Video: RUSH Frontman Throws Out Ceremonial First Pitch At TORONTO BLUE JAYS Home Opener

 

RUSH bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee threw out the ceremonial first pitch earlier today (Tuesday, April 2) when the Toronto Blue Jays opened their 37th regular season against the Cleveland Indians. Check out video footage below.

Geddy is a Blue Jays season-ticket holder who gets to about 25 games a year when he isn't touring. He also manages a 40-man keeper fantasy team.

In addition to fantasy and following the Jays, Geddy has a museum-quality baseball memorabilia collection. According to ESPN, he collects autographed baseballs and has recently gotten into collecting game-used items. Baseballs signed by Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner and Cy Young are just a few of his prized possessions.

"I really find it fascinating how baseballs are signed," Lee said. "It's not an easy item to autograph, but I love the sphere and
have gotten hundreds signed in person. It's such a beautiful thing!"

He
added: "I've recently started collecting balls from no-hitter games,
and I have about 15 different ones. I have four or five of them from Nolan Ryan no-nos. I've gotten to know Randy Johnson, as he is a fan of the band, so I have a ball from his no-hitter and one from his 19-strikeout game."

MIKE PORTNOY Talks ADRENALINE MOB, Upcoming Projects In Video Interview

 

At a recent stop on ADRENALINE MOB's current U.S. headlining tour, drummer Mike Portnoy (formerly of DREAM THEATER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD) answered a number of questions that were submitted by the registered
members of his official forum. Check out the question-and-answer session below.

ADRENALINE MOB released "Covertá", an eight-track EP featuring cover versions of some of the group's favorite songs, on March 12. Longtime fans of Portnoy are aware of the multiple cover CDs he has released with DREAM THEATER and with Neal Morse. "Covertá" is the first CD of covers recorded by ADRENALINE MOB.

In a recent interview with Classic Rock Revisted, Portnoy stated about "Covertá": "From the moment we had the idea to the moment we delivered it to the
record company, the entire cycle was about two weeks. From conception to delivery, it was really quick. We had the idea and we went into the
studio and we literally banged it out. My drums are all one take. It was pretty much in real time. We got everything tracked and Michael [Orlando, guitar] did a great job mixing. It was really only a couple of weeks from start to finish."

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.

New NIGHTWISH Singer FLOOR JANSEN Completes Recording Second REVAMP Album

 

Former AFTER FOREVER and current NIGHTWISH touring singer Floor Jansen has completed recording the second album from her REVAMP project at SandLane Studio in Rijen, The Netherlands with Joost van den Broek (ex-AFTER FOREVER). The CD, which will feature guest choir parts by Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION) and Daniël de Jongh (TEXTURES), will be released in September via an as-yet-undisclosed label.

Video footage of REVAMP performing a brand new song, entitled "Sins", in January 2012 at Metropool in Hengelo, The Netherlands can be seen below.

REVAMP's self-titled debut album was released in Europe on May 28, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

REVAMP is:

Floor Jansen: Songwriter/Singer
Arjan Rijnen: Guitar
Jord Otto: Guitar
Jaap Melman: Bass
Ruben Wijga: Keyboards
Matthias Landes: Drums

Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington.

Jansen handled lead-vocal duties on NIGHTWISH's recent North American, South American, Australian and U.K. tours after the group parted ways with Anette Olzon at the end of September.

BIGELF returns and signs new deal with InsideOut Music; Mike Portnoy to play drums on forthcoming new album

BIGELF returns and signs new deal with InsideOut Music; Mike Portnoy to play drums on forthcoming new album

