Rockers, Art of Dying from Canada have a constant spot on my daily music playlist. Their music not only kicks ass in rock n roll but also have such emotionally charged lyrics that many can connect and relate to. I personally, have experienced the power of healing through music by listening to my favorite Art of Dying songs at one of the hardest times in my life. It truly is music to feed your soul wrapped in blazing rock and roll. Art of Dying is Jonny Hetherington on Vocals, Greg Bradley on Guitar, Jeff Brown on Drums, Cale Gontier on Bass/Vocals and Tavis Stanley on Guitar and Vocals.
We have been awaiting some news from Art of Dying about the progress of their new album and we have just learned that the new album is FINISHED! They worked in secret and finished the new album which was produced by David Bendeth. It won’t be long now until we get more news on it’s release.
In addition, they have also announced that they have signed to Eleven Seven Music. Here is the news post which appeared on their site with the news:
ART OF DYING SIGN TO ELEVEN SEVEN MUSIC AND SECRETLY FINISH NEW ALBUM WITH PRODUCER DAVID BENDETH
It’s been a busy year for Art of Dying as we’ve inked a deal with Eleven Seven Music, (Motley Crue, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Escape The Fate) and finished our new record with David Bendeth (Bring Me The Horizon, Breaking Benjamin, Of Mice & Men) in New Jersey completely under the radar.
I can’t tell you how excited we are about the new music! Making this album was one of the most intense experiences we’ve ever been through, so we kept things pretty tight lipped in order to focus all of our energy into every lyric, note and beat of the creative process. We’ve seen all of the calls for new music coming in from our fans on our social media channels, and now I’m thrilled to say the record is done, and the wait is almost over!
Many thanks to Allen Kovac, Nikki Sixx and our new family at Eleven Seven Music for aligning their vision with ours and helping us make this album a reality. We’re ecstatic about our new home on the label where we’re joining some amazing bands. North America is home base for Eleven Seven, but they put a ton of weight in touring their bands internationally to places in Europe, Asia and South America. So if you want to see Art of Dying in your back yard, now is the time to speak up and be heard!
So make sure to visit their social media sites and stay tuned for more new music. You can also head over to Itunes here and make sure you have all of their music in your collection. They are definitely ear porn and you will be hooked! In case you missed our interview with vocalist, Jonny Hetherington, you can read it here.
This year were able to bring you so many great answers to our Holiday Q & A from so many great musicians, artists and more. Today we feature the highlights of our Q & A Series and make sure to check out all the 5 Part Series! Our Holiday Highlights includes:
Michael and Monte Money – Money Brother$
Justin Emord – Love and a.38, Bassist
Josie Stevens – Designer, TV Personality
Tavis Stanley – Art of Dying, Guitarist
Kenny Kweens –
Villains of Vaudeville, Vocalist, Musician
Kent Brooks – Like A Storm, Bassist, Vocals
Siren Sycho – Death Koolaid, Singer
Brody DeRozie – American Monster, Guitarist
Justyn Vynn – Guitarist, Solo Artist
Fiona Kernaghan Singer, Songwriter
Ed ManDevil –
Switchblade Serenade, Bassist
Diamante Bovelli –
Diamante, Singer
Morten Garberg –
NiteRain, Drummer
Dean Pizzazz –
Wayland, Bass
Adrien Persen –
NiteRain, Guitarist
Joel Hoekstra –
TransSiberian Orchestra, Guitarist
Michael and Monte Money
Money Brother$
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Michael Money: In 2009 a fan gave me a Gizmo doll from japan just like the one from the movie Gremlins. I still have it
Monte Money: A birthday cake with my face on it.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Monte Money: Sweet potatoes and cinnamon, not sure what it’s called.
Michael Money: I would have to say turkey! With some cranberry sauce, I could eat that for weeks!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Michael Money: We get together to go out to the mountains (Mt. Charleston) to have fun in the snow or a Magical Forest walk through (at Opportunity Village that helps give the disabled a chance to be independent and follow their dreams) AND drink hot chocolate.
Monte Money: We all open one present on Christmas eve but then sometimes one isn’t enough. Next thing, I know I want to open all of them. The anticipation is the best though.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Michael Money: A Christmas Story but I think I’ve seen that too much. I really like the Christmas claymation shows they show on tv.
