You're viewing all posts tagged with King's X

Life’s A Circus

ANM - “Clown’s Dichotomy”

Borrowing its name from a Public Enemy track and staking its claim as the “first black supergroup,” Anti Nigger Machine (or more palatably, ANM) sports an all-star lineup of musicians that most folks have probably never heard of:

  • dUg Pinnick (King’s X): vocals
  • Jimi Hazel (24-7 Spyz): guitar, vocals
  • Rick Skatore (24-7 Spyz): bass, vocals
  • Spacey T (Sound Barrier, Fishbone): guitar, vocals
  • Greg Fulton (Cyclone Temple, Rebels Without Applause): guitar, vocals
  • Phil D. Fish (Fishbone, Wicked Wisdom): drums, percussion

The details are a bit sketchy, but apparently ANM convened sometime in late 2009 to begin writing for an album that was expected to hit the streets in mid-2010. I can only assume that with band name containing “the n-word,” the search for a label home was a little more difficult than the guys had expected amid the climate of a music industry collapsing in on itself. One has to wonder why they didn’t just release the album independently rather than bothering to shop it around. Regardless, the end result is a mix of funk, metal, and 70s rock that should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with this collection of musicians. Hopefully the album will see the light of day sometime soon.

To be completely honest, I wasn’t feeling the verse sections of “Clown’s Dichotomy” at first, but by the time I had reached the bridge the second time, I was bobbing my head to the groove ANM was laying down. Nice.

Enjoy!

King’s X, Faith Hope Love era Click for high-res photo

King’s X, Faith Hope Love era

It bothered me for awhile. Then I got over it… The things that we have accomplished and the respect that we have outweighs some of the things that we didn’t get like the million-selling records.
Doug Pinnick on King’s X never having “made it,” 2001 interview

The Friday Five: May 18, 2012

Get your filthy hands off my Friday Five.

P.O.D. - “Bullet the Blue Sky” (The Fundamental Elements of Souththown, 1999)
Very respectable cover of this U2 number that has more of the energy of the Rattle and Hum version than the one from The Joshua Tree.

Beastie Boys - “So What’cha Want” (Check Your Head, 1992)
A couple of weeks late, but still a very fitting tribute to Adam “MCA” Yauch. As I mentioned recently on my blog, I had not previously delved very deeply into the Beasties’ catalog, so I have spent a bit of time getting acquainted with their newer material and reacquainted with some of their older stuff. Along the way I have gained a deeper appreciation for the guys’ musical abilities, on this album especially.

Jimmy Page & the Black Crowes - “You Shook Me” (Live at the Greek, 2000)
The Crowes do their best Led Zed impression with the man himself. Nice.

Pink Floyd - “Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert” (The Final Cut, 1983)
Political filler from what was essentially a Roger Waters solo album.

King’s X - “Danger Zone” (Black Like Sunday, 2003)
Black Like Sunday is a reworking and reimagining of old (some of it pre-King’s X) material, much of which previously had never seen the light of day outside live performances. Overall the album is very spotty, and while this is not one of my favorites, I can find very little to dislike or complain about when it comes to King’s X.

He said I was one of the best singers around, he meant so much to me. When we toured with them, he had a chair on the side of the stage. He called it ‘My Throne’ and I would sit on the side of the stage every night behind the big PA and watch his show. Every single night. I’d say to him, ‘Man, you really sang great tonight.’ He’d say ‘I better, I gotta sing after you.’ [laughs] I love him.
King’s X’s Doug Pinnick on Ronnie James Dio, Planet Mosh interview
Ty Tabor Click for high-res photo

Ty Tabor

Wall-to-Wall Maiden

Adrian Smith guests on That Metal Show

Season after season, fans of VH1’s That Metal Show have requested that a current member of Iron Maiden be included in the roster of guests. Well Eddie Trunk and company have finally landed guitarist Adrian Smith, who appears as the sole guest on episode 4 of the show’s tenth season. Topics discussed include Maiden’s upcoming US tour, how the band picks songs for the setlist from their huge back catalog, fan reactions around the world, and Maiden’s new live DVD En Vivo!, and “The Throwdown” segment pits The Number of the Beast against Piece of Mind.

Also appearing on the show as the guest guitarist was Michael Schenker, who showed up with a little surprise for Eddie. And watch for the King’s X mention during the “Stump the Trunk” section.

Enjoy!

