Chinese Destruction

I personally believe that Guns N' Roses' release history can be compared to Rockstar's most prominent Grand Theft Auto games.

“Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide”/”Lies” era is similar to Grand Theft Auto III. Everyone could tell something great was about to happen, but it hadn't quite occurred yet.

“Appetite” can be alikened to Vice City. The reception was fucking phenomenal. It was arguably at this point that both GN'R/G.T.A peaked.

The “Illusions” are San Andreas. It was a step in a different direction but it was unanimously loved.

The “Stories” editions provoked reactions of “The fuck?” and therefore this particular edition of G.T.A can be categorized with “The Spaghetti Incident?”.

IV was entirely different to prior G.T.A releases. It divided opinions in a similar way to “Chinese Democracy”. It was loved by the section by enjoyed it and abhorred by the section who didn't.

Another similarlity is that interest (in terms of both future G.T.A/GN'R releases) is presently at an all time low. However there are those who remain loyal to both respective concepts that are eager to see whether or not Axl/Rockstar will continue in the direction of IV or return to his/its “Appetite”/Vice City/maybe even San Andreas roots.

“Sweet Child” is at #7 in the UK rock charts. http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10rocksongs.html Should we (the UK fans) formally thank Axl Rose/Guns N' Roses for the amazing World Tour/”Chinese Democracy” and at the same time apologize for the antics of some (whilst they were in the UK) by throwing our weight behind the track and getting it to number one?

I think this is the best opportunity we've had in quite some time to reaffirm our support for Axl Roses/GN'R by doing something special.

The campaign could be run in conjunction with the “Bernadette” initiative. Both schemes will compliment one another.

This really won't make a "statement". But I bought it to support ron and it is a great tune

There are multiple statements that can be made from people engaging in this campaign.

For example: “I support Ron Thal (be it because of his solo contributions or otherwise) so I'm going to purchase his new cover song”. This initiative is a good way of conveying the fans' thanks for his endless efforts (in terms of both solo related stuff and Guns).

It's making a statement of unconditional support and thanks. And it also offers the wider public (non-hardcore fanbase) an opportunity to opt for a real musician as opposed to a commercialized “pop star” who has their songs written for them, and has their fans satisfied through numerous hired peoples specifically for the latter purpose etc. etc. etc.

You honestly think a few hundred (and that's if you're lucky) people buying a single on iTunes is going to get it onto ANY chart?

On topic, I love Ron, but this ain't happening. More hope waiting for the next GNR single and buying that.

The objective is to get as many people as possible to go and buy “Bernadette”. Because they're a fan of Ron's solo work, or because they're a fan of GN'R , because they're a fan of the non-mainstream or possibly even because they want a mechanism to protest with.

The idea is to tap into as many markets as possible and get a spark going. Sure it seems like an impossible feat (and it could well be), but it's worth a shot. And even if “Bernadette” doesn't get into the charts, a vast increase in sales will still be making a legitimate statement.

If I had money on my paypal I'd buy it from BBF's site, but not itunes.

Yeah but this isn't about financing iTunes. It's a one off campaign to put a real musician in what's supposed to be a musically orientated chart. If the mechanism to buy “Bernadette” on Ron's site had a well regarded chart (which I don't believe is the case), then I presume the attention would be focused there.

well i'd support this but i don't use the itunes store

That's okay dude. You can support the initiative simply by speading the idea to as many quarters as possible.

Obviously buying the track via iTunes is the most advised option to help out but there's others ways.

is the song even on itunes

Yeah. There's a link to the song in the tweets.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/89au0r

When I had a look at the iTunes song chart today I was greeted by names such as Bruno Mars, (Puff Daddy's latest synonym) “Diddy” and Britney Spears.

I concluded that the dire state of mainsteam music is cringeworthy.

Then I pondered to myself, how could we, as fans of Guns N' Roses, deliver a huge “Fuck you” to what is percieved be “normal” music?

At this point it dawned on me. GN'R guitarist and champion of the non-mainstream Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal recently released a cover of the Four Tops Motown classic “Bernadette”.