Monte Money: Nightmare Before Christmas and Carol of the Bells.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Michael Money: The Christmas tree, I love picking out a tree it’s awesome! Bringing it home and trying to shove it through the front door when it’s just too big. Ha ha!
Monte Money: The star on top of the Christmas tree.
Justin Emord
Love and a .38,Bassist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
It’s not an odd gift exactly but an odd process. In high school, I had to go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood to find my present which turned out to be a guitar wrapped in a box in a tree outside of the house that I had to climb to get.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Favorite holiday food is an old Italian dessert called struffoli that is something my grandmother would make and is something I usually still make.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
A holiday tradition for me which was started 8 years ago with my family in New York was seeing Trans Siberian Orchestra and is now a tradition I carry out here in LA with my friends.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Favorite holiday movie would be between Elf and Nightmare Before Christmas, both are movies I enjoy a lot and watch on Christmas day. Being my family is from New York, I love all the jokes and humor pertaining to the city in it and Nightmare Before Christmas, need I say more? It’s one of my all time favorites.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
My memory is of the miniature artificial Christmas tree my parents would set up for me when I was a kid every year in my room. Nowadays, I set up that same tree with many of the same Disney Ornaments from back then on top of an old bass cabinet I used and line the whole thing in Christmas lights . And of course, add some Halloween flare to the whole set up.
Josie Stevens
Designer,TV Personality
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A fan once sent a giant pink Hello Kitty “water pipe”, complete with Maribou trim, to my PO box which did surprise me, particularly because I was opening the boxes in my car, which happened to be parked right next to a police car. haha.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
I have a major sweet tooth so I love all the holiday cakes & cookies!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Just enjoying our day with family & friends, good food & opening presents.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
My favorite holiday movie is probably “Love Actually”. Billy Mack is amazing. haha.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Steve & I collect European ornaments when we travel, especially ones of the Krampus
Tavis Stanley
Art of Dying, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
We have a saying in my family “you’re gonna get a slap in the belly with a wet fish” I never got one yet though lol
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Definitely all the chocolate, i go nuts around xmas with sweets
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
We drive around and look at lights on xmas eve and ooh and aww at everyone’s houses!
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Favourite movie is elf
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Yes we have an ornament of a gingerbread man thats actually made of plastic, but when i was like 5 i tried o eat it and it has these huge teeth marks in it still!
Kenny Kweens
Villains of Vaudeville, Vocalist, Musician
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Well first of all, I am thankful for any gift I receive, so don’t this twisted, but I do remember my family was going through a rough patch, so my gifts were a bit odd this one year. My big gift was a “vintage” pachinko machine. A what? Yeah I know, that’s what I said when I got it.. I didn’t ask for one, hell I didn’t even know they existed, so I had no idea what I was looking at when I unwrapped it. A pachinko machine is a Korean pinball machine. Anyway, at first I was a bit confused and thought I had unwrapped the wrong gift, but I was a understanding kid and before I knew it, me and my friends were having pachinko tournaments.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Mama Kweens’ Gumbo!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
My scavenger hunt. I always pick someone every year and will wrap a box with a note inside… That note has a clue to find the next gift with another note inside to find the next gift with another note and clue inside and so on and so forth until the person finds their actual gift. This can be hours of fun, as it can go on for a while and it gives me great pleasure watching people wandering around trying to figure out my poorly written riddles. I’ve sent people down the street, to other homes, inside of cars, up in trees.. Oh the joy of Christmas.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
My favorite movie would be that old stop-animation movie with the cold miser and heat miser. Those two guys crack me up and their theme songs are hilarious! I think it’s called, “The Year Without a Santa Claus”, I love all those old stop-animation movies and my favorite song would be “Please Come Home For Christmas” the version by The Eagles.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
My Mom is an awesome decorator. Her decorations are the best I’ve ever seen. Her stuff should be in magazines, it’s better than what you see in high-end department stores and she does it all with arthritic hands. She is absolutely amazing! She tops herself every year, which makes it hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to, it would be the little black tree she puts in my room when I visit.
