FACT or FICTION

You've probably seen this column idea at other sites. We thought it would be cool to do it for the various metal rumors floating around the Internet.

1. Since, the new Motley Crue demos have been sent to Bob Rock, they'll stop being C-grade celebs on reality shows and give the fans a CD that will make them the Comeback Band of 2005. FACT or FICTION?

EC - Definitely FICTION. The Crue have no intentions of pleasing their fans, in fact I seriously doubt they even listen to that type of music anymore. They keep a constant stream of greatest hit packages, boxed sets, relic discs, and B-Sides to keep their pockets jingling.

Ken - FICTION: I am sad to say that I no longer think Crue is relevant in Metal
Music. They cannot recapture the glory they had for it was not only a style
but a statement. Like the Sex Pistols, you cannot simply revisit this. I
expect the shows to be good but no new material can live up to the first
couple of CD's or Dr. Feelgood.

Nailer - FICTION The only one of these guys that would give it any bit of integrity is Nikki. I can see the others half-assing their way through it. I would expect it to be a whole lot punkier sounding like the Brides of Destruction CD only tweaked and knobbed to the max. There isn't enough 80's white trash to buy this.

Sarah - FACT, if the tour gets off the ground, they will most certainly make it to be the comeback band of 2005, if they can tolerate each other for the length of the tour and to record another album. If Tommy can get on with Vince for that length of time and Vince can get on with the rest of the band for the year, it would be great. A new album, a tour and a movie (The Dirt) all in one year, that would make some Motley Fans very happy. We would be satisfied with the Crue for one more year, and have even more to live off, after all 80’s glam music is not dead, its just taking a nap. And as far as the reality shows go, I think just about each one of them has done one, I have heard of Tommy Lee signing a deal with NBC to do a reality show about or with him going to college, he’s gotta be a B-Grade reality celeb. Okay I will stop dreaming that now. Mick, he’s the smart one, staying off the reality shows and staying at home, planning his return, I just know it.

Vinaya - FICTION! Those guys are way past their prime. Put it this way: a whole generation of kids know who they are, but probably can't name a single tune of theirs. Only Mick Mars and Nicki Sixx have ever really seemed serious about their commitment to the quality of the band's music, and now Mars has been sidelined for ages, and Sixx is busy with Brides Of Destruction. Not much hope there, I'd say!



2. After having Kai Hansen join them on stage this year at Wacken, Helloween will bring Hansen on board to record guest vocals for their new album, scheduled for early 2005. FACT or FICTION?

EC - I would say this is FACT. The bottom line is everyone in the music business is trying to go back in time for that seasoned, retro feel. Megadeth brought in Nick Menza and Chris Poland. Priest brought back Halford. Savatage are playing a reunion gig. The Bay Area boys are back. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hansen become a permanent fixture in the Helloween camp soon. Hell, Gamma Ray are MIA right now.

Ken - FACT: Euro bands are more inter-changeble than Lego pieces. Everyone is
on everyone else's records and they don't lose the original grasp of the
tunes. A welcome piece if its true.

Nailer - FACT he seems like a fairly nice guy and I'm sure that once the show was over and the ale started flowing, issues were probably put aside within 10 pints. Some groupie swapping would help to.

Sarah - FACT, that would be pretty funny. I think I would have to go see that. After all isn’t Hansen a great rock and roll band?

Vinaya - Probably FICTION. Although I would say there is an outside chance something like that might happen. Even if it did, though, I don't think vocals would be the best contribution Mr. Hansen could make. Now, solos on the other hand...



3. Now that Nightwish have signed a major record deal with Roadrunner Records, you will see the group add more urban and rap influences to their music. FACT or FICTION?

EC - Oh most definitely a FACT! Now with Roadrunner signing the BIG checks they will start throwing down some commands to the group. With the success of Evanescence and their occasional hip-hop delivery, Roadrunner won't miss a chance to hop on the next trend. Nightwish, bouncing at an opera house near you!

Ken - FICTION: No way on Earth will this happen. I would rather see Nightwish
break-up and join different groups in Finland than to hear Marco rapping
while Tarja yelps like Beyonce behind it. American "nu-metal" has little
influence in the Europe sound, thankfully.

Nailer - FICTION What's gonna happen is that with their increasing popularity, Tarja will overtake Lacuna Coil's Christina Scabbia as the Hot Metal Chick of the Month in America. Fred Durst will take notice and send a limo full of roses to pick her up for a date at Katz's Delicatessen. Over some corned beef, she'll tire of his game and leave him empty-handed. He'll sit wondering who he should brag to first about getting in her pantsuit.

Sarah - FICTION Nightwish will stay the same, well they should the following, at least me as a following enjoy them they way they are and it would be disappointing if they changed who and what they are.

Vinaya - FICTION Or at least it damn well better be! I can't see any need or motive for the band to do that, but, then, it's Roadrunner Records, and they haven;t exactly had a stellar record for integrity in recent year, IMHO.


