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. After the terrible tragedy of Dimebag Darrel's death, Phil Anselmo will go into seclusion for the next two years. No interviews, no emails, and no new music.

1Evil1 - FACT: Phil is going to feel bad for all his trash talking with his ex-bandmates and the break up of Pantera therefore leading him into a life of seclusion. He will take the next 2 years off if not completely give up music. This will be a major set back for Phil because he never got to make admends with his former partners.

EC - It would take something this big for Phil to close his big mouth. The man is constantly yapping about something or someone but in this case I believe he understands what a tremendous loss the entire metal world has taken. I think it is a FACT that Phil will go into seclusion for two years.

Jonah Blaze - FACT No disrespect to Dimebag but thankfully this will put Anselmo into seclusion. This might do him some good and bring him back down to earth. You are too high to fly Phil, and no one understands you anymore, take a look inside brother.

Nailer - FICTION I can see anybody wanting to isolate for a while, but there would also be a need to vent and rage, so 2 years seems too long. I can see him popping up for a club show in a year or so with a LOT to say.

Psycho Sarah - FICTION: Phil Anselmo will continue making music, in honor of Dimebag. He will keep Dimebag’s memory alive.

Vinaya - FICTION. Not happening, at least if he wants the dinero to keep rolling in! You can't be a complete recluse and be successful in the music industry. Phil is a bit of a loose cannon, so there is a possibility of him getting a bit flakey, but not for long, lest he be released from his recording contract prematurely.

2. 2005 will be the year hardcore and death metal take a backseat to power metal and hard rock.

1Evil1 - FICTION: Metalcore, Hardcore, and all the other core crap is going to continue taking over 2005. Hard Rock will make a strong comeback but still have to take a backseat. The metal genre will still have strong releases throughout 2005 but not have the rising impact as what is popular so to speak.

EC - I think it will be another year of hardcore and death metal. 98% of all new bands are death metal simply because it is so easy to play. The new Motley Crue tour should help the hard rockers out some, but unfortunately it is FICTION to think power metal or hard rock will dominate the trends.

Jonah Blaze - FICTION Hair metal fans have been waiting for this since 99 when portrait signed Ratt, Great White and others, and since Poison has been touring every summer with a usual cast of 80's has beens. Only the summer will give us the answer, and of course if MTV and radio play along, I mean come on, who wouldnt want a Jackyl comeback?!

Nailer - FICTION Maybe there could be more of a return to the classic power metal sound of Dio and and Maiden caused by a Preist jumpstart, but the Euro-style is as played out as a Poison groupie. The NWOAHM will continue to dominate 2005 as more b-level Killswitch Egage Jrs. enter the field.

Psycho Sarah - FICTION In 2005 Metal of all kinds, be it hardcore, death, power or hard rock, will coincide, get along and create a stronger and more powerful Metal World.

Vinaya - Yeah, don't I wish! FICTION. As much as I love those forms of music, I'll believe this one when the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival has the "Hardcore" dropped from it's name and books Pride Of Lions and DragonForce as the headline acts! That'll be the day!

3. After taking a break Van Halen will enter the studio to record a new record with Sammy Hagar.

1Evil1 - FACT: Hagar will go into the studio with Van Halen and record a new album and then be ousted and replaced by Diamond Dave who will be replaced by Jani Lane for the touring lineup. My question is does anyone still give a crap after what this band has done to its fanbase for the last 10 years? My answer NO.

EC - After losing his guitar gig with Peavey, Eddie may be looking at another means for profit. I think it is FACT that they will it the studio with Hagar this year.

Jonah Blaze - FACT However, the cd will only be released via the vanhalen website. The songs will not be what VanHagar fans are used to. And this will be the last collaboration of VanHagar. No tour will follow, the album will be viewed as the lost and last.

Nailer - None of them need any cash, but it never hurts to have some more. If Eddie isn't too wasted through 2005, it is FACT that they will do another record.

Psycho Sarah - FACT Van Halen will go into the studio and create a great album. Sammy will blow all other Van Halen albums away. His stunning vocals will shine through on this new album.

Vinaya - FACT. They probably will enter the studio with Sammy at some point. Whether they emerge with a new album and no black eyes among them any time soon is another question.