“What a perfect mechanism to signal our frustrations at what is deemed okay to listen to!” I thought.

I firmly believe that if we all buy Ron's single and position him in the charts (as high as possible obviously) then we will accurately represent the minority who opt to favour composition which isn't fortunate enough to be plastered on every nook and cranny of society.

Not only that but we'll be helping a genuinely nice guy (who is also arguably one of the best technical guitarists in the world) become liberated from the supressions of modern day “music”.

Who's with me?

* http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bernadette-single/id415822662 *

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/89b8mt

Ever wondered how you could thank (implicitly) Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal for personally greeting you before or after a Guns N' Roses gig? Ever thought “just how could I help this guy whose went out of his way to ensure my satisfaction”?

Ever felt like you need to make a statement about the condition of popular music?

Ever wanted to become involved in a legitimate campaign to put real musicians before Disney sponsored wannabes?

If you are edging (even remotely) towards a “yes” on any of the above then I would implore thee to get involved in our initiative and help make something special happen.

#BuyBernadette

* http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bernadette-single/id415822662 *

I support it. Primaily because of Thal's genuine regard for his fans as well as his very good musical efforts (particularly with this cover). I think the statement being made (aside from the Guns side of it all) is pretty cool also.

Also seeing Axl play guitar on madagascar was awesome!!

Eh, playing? What exactly did his “playing” on “Madagascar” at Rio 2001 enhance? Did his guitar even make a sound? To me it made him look incredibly awkward and I sort of cringed to be honest.

I think that Axl believed if he marketed Guns as something radically different (with Axl doing guitars the odd time, a guy raised by chickens wearing a KFC bucket doing leads, a goth guy complimenting the nun chunks guy, a tranny like stripper doings synths.) he could legitimize the project as “new” Guns N' Roses.

However as history has proven the people just wanted continuity with the new guys rather than something to distinguish them.

The band was awesome in 2002. Axl's voice is what let people down. I'd trade the current lineup for the Buckethead one in a second.

Exactly, that band was awesome in 2002 (and I agree by the way, they were mindblowing). But was it Guns N' Roses? Absolutely not.

I might say... I prefer Buckethead over Dj, or even Robin over Ron (which I don't), but the reality is that Bucket/Finck were not visually or playing wise GN'R guitarists.

Bucket is techinically unbelievable. But are a KFC bucket and nunchunks Guns N' Roses? Nah. Is a six minute solo filled with technical prowess and freestyle dancing GN'R? Nah.

The objective should be to sell Guns as a legitimate project (which is a plausbile continuation of the old guys). A guy “raised by chickens” and a goth guy who fucks up “Sweet Child” and nearly every other old track with slop is not the way to go about the latter.

Dj may not be the most technically gifted, but he plays the material the way it is supposed to be played and his look is acceptable. Ron is a guitar maestro, and both his style and image are more than compatible with the GN'R concept.

So whilst I may prefer the 2002 line-up as a band, as Guns N' Roses, the 2010 incarnation is by far the most legitimate.

I love what I've heard so far (the thirty second snippet). Hope to secure myself the full version very shortly. Might get the stems also.

Oh boy can't wait I bet its called Night Rain or Welcome to The Florest

Wise up. Ron has never ripped off Guns material and never will (simply because he's too dignified and respectful). He has always maintained a very distinct line between GN'R and his solo stuff and there is no chance whatsover the two pieces which comprise his musical career will ever become even remotely intertwined.

If the next album sounded like the follow up to AFD it would be trashed more than CD

It doesn't have to be version II of any previous Guns N' Roses record! Just let the creative juices flow. Don't try and contrive the whole thing.

The present incarnation are capable of creating their own authentic album. As long as there aren't specifics paths outlined as desirable beforehand (like with “Chinese”).

Why is Everyone So Bothered about "mainstream Audience" or whatever. I don't know about you But I'll take "Amazing" over "Mainstream. I get that you think the Current band are capable of maybe both, but, I really want to hear another record from those sessions before we get a newly recorded Record.

