Part tomboy, part femme fatale, Zeena Koda is a SiriusXM DJ, vocalist, journalist, and lover of all things hardcore. You can catch her radio show Monday through Saturday on SiriusXM Liquid Metal and watch her inquisitive feminist side via her video web series Boxx Talk and Ask A Bombshell. Rot and roll, baby!
Some teenage girls grow up idolizing the cookie-cutter sounds of pop icons like Britney Spears, but for Kobra Paige, who fronts her namesake band Kobra and the Lotus, she was fortified on a hearty formula full of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Beginning her singing career as a classical singer, Paige possesses the technical skill that is required in order to sing notes that are massively sustained at a highly-belted vocal range. Drawing passionate influences from classic metal voices such as Rob Halford, Paige and her band is not just interpreting a classic sound, but giving a modern nod to the brick-and-mortar sonic output that built the foundation. It’s readily evident that rock and roll is in her soul, and in a metal world filled with male archetypes, she acknowledges that, as a blond bombshell, she does indeed stand out. “People will think you’re just a pretty face put up there. They think there is no connect between the fact that you have to be there dedicated to the band” she confidently states. “They didn’t just pluck out a Barbie and put her onstage.” Although the picturesque frontwoman could easily be mistaken for a model, her persona is striking and oozes of amorous dedication to her craft. Paige combats the naysayers by stating, “Any person obviously has to be really into heavy metal, living and breathing for it, in order to be on the road constantly.” After officially changing her name to Kobra two years ago, there was no turning back on her mission to rock, this is her message.
As a vocalist who actually utilizes a sustained singing voice, it is key that Paige takes extra care of her signature pipes. In her classical trained, she learned the art of signing and segued to metal quickly at the ripe age of 15 after being blown away at a Judas Priest concert. “When I saw the way the crowd responded when ‘Painkiller’ started playing, I knew needed to be part of this culture” she recounts from her first show. Taking notes from the higher echelon of classic metal and built off of a love for the diversity and depth of Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant, she made the life-changing transition by starting Kobra and the Lotus in 2008. “I felt it was an extremely natural progression because metal allows for that chest voice to be used” she explains. “I wasn’t trying to emulate them but the singers I loved sounded similar to the range I was already working in.” Interestingly, many of those singers she emulated are male while singing in a predominately female range, something Kobra naturally was blessed with.
It takes a whole other form of discipline and dedication to make a sound so beautifully destructive in the studio come across consistently flawless onstage, which is one challenging factor on the full U.S. tour they are embarking on with Fear Factory. “There dates are six days on, and one day off, so I’m glad we only have a 30-minute set” Kobra admits. “I have no clue how Burton
from Fear Factory can do that long of a set every night. It’s crazy to me!” She adds, “Metal is vocally taxing. You have to be careful. The last thing you want are nodes–it’s my greatest fear.”It is Paige and her bandmates’ stamina and dedication that has brought the once-localized Canadian band to the label home of KISS’ Gene Simmons and helped them tour throughout the U.S. and Europe. Touring becomes a way of life for a band planting their seeds and often the conditions can present a quandary to the generally rigorous hygienic demands of the female sex. While most dudes may be all right with missing a few showers on tour, Paige recognizes that the “most important thing is being clean and I don’t care how I have to do it–tons of baby wipes on tour.” Understandable, considering as a frontwoman, she not only has to perform her musical duties but also spend time after talking to journalists, fans, peers, and everyone in between. As cordial as an artist might try to be, it is inevitable that the dreaded “creep hand” or unwarranted come-on will always sneak its obnoxious way in. This is not limited just to female musicians like Paige but applies to all females. When asked if she experienced any excessive creep handing, Paige cites a familiar scene. “A man will give me a friendly hug and it starts a wave of hugs” she laughs. “Nothing personal to those people but sometimes you don’t want people in your space.” It is hard to deny the magnetism that oozes from Paige, who through a rigorous touring and recording schedule still finds time to research nutrition and the effects various foods and natural resources have on the body. Perhaps the secret behind her amazing figure and energy is her dedication to making almost all her daily meals herself and keeping tabs on what is going into her body. No small feat given the lottery conditions of eating on the road while touring.
