Artist

When we interviewed Australian singer-guitarist Laura Wilde for our Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue (See page 50), we discussed several topics, including her musical roots, touring with Ted Nugent and her life as a student.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

REVOLVER: When did you first start playing music? When did you start playing guitar, specially?

Reluctantly, I started learning the piano at age 4 at the will of my parents, although I always had my sights set on the guitar from a young age. I was finally allowed to start playing the guitar when I was 12. My teacher was a touring musician so he rarely used to actually show up to the lessons, but I was able to use that time to learn the songs I wanted at my own pace so the time wasn't at all wasted.

What bands got you into hard rock and metal? How did you discover them?

My parents were young when they had my brother and me and were very much into rock and roll, so our television was always playing Rage ABC, an Australian music program. My earliest memories are of my brother and me, as babies, standing very close to the TV with pots and spoons and whatever else we could fashion into an instrument, rocking out to the music. The bands at the time were Faith No More, Green Jello and System of a Down. As some of the clips were scary, we'd drop our instruments and hide behind the sofa until it was "safe" to come out again.

How would you describe your music?

Hard rock infused with a glam and punk. Lots of blazing guitars and heavy drum beats.

What was it like touring with Ted Nugent? Any good stories?

It has been the most amazing learning experience. The Nugent crew runs an extremely tight ship, so it's sink or swim. We are all learning about the nightly technical difficulties. Recently our van sprung an engine leak so we all had to wait for a whole day in the customer-service area. It was priceless seeing the looks on people's faces when they would come in to wait for their car, seeing a mostly black-haired, tattooed smelly rock band sleeping all over the fancy sofas. They would turn on their heels and scuttle out immediately.

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

I found the environment to be extremely conservative and suppressive. We had to wear a uniform every day and it was more academic than creative. I can't exactly say I've missed it.

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

I guess I was a cross between a nerd and a troublemaker. I used to annoy the teachers by constantly talking in class and distracting whoever was sitting nearby, but always got my work done. You could say I was involved in the appropriate amount of mischief.

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

It was whilst I was involved in the school play when I was in 10th grade. I missed an entire semester of classes and rehearsals due to glandular fever, so when the first night of the play rolled around my character wasn't very well fleshed out and quite boring as I had just done the bare minimum of learning my lines. On the second night, however, I experimented with my role by turning it into a larger-than-life character, which happened to turn the death scene of Les Miserables into a roaring comedy. It brought the house down, but the entire cast and all the teachers involved wouldn't speak to me afterwards. I was banned from any plays or drama subjects for the remaining years of school.

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

I missed an entire morning of school once because I was at my first Jet concert until late the night before. I kept the ticket as a souvenir, and let's just say my parents were far from impressed when they found it.

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

The fashionista girls at school were always having a dig at my clothes because I dressed like a rocker. Funny thing was that when that style came into fashion they were all wearing black T-shirts of bands that they had never heard of.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

Playing the guitar was always very therapeutic when I was stressed out. I used to spend a lot of my lunch times in the music room on the drums and bass guitar as well because I didn't have any other access to play them.

When we interviewed Nita Strauss, guitarist for The Iron Maidens and Consume the Fire, for our Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue (See page 55), we discussed several topics, including her musical roots, Consume the Fire's upcoming album and her experiences as a high schooler.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

READ MORE: Check out our new interview with Nita Strauss right here.

REVOLVER: When and how did you start playing guitar?

I come from a very musical family, but I didn't pick up the guitar until I was 13. I had already gone from playing drums at home alone to playing bass in a terrible local death metal band. Then I saw a little movie that all guitarists should see called Crossroads. At the end of the movie, there's an epic guitar battle between Ralph Macchio's character and my now-favorite guitarist, Steve Vai. As soon as I saw that scene, I thought, "That's what I'm supposed to be doing with my life." I haven't played any other instrument seriously, or really done anything else with my life since that moment.

How's the Consume the Fire full-length coming along?

It's going great! I'm actually sitting in the recording studio watching our drummer track as I write this. It's always awesome watching your music come to life. Our debut release will be out this fall, and from there we plan to support it by touring as much as possible and bringing the adrenaline pumping, intense live CTF experience to as many cities as we can!

What's your favorite Maiden song to play with the Iron Maidens and why?

My favorite songs to play live with any band are the ones that get the big crowd reactions. I think "Fear of the Dark" is one of the most fun Maiden songs. It's really exciting to play, and I get that really catchy Dave Murray solo, plus it has that awesome part in the intro that gets the whole crowd singing along. When we were in South America, I saw some of the guys in the crowd actually tear up when we started that riff! It was seriously amazing.

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

Well, I've never really been much of a listener. I don't take direction well at all. I always want to learn things my own way, by making mistakes and correcting them on my own. So the classroom environment wasn't really easy for me. I even had to drop out of the guitar elective because by that time I had already been playing shows for a few years and couldn't handle the teacher telling me how to play.

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

Aside from being stubborn about classwork, I flew under the radar for the most part. My closest friends were in my band, and none of them went to my school, so I mostly kept to myself and played guitar with a couple other kids during lunch breaks. I did plenty of troublemaking at that time, but for the most part it was outside the classroom!

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

I remember at a school game in sophomore year, I shoved another girl into the sink in the bathroom because she grabbed the bottle of whiskey I had snuck in. She drank the last couple of big gulps. Someone went running to the teachers and we both got sent home. The funny part is, we only got in trouble for fighting, not for being 14 or 15 and drinking on campus!