4. Megadeth mastermind Dave Mustaine was being sincere when he apologized to all of his ex-bandmates and managers following Dimebag's death. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FICTION: Dave has constantly apologized to people throughout the last several years and then he turns around and slams them, pure Mustaine! Take for example the amends with Lars and then he turns around and drills Lars a new asshole on MTV, CLASSIC! Of course you also have the whole Slayer thing to consider here too. Dave constantly tried to make amends with them and all they did is reem him. Then you have to figure his ex-bandmates start going for his money so now would be the perfect time for Mustaine to say 'Fuck You All' cause in some way everyone screws him over after he trys to make amends or become a better person. In the end if Mustaine got along with everyone it wouldn't be the same guy that everyone loves to hate.

EC - FICTION. Mustaine constantly contradicts himself and this is certainly not going to be any different. I'll give him six months to turn back to his old ways.

Jonah Blaze - FICTION This junkie couldnt feel his beating heart if i ripped it out of his chest and placed it in his reborn hands.

Nailer - I'm gonna give the nod to Dave and say that he is a different guy from a decade ago. I think it's a FACT in the name of Lord Jesus that he is sincere...but just for 2005.
Psycho Sarah - FICTION Dave Mustaine has been part of the business long enough, he knows how to make himself look good, even when he doesn’t mean it.

Vinaya - FICTION. He was sincere with some of them, but probably not completely sincere with all of them across the board. Which ones were sincere? We may never know, and maybe Dave doesn't even know for sure. I guess you could say he was "Almost Honest." Doh!

5. The current Megadeth tour will be the group's last performances on stage.

1Evil1 - FACT: Megadeth will be no more, therefore no more tours or albums released under that name. Dave will go solo will his current line up and create some interesting music. While on tour they will still acknowledge the Megadeth songs that got Dave where he is in the first place. The new album under the name of Mustaine will be called 'Im Sorry, Please Forgive Me...Fuck You!'.

EC - FICTION. Remember when Dave Mustaine gave up Megadeth and said he couldn't do it anymore. Now they are back and claiming that this tour will be the last. It is a money gimmick that will work. Megadeth and Mustaine will be back again for another album, another tour, and another trip to the bank.

Jonah Blaze - FICTION I wish, but Mustaine will trudge along as long as Metallica is out there. Would be nice to see the both of them on a farewell tour, but that would last as long as the Kiss farewell.

Nailer - FACT I think the guy is rejuvenated and just enjoys playing again after some health issues. Plus the good chart showing and sales of the last CD will keep the pressure on from the company. Mustaine=Megadeth

Psycho Sarah - FACT Megadeth stop touring? Dave Mustaine is more worried about himself, the band will disband after the tour due to Dave's thoughts about himself.

Vinaya - FICTION. I think there is always a possibility of at least a one-off gig in the future. Besides, Megadeth has changed members so many times, to the point where Dave is the only original guy left, that anything with him in it could pretty much be constituted as "megadeth."

6. Annihilator's Jeff Waters is the fastest picking guitarist in the world.

1Evil1 - FICTION: There is no proof although Waters is a damn good guitar player. What we need here is a good ole fashioned pick off! We will round up about 20 guitar players 10 of which will come from German thrash bands. The other 10 will consist of Canada's and U.S.'s best offerings including Mustaine and Waters. Then we will give them all banjos and make them play the theme from Deliverance, 'Squeel like a pig boy'. Oh yeah and then we will get that dickhead from American Idol to be the judge and we can make it a reality show.

EC - FICTION. I think that title is up in the air. Mustaine has always been fast, Waters has been fast, and those crazy Germans have always played their gear at light speed. I don't think he is the fastest picker. That could go to any dozen or more guys in the business at any given time.

Jonah Blaze - FICTION Jeff thinks he is fast? I got two words for him: Fast Eddie Clark baby!

Nailer - Can't say that I've heard much Annihilator, but there are plenty of super-shredders out there like Rusty Cooley and even some classic guys like Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth. The Fastest Picker in the World is somebody you'll never know. FICTION

Psycho Sarah - Jeff Waters is a great guitar player, however in my opinion, the great Kat is greater and is better looking.