Life on the road for a babe like Paige can be hilarious in many ways, and early on she found some audience members oblivious to her talent–that is until she stepped onstage. “When we were touring around Canada the first time, I got a lot of questions like, ‘Are you the merch girl?’ but they shut up the minute I got onstage.” Fortunately, fans have come to recognize her for that firm vocal stance and can get a taste of Paige’s pristine pipes on their current tour with Fear Factory. She laments that one of her dream tours would of course be with Judas Priest. “I was beside myself when we got to open for them the first time,” she says, “and, not to be cliche, but it would be awesome to tour with Maiden–who wouldn’t wanna tour with Iron Maiden?” With the don of metal success, Gene Simmons, aiding to steer them in the right way, international success is only a matter of time. “Gene has built this empire and he’s a marketing guru. It’s amazing that his door is always open to us,” Kobra proudly admits. “It took me about a year to believe that it was really true. I kept thinking one day I’m going to wake up and this all going to be gone, but it’s been wonderful because, you never know, nothing is set in stone in this lifetime.” That endearing humility and graciousness will fuel Kobra and the Lotus to go in for the kill in 2013 and never look back.
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With less than a week to go until the release of their twentieth studio album, Kiss are now streaming two new songs from Monster online. Check out “Long Way Down” and “All For the Love of Rock & Roll” below.
“There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album,” said bassist Gene Simmons in a press statement earlier this year. “The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves.”
Back in August, the band released the limited-edition Kiss Monster Book, a 3 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide tome that was limited to 1,000 copies and carried a hefty price tag of 4,250.
“This book is way beyond my expectations,” said Paul Stanley. “The photos are incredible at this size. It’s not a coffee table book, it’s a coffee table!”
The follow-up to 2009′s Sonic Boom is out next Tuesday, October 9.
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Kiss’s 20th studio album, Monster, isn’t out until October, but why wait until then to get a taste of what the hottest band in the land have in store? Scroll down to watch the new lyric video for “Hell or Hallelujah.”
“Hell or Hallelujah” is now available at iTunes. Buy it here.
Kiss will hit the road later this month with Motley Crue for what has been dubbed, simply, “The Tour.”
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Kiss have officially announced an October release for their upcoming twentieth studio album, Monster, through Universal Music Enterprises.
The band will release the album’s first single, “Hell Or Hallelujah,” this coming Tuesday, July 3 for digital download.
“There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album,” said bassist Gene Simmons of the follow-up to 2009′s Sonic Boom (buy on iTunes). “The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves. Tommy and Eric have revitalized this band, with a work ethic and the talent to back it up. This is a real band effort. Kiss has become a behemoth. We’re going where no bands have gone before.”
Kiss will hit the road for a massive co-headlining tour with Motley Crue on July 20.
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With a new album on its way this fall, the hottest band in the world are getting things heated up in just a couple of weeks with the release of a new single
Kiss will debut the lead single from Monster, their upcoming twentieth studio album, on July 2, just ahead of a newly announced show at London, England’s Forum on July 4.
Proceeds from both the show and then new single will go towards Help For Heroes, an organization that provides aid to veterans.
“The greatest national treasure of any free country is the army that defends it at all cost,” said Paul Stanlet. “Bringing attention to the obligation we all share to those returning heroes has been our mission in the U.S. and now the U.K. We pay tribute to those brave men and women and urge everyone to show their thanks with donations.”
Kiss will kick off a massive co-headlining tour with Motley Crue on July 20. You can find dates for “The Tour” below.
