ArthurKade.com

Sitting Down With One Of Heavy Metal’s Most Iconic Front Men: My Interview With Geoff Tate Of Queensrÿche

arthur — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:27:46 +0000

When you think of Heavy Metal, there have been few bands as successful and innovative as Queensrÿche ! With over 20 million albums sold, Billboard hit album after Billboard hit album, they have managed to continue to stay relevant through an ever changing Rock environment. Geoff Tate, the voice of the band, and considered one of Rock’s purest voices (Tate is ranked fourteenth on Hit Parader’s list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. He was voted #2 on That Metal Show‘s top 5 metal vocalists of all time. He was also voted the #1 greatest metal singer of all time by Ragerecords.net), has been the driving force of the band’s incredible success and continued evolution, and continues to share his artistic genius with the world, both as Queensrÿche ‘s lead singer, but also as a solo artist while on tour around the country playing an acoustic performance that has sold out shows and showcased music Geoof created on his incredible solo album “Geoff Tate”. The fan reaction to the tour has been incredible, and it looks like there is no slowing down for one of Rock’s long lasting Icons..

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with the incredible Geoff Tate at the Highline Ballroom in NYC to talk about his incredible success as the lead singer of one of Heavy Metal’s great bands Queensrÿche , what it’s like stepping away from the band and recording and performing as a solo artist, what fans can expect in the Acoustic performance on his tour, his LOVE for wines, whether or not the band is in the studio working on a new album, some of his favorite moments in his brilliant career, how he and Queensrÿche have managed to stay so relevant over the years, and sooo much more!! Check out Geoff’s website for more info on where his tour will be stopping, his solo album, and of course check out his wine creation! He was such a great and humble guy, and it was such a pleasure to share this time with him.. Enjoy Kade Nation!!

Entering “The Idea Factory At Bell Labs” With Jon Gertner (Editor Of “Fast Company”)

arthur — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:55:26 +0000

Innovation has always been a staple of America, but no more prevalent is that then in the incredible story of Bell Labs, which through the 20th Century helped produce over a dozen Nobel Prize winners, and some of the greatest technological advances that exist in our lives today! In his wonderful new book “The Idea Factory”, Walter Isaacson (Bestselling author of “Steve Jobs”) writes in his NY Times review “Jon Gertner, an editor at Fast Company magazine, has produced a well-researched history of Bell Labs, filled with colorful characters and inspiring lessons. But more important, “The Idea Factory” explores one of the most critical issues of our time: What causes innovation? Why does it happen, and how might we nurture it? The lesson of Bell Labs is that most feats of sustained innovation cannot and do not occur in an iconic garage or the workshop of an ingenious inventor. They occur when people of diverse talents and mind-sets and expertise are brought together, preferably in close physical proximity where they can have frequent meetings and serendipitous encounters.” Jon takes a look at one of the world’s greatest creativity centers, and the also looks at America’s future direction with innovation and whether it can ever replicate the environment of sustained brilliance achieved at Bell Labs.

Issaacson further writes “The ability to combine theory, creativity and engineering was a great achievement of postwar America. For 50 years, economic growth and job creation were propelled by transistors, lasers and other discoveries that came from the willingness to nurture theoretical research in conjunction with applied science and manufacturing skills. But these days, manufacturing is being outsourced, and funding for pure science is being curtailed. With Bell Labs and other such idea factories disappearing, and with government research money endangered, what will propel innovation and job creation for the next 50 years?”

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with the brilliant Jon Gertner in NYC (Jon has also been a contributing writer to The New York Times and worked as a senior editor at Money magazine and a senior editor at The American Lawyer magazine) to talk about his new book “The Idea Factory”, and talk about his breathtaking look into why Bell Labs was such a unique breeding ground for the brilliance of innovation, whether or not there will ever be another Bell Labs again, what was so special about what was happening there and why he decided to write a book about it, the similarities with Bell Labs and companies like Apple, and sooo much more!! The reviews for “The Idea Factory” have been off the charts, so make sure to get yourself a copy! Enjoy Kade Nation!!