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

Yeah, a whole year! I was already missing school here and there for out-of-town shows, so I got my GED after junior year to focus on writing and touring with my band at the time. It ended up not being the best decision, because two of the other band members were still in school. So really all it accomplished was me having to do more work.

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

I guess I was really lucky in that respect. I was always playing in local metal bands, so the guys in my band never really let anyone give me a hard time. The cool thing about being involved in your local hard rock/metal music scene is everyone kind of looks out for each other. People will join together and stand up for the outsider. I was just a weird teenage girl with short black hair playing in a metal band and running around drunk all the time, thinking I was invincible. My friends and band members were the ones who made sure nothing ever happened to me.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

Well, being in a band definitely did! At least at that time, playing in a band, you automatically got cool status that the general masses didn't! In all seriousness, though, music has helped me get through everything. It's the best outlet. Any time in my life that things get overwhelming or tough, I always can lock myself away with a guitar and shut the world out and after a while. Everything just seems right side up again.

When we interviewed Stitched Up Heart singer Mixi for our new Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue (See page 57), we discussed several topics, including the band's new single and video and her experiences as a high schooler.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

REVOLVER: First off, what's new in Stitched Up Heart land?

We are shooting a music video for our new single, "Grave," which will be out by the time the magazine is on the stands! I am gonna forward you the track so you can have a listen. We are touring around the US with our EP, Escape The Nightmare, which is sold only as hard copies at our shows. Slowly but surely, were putting together a full-length as we are still independent and self-funded. Gotta love the music industry!

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

In middle school I was a super-nerd! I even played the tuba for three years. I tried too hard to fit in back then, so everyone made fun of me. Once I got into high school, I decided to stop caring what people thought of me and just be ME. That's when everything changed. To this day, I live by the motto, "You were born an original, don't die a copy."

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

I was the artsy kid. Was in AP art classes and took every creative class I could. As long as it involved paint, clay or performing arts, I was in! I was typically in a relationship the majority of high school, thanks to the curse of being a hopeless romantic.

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

Me? In trouble? Never ...

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

I actually had pretty decent attendance! I didn't have much of a choice when the softball coach was keeping track at all times! I probably only missed a few days out of the year. I know! Nerd alert!

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

I've never been in a fight in my life. I kill them with kindness! All the kids that bullied me in middle school ended up being my friends in high school once I stopped giving a fuck about what people thought.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

Music helped me get through life. I've been through the ringer for this passion. It's a tough industry. I just realized how impossible it is for me to survive without it. When I grow up, I wanna be a little old lady In a rocking chair on her front porch with an acoustic guitar singing to the neighbor kids to "Get off my lawn!"

When we interviewed Heidi Sheperd and Carla Harvey of Butcher Babies for the new Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue (See page 56), we discussed several topics, including their new EP and what life was like for the high school versions of themselves.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what they have to say below!

REVOLVER: What's new in Butcher Babies land?

HEIDI: We are very excited to be jetting off on a nationwide tour with Otep. Touring with Otep is something we consider a dream come true because she helped pave the way for other females in metal.

CARLA: We just got back from our first European tour, which was highlighted by playing the Download festival. We've got our first EP out finally, and we're about to head out on a national tour with Otep.

What's your favorite song on your new EP and why?

HEIDI: I'm obsessed with "Axe Wound." This is a song we worked really hard on for a long time. We took a lot of different elements from different types of metal and squished them all into one song. Plus, for me, I get to sing as well as scream.

CARLA: My favorite song on the EP is "Jesus Needs More Babies for His War Machine." It's just straightforward metal that makes you want drive 100 mph on the freeway, and it's got a great message.

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

HEIDI: School for me was always awkward. I grew up in Provo, Utah, where everyone is very strong in the Mormon religion. Even my family was incredibly religious. But I never fit in with the beliefs and rules of the church. In school, however, I found a way to focus on to other things that exercised my creativity rather than fitting in with the mold of the typical Mormon child. Such as music, video production, creative writing and radio. In college, I was little more "free" to be myself and really express who I am.

CARLA: I loved college. I went to mortuary school and studied embalming, chemistry, anatomy, pathology, etc. But middle school and high school were pretty awful. People are insecure with themselves at that age, so they go out of their way to make sure others are insecure and miserable as well. I was very different looking and I didn't play in to what people wanted me to be. I got a lot of shit for that.

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

HEIDI: Being what they considered a "wild child" or a little bit different, I was always the kid who got in trouble for saying the "F" word in the halls. Other than that, I just focused more on my sports and music. I think that my teachers actually appreciated that I saw things a little bit differently than the rest.

CARLA: I was half nerd, half troublemaker. I got great grades, but I was bored and needed stimulation, which resulted in a lot of ... illicit activity.

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

HEIDI: I was also a cheerleader for the last two years of high school. And during a basketball game against our rival high school, the Thunderbirds, I had smuggled a chicken into the stadium to let loose during one of the timeouts. This was a ritual at our high school, and the principle had warned the students that if anyone was caught with the chicken, they'd be immediately expelled. That didn't scare me, so I inevitably let the chicken loose. The chicken got loose, ran onto the floor, got scared, shit everywhere and after the game I GOT CAUGHT! Luckily, I learned how to sweet talk the higher-ups and was only sentenced to detention.

CARLA: I used to write and draw dirty comics about the people who gave me shit in my Catholic high school (including the nuns and principal) and tape them up in the hallways. Needless to say, I wasn't welcome back there and I switched to public school my sophmore year.

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

HEIDI: If I was having a bad day, I would pop my headphones in my Discman and drive around listening to Slipknot, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson, etc.

