Press Releases Archives - Page 48 of 88

November 17, 2021

Heavy metal band RUSTY EYE’s Vocalist/Bassist Gets Wed by DEE SNIDER at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

DT: NOVEMBER 17, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

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HEAVY METAL TRIO
RUSTY EYE
CO-VOCALIST/BASSIST MR. RUST
SHARES HOME VIDEO OF WEDDING OFFICIATED BY
DEE SNIDER (TWISTED SISTER)

BAND WORKING ON NEW EP FOLLOWING RELEASE OF 2020’s
‘DISSECTING SHADOWS’ (EPOCHÉ RECORDS/BLOOD BLAST DISTRIBUTION
WHICH MARKED FIRST NEW MUSIC IN OVER SIX YEARS

Los Angeles-based heavy metal trio RUSTY EYE founding member, bassist and co-vocalist Mr. Rust was recently able to meet one of his musical icons, Twisted Sister vocalist/songwriter Dee Snider, in a unique situation. Mr. Rust and his wife Teresa Gallo enlisted Snider to officiate their recent November 6 wedding ceremony held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA. The couple have shared video footage of the ceremony featuring a soundtrack of tracks playing from RUSTY EYE’s latest 2020 album DISSECTING SHADOWS (Epoché Records/Blood Blast Distribution). Watch footage of the couple being wed by Snider streaming below.

“Twisted Sister has always been an influence for me and Rusty Eye,” says Mr. Rust. “When I was six years old someone gave me the remixed version of ‘Under The Blade’ on vinyl and since then Twisted Sister has been one of my favorite bands. Dee’s eloquence and showmanship has made him into a larger-than-life icon that can command a crowd and guarantees a good show.”

“Teresa and I are metal and horror fans, and that made Dee Snider the perfect officiant to marry us. He has also officiated weddings for Twiggy Ramirez, Adam Green and his son Jesse Blaze Snider, all whom are already divorced… but he says he’s a got a good feeling about us as he believes in marriage and shortly before our wedding, he had celebrated his 40^th wedding anniversary.”

DISSECTING SHADOWS—the first new music from RUSTY EYE in over six years—highlights the trio’s definitive ‘Rust’n’Roll’ sound, a combination of prog, thrash, punk, blackened death and synthwave. Lyrically, it celebrates exploitation cinema, Italian horror, and grindhouse, which is also the main component for their music video singles–“This Is Permanent” (premiered via Metal Injection, 8/27), “Can’t Wait To Go To Hell” (premiered via Decibel Magazine, 9/17 and “Hellbound Witch” (premiered via Cryptic Rock, 10/23). All three videos were directed by Alejandro Ordonez (Raubtier Productions).

“We are still promoting ‘Dissecting Shadows’ on the digital space but due to the pandemic we had to cancel all of our live performances,” Mr. Rust updates. “We have a follow-up EP on the shelf waiting to be released when we feel things are more ‘normal.’”

DISSECTING SHADOWS is available on CD, 12” Vinyl (clear variant, 500 copies total) and cassette, bundled with a limited-edition portable boombox at https://store.rustyeye.com. Digital downloads are also available across all platforms here.

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Find out more about RUSTY EYE online:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

SRO PR Assets: www.sropr.com/portfolio/rusty-eye

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For RUSTY EYE press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh: kwalsh@sropr.com

November 16, 2021

Mike Thrasher Presents And Mammoth Join Forces To Create A Midwest/West Coast Alliance

DATE: NOVEMBER 16, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

MIKE THRASHER PRESENTS AND MAMMOTH
JOIN FORCES TO CREATE
A MIDWEST/WEST COAST ALLIANCE

Having already established themselves in their respective markets of the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest, Mike Thrasher Presents and Mammoth, Inc. will join forces uniting the Portland, OR and Lawrence, KS based companies. The companies will be aligned under one umbrella with a combined 41 years of experience. This news comes on the heels of the March 2020 devastating loss of industry veteran Mike Thrasher.

Originally founded in 1994, Mike Thrasher Presents was founded by local musician Thrasher, who is considered to be one of the principal promoters in the Portland, OR area. Thrasher oversaw the company’s growth which includes a 2009 partnership in the Hawthorne Theater; the company now books 450+ shows a year across the Pacific Northwest. Thrasher worked with a top-level team including Gordon Cross (who first served as the company’s CFO in 2012 and was named CEO in 2013, managing all aspects of operations and personnel) and Sean Major (who was recruited from the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles in 2014 to serve as a talent buyer).

Mammoth launched in 2006 and produces a wide range of events including concerts and full-scale festivals, along with tour booking. Venues include amphitheaters, arenas, small independent clubs, numerous boutique theaters, and 50+ historic indoor theaters as well as an independently owned venue portfolio. The company is co-owned by Jeff Fortier and Josh Hunt who together have over 55 years of combined music industry experience. Based out of Lawrence, KS and Kansas City, MO Mammoth produces 700+ concerts and live events across the country per year.

“Learning from one of the best independent promoters in the country provided me with invaluable insights into the music business,” said Sean Major. “Mike’s innate sense of assessing talent along with his business acumen provided a strong foundation for what has become a very successful company. It is my privilege to assume the Head Talent Buyer role for the Mammoth/Thrasher alliance as we move forward into the future.”

Together in partnership with Mammoth, Cross and Major will continue to lead the development of the businesses. “We were all devastated by Mike’s death,” says Gordon Cross. “Mammoth has given us an exciting and fresh perspective of what the future may look like, and we look forward to working with Jeff and Josh to bring great music to the Pacific Northwest.”

