Top 25 Frontmen

This won't be in any order I suppose. I just can't figure out who belongs where. Let me know if I miss anyone important.

Robert Plant
Dio
Bruce Dickinson
James Hetfield
Ozzy
Steven Tyler
Jim Morrison
David Lee Roth
Axl Rose
Alice Cooper
Layne Staley
Rob Halford
Iggy Pop
Lemmy
Phil Anselmo
Maynard James Keenan
Freddy Mercury
Mick Jagger
Chris Cornell
Eddie Vedder
Kurt Cobain
John Lenon
Bon Scott
Sabastian Bach
Gene Simmons


This list was based on both vocal ability and how entertaining they were.

What was I thinking?

I can't believe I missed him. After I published my top ten guitarists, I was informed that I didn't put Jimmy Page on it. Well I'm here to fix my mistake and add him. If you look at the list now you'll see he replaced someone.

A new album for Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden. Ring a bell? Well it should if you're a metal fan. And if you like the band then you'll love to hear that they are coming out with a new album, and should be done with it by 2010. As always the band will be going on tour for the new CD. This will be number fifteen for the band. They're latest album "A Matter of Life or Death" was released in 2006 and got a lot of good reviews. When it comes to pressure guitarist Adrin Smith says, "There's always a bit of pressure to follow up the last album, in a way it's good because it motivates you.
"We never get complacent; we always try our best for our own sake as much as anything else. As far as pressure for another album, we just do what we do - we've been doing it long enough now, we know what we're doing."

I havn't always been a huge Iron Maiden fan, but I do recognize them for who and what they are. They've been around for a long time, and it doesn't look like they're slowing down anytime soon. As far as seeing them in concert well, I imagine that it would be a really good show. Just to see Eddie (If they still use him) would be cool.

Top Ten Guitarists

This list for me is very difficult. being a guitarist myself, I was inspired by many, but there are still a lot more that deserve recognition. I also don't want to put someone in the wrong place just for inpirational reasons, but whatever. This is the top ten list of guitarists.

10. Tom Morello-Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave

A good guitar player. Can make the guitar sound like anything but a guitar. Uses a lot of effects and a kill switch.

9. David Gilmour-Pink Floyd

He was a replacement guitarist, and really showed everyone what he was capable of. He shows a lot of passion, and his solos are very haunting.

8. Angus Young-AC/DC

Another good guitarist, but a little bit over-rated in my eyes.

7. Jimmy Page-Led Zeppelin

The guy I forgot. An amazing guitarist, the only reason he's number seven is because he's more hard rock than metal. He'd be top three in the hard rock version.

6. Tony Iommi-Back Sabbath

An amazing metal guitar player. He created so many metal riffs, amd inspired a lot of people to play.

5. Eddie Van Halen-Van Halen

Famous for the legendary solo, Eruption, there is no doubt that Eddie can play, and play well.

4. Dimebag Darrell-Pantera

An extraordinary guitarist. One of the fastest of all time and very heavy metal. Died much to early. Could've been capable of so much more.

3. Kirk Hammett-Metallica

My personal favorite of all time, even though he isn't the best. Kirk and Metallica revolutionized thrash metal. Hammett puts so much passion into it as well. He's not one of those guys that's like "Look at me I can play really fast!" he has true talent, and that isn't just speed.

2. Randy Rhodes-Ozzy

All I can say is wow. One of the best of all time, if not the best. Even though he only appeared on two Ozzy albums, Rhodes showed true talent and skill. A great writer, and a great soloist.

1. Jimi Hendrix

I know it seems like everone picks him, but it isn't just his playing that gets him here, it's what he did. he was unlike anything anyone had ever seen or heard. The first to do many things such as play with his teeth.

If you have anyone else that deserves to be hear please tell me.

Top Ten Drummers Continued

Alright, so I got some feed back from a few people on who to put on the list of top ten drummers, and it helped a little so here goes nothing.



10. Travis Barker-Blink 182


9. Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan-Avenged Sevenfold


8. Alex Van Halen-Van Halen


7. Tommy Aldridge-Ozzy


6. Dave Lombardo-Slayer


5. John Bonham-Led Zeppelin


4. Keith Moon-The Who


3. Danny Carey-Tool


2. Lars Ulrich-Metallica


1.Neil Peart-Rush

So there's my list of top drummers. If you have anything else to add you can comment.

