DREAM THEATER’s Jordan Rudess spoke to Noisecreep recently and in that interview he named five albums that changed his life. See below for some extracts from that piece:

“I come from a very classical music type of background. I studied piano throughout my childhood and into my teen years. ‘Tarkus’ changed my life because it was the first time I heard something so musically progressive on the piano be played with so much power behind it.”

“For me, Hendrix was always the master of cool. He epitomized that whole trippy, musician kind of vibe. That was something that really captured me as a kid…His use of the wah-wah pedal was so cutting edge. It literally sounded like his guitar was talking. I still haven’t heard anyone make a wah-wah pedal sound like that.”

“Gentle Giant was a really interesting band and had a unique way of fusing rock with classical music. They had an uncanny sense of counterpoints and rhythm that was really amazing.”

“This was a huge album in my life, but I’m sure some people will be surprised that I would choose it for this list. What I mean is that a lot of Dream Theater fans might think I would be more into something more technical and with more chops, but I’m also really attracted to gentle music too.”

“I’ve always loved Jon Anderson’s voice. There’s something really beautiful and pure about it. It’s like a magical kind of sound. But there are so many other things I also love about Yes. There are a band filled with really amazing players. The way their parts intertwined with each other was so powerful, and then having Anderson’s voice on top of that made it even more special. The word “glorious” comes to mind when I think about that album.”

See what albums Jordan is talking about by clicking this link.

Pick up a copy of DREAM THEATER’s latest album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events by pointing your mouse in this direction.

TRIVIUM bassist Paolo Gregoletto filmed some backstage antics at their recent show in Stockholm recently and you can see that video below. Watch as Corey Beaulieu does his best Yngwie Malmsteen, the band confuse fans with a “reverse meet and greet” and much more……including silent Ghosts walking on stage!

LAMB OF GOD have posted some new photos on their Facebook Page, which you can find by clicking this link. Check out the new photos below:

LAMB OF GOD release their upcoming album, Resolution, on the 23rd of January and if you pre-order the Special Edition of the album before the 20th of December, you will receive a bonus Live CD. Click here to find the full details for the release and how you can download a voucher to give in place of the album, until the album is release.

MEGADETH’s concert at the Maquinaria Festival in Santiago on 12 Nov was professionally filmed and you can see the ENTIRE set below:

The band’s setlist on the night was as follows:

01. Trust
02. Wake Up Dead
03. Hangar 18
04. Angry Again
05. A Tout Le Monde
06. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
07. Head Crusher
08. Public Enemy No. 1
09. Sweating Bullets
10. Symphony of Destruction
11. Peace Sells
12. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due

MASTODON rhythm section, Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders, spoke to IGN Music last month about why MASTODON appeals to gamers, how they feel about getting featured heavily in Splatterhouse and scoring seven tracks on the Resistance soundtrack. Watch the video by clicking this link.

Keep up to date with all things MASTODON and pick up a copy of the band’s new album, The Hunter, by clicking this link.

This Is Not A Scene went along to WITHIN TEMPTATION‘s show in Manchester the other week and as well as getting some great shots of the night, judging by the accompanying review, we think they may have enjoyed the show too! Check out an extract and some shots below:

As Sharon described Manchester as a beautiful city when she first visited as a teenager, TINAS can safely say that with a great mixture of songs from their new and with their classics, it was a gig deserving to be sold out and a beautiful night for all to witness.

Click here to read the full review and see the rest of the photos.

You can keep up to date with all things WITHIN TEMPTATION by clicking this link and if you point your mouse in this direction, you can watch some video blogs the band have recorded whilst on tour. Enjoy!

Blues master KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD was in the UK at the beginning of this month and in case you missed it, he played a killer show at KOKO in Camden. You can see some awesome fan footage and some shots from the night by clicking this link.

Whilst over in the UK, Kenny spent some time with BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones and he recorded a show with Kenny. That show is being aired on Monday the 28th of November at 7pm and fans can listen in via the following channels:

Online – click here
DAB – Listed as “BBC Radio 2”, “BBC R2”, or “Radio 2”
FM – 88 – 91 FM
Freeview – Channel 702
Freesat – Channel 702
Sky TV – Channel 0102
Virgin – Channel 702

Mobile Phones
If your mobile phone has an FM receiver, you can listen to Radio 2 on 88 – 91 FM. If it has an MP3 player you can listen to podcasts of Radio 2 programmes. Some mobile phones can also access BBC iPlayer.

MP3 Players (iPods and other manufacturers)
Many Radio 2 programmes are available as podcasts which you can listen to on any MP3 player. Your MP3 player may also have an FM or DAB receiver, allowing you to listen live.

Can I listen to Radio 2 outside the UK?
You can listen to Radio 2 online anywhere in the world but you will not be able to pick up BBC stations broadcasting on FM and DAB very far from UK shores. They are funded by the UK licence fee and the BBC is not permitted to re-broadcast them from other countries.

Pick up a copy of Kenny’s new album, How I Go, by pointing your mouse in this direction.

Bring the Noise festival in France is organised by the alternative rock and metal show with the same name that airs on Ou

STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok filmed a rig tour for Total Guitar, featuring a healthy side of “man ass”. You have been warned…! Check out the video on Total Guitar’s website by clicking here and watch Mike’s professionally presented gear guide, including a look at his extremely rare baritone PRS seven-string guitars, which he claims are the only two in existence.

Keep up to date with all things STAIND by clicking this link – you can also pick up a copy of the band’s latest self-titled Staind by pointing your mouse in this direction.

Next week Rock Sound has interview time with Trivium at the Guildhall in Southampton. No big deal, happens all the time. Right? Well, not quite…

For this particular feature they need a handful of diehard fans who are free at 2.30pm on Thursday, December 01 to come down and help them interrogate – BOOM!

Like the idea? Fit the bill? Then email rsvp@rocksound.tv with your name, age, contact number, the town/city you live in and a paragraph on why you should get the nod for this particular enterprise. Those successful will be contacted by Tuesday, November 29.

As always, there are rules:

1. We will NOT be supplying tickets for the show as part of the feature.
2. You have to make your own way to/from the interview.
3. Your picture will be taken as part of the piece, be prepared for that.
4. If you turn up naked you won’t be allowed to meet the band.
5. If provoked, Corey Beaulieu will bite you. Consider yourself warned.

Trivium tour the UK with In Flames, Ghost and Rise To Remain, dates are as follows:

DECEMBER
01 – SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall
02 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall
03 – MANCHESTER Academy
04 – LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
06 – GLASGOW O2 Academy
07 – NEWCASTLE O2 Academy
08 – PLYMOUTH Pavillions