4. Paradise Lost's new record will be the heaviest album they have recorded in the last 10 years. FACT or FICTION?

EC - FICTION! Nick Holmes and the boys hate heavy metal and have openly admitted it to the press numerous times. Recently I saw their DVD footage and the band look like N 'Sync. N' Sync ain't heavy, and neither are Paradise Lost.

Nailer - The FACT is that it will be the heaviest album of all time cause they're using lead for the master...that wasn't funny.

Sarah - FACT we can only hope. We need a good dose of heavy right about now in the world of happy songs.


5. If Queensryche does "Operation Mindcrime II", it will surpass the success of the original. FACT or FICTION?

EC - FICTION. I think it will be a damn good seller, simply because the old fans will want to know who killed Sister Mary. But many folks, much like myself, simply don't care about this band anymore. Queensryche have thrown their fans to the wolves, and destroyed their core audience, so there is no chance people will be happy to jump on board this.

Ken - FUCKTION (not a misspelling): No way can they achieve the success of
Mindcrime. Let's hope this CD is at least better than Q2K and Tribe. Each
being moderately plausible material from this more than capable of better
band. Let's also hope for a better DVD than "Art Of Live"

Nailer - FICTION For one, the socio-cultural environment that OM was written in was very different in that there was a lot of criticism towards the Reagan Administration.
Sarah - FICTION you can't out do one great success with another with the same title. I just don’t see it happening.


6. If and when a Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame is created, Black Sabbath will be the first inductee. FACT or FICTION?

EC - FACT. They created the genre so they should be the first to go. End of story.

Ken - FICTION: I don't see the creation of such an entity. The true fans show
continued support of their artists and accolades such as this "Hall of Fame"
hold no sway over them. We buy what we like, and we like what we buy.

Nailer - FACT is that they should be, but if it is created by somebody other than metal lovers, it will probably go to The Who or Uriah Heep.

Sarah - FACT They did a lot for the world of heavy metal and created the vibe of music that is still felt and heard today. I would like to see them at the first inductee.

Vinaya - FACT Or if it isn't, then they should be one of the first inductees. Maybe a simultaneous induction of several bands, i.e. Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, etc.


7. Lars Ulrich says that there are "35 other songs that are sitting in a vault somewhere" from the St. Anger sessions. You know you want to hear those songs...FACT or FICTION?

EC - Hmmm....having each pubic hair on my sack slowly jerked out, or hearing 35 more songs from "St. Anger"....it is FICTION that I would want to hear 35 more tracks....OUCH!

Ken - FACT: Metallica will release these songs unfortunately. How long has it
been since Metallica stopped being cool? Also when will Lars take to the
streets against the next download site?

Nailer - FICTION I'd rather dose on homemade acid and dive headfirst into a wood-chipper with a set of jumper cables attached to my taint.

Sarah - I would have to say FICTION. I didn’t care for St. Anger. They say it's going back to the way it was with Kill em all, and I don’t see it or feel it for that matter, and if those 35 songs hiding somewhere stay hidden, I really would not miss them.

Vinaya - FICTION If they got rejected from St. Anger, I really can't see any reason to shell out hard-earned money for those, but then again, I've never been a die-hard Metallica fan anyway.


8. Since, former SKID ROW singer's new VH1 reality show, "I Married Sebastian Bach", was the top-rated show on VH1 the day it premiered, you will see other 80's celebs like Blackie Lawless, Kevin Dubrow, Jani Lane, Bret Michaels and Dee Snider try to jump on the TV reality wagon. FACT or FICTION?

EC - FACT. I don't know about the other ones, simply because no one remembers them, but Bret Michaels or Dee Snider have a real shot at it.

Ken - FACT: Perhaps Dee Snider since he has an interesting life, as does Blackie
Lawless. I cant see anyone else gathering a more than small audience.

Nailer - FACT is that VH1 will corner the market on these guys with one show based on the adventures of Dave Mustaine OD'ing on heroin at the Quiet Riot Metal Health Clinic as David "Emergency Specialist" Lee Roth tries to revive him weekly so he can watch Don Dokken and George Lynch fight over who will get to smoke pot with Steven Pearcy and sing Country songs with Bret Michaels.

Sarah - FICTION at least I hope so, as much as I love and adore these men, I just don’t see Bret Michaels on a reality show, and Blackie, he needs to stay hidden, it's rather peaceful without him taking the spotlight. “I married..." was good and interesting but I don’t see the boys doing that. What is Jani going to do? And Bret Michaels, can he have a reality show that destroys Poison again, like he did when he first kicked Mr. Deville out.

Vinaya - FACT At least partially factual. Actually, I can't really see Dubrow doing it, but definitely Snyder and possibly Lawless and the others (although Blackie's codpiece might be deemed too racy for the ultra-PC, candy-coated VH-1). Snyder would almost definitely jump at it, though. he seems to love controversy and media attention.