Kiss and Motley Crue 2012 Tour Dates
Jul. 20 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
Jul. 21 – Farm Bureau Live – Virginia Beach, VA
Jul. 22 – Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion – Raleigh, NC
Jul. 24 – Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood – Atlanta, GA
Jul. 25 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Charlotte, NC
Jul. 27 – Cruzan Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, FL
Jul. 28 – 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater – Tampa, FL
Jul. 31 – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre – Pelham, A\L
Aug. 03 – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Woodlands, TX
Aug. 04 – Gexa Energy Paviliion – Dallas, TX
Aug. 07 – Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion – Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 08 – Comfort Dental Amphitheater – Englewood, CO
Aug. 10 – Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 11 – Mandalay Bay Arena – Las Vegas, NV
Aug. 12 – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA
Aug. 14 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Irvine, CA
Aug. 16 – Sleep Train Pavilion – Concord, MA
Aug. 18 – White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA
Aug. 19 – Sleep Country Amphitheater – Ridgefield, CT
Aug. 24 – Rock Jam – Grand Junction, CO
Aug. 26 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
Aug. 27 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Maryland Heights, MO
Aug. 29 – Minnesota State Fair – Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 31 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
Sep. 01 – Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Sep. 02 – First Niagara Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
Sep. 04 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Sep. 05 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
Sep. 07 – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL
Sep. 08 – Alpine Valley Music Theater – East Troy, MI
Sep. 11 – Allegan County Fair – Allegan, MI
Sep. 12 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Sep. 13 – Molson Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON
Sep. 15 – Darien Lake PAC – Darien Lake, NY
Sep. 16 – Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA
Sep. 18 – Toyota Pavilion – Scranton, PA
Sep. 19 – Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
Sep. 21 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
Sep. 22 – Nikon at Jones Beach – Wantagh, NY
Sep. 23 – Comcast Theater – Hartford, CT
The fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods Award Show brought the house down at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on April 11 with groundbreaking performances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations that America’s only hard-rock and heavy-metal show have become known for. Broadcast live in its entirety on Xbox LIVE and the Revolver Facebook page, the sold-out event featured the greatest in hard rock and heavy metal and was hosted again by Fozzy front man and WWE pro-wrestling legend Chris Jericho. Album of the Year honors at this year’s event went to Korn for their critically acclaimed album The Path of Totality.
The evening featured surprise appearances including Johnny Depp playing guitar on two Marilyn Manson songs, “Sweet Dreams” and “The Beautiful People,” and Taylor Momen joining Manson for “The Dope Show;” Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Machine Head’s Robb Flynn joining Trivium onstage to cover Metallica’s “Creeping Death;” Slash jamming with Alice Cooper on “Schools Out;” Dee Snider performing with the Black Veil Brides for an awesome rendition of “I Wanna Rock,” and more. Highlights also include Jack Black and Kyle Glass of Tenacious D presenting the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award to prog-rock pioneers Rush and legendary Kiss rocker Gene Simmons taking home the “Golden God” award.
Following is a complete list of the 2012 Golden Gods Award Winners:
Riff Lord: Slash
Paul Gray Best Bassist: Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe, Sixx:A.M.)
Best Drummer: Jeremy Spencer (Five Finger Death Punch)
Best Guitarists: Jinxx and Jake Pitts (Black Veil Brides)
Golden God: Gene Simmons (Kiss)
Comeback of the Year: Slipknot
Best International Band: X Japan
Album Of The Year: Korn’s The Path of Totality
Most Dedicated Fans: Avenged Sevenfold
Most Metal Athlete: CM Punk (WWE Wrestling)
Best Vocalist: Amy Lee (Evanescence)
Best Live Band: Avenged Sevenfold
Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award: Rush
To access the full Golden Gods site, click here!
America’s only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show is back for 2012! The fourth annual REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARD SHOW presented by Epiphone® will take place Wednesday, April 11, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. For the first time ever, the event will be broadcast live in its entirety on Xbox LIVE, as well as on the Xbox and Revolver Facebook pages. Tickets go on sale today Wednesday, February 15 at 5 p.m. PST, via Ticketmaster, click here.
“Our exclusive collaboration with Revolver Magazine on the Golden Gods event shows just how far Xbox LIVE has come as an entertainment destination,” said Ross Honey, GM of Xbox LIVE Entertainment & Advertising. “We’re excited to deliver this live original content to all Xbox LIVE members globally.”
Also on April 11, The GRAMMY Museum, next door to Club Nokia, will open its new exhibit Golden Gods: The History of Heavy Metal. Mounted in coordination with Revolver, the exhibit will feature never-before-displayed artifacts including instruments, stage props, handwritten lyrics, clothing and costumes, alongside original album artwork, posters and live-performance and interview footage. The exhibit will also feature a variety of interactive displays. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Revolver to tell the story of metal,” states GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, “and offer fans the opportunity to engage with their favorite artists in such a personal way.”
Hosting duties for the GOLDEN GODS awards show will be handled by FOZZY frontman and WWE pro-wrestling legend Chris Jericho, who returns for the third consecutive year. The nominees in 11 different categories, plus the recipient of this year’s prestigious “Golden God Award,” were revealed today at a press conference held at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. Host Chris Jericho was on hand, along with Alice Cooper, Munky (Korn), Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society), Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Hellyeah), James Michael (Sixx:A.M.), Vinny Appice (Heaven & Hell, Kill Devil Hill), Black Veil Brides, Mike Portnoy (Adrenaline Mob), John Moyer (Disturbed, Adrenaline Mob), Michael Starr (Steel Panther), Wendy Dio (wife of Ronnie James Dio) and pro motocross rider Brian Deegan to announce the nominees.