Vinaya - FICTION. As good as he is, there are so many phenomenal guitarists in the world that it is impossible to say who is fastest. Also, I agree with Sarah about the Great Kat.

7. Motley Crue are doing a reunion tour simply out of greed. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: They need to raise alot of money to research the secret to Andre Toulon's reanimation serum to keep Mick Mars alive and able to move. They also have to pay for the remaking of Vince Neil and to find cures for all the unknown STD's Tommy is carrying.

EC - I would say at this point it is simply a FACT that they are doing this out of greed. No member of this band seems to care about their fans or metal in general. Now with medical bills, facelifts, assault charges, and divorces under their belt, the 'Crue may be up for a few dollars.

Jonah Blaze - FACT Of course people! Thats rock and roll! Fuck it, I will still grab a seat.

Nailer - FACT is that they have been immersed into celebritism for too long to be just interested in making great Crue records. I'm sure each guy will mail in his performance and move on to the next "reality-show-chicken-dance-bang-some-sluts" opportunity.

Psycho Sarah - Tommy as a rapper sucked. Vince’s solo work is okay. His VH1 stardom can only last so long, and can make you only so much money. By the way, what happened to Tommy going back to school. Wasn’t that supposed to be a reality show? The Brides of Destruction were okay, but not nearly as good as Nikki thought it would be. Since all of their side projects failed or didn’t do as well as they hoped. They weren’t as smart with their money like their guitar player, Mick Mars was. He doesn’t need the tour like the other 3 do. I say this is FACT. Motley Crue isn’t reuniting because of the music. They reunited, in my opinion, because 3 of the members are greedy. They aren’t worried about Mick's heath. But I do question why Mick agreed to the tour with him weighing so little unless he was and is also concerned about the money as well.

Vinaya - FACT. Why else would they drag Mick Mars out like this? Even though I enjoy their music, I always considered Mick the only serious player in the band. The other guys always seemed completely wrapped up in their "lifestyle," to the point where it seems like a whole new generation of kids probably know all about their personal lives, but can't name a single song off "Shout At The Devil."

8. Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum will create a reality show based off of his groupie experiences. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: The new show is called SCREW and will air late night on skinomax. SCREW is based on his life with groupies and has nothing to do with the band. When asked how the title SCREW came about Matt said it's an anagram for Sorum Can Rectally Entertain Women.

EC - FICTION. I don't know anyone that would be interested in this. Viewers at home would be turned off simply because he isn't well known and the suits and ties won't use him for this very reason.

Jonah Blaze - FACT Matt Sorum will pitch a show but the reality is that no one cares about you Matt. You are a great drummer, no bones about it, but to fans you are just a replacement killer and no one wants to even picture you naked dude.

Nailer - FICTION He may create one, but it will only exist on tape in the back of somebody's skanked-out closet of spandex, flies and empty Aquanet cans. He has something in his eyes that makes my 'gaydar' kick up when I see him though, so I don't know about all this.

Psycho Sarah - FICTION Matt Sorum has groupies?

Vinaya - FACT. He will try and create the show. But will the show make it past the censors and onto national TV? And if so, how long before the hypocrytically prudish FCC yanks it off the air?

9. 2005 will finally see Sebastian Bach reunite with Skid Row. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FICTION:As much as I would like to see this happen it won’t. The rest of group is washed up and can’t really find themselves as evident on the last release without Bach. They found a very talented vocalist and they were able to hold him back from producing good things for them. Really what was up with the horrible remake of ‘I remember you’. Damn shame if you ask me, hopefully Bach will return to his former glory with his new found band. As far as the reunion goes I don’t see Bach taking a step backwards for his career.

EC - I would say this is FICTION. Bach doesn't seem to care about those guys anymore and he has two projects in the works this year. I don't see a reunion anytime soon.

Jonah Blaze - FACT I really believe this will happen after they both realize the only way they can avoid suckin dick for crack is to reunite out of greed like everyone else does. And it will be quite successful, people will be surprised. But it wont be in time for a tour with Priest and that is too bad for the rock world.

