It is about halfway into year 2021 and it still feels like March 2020. Having said that, a lot of things happened in the first half of 2021. Unfortunately due to many contributing factors, I haven’t been making any journal entries for almost the whole six months.
I would like to focus on one thing this time, and that is Music.
Two newly released records that I bought in June are:
Mammoth WVH is Wolfgang Van Halen’s debut album, which is written and perform by himself. It is a solid offering from this one man band who happened to share the famous last name with the legendary Edward Van Halen. Wolfgang Van Halen was previously known as the bass player from the last incarnation of Van Halen, the band. He is also the son of Edward Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli; talk about pressure to be more than ordinary. For some reasons I expected Wolfgang Van Halen to name his project “Mammoth Wolf”, a nod to his father’s legacy and his nickname. Mammoth WVH will be opening for Guns N’ Roses this Summer 2021 and playing a few headline shows.
On to Helloween self-titled album which features both Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske for the first time in decades, alongside the latest stable line-up of the band: Andi Deris, Sascha Gerstner, Dani Löble, Markus Grosskopf, and Michael Weikath. Seven band members in the seventh incarnation of Helloween. I call it Helloween mark VII. The record of this reunited and expanded Helloween is as exciting and nostalgic for the fans. It is not a remake of Keeper of the Seven Keys records. It is a representation of what the band is today. Setting aside the egos, Helloween is one of the best example of band reunion. I’m really wanting to hear their next record already.
What else? Oh, Anthrax will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary this July 16 with a streaming event. I’ve got my “ticket” for the event already.
Okay, I’ll save whatever I want to write for tomorrow.
The show might have been dubbed as The Big 4, but there jam should have been called The Big 5. At Yankees Stadium in Bronx, members of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax and Exodus performed “Overkill”, a Motorhead’s classic. Yes, Exodus member Gary Holt who is filling in for Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman was on stage jamming with the other 4 bands. At the end of the song, Dave Lombardo and Charlie Benante took turns on the drums. Note to Lars Ulrich, now that’s the proper way to play drum.
James Hetfield
Kirk Hammett
Rob Trujillo
Lars Ulrich
Kerry King
Dave Lombardo
Gary Holt
David Ellefson
Chris Broderick
Shawn Drover
Joey Belladona
Scott Ian
Rob Caggiano
Frank Bello
Charlie Benante
Not sure If I saw Dave Mustaine, Tom Araya or Jeff Hanneman.
p.s. I see my friend Willie Gee on stage again with The Big Four.