Top Ten Drummers?

Well I need your help, whoever you may be. I'm having some difficulty deciding who would fit in the top ten drummers of all time. So if you have any suggestions or have compiled your own list then please comment. Thanks!

Top ten Bassists

I'm sure bass players are tired of guitarists getting the credit for everything so I've decide to show my respect for the bassist with a top ten list starting with...

10. Cliff Williams-AC/DC

9. Mike Dirnt-Green Day

8. Johnny Christ-Avenged Sevenfold

7. John Entwistle- The Who

6. Geddy Lee- Rush

5. Les Claypool- Primus

4. Steve Harris- Iron Maiden

3. Paul D'Amour- Tool

2. Flea- Red Hot Chili Peppers

1. Cliff Burton-Metallica

Those are in order in my opinion, but I have to say that's not a bad list for someone who plays the guitar.

Would I go see Megadeth?

As a huge Metallica fan people may second guess if I am a fan of Megadeth. The ongoing battle between the two bands has left many people on either side of the feud. I lean towards the Metallica side but still enjoy some of the music that Dave Mustaine writes. As you may or may not have heard Megadeth will be on tour. No tour dates have been released yet but I hope that they do make a stop here in Iowa. I think I like enough of their songs to be able to enjoy myself there. Not to mention I think they'd put on a good show.

The point is this. I didn't get to see Metallica when they were in Moline. So I suppose the next best eighties thrash metal band would have to be Megadeth. The only thing that would be bad about them in concert would be Musaine's voice, but I could live with it. They have good songs, not great, but good. They have cool guitar riffs and solos, with Mustaine's very unique style so that would be awesome. And I love the song Peace sells.

The band will be coming out with a new album this year. Not so sure if I'll pick that up or not, but I'm sure I'll be hearing new songs on the radio sooner or later, but I am looking forward to the tour. The constant arguing between Metallica and Megadeth is getting way to old anyway.

The Nine come Home

And if you don't know who I mean by the nine then you're probably not from Iowa. Slipknot of course, and fan or not everyone living in Iowa knows who they are. Now they are on tour for their latest CD 'All Hope is Gone'. The band will be making a stop in Iowa, more than once I'm sure. And on one of those stops they'll be at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The concert is May 14th and I really want to go to it. They say that bands always put on their best shows at home so what better band to see than these guys in Iowa.

There are a total of nine, count em', nine members in Slipknot all with an important job to do. Sid Wilson-DJ, Joey Jordison-Drums, Paul Gray-Bass, Chris Fehn-Percussions, James Root-Rhythm Guitar, Craig Jones-Sampler/Synth, Shawn Crahan-Percussions, Mick Thomson-Lead Guitar, Corey Taylor-Vocals. They all have a number 0-8 in the order I have them. In most songs you'll find that three of the members don't even play an instrument. They typically put on a show for the crowd. Breaking things, fist fighting, etc.

I've heard a lot about the band and their live shows. I heard even if they aren't your first choice to go see them anyway, it's worth it. And with nine people up on stage in their home state of Iowa, how could it possibly be boring?

Alice In Chains: First Album in 14 Years

Alright we're talking about another nineties band...Alice In Chains! Ever since the legendary frontman Lane Staley died in 2002 the hasn't had much luck. But with new lead singer William Duvall the band will release a new CD in September. According to guitarist Jerry Cantrell the band finished recording the the album March 18. This is Cantrell's b-day, and the day that Duvall's son was born so good luck so far. Now they're mixing it, and preparing for release.

Alice in Chains was one of the most popular and successful band's from the nineties and sold over 14 million copies in the U.S. alone. They topped the charts twice, and had many hit-singles. Alice in Chains will also be one of many bands at the third annual Rock on the Range Festival alone side Slipknot, Motley Crue, and Avenged Sevenfold.

Pearl Jam: Ten

So as you might have heard by now, nineties grunge band Pearl Jam has re-released their debut album Ten. The CD features many popular songs by the band such as; Alive, Jeremy, Even Flo, and Black. They have also released a deluxe package that has the CD, a CD with all the unreleased material, and their MTV Unplugged performance on DVD. I only have one thing to say. Buy it. This is an amazing deal, especially if you're a Pearl Jam fan.

