Tag: slayer

With many still shocked and saddened by the passing of one of Slayer‘s founding members and guitarist Jeff Hanneman, the news of the Westboro Baptist Church‘s plans to protest at the funeral has raised alot of anger and confusion among music fans worldwide.

When I first seen this news appear online I was hesitant to write anything about it as I did not want to lend my site to be any part of a promotional tool for such an organisation but over the past few days I have found it difficult to keep silent.

The first I had heard about the church was during the coverage of the death of Ronnie James Dio. They were present at the funeral for the legendary metal vocalist in June 2010. Fellow Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne was among the musical mourners at the Hall of Liberty memorial service in Los Angeles for Dio, and told a local radio show: “I thought it was in such bad taste that those people had those banners about Ronnie James Dio. That’s disgusting. They say that we’re the anti-christ. Well, what makes them any better?”

It is with great sadness that we report that Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has passed away.

“Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home,” states the band’s official Facebook.” Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.

Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)”

Fast becoming one of the biggest and best line up’s of 2013 – Soundwave Festival organisers have finally announced the second round of artists to join the likes of Blink-182, The Offspring and Metallica, amongst other stunning first announcement acts.

Over 20 bands were named in the second announcement and pretty much all of them have managed to make a festival even bigger. Not that it needed it!

Joining the bill for the event are Slayer, Bullet For My Valentine, Billy Talent and Bring Me The Horizon, Mindless Self Indulgence, Amity Affliction, and Sick Of It all to name a few.

The great and the good of the UK Festival industry were out in force tonight at London’s Roundhouse to celebrate the eighth annual UK Festival Awards, which followed the Festival Conference, which took place during the day.

Hosted by The Cuban Brothers, the event saw 16 trophies handed out throughout the evening, which featured exclusive comedy performances by Trevor Lock, Luke Benson and a closing set from John Cooper Clarke. Seven awards were announced during the Festival Conference.

The only double winner of the UK Festival Awards – Derbyshire’s Y-Not Festival – received the awards for both ‘The Grass Roots Festival Award’ (in association with ID&C) and ‘Best Toilets’ (In association with Shewee), having expanded from one scaffold stage and a handmade DJ booth in a disused quarry to three stages and more than 80 bands. These awards were announced at the Festival Conference.