“Mammoth is thrilled to partner with the Mike Thrasher organization, bringing great music to the Pacific Northwest”, said Jeff Fortier. “My partner, Josh Hunt and I had known Mike for 25 years and we were both devastated to hear of his sudden death last March at age 48. Knowing that we can continue Mike’s legacy under the Mammoth name is an honor that we take very seriously, and we are committed to keeping his memory alive.”

For more information please visit https://mikethrasherpresents.com/ and https://www.mammothlive.com/.

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November 16, 2021

Rock Singer IVA TORIC Shares Music Sampler & Q&A In Advance of Upcoming Album ‘Dead Reckoning’ Due Fall 2022

DT: NOVEMBER 16, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

IVA TORIC
SHARES MUSIC SAMPLER VIDEO
IN ADVANCE OF SOPHOMORE ALBUM
‘DEAD RECKONING’
DUE FALL 2022

WATCH HERE

ROCK SINGER DISCUSSES NEW SINGLE
“WASTING WATER” IN Q&A

Credit: Carey Lynne Fruth

Rock artist IVA TORIC has shared a music sampler video allowing listeners to hear snippets taken from singles off her debut album THE DEVIL’S MARK (2020) and the new single “Wasting Water” featured on her anticipated Fall 2022 release DEAD RECKONING. IVA’s distinctive sound is shaped by her bond to nature through pagan imagery while lyrically tackling intense emotions surrounding mental health and self-esteem issues. Watch the sampler HERE and read below a Q&A with IVA on the inspiration behind her music.

IVA announced plans for DEAD RECKONING when she revealed its debut single “Wasting Water” with a music video premiere via Ghost Cult Magazine on September 23. Listen to IVA describe the meaning behind the track in this audio clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLYOO6LIhuw.

She also adds, “The takeaway message is don’t waste your water. Don’t waste your energy on people that don’t respect you and love you for who you are. You are strong enough to break free of toxic people and to turn off that faucet and save your time and your tears from falling down the drain.”

DEAD RECKONING was recorded with producer/engineer Jim Kaufman (Dee Snider, Danny Worsnop) and assistant producer Ryan Molder while being mastered by Grammy-Award winning engineer Ted Jensen (Evanescence, Alice In Chains, Green Day). IVA enlisted a backing band consisting of Gregg Cash (guitars, bass, arrangement) and Dylan Howard (drums), both of which previously worked on her debut album.

Q&A with IVA TORIC

You’ve stated before that your music is inspired by nature and pagan symbolism. Can you explain how you utilize these elements in your sound?

“I like my sound to be as raw and authentic as it can be. I add my own touch to rock while honoring what came before me. Just like nature, my sound is both powerful and subtle. Picture deep rooted and gnarled old trees with delicate new blossoms on its branches. I play with contrast: light and darkness, personal and anthemic.”

“The band and I use a lot of vintage equipment in our production and recording because we want to strike a harmonious balance between old school garage rock and roll and modern sounds. The old is new again like the cycles of nature and the ancient cultures who revered and worshiped them.”

The lyrics of your songs are quite emotional and stirring, alluding to topics like depression, anxiety and self-esteem issues. Do these stem from real life experiences? What do you think people going through those same issues and emotions might be able to take away from listening to your music?

“All of my songs are based on my own lived experiences. My struggles and my realizations. I tend to gravitate toward the emotional and dark, but my music has an uplifting and relatable thread running through it: without the darkness there is no light.

When you, the listener, hear my music, you may hear heartbreaking honesty. You may hear parts of your own story echoed back to you in my voice. You may feel like you aren’t alone, and somebody understands. I hope you hear me–my heart and mind reaching out to join you on your journey through this life.”

Can you share any progressions you’ve made on your upcoming album, musically and/or lyrically and how you developed those? Did the pandemic have any influence on your writing? If so, please elaborate.

“I wrote and recorded a new album during the pandemic, and I named it ‘Dead Reckoning’ because I felt like I was searching for something within the deep depression the pandemic brought me. It opened thoughts that may have been closed to me in other circumstances and when I wrote it, I was very much alone. The music is even darker and has a sense of solitude. The lyrics explore my relationships with myself and others. There is more raw honesty. More nature imagery. More vintage rock sounds. And more pleading angelic vocals that will reach in and pluck a string deep inside your heart.”

Describe ‘Iva Toric’ in 5 words

“Authentic, Emotional, Witchy, Powerful and Haunting.”

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For more information on IVA TORIC, please visit:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE
PR ASSETS + RELEASES: sropr.com/portfolio/ivatoric/

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

November 15, 2021

THE JACK KEROUAC ESTATE & Kerouac @ 100 Committee Announce Plans For Centennial Birthday Starting March 2022 In Lowell, MA

DT: NOVEMBER 15, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

THE JACK KEROUAC ESTATE AND KEROUAC @ 100 COMMITTEE
ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF
FAMED NOVELIST, WRITER, POET AND ARTIST
JACK KEROUAC
TAKING PLACE MARCH 2022 IN HIS HOMETOWN OF LOWELL, MA

‘VISIONS OF KEROUAC’
WILL SEE THE RETURN OF THE ‘ON THE ROAD’ SCROLL ALONG WITH OTHER ARCHIVAL ITEMS ON EXHIBIT AT
LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK–BOOTT COTTON MILLS GALLERY

Credit: Tom Palumbo

THE JACK KEROUAC ESTATE has announced plans to celebrate the centennial birthday anniversary of world-renowned American novelist, writer, poet and artist JACK KEROUAC (1922-1969) starting in his birth month of March 2022 and continuing throughout the year in his hometown of Lowell, MA. The estate has partnered with The Kerouac @ 100 Committee—which consists of The Kerouac Center at UMass Lowell, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Office of Cultural Affairs, the Pollard Memorial Library, Lowell’s Franco-American Day Committee, and Québec Delégation of Boston —to organize the upcoming festivities.

