Music News Headline Answers With Slumlord Radio's
Tommy Erickson
December 11th, 2019
Metal Pulp And Paper: Thank you 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. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it.
Tommy Erickson: Our band is called Slumlord Radio, we are a dirty/gnarly/dive playing/high energy rock band out of Grand Rapids, MI. We have a new single coming out on White Elephant Records called "Gonna Be Riot." The song will also be featured on a vinyl split with our Detroit buddies Red Stone Souls which will be issued on Silver Maple Kill Records in December.
MPAP: So, just in case the reader is 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?
Tommy: Hmm, yeah man, you probably should know a little bit of a background on the band, who’s shirt you are wearing, hell at least a song or two. I guess to look on the bright side, I’ve seen a few celebs sporting vintage Exodus shirts, they might not care, but if it got someone to go check out them, and dig "Toxic Waltz," then that be a big plus.
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?
Tommy: Something unsuspected at a show? Well we were playing a show in Detroit, they had one of the hook suspensions acts. It was super high up and the gal was like 8ft. off the ground swinging... the cable snapped with the hooks in her back, and she went flying to the concrete. It was a super hard fall, luckily, she was alright.
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?
Tommy: Not sure why the snub, then again Metal always does seem to get the raw deal on those massive events. But I could see the day where some big generational metal/hard rock band like Metallica or G N' R gets the nod. Hell, they play clips from their songs at almost every major sporting event it seems like.
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?
Tommy: Man, it depends on what headspace you are in to begin with. Sometimes I think it can help access the creative networking within your brain. Then again, it depends on the starting point, it may just stall you out.
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?
Tommy: Randy Rhoads, the guy had such unworldly talent. It was a real shame how he died so young. It’d been very interesting to see where he would have went with his playing whether it was still with Ozzy or something else.
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?
Tommy: Oh hell, of course! Man, there are still plenty of 'checks in the mail' we are waiting for from promoters. I’m sure they’ll be arriving any day now...
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.
Tommy: Michigan band that had a music video in which a girl gang robbed stores, explosions happened, a shootout, and a guitar solo in a moving van all took place? What is Slumlord Radio.
8. Oops! Stadium Accidentally Leaves Ramstein Song Blasting All Night, Annoying Neighbor
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?
Tommy: I’m pretty laid back, so it takes a bit to annoy me. I guess people just being disrespectful to other people for no reason.
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?
Tommy: Eh, I wish people would put the phones away and live more in the moment. I get it though; they want something to remember it by. I guess if they paid for the ticket and aren’t hurting anyone they shouldn’t be tossed out. But it’s definitely annoying all those phones in the air...
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?
Tommy: Well, knock on wood, had very good luck with not having stuff ripped off. I guess just always having someone keeping a good eye on the equipment. Parking in well-lit areas, etc. It always sucks when you hear of that happening to bands. I’m glad to see that now with social media, a lot of people share it, when it unfortunately does happen. That’s the only positive thing is to see the network of folks on the lookout to help recover it and wanting to help those bands.
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?
Tommy: Oh yeah, at Deer Creek and DTE in Michigan, for Ozzfest and Metallica. People ripping up the sod on the hill. It was crazy, like the sheer amount of dirt flying, like the sky was clouded from it. Then it’s all in your hair and mouth the rest of the day. Like a wild amount flying, they threatened to shut it down, but really couldn’t without a riot busting loose, possibly?
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?
Tommy: That’d be sweet, shut the street down, jam out. People jumping bikes over flaming buses Evel Knievel style. Some time traveling machine or something, just wild.
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?
Tommy: ExtraordinariusTommyGunz.
MPAP: Those are some great answers. On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Tommy, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions. We look forward to what your band, Slumlord Radio, does to finish out 2019 and beyond.
Tommy Erickson
December 11th, 2019
Metal Pulp And Paper: Thank you 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. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it.
Tommy Erickson: Our band is called Slumlord Radio, we are a dirty/gnarly/dive playing/high energy rock band out of Grand Rapids, MI. We have a new single coming out on White Elephant Records called "Gonna Be Riot." The song will also be featured on a vinyl split with our Detroit buddies Red Stone Souls which will be issued on Silver Maple Kill Records in December.
