Linkin Park covers The Beastie Boys & Rare Song By The Cure: Five Finger Death Punch, Linkin Park, Breed 77, The Cure

"BLEED IT OUT / SABOTAGE"   LINKIN PARK

A week ago I saw the Linkin Park concert movie, Live In Berlin.   The band wanted to bring their fans together the night before the next day release of the new CD, Living Things.   Chester's voice is unparalleled, he FEELS every word he's singing, screaming, or rapping.   The concert ended with "Bleed It Out" (as expected) but the band tossed in the Beastie Boys "Sabotage" in the mix!!   The new CD is incredible, if Linkin Park comes to Florida, I'll be seeing them for the sixth time!

"REMEMBER EVERYTHING"  FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

Their style may not be for everyone but I've become a fan after seeing them dominate the 98Rockfest.   So much energy and emotion in their music, never more evident than in "Remember Everything" from their American Capitalist CD.   The video shows a child growing up in an abusive household and as his life progresses the memories stick with him and affect his future.   Powerful visual imagery!

 

"THIS TWILIGHT GARDEN"  THE CURE

"No one will ever take your place" is repeated by Robert Smith during this tranquil, beautiful love song.    The Cure put this song as the B-Side to their 1992 song "High".   I think it's one of the best songs they've ever recorded and definitely ranks as a "hidden treasure" song.   The Cure added the song to their career spanning box set, Join The Dots:  B-Sides and Rarities 1978-2001.  

"ZOMBIE"             BREED 77
A heavy metal cover of The Cranberries memorable anti-war alternative hit.   "Zombie" was inspired by the endless civil war strife in Ireland.  "Violence causes the silence" and "in your head, they're dying".    If ever a song deserved a mosh pit to get out the aggression, Breed 77's cover is the perfect outlet.   They're a British hard rock band who really sing like they feel the importance behind these memorable lyrics.

What Artist Links Michael Jackson, Chester Bennington, Seal, and Jennifer Lopez?

Carlos Santana got introduced to the world when his band played a legendary set in 1969 at Woodstock before they had even released their first album!   "Evil Ways" and "Soul Sacrifice" brought Santana international success.   Yet, it wasn't until 1999 when Carlos Santana achieved his greatest commercial success with the multi-Grammy winning CD, Supernatural.    Rolling Stone recently named him #15 on their all-time greatest guitar slingers.

Since 1999, he has played with everyone from Lauryn Hill, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Wyclef Jean, Mary J Blige, Nickelback, Michelle Branch, Eric Clapton, and on and on.    Here are four special  guest appearances from the past 13 years.

"WHATEVER HAPPENS"   MICHAEL JACKSON 

"RIDERS ON THE STORM"  SANTANA with CHESTER BENNINGTON (Linkin Park), RAY MANZAREK (The Doors)

"YOU ARE MY KIND"      SEAL

"THIS BOY'S FIRE"   JENNIFER LOPEZ

Chester Bennington with G-Unit?: The Police, Rock Therapy , and Young Buck Featuring Chester Bennington

"CAN'T STAND LOSING YOU"  THE POLICE

Check out the giant glasses on Sting in this "lost" alternative video!    From the debut CD, Outlandos d'Amour, this preceded "Roxanne" as the first Police hit song.  You might think the BBC would have banned this song for the lyrics, but it was their controversial artwork that got it banned.   Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland, one of the top trios in rock history!

"REACHING OUT"  ROCK THERAPY 

Rock Therapy was a super group comprised of Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Brian May (Queen), and Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones).   They only released one VERY rare CD but this song was sampled heavily by Eminem in "Beautiful".    The revamped Queen added this song to their setlist in the late 2000's. 

"SLOW YA ROLL"  YOUNG BUCK FT. CHESTER BENNINGTON

Linkin Park doesn't hide their love of rap music.    Usually it's Mike Shinoda but this time Chester jumps in as a guest vocalist for Young Buck.   Originally a member of G-Unit with 50 Cent, Young Buck was dismissed for disloyalty with the crew.   He's most famous for his "beefs" with Lil Wayne, The Game, DJ Khaled,......  Warning:  This song/video has "explicit" lyrics

New Halestorm: Chester Bennington, Halestorm, Zakk Wylde and Infectious Grooves

"MORNING AFTER"            CHESTER BENNINGTON

First time I shared this song with a friend, it resulted in the police pulling her car over for speeding, honestly explaining it was the music's fault, and she wasn't ticketed :) During the writing of Linkin Park's CD, Minutes To Midnight, Chester had written some songs he wanted to record but didn't feel they were right for Linkin Park.   So he created a side project called Dead By Sunrise, joining forces with artists like Julian K and Orgy.   The highlight of their first CD was this track featured on the soundtrack of  Underworld Evolution.   

"HERE'S TO YOU"   HALESTORM


Lizzy Hale's band is back with a new 4 song EP.   They debuted this song at the strike of midnight 2012.  Raise a toast to the new year!    Forget the times you messed up and celebrate life ahead!   "Love Bites But So Do I" is the hard rocker radio will jump on from this EP.

"FAREWELL BALLAD"          ZAK WYLDE

Who was the greatest guitarist to play with Ozzy?  Randy Rhoads?  Tommy Iommi?  Zak Wylde?  An amazing trio of lead guitarists that added fuel to the fire of Ozzy Osbourne's musical legacy.   Zak Wylde played with Ozzy from 1988 and appeared on eight of his solo CD's including No More Tears.   Zak's "bulls-eye" Les Paul guitar, his long blonde hair, and his powerful stage presence was unmistakeable.    His guitar style wasn't as flashy as Randy but Zak's style was very distinctive, choppy, metal all the way but influenced by country music.   Here's a short but incredible solo from his side project Black Label Society.

"STOP FUNKIN' WITH MY HEAD"    INFECTIOUS GROOVES

A student of mine introduced me to this all-star California bass-heavy funk metal band with a sound reminscient of early Red Hot Chili Peppers.   Led by Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies, the bassist on this track is Rob Trujillo.    Rob also played with Suicidal Tendencies, the first Ozzy solo CD's, Infectious Grooves, and replaced Jason Newsted in Metallica.  As their band name states, this song has a contagious bassline and a hook that will stick in your brain all day.