Because whilst I love the Chinese stuff I am mature enough to realize that another record of that stuff could potentially kill off any remaining mainstream credibility the band have.

Although I think the direction (almost Nine Inch Nails like) Guns went in with Chinese the fact is Guns have always been a mainstream pleasing concept and Axl trying to sell Guns to the mass public as anything else won't/and hasn't worked.

I don't know about you but the hate that comes with Guns touring behind Chinese makes me uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable. It would be so nice for the current incarnation to create an album that they can tour behind which is representative of what the majority of people percieve Guns N' Roses to be (and is therefore to a degree supported). I firmly believe that the players involved currently could legitimize Axl Rose's edition of Guns N' Roses (as a respectable project) with what they could produce studio wise.

Leak Chinese for the people that want to hear it. Or include it as part of a fan edition of the new album. Axl may think he's got stuff on there (that are of course are undoubtedly ingenius in an inplicit sense) that will crack the music industry, but even though I haven't heard the rest of the Chinese stuff, I'm fairly confident the stuff on there will not impact like the likes of November Rain did. Not because the stuff isn't good (certainly not), but because it's dated.

It's hightime GN'R liberates itself from what it tried to be (Bucket/Robin) and embrace what it could be if it acknowledges its roots (Ron/Dj).

Speculation:

I doubt it will be called CDII. I bet a big proportion of the next album will contain songs what didn't make it on Chineses Democracy

Discussion

In Axls attempt to create the perfect album, he hired the talents of Buckethead, Robin Finck, and Brain. I bet Axl biggest dilemma for any future recordings, will be using BF, Frank, and Dj Ash in a studio situation.

Point one

It would be a total disaster for the next record to be even remotely associated with Chinese Democracy.

Don't get me wrong, Chinese Democracy is amazing. But material from that particular era is way too complex to be picked up by radio and become accepted by the mainstream audience.

Start afresh. Create an album natural to the current roster. Don't try and be something Guns simply aren't. Somebody hit the nail on the head when they said that 2010 was the year Axl Rose became resigned to the fact that GN'R are a hard rock outfit.

A hard rock record from the guys presently involved will be a success. I am very confident about that.

Two

I can't see why Axl would be unsure in terms of Ron's studio credentials (especially when his style is compatible with Guns' traditional sound). Dj is able (certainly in my opinion) to produce simplistic bluesy riffs which made GN'R famous in the first place. I think Brain will be the predominant drummer on any future album to be honest.

Isn't he releasing a cover song tommorow? I think he's got two covers he intends to release (one after the other) with a look to an EP of original material being put out there in the summertime.

I'm really excited about it. Ron's deploying some really cool initiatives to satisfy his fans (e.g social application and possibly even an interactive remixable edition of his summer release).

If only Guns would follow his lead...

I agree with you 100% but Axl has shown no desire or ability to record anything as quickly as you suggest so I am afraid I can't see it happening.

Also after getting burned with the tremendous cost of ChiDem I can't see the Label giving Axl carte blanche in the studio again with out major oversight. I doubt they will they will be willing to fund another endless recording effort..........

I think it's more to do with motivation/desire rather than ability. I firmly believe Axl is more than capable of getting a record out in two/three years if he wants to do it. I just think Axl grossly underestimates the potential of this band and I'm yet to see any evidence that he respects them as recording artists.

I maintain this incarnation could produce a pretty special rock record given the opportunity. It's just a question of whether or not Axl is prepared to can fourteen years of his life in favour of a largely unproven studio band.

I think the best we can hope for (in terms of material from the present incarnation) is 50/50 (e.g. 50% “Chinese” stuff with the remaining tracks coming from the new band). That way Axl can see if his remaining “gems” become hits (which they undoubtedly won't) and also he'll be able to test the waters with the current guys (assuming they haven't died/been fired/or resigned).