Born on March 12, 1922, KEROUAC was a pioneer of the “Beat Generation” publishing over 14 novels including the generation-defining literary classic On The Road (1957), which President Barack Obama has praised as an influence on his life and Time Magazine has included on its list of best novels of the last 100 years. KEROUAC’s work has also been credited as a major influence for many top musicians, poets, filmmakers and visual artists including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Ben Gibbard, Weezer, Jawbreaker, The Wonder Years, Billy Corgan, The Hold Steady, Katy Perry, Michael Stipe, Steven Tyler, Joe Strummer, Jeff Buckley, Morphine, Alanis Morrissette, Paul Simon, 10,000 Maniacs, Blue Oyster Cult, Van Morrison, Belle and Sebastian, Our Lady Peace, Fences, Hiss Golden Messenger, Lana Del Ray, Ethan Hawke, Francis Ford Coppola, George Condo, Hunter S. Thompson, Thomas Pynchon, Richard Brautigan, Jim Carroll, George Saunders and Alison Bechdel. His work has been able to transcend stature and inspire the general public as well, much in part due to his personal charm and ability to speak and relate with anyone.

During the centennial celebration a special exhibit, “VISIONS OF KEROUAC,” will take place at Lowell National Historical Park–Boott Cotton Mills Gallery which will include the return of the original On The Road scroll on loan from Jim Irsay’s (owner of the Indianapolis Colts) renowned collection of historic and iconic artifacts from rock music, American history and pop culture, The Jim Irsay Collection. The 120-foot-long scroll is one of the most extraordinary and highly valued manuscripts in American literary history. It will be available for viewing along with archival books, writings, personal objects, and photographs including never-before-seen images of KEROUAC taken by fellow Beat Generation pioneer Allen Ginsberg. Further dates/times and details will be revealed in early 2022.

“The exhibit ‘Visions of Kerouac’ presents the many identities of Jack Kerouac, from the avant-garde literary author who produced the On the Road scroll to the Kerouac who remained deeply connected to his roots in the French-Canadian community of Lowell, Massachusetts,” shares Michael Millner (Director, UMass Lowell Kerouac Center) who has been working with the estate in curating the exhibit.

“After reading Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road, Bob Dylan commented that the book ‘changed my life like it changed everyone else’s.’ Kerouac’s American road began and ended in Lowell, Massachusetts,” tells Jim Sampas (Literary Executor of the Estate of Jack Kerouac). “And so, it is fitting that, in Lowell, we get to celebrate the legacy of a writer whose influence on American culture has been cemented and assured.

He continues, “Little known fact—Katy Perry’s ‘Firework,’ which was played as the closing song played in our most recent Presidential inauguration as fireworks went off, was inspired by an often-quoted passage in On the Road which alludes to roman candles burning in a night sky. Thanks to Jim Irsay, Jack Kerouac’s On the Road scroll manuscript, which contains said passage and many other awe-inspiring sentences, will soon be back in town. Kerouac @ 100 is looking forward to unveiling a collection of lovingly curated tributes to Lowell’s favorite native son in readings, magnificent exhibits, and concerts—all unfolding across 2022 as we light those roman candles across the stars in celebration of the Centenary birth of an American icon. The Jack Kerouac estate is so grateful to be working alongside the brilliant group of folks who have put this all together. Kerouac’s legacy is burning bright.”

Additional events and happenings are set to take place surrounding KEROUAC’s centennial birthday including:

The Jack Kerouac Foundation has just been created to establish a Jack Kerouac Museum and performance venue in Lowell, MA. More to be announced soon.
Famous quotes from Kerouac’s works will be made into banners and hung on every light pole in downtown City of Lowell, MA.
Various panels, readings, art, talks, exhibits, film screenings, musical performances, and student/school collaborations will take place throughout Lowell in March 2022. Details coming early 2022.
The Town And The City Festival–produced by Chris Porter–is a two-day music and arts festival that will take place in various event spaces, bars, cafes and galleries throughout downtown Lowell, MA on April 8 & 9. The festival is named after KEROUAC’s earliest novel which was primarily set in this historic mill city.
Lowell Celebrates Kerouac will take place October 2022 and will feature a weekend full of KEROUAC themed events and tours.
DIY Lowell, a grassroots community organization, will install pop-up multilingual poetry signs to create a trail past historic Kerouac sites, including an installation at Kerouac Park. A volunteer team will begin planning this at their annual summit open to the public on November 18, the installation is anticipated in mid-spring 2022.
Unreleased works of KEROUAC as well as works from various authors inspired by KEROUAC are set to be published via Sal Paradise Media – a content development arm of THE JACK KEROUAC ESTATE formed by music & film director Jim Sampas (literary executor for The Jack Kerouac Estate) and music industry veteran Sylvia Cunha (Marketing & Development for The Jack Kerouac Estate).
“Kerouac and Me” podcast set to air in 2022 which will see stars of music, film, TV, literature, politics, sports and business share stories of how their work was inspired by Kerouac. The podcast will be hosted by Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) and was created by Jim Sampas in partnership with Sylvia Cunha for Sal Paradise Media and New York Times bestselling authors Dave Wedge and Casey Sherman for Fort Point Media

“We have so many things planned to honor Jack during his Centenary and beyond,” says Sylvia Cunha who heads up Marketing & Development for the Estate of Jack Kerouac. “The Kerouac @100 Committee is focused on bringing his legend to not only his diehard fans but to new generations– with our ultimate goal of establishing a museum and performance venue in his hometown.”