Harnessing The Power Within: Herman Li of DragonForce

arthur — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:50 +0000

For almost 15 years, DragonForce have shredded their way ‘through the fire and flames’ of the music industry to become one of the top metal bands on the planet. Their 2006 album, Inhuman Rampage, produced perhaps their biggest single, “Through The Fire and Flames.” The song garnered heavy rotation on rock radio and Fuse TV. It was also featured on the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The song quickly became the most popular song in the history of the game’s series, and a world-wide phenomenon. To date, the band’s music video for the song has gotten over 47-million hits on YouTube. It also spawned infinite cover attempts; YouTube videos of both people playing the song on regular guitar, and trying to get a perfect score on the Guitar Hero video game. The song is one of the fastest and most technically challenging songs in music history. I recently caught up with one of the masterminds behind DragonForce’s lightning-fast riffs – guitarist Herman Li. Herman and I got a chance to talk about the band’s new album, and their 2012 U.S. Tour. Herman said even though the tour is still in its infancy, they guys have already seen some pretty crazy stuff go down! As far as the album goes, he said the band tried to mix some different elements and styles into their music without sacrificing their trademark sound. DragonForce has toured with metal legends W.A.S.P., Halford, Iron Maiden, and more. In 2008, they toured on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. The song “Heroes of Our Time” from their last album, Ultra Beatdown, was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Metal Performance.” The song came in second in the voting, losing to the almighty Metallica’s “My Apocalypse.” DragonForce are currently touring in support of their new album, The Power Within, which is out now on Roadrunner Records. Get a copy. Get your tickets. Find the power, and CRANK IT UP!

“Shut Up And Give Me The Mic” With The Incredible Dee Snider

arthur — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:30:17 +0000

Dee Snider is nothing short of a “Renaissance Man”. One of the greatest lead singers in Heavy Metal history. Reality Star. Radio Talk Show Host. Rebel. And now he can add Bestselling Author to his extensive resume, because with the release of his incredible new memoir “Shut Up And Give Me The Mic”, Dee is giving the world an unabated, honest, and ultra raw look into the life of one of America’s most unique and beloved TV and Music legends. There have been few transformations or career re-creations as distinct as Dee Snider’s, where as one of the pioneers and most popular faces of Heavy Metal Glam Rock (As the lead singer of Twisted Sister), he and Frank Zappa became the target of Tipper Gore and the PMRC and were made into the symbol of everything that is bad about music and it’s impact on society, but then went on to become one of America’s most popular Radio Hosts, Reality Stars in shows like “Growing Up Twisted”, “Celebrity Wife Swap”, and “Celebrity Appearance”, Appeared in various movies including “Private Parts” and “Strangeland”, and even a Broadway Star in the smash hit “Rock Of Ages”. He has even now released a new CD called “Dee Does Broadway” with him remaking some of Broadway’s greatest songs, which for most artists in Rock would be career suicide, but with Dee it comes off as potential genius. There really is no one like Dee Snider, and when you see his unflinching love for his wonderful wife Suzette, you will realize why he has become such a beloved public figure.

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with the phenomenon that is Dee Snider for an ultra fun and ultra candid interview about his new memoir “Shut Up And Give Me The Mic”, the wonderful support that Suzette that has given the rock star throughout the years, his transformation from Rebel to Public hero, the war that Tipper Gore and the PMRC waged on him, how he never cheated, did drugs, or drank like his Rock counterparts, how the power of positive thinking as inspired him, we sing “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and sooo much more!! There are few better interviews that one can ever do then Dee Snider, and as expected he made this one an absolute blast and couldn’t have been a nicer guy to meet and hang out with. Plus his impressions of Gene Simmons of KISS, and some of his hilarious stories over the years were absolute GOLD. What a pleasure this was, and if you don’t buy “Shut Up And Give Me The Mic!”, you are missing out BIG TIME Kade Nation!!