Kent Brooks
Like A Storm, Bassist, Vocals
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
We had a mate from Canada stay with our family in NZ one Xmas. He put big presents under the tree for everyone, and we felt bad that he’d spent all his money doing that. Then we opened them and realized he’d done his shopping at the Dollar Store! Haha… Mine was like a plastic toy piano.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Xmas is in Summer in NZ, so you gotta fire up the Barbie! Wash it down with a few Steinlager Pures… Finish it off with Pavlova for dessert, which is Kiwi fav
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
In our family, we try and get as many people in one spot as we can! It’s awesome because you keep having new people showing up all day.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
We love “Scrooged” with Bill Murray. That was on every year on Xmas Eve in NZ when we were kids.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
When I was a kid one year I didn’t know what to get Mum, so I tried to make her a Xmas wreath. I couldn’t figure out how to make the chicken wire round, so the wreath is a square! But it actually came out ok, and she loved it. I’m pretty sure if you drove past the house today you’d see it hanging on the door!
Siren Sycho
Death Koolaid, Singer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A pot noodle.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
I hate most Holiday food – dark mint chocolate, does that count?
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Going out to one of my home towns bars to meet old friends on Xmas eve.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
The Shining and Price of Reality by Amen.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
No I hate xmas but actually one year i had a tiny black xmas tree… and then i burnt it.
Brody DeRozie
American Monster, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
One year my great grandma got everyone these super ugly matching hats, we took a pic together with them and never saw the hats again.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Stuffing. Ill get down on that for sure. haha
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Getting the see all the So Cal family!
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
A Christmas story. Some channel plays it for 24 hrs straight every year and I always end up watching it a few times. the Gremlins too. Love it!
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
A Kiss ornament that I’ve had since I was a kid. Don’t know how its still in tact.
Justyn Vynn
Solo Artist, Guitarist (formerly of Snakeskyn Whiskey)
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Christmas or in general? Haha I’ll answer both, for Christmas, I received a Backstreet Boys CD at like 12, and while I’m not knocking them, the Backstreet Boys have never been my type of music ever lol. Maybe when I was 7-8 when all the girls went nuts for them, but by 12, I was into the stuff I’m into now.
Oddest gift ever?? My 18th birthday, where my buddies decided to bake me a “shit” cake, they literally threw everything in the kitchen in there, stuck it in the oven, and “baked” me a cake lol. I took a bite and it was horrendous but I felt the love haha.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Well I’m Portuguese, my entire family is, so I’m totally looking forward to all the food my grandmothers gonna cook up! But totally can’t wait for that Portuguese –wait for it—TURKEY! In Montreal, Portuguese chicken is like food fashion, people line-up everywhere they make it to get some chicken, but I’m waiting for my home cooked Turkey!!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Ever since I was born, we’d go to my Grandmother’s house on Christmas Eve. The entire family is there (way bigger now than when I was 5-6), and it’s just a great time without any worries. We’d get gifts at midnight (since we wouldn’t see each other till the week after), and just continue the fun there. The tradition has changed, I now enjoy watching my younger cousins open their gifts! And all the grandchildren take a photo on this staircase at my grandmothers house. I’m the eldest grandchild, and the youngest is 2 and theres 8 other children in between, so that staircase is plenty full. Although, I’m trying to “retire” myself from this photo since I’m closer to having my own kids then being a grandchild lol.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Oh of course! Jingle All The Way! The movie with Arnie! TURBOOOO MAN! Home Alone 1 + 2. Music, I absolutely love Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Eve Sarajevo is my definite favourite Christmas Song.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Yep! This ornament I had when I was a kid with my name on it. I can’t remember what happened to it, it probably broke as all Ornaments do.
Fiona Kernaghan
Songwriter, Singer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A driver safety training course, after having had my license for many years. Somehow it still makes me laugh, but at the end of the day it was kinda fun!
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Roast turkey – with cranberry sauce… Oh and holiday cocktails!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
We open one present each Christmas Eve. Who can wait for Santa!?