“The Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is honored to be partnered with the Jack Kerouac Estate and Kerouac @100 Committee for the Lowell’s favorite son, Jack Kerouac,” states RICK LOFRIA (Executive Director at the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau). “He was inspired by Lowell and the Greater Merrimack Valley in novel after novel. It’s going to be a birthday celebration to remember with residents and visitors who will be travelling to the area from around the world.”

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional details on “Visions of Kerouac” and find out more about KEROUAC at jackkerouac.com.

KEROUAC @ 100 is funded in part by The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, The Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kerouac Center at UMass Lowell, Massachusetts State Senator Edward Kennedy, City Of Lowell, Pollard Memorial Library Foundation, Lowell National Historical Park, Québec Delégation of Boston, George Duncan/Enterprise Bank, and Greater Lowell Health Alliance.

Follow THE JACK KEROUAC ESTATE online:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok
YouTube

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For press inquiries regarding THE JACK KEROUAC ESTATE, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

November 10, 2021

Split Second Meltdown–The Hard-Hitting Project By Rob Clores–Release Video For New Single “Big Game Hunting”

DT: NOVEMBER 10, 2021

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/SRO PR

SPLIT SECOND MELTDOWN,
THE HARD-HITTING PROJECT BY ACCLAIMED EAST COAST ROCK
MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST ROB CLORES,
RELEASE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE
“BIG GAME HUNTING”

THE SONG WILL APPEAR ON
SSM’S FULL-LENGTH DEBUT ALBUM IN 2022
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

SPLIT SECOND MELTDOWN is the hard-hitting project by acclaimed East Coast rock multi-instrumentalist Rob Clores (The Black Crowes, Charli XCX, Jesse Malin). Building on the release of last year’s EP, SSM today (November 10) has released the video for “Big Game Hunting,” an energetic, action-packed sonic rollercoaster with the rawness of Rage Against The Machine and lyrically trippy imagery of Pink Floyd. Watch the video here. “Big Game Hunting” will be available as a single on all streaming platforms November 12 (this Friday) and will be included on SSM’s full-length debut album in 2022.

The “Big Game Hunting” video was premiered yesterday (November 9) by Glide Magazine which hailed the song as “rapturous and mysterious.” Glide also noted that CLORES has “a music flavor worth digging into. Clores helms a new project titled Split Second Meltdown which delivers a Foo Fighters arena rock immediacy mixed with the psych rock mysterious elements of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.”

The video is a combination of performance footage (shot in black-and-white at the NYC venue East Berlin) and outdoor concept scenes filmed in color in Melville on Long Island, New York. It was directed by Scott Rosenbaum of Red Hawk Films who has many films and videos to his credit including the award-winning feature length documentary Sidemen: the Long Road To Glory (2018) The Perfect Age of Rock (2011).

“Big Game Hunting” was written and produced by Clores and mixed by Jason Agel (Prince, John Legend). Clores sang lead and backing vocals, played rhythm guitar and keyboards. He is joined by Jimmy Messer (whose credits include Awolnation) on lead and rhythm guitar and two members of the band Death Diamond: drummer Charlie Paxson and bassist Sol Walker. The song was recorded in three separate studios including Clores’ home studio in Jersey City N.J.

“The song has several different feels starting with a four-on-the-floor dance type groove switching back and forth to a heavy rock backbeat,” says Clores. “Then it moves along to a mellow tom-tom drum feel section. I think the diversity in the grooves keeps the listener engaged and excited. I like the combination of heavy guitars with synthesizer. Trent Reznor is a big influence as well as Rammstein. The song also has some sonic comparisons to RATM and the mellow side of Pink Floyd; it reminds me a bit of the Clash in spots, too.”

The lyrics, explains Clores, “come from the perspective of someone pursuing a ‘prize’ of some kind,” whether it be a girl or a guy and then having the realization that they did not achieve their objective.” Here are the lyrics in the chorus and second verse: “Big game hunting comin’ up with nothing/It’s up ahead I see it in the crosshairs of my mind/Just out of reach it knows I’m coming closer all the time/ It can’t get away/I might not ever get this close again/I smell the fear/I do believe it’s coming all from me.”

In the video, says Clores, “the Hunter character is pursuing the Cat Girl who turns the tables and winds up tricking the Hunter into sitting down for a cup of tea which turns out to be toxic. The Hunter is played by Ed Bergtold and the Cat Woman is played by Sara Frankino.”

The name Split Second Meltdown describes the act of losing one’s cool in a rapid manner—it’s an emotional state, or occurrence,” says Clores, who’s planning a Split Second Meltdown show this winter in NYC (TBA).

ABOUT ROB CLORES:

Tens of thousands have seen Rob Clores perform alongside The Black Crowes, Tom Jones, Charli_xcx, Jesse Malin and Alejandro Escovedo. But now the gifted multi-instrumentalist described by none other than Sir Paul McCartney as a “great talent,” is back in the spotlight with his own solo project. Following his critically acclaimed 2020 self-titled debut EP Split Second Meltdown, which Boston Rock Radio called the EP “a victory for fans of Rock,” Clores has delivered a killer new single entitled “Big Game Hunting.”

