Lita (lucha)gorz Belfast

Latino-inspired punks Los Luchagorz - fronted by ex-WWE diva Lita - play Belfast's Auntie Annie's Porterhouse on Tuesday (that's the 8th of July fuckwitz). Tix are £12 and not selling - get down and give the tattoo'd lady your support, or I've a feeling she's gonna come looking for us! Exclusive Pied Piper interview with the luvverly Lita to follow soon...

Tesla open European tour in Belfast

More than 2000 years ago, one Julius Caesar famously proclaimed that he had came, he had seen and he had conquered.
Roll the clock forward to 11 June 2009 and five guys from Sacramento can proudly claim that they came to Belfast, they played and they most definitely fucking conquered.
Quite simply, Tesla's long-awaited return to our fair city was, quite simply, AWESOME. As I predicted in my earlier blog, it was most definitely worth the wait.Some 22 years ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting Jeff Keith and his merry band of rock'n'roll urban cowboys. Tonight, it was a greater pleasure to renew that acquaintance. 1987 may be more years ago than many of us can, or care to, remember, but it was just like it was yesterday.From the opening chord of 'Forever More' to the dying cadence of 'Cumin Atcha Live', this was a lesson in how to deliver an absolutely brilliant and blistering rock set, balancing powerful new material with classic tracks and beautiful acoustic interludes.Highlights? 'Modern Day Cowboy', of course, and a brilliant 'L'il Susie', with 'I Wanna Live' close behind.A little over two decades ago, Tesla came close to ripping the roof off the Ulster Hall. Tonight, only the three floors of offices above prevented them trying it at the Spring and Airbrake. Methinks, based on reaction of tonight's sold out crowd, they should be trying it again soon at the former venue again in the not too distant future...

When the kids are united...

Punk legends Sham 69 are to play the Empire Music Hall on Saturday 4 July. Tickets are £11.50. Support by Shame Academy.

I know this ain't Belfast shit but WTF - Dimmu Borgir: Comic Book Heroes

Terminal Press and Nuclear Blast Records have teamed up for one of the most brutal comics of the year with "Dimmu Borgir: Dark Fortress."

This is the first in a series of books influenced by the lyrical, artistic and musical concepts from Nuclear Blast’s polarizing roster of bands translated into the comic medium by the creative teams at Terminal Press.

Three reluctant men are chosen to quest to the Dark Fortress in a desperate attempt to protect their land from a growing evil. Despite a legend warning that the harsh land built upon lava fields is actually the gateway to Hell, they make their way across the treacherous path, encountering horrors, madness and death along the way.

The three men will either survive the journey and learn the secret behind the legend of the Dark Fortress, or meet a most gruesome demise.

"Dimmu Borgir: Dark Fortress" utilizes the artistic vision and lyrical themes of the biggest Black Metal band in the world, DIMMU BORGIR, to create a powerful and thought-provoking fantasy horror comic book.

"I am artistically influenced and more passionate about metal music than any other genre or medium” says Terminal Press publisher and writer Brian Ferrara.

“This is a project that I have always wanted to do and have thought about for years. I wanted to bring metal bands into comics in a way that would do them justice. These are books for fans of the bands, but they will also be able to stand on their own."

"Dimmu Borgir: Dark Fortress" is written by Brian Ferrara (Silent Assassin, Debbie Does Dallas), with art by Narek Gevorgian (Silent Assassin, Tell Them Johnny Wadd is Here).

A "Dimmu Borgir: Dark Fortress" preview book containing original artwork and pin-ups created specifically for this edition will be available through TerminalPress.com.

"Dimmu Borgir: Dark Fortress" will be available later this year from Terminal Press.

A promo image is available at http://www.terminalpress.com/images/news/TP_DIMMU_PROMO_01.jpg

WTF Motorhead

A little research has found that we're being charged 50% more than anyone else on the rest of the UK tour - £38 as opposed to £25 elsewhere. Promoters MCD have obviously converted what they're charging in Euros for Dublin straight to sterling. Sorry, Mr Desmond, it doesn't work that way... Don't rip off the Belfast fans who have stood by you for the past 30 years.

Motorhead ticket prices

Tickets for Motorhead's Ulster Hall gig are now on sale. At 38 notes they are a tad steep, to be polite about it. The Ulster Hall doesn't use TicketMaster, so tickets can be bought from the box office in Bedford Street, or that at the Waterfront - or your local ExtraVision! Check www.ulsterhall.co.uk for details.

Welcome back Motorhead

The legendary Lemmy and the mighty Motorhead return to Belfast on November 9, on the opening night of their already announced 16-date UK tour. It's at the Ulster Hall - where they last played five years ago. That was an awesome show, especially as PP and his snapper mate Murph had unprecedented backstage access and watched most of the show from behind the stage in the choir seats - a great vantage point to watch a truly professional metal act at work, and also to watch the audience's reaction (that was when Belfast 'metal' crowds knew how to fucking enjoy themselves - see my rant elsewhere on this blog and on http://www.belfastmetalheadsreunited.blogspot.com/).
BTW classic rock fans, the legendary Deep Purple also are to head our way, and also to the Ulster Hall, around the same time. Methinks it might be November 8...