Wayne Madden's Recent Postings

Michael Jackson passed away last night, as I'm sure you know, and I just felt it right to write something here and express my feelings about the situation. Regardless of the man's personal life, or what he did and didn't do cosmetically, Michael was an amazing singer and a fantastic performer in his day. May he rest in peace. OK, so it's not for good, but how warm was it this weekend to see Jason Newsted return happy to Metallica. The man who had left the band in a hotel room in San Francisco (without flowers in his hair) in early 2001 had struggled, for the past eight years, to put behind him what he had prepared for almost six months to address.



Metallica accepted their RnR Hall of Fame Induction with Newsted looking to be the happiest person in the world. On-stage with the band and Ray Burton (the late Cliff Burton's father), he spoke as if he had not a care in the world and nothing had happened. Newsted has not appeared in public, nor given an interview, since an injury sidelined him from action following a bout on the appalling reality TV programme 'Rockstar Supernova' - he was the real winner that night if, for nothing else, performing with current Metallica bassist Robert and knowing that there was no bad blood between any of them!



I encourage you, now, to go and seek out a CD entitled 'IR8' recorded some years ago in Newsted's garage. I encourage you to find this album and play it to show you the passion of this man and his musical ability. The fact that he had not forgotten his past. This man is one of the last integral people left in the Industry.

On another note, I watched a film this weekend called 'The Boat That Rocked', which was loosely based on Radio Caroline and offshore broadcasting in the UK in the late 60s...it's really funny, and if you don't take it seriously, even as a DJ you can appreciate it. But with just one star in Metro?! Come on people, let us be serious - WHAT?

Go and see it, and take someone with you, be happy and have a nice night. I'm still waiting for Download 2009! Whooooo! I'm sure you were as suprised as I was to see Metallica referenced in Monday night's episode of Coronation Street. For those who didn't see it, a character named Becky was left in charge of the local pub (the infamous Rover's Return) when a tour operator came in at lunchtime saying the SAT NAV had caused him to make a wrong turn and he had 50 Metallica fan's hungry and wanting food!

I assume, if anything, they travelled from Leeds and were looking to go to last night's Manchester concert in the MEN Arena. The humour proceeded when, in what I can only assume was an effort to attract younger viewers to the soap, the pub jukebox played 'Until It Sleep's' and 'The Memory Remain's' in two very separate pub scenes.

This made me laugh because, of all the Metallica music they could have picked, surely the opening few minutes of 'One' or the likes of 'Fade to Black' or 'The Day That Never Comes' (hell, even 'Nothing Else Matters') would have been better than the use of these tracks!

I have seen musicians referenced in soaps before, in an effort to attract viewers to their screen, such is Metallica's power that their first UK tour in 12 years has now become the subject of documented TV garbage. Having said that since Metallica themselves are responsible for 'Some Kind of Monster' than I hardly doubt they can point the finger. More convincing might have been Sophie Webster's conversion back to her Goth lifestyle when she met with an ex-boyfriend...

Personally, I prefer the scene where David Platt was almost drowned by Charlie Stubbs, now THAT was television worth watching.

Me? I'm headed to Sheffield tomorrow, for Metallica and Machine Head, it'll be a lot of travelling from my base in Edinburgh (but nothing worth doing is ever easy) and I'll be happy to get a break from the usual scenery...

Check a look at this tattoo below...I'd reckon this guy was pissed off when Cliff Burton died and the band released 'Load'

Oh...and look out for my upcoming column in PC World magazine.



P.S. Thats a joke! I know this has already been raised on other blogs, but I gotta say, Sonisphere is proving to be the reason to stay in the UK this year for your Metal festivals. First, it's got an amazing line-up, and it’s gonna keep building. Second, it’s in August, so it gives everyone (and God knows we need it) time to save.

Last, and probs best of all, the ticket prices are that little cheaper than Download and - having spoken to those who attended the Download festival and experienced this and the Irish Oxegen festival firsthand - I have to be honest and say that even though Sonisphere has no proven history I would still recommend this festival over anything else the UK has to offer (with the possible exception of Bloodstock), check it out at http://www.sonispherefestivals.com/uk/lineup.

Personally, I'm hoping to get to Graspop (although if I have the money I'll also do Sonisphere), with Motley Crue and a host of other acts on a proven festival ground that celebrates its 14th incarnation this year. It’s come a long way since Simple Minds headlined the festival above Slayer (yes, that’s right, Simple Minds headlined above Slayer) in 1995. After that one year the organisers realised that getting Simple Minds to play a metal gig was a band idea and turned the festival 100% metal...and good for them. You can check it out at www.graspop.be.

With Wacken sold out, you can also head to Gods of Metal, www.godsofmetal.it which finds itself in Italy. Another proven festival ground that’s worth a look.

Last, what am I doing Saturday? I’m heading to Sheffield to meet up with Metallica and Machine Head at the Hallam FM arena. I'll be interviewing Dave McClain and you may just see that on the pages of DMG next week - I've been a Machine Head fan since I first bought The More Things Change in 1997, so this is gonna be a good one!

Keep it real, and remember, my new metal show will be back online in March at www.leithfm.co.uk.

You can contact us at www.myspace.com/graveyardshiftuk
So here we are, another week, and everywhere it turns you can't seem to get away from the news that Limp Bizkit are reunited. Or are they?

I ask one simple question: who cares?

Seriously, the last time this band toured Europe I had just done the Junior Cert, and was beginning to shave for the first time! Wes Borland is a fine guitarist but sometimes I fail to see the attraction in Fred Durst jumping around like a prat and asking people "what the word is?"

Other news is that thanks to DMG I am off to Dave Mustaine and Megadeth on Monday in Glasgow - oh yeah, and Judas Priest, who are the classic artists featured in the debut installment of my new radio programme, Graveyard Shift

You can find THAT on myspace at www.myspace.com/graveyardshiftuk and you can also listen to the programme every 3rd Thursday of each month - starting this Thur 19th February from 11pm until 2am live online at www.leithfm.co.uk.

Please set reminders now!

Others news, I have decided to head to Graspop this year, in Belguim, to see bands like Motley Crue, WASP, Killswitch Engage, Slipknot, Down and Marilyn Manson...and no doubt Limp Bizkit...when they play at the Metal Meeting in June

IM ALSO SELLNG A METALLICA TICKET TO THE SHEFFIELD GIG IN ORDER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THIS TRIP....IT COMES WITH FREE RAIL TRAVEL TO AND BACK FROM EDINBURGH HAYMARKET IF THAT SUITS ANYONE....answers on postcard (or offers please) to madden.wayne@gmal.com.

See y'all soon!