Nailer - FICTION Bach and the other guys are too headstrong against each other. If he does join and do a record, it will be in a studio on the West Coast digitally sent to the other guys on the East Coast. They may even share a stage in the middle (St. Louis?) but the stage will be marked in "Do Not Cross" tape for each member.

Psycho Sarah - FICTION Sebastian Bach has started up with another band, so isn’t he and working an album with them? It would awesome to see Bach back with Skid Row, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

Vinaya - FICTION. The last interview I read with the Skids clearly indicated that the band was nowhere near interested in doing something like that.

10. Battle For Ozzfest Finalist Cynder (now known as CYN) will be a complete flop and will record one album before calling it quits. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: This whole show and the whole idea is a flop its nothing but rehashed shit that is already on TV except based on metal. Worst thing is it's just another thing making a once metal god look foolish but at least we still have his music. The only thing this might outsell is the Kelly Osbourne CD.

EC - No doubt about it. FACT baby! Nobody cares about these ass clowns. Yeah, they one a contest on a reality show. I give them one minute of fame and then they will head to the American Idol scrapheap with the rest of the jokers.

Jonah Blaze - FACT And oh yeah, who gives a shit?

Nailer - FACT Oddly enough that's one of the few reality shows I never watched; just never cared. I'll give him one CD with a big Osbourne push then another for the bargain bin.

Psycho Sarah - FACT Battle for Ozzfest is a joke, so if they flopped and stopped after one album it wouldn’t hurt the metal world one bit.

Vinaya - FACT. As a musician myself, I have noticed that a lot of young bands today only seem to be interested in pursuing a career in music to the extent that it will get them laid and/or make them boatloads of money. They seem to be on a temporary high that drives them to roll over everything that gets in their path... until they simply can't go any further, at which point the band members lose interest in the proceedings, and it all goes downhill from there. I don't know much about this particular band, but unfortunately, the industry in general is no longer geared toward band longevity at all. I'll believe in their staying power when I see it.

11. Nailer will say something interesting in 2005 and EC will write concise reviews. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - OR: I think we should have stopped with question 10. I don't even know the difference between the two. Do they even have any relevance with the metal community? I mean really we should keep these questions related to metal--porn stars are a whole other thing!!

EC - FACT. I think after two consistent years of serving the masses my reviews will be better than perfect. With every word, every drop of sweat, my reviews continue to push the edges of immortality. Soon I will take over the very world with my wisdom and knowledge of all things metal. I am more metal than Manowar baby, I am the Thunder On The Tundra, and I am here for my billions of adoring fans....Nailer who?

Jonah Blaze - FACT Nailer will finally come out of the closet as the former lead singer for Juliet and EC will finally admit that he runs a child slave labor camp to keep up with all of his reviews.

Nailer - FICTION There is there is always something interesting in Metal to write about. EC will find 150 CDs to write a 2000+ word essay on each song, scope out theories regarding the band's direction, and write plenty of cool phrases about their image. Then he's gonna do a Spotlight on them, interview them, put them in the Metal Spectrum and Affiliates page, talk about them in the forum, and email all of our record label contacts to try and get them signed. Then he'll get them booked for a gig with Avenue F and Supervillain in New York. Then he's gonna get their CDs stocked at The End, Sentinel Steel, and Metal Freakz. After that he'll email me 3 times a day to talk about their songs and the lead singer's piercing voice. In 10 years, he'll do a Where Are You about the band, a Rusted Metal piece on the album, try to buy the master tracks and put out a 7'' record on vinyl to everybody in Greece. That's for starters.

Psycho Sarah - This one is in two parts: NAILER: FACT. Nailer say something interesting? I would give this two weeks. I could make this a joke or I could be serious. Although for the most part he has got a lot of interesting thoughts. He is interesting. Isn’t everyone interesting? I think 2005 will be the year that Nailer blows us all away with his words of wisdom. EC: FACT I enjoy reading EC’s reviews and look forward to reading them, concise or not. His reviews this year will be better than ever... Look for it, it will happen

Vinaya - This may be hard to believe, but I dare say, FACT! Nailer already has said something very interesting (although he didn't take credit for it!) in "Our Response To A Dimebag Hater." As for EC, well... I can be a bit long-winded as well, so who am I to say he is incapable of brevity?