A Special Message from King’s X’s Jerry Gaskill

Ozone Disappearing in the Sky

King’s X performs “Complain” and “Pretend” on MTV’s Headbangers Ball

It seems that King’s X was in all the right places in 1994 and should have been on the brink of stardom. They had reinvented their sound on their fourth album Dogman, which was produced by big-time knob-turner Brendan O’Brien and released to much critical acclaim and fanfare. They were enjoying a bit of unexpected support from Atlantic (which was later pulled when the album didn’t produce a true “hit” single, but that’s another story for another day). They had received nods in the media from grunge-darlings Pearl Jam and had even secured an opening spot for them for a leg of their tour. And they delivered an explosive set on the opening night of Woodstock ’94.

And then there’s this performance. King’s X had already received a bit of airplay on MTV, especially on Headbangers Ball, so it was probably no surprise when they showed up on the roster of bands to play live on the show. I tried finding some reliable information about this episode on the interwebs, but alas, I came up empty-handed. I’m not even sure what songs were played other than this back-to-back performance of the Dogman tracks “Complain” and “Pretend.” All I know is that when King’s X is on, their live shows are hard to beat, and when they are off, they’re still really good.

It still baffles me that big-time success has eluded these guys for so many years.

The Burning Down

King’s X - Burning Down Boston: Live at The Channel 6.12.91 Promo

Molken Music announced today the availability of this special digital-download-only title to help defray the cost of medical bills incurred by King’s X drummer Jerry Gaskill as the result of the heart attack he suffered on Sunday, February 26. Entitled Burning Down Boston: Live at The Channel 6.12.91, the album comes from a soundboard recording of a show on the Faith Hope Love tour and includes the following 14 cuts:

  1. We Are Finding Who We Are
  2. Mission
  3. Far Far Away
  4. We Were Born to Be Loved
  5. It’s Love Intro
  6. It’s Love
  7. I’ll Never Get Tired of You
  8. Visions
  9. Over My Head
  10. Moanjam
  11. The Burning Down
  12. Talk to You (Bonus Track)
  13. Fall on Me (Bonus Track)
  14. Power of Love (Bonus Track)

Head on over to Molken Music and purchase your copy today. All proceeds will go directly to Jerry to help offset his medical care.

Popdose Flashback ’92: King’s X, “King’s X”

Popdoser and gray flannel suit connoisseur Chris Holmes (no, not that Chris Holmes) manages to distill my manic and disjointed King’s X ramblings down to a succinct and well-writen article featuring one of my favorite King’s X releases.

Enjoy!

The Friday Five: March 9, 2012

Stop the running and check out the Friday Five with IckMusic.

The Clash - “Police on My Back” (Sandinista!, 1980)
“I been running Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday”

Queen - “Flick of the Wrist” (Sheer Heart Attack, 1974)
Quite possibly my favorite Queen album of all time. Seriously.

“Reduce you to a muzak fake machine, then the last goodbye.”

Spock’s Beard - “Made Alive/Overture” (Snow, 2002)
Opening track of the last album—a double-disc concept album at that!—to feature founder Neal Morse.

“Like a flaw that seeks perfection…”

Foo Fighters - “Bridge Burning” (Wasting Light, 2011)
From one album opener to another, this time the latest from Dave Grohl and company. I’m still impressed with how good this album is and how much I’m still listening to it (the true test).

“These are my famous last words!”

Atomic Opera - “New Dreams” (For Madmen Only, 1994)
Epic album-closing slow, crunchy groove from the third band in former ZZ Top manager Sam Taylor’s holy Houston triumvirate that also included King’s X and Galactic Cowboys.

“I use to think that Hell could last forever.”

Quite an eclectic and enjoyable set this week. Later.

Update on Jerry Gaskill

King’s X frontman Doug Pinnick has been tweeting updates on drummer Jerry Gaskill’s condition after having emergency surgery and being hospitalized as the result of a heart attack on Sunday, February 26. Since that time, Gaskill has been sedated and on a ventilator, but he contracted pneumonia and had to have surgery to help him breathe easier after developing another lung issue.

The latest update from Pinnick was this encouraging news just a few hours ago:

Update!! Jerry is much better, he is awake, and getting stronger. Yay!!!

Doug then provided an address for anyone wanting to send cards and get well wishes.

Patient: Jerry Gaskill
Riverview Hospital
1 River Plaza
Red Bank, NJ 07701

Let’s all wish Jerry a speedy recovery and show our support for him, Doug, and Ty.

I have been into music as long as I can remember. I started playing even before The Beatles came to America. And when that happened there was nothing else for me to do. They made it all clear… But the influences continue on till this day. I just learn what I learn when I learn it.
King’s X drummer Jerry Gaskill on his influences and how he started playing drums, 2004 interview
There are so many great drummers. But for me I can narrow it down to John Bonham and Buddy Rich. That to me is perfect drumming.
King’s X drummer Jerry Gaskill on who he considers to be a great drummer, 2004 interview