Yeah. Guns N' Roses will certainly be under strict limitations this time around in the studio. However I think it's been very apparent (through the touring) that the band have some degree of chemistry and could easily manifest this into the recording environment (I'm sure there've been label representatives doing some marketing research throughout the tour schedule in terms of whether or not there's a capacity for a new Guns album).

Axl has matured as a person (I personally think anyway) also. I really doubt he'd allow a studio project's time frame elapse its original scheduling to the ridiculous extent it did last time around.

Only problem with that is this: theres money to be made ..."theres gold in them thar songs.."

so whats to be done? Re-record them with the current band and hit the road ASAP.

There'd have been “gold” in those songs had they been released between 1999-2001. Right now (with exception to the hardcore fanbase) they're worth absolutely nothing (even though they're great (in the most complex way possible)).

Guns need to release an album which is radio friendly (which I firmly believe this band is capable of producing). Record twenty tracks now after the States concludes the “Chinese” tour, release a twelve song record then tour extensively (immediately) behind the new album. Release the rest of “Chinese” as part of a fan edition of the new record. Get off the road and record eight more songs. Release another twelve track album then tour again.

Releasing the rest of “Chinese” as an album representative of the present incarnation makes no sense whatsover and is nothing but (in my opinion anyway) a recipe for disaster.

Bottom line, give us the rest of the 1998-2008 tracks and we will be happy for a long long time(except the reunion folk).

We'll be very happy certainly but in terms of the mainstream opinion (if “Chinese” II gets released) the band's credibility will be all but gone.

It's time to start afresh with a record put together by an incarnation still in existence. An album that will inevitably pay homage to GN'R's hard rock roots (because of the players involved) and establish them as a legitimate project.

The rest of “Chinese” could be released as part of a fan edition of the new album.

As far as I know they had a Chinese guy record the voices, then he fell out with Axl and so another Chinese guy was hired to re-record the voice.

This will not be a productive line of discussion. There is no reason to discuss the prospects of something which we have no concrete confirmation to suggest will be released into the public domain (especially when we have no insider perspective whatsover to indicate whether or not our speculation is headed in the right direction).

awesome~

Dj Ashba follows GunsNRosesNews. :xmasssanta:

Get retweeting this message:

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http://sonormalitisuncool.blogspot.com/2010/12/ron-scalzo-talks-qball-bald-freak.html

1. What genres of music do you have a tendency to pursue in your musical exploits?

Q*Ball: I think my criteria doesn't focus on genre as much as mood - it's gotta make me think, it's gotta make me cry, or it's gotta make me move. That's really the philosophy behind Q*Ball. I certainly drift to certain genres like electro-pop and dance and funk because of the instruments I play, but what the hell is a 'genre' anyway nowadays? I hate having to add a genre when I encode all my music for digital distro.

2. What inspired you to put together musical ideas of your own?

Q*Ball: Like most other musicians, I heard really good music as a kid and a teenager, and I was hooked early on. Going to that first live concert (Jesus Jones at The Academy!), hearing the drums mic'ed up, the guitar amps at full volume just electrified my fucking brain. 7 years of piano lessons, 3 years of drum lessons probably played their part, too.

3. Whom would you outline as being your musical influences?

Q*Ball: Trent Reznor, Beck, Mike Patton, Radiohead, The Beatles, James Brown, Beastie Boys, Bumblefoot, a lot of 80's new wave bands like Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Tangerine Dream. So many artists past & present have played their part in this Q*Ball mess haha!

4. To date you have released three studio albums (“This Is Serious Business”, “Fortune Favours The Bald” and “Q*Ball In Space”. Could you generally describe the vibe from each record?

Q*Ball: 'Q*Ball In Space' came first and that was just me bringing a bunch of tunes I had written to Bumblefoot and asking him to record them, play guitar on them, add his ideas to what was already a well-thought out album's worth of songs. I had been in an electronic band called Secret Army before I started Q*Ball and I always thought the biggest flaw in that band was the lack of a quality guitarist. I knew Ron would bring a new level of professionalism to the project and I was super pumped when we started to polish off the first few songs. It was the first time we had worked together as a team, we did most of the recording at his house in Jersey. Lots of cat hair (Ron has lots of cats).