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
I have both a favorite holiday song and movie. My favorite holiday song is “White Christmas”, by Bing Crosby. It has extra poignancy for me, having grown up in Australia where a white Christmas really is only a dream! A close second is “Breath Of Heaven” by the lovely Amy Grant. My favorite holiday movie is “Love Actually”, and it competes annually with “The Holiday”.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Growing up we had a plastic Santa and sleigh with reindeer that mom would set under the tree every year. No matter how old and banged up that thing got we loved it and it seemed to have a life of it’s own, we found it so enchanting
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Fiona has available her heartwarming short story and song,”An L.A. Christmas Story & Song” now available on Itunes here. Make sure to pick this up tonight, cozy up by the tree and enjoy her inspirational and soul touching story that will have you feeling blessed. Her companion song, “A Christmas Blessing” is magical and beautifully captures the spirit of the season.
Ed ManDevil
Switchblade Serenade, Bassist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
It would be a photoshopped picture of a dude as a radioactive spider burning down a city and roasting a marshmallow
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
I’d have to say Deviled eggs haha
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
It would be watch my dogs open gifts
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Jingle All the Way for the Movie and Favorite Christmas song (come on you cant beat Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum)
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
I got an ornament of a bass for the first Xmas since joining the band from my folks
Diamante Bovelli
Diamante, Singer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
It’s not odd whatsoever now, but when I was about 6, my parents got me my first stereo. I was really surprised at the time because it looked like some incredibly advanced alien invention to me. I knew I liked singing, but that stereo completely opened up my entire passion for music and singing. I sang with it every single day and I still do to this day. I love it because now it’s almost looking vintage.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
That is such a hard question because I love a lot of holiday food! I’m vegan, but I probably have to go with either pumpkin or pecan pie because those are some of my favorite flavors.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Usually my family always sits down on Christmas Eve and has dinner. Instead of celebrating the next morning, it’s customary in Latin and European cultures to sit down with family and have huge dinner parties. We usually go to Mexico or Italy to see family which I love.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
I don’t have a song in particular, but I love hearing those really classic jazzy and almost bluesy holiday songs that malls will play in bookstores or cafés. It really sets the mood and brings that magical feel. My favorite movie definitely has to be “The Nightmare Before Christmas” because it’s the cutest movie ever.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
When I was living with my best friend and her family last year, I got to help decorate the Christmas tree which was so much fun. It was a gigantic mess but the finished product was really nice. I remember the one ornament on the very top that her sisters and I all attempted vigorously to put on top of the tree, we didn’t succeed until about half an hour and almost fell of ladders but it was worth it.
Morten Garberg
NiteRain, Drummer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
The oddest gift i really don’t know, my friends aren’t that creative
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Favorite food has to be a norwegian dish called “ribbe” Its pork
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
My favorite tradition has to be Christmas dinner with the family and i still open one present in the morning on Christmas Eve
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
I’m not really big on the Christmas songs
But A Day To Remember has a song themed around Christmas and i like that one alot
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
I love my grandmothers tiny discoball ornament still hang it on the tree myself
Dean Pizzazz
Wayland, Bassist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A dick sock. Hand knitted.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
My moms corn soufflé. ( A delicious corn bread/cake type dish. its fareeking awesome.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Hmmmm…Christmaseve with my family all my aunts uncles and nephews!(on my mothers side)
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Favorite Holiday song: Happy Holidays (the Perry Como version) and movie would be Santa Clause Is coming to town and A Muppet Christmas Carol.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
And my favorite thing about Christmas involves decorations. My parent house. It always looks amazing during Christmas time. Being home really feels like the Holidays:). Merry Christmas!!
Adrien Persen
NiteRain, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Last Christmas I received a guitar (BC Rich Mockingbird), it’s not directly “odd” but more shocking y’know, haha. Or it has to be the time I got a hip flask camouflaged in a bible.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Christmas Ribs, It’s just a classic that I never get tired of. Oh, and it tastes great with aquavit/akvait!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Every 2nd day of christmas we meet almost the whole family (uncles, aunts and cousins) to eat even more delicious food, drink, have a lot of laughs and just have a good time!
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
The Grinch is always a classic, but to be honest I’m not quite sure which holiday movie that I would call my “favorite”. I kinda have a long list! Same with the songs!
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
I have this miniature Fender Stratocaster that I’m always hanging in the tree. I’ve always loved guitars, and I didn’t think about using it as a holiday decoration, it was more of a joke. But my parents loved the idea, so they let me hang it in the tree!
