GUNS N' ROSES guitarist joins rock supergroup "A.L.I.V.E."

[bacardimayne]

A.L.I.V.E.!, the new band put together strictly out of a passion for 70's era KISS was formed by good timing and happenstance! Rex Brown (bass; PANTERA, KILL DEVIL HILL), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (guitar; GUNSN' ROSES), Brian Thomas Tichy (drums; WHITESNAKE, QUEENSRCHE, OZZY OSBOURNE, S.U.N.) and Mark Zavon (guitar; Kill Devil Hill), all ended up working together on rock journalist Mitch Lafon's KISS 40th Anniversary Tribute album for cancer care: A World With Heroes (more details here)

This serendipitous occurrence came to be when Rex and Tichy laid down bass and drums on Bumblefoot's version of 'Detroit Rock City' in which not only does Thal play all guitars, he sings all vocals. Tichy also tracked drums, backgrounds, rhythm and leads (along with Zavon) to Rex and Zavon's version of 'Larger Than Life'. Rex makes his debut lead vocal on this track.

When the emails started circling, it became apparent that they all shared the same love for KISS in the 70's. At the same time, they all were all somewhat shocked by how much Thal sounded like Paul Stanley and Rex like Gene Simmons on their tracks. Therein lay the set up leading to the formation of A.L.I.V.E.!

According to Brown, "We each got asked to play on this tribute album to benefit cancer research. Obviously, it was for a great cause and we wanted to be a part of it, but I think it also came from a place of real passion too. Each of us were hugely influenced by KISS early in our lives, so the chance to play on those tracks was a real honor. After we'd heard what we'd recorded, we thought it would be a lot of fun to do it live. As it turned out, Mark and I had just finished recording the upcoming Kill Devil Hill album, and had a small window of time this summer before we head out on the road again. The timing perfectly coincided with breaks in Ron and Brian's schedules as well, so we decided to put this thing together!"

A.L.I.V.E.! is a as much of of a "thank you" to KISS as it is a tribute. Brown, Thal, Tichy and Zavon won't be in costume and greasepaint, making this even more of a true tribute to the music that changed them when they first heard it."

Rex continues, "I remember I was in 7th grade & this chick had a copy of ALIVE! I swiped it & it changed the future of rock and roll as I know it!! They were like "gods" to this scrawny kid from Texas learning to play guitar!! They are one of the reasons I jam to this day!! I got to open up for them numerous times in stadiums & it's the attitude and the songs, not the schtick, that I go back to every time!!"

Tichy adds, "I thought KISS ALIVE! was the loudest record ever when I first heard it! KISS was the first band I got into. Peter Criss was my first drum idol and he is where I started as a drummer! When the idea of all of us going for this together was brought up, we all reacted with unbridled excitement to how much fun and how powerful this could be! I can't wait to play with these badass musicians I am proud to call friends!"

When asked about KISS's influence on him, Thal said, "Hearing the KISS "Alive!" album at the age of 5 is what made me want to play guitar and join a band. I'm looking forward to playing the songs that launched my life!"

Zavon said, "When I was 14 I borrowed 'Destroyer' from the public library and have never been the same since."

A.L.I.V.E.! will perform material off of KISS's hugely influential Alive! and Alive II records as well as some of their personal favorites!

Rex Brown is celebrating his birthday on July 27th and the band have decided that would be a perfect time to launch A.L.I.V.E! The Rex Brown Birthday Bash featuring A.L.I.V.E.! will take place on the following dates:

July

24 - The Whiskey - Hollywood, CA

25 - LVCS - Las Vegas, NV

Credit to John Bonham at GNFNR for originally finding story

[Guest NGOG]

Cue comments pertaining to Bumblefoot being a prolific cover artist.

[bacardimayne]

Pretty much everything about this sounds awful, but at least it's for cancer research.

[Nosaj Thing]

Well, whatever, better than Axl's band plus this is for a good cause.

[maynard]

cool for ron. more cock rock than slash's entire catalog though.

[bacardimayne]

cool for ron. more cock rock than slash's entire catalog though.

Slash is in a cover band at this very moment that is just as much cock rock as this is, and it sure as fuck isn't for cancer benefit.

[Uncle Bob]

Probably that band is more alive than GNR

[maynard]

cool for ron. more cock rock than slash's entire catalog though.

Slash is in a cover band at this very moment that is just as much cock rock as this is, and it sure as fuck isn't for cancer benefit.

but slash isn't known as an avant-garde innovative musician. he's exactly that, a cock rocker.

[Zint]

Sounds fun!

Alive is a great album.

I'd go see them.

[Apollo]

Good for Ron.

I'm not a kiss fan at all. But it's cool to see rock musicians out there having fun and playing music.

Now if only AXL had the same mindset of guys like BBF and Slash. Those guys love to play music, jam, create music, play with other people, release music, etc. Meanwhile, Axl is reluctant, for some reason, to share his music/art/creations/etc with his millions of fans. WHY NOT give his fans a treat????