'Fortune Favors The Bald' was an attempt to outdo the first album and it came from a much darker place as a result of some major changes going on in my personal life. I had experienced some failures that made the album title a bit ironic, as I didn't feel very fortunate at the time. But you write what you know, and making the album was fun and cathartic in spite of my personal drama. Ron had just bought a house in Princeton and was knocking walls down, turning it into a studio, so a lot of the tunes were recorded amongst rubble and dust. I remember singing "John Hughes" with big garbage bags full of plywood and insulation all around me. I think this was the best album we did together since we were both the most focused on making something great together and there were little distractions at that time in our respective careers.

'This Is Serious Business' was more of a collaborative effort involving other folks, as Ron was on duty with GnR at this point, but he still managed to mix and master the album, not to mention his contributions on some of the better songs - 'His Name Is Goliath,' and 'Pez Dispenser' are two of my faves. Ron's bass guitar work on this album is so kick-ass. I was in a better place personally while we were making this one and it's definitely a more upbeat record. At the same time, it's a bit of a mixed bag - a lot of different styles on one album, and while I like the songs individually, I think the album suffers as a whole.

5. You describe Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal as being your “partner in crime”. Could you delve into how your relationship with Ron came about?

Q*Ball: I met Ron in 1997. We were making our first Secret Army CD at a basement studio in Brooklyn and the studio owner had an engineering partner who would come in and work the board for a lot of the bands who came in to record. Mainly a lot of hardcore bands from the Brooklyn scene like Most Precious Blood and Shutdown, and Secret Army was definitely a different animal. Some dude with a red wool hat walks in - there are holes in the hat and little dreadlocked tufts of hair sticking out from the holes, and we're like, 'Who the hell is this maniac?' Ron wound up engineering most of the album and like most people who get to know him, we still thought he was a maniac, just a super cool one. At the time, I had no idea about his abilities on the guitar or his solo albums, but I came to see his band (which was called Bumblefoot) a few times in NYC and my head exploded. Wow. In between short tours, Ron was really getting into the production end of things, and there was always a need for him to tweak some live tracks we needed before playing a show, so we always stayed in touch because of that. After Secret Army came to an end, I was playing keyboards in an alternative rock band for a few years, and in 2001, I started dabbling in electronic music again as Q*Ball. There was no one I wanted to work with more than Ron and he foolishly obliged me. 3 albums, a ton of songs, good and bad live shows, and plenty of war stories later, we're still great friends and musical cohorts.

6. “Bumblefoot” has helped both musically and production wise on every Q*Ball album. How important have his contributions been?

Q*Ball: Indispensable. Those 3 albums wouldn't exist without Bumblefoot's contributions. My Achilles Heels an electronic artist are Ron's greatest strengths - knowledge of audio software, patience, perfect pitch, the ability to play a stringed instrument. I've fancied myself more of a bricklayer when it comes to songwriting - quality ideas, lyrics, and melodies, a little keyboard and vocal flash here and there, but if I lay the bricks, Ron decorates the place, and makes my tidy little house look like a palace. It still bugs me that he's not as heralded as a producer as he should be. You can blame part of it on his guitar skills, as people probably can't imagine a guy being so masterful at two separate things, but he is. Most producers hide behind thousands of dollars worth of gear and reputation, Ron does so much with just his ears, his brain, and his two hands.

7. You along with Ron Thal established your own musical label Bald Freak Music. What does Bald Freak Music stand for and what impulsed you to bring about its creation?

Q*Ball: I've been let down by the industry and so has Ron. You can argue that Ron is in GnR now and I'm signed to Metal Blade, have my own label, put 3 albums out - so why should we feel let down? It took a long time for both of us to get to where we are and it wasn't without its misfortunes and bumps in the road that slowed down that progression - and it wasn't just one label or one booking agent or one club owner, or the dozens of musicians we committed our time, money, and energy to over the years - it was all of it. If one guy wasn't making empty promises, another wasn't showing up for rehearsals, and another was lying thru their teeth about what they could do for our music. I think we were both just tired of it. People are flakes and the music biz is a fucking dandruff factory.