Beginning today, fans everywhere can cast their vote to decide who will take home the awards for “Best Guitarist” (presented by Epiphone®), “Best Drummer” (presented by Drum Workshop®), “Best Vocalist” (presented by Rockstar Energy Drink®), “Album of the Year” (presented by Marshall Amplification®), “Best Live Band” (presented by Samson/Zoom®), “Most Metal Athlete,” “Comeback of the Year” (presented by Eagle Rock Entertainment®), “Riff Lord,” “Paul Gray Best Bassist” (presented by Dean Markley®), “Best International Band” (presented by Musicians Institute®) and “Most Dedicated Fans.” Voting starts today at: www.GoldenGodsAwards.com and ends on April 1. The complete list of nominees in each category is listed below.
The Golden God Award, given to one special honoree a year who embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal, will go to KISS demon Gene Simmons, whose band will release their highly anticipated 20th studio album, “Monster,” this year. (Previous honorees include hard-rock and metal legends Alice Cooper, Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST and Dave Mustaine of MEGADETH.) Simmons commented, “It’s an honor and privilege to accept the Golden God Award. A God is only as powerful as the faithful who worship him. Signed GOD OF THUNDER.”
Adding to the celebration, The 2012 REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS SHOW will feature one-of-a-kind special performances and collaborations that honor both the past, present and future of heavy music. The night’s hard-rocking musical performances will include sets by MARILYN MANSON (in his first U.S. performance in nearly three years); iconic GRAMMY-winning guitarist SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators; EVANESCENCE; SIXX:A.M. featuring Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE, James Michael, acclaimed rock producer and songwriter, and DJ Ashba of GUNS N’ ROSES (in their first performance in almost four years); and 2011 Best New Band Golden God Award winner BLACK VEIL BRIDES, who will perform their only U.S. show of 2012 so far. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Every year, the Revolver Golden Gods grows bigger and more badass. The 2012 edition is without question the most epic one yet, from the performers and presenters to the nominees and honorees,” states Revolver Editor in Chief Brandon Geist. “And this year, with the GRAMMY Museum launching its tie-in ‘Golden Gods: The History of Heavy Metal’ exhibit, and Xbox LIVE broadcasting the show around the world as it goes down in its entirety, the event will truly encompass the full timeline of heavy music and span the globe. Epic, indeed.”
“Epiphone and I are thrilled to participate in the Golden Gods Awards Show and celebrate some of music’s best talents – including this year’s performers from our Epiphone/Gibson family Nikki Sixx and Slash,” said Jim Rosenberg, President of Epiphone. “We are excited to share this year’s event with Epiphone players and metal fans across the globe with the show’s inaugural live broadcast. Every year, the show gets better and better!”
Cast your vote now atGOLDENGODSAWARDS.COM. The nominees for the 2012 REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS presented by Epiphone® are:
Best Guitarist, presented by Epiphone®
• Jinxx and Jake Pitts (Black Veil Brides)
• Zoltan Bathory and Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch)
• Willie Adler and Mark Morton (Lamb of God)
• Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel (Machine Head)
• Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick (Megadeth)
• Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)
Best Drummer, presented by Drum Workshop®
• Charlie Benante (Anthrax)
• Jeremy Spencer (Five Finger Death Punch)
• Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
• Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
• Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
• Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)
Best Vocalist, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink®
• Sebastian Bach
• Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides)
• James Durbin
• Amy Lee (Evanescence)
• Ivan Moody (Five Finger Death Punch)
• Jonathan Davis (Korn)
Album of the Year, presented by Marshall Amplification®
• Anthrax, Worship Music
• Evanescence, Evanescence
• Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist
• Foo Fighters, Wasting Light
• Korn, The Path of Totality
• Lamb of God, Resolution
Best Live Band, presented by Samson/Zoom®
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Foo Fighters
• Guns N’ Roses
• Judas Priest
• Seether
• Tool
Most Metal Athlete
• Gina Carano (MMA fighting)
• Brian Deegan (pro motocross)
• Evan Longoria (MLB baseball)
• Dirk Nowitzki (NBA basketball)
• Mitch Petrus (NFL football)
• CM Punk (WWE wrestling)
Comeback of the Year, presented by Eagle Rock Entertainment®
• Anthrax
• Dream Theater
• Evanescence
• Ministry
• Slipknot
• Van Halen
Riff Lord
• Scott Ian (Anthrax)
• Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society)
• Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
• Munky (Korn)
• Slash
• Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
Paul Gray Best Bassist, presented by Dean Markley®
• Frank Bello (Anthrax)
• Michael Anthony (Chickenfoot)
• Fieldy (Korn)
• David Ellefson (Megadeth)
• Nikki Sixx (Sixx:A.M.)
