Music News Headline Answers With Age Of Fire's
Greg Brown
December 3rd, 2019
Metal Pulp And Paper: Thank you, Greg, for taking the time to be a part of Metal Pulp And Paper’s 3rd installment of Recent Music News Headline Questions. Before we get started though, tell us a little about your band or what you do in the music industry. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it.
Greg Brown: Hey! My name is Greg Brown and I’m the guitar player and founding member of the metal band Age of Fire. I resurrected the band last year. The band was founded in the late 80s and played together until 93. We disbanded and followed other pursuits. Last year I remastered original recordings and released, and even released a disc with hired guns called Obsidian Dreams. The response was beyond expectations and we now have Michael Heck with the band playing bass, drums in the studio and recording duties, and Laura Viglione on vocals. We were signed to Sliptrick records over the summer and our newest disc Shades of Shadow will be out early next year. Here are links to our website and our Bandcamp page which includes our official first single off of the new disc called "King of Aquilonia." www.ageoffire.net ageoffire.bandcamp.com/
MPAP: So, just in case you or the reader are new to this, and to make sure everyone is on the same page on how this works, we’ve pulled some recent music news headlines from the Metal Injection website and turned them into questions and get your answers and reactions. We’ve been doing this for a couple of months now, with different headlines each time, and it has been fun to read everyone’s answers so far. So, once again, please place seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, hang on, here we go.
1. Real Housewife Wearing Metallica Shirt Asked To Name 3 Of Their Songs, She Cannot
MPAP: Some talk show, on the Bravo! channel had The Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard as a guest. She was wearing a Metallica’s Lady Liberty, ‘And Justice For All’ shirt, and a caller called into the show and asked the host of it if Candice could name three songs by Metallica. She pretty much had no clue who the band was, and obviously, she couldn’t name three songs by them either. Do you believe if you wear the band’s shirt, you should at least know maybe who the group is?
Greg: Can’t say I’ve ever watched the show but I wonder if that was done by 'wardrobe'. Personally, I couldn’t wear a band shirt for a band I didn’t know anything about. Like it or not, the brand Metallica is pop culture and known by millions, even if they don’t know anything besides "Sandman."
2. Mosh Pit & Wall Of Death Break Out During The Village People’s Set At Riot Fest
MPAP: You would have never really expected something like this too of happened now, would you? And to be honest, I didn’t know The Village People were still together and performing, but they are. That just shows you metal music fans can always have fun even if it is moshing to songs like "Y.M.C.A.," or "Macho Man" by The Village People at a music festival. Now, what is something you’ve seen happen while performing, or while at a show that you weren’t expecting to see or have occurred?
Greg: I didn’t hear or see this. It’s pretty funny, really. Moshing is a sign of appreciation, even though unexpected I’m sure at this show. Can’t imagine what security did. I remember seeing people mosh during Iron Maiden on The Final Frontier tour. I’ve seen Maiden many times, but never saw moshing.
3. Reminder: Metallica Will Never Play The Super Bowl
MPAP: Every year when the Super Bowl announces who is going to be their half time show, metal music fans are pissed off because it’s never a metal band or even a hard-rock band for that matter. For almost five years fans have wanted Metallica to host the Super Bowl halftime show. Fans also started a petition to get them to play at the 50th Super Bowl halftime show in 2015. Metallica would be an excellent choice to be a part of it, they’ve won Grammy awards, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and have toured just about everywhere in the World, and just recently they were named the World’s biggest touring act. What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think metal music is always going to get snubbed at the Super Bowl?
Greg: This absolutely blows me away. It makes no sense to me. They are huge and people would go nuts for it. Honestly, now they would be better off without it. They have nothing to prove. There is this crazy reaction when people hear the words 'heavy metal' in the states. It’s always been there. Ignorance. People still associate it with the devil, evil, and violence. Metal heads are some of the nicest people I know with the most loyal fans. There are always exceptions to any genre, but metal is still not socially acceptable in America as a whole. We haven’t even seen Van Halen play the Super Bowl with any singer. Mind numbing.
4. Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Doesn’t Believe Drugs & Alcohol Makes You Write Better Music
MPAP: What are your thoughts? Do you think drugs and alcohol bring out the creativity in a musician or can kill it?