Joel Hoekstra
TransSiberian Orchestra, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Nothing really stands out off-hand. We do get lots of “creative” gifts from the fans though.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Our keyboard players’ mom makes chocolate covered honey roasted peanuts for the band bus each year that are just devastatingly good.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
My in-laws have a traditional secret Santa exchange and you have to ce up with a skit/presentation for that person as well. It’s always a riot.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
I love watching A Christmas Story and am a sucker for most carols…Silent Night might be my favorite.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
I’ve got one with a picture of my departed dog in it that almost gets a tear out of me every year. What a softie, huh? Lol!
~ Marisol, Rockin’ Ryan, Rachel, Steve, Larry, and Music Junkie Press!
It is that time again, when you deck the halls, pull out the decorations, pour some Eggnog and sing Holiday songs. It is a time to get nostalgic and remember the past holidays. How about others? Do you ever wonder what Justin Emord of Love & .38’s oddest gift was or how about Josie Steven’s favorite ornaments? Well we are pleased to bring you Part 1 of our Holiday Q & A Special where we asked various musician and artists the same questions. In Part 1 we are pleased to feature the following:
Justin Emord – Love and a.38, Bassist
Josie Stevens – Designer, TV Personality
Shane Beecher – Tempting Fate, Guitarist
Neal Middleton – Royal Bliss, Singer
Jessie Covets – Violet, Lead Singer/Guitarist
Tavis Stanley – Art of Dying, Guitarist
Jeff George – Harlot, Guitarist
Sydney Schmier – Stereo Jane, Singer
Justin Emord
Love and a .38,Bassist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
It’s not an odd gift exactly but an odd process. In high school, I had to go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood to find my present which turned out to be a guitar wrapped in a box in a tree outside of the house that I had to climb to get.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Favorite holiday food is an old Italian dessert called struffoli that is something my grandmother would make and is something I usually still make.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
A holiday tradition for me which was started 8 years ago with my family in New York was seeing Trans Siberian Orchestra and is now a tradition I carry out here in LA with my friends.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Favorite holiday movie would be between Elf and Nightmare Before Christmas, both are movies I enjoy a lot and watch on Christmas day. Being my family is from New York, I love all the jokes and humor pertaining to the city in it and Nightmare Before Christmas, need I say more? It’s one of my all time favorites.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
My memory is of the miniature artificial Christmas tree my parents would set up for me when I was a kid every year in my room. Nowadays, I set up that same tree with many of the same Disney Ornaments from back then on top of an old bass cabinet I used and line the whole thing in Christmas lights . And of course, add some Halloween flare to the whole set up.
Josie Stevens
Designer,TV Personality
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A fan once sent a giant pink Hello Kitty “water pipe”, complete with Maribou trim, to my PO box which did surprise me, particularly because I was opening the boxes in my car, which happened to be parked right next to a police car. haha.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
I have a major sweet tooth so I love all the holiday cakes & cookies!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Just enjoying our day with family & friends, good food & opening presents.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
My favorite holiday movie is probably “Love Actually”. Billy Mack is amazing. haha.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Steve & I collect European ornaments when we travel, especially ones of the Krampus
Shane Beecher
Tempting Fate, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A Barbie doll. My family wanted to trick me to believe that Santa thought I was a girl.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Turkey!
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Exchanging one gift on Christmas Eve.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
A Christmas Story is definitely the best holiday movie of all time!
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
My favorite ornament is a tiny black guitar with skulls that was given to me when I first began to play guitar
Neal Middleton
Royal Bliss, Singer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Gift? Huh, It would be, well my grandma bought me some underwear, some whitey tighties and on the front of it, it said, My Mighty Minnow and it had a little picture of a fish. I thought this was really random from my Grandma! It was really funny.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
That is a good one too. Though I love so much food, I always look forward to the mashed potatoes and gravy. I don’t know what it is, but that is it.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Oh man, for one, start Christmas after Thanksgiving. We always do it that weekend and we just get together, drink hot chocolate and go pick out a tree, put up all the lights and everything and listen to Christmas music all day long. That is one of my favorite ones.
Jessie Covets
Violet, Lead Singer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
A Toliet Stories Book
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Candy Cane Oreos
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Eat my Italian grandma’s cooking!