I remember being 17 - I was a shy dude, playing drums and singing in my first metal band. We won our high school battle of the bands because we mixed a lot of good grunge into our set with our originals and the college-aged judges dug that we had our ears to the walls of alternative music. A kid in another band that played was impressed with my voice that night - real nice guy, good guitarist - and asked me to sing in a Rush cover band he was starting. At the time, I wasn't huge into Rush and the kid made me a tape, gave me handwritten lyrics to 'Red Barchetta' and half a dozen other songs, was super psyched to get it going. And I flaked on him. Told him I would do it and after a few weeks, just bailed on it because I wasn't familiar enough with the material and probably not brave enough to pull it off. I always felt bad about that and ever since then, I've committed myself to being a reliable and responsible musician.

Bald Freak Music is for us - for our projects, for our friends who want to do things on their own terms with little pressure. We're not blowing up the world, we're just getting things done slowly but surely. I don't have investors, it's all mine and Ron's money, and it was born out of necessity because Ron and I are both scarred by our dealings in this cutthroat industry. We're not cutthroat guys, we're musicians who want to sit on our own little beach, lay out a picnic blanket and eat lots of hot sauce on it without anyone coming over to kick sand in our faces.

8. Studio wise yourself and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal have become somewhat of a deadly duo. Just how good is Ron as both a guitarist and person?

Q*Ball: Ron has been very generous with his time - Q*Ball hasn't made a ton of dough, and years later, he's still in the trenches with me whenever he can be. He's done plenty for a lot of other artists out there who he didn't owe shit to, that's just who he is. He's one of the good guys, plain and simple. Does he have his moments and his moods and have we had our squabbles and disagreements? Hell yeah. We've known each other for 15 years, that's only natural, and our battles have been short-lived and have been learning experiences for both of us. But our relationship is very unique, built on a mutual respect and empathy for what we've experienced as artists and people and what we will continue to experience for years to come.

I don't have to tell you what type of guitar god the guy is, you already know. It's not just the noodling, the shredding ability, the jaw dropping stuff you hear on "Guitars SUCK" and "Don Pardo Pimpwagon" - he's just a professional who can play anything, any style, and play it spot on every time. He's a fucking android. A bearded Jewish android.

9. Recently you along with Ron created the fantastic track “Submarine” (which simply exudes aquatic imagery). Could you describe the creation process of the song? What is the meaning of “Submarine”?

Q*Ball: "Submarine" was one of a series of monthly singles I started releasing digitally as Q*Ball beginning this past Summer. "Submarine" was one of those happy accidents - I came to Ron's studio intending to work on another song but wasn't really feeling the vibe going in so I suggested we dig into the archives for some unfinished symphonies we'd previously worked on. "Submarine" was one that we both kinda dug and we took it and gave it a makeover. I'd like to say there's a specific process we employ, but there isn't - each song kinda speaks to us in its own way as far as what it needs or what direction to take it in. "Submarine" was no different - the chorus came kinda quickly and naturally, and all I usually need is a song title or a line in the song to get the rest of the lyrics out of my skull. "Submarine" is about a failing relationship - we've all had 'em - about trying to escape from your problems rather than addressing them, and what fates awaits you if you choose that route. The only constant in the production process when Ron and I get together is that at some point we both feast on a ton of sushi, and "Submarine" was no different. It used to be KFC before Ron joined GnR, but we're both watching our weight. Or at least watching all that sashimi go down our gullets haha!

10. Your enticing voice along with Ron's guitars seem to consistently produce fantastic results. Will you (again) be linking up with Ron sometime in the near future to create some more “beautiful music”?