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Description automatically generated Pictured: Rob Clores. Photo credit: Cristina Arrigoni

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

For more info about ROB CLORES, contact SRO PR:
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

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November 9, 2021

SLEEPING DOGS Share New Single “Encino” In Advance of Debut EP Release This Friday, November 12

DT: NOVEMBER 9, 2021

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER, KELLY WALSH/SRO PR

A group of men posing for a photo Description automatically generated From left to right: Spider, Bobby Amodeo, Higgins X-13, George Hughes Jr., Danny Walker
Credit: Harmony Gerber

SLEEPING DOGS
SHARE NEW SINGLE, “ENCINO,”
AHEAD OF THE RELEASE OF DEBUT EP
‘SOMEWHERE OUT IN CALIFORNIA’
DUE THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12

LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE
BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROCKERS WHO ARE THE
SPINOFF OF THE LATE ‘90s BAND WANK

SLEEPING DOGS today (November 9) have shared “Encino,” the third single from their debut EP SOMEWHERE OUT IN CALIFORNIA due this Friday (November 12). Listen to the song here. The Southern California rockers who are a spinoff of the late-90’s-formed outfit WANK recorded the five-song EP with producer Paul Miner (New Found Glory, Agnostic Front, H2O) and they’ll celebrate its release a day later (November 13) with a show at Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. Tickets for the gig, along with performances from the legendary Bow Wow Wow (“I Want Candy”), Ganda and Kevin Never Talks, are on sale now here.

SLEEPING DOGS are building on the presence they’ve established with the EP’s first two singles: the upbeat and melodic rocker “Let’s Be Friends” and “No Mercy,” described by MXDWN as a “laid-back mid-tempo ska at its best, led by a slinky guitar lead from Walker. The upstrokes are never in much of a hurry, laying down an almost-funky groove for Amodeo to deliver the song’s message.”

“Encino” is a wide-open melodic pop anthem written by the band’s lead guitarist/songwriter Danny Walker and lit up with a powerful lead vocal from bassist Bobby Amodeo. “I wrote ‘Encino’ a while back,” says Walker. “Lyrically, it’s a stream of consciousness–there’s a lot going on in the lyrics. It’s a bit Freudian–a lot of death and sex, with a dash of show business and dream chasing.”

The verses are metaphorical and pulsing:

“Drive by suicide I got bombed by an apathetic girl with a streak so mean…
I got a TV girlfriend, she don’t know me, can’t communicate ignore me…
Stay with me and I’ll promise nothing, Ms. Encino took my money, I’m not your average
Son of Sam, kept down by the man, Encino”

And the chorus calls out for a sing-along:

“On a westbound Greyhound bus, somewhere out there, I’ll find love”

Elaborates Walker: “I wrote the bridge for the song during pre-production, and our EP found a title in the last phrase: ‘Maybe I found what I was looking for/Somewhere out in California.’”

Says Amodeo: “This was a fun one to belt out! Lyrically, I was drawn in and it felt easy to relate my own musical journey to the story. Vocally, I’m trying to connect on every theme and loved how this one came out.”

“The original demo of the song had a different chorus lyric, no organ and no bridge,” adds Walker. “Working through the song with the full band definitely helped us to improve the final track. George’s work on the organ is tasty, and our engineer/producer Paul Miner was helpful with tweaking the harmony vocal lines. I dig it.”

SLEEPING DOGS members include the entire lineup from WANK–Bobby Amodeo (bass, vocals), Danny Walker (lead guitar), Higgins X-13 (guitar, former member of The Offspring) and Spider (drums)—along with the addition of George Hughes, Jr. (keys), who is also the keyboardist for Ziggy Marley. WANK first made their mark in 1998 with their debut album on Maverick Records, which featured “Larry Brown” (produced by Mike Ness) and the KROQ hit “Forgiven.” WANK, who played shows with Social Distortion, The Specials, Goldfinger, and Deftones, split in 1999. In 2000, Walker formed and fronted HANDSOME DEVIL (RCA Records), and toured with Lit, The Used, Hoobastank and Zebrahead, and released three albums. WANK reformed in 2017 and released the full-length album White Knuckle Ride in 2020 and are currently on hiatus.

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SOMEWHERE OUT IN CALIFORNIA Track Listing
1. Let’s Be Friends (WATCH)
2. No Mercy (WATCH)
3. Rejected
4. Encino (LISTEN)
5. Tomorrow’s Gonna Suck

Listen to a preview of the EP here:
https://sleepingdogs.hearnow.com/somewhere-out-in-california

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SLEEPING DOGS Social Links:
https://www.instagram.com/sleepingdogsofficial
https://www.facebook.com/SleepingDogsOfficial/
https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepingdogsmusic
https://twitter.com/Sleepingdogsusa

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For press inquiries about SLEEPING DOGS, please contact:
SRO PR
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

November 5, 2021

OZZY OSBOURNE’s ‘Diary Of A Madman’ 40th Anniversary Expanded Digital Edition Out Today; New Video For “Flying High Again”

DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/MITCH SCHNEIDER

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OZZY OSBOURNE’S
‘DIARY OF A MADMAN’
40^TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED DIGITAL EDITION
OUT TODAY (NOVEMBER 5)

ALBUM IS CELEBRATED WITH VIDEO CLIPS FOR
“FLYING HIGH AGAIN,” “OVER THE MOUNTAIN” AND “BELIEVER”
SPECIAL LIMITED-EDITION DISC
AVAILABLE AS PART OF WALMART’S
BLACK FRIDAY VINYL

With OZZY OSBOURNE’s DIARY OF A MADMAN celebrating its 40^th anniversary this week, a variety of video clips have been released to commemorate the album. These include a new video for “Flying High Again,” (created from exclusive images from Ross Halfin’s newly released Randy Rhoads book), along with live versions of “Over the Mountain,” “Flying High Again,” and “Believer.” In addition, an exclusive blue swirl DIARY OF A MADMAN vinyl will be available November 12 via Walmart (in the U.S. only) as part of their annual Black Friday Vinyl. Click here to pre-order.