CARLA: I was in a band senior year in high school, and my attendance level went way down. I still got good grades because I knew it was important to get that degree, that piece of paper. But I also knew there were bigger things out there for me that I wasn't going to learn in high school.

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

HEIDI: The only "bullies" I had to deal with were mostly girls — the "popular" girls that I had to deal with because I was also a cheerleader but not nearly as cool or pretty. They did everything they could to make things really hard and awkward for me. I do believe, however, that these girls shaped the strong woman I am today. When no one else believed in me, I chose to believe in myself.

CARLA: I was bullied relentlessly because I was a half-black kid growing up in a racially divided city (Detroit) that had an affinity for rock and roll. I was different, and people didn't get me, so they made fun of me. I didn't let it change who I was. I didn't care about being popular. I never understood people who cared so much about being popular for the snapshot in time we call high school. Life gets so much more amazing than high school.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

HEIDI: Music helped me get through everything: school, family, religion, etc. I grew up in a very cookie-cutter world, and music allowed me to see outside the tiny box I lived in. I could see the creativity that was waiting for me to grab by the horns and get the hell out of that bubble.

CARLA: I felt pretty alienated in school, so music was everything to me. I never felt alone as long as I had my favorite albums to keep me company. It's a powerful thing when you hear someone address the problems YOU have in THEIR songs; it makes you feel like you're not so alone in the world.

When we interviewed UnSaid Fate front woman Jackie Laponza for the new Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue, we discussed several topics, from the roots of Unsaid Fate to her experience as a high schooler.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

REVOLVER: How did UnSaid Fate form?

UnSaid Fate started to become a reality about a year ago. We were called Jackie for a few years, and we felt we had reached our limit musically with that name — and that we were naturally evolving into something new and fresh. By the way, it wasn't my idea to name us Jackie (LOL). The songs we were starting to create over the last year or so were bigger, heavier, more melodic and more exciting. We felt like we had a bit of an identity crisis with the old name.

It was weird because we would come out and open for bands like Saliva, Halestorm, Theory Of A Deadman, etc., and we didn't have a "rock band name," per se. People would feel a bit hesitant with us until they saw us throw down on stage and hold nothing back, performance-wise. So, UnSaid Fate was born out of the ashes of Jackie!

How would you describe the band's sound?

Active rock with heavy rock riffs, big melodic choruses with harmonies and a bottom-end backbone that doesnt quit!

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

Actually, it was very normal. I played different sports and had really good grades, even though music was my main focus and passion and it took up all my personal time. I did miss all the weekend parties and hanging with friends at the mall or wherever because I always had something music-related to do. If it was practice or weekend gigs, it was always first and foremost.

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

I would say somewhere in between the two. I always made sure I stayed true to myself, no matter what I was involved in. I didn't really get into the cliques or groups. I had different hair styles and custom clothes I would make, so my style was extremely eclectic. But as far as trouble, I didn't get in much. I have three older brothers and one younger, so I let them handle the "getting into trouble" thing. I usually just lived vicariously through thier foibles.

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

Well, I didn't get in much trouble. To be honest, I didn't have the time. I was going to school, playing basketball, working a job and doing the band thing all at same time. I just kinda skated my ass through under the radar the majority of the time. I did get suspended once. A teammate of mine brought a water bottle to a game filled with vodka and OJ, and a few of us took a sip in disbelief once we heard about it. Sure as shit, Monday morning I was called down to the office and suspended due to a kiss-ass teammate ratting us out (LOL). Other than that, and a few detentions for tardies and absences, I was all good.

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

Well, I was in a band and playing at bars and concert venues by the time I was 12. My brothers and I would miss quite a bit of school for long weekend shows or local news stations' morning shows and any other interviews and craziness that came up for the band. All along, teachers would tell me to get a realistic goal to shoot for. I had straight A's, so they all said to go to college, that I'd probably get a scholarship to somewhere good. But it wasn't me. I had no urge to go that route. I knew college wasn't going anywhere. I could always go no, matter how much harder it would be. Sometimes I wonder if I should have listened (LOL). No way — I love what I get to do. I'm living my dream!

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

Not so much bullies, but I was always more of a "hang with the boys" type of girl, a tomboy, if you will. Girls used to hate me, but I can't change how I was brought up. I remember being called a whore by, ironically enough, the pregnant chick at the school! Most girls never really took the chance to get to know me. They just had some sort of fear of me, I guess. I was popular, and an athlete, but I also grew up with my four brothers picking on me, riding dirt bikes, shooting guns, trudging through the mud, and seeing how dirty I could get.

So I never really fit in well with the other girls and all the drama that would follow a good majority of them. I did my own thing, and once I figured out who I was, I couldn't care less what terrible things they would say, even though most of them hadn't had so much as exchanged "hellos" with me. Their words did nothing, except pushed me harder to get them one day to eat their words! Plus the good thing with having brothers is NO guys every pushed too far with me because they knew there would be consequences! Also a bad thing for a girl growing up! (LOL) All the guys were scared to get to know me because my brothers would beat them up!

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

Music helped me not only get through school but a lot in life. The main thing in my life is music and family, and they work hand and hand with me. Both pulled me through the times that were the hardest. I was an extremely shy girl growing up. I would hide behind my mom's leg up to the time i was 10 when anyone was being introduced to me. I still sit and wonder how my parents sat so proudly when I first started in the band thing getting up there barely looking up tapping away with my tamburine and just utterly destroying the covers I was singing.

But they loved it and encouraged me that I could do anything. They would be supportive and the proudest parents ever. It made me a strong person who has no fears of what's ahead. I have high hopes, big dreams and a fire under my ass to never give in and never give up. When I get on stage, I feel unstoppable, and there I will conquer the world!