Q*Ball: Shit, I hope so. Ron's actually coming here this week to help me track some new piano tunes I've been working on. I bought a Yamaha upright earlier this year, just had it tuned, and I have about ten new songs swimming in my head. Very personal stuff, and if "Fortune Favors The Bald" was any indication, I have high hopes for these new songs. Ron and I also did a song called "Sinful Nuns" a few months ago, a very wacky Bumblefoot-sounding tune that's out on iTunes.

11. What should fans of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal expect for 2011 (aside from Guns N' Roses)?

Q*Ball: Ron is always lamenting to me that his commitment to GnR doesn't really allow for him to spread his wings as far as he would like as a solo artist and a producer, and that's certainly understandable. But I know he'll do whatever he can to keep the Bumblefoot stuff fresh for the fans. I've been bugging him to get back on stage as a solo artist lately, he's got some new material that he's been working on that will see the light of day in 2011. What I've heard so far is pretty massive. Bald Freak was heavily involved in the re-release of "The Adventures of Bumblefoot" and my new publishing company, Bad Button, was involved in the release of the tab book, so I'm hoping we see "Hermit" re-released in 2011. Ron also has some cool cover songs that we're gonna put out, some new merch for the kiddies, and of course, I hope to hear his magic on some of the new music I'm working on as Q*Ball this coming year. And then of course, we should all expect to see Ron's Beard achieve world domination at some point.

12. And finally, would you please outline your own personal exploits for 2011 and is there anything else you'd like to say to fans of the Bald Freak Music franchise?

Q*Ball: In addition to these Q*Ball piano tunes, I'm working on a new electro project with my former Secret Army bandmate Mike Bandolik called Hooper. I've pretty stoked about it - Mike worked on the Q*Ball single "Filling In The Cracks" with me a few months ago and I was real happy with the results, was hoping the collaborations would lead to another project and this is it. It's got a fun blend of 70s soul, modern-day hip-hop, and Nine Inch Nails style moody rock. I just wanna get back on stage this year in some capacity and perfect a live show for once in my life, it's been too long since I did it with Q*Ball.

My hard rock band on Metal Blade, Return To Earth, got some nice acclaim for our 2nd album 'Automata', and we're gonna do some shows over the next few months. Chris Pennie (Coheed and Cambria) is my drummer and he's off the road with Coheed for most of 2011, so that will mean a lot more RTE material being written this coming year, as well, which I'm real excited about. Bald Freak is picking up a few new acts next year, too, including a modern rock band from NYC that I've been courting for awhile called The Head Set. Can't see enough about how good their songs are, hoping to get them the exposure they've long deserved.

I always bow down to anyone who supports Bald Freak, who helps spread the gospel about our acts, and you guys are no exception. It's so hard to get people's attention nowadays, no matter the number of releases, Facebook fans, Twitter followers, newsletters, etc. Word-of-mouth is still the best way to get noticed, and I thank each and everyone of you who's forwarded over a link, re-posted an article, bought someone a Bald Freak artist album, wrote a great review, joined our Street Team, or read our blog. You guys and girls are what makes it all worthwhile, and I thank you. I hope you enjoy what we have to bring you in the new year, I'm pretty pumped about it .

Click the following links to delve deeper into the Q*Ball lair:

http://www.qballmusic.com/ (Official site)

http://www.facebook.com/qballmusic (Give him a "like" )

https://secure.diystro.com/a/FFG69 (Breathtakingly good collaboration with Ron)

http://www.baldfreak.com/ (Stick it to the man)

He's probably on the CD, but no one notices.

There's a part on the verse "Yeah there was a time, and i didn't want to know it all" that looks like izzy playing in the back.

Not sure tho.

Plus: Izzy's on the "Special Thanks" section on the booklet.

Your username sort of undermines the legitimacy of your theory before it's even addressed. But in terms of the actual post, I think you pretty much summed up your argument with “not sure though”.

In regards to your “plus”, that former Ferrari driver Kimi was thanked in the “Chinese” booklet, could that suggest he was on electric triangle? Izzy was more than likely thanked because he toured briefly with GN'R in 2006 and did at least one song during the studio sessions, “Down by the Ocean”.