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Silent Night and The Grinch Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration? The angel at the top of our tree that went missing..
Tavis Stanley
Art of Dying, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
We have a saying in my family “you’re gonna get a slap in the belly with a wet fish” I never got one yet though lol
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Definitely all the chocolate, i go nuts around xmas with sweets
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
We drive around and look at lights on xmas eve and ooh and aww at everyone’s houses!
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Favourite movie is elf
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Yes we have an ornament of a gingerbread man thats actually made of plastic, but when i was like 5 i tried o eat it and it has these huge teeth marks in it still!
Jeff George
Harlot, Guitarist
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Ha.. Ok, I’m going to give a 2 part answer to this question.
From a family member.. Definitely the box of Kleenex Tissue I received from my Grandma when I was about 10 years old. She said it was something I could really use because whenever we would play games, I would always end up crying. Hahaha.. Now as true as this may be.. she cheated like crazy!!! So for a 10 year old.. that was tough to take!. Luckily for me and for the rest of Christmas day, that box of Kleenex was followed up with a real present.
Now .. part 2.. Oddest gift from a fan. I had an evening with a girl who will not be named and later gave this girl my phone number from a state that also won’t be named. There were a few texts and calls over the next 4 months, but nothing serious. Then about 2 weeks before Xmas, she calls me and I answer and she says “I’m here! At the airport.. I flew in to surprise you for your early xmas present”. Now I had zero info that this was ever going to happen. So being nice I had to pick her up.. Horrible decision!
Without going into detail.. Needless to say.. what ensued was one of the weirdest 5 days of my life. Haha!
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Well.. Ive always been extremely fond of the Jack Daniels or the occasional Wine Slam!
Lately I’ve been heavily into Deviled Egg’s for some reason.. I am Devilish but no idea why these things have consumed me. They will all be nicely laid out on a fancy tray chillin in the fridge and I’ll sneak one here and there throughout the day. Then at dinner time they get served, and of course the tray looks ridiculous haha. Half of them missing.. some turned over and yellow egg smeared everywhere.. One with a bite out of it but the other half still there. I’m fairly confident that my family will be making me my own baby tray of these this year.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
This is a tough one. The reason being is my family isn’t all centrally located. For instance, I’m in Los Angeles.. My Parents are in the Detroit area.. one of my sisters are in Arkansas.. add in the brother in laws and kids and their families ect and it gets really tough to schedule.. let alone hold traditions. Not to mention tour schedules as well.
But the one tradition in all that craziness is that we all always try to make sure that we are HOME at my parents house on Christmas morning. It may only be for a few hours.. but for those few hours and breakfast and gift opening.. thats Christmas and truly our Christmas tradition.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
I do. My all time favorite Xmas song has always been Little Drummer Boy. Maybe that is why my first instrument was drums. Still to this day when I hear that song, I immediately think of Christmas and my first drum set that my Grand parents bought me. It was a set of very used drums.. But they were Pearl’s, and thats what Peter Criss from Kiss played.. so to me.. they were the best drums ever made!
Favorite Holiday Movie would have to be Christmas Vacation. Chevy ruled back then!
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Amazing question! Absoloutely! My Mom always made sure that we decorated the tree together as a family when we were kids. Of course this would usually end up with me and my older sister fighting about where certain ornaments went on the tree, especially our signature ornaments! Haha. When we were babies my Mom got us each certain ornaments that were ours and these were the one’s that only we individually could hang. So.. what did I do.. I would hang and hide my sisters ornaments hidden way in the back of the tree or sometimes in the tree haha and again that would culminate in a colossal fight. I’ve also added some Kiss, AC/DC and Ozzy ornaments to the tree over the years, But those original ornaments that now look really old and tattered, because they are old, will always be my favorites and they definitely hold the memories of Christmas past in them.
Ohh.. and Mom if your reading this.. WAIT TILL I GET HOME TO HANG MY ORNAMENTS AND HIDE THEM FROM JEN! Merry Christmas Everyone.. Rock n Roll!