Imagine a year - say 2014 - where Axl released all of this:

CD 2

Contributes vocals to four songs on a Queen tribute album

02 concert DVD

Box Set - Use Your Illusions backstage video, Making of CD/CD2 documentary, Remix album, acoustic album/covers album (Seeker, Riff Raff, etc), Videos DVD (including unreleased CD music videos if there are any), Vegas live DVD, Rose Biography

Then go tour and not release anything for the next five years.

[Bruno P.]

That would be the ideal scenario, Groghan. But it's not happening, sadly.

Say what you want about Slash, he delivers. Not only that, he performs the best songs off his lastest albums, unlike Axl.

[Nosaj Thing]

Say what you want about Slash, he delivers. Not only that, he performs the best songs off his lastest albums, unlike Axl.

My eyes cannot believe this.

Good for Ron.

I'm not a kiss fan at all. But it's cool to see rock musicians out there having fun and playing music.

Now if only AXL had the same mindset of guys like BBF and Slash. Those guys love to play music, jam, create music, play with other people, release music, etc. Meanwhile, Axl is reluctant, for some reason, to share his music/art/creations/etc with his millions of fans. WHY NOT give his fans a treat????

Imagine a year - say 2014 - where Axl released all of this:

CD 2

Contributes vocals to four songs on a Queen tribute album

02 concert DVD

Box Set - Use Your Illusions backstage video, Making of CD/CD2 documentary, Remix album, acoustic album/covers album (Seeker, Riff Raff, etc), Videos DVD (including unreleased CD music videos if there are any), Vegas live DVD, Rose Biography

Then go tour and not release anything for the next five years.

This is the idea you shared with me around 6 months ago? Sounds pretty damn good, however, this is Axl and his team we're talkin' about.

Fuck the fans, Axl is the last true rockstar, he doesn't care about anything or anyone!

Sounds pretty good for a rock n' roll 13-year-old but we're all adults here.

[Bruno P.]

but I've always enjoyed his shows. I actually listen to a lot of his solo music on a constant basis. What I dont enjoy is Myles's high voice on a few given sounds but that doesnt prevent me from enjoying the whole thing. His vocals on Anastasia are spot on, I love it. His vocals on Starlight are awesome. But his take on Paradise, for instance, isn't the best.

Slash's playing is cleaner, I like his current tone and the live songs sound better than in studio. He always delivers - live CDs, studio CDs, proper tours, proshot performances, etc.

What I miss the most about him? Velvet Revolver. They should get back together, they were great. I'm not saying that Myles isn't an awesome singer, he is. But he can't hold a candle to Scott as a frontman. Scott's voice, stage presence and overall songwriting give him the edge. He actually sounded much better than Axl on a few songs, especially Patience. He could run circles around Axl on that one while doing the snake dance.

[bacardimayne]

That would be the ideal scenario, Groghan. But it's not happening, sadly.

Say what you want about Slash, he delivers. Not only that, he performs the best songs off his lastest albums, unlike Axl.

His Kings of Chaos cover band is shit though. I love his real band.

[Bruno P.]

Never really got into that Kings of Chaos thing, but gonna give it a try.

But yes, his real band is great.

[bacardimayne]

Never really got into that Kings of Chaos thing, but gonna give it a try.

But yes, his real band is great.

There's nothing to "give a try". It's a bunch of washed up 80s musicians playing awful songs.

[Nosaj Thing]

That would be the ideal scenario, Groghan. But it's not happening, sadly.

Say what you want about Slash, he delivers. Not only that, he performs the best songs off his lastest albums, unlike Axl.

His Kings of Chaos cover band is shit though. I love his real band.

It's not his band. It's Matt Sorum's band. Slash joined for a few dates only.

[magisme]

No one should be subjected to this. Especially not people donating to cancer research.

[Ace Frehley]

Yes!!!

This will be great to listen to. 4 great musicians paying tribute to the hottest band in the world.

I very rarely get to be a big KISS fanboy on this board, but now is my time to shine. Shame it's in the U.S tho, would've loved to have seen it.

[BBA]

Meanwhile, Axl is reluctant, for some reason, to share his music/art/creations/etc with his millions of fans. WHY NOT give his fans a treat????

Dude, please speak for yourself. I know that I, along with "millions of other fans', are perfectly content with Axl not releasing the rest of that sub-par Chinese Democracy era shit under the GNR banner. In all honesty, I think more of him for not releasing those songs as GNR material.

I'm in the reunite ... go solo ... or go away camp. I'm sure there are "millions" of others as well.

[Edit] Oh, and for the delusional who still think that Axl might ever release an album with these current hanger-ons, BBF's upcoming project should be a pretty good indication that this "band" ain't recording nada for the forseeable future.

Edited July 4, 2013 by BBA

[magisme]

Whitesnake is one word, you tool. Get it right if they're gonna be your new favorite band.

[Teroz]

KISS rules and thats cool. Also the cause is cool, so good stuff Ron

[iftheworld]

This is what people are calling a supergroup these days? You know what? Just stay there Ron. Give me back Finck.

Edited July 4, 2013 by iftheworld

[moreblack]

of all the bands to cover, why kiss?

[Bruno P.]

This is what people are calling a supergroup these days? You know what? Just stay there Ron. Give me back Finck.

Why Finck? You want him to be a part of this? I dont.