Greg: I am not promoting drugs of any sort, but look at Hendrix or the Beatles. Obviously, there has been great music written under the influence. I think most musicians are introverts and turn to something to numb them to get the courage to perform. This can be a slippery slope of course. I’ve seen drugs wreck people for sure. I’m grateful I made it out of that period relatively unscathed.
5. Steel Panther Frontman: If I Could Bring One Musician Back From The Dead, It’d Be Motley Crue’s Vince Neil
MPAP: This headline started some mudslinging between both of the bands because obviously, Vince Neil isn’t dead; he’s just a bit overweight and can’t sing like he used to be able to do as he did in the 80s and 90s. I don’t see them ever going out on tour together anytime soon, but anyway, if you could bring any musician back from the dead, who would you choose, and why?
Greg: I’m going on 50, and don’t quite look like I did in my 20s, neither does Vince. I can still play, but damn, when I see videos of Vince singing with those subtitles, I’m in tears laughing so hard. I.m not sure what is going on there, and it seems to be on a few occasions, at least. If I can’t perform at a certain level I’m going to stop, or take a break and regroup. If I could bring back any musician who would it be? I would say Randy Rhoads. His flame was put out way too soon. Once in a while I listen to those first two solo Ozzy records and his playing still blows me away. His legato phrasing, knowledge of theory, tone, I could go on and on. He was a one of a kind, and complimented Ozzy so well.
6. Green Jelly Track Down Deadbeat Promoter And Get Paid
MPAP: A promoter stiffs Green Jelly after they performed at Old East 765 Bar & Grill in Canada, and vocalist Bill Manspeaker, as he states in his cellphone video made looking for Marcus the promoter, ‘I ain’t the guy to fuck with.’ So, the band tracks down the promoter and finds his home and demands the money owed to them. It’s funny to watch because at one-point Manspeaker is knocking on his door, saying, “Little pig, little pig, let me in.” In the end, Marcus ends up paying the band half of what money was owed to them, but at least he walked away with kneecaps still in place. So, has anything like this happened to you before, and would you do something like this?
Greg: Yup, I’ve been there. We were playing in Jersey one night and the club owner was going to stiff us. It was about to get ugly, and I think he saw our resolve and we got paid. It’s like the wild west sometimes on the road for sure.
7. Morbid Angel & Obituary Featured As An Answer On Jeopardy!
MPAP: Jeopardy has featured answers on other episodes about popular metal bands such as Megadeth, Rob Zombie, and Five Finger Death Punch, but never had any answers quite like this one. One of the writers on the hit television show has to be a metalhead for sure! So, in case you missed this episode, Alex Trebek said, 'Morbid Angel and Obituary are popular bands in this genre,' and contestant Dhruv Gaur answered with 'What is Death Metal.' Pretty cool when things like this are showing up on a popular television show. Now, if you or your band were to be mentioned on Jeopardy, what would the answer and question be? Let’s see how creative you are.
Greg: That is so awesome that happens. What would our Jeopardy answer be? Hmmm. What metal band that originated in South Florida in the 80s finally got signed in 2019 after taking a 25 year break... Age of Fire.
8. Oops! Stadium Accidentally Leaves Ramstein Song Blasting All Night, Annoying Neighbors
MPAP: Someone at Budapest’s Puksas Arena just happened to leave the sound system on blasting the song "Deutschland" all night long, over and over. It’s an open-air stadium that’s under construction, so the loud music bothered all that lived nearby. That worker should have had a bigger playlist than just the one song; maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad then, right? So, since the subject of the headline is about something that annoyed people, let’s find out from you; what annoys you, whether it’s out on the road, at a show, in the recording studio, or even when you’re at home, what annoy's you the most?
Greg: I think what annoys me most is some of these techno pop sounds, its’ like they get into my spine and start pulling in different directions, or vocal vibrato effects through a machine, makes me sea sick.
9. Tool Threatening To Eject Fans From Shows If They’re Caught Using Their Phones
MPAP: Once again, cellphone use at concerts makes the headlines. If you don’t remember, but a couple of years ago during a performance of Maynard’s other band A Perfect Circle, 60 people were kicked out for filming the show with their phones. And even Jack White (The White Stripes) has a no cell phone policy at his shows. So, what’s your take on it? Are cellphones that much of a distraction to where the fan should be kicked out? Do fans need to watch the show instead of looking at their phones? Does it even matter since they paid for their ticket already?
