“You make taking the bus sexy again.” It’s not easy being green. For Eddie Solis, riding the bus and the Los Angeles Metro Rail system is his chosen form of transportation, getting him wherever he needs to go. A typical day in the life for Solis involves going downtown, where he might work at his independent record label, Stoked Records, or various duties for his band, It’s Casual, or go to Skidrow Studios to tape an episode of Los Angeles Nista, his own internet radio show, or travel to other destinations in the city to take care of business.

It has been nearly 10 years since ex-Eidolon drummer Shawn Drover joined Megadeth, replacing longtime member Nick Menza. The System Has Failed album had just been released, giving Drover less than a week to rehearse with the band before touring would begin. It would seem like a trial-by-fire situation for any musician to step into, yet Drover pulled it off. Four studio albums and hundreds of shows later, he’s still ensconced behind that massive drum kit, throwing down the thunder for one of the most venerated bands in the metal world.

Some believe that the first rock opera was Pete Townshend’s conceptual tale of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy. Tommy by The Who was a visionary album that, since its release in May of 1969, has sold over 20 million copies. Cited as one of the most influential records of all time, Tommy is a 24-track “amazing journey”, which depicts a momentous time in The Who’s career, preceding the eminent Who’s Next album.

Widely regarded as pioneers in the Christian metal scene, Barren Cross’ inception took place in the early ’80s, at nearly the same time as Stryper. Both had been on the Enigma Records label sharing the roster with bands as Poison, Death Angel, and Devo. The ’80s were known as the Reagan years, a time of excess in the music business with flashy, big-budget videos glamorizing rock and roll decadence. Employing ultra-tight musicianship and a dynamic lead singer, Barren Cross could rock as hard as any of their contemporaries, though without the fleshy lyrics used by some of the spandex-clad, glam- metal bands. Belting out guitar-driven heavy metal tunes through a Christian worldview, Atomic Arena, released in 1988, was proof of their wider appeal.

“Satan was no pushover. And he runs the entertainment industry.” You can’t keep a good band down. GWAR, Antarctica’s wart-laden, heavy metal titans, are testament that when earthly tragedy hits, you keep plodding on. The recently released album Battle Maximus is dedicated to departed guitarist Flattus Maximus and tells the next chapter of the GWAR story. Battle Maximus was recorded in GWAR’s brand-new Slave Pit Studios. PureGrainAudio interrupted GWAR vocalist Oderus Urungus just as he was finishing lunch.

In 2010, progressive rock veterans Dream Theater underwent a personnel change, as longtime drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy was replaced by new drummer Mike Mangini. Portnoy has been quoted as saying he felt Dream Theater needed to take a break, while the rest of the band (singer James La Brie, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess) wanted to start a new album. The revised lineup of Dream Theater released A Dramatic Turn of Events in 2011, and as Portnoy moved on to other projects, Dream Theater moved forward, touring in support of an album that is easily one of their best. And for a number of Dream Theater fans, the supposition that the band might not be as good without its original drummer was put to rest. Mangini has since proven his mettle in the studio and on tour, solidifying his position as a part of the DT team.

The Monsters of Madness Tour featuring Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson hit the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles, CA on June 6th, 2013. While I didn’t get to see Manson’s or Cooper’s entire sets, both artists still were giving L.A. an incredible performance.

For metal-loving Southern Californians, The Battle of San Bernardino was this Summer’s hottest event. On a lucky Friday the 13th (August), seven heavy bands, Warbringer, Overkill, Sabaton, Testament, Anthrax, Megadeth, and headliner Iron Maiden performed at a venue well-known for its big outdoor festivals. Testament and Anthrax played extraordinary sets, Megadeth shined, but it was the headliner, Iron Maiden, that blew minds. A killer set highlighting the ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ album, it was classic Maiden, playing in top form.

For metal-loving Southern Californians, The Battle of San Bernardino was this Summer’s hottest event. On a lucky Friday the 13th (August), seven heavy bands, Warbringer, Overkill, Sabaton, Testament, Anthrax, Megadeth, and headliner Iron Maiden performed at a venue well-known for its big outdoor festivals. Testament and Anthrax played extraordinary sets, Megadeth shined, but it was the headliner, Iron Maiden, that blew minds. A killer set highlighting the ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ album, it was classic Maiden, playing in top form.

After Coal Chamber disbanded in 2003, singer Dez Farfara nearly split from the music scene. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. Within a ten year period, the singer has enjoyed success, making records and touring the globe with his band DevilDriver.

For metal-loving Southern Californians, The Battle of San Bernardino was this Summer’s hottest event. On a lucky Friday the 13th (August), seven heavy bands, Warbringer, Overkill, Sabaton, Testament, Anthrax, Megadeth, and headliner Iron Maiden performed at a venue well-known for its big outdoor festivals. Testament and Anthrax played extraordinary sets, Megadeth shined, but it was the headliner, Iron Maiden, that blew minds. A killer set highlighting the ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ album, it was classic Maiden, playing in top form.

For metal-loving Southern Californians, The Battle of San Bernardino was this Summer’s hottest event. On a lucky Friday the 13th (August), seven heavy bands, Warbringer, Overkill, Sabaton, Testament, Anthrax, Megadeth, and headliner Iron Maiden performed at a venue well-known for its big outdoor festivals.

For metal-loving Southern Californians, The Battle of San Bernardino was this Summer’s hottest event. On a lucky Friday the 13th (August), seven heavy bands, performed at a venue well-known for its big outdoor festivals.

“I really wanted to play guitar. I came out of nothing. I had no musicians in the family. It was just this passion that came.” A good guitarist is made, not born. It’s essential to acquire the rudiments of chord-playing and knowing the notes and frets. By and large, most wannabes give up after they realize what kind of commitment it takes to be any good at guitar.