• Wolfgang Van Halen (Van Halen)
Best International Band, presented by Musicians Institute®
• Behemoth
• Lacuna Coil
• Rammstein
• Sepultura
• Meshuggah
• X Japan
Most Dedicated Fans
• Asking Alexandria
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Black Veil Brides
• Evanescence
• Falling in Reverse
• HIM
For more information on tickets for the REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS please log on to: http://www.ticketmaster.com/
About REVOLVER Magazine:
Revolver is the No. 1 hard-rock and heavy-metal destination in the world. In print for over 10 years, the magazine takes readers into the studio, onto the stage, and behind the scenes, providing in-depth information, mind-blowing original photography, and hilarious insights they can’t find anywhere else. The home of The Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock, Revolver also features horror movies, mixed martial arts, tattoos, action sports, and more. The cover of the magazine was recently named by Billboard to be the #1 place to get maximum exposure as a hard-rock artist. Revolver sponsors over 20 hard-rock tours each year, including the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Its website (www.revolvermag.com) features exclusive interviews, music and video, photo-shoot outtakes, and contests. Revolver is also the official partner of Phunware for RevolverTV, the main home of hard rock and heavy metal programming on all mobile phones, producing new features weekly on over 200 mobile networks including the latest versions of Android and iPhone.
About Xbox Live:
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy one of the world’s largest on-demand libraries on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of more than 35 nearly 40 million people across 35 countries, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
About Epiphone:
Recognized worldwide as a leader in musical instrument design, quality and innovation since 1873, the Epiphone Company produces every major type of fretted instrument including electric and acoustic guitars, mandolins and banjos, as well as amplifiers. Epiphone’s new “Prophecy” guitars are designed specifically for advanced players of rock and metal with a focus on speed, tone and reliability. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Epiphone is part of the Gibson family of brands. For more information visit www.epiphone.com.
About The GRAMMY Museum:
Paying tribute to music’s rich cultural history, this one-of-a-kind, 21st-century Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the premier recognition of excellence in recorded music—the GRAMMY Award. The GRAMMY Museum features 30,000 square feet of interactive and multimedia exhibits located within L.A. LIVE, the downtown Los Angeles sports, entertainment and residential district. Through thought-provoking and dynamic public and educational programs and exhibits, guests will experience music from a never-before-seen insider perspective that only The GRAMMY Museum can deliver. www.grammymuseum.org
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In what seems to be a growing trend, following in the footsteps of Motörhead with their brand of wine and vodka, Kiss have announced the release of special Kiss-themed beer and wine. Zin Fire Wine and Destroyer Beer are now available in Sweden, with plans to expand into several more countries in the coming year.
Zin Fire Wine is said to be “a bold and fruity 2010 California Zinfandel,” while Destroyer Beer is described as “an easy-to-drink beer in the best German tradition. ”
“This isn’t just something we put a label on,” said guitarist-vocalist Paul Stanley. “We wanted wine and beer unique to Kiss and we got it. This stuff will set your taste buds on fire.”
Bassist-vocalist Gene Simmons added, “If you love beer and wine, this one is for you!”
“Working with Kiss was a fantastic experience,” said Joakim Perani, managing director/partner of Rewine, who partnered with Kiss to create the products. “The band members were incredible partners in creating something that fans of fiery rock music, as well as great wine and beer, will enjoy.”
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2011 has been a great year for music, as evidenced by the kickass bands and artists we were able to feature on the cover of Revolver this year. Below, you can check out who made the cover of every issue of Revolver that was available over the past 365 days. After you’ve looked at the issues (some of which are still available for purchase here), click here to vote for the Best Revolver Cover of 2011.
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