MPAP: So, just in case the reader is 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?
Tommy: Hmm, yeah man, you probably should know a little bit of a background on the band, who’s shirt you are wearing, hell at least a song or two. I guess to look on the bright side, I’ve seen a few celebs sporting vintage Exodus shirts, they might not care, but if it got someone to go check out them, and dig "Toxic Waltz," then that be a big plus.
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?
Tommy: Something unsuspected at a show? Well we were playing a show in Detroit, they had one of the hook suspensions acts. It was super high up and the gal was like 8ft. off the ground swinging... the cable snapped with the hooks in her back, and she went flying to the concrete. It was a super hard fall, luckily, she was alright.
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?
Tommy: Not sure why the snub, then again Metal always does seem to get the raw deal on those massive events. But I could see the day where some big generational metal/hard rock band like Metallica or G N' R gets the nod. Hell, they play clips from their songs at almost every major sporting event it seems like.
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?
Tommy: Man, it depends on what headspace you are in to begin with. Sometimes I think it can help access the creative networking within your brain. Then again, it depends on the starting point, it may just stall you out.
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?
Tommy: Randy Rhoads, the guy had such unworldly talent. It was a real shame how he died so young. It’d been very interesting to see where he would have went with his playing whether it was still with Ozzy or something else.
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?
Tommy: Oh hell, of course! Man, there are still plenty of 'checks in the mail' we are waiting for from promoters. I’m sure they’ll be arriving any day now...
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.
Tommy: Michigan band that had a music video in which a girl gang robbed stores, explosions happened, a shootout, and a guitar solo in a moving van all took place? What is Slumlord Radio.
8. Oops! Stadium Accidentally Leaves Ramstein Song Blasting All Night, Annoying Neighbor
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?
Tommy: I’m pretty laid back, so it takes a bit to annoy me. I guess people just being disrespectful to other people for no reason.
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?
Tommy: Eh, I wish people would put the phones away and live more in the moment. I get it though; they want something to remember it by. I guess if they paid for the ticket and aren’t hurting anyone they shouldn’t be tossed out. But it’s definitely annoying all those phones in the air...
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?
Tommy: Well, knock on wood, had very good luck with not having stuff ripped off. I guess just always having someone keeping a good eye on the equipment. Parking in well-lit areas, etc. It always sucks when you hear of that happening to bands. I’m glad to see that now with social media, a lot of people share it, when it unfortunately does happen. That’s the only positive thing is to see the network of folks on the lookout to help recover it and wanting to help those bands.
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?
Tommy: Oh yeah, at Deer Creek and DTE in Michigan, for Ozzfest and Metallica. People ripping up the sod on the hill. It was crazy, like the sheer amount of dirt flying, like the sky was clouded from it. Then it’s all in your hair and mouth the rest of the day. Like a wild amount flying, they threatened to shut it down, but really couldn’t without a riot busting loose, possibly?
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?
Tommy: That’d be sweet, shut the street down, jam out. People jumping bikes over flaming buses Evel Knievel style. Some time traveling machine or something, just wild.
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?
Tommy: ExtraordinariusTommyGunz.
MPAP: Those are some great answers. On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Tommy, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions. We look forward to what your band, Slumlord Radio, does to finish out 2019 and beyond.
OTHER HEADLINES
HAIL SAGAN
CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC
LOLA BLACK
BLIND IVY
THE MENTORS
ASCENDING FROM ASHES
RECENT INTERVIEWS
CONFLICT
TOOTHGRINDER
THE WHITE SWAN
ALBUM REVIEWS
TOOL/ FEAR INOLULUM
ANTHRAX/ FOR ALL KINGS
SURGICAL METH MACHINE
LIVE REVIEWS
GHOST/ 09-16-19
CLUTCH/ 10-09-18
SLAYER/ 08-23-18
VIDEOS
SESAME STREET
CARMAX COMMERCIAL
STATE FARM COMMERCIAL
Copyright © 2016-2020 metalpulpandpaper.com. All Rights Reserved.