Just in today: the end of year charts for the TV channel, The Box. The particular chart in question is the 50 most popular videos of 2002… coming in at #33 is ‘Hero’ by Chad Kroeger & Josey Scott, and #39 ‘How You Remind Me’, the Nickelback smash hit. What’s #1? Gareth Gates and ‘Unchained Melody’.

Come January 15th, make sure you pick up the new issue of Rock Sound magazine, for it will feature a free CD on the cover! This is of particular note because one of the tracks on the CD is called ‘Inside The Cynic’ and it is an unreleased Stone Sour track.

It’s the end of the year and all of a sudden everyone is more interested than usual in hearing what you think. If you’re feeling opinionated and have lovely things to say about Roadrunner bands, read on… (if not, remember your mother said if you’ve nothing nice to say, say nothing at all) The lovely folks at NME, Kerrang!, and Metal Hammer all want to know what your favourites and least favourites of the year are. You can cast your votes at these places… just click the links: Metal Hammer Reader’s Poll Kerrang! Reader’s Poll NME Carling Awards

We are pleased to announce that Deathride, featuring Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber, have signed to Roadrunner. Hailing from California, the group is completed by Dragon on guitar, Shak on bass, Sleeper also on guitar, and Junk as the sticksman on drums. The band are likely to enter the studio in early 2003 to work on their debut record with Ross Hogarth in the producers chair. Deathride have already written more than 2 dozen songs – it’s believed the songs are of a more aggressive and technical leaning than Dez’s previous work with Coal Chamber. We hope to have some music for you to listen to soon! Potential tracks for inclusion on the album include: 1. Devil’s Son 2. Swinging The Dead 3. Revelation Machine 4. Driving Down The Darkness 5. The Misery 6. What Does It Take To Be A Man 7. Shine 8. Give It 9. Clearly 10. The Darkness Any surprises to come? We’re talking particularly of wide-spread rumours on the internet that Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down) might make an appearance on the album… here’s what Dez had to say: “Phil’s one of my closest friends. I’d be honored if he’d sing on (a) DEATHRIDE (album), and of course I’m going to ask him. We have the perfect song for it. It’s called ‘What Does It Take To Be A Man’.” More to come…

Well, Killswitch Engage made it safe and sound to Tokyo, Japan – their first trip there to play their first Japan show (Makuhari Messe Event Hall on Dec 15th). From Mike D (KsE bass) to Mike G (KsE A&R Rep), a bit of IM from earlier in the day: Mike D: Tokyo could be the coolest place on earth…we are over joyed to be here…although Godzilla has not made an appearance. Mike G: Shogun Warriors or Science Ninjas? Mike D: yeah I got GENDIZER here…force five stuff…so psyched Mike G: what else have you guys picked up? Mike D: shogun warriors Mike G: so the first day or so is toy shopping? Mike D: just some present for peeps..nothing as great as that…second day Mike G: cool. how have the Japanese kids been so far? Mike D: very…shaking when they meet us Mike G: that must be weird… Mike D: totally, but we love it You can check out a photo taken by Mike D at the Beast Feast in Japan in the KsE PHOTO GALLERY, as well as a few photos from their Irving Plaza, New York, Xmas Ball show on Dec 9th. Enjoy.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 8TH WATERFRONT, NORWICH ENGLAND PRE SHOW ACTIVITIES-Due to the long night before I slept till 4:30 in the afternoon, I guess you could say I pulled a D.A.D. and was ” Sleeping My Day Away”. We had soundcheck at 5 followed by press then it was time to get dressed. Putting our smelly stage clothes back on, applying make up over old make up (and by the way we dont use corpse paint, we use make up from the company MAC(ask a chick if you dont know what MAC is), we just use their lightest shade and it also helps that we are naturally pale. THE SHOW- 700 kids packed into a room that looks like it would barely hold 300. Red and black haired, face painted kids screaming for us like the god damn Beatles…and just think if bands like Bangaloir Choir or Cold Sweat could have toured the UK maybe they would still be around today…or maybe not. AFTERSHOW-This was a quiet night and it was kind of depressing almost like Randy O’s carrer(just kidding I loved the Lost Boys record). We had an early bus call and just called it a day…..until next time I’m outta here like Heavy Bones career. Wednesday