I have a strong message to the women of the world and to anyone, for that matter: Stay strong, BE YOU, tall or short, skinny or big-boned. Whatever the color of your skin, hair and toenails, whether you're into men, women or both ... love and live who you are, no matter what anyone says. Be a leader and let others follow!

When we interviewed One-Eyed Doll front woman Kimberly Freeman for the new Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue, we talked about a host of topics, from her roots as a musician, the band's new album, her experience as a student and more.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

REVOLVER: When did you first start playing music? When did you start playing guitar, specially?

I used to be a rather shy closet poet and never imagined that someday I'd be on stage singing my darkest thoughts to people. It took a jolt to get me started. There was a time when I dedicated my life to volunteer work, which led me to take a short teaching gig in mainland China.

I inadvertently got into trouble with the law and some other rather influential people there and had to stay under the radar for over a year. I decided that if I ever made it back to the US, I'd try singing my songs for people.

Singing to myself became a form of meditation that brought me comfort and kept me from completely losing hope and sanity. Some experiences in China helped me to break out of my shell a bit, and I felt that nothing would be scary anymore if I could only get home. I finally made it back to the US in 2003 or 2004 and paid a visit to my adopted grandpa on my mom's side: the lifelong musician, actor and comedian Bernie Jones.

He was an old man by this time with one eye who was also the first performer I'd ever witnessed as a child. Bernie advised me to pick up the guitar and gave me his old dusty Gibson archtop. I fixed it up and learned to play it, thinking I'd be a folk singer.

In 2005 I got my first $70 electric guitar from a pawn shop, moved into my van, formed a rock band and hit the road. I never looked back. No one ever told me I was supposed to actually be good before I hit the stage. We recorded our first album live in a garage within a couple months of forming the band and just never stopped moving. We busked on the streets, made merch out of trash to sell for gas money and scavenged food all across the country.

Several band members came and left, and I was the only remaining member at times. I continued on for years and things slowly grew and morphed into what we have now. I eventually met Junior, my drummer, and he's stuck it out with me longer than anyone. He pulls his own weight and more, which has helped us to grow a lot over the past three years.

What bands got you into hard rock and metal? How did you discover them?

I only had access to FM radio in a small town growing up. Oldies and gospel were really about all that was available for me to listen to in my pre-teens. Then out of nowhere one day, "Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat & Tears came on the oldies station and blew my mind. I remember the very moment, in a car. It wasn't hard rock or metal, but it was the song that made me seek out dissonance in music and led me to rock and metal. It was my first experience with that shockingly bizarre evil circus sound, and I needed more!

I needed music to be more dissonant and scary and weird because that's what was inside of me that was dying to be expressed! I guess you could say it was my gateway song. I got really into classic rock. Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, White Zombie, then metal like Slayer, Ministry, Sepultura, Megadeath. Later I got into the Vandals, Jack Off Jill, The Lunachicks, Butthole Surfers. Though I don't consider Pink Floyd hard rock or metal, they are who spoke to me the clearest and most steadily through the years. I felt that they were the ones who truly had the power to voice the angst and confusion I felt in my narcissistic teenagedom.

How would you describe One-Eyed Doll's new album compared to your previous albums?

Dirty is what you might call a, "blue period" piece from One-Eyed Doll. It's a special one, for sure. Our albums are classically manic depressive — way up and way down — emotionally super-charged, brightly colored metaphors speckled with a few serious ballads. Dirty is all dark. It's introverted and real-life. It's less playfulness and more straight-up intense (sometimes blues) rock about the struggles of being a human being. It gets pretty heavy, both sonically and emotionally.

The production is different, since we planned on releasing it on vinyl from the beginning. We took the opportunity to record the guitar and drums together in the same room to capture the way we groove and change naturally. I think you can hear a lot of a Pink Floyd influence in it. It's just ear candy to me, so textured and beautiful. We recorded it at Sylvia Massy's place in Weed, California — in the mountains, in an old church with some amazing classic analog equipment. You can hear it all in the album. It's alive with dark spirits.

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

I went to a religious school, which was kind of tough for me. I was a straight-A student most of the time and didn't try to make trouble. I often did manage to get myself in trouble, however, for wearing the wrong things and writing about subjects in my papers that went against the religious ideals of the school. I never fit in with the other girls and was kind of a bookworm, though I was pretty good at sports, too. I made friends with the dropouts and kids from other schools mostly, and didn't have many friends in my own class. I skipped the eighth grade and graduated high school at 16. I was pretty much invisible to boys, and I didn't date until I graduated. Probably a good thing, because in my small town many of the girls my age were getting knocked up. I feel like I kind of dodged a bullet by being unpopular.

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

I guess somewhere in between. I was very studious and never tried to cause trouble but I guess it managed to find me.

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

I was the good girl in my group of friends. I never even did drugs or smoked. For me, the real trouble started after I graduated, when I was 17 and 18. I had ... I guess you could say a breakdown after the death of a close friend and some personal problems I couldn't talk to anyone about. I completely alienated and isolated myself from my friends and family when I attempted suicide and was committed into the local psych hospital. I was eventually released against doctor's orders and left town as soon as I could. No one trusted me after that, and no one could look me in the eye. It seemed like they all thought I was crazy. I still feel really self-conscious when I go back there. I destroyed a lot of the relationships that meant so much to me, and I live with the scars inside and out. It probably influenced me to become a musician, though. Gotta have the blues to play the blues, they say.

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

If there had been a rock venue in my town, I probably would have — but no. I did ditch for bluegrass festivals though, believe it or not.