The new songs are all pretty much good. You may have heard one called Brother on the radio latley, so if you like that you'll like the other ones as well. I think the best part the release is the DVD. Some people might say that and acoustic sound wouldn't work for such a grungy band but you'd be suprised. Songs like 'Black' and 'State of Love and Trust' are still very entertaining, and Eddie Vedder is still one hell of a performer. And if you still don't believe this clean sound works just think back to the Nirvana Unplugged concert.

Pearl Jam will be touring this summer, with Vedder also taking a 14 day break in between to tour on his own.

Slash goes solo

Well this could be promising. Slash former guitarist for Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver is now recording his first solo ablum. Of course he'll be on guitar, but he has a solid line up for the other instruments. On drums Slash has Josh Freese (A perfect Circle and NIN), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) on bass, and Eric Valentine as producer. As for a singer Slash says he will have different singers for every song. Ozzy Osbourne and Fergie will be making apperances on the new album.

Well since a band with Axl Rose won't work out, why not try going solo right? But I don't think that he'll be nearly as successful as GNR, but maybe as successful as Velvet Revolver. This day in age Slash is a really well known guitarist. Since being featured in Guitar Hero III it seems that there isn't a single person that doesn't know who he is. Slash has been caught in the mainstream, and for him, this might be a good thing.

GnR and a new guitarist

So Guns N' Roses is getting a new guitarists named Dj Ashba. The name might sound familiar if you're a fan of Sixx a.m. and/or Motley Crue. He co-produced Saints of Los Angeles, and Heroin Diaries. Ashba says he's really looking foward to working with a band that he has long been a fan of. He also states that he is excited to work with Axl Rose, saying that he is one of the better frontmen of his generation and a true artist...hmm.

Axl maybe a great frontman, I won't lie he can sing. But I think that Ashba should maybe retthink who Axl Rose is as a person. I mean you've never heard any bad stories about his relationships with previous bandmates? Even if he is a great singer, this isn't Guns N' Roses anymore. Axl is the only original member! There's no Slash, no Izzy. How can you be excited to play in band that you've admired for so long...when there arn't even the same anymore. The GnR now and the GnR in the past sound completly different.

I don't know. Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. Maybe it will work out for Ashba and the rest of the band. It's not like Axl has ever ended a show for no reason, started a riot, blamed things on other people, sued a company, or beat his wife. So what do I know? Maybe this Dj guy should rethink his dission.

The end of Heartache

So as you know I recently went to the Music as a Weapon tour when it paid a visit to the Mcelroy Auditorium in Waterloo. The main reason I went was for the band Killswitch Engage. After the show I was blown away. I already had one of there albums before I went to the concert but I had to have more. So the next day I went out to Best Buy and purchased, The end of Heartache. This is the first album I ever listened to due to my cousin introducing the band to me. I really liked it but never got around to buying it for myself. Well, I'm glad I finally did.

The whole album is done really well. The vocals, as always, are good, the guitar riffs are amazing, and everything else just fits. The best songs on this album are definantly the title track and Breathe Life.

The title track, The end of Heartache is melodic but still has that hardcore/metalcore sound that Killswitch does so well. By far one of the best songs they've wrote. Another really good one is Breathe Life. A hardcore song with a melodic chorus, and a pretty sweet guitar solo which you don't get to hear a lot from a band like this. All in all this is a great album. It has won awards and has been cerified gold.

Killswitch Engage is the best metalcore band out there right now. They aren't too screamo and they sound original. I can't wait to get the new CD, which should be out pretty soon. Sometime this spring. They were awesome in concert, and I'd love to see them again.

Audioslave to Reunite

Adioslave is said to have a third album coming out soon. The band's career was short lived due to frontman, Chris Cornell quiting and going solo. Now they're back together and Cornell says he's a little bit nervous. But I suppose anyone in a band that has broken up before would be on edge about getting back together. The band played a recent show in Madison Square Garden, were they played a new song that was still untitled. Cornell even had to have a copy of the lyrics on stage just so he wouldn't forget them.

I for one like Audioslave. Maybe not as much as Soundgarden (Cornell's previous band) but Audioslave has some pretty good tracks. Not to mention they have Rage against the Machine's old guitarist Tom Morello.