NEWS: Supergroup? Giraffe Tongue Orchestra...William Duvall, Brent Hinds, The Dillinger Escape Plan etc

"Supergroup” isn’t a word that often sits well with a lot of music fans. For some, it conjures thoughts of bloated egos battling for creative control. For others, it brings to mind flash-in-the-pan projects that lacked a lasting impact.

William DuVall, frontman for Alice In Chains, is ready to change everyone’s opinion on the subject with Giraffe Tongue Orchestra (GTO). DuVall, joining forces with Brent Hinds, lead shredder for heavy metal giants, Mastodon, and Ben Weinman, founder and lead guitarist of hardcore legends, Dillinger Escape Plan, is already generating incredible anticipation among fans and the press, which has fondly and excitedly dubbed them a supergroup.

They have just released their début album, 'Broken Lines'. The video for single 'Blood Moon' is below

GTO’s debut album promises to show and prove what this supergroup can really do by unleashing a sonic onslaught on all who are ready to rock! Don’t just take our word for it, the hype is real.

The line-up

 WILLIAM DUVALL  (ALICE IN CHAINS)
 BRENT HINDS  (MASTODON)
 BEN WEINMAN  (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN)
 THOMAS PRIDGEN  (THE MARS VOLTA)
 PETE GRIFFIN  (DETHKLOK, ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA)

Deep Purple summer date....

WITH confirmation that Deep Purple will be playing the Marquee in Cork on June 30th coming today, news as to whether the Northern Ireland date trailed in the Daily Mirror a couple of weeks ago will actually happen is expected over next few days. There are still plenty of unfilled slots in the tour calendar with only a couple of dates in Russia confirmed in May prior to the Cork gig.

If it does happen it will be an outdoor date, much like the summer Quo gig at Carrick Castle, only on a larger scale. For those who may not have seen the Daily Mirror story or the reports here, it is being put out there that DP may be putting in appearance at either Portstewart Strand or an outdoor venue close to/in Belfast with Lynyrd Skynrd and Alice in Chains.

We can only but wait...fingers crossed etc. As soon as confirmation arrives I'll post here.

Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alice in Chains for Portstewart?

TODAY'S Daily Mirror (NI Edition) claims that Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alice in Chains are being lined up for a rock gods concert next year. Among the touted venues is Portstewart Strand.

Purple and Skynyrd toured together six years ago, and Alice in Chains first record since the death of Layne Staley has received much critical acclaim.

There have been at least two abortive attempts to bring Purple to NI over the past couple of years. The full story of which may come out in due course, but a DP appearance is long overdue, and has to happen before they become incapable of touring ever again.

Despite all of Ian Gillan's flaws (ask Ritchie Blackmore) his solo work pre and post the magnificent Bernie Tormé years) were the door into hard rock for me in the early 80s, so if this comes to pass it will be suitable to raise a glass to Gillan by the seaside!

No official word yet, but hopefully an announcement will come in due course!