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

Yes, several. I was kind of small and dorky and was picked on a lot. I ended up having to take matters into my own hands several times, because no one ever seemed to believe me or care. There was one boy who used to physically hurt me all the time to the point of bruising and drawing blood and taunt me incessantly. He played weird psychological torture games and just almost drove me insane. I finally punched him out one day in the hallway between classes and instructed him to never look at, touch or even think about me again. I was concerned that he'd retaliate, but he left me alone from that day forward. In fact, he never made eye contact with me again and avoided me like the plague.

Another instance that sticks out to me is these kids at another school who used to push me up against a tree and call me "skinny bones." I didn't know why they hated me so much, but they were always focused on me, every day at recess. I never fought them back, because there were so many, and I honestly hoped that they might just come around and see how cruel they were being. I kind of wish I had just gone ballistic on them. It would have been worth it. There was this other boy who was a family friend — super-cruel to me, a classic bully. He used to just torment me as a kid and always managed to get away with it. I tried standing up to him many times, but he was so much bigger and stronger and just laughed at me.

Well, thankfully our families parted ways and I didn't see him for many years — until one day when I was 16 or so. A car pulled up to me outside of a movie theater. It was full of boys, a little older than me. A pretty good-looking rocker dude in the driver's seat said, "Little Kimmy? Is that YOU!?" I looked over, and it was him. He was obviously smitten, blushing and nervously saying things like, "Wow ... you're all grown up!" and finally asked me out. I smiled, leaned into the car and calmly explained to his friends that I would never lower myself to be associated with the likes of him and that he'd bullied me as a kid. He turned bright red, and his friends all laughed at him. He sped off, and I never saw him again.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

At times I felt so alone, and music was my only friend. The music I listened to said things that I couldn't say without getting in trouble, hurting people's feelings or being thrown into the psych ward. I don't think that many people could survive their teens without music. I certainly couldn't have. I wrote very dark, sad and twisted poetry, but I kept it secret. I didn't think anyone could have possibly understood how I felt. Music was my voice.

Funny how full-circle that's come. I'm grateful to the artists out there who really write from the soul, no matter how vulnerable it makes them. They don't even know what they've done for people like me.

When we interviewed New Years Day frontwoman Ash Costello for the new Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue (She's also featured in the forthcoming 2013 Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock calendar, by the way), we talked about a host of topics, from the band's upcoming release, her life as a high schooler and her recent vocal cameos with Otherwise and Craig Mabbitt's project, the Dead Rabbits.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn't include most of the interview. But that's what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

REVOLVER: Tell us about the new album you guys are working on. What does it sound like? What sort of the lyrical themes are you hitting this time?

ASH COSTELLO: We are recording it with the incredible Erik Ron, who is responsible for the music of a lot of my favorite bands. It's starting to sound a lot more grownup. It's matured but hasn't lost all the dark and fun devil's carnival elements that make us who we are. Its a lot heavier than anything we have ever done.

Lately I'm feeling more vengeful and aggressive than I have in my entire life, and the lyrics are reflecting that. I've been through a lot the past two years, and songwriting is my therapy for it, songwriting is my revenge. It's the most honest — lyrically — that I've ever been. Listeners are truly going to see my vulnerable side and hear all of my secrets.

When do you hope to have it out?

We expect it out late this year or early next year.

Since last year, you've sung on songs by Otherwise and Craig Mabbitt's project, the Dead Rabbits. How did those cameos come about, and what can you tell us about how they turned out?

Otherwise are our label-mates, and we heard they needed girl vocals for their track "Heaven." It was my chance to show a prettier, softer side to my voice. I jumped at the chance, and we recorded at NRG studios, which was a rad experience for me. I was in the vocal room where Gavin Rossdale was earlier in the day. His handwriting was still on the monitor buttons. I'm such a studio geek, I love being around it.

I met Craig Mabbit back when we were touring with Warped Tour. He was always such a cool guy, always seemed very supportive and encouraging to me. Turns out, his project Dead Rabbitts was recording a few doors down from where we are recording our record. The track I sang on isn't named yet. Seriously, I am so stoked for his new project. I don't really like a lot of new bands very often, but I fell in love with Dead Rabbitts as soon as I heard it. The track I sang on is incredibly sexy, so I had to have him leave the room!

Since this is also our "back to school" issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

I hated school. I was not what you would have considered "cool" or "sexy." I was a total dork. I was an Orange County ska kid. Guys did not want to date me. Guys wanted to be in bands with me, NOT kiss me. I barely even had my first kiss by the time I graduated. I stood out from everyone else at my school. I always had to stand out. I wore creepers, ripped tights, bondage pants and lots of spikes. I had Betty Page bangs. I mean, when I was in high school, this was NOT normal. Although, I was voted most creative and most likely to be a rock star.

What kind of student were you? A nerd, a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

I was such a trouble maker! I was always skipping school, but I had straight A's. I had a problem with authority, so I was always mouthing off. But all my teachers still loved me. They would say, "Aw, Ashley, you're so creative, but here's your detention slip."

What's the worst trouble you got into while in school?

Well, actually, I used to draw comics of me killing the girls I didn't like or who were mean to me in school. One of the girls featured in the comic stole my sketchbook and turned it into the principal, who the told my parents that I need counseling. I guess not much has changed.

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

All the time! School was always second to music for me. I never spent time doing homework. I'd be printing and handing out fliers for my band at clubs when I should have been studying.