Sydney Schmier
Stereo Jane, Singer
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
The oddest gift? Mmm. Oh My Gosh, my Grandma, she is hilarious. I don’t think she knew it was weird but it was the funniest thing. She gave us a little bag of old things that she found around her house. (Music Junkie Press: That is so cute!) But one of them was, I don’t know what they were called, You know in a lingerie drawer there is a scented little bra looking thing. (Music Junkie Press: Yes, the scented sachet packs!) Ya, that is like the weirdest thing that I ever got.
What is your favorite holiday food?
I eat so much food, I love food, I have no idea. I don’t think I could choose. I would have to say Turkey, I love turkey.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
I love Christmas Eve. We go to my Grandmas that night and do presents and everything.
That is it for Part 1 of our Holiday Q & A, we will bring you a whole new batch of artists and musicians tomorrow. Stay tuned~
~ Marisol, Rockin’ Ryan, Rachel, Steve, Larry, and Music Junkie Press!
So you want to learn how to play guitar? Or do you want to perfect your finger tapping? Or do you want to bust out some blues licks? Or how about just improve your guitar style? Well all these things can be achieved by taking classes from a Rock Star. I am not talking about plugging your plastic guitar into your XBox or your Wii set.. I am talking about the real thing! How about taking Skype lessons from the very talented awesome guitarist of Art of Dying, Tavis Stanley?
Tavis Stanley plays for the incredible band Art of Dying and has been playing and touring for the past 15 years. What great experience you will get by learning from this teacher. He is offering online courses via Skype and fits them within his busy touring schedule. This is a gem that you have to enjoy.
Several months ago, my son started taking guitar lessons from one of my favorite guitarists, Tavis of Art of Dying. As many of you know that band’s music had kept me going for the past year during my father’s quick two week battle and loss with cancer last year as well as kept me afloat and in the ‘living” world for the past year.
It was great to see Ryan learn so much from Tavis. Ryan has been a self taught guitarist at a young age and then took lessons from a couple teachers many years ago. Since then the has pretty much been focused on learning tab of his favorite songs and doing covers. Well after classes with Tavis I have seen Ryan progress and grow into “his own” guitar style. I had the chance to catch up with Tavis for a couple questions:
Music Junkie Press: How do you fit teacher guitar classes through your busy schedule?
Tavis Stanley: When I am not on the road I do them full time Monday thru Friday, kinda like having a full time job but I get to stay home and drink beer while I work!
Music Junkie Press: Where can people get a hold if they would like to take classes?
Tavis Stanley:You can type my name in on facebook or my page Tavis Stanley’s Guitar School for my lessons page. Either one I can be reached at and I am on here pretty muh 24/7 so I will respond right away.
Music Junkie Press: How old were you when you first played guitar?
Tavis Stanley:I started playing when I was 13 and starting teaching kids in my neighborhood at 15.
Music Junkie Press: If you could take any song and remake it from any genre what would it be?
Tavis Stanley: I would do Back Door Man by Howlin Wolf. It’s got the greasiest ‘in the cracks’ feel and I’d love to heavy it up and modernize it.
So now that you know a little more about Tavis make sure to check him and take some classes.
If you ask Ryan how has it been taking classes from Tavis, “Very cool. I have learned about how to add blues to my own guitar style. Tavis has taught me how to be a [better me] at guitar! I would recommend him to anyone who wants to learn how to play real guitar and be dedicated. I even created this for him”:
So are you ready to pick up that six string and get back to playing? Well if so, grab a great teacher like Tavis and let me know how it goes! Tavis even puts out his own Guitar Lesson Blog that you have to check out. Here is the third video from his Guitar Video Blog:
What are you waiting for? Turn off that Guitar Hero/Rock Band and stop fumbling through those videos. Get online and head over to Facebook and see if Tavis has time for YOU! ~ Enjoy, Marisol
Here is the video for the Art of Dying song that kept me going through the loss of my father. Papi I love you! 12/22/31 to 9/2/2011
and here is my Sorry picture for the Art of Dying Sorry gallery and the video for Sorry follows. This is a picture that was taken eight days before losing my best friend, my father. I stayed at his side and I remember holding his hand and thinking to myself that I have to remember every line on his face or every wrinkle on his hand as if it would be the last time. I miss him so much… I would leave the hospital and would play “Get Thru This” every time and it gave me the strength I needed.
Music Junkie Press 