The updated digital release of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter’s 1981 DIARY OF A MADMAN album is available today (November 5) via all digital platforms and includes two live tracks previously unreleased digitally, including a live version of his Mainstream Rock Top Five hit “Flying High Again.” Listen here.

DIARY OF A MADMAN is OZZY’s second studio release and the last album to feature 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Famer guitarist Randy Rhoads. The multi-platinum release (with five million albums sold worldwide) included the #2 Mainstream Rock track “Flying High Again.” The album was listed at #15 on Rolling Stone’s 2017 list of “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.” Kory Grow noted, “A year after proving he was still a vital musical force on his first post–Black Sabbath solo LP, 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz, Ozzy Osbourne demonstrated it wasn’t a one-time fluke with an album of poppy and gothic anthems like ‘Flying High Again’ and the almost classical closing title track. Guitarist Randy Rhoads, who died in a plane crash while touring for Diary in 1982, had already proven himself a virtuoso on Blizzard; here, he worked even harder to find the rare nexus between showboat chops and clever songwriting…”

THE DIARY OF A MADMAN 40^th Anniversary Expanded Digital Edition track list is as follows:

Over the Mountain
Flying High Again
You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll
Believer
Little Dolls
Tonight
S.A.T.O.
Diary of a Madman
Believer (live)*
Flying High Again (live)*

*previously unavailable digitally

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November 2, 2021

Don Brewer Of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD Talks About Creating The Perfect Set List

DT: NOVEMBER 2, 2021

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK

SRO PR

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DON BREWER OF
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
TALKS ABOUT BUILDING THE PERFECT SET LIST
AND DISCUSSES SET HIGHLIGHTS
THE LEGENDARY ROCK & ROLL POWERHOUSE
IS CURRENTLY ON ITS 2021
“SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL TOUR”

Grand Funk Railroad (Pictured L-R: Bruce Kulick (guitar), Mel Schacher (bass guitar), Max Carl (vocals), Don Brewer (drummer), Tim Cashion (keyboardist))
Photo credit: Allen Clark

“You cannot talk about rock in the 1970s without talking about Grand Funk Railroad!”
–David Fricke, Rolling Stone Magazine

Legendary rock & roll powerhouse GRAND FUNK RAILROAD is currently on its 2021 “Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour,” performing 30 shows this year and dynamically underlining their trademark “Rock and Soul” classics. Recently, original founding member Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, “We’re An American Band”) took the time to talk about building the perfect set list and also discuss highlights of the GRAND FUNK RAILROAD set list. *See the two Q&A’s below.

Q&A with DON BREWER

–Is there a secret sauce to creating the perfect set list?

We have been working on our show for over 40 years. You learn what works and what doesn’t work by trial and error. Spreading out the hits during the show keeps the audience involved beginning to end. Always try to leave them wanting more!

–How do you determine a set list that satisfies both the audience and the musician?

Everybody in the band loves the music we play. I guess you could say we’re all Grand Funk fans. We don’t do a lot of new material because we know the audience wants to hear the classics. We have a spot in the show that we have experimented with new songs over the years and the songs keep changing. Helps keep it interesting for us.

–Can you talk about figuring out which song to open with? This has to be a challenge as a band wants to come on strong but some of the audience is still finding their seats and the sound may not be at its best near the beginning of a set.

We have tried several different songs as openers over the years, even doing an unknown original of ours. The two openers we do now, “Rock & Roll Soul” and “Footstompin’ Music,” are classic GFR hits and always get the audience going even if they don’t know Grand Funk.

–In coming up with the list, do you think about the various tempos of songs and

which keys they’re played in?

Don’t really worry too much about what key a song is in, but yes, tempos need to blend between songs. Our goal is to have the show flow from high to low and back to high again with a few sparkles in between. Entertainment needs to be entertaining.

–Finally, what goes into choosing which song will be the last one and which song

will be the encore?

The last song and the encore can be interchangeable. In other words, you can switch them and it won’t really make a huge difference. In our case we could close with “We’re An American Band” and come back with “Closer To Home,” Depends on how you want to leave the audience.

THE GRAND FUNK RAILROAD SET LIST HIGHLIGHTS,
ACCORDING TO DON BREWER

“Rock & Roll Soul”: The phrase “rock and roll soul” is an apt description of the band’s music + mission. Why does this song light you up when you perform it?

“Rock & Roll Soul” was our first single after leaving our crooked manager Terry Knight who had stolen all our money and was taking us to court over the name Grand Funk Railroad. Having a top 40 hit with Rock & Roll Soul was our first step to freedom. The song is truly descriptive of GFR’s Rock/R&B blend. The opening line “We’re havin’ a party, everybody’s invited” is a perfect opening statement.

“Footstompin’ Music”: This song has a ferocious rhythmic groove and it’s another one that pumps up the listener/concert-goer. What inspired you to include it here?

After doing the song live as a three-piece band, in 1971 we tried recording this song in the studio a few times until we captured the final version on our album E Pluribus Funk. The drums, bass and organ track is a blast to play and the vocal lines are awesome: “Come on everybody, we’re gonna have a good time.” The song works well as an opener or as we do it now as our second song of the show. Gets the audience going every time.

“Shinin’ On”: This is another song that underlines how Grand Funk Railroad wrote and performed positive anthems that galvanized people. Why does the song continue to resonate for you?