And here is the awesome new music video for “Mack The Knife” from Dee’s new album!

“New York, I Love You” With ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” Star Emily Bergl

arthur — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:01:33 +0000

Emily Bergl is one ultra talented actress, who has been a star on TV, Theater, and Movies. Emily’s most famous recent role on television is the tragic housewife Beth Young on “Desperate Housewives. ” For two years, Emily played Annie on ABC’s “Men in Trees,” a comedy starring Anne Heche centered around a small Alaskan town. She also played the troubled photographer Tammi Bryant on the TNT hit “Southland.” She has also become a mainstay in theater starring on Broadway in “The Lion in Winter” opposite Laurence Fishburne and Stockard Channing, for which she won the FANY award for Best Broadway Debut. Many guest star roles on television soon followed, including “ER” “NYPD Blue,” “Medium,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Good Wife,” and two seasons as the malevolent Francie on “Gilmore Girls.” Emily also starred in “Steven Spielberg Presents Taken,” a historic 20-hour mini-series, as Lisa, the mother to Dakota Fanning. While maintaining a career in film and television, Emily has worked throughout the country at regional theatres such as the Williamstown Theatre Festival, South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, and The Globe Theatres, in plays such as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Proof,” and “Our Town.” She starred on Broadway in Eugene O’Neill’s “A Touch of the Poet” opposite Gabriel Byrne, and in “The Rivals” at Lincoln Center (a performance the New York Times described as “infinitely nuanced”). Off Broadway, she has originated roles in new plays by Wendy Wasserstein, Christopher Shinn and Steven Dietz. Emily is also a company member of Antaeus, a theatre company in Los Angeles that produces classic works. Most recently, she appeared in Second Stage’s “Becky Shaw,” a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. As a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, she has built houses in Thailand, Malaysia, and across the United States. At the end of 2012 she will join President and Rosalynn Carter in Haiti to build for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with the brilliantly talented and incredibly charming Emily Bergl at her newest cabaret show at the famed Cafe Carlyle “NY..I Love You” (Which has opened to rave reviews from the NYC Media and I’ve linked her site here for tour dates and details!), and we talk about her wonderful acting career, the various shows that she has worked on, some of her favorite actors and directors to work with, what people can expect in her own show, why she doesn’t have an English accent when she talks despite being born in London, her upcoming projects, and even share her martini!! Emily was beautiful and so much fun to chat with, and with the end of one ABC’s most popular shows, “Desperate Housewives” coming to an end tonight, it was great to sit down with her and get her perspective on the experience of being one of it’s “Most Unique Housewives”. Enjoy Kade Nation!

Taking “The Challenge” With MTV Personality And “Battle Of The Exes” Winner Johnny Bananas

arthur — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:41:50 +0000

Johnny Bananas has become one of MTV’s most popular personalities, being a 4 time winner of it’s ultra popular “Challenge” and “Real World/Road Rules” series, and whether fans love him or hate him, they are sure always watching him! His unique personality and say anything motto has helped endear him to millions of fans, and as the series gains more and more popularity each season, Johnny Bananas has become a true legend for the network. Add in that with the popularity of HBO’s “Entourage”, and their usage of his name on a cartoon monkey for which Johnny has been in the tabloids because of his lawsuit against the show, and it looks like he is just gaining more and more recognition on the fame ladder.

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with one of MTV’s most popular, misunderstood, and controversial personalities on his recent stop in NYC, right after winning MTV’s latest “Challenge” show, to talk about his unique persona, why he is one of the most talked about and popular characters on a network known for it’s unique personalities, the lawsuit that has put him in the tabloids against HBO, what his next steps are when he stops as a “Challenge” participant, what people really think of him, and sooo much more! Johnny couldn’t have been a nicer guy as we hung out in an apartment in Chelsea before his nightclub appearance that night, and something tells me we haven’t seen his last “Challenge” win! Enjoy Kade Nation!!