Greg: It’s such a strange sight to be on stage and you look out trying to get people’s reactions and connect with them and you’re looking into a sea of phones. I don’t think I could throw out a fan, probably call them out. Sometimes as a fan, it’s hard to see the artist because you’re behind all these people holding up phones, which really sucks.
10. Windhand Robbed In Houston, Posts List Of Stolen Gear & Belongings
MPAP: This happens way too often, it seems. It’s hard enough to make a living being a musician, and then you have a douchebag, or douchebags, break into your trailer or van and steal all your stuff while you’re out on the road. So, when you are out on tour, what extra precautions have you taken so that this hopefully doesn’t happen to you?
Greg: You really do have to be careful. We got robbed one night in Miami beach. We were watching one of the opening bands and someone had wire cutters and cut the chain link fence and got into the back stage area. Needless to say, we played a very angry set. I had to play on my backup guitar. All my effects were stolen and we were going to record the show live but the DAT tape was in case that was stolen.
11. Machine Head Show Paused, Partially Ruined After Fan Throws Beer On The Soundboard
MPAP: This happened at a show at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, England, and a fan, more like an asshole, threw a 32-ounce beer on the soundboard. After a 20-minute delay, Machine Head was able to finish the show, but not with the highest quality sound after that. First off, what a dick move to do something like that, almost ruining it for a sold-out crowd, and second, I’m sure soundboards aren't cheap, and third, who throws a 32-ounce full beer? I don’t know what beer costs there in London, but in the US, a beer that size would cost more than likely $30. So, what a waste to throw a beer. Anyways, has this ever happened to you where you saw something was thrown from the crowd, and it abruptly stopped the show for a while, and what happened?
Greg: What the hell? What would make someone do something like that? When I’m at a show, I’m so happy to be there. Taking it all in, the sights the sounds. I can’t even imagine. I’ve never been in a situation where we had to stop the show like that. I’d be pretty pissed as the artist or the fan.
12. Australia To Shut Down Highway For AC/DC Tribute Bands In 2020
MPAP: How cool is this? On February 19th, 2020, marks the 40th anniversary of vocalist Bon Scott’s death, and the city of Perth is celebrating by shutting down six miles of the Canning Highway to celebrate so AC/DC tribute bands playing live on slow-moving trailers can drive through like a festival parade. In your hometown, what would you like the city to shut down for you or your band so everyone can celebrate?
Greg: I still credit Angus for me wanting to play guitar. They deserve it. If it was me, maybe the old mall where we used to hang out, although I think its not even a mall anymore. I love to do a gig on one of our old South Florida beach hangouts. Maybe Pompano, Fort Lauderdale or Miami. That would be a blast. Close off A1A and just have a party.
13. Brazilian Researcher Names New Spider Species After Iron Maiden, Scorpions, & Angra Members
MPAP: Christina Rheims is a researcher in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and recently discovered four new spider species and happens to be a big fan of heavy metal music. Can’t get any better than that. She named the four new species Extraordinarius bruceickinsoni, Extraordinarius klausmeinei, Extraordinarius rickalleni and Extraordinarius andrematosi, after Iron Maiden's vocalist Bruce Dickinson, Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine, Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen, and Angra's vocalist Andre Matos. If she happens to find another species of spiders and you’re next in line to be named after, what would you wanted the spider’s scientific name to be?
Greg: Maybe named after the first single off our next disc "King of Aquilonia." Extraordinarius Aquilonious. That track is such a culmination of what I love in a song and it really came together in the studio.
MPAP: Those are some great answers. On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Greg, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions. We look forward to what your band, Age of Fire, does to finish out 2019 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans out there?
Greg: As far as any last words, look for Age of Fire on Facebook, via our website Ageoffire.net, or on a stage near you. 2020 is planning on being a pretty epic year for us, playing festivals and the release of our newest disc Shades of Shadow on Sliptrick Records. We are very psyched to get this out to the public and into people’s hands and ears. Send us an email or message, we’d love to hear from you!
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