“Shinin’ On” was fashioned after Freddy King’s great blues song “Goin’ Down.” After having Freddy open for us on our “Phoenix Tour,” we were so impressed with his music and style that the influence was clear. The song has a great R&B feel and switching up with me on lead vocal adds to the flavor for the show.

“The Loco-Motion”: This song’s an important one for the band, hitting #1 in 1974 on the pop charts. It’s the definition of a feel-good tune, a pop song that you guys really Grand Funk-ized, making it heavy. Can you talk about the joy in performing this one?

GFR doing “The Loco-Motion” came about as a funny episode. We were in our studio in Michigan with Todd Rundgren producing and working on the album Shinin’ On. We felt we needed another “hit” type song for the album and started throwing around ideas. Grand Funk doing “The Loco-Motion” was such a silly idea we thought we would try it. The result was a # 1 hit. I love watching the audience get up on their feet and start dancing as soon as we sing the opening lines. They even do a “Loco-Motion” line dance through the crowd. Fun to watch!

“Walk Like A Man”: This song is another instant anthem, highlighting the band’s rhythmic rock, with some progressive rock touches. What’s it like to perform this one?

This is a nice follow up to “The Loco-Motion” in that it stays in the same tempo and pop style as “The Locomotion.” Switching lead vocals again with me on lead gives it a little more texture in the show. Just a great GFR/Todd Rundgren-produced rock record.

Drum Solo/“Lightning and Thunder”: Can you talk about what goes into your classic drum solo? Lots of skill + athleticism…how do you pull this off so successfully?

I’ve been working on my solo for over 50 years. It is a true reflection of how I play drums and my “Rock” personality. It really is who I am when onstage with Grand Funk. I must say that at 73 it takes some added work in my lifestyle, and I do try to exercise and eat right. During the pandemic I continued to practice drumming as well as walk four miles and work out in the gym daily. Love It!

“Inside Lookin’ Out”: You guys put your own spin on this song The Animals originated…doubling down on its urgency with a monster groove courtesy of you and Mel. It’s a real working-class song that underlined the band’s relationship with its fans. So many years later, can you talk about how it fits into the Grand Funk Railroad set?

“Inside Lookin’ Out” has been a staple in Grand Funk’s show since our beginning in 1969. We originally did a cover of the Animals song in our previous band The Pack. When we changed to a three-piece as Grand Funk Railroad, we adapted the song to our new power trio style, slowed it down, and stretched out the guitar solo over the simple bass and drum groove. With Bruce Kulick on guitar, the song becomes a great show piece.

“Some Kind Of Wonderful”: This is another fine example of how the band merged rock with R&B and you took it all the way to #3 on the pop chart. It’s a real crowd-pleaser live. Why is it one of the set highlights for you?

We used to sing this a capella in the limo from the hotel to the venue as a warm-up on our way for a show. Our manager liked it so much that he suggested we record the song and we did for our All The Girls In The World Beware!!! album in 1975. It became a huge hit and is probably the most played song at wedding receptions around the world. I love to watch the faces in the audience light up when Mel starts that chugging bass line. We can usually see four generations of people in the audience singing along to the song. Amazing feeling!

“I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home”: How do you feel this song works in the set list? It was a song that resonated with many people including American troops in Vietnam. Musically, it has such an epic feel to it. Can you talk about why the song is key to have in the set?

“Closer to Home” is a true Rock Anthem. It seems to have a different meaning to everyone and it is definitely spiritual. I have seen men in the audience brought to tears when we play it. We use it as our closing song because it deserves a prestigious place in our show and it is easily recognized and sung along with by every audience.

“We’re An American Band”: This song you wrote, another #1 pop hit, really defines the freewheeling rock star lifestyle…it still makes everyone want to be a rock star, and your vocals on it capture it all perfectly. And of course, the cowbell is part of its charm. This is the song you close with. What’s going through your head when you perform it night after night?

“We’re An American Band” came to me when we were flying from town to town on our “Phoenix Tour” in 1972. We were being sued by our former manager Terry Knight and he was trying to stop us from performing. The line “We’re comin’ to your town, we’ll help you party it down” came to me first and I wrote the song around that line. Taking snippets of things going on during the tour at that time, like staying up all night with Freddy King playing poker, four young chiquitas in Omaha, sweet sweet Connie in Little Rock, and finally the declaration, “We’re An American Band,” because it sounds great and sings well. I feel lucky and blessed every time we play it live.

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ABOUT GRAND FUNK RAILROAD:

After playing to millions of fans on the band’s tours from 1996 to 2019, GRAND FUNK will continue to reach both new and long-time fans on the “Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour,” named in honor of their 1975 Billboard pop smash. Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top-selling American rock group of the 70’s is “Comin’ To Your Town To Help You Party It Down.” Notably, this year marks the 50^th anniversary of when the group’s show at New York’s Shea Stadium sold out faster than the Beatles.

Known as “The American Band,” the high-energy five-piece group GRAND FUNK RAILROAD includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, “We’re An American Band”) and bassist Mel Schacher, “The God of Thunder.” Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars.” Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38’s biggest hit “Second Chance” and was co-founder of California’s legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as “the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet.” Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called “Dr. Tim,” his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.

Grand Funk laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful pop melodies. The fact that Grand Funk’s legacy still reigns over the Classic Rock landscape 50 years after is a testament to the group’s influence and staying power. Mega-hits “We’re An American Band,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home,” “Locomotion,” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful” still receive continuous airplay on Classic Rock radio. “We’re An American Band” has received notoriety in recent years being used in movie soundtracks and in television/radio advertising. The huge hit was featured in a General Motors national TV ad campaign and in Disney’s animated feature film The Country Bears. “We’re An American Band” was featured in the Cuba Gooding Jr. film Radio, and in the swash buckler Sahara starring Matthew McConaughey.