Bringing The Laughter With The Hilarious Jo Koy From E!’s “Chelsea Lately”

arthur — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:39:42 +0000

There are few comedians that are funnier and more on fire right now then the incredible Jo Koy! Outside of a completely sold out tour all around the country, and just coming off of one of Comedy Central’s funniest one hour specials in a long long time, he is also one of America’s favorite celebrity comic panelists on E!’s hit late night show “Chelsea Lately” hosted by the queen of late night Chelsea Handler. Coming from the humble beginnings of performing at a coffee shop in Las Vegas, Jo was recognized as one of America’s funniest comedians when he received a standing ovation on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in 2005, which rarely ever happens, and from there it has been all uphill for Koy as he continues to march his way to the top of the Comedy World. Jo was part of Carlos Mencia’s “Punisher Tour” in 2006. He has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, BET’s Comic View, Jamie Foxx Presents: Laffapalooza, and appeared in various VH1 I Love the 70?s, 80?s and 90?s episodes, and it’s pretty apparent that Jo will have his own network show shortly (Hint in the interview!). He also has formed The Jo Koy Foundation which just hosted its first huge philanthropic event in “Hilarity For Charity” a stand-up comedy show featuring Jo Koy, along with special surprise comedic guests. The show took place at The John Lovitz Comedy Club, located in the heart of Citywalk, Universal City, CA. Proceeds from the ticket sales were donated to The Children’s Hospital of Orange County. For tour dates please check out Jo’s website…

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with one of America’s funniest personalities before he performs at NYC’s most famous comedy club, Caroline’s (BUY TICKETS NOW BECAUSE HE WILL SELL THE PLACE OUT WITH HIS POPULARITY!!), to talk about his meteoric rise in the comedy world, what being part of Chelsea Lately has done for his career, what his favorite moments on this ride have been, growing up half Filipino, when he will get his own TV Show, what he would be doing right now if he wasn’t a comic, and we even have a cameo from Comedic Icon Tom Dreesen who was on Letterman the night before and waiting to be interviewed by me right after! Jo is one of the nicest, most humble, down to Earth people you will ever meet, and even funnier in person..Enjoy this Kade Nation!!

And here is Jo Koy doing his thing on Chelsea Lately..

“An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra” With Comedy Icon Tom Dreesen

arthur — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:46:05 +0000

When you talk about icons in Comedy, the list would not be complete without the hilarious institution that is Tom Dreesen. Tom Dreesen has made over 500 appearances on national television as a stand-up comedian, including more then 60 appearances on The Tonight Show. He is a favorite guest of David Letterman, and frequently hosts the show in Letterman’s absence. For 14 years he toured cross country and opened for Frank Sinatra, and has appeared countless times in Las Vegas, Tahoe, Reno and Atlantic City with artists like Smokey Robinson, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Cole and Sammy Davis, Jr. Tom has acted in numerous television shows – from Columbo to Murder She Wrote – and appeared in motion pictures including Man on the Moon and Spaceballs. He has recorded comedy albums, starred in his own TV comedy special, Dreesen Street, and hosted a late night talk show in Chicago, Night Time Starring Tom Dreesen. He is currently appearing to rave reviews around the country in his one-man show “An Evening Of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra.”

Dreesen’s comic style is down-to-earth, warm and unpretentious. Daily Variety called him “a thorough pro… one of the most respected family comedians of our time.” Larry Wilde ,author of The Great Comedians said about Tom’s performances. “Excellent Material, Impeccable Timing, Tom Dreesen is the Quintessential Comedian.” Frank Sinatra, who called himself a “saloon singer,” characterized Dreesen as a “saloon comedian.” “We’re a couple of neighborhood kind of guys,” said Sinatra.

Dreesen has also made an indelible mark with his philanthropic activities. For 30 years he has lent his talent to over 100 charities, and founded a “Day for Darlene” to bene?t Multiple Sclerosis Research. He ran 26 miles on three occasions for the event, which is named for his late sister who was af?icted with MS.