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

I never got into any serious trouble. I was teased, but I handled it well. I was called a "witch" pretty often. I wore all black and usually had some sort of witchcraft book on me I always stood up for people being picked on, though.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

Music saved my life and is the only reason I survived being so different in school. I always knew I was different than everyone else, and music helped me identify with something. It made me feel like I belonged to something. That's all I want to do now with my band's music — help make people who are like me feel like they belong.

By Kory Grow

"There are so many different fuckers up here jamming, it could be a clusterfuck," says a very sweaty Philip Anselmo, pointing at the audience in an accusatory fashion after he and a pantheon of metal giants finish playing a hyper-charged rendition of Pantera's "Mouth for War" at the Metal Masters 4 concert in New York City this past Friday night, September 7.

"But guess what?" He assumes a gravely, almost whispered tone to show his seriousness. "It ain't."

He looks to his left at Slayer guitarist Kerry King and then to his right at Anthrax bassist Frank Bello and assumes his alpha-male growl, as if we ever doubted him: "It's fun!"

For the rest of the night, and in the hours leading up to this performance, which was presented by Samson, Zoom, Hartke, Guitar Center and Revolver magazine, positivity seems to emanate from the stage toward the 500 or so lucky metalheads who were able to get into the sold-out show at NYC's Gramercy Theatre.

As with the three previous Metal Masters concerts, a number of luminary musicians who play with metal bands like Slayer, Anthrax and Exodus have joined together, alongside Down and Pantera's Anselmo and bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan, to show off their skills and maybe teach something in a clinic setting followed by a no-holds-barred jam of some of their greatest hits.

Although some of the musicians got together for an L.A.-based Metal Masters show in April, which boasted a special appearance by Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler, they seem almost like their own band — a metal dream — on Friday.

As artists like Anthrax's Scott Ian seamlessly switch off places with others, like Exodus' Gary Holt, on a stage bearing a sculpted wall of amps, Anselmo's proclamation rings true: A clusterfuck it ain't.

The fun times began when Slayer drummer-slash-Tasmanian-Devil Dave Lombardo played a dimly lit set with his echoey avant-garde punk trio, Philm. Considering part of the night is meant to show off each musician's instrumental prowess — the evening is presented by musical instrument companies Hartke, Samson and Zoom — Lombardo situated his kit with a sideways view so gawkers could parse every polyrhythmic paradiddle.

Mouthpiece Gerry Nestler growled and shouted as he wrung bluesy bends and rumbly distorto riffs from his guitar and bassist Pancho Tomaselli whoodled and wheedled up and down his four strings, the pair only taking a break to help the audience cheer on, "Dave! Dave! Dave!" (The pair should deserve their own chant, though, for being able to keep up with the man who does this on a regular basis.)

After that performance, the clinic portion of the evening began with a rousing lesson/lecture/standup routine/pep rally by a Motörhead-shirt-wearing Bello, who promised early on, "You guys are gonna get fucked up tonight. I'm not even kidding. Some of the songs that are gonna be played on this stage, you haven't heard in a long fucking time."

He'd hold true to that oath hours later, but for now he recants stories of Geezer Butler teaching him how to correctly play Black Sabbath's "Neon Knights" at the L.A. Metal Masters show, the impact deceased Metallica bassist (and Bello's friend) Cliff Burton had on him and how much he enjoys playing with Anselmo. And, of course, he rumbled out some impressive notage on his bass, even interpolating Burton's classic wah-wah-infused "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)" solo.

The hulking Sheehan followed him and whipped out some jaw-dropping feats of fingertapping, but the most impressive part of his set occurred when Anselmo, Bello and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante joined him for a rendition of Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher." Playing his bass, Sheehan nailed every note Eddie played on the original while Frankie Lee Roth and Philly Hagar handled the vocal duties. The performance was bizarre and exciting if not for the fact that only Benante was handling the role he's best known for.

The rough position of following this up went to Scott Ian, who had to deal with his set being interrupted by a fire alarm. ("Too much metal," he joked.) When order was restored, he led a sort of "Devil Went Down to Georgia"-type duel where he would play the rhythm-guitar parts to Anthrax classics and then give his instrument to a member of the audience to replicate. The concertgoers in question (perhaps to Ian's chagrin?) all did respectable jobs of matching his riffing on songs like "Madhouse," "Indians" and "Imitation of Life." But that's what you get for challenging a room likely full of musicians.

His bandmate Benante followed his set by playing some rattling drum solos, during which Lombardo came out to duel with him. They traversed a number of famous patterns, including Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" — playing an estimated 39 billion beats between them — until Benante says, "I think we're done. There's only so much double bass you can do … we've met our quota." And with that, the audience prepped for the main event, which Benante joked would consist of "Smiths and Journey tunes."

The concert portion of the evening begins with an ensemble of Kerry King, Scott Ian, Billy Sheehan and Charlie Benante playing Anthrax's "Room for One More," as Bello takes a rare turn at vocals, handling the part originally sung by John Bush. It's just a sampling of the permutations of musicians who mount the stage over the course of the next 11 songs. Next up, King, Holt and Anselmo — who has dressed for the occasion in a shirt whose back reads "Classic Not Classy" — comes out to sing "Mouth for War."

As a sea of camera phones make waves in the audience, he exclaims, "Getting all of us together like this, it's fuckin' awesome … Since we're in New York, I want to see that fuckin' old-school energy out there." And the audience obliges, moshing and running into each other like atoms in a nuclear fission experiment.