Internationally acclaimed Grand Funk has toured the world, selling out in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America. A 1971 performance at New York’s Shea Stadium sold out faster than the Beatles. The group’s widespread appeal is also evident in its prestigious recording achievements. Over their career, Grand Funkhas had 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits and two Number One singles (“We’re An American Band” and “Locomotion,” both selling more than one million each). The group has now accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide. The most recent gold CD award was presented to the band for their greatest hits package Grand Funk Railroad the Collectors Series.The multi-talented band carries on the tradition of Grand Funk hits and creates a new chapter in the legacy of Grand Funk Railroad. GFR drew 25,000 people to their Molson Canal Series Concert outside Buffalo, 20,000 in Albany, New York, and 20,000 fans to downtown Orlando, Florida. EMI/Capitol (Universal Music) released a new Grand Funk Greatest Hits package that includes a bonus DVD of rare concert footage. Grand Funk Railroad’s 2019 “50 Years Of Funk Tour” was a huge success and now, with the group’s 2021“Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour,” seasoned Grand Funk lovers and contemporary rock fans discovering the group for the first time will be able to celebrate 50 Years of Funk with Grand Funk Railroad.

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Grand Funk Railroad 2021 Tour Dates
https://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/tour.html

For more information on GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, visit:
WEBSITE | SPOTIFY

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For press inquiries regarding GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com (National)
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com (Tour)

November 2, 2021

Industrial Rock Outfit CONTRACULT COLLECTIVE Cover Bad Brains’ “Sacred Love” In New Video

DT: NOVEMBER 2, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

INDUSTRIAL ROCK/METAL OUTFIT
CONTRACULT COLLECTIVE
SHARE COVER OF BAD BRAINS’ “SACRED LOVE”

MUSIC VIDEO FEATURES FOOTAGE FILMED DURING
AFTERSHOCK FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE

Los Angeles industrial metal/heavy rock outfit CONTRACULT COLLECTIVE have shared a cover version of hardcore punk pioneers BAD BRAINS’ 1986 single “Sacred Love” with a music video featuring performance and behind-the-scenes footage from their recent (10/7) performance at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, CA. Check it out streaming below or on YouTube HERE. The single is also available for streaming now across all digital platforms at this link: http://smarturl.it/sacredloveccc.

“If you’re going to do a cover, make it your own,” says vocalist SVART. “Bad Brains have been one of the most influential bands in my life, so it seemed only fitting that we’d try an Industrial Metal rendition of ‘Sacred Love.’”

CONTRACULT COLLECTIVE – “SACRED LOVE” (BAD BRAINS COVER) OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

CONTRACULT COLLECTIVE was formed by Svart and guitarist Cultprit and includes BX on synth/backup vocals. The band were originally signed to Roadrunner Records and released two EP’s in 2020, A Cult of Opposition and Follow. The band recently shared a new original single “Plunge” with a NSFW horror- themed music video in September and are currently recording their debut full-length record set for release in 2022.

The industrial outfit will bring their “pummeling beats, frantic guitars, and snarling vocals that make you want to get up and break something” (Genre Is Dead) to the stage at Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, FL on Thursday, November 11 alongside headliners Slipknot, Gojira and Cypress Hill.

For more information on CONTRACULT COLLECTIVE, please visit:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

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For press inquiries, please contact:
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Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

October 29, 2021

OZZY OSBOURNE And Lemmy Kilmister Reunite In Animated Video For Their “Hellraiser” Duet

DATE: OCTOBER 29, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/MITCH SCHNEIDER

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Description automatically generated Scene from the animated video of “Hellraiser” with Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy Kilmister

OZZY OSBOURNE
AND LEMMY KILMISTER REUNITED
IN ANIMATED VIDEO FOR THEIR
“HELLRAISER” DUET
WATCH THE CLIP HERE

SPECIAL 10” BLACK VINYL SINGLE
SET FOR DECEMBER 3 RELEASE
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

OZZY OSBOURNE and his longtime friend and colleague Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead are reunited one last time in the new animated clip for their mash-up duet of “Hellraiser.” The clip is an homage to their decades-long friendship. Produced by Hey Beautiful Jerk and directed by Mark Szumski and Gina Niespodziani, the video opens with OZZY and Lemmy hanging out at the infamous Rainbow Bar And Grill on Sunset Blvd. (Lemmy’s unofficial second home) surrounded by friends. The two are transported from a calm day playing video games in the bar to a post-apocalyptic world where they battle evil forces before ultimately returning to the bar, where they pick up their video game as if nothing had occurred. Watch the clip here.

“I’m so glad we were able to honor my dear friend Lemmy (Kilmister) with this duet and now the video,” OZZY says. “We immortalized him with a clip of the two of us being together, hanging out and getting into some trouble as we so often did.”

The song–which was co-written by the two and OZZY’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde–originally appeared on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter’s 1991 NO MORE TEARS album; Motorhead then recorded their own version and released it as a single from their 1992 March ör Die album.

The never-before-released “Hellraiser” mash-up with Ozzy and Lemmy was recently included on the digital 30^th anniversary release of OZZY’s classic album NO MORE TEARS, released September 17 via Sony. In addition, “Hellraiser” will be issued as a stand-alone release on OZZY’s birthday, December 3. The special 10” black vinyl single features three versions of the song: the classic original OZZY track with Motorhead’s version of the same song as the B-side. It is available for pre-order here.

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