coming down under! As one of the most respected and consistent thrash metal bands around, Overkill are set to show all metal fans how its done with their 25th Anniversary World Tour, gearing up to slay crowds in Australia for the first time ever.

Considered by many to be the pioneers of the genre that spawned Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth, Overkill have stuck to their roots for a quarter of a century. As they play their high speed, balls to the wall music live it is clear for anyone to see why they have been so successful for so long, with Metal Archive stating that they are “the best live band ever. They kick more ass live than in the studio” and Chris Beaumont agreeing that “they are a force to reckoned with”.

The set list for this crazy concert is one that will definitely please crowds and remind everyone from the older metal heads to the new kids why Overkill are the best; with them playing all their classics and anthems such as “Rotten To the Core”, “Wrecking Crew”, “Hello From the Gutter”, “Elimination”, “Fuck You” , “Overkill” and their new instant stone cold classic “Bring Me the Night” from their new album “Ironbound”.

During Overkill’s visit, as one of the most prolific thrash metal bands ever, Australian audience’s can expect to see founders, Bobby ‘Blitz” Ellsworth and D.D Verni, as well as newcomers Derik ‘The Skull’ Tailer, Dave Linsk, and Ron Lipnicki, and of course their beloved mascot Chaly (a skeletal bat that has graced most of their album covers). Hundreds of thousands of fans around the world cannot be wrong so do not miss this time marking tour that’s been 25 years coming!.

Jeffree Star Australian Tour Trailer

Proudly presented by Red Ant Touring and Joy

“I’m not a man, I’m not a woman, I’m a mannequin”
Jeffree Star

“All his songs appear to be about sex, parties, plastic surgery, serial killers and more sex.”
Nemesis Magazine

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Jeffree Star is loading up his Louis Vuitton suitcases and heading to Australia. Go and buy some sunglasses because the future is bright for this multi-talented make up artist/designer/model/ musician.

The tour follows the release of Jeffree’s album Beauty Killer – a buffet for the ears. Featuring cupcake pop and razor sharp guitars, the album exhibits the flamboyant artist’s diversity. Jeffree himself says “Every song has a different feel to it. There’s even some club anthems mixed in there.”

The self proclaimed “Head of the Makeup Mafia” and “Queen Bitch Supreme Among Internet Royalty” started his music career when he put some beats behind his mouthy opinions and cyanide laced wit. Star began writing “really crazy lyrics” to rap beats, in homage to his obsession with hip-hop which led to a chance encounter with Peaches drummer Samantha Maloney, who produced his first solo tracks in 2006.

He has toured extensively in the US, joining the likes of Eagles of Death Metal and Metro Station for rock and electro-pop inspiration.

Since his first EP and single releases, Jeffree has become the darling of MySpace with his vivid cerise hair and heavily tatted complexion gaining the number one position on the MySpace charts and staying there ‘till Star is ready to leave’. But the wonder of Jeffree Star doesn’t stop there; his live shows are as bold and as shocking as the man himself, which he daringly showed to the Warped Tour ’09 crowd.

Every live show is an experiment; recently Star has had the idea of “having the fans hold up a giant mirror in the audience so I can watch myself perform”. It’s this kind of self involved arrogance that makes Jeffree Star so wrong but oh so right.

Meet and Greet for the Sydney Show Only

Tech N9ne

The Gates Mixed Plate

Released through: Strange Music Australia Distributed through MGM

All Strange Music Label Coordination for Australia & New Zealand through Lui & Kurt (Unda K9 Ent)

Strange Music’s latest release brings together two things synonymous with Kansas City: Tech N9ne and Gates BBQ on “Tech N9ne Collabos – The Gates Mixed Plate”. After the release of K.O.D., Tech N9ne made it clear that he was done with the darkness and ready to party in the light – a mission that definitely comes thru loud and clear on “The Gates Mixed Plate”. The first single from the album, “O.G.”, is a boisterous homage to Gates BBQ and Kansas City that’s sure to leave you hungering for more cuts from “The Gates Mixed Plate”! With a list of features that reads like a rap menu – including Devin The Dude, Jay Rock, Glasses Malone, Yukmouth and Stevie Stone, as well as Strange Music labelmates Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun and Big Scoob.