The evening progresses by playing one hit after another, culled from respective oeuvres of each band represented. Anselmo attempts songs he hasn't sung since Pantera's final tour ("5 Minutes Alone," "Goddamn Electric"), and the group the odd Slayer classic ("War Ensemble"), an Exodus cut ("Strike of the Beast") and a trio of songs by Scott Ian and Charlie Benante's hardcore-metal crossover group Stormtroopers of Death. "Cro-mags up next," Anselmo jokes, referring to the NYHC powerhouse group, between S.O.D. songs. Kidding aside, the way that band merged hardcore and metal meant a lot to the singer, who says, without them "I'd be out of a fuckin' job."

As with the previous installments of Metal Masters, the crowd goes ape to hear Anselmo sing Pantera classics like "Fucking Hostile" and "A New Level" again, but it's just as impressive to hear him take on the work of a singer like Tom Araya's more high-pitched screams on Slayer canon like "Angel of Death" and the indefatigable "Raining Blood." His husky growl fits right in. Meanwhile, Kerry King nimbly assails each note Dimebag plays in the Pantera classics.

Overall, it's a scene of peers being fans and vice-versa. Before playing one song, Anselmo tells the crowd, "I grew up with hippie parents, and they would listen to Hendrix, Janis Joplin, all that shit. And 'Stairway to Heaven' was the pinnacle. Well, this was my 'Stairway' when I was 15."

Then the group played "Chemical Warfare." Later, Anselmo says, "I'm just a music fan. Don't judge me any other way." The same could probably be said of everyone in the room, who cheer as the artists who performed tonight — three guitarists, two bassists, two drummers and one singer — plays Pantera's hasty hardcore-thrash crossover salvo "Fucking Hostile."

It's a communal experience, and compared to the four Metal Masters shows so far — including the second one where Anselmo made an unannounced surprise appearance — it's the best organized, having more of a concert feel. The musicians should take note, though: Part of the fun of it all is the shambolic spontaneity that comes from maybe not being so well rehearsed. If they refine their playing any more next time, it might turn into (gasp) a band. But that wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Chris Krovatin is the author of three young adult novels, Heavy Metal & You, Venomous, and Gravediggers: Mountain of Bones. He is currently working on multiple new writing projects, as well as new material with his local New York metal band Flaming Tusk. He is a contributing writer for Revolver and generally comes off as a good-natured pain in everyone's collective ass. This column represents his opinions—and probably only his opinions.

OK, here's what I'm thinking: I want the band name, you know, Meatball Grinder, only I want "Meatball" to be done as, like, splatters of human intestines against a brick wall on a hot day, right? But then "Grinder" should be made of big jagged pieces of riveted metal with kind of a chrome look. But here's where it gets important: I want the intestines in the "M" to be pulled into kind of a chute, right, and then have the "R" have a spout that's spitting out this furious barrage of ground meat, just a repulsive spray of chunky remains. And can we put an inverted cross in there? What if the "T" in "Meatball" is an inverted cross? No one's done that, right?

Creating a truly cool band logo is hard, especially in metal where everything is done to death. But if you nail it, then damn, you've done good. Sometimes, your band says enough that you don't need a logo, just a font (Motörhead, Pantera). Sometimes, your band is down to change their shit up album to album, the awesome band name doing most of the graphic designer's job (Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard). And sometimes, you decide to have your band logo look like a Vidalia onion (Naglfar). But for the elite few, that logo remains as perfect symbol for that band's awesome sound and atmosphere. Likewise, if your band logo sucks, I will never 100 percent dig you. Nothing personal, but it matters. So, dear readers, here is my list of the Six Coolest and Lamest Metal Band Logos.

The Six Coolest Metal Band Logos:

1. Slayer HELL yes. No other logo even touches the Slayer logo. It has a sharp old-school thrash-metal vibe to it (and, let's all quietly admit, a slightly fascistic quality with that "S"), but remains edgy and modern. Perfect for tattoos, graffiti, yarmulkes, socks, shot glasses, rolling papers, and whatever else you can think of. Put it on everything.

2. Iron Maiden With its classic red block lettering, this is easily one of the most identifiable band logos in metal. It immediately invokes the traditional concept of the genre—long hair, pumping fists, black sleeveless shirts, war. Predictable, perhaps, but undeniable in its eternal power. Hail.

3. Metallica Yeah, we gotta do it. Say what you want about them as a band, Metallica has one of the cooler logos in music. What makes it so awesome is its simplicity—just make the ends of the word sharp, like fangs. Every time a death-metal band designs a wholly unreadable logo, they should stop and consider this one. Damn near perfect.

4. Napalm Death All too often, death-metal bands err on the side of spiky logos (Death, Morbid Angel) or dripping gory logos (Cryptopsy, Autopsy, all the "-topsies" really). Napalm Death found a perfect medium, their shredded, scrawled skeleton of a logo standing as a symbol of all things insane, repulsive, and enraged. Rock this on a shirt while stomping a Nazi's face in.

5. Mayhem The Emperor logo's more regal and the Darkthrone logo's more cult, but the Mayhem logo has it all—spikes, crosses, bat wings, and "the true" written atop it. This is the standard that every black-metal band wanted to follow, a mutated outgrowth of overdriven evil. God, just LOOK at it.

6. Nine Inch Nails White box. "N," "I," backward "N." Simple, elegant, hardcore, solid, undeniable, awesome.

Honorable mentions: Opeth, Carcass, Emperor, Venom, Death, Morbid Angel, Anthrax, Nile, Twisted Sister, Wolves in the Throne Room, and that Sepultura "S" made out of bones.

The Six Lamest Metal Band Logos:

1. Killswitch Engage Though I'm not a diehard Killswitch fan or anything, I don't hate these guys, but—yikes! There's just so many bad things going on here—the pouty half-skull, the weird semi-wings over it, the crown, the ultra-distressed type. This logo is confused more than anything else. A confluence of bad metalcore imagery.