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with a true comedy legend after his appearance on Letterman the night before to talk about his incredible one man show “An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra” that will be debuting at Feinstein’s At Loews Regency on Sunday (I’ve Linked here for tickets to go see this!), what it was like to be friends with and perform with the GOAT Sinatra, his friendship with and appearances on Letterman and Carson, the difference between today’s comics and his generation, and sooo much more!! Tom is one of the best comics ever, and it was amazing to see the reaction from one of the hottest comics currently, Jo Koy from Chelsea Lately, when he found out Tom was coming into my studio because he was so excited! Enjoy Kade Nation because it doesn’t get any better then this!!

And here is the legendary Tom Dreesen on Letterman the night before sitting down with me to promote his one man show!!

Hearing From A Hero: Rody Walker of Protest The Hero

arthur — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:22:25 +0000

I recently got a chance to sit down with Protest The Hero frontman Rody Walker, and the interview was anything but scurrilous; quite the opposite, actually. While I was setting up the camera, he offered me a beer. So, Rody and I kicked back, relaxed, and I talked about the band’s new record, Scurrilous, over a couple of beers. It was time for Rody to relax, too. It was the band’s final show of their U.S. tour run, and a long-awaited break was just a few hours away. Rody said that the band has really enjoyed this tour, and all the bands they played with. As for the new record, he said the initial response was a bit shaky, given that all his vocals are clean this time around. However, the style change garnered some new fans for the band (especially female fans…PROPS!), and the old-school PTH fans have warmed up to the album. Rody and I also talked about the band’s style, which he likes to call “technical rock” as opposed to metal. The band’s third full-length LP, Scurrilous hit #81 on Billboard Top 200 and #4 on Billboard Hard Rock. Now back from a short break, the band is on tour in South American with Underoath and We Came As Romans. To all my friends in South America – get your tickets and get ready to CRANK IT UP!

Learning From “The Guttenberg Bible” With Steve Guttenberg

arthur — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:20:30 +0000

When you think of the 80′s, who else better signifies that decade then Steve Guttenberg? He was the face of Hollywood back then, starring in many of the decades most popular movies and franchises such as Police Academy, 3 Men and A Baby, Short Circuit, Cocoon, and of course Diner, and defined himself as the comedic leading man that just had this “Likeable” quality. Steve was on top of the entertainment food chain, but as we learn in his incredible new memoir “The Guttenberg Bible”, getting to the top, and staying at the top involved hustle, brains, chutzpah, and the ability to not take “No” for an answer, and along the way hilarity ensues. There are so many heartwarming and funny stories from sneaking on to the Paramount Lot while claiming he was Michael Eisner’s son, to the phone calls back and forth with his parents in Long Island, to the agents who told him that he was either not good enough (Especially his first who told him to run home during their meeting!) or that every movie he made that ended up being a blockbuster would be a flop, etc…but along the way Steve shows us that no matter who you are, if you are willing to believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything! Now Steve has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and had a wonderful career that he is very proud of because as he says “I lived my dream and accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish”, and “The Guttenberg Bible” is his hilarious and charming look at what every actor should know going into the game, and the ups and downs that come with making it and being at the top featuring stories about some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

Here “The King Of Kamelot” sits down with one of his favorites growing up, Steve Guttenberg, at his ultra sold out book signing at Barnes and Noble Upper West Side in NYC (Thanks as always Lou and Ann for all of your help with accommodations) to talk about “The Guttenberg Bible” and what it was really like getting his break in Hollywood, how he was able to sneak onto the Paramount Lot and actually set up an office secretly from which he worked every day, working on Diner with future stars like Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, and Ellen Barkin, if there will be another Police Academy remake, whether I can be cast as his son-in-law in “Three Men And A Bride”, and sooo much more!! This book is one of the funniest and most clever memoirs you will ever read, and Steve in person is absolutely hilarious and awesome, so enjoy this one Kade Nation!!

And here is Steve on Access Hollywood with Billy Bush right before sitting down with me..