MONDAY DECEMBER 9TH ROCK CITY NOTTINGHAM ENGLAND PRE SHOW ACTIVITIES-The name of this venue is called Rock City, not be confused with Bop City By Shotgun Messiah, Or Trash City from Kik Tracee, or Action City by Tigertailz….just plain Rock City. The day started early for me about 1pm, I decided to walk around a do some Christmas shopping and it was so fucking cold it was like a “Russian Winter”. We had soundcheck at 5 and then press that took us up until it was time to get dressed for the show. We very rarely do laundry while we are on tour outside the USA so our stage clothes are starting to smell like a sack full of assholes. We got dressed and put on our make-up(or Marilyn Manson identity as some have called it) and hit the stage. THE SHOW- Over 800 kids showed up to see our ugly asses and we did not disappoint them at all. These shows just keep getting better and better. We had no technical difficulties and it was just Good, Clean, Fun like Celebrity Skin. THE AFTERSHOW- The aftershow took place in a bar downstairs. A lot of our fans were waiting around to meet us but the most interesting group of people I met were the ones who knew about my obsession with all the 80/90s bands. We talked about bands and Metal Sludge all night. One guy in particular was so bitter about the music today he was just like “Fuck Nu-Metal…these kids dont know rock n roll”….then and he said to me “you dont know rock n roll either”. I said “name a band motherfucker and i’ll tell you anything about them”…he says “Roxx Gang”? So I ask him “what do you wanna know, the track listing from their album or the band members names?” So I unloaded on his ass and he was just floored with my knowledge on all those bands. Then he said it “I was the drummer for the Tattooed Love Boys,” so we sang songs from that album and the night just went on forever it seemed. This was a fun night for conversation and I think I heard Stevie Rachelles name about 50 times. We wrapped things up around 2am and said goodnight….till next time” shoot down the night”!!! Thanks to Metal-Sludge.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 7TH THE FORUM LONDON ENGLAND PRE SHOW ACTIVITIES- Here we are in London….and no i’m not talking about Nadir D’Priest and company I’m talking about the place LONDON. This makes our 3rd appearance in London since September. Our day consisted of press, press and more press all the way until show time. We also found out that we were filming the show for a live DVD that will be coming out early next year. All in all this day was very fucking busy, so by the time we were finished with all the press it was time to get dressed and play. THE SHOW-Well first off we showed up…and that’s more than I can say for some people who find it hard to make it to make it to their own concerts. The giant stage, massive lights, and the 1450 people in attendance was just unreal and seemed to good to be true for our sorry asses. However it was true and it was fucking great. We blasted out our usual rock ’em sock ’em blistering 55 min. set (encore included) and the audience loved us. This is one of my favourite shows I have ever played and the only thing i could imagine better than this is to go back in time and play the T.H.U.D. show with Tuff. THE AFTERSHOW-“hells come to heaven at the back stage door”….not only are these lyrics to Hericane Alice this was a reality tonight. It seemed like everyone we had met and made friends with in Europe came out to this show. We hung out and talked all night long and it just seemed to never end. We finally called it a day around 5:00 am and hit the bunks….so I’ll end this entry with the immortal words of Roky Shades from the Wrathchild live in London video….’YOUR A VICTIM… OF WHAT LONDON?…A STAKK ATTAK!!!! Thanks to Metal-Sludge.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 6TH LEADMILL SHEFFEILD ENGLAND PRE SHOW ACTIVITIES- Here we are in the home of Def Leppard. I expected to see all the locals w/ only one arm and mullets. However they all had their arms and there were quite a few mullets. I was still suffering from the McDonalds that I had 2 days ago, which is gonna be the death of me..sha, na, na, na..put a red rose on my grave and a 20 piece chicken Mc nugget. This was a typical day, filled with lots of press and photos followed by soundcheck and then showtime. We got dressed listening to Spread Eagle and Circus Of Power….these bands were fucking great. I always travel with my stock of obscure and forgotten cds, some of my choices for the dressing room aren’t always welcome by the band but they usually dont care. THE SHOW- We unleashed our musical battle cry (as Metal Edge says) on a slam packed, wall to wall Murderdoll army. We stormed the stage like Roxy Blue in the “Rob the Cradle” video…just kidding hahahahaha. The show was great and the kids loved it. The bootleggers are kicking our ass on T-shirts though, just about every kid has a bootleg shirt, oh well at least the are advertising us even though we dont get a dime from it. AFTERSHOW- The aftershow kicked off like an Andrew WK song, hell we could have given him inspiration for some new songs for his next album. We went out and signed things for all the kids waiting by our glorious pink bus and believe it or not some other asshole wrote on our bus again, but this time we caught him. The security confronted the guy and he attacked them so they took care of him by smacking him around for a while and then calling the cops. We hung around until 4:30 or 5:00am and called it a day…..till next time ruck a pit bridge. Wednesday

Some current notes of interest from the studios this week: 36 Crazyfists – back home fresh from the European Road Rage tour. Word has it they will be writing for their next release…currently looking to hit the studio come spring. Chimaira – in the studio in Ohio (see Chimaira’s ARTIST page for more detail). In a nutshell, they started recording in late November, and look to finish recording come early January…and then mixing, and then mastering. goneblind – see Chimaira update above…goneblind, too, is in the studio right now, having started in late November and looking to finish up come early January. However, not in Ohio, goneblind is at 4th Street Studios in L.A. with producer Jim Wirt. Ill Nino – writing away, they are…writing fools, they are to be…word has it, they have already laid down four new tracks to tape during rehearsals. Expect them to record the follow up to their Revolution…Revolucion debut starting February. Killswitch Engage – touring & working on their next release. Band will start writing in January! Rumblefish – recording finished…just waiting to get this bad boy mixed. Should happen before the end of the year. Spineshank – in Vancouver right now, doing some overdubs to tracks already laid down…should be finished come Dec 22, and then mixing in January. Type O Negative – the band has been in a studio in sweet home Brooklyn recording since November 12th. The recording of this as of yet unnamed release should be completed come late January.