InsideOut Music is immensely pleased to announce the signing of progressive-rock powerhouse BIGELF for the release of their forthcoming new album later this year. Label-head Thomas Waber says about the signing: "We have been talking to BIGELF for quite some time now and I am really pleased that we finally managed to make this happen! BIGELF are an excellent addition to the InsideOut Music roster!" It's been a few years since we've heard any activity from the BIGELF camp, so who better to explain to us what's been going on than the band's mastermind Damon Fox himself: "Finally! BIGELF lands on a planet whose atmosphere is synonymous with progressive rock and heavy metal. One of my all-time favourite quotes is, 'Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid...' I'm ecstatic that InsideOut/Century Media and Mike Portnoy have joined 'forces' with BIGELF. First, I want to elaborate on what has been happening 'inside' the band since 2010, there have been numerous rumours on the internet that I fired everyone in BIGELF, this is completely untrue. After the juggernaut of 'Cheat The Gallows' came to a halt, the business and personal infrastructure of BIGELF imploded and an unexpected hiatus occurred leaving the band in complete disarray. A myriad of personal, financial and domestic matters had enveloped myself as well as certain members of the group. There also comes a time when deep down inside it just doesn't feel right anymore, and one has to face the music that the end is near. Transparency no longer exists and with that, clarity and perspective are lost. I'm speaking for myself now but clearly this was a mutual feeling and I believe it was obvious amongst the band. Subsequently, Ace Mark decided to move on and left BIGELF in the summer of 2011, and a request by the remaining members for a dissolution of business followed. To put it simply, we went our separate ways without malice. I had been keeping in close touch with Mike Portnoy after his very public and difficult departure from DREAM THEATER. At this time, my musical future seemed quite bleak and I was very vocal to Mike about not being able to sustain the band any longer on my own. He implored me to carry on and to not let BIGELF slip away, his encouragement and enthusiasm meant the world to me. Recognizing that I needed some new allies, I asked him if he would help fight the good fight and lend his extraordinary drum majesty to the new BIGELF record and he readily agreed. Also...sharing a passion for all things rock & roll, my good friend Duffy Snowhill climbed aboard the Viking ship for another round of thundering bass guitar and for that too I am grateful. I also want to acknowledge our amazing and dedicated fans that send emails all the time saying how they feel about BIGELF. These emails inspire me greatly and they're the reason that I continue to play this kind of music, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait for everyone to hear the new wondrous landscapes we've been sculpting, there are lots of surprises around the corner, stay tuned." --Damon Fox BIGELF online: http://www.bigelf.com http://www.facebook.com/bigelfmusic http://www.twitter.com/bigelf

MIKE PORTNOY To Guest On New BIGELF Album

InsideOut Music has announced the signing of progressive-rock powerhouse BIGELF. The band's new album will be released later this year.

InsideOut Music head honcho Thomas Waber says about the signing: "We have been talking to BIGELF for quite some time now and I am really pleased that we finally managed to make this happen! BIGELF are an excellent addition to the InsideOut Music roster!"

It's been a few years since we've heard any activity from the BIGELF camp, so who better to explain to us what's been going on than the band's mastermind Damon Fox himself.

"Finally! BIGELF lands on a planet whose atmosphere is synonymous with progressive rock and heavy metal," Fox says.

"One of my all-time favourite quotes is, 'Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid...'

"I'm ecstatic that InsideOut/Century Media and Mike Portnoy have joined 'forces' with BIGELF.

"First,
I want to elaborate on what has been happening 'inside' the band since
2010. There have been numerous rumors on the Internet that I fired
everyone in BIGELF; this is completely untrue.

"After the juggernaut of 'Cheat The Gallows' came to a halt, the business and personal infrastructure of BIGELF imploded and an unexpected hiatus occurred leaving the band in complete disarray. A myriad of personal, financial and domestic matters had
enveloped myself as well as certain members of the group. There also
comes a time when deep down inside it just doesn't feel right anymore,
and one has to face the music that the end is near. Transparency no
longer exists and with that, clarity and perspective are lost. I'm
speaking for myself now but clearly this was a mutual feeling and I
believe it was obvious amongst the band. Subsequently, Ace Mark decided to move on and left BIGELF in the summer of 2011, and a request by the remaining members for a
dissolution of business followed. To put it simply, we went our separate ways without malice.

"I had been keeping in close touch with Mike Portnoy after his very public and difficult departure from DREAM THEATER. At this time, my musical future seemed quite bleak and I was very vocal to Mike about not being able to sustain the band any longer on my own. He implored me to carry on and to not let BIGELF slip away. His encouragement and enthusiasm meant the world to me.
Recognizing that I needed some new allies, I asked him if he would help
fight the good fight and lend his extraordinary drum majesty to the new BIGELF record and he readily agreed. Also... sharing a passion for all things rock and roll, my good friend Duffy Snowhill climbed aboard the Viking ship for another round of thundering bass guitar and for that too I am grateful.

"I also want to acknowledge our amazing and dedicated fans that send emails all the time saying how they feel about BIGELF. These emails inspire me greatly and they're the reason that I continue
to play this kind of music, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I
can't wait for everyone to hear the new wondrous landscapes we've been
sculpting, there are lots of surprises around the corner, stay tuned."