2. hed PE As far as nu-metal bands go, I actually really like these guys. "Waiting To Die" is awesome, and their cover of "Sabra Cadabra" on Nativity In Black II is a solid revision of a classic tune. But man, those parentheses are infuriating, and that upside-down lower-case "E" just puts the killing rage in me. At least the backwards "R" in the Korn logo has a childish thing to it—no one writes an upside-down "E."

3. Saxon Is the "S" supposed to be a battle-axe? Is that what's going on here? Because otherwise, this logo is an odd mix of a 1970s rock font and a weird 1980s prog-metal  script. And honestly, even if it is an axe, it's not very good. Sorry, guys, but I got no love for this.

4. Morbid As much as I love Per "Dead" Ohlin and early black metal, I'm sad to report that this logo eats the thick veiny one. The weird little cutsey-goth bat shape, the lower-case "D" at the end… It all looks clumsy and unnatural. Obviously, it was redeemed by the Mayhem logo, but still, look at it. Blech.

5. HIM The heartagram sucks. Period. End of story. It is grade-A lame. Even when I listened to this band a lot—that's right, they have some silky gothic grooves, man—I never rocked that heartagram logo. It's Satanism filed down. It's the beast with Mickey Mouse ears. Fuck this logo.

6. Megadeth Huh…look at how the first and last letters have those spiked corners. It reminds me of another, more successful band logo, but I forget which... Oh.

Call Me No One, the new hard-rock band featuring Sevendust's Clint Lowery and Morgan Rose, recently kicked off their first tour ever, in support of their debut album, Last Parade. Every week, frontman Lowery (pictured below, second from right) will be sharing his tour diary with us. Here's the second entry...

Days off are golden when you're trying to keep your voice on the road. And for a guy that hasn't been the lead singer and pushes himself maybe a lil' too much, the day off seems magical.

I have a full-on new respect for singers who do this year round.

We make our way through some Ohio shows, Portsmouth, which is damn near West Virgina and start the very popular tour parking lot BBQs. These are amazing because it allows everyone on tour to pitch in five dollars and eat a bunch of food. Some people pitch in, some don't. I try not making a big deal about it. Kinda like the honor system. Watermelon, cheeseburgers, hot dogs — the basics.

The vibe on this tour has been an absolute pleasure. 14 people on one bus, could have been a recipe for disaster. But our history with Nonpoint is long, and friendship is solid. It's all about respecting boundaries and being positive. I've picked up the nickname "Mama Lowery" cause I clean buses. I picked up this habit after I got sober. It's kinda like an OCD thing and kinda helps me relax. I wait until everyone's off and spring clean it and take pride when the guys hop back on. I'm nuts.

Our show is finally starting to take shape. Everyday we have to dial in the monitors because we don't travel with an engineer. This is a task. Some days you get a very capable engineer, some days not. Our team of guys always help fill in the blanks for the less talented ones. As a band, our confidence is growing and we're getting comfortable. Each show we find a better flow, my rap to the crowd is sometimes funny, sometimes awkward and most of the time, brief. I simply try not to think about it and just say what comes off the top of my head.

Rek and Alan are both stellar musicians and by far some of the coolest guys I've ever toured with - real genuine people and perfectionists. Their enthusiasm is infectious and I enjoy my time with them. Morgan as always, makes playing an amazing experience.

Some of the crowds are smaller but very attentive. Louisville, for example, was one of the bigger crowds. The monitor guy at this place decides to take a break in our set for 3 songs, I can't hear anything I sing and scream every word. Not too cool for the voice, or crowd. I get off stage mad and everyone seems to think it was a good show, so my perception of the shows could be off. I know that after each one I feel like we won a battle of some kind - that everyone there was a factor in helping me do something no one thought we could do. We have a day off after Louisville and spend our day off there. Gym beside the hotel, we do some laundry, Eye Empire host another parking lot BBQ…then we pile up and go see the movie Total Recall. Why we were excited to see this average remake, I have no idea. But it's an escape.

On to Johnson City. I have memories of playing this place in my early twenties with my old band Still Rain. Not much has changed. Shows good, we hang with people at our merch booth every night. In hopes to sell merch and connect with fans. I really have enjoyed that part of this trek. Some people have really made me feel good about what we've done.

Day off in ATL with my family. My mother flies into town, my wife, son, and in laws. We spend a great day hanging out, connecting my son with his cuz Sloane, watching my mom watch her grandchildren was a pleasure beyond. Spending time with them was a much needed recharge. The ATL show was the show on the tour I really wanted to do well at performance-wise. It's kinda like a home coming show. All the family is out, familiar faces, insane guest list, stress of making sure everyone is ok, it's not exactly a relaxing show but the price you pay to have everyone there. My wife and son watch side of the stage. My son is amazing to watch, he points and says daddy and bangs his head. Something I've waited to see after watching all the kids in the 7D camp at shows. I wanted and yearned to have a child of my own be there and now that is my reality. My wife's giving me the biggest gift a person can give. Life.

The show is a success, we gel well on stage and everyone seems to enjoy it. I enjoy my talks with fans afterwards too - really heart felt things they said. I feel honored and a small piece doesn't think I deserve it, but small enough piece to ignore.

I'm grateful for this band, my life, and the future. CMNO will move forward, we have a taste for it now and it will be seen through. It's too fun and too real. Sevendust will also move forward. Just has to make a lil' room for this growing entity.

Few more shows and we're done... Until the next tour.

God bless.

-Clint

Clint also put together a special tour playlist for fans that missed out on the band's latest run of dates. Check it out on Spotify here.