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 The Hard Rock Café in Pittsburgh hosted a very special BLACK LABEL SOCIETY "Shot to Hell" listening party with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist Nick "Evil Twin" Catanese on September 5. The event included a very special induction of the ET signature Washburn guitar and vest.
The long line of die-hard BLACK LABEL SOCIETY fans rolled down Station Square to get into the venue, to meet the BLS guitarist and to hear the new BLACK LABEL SOCIETY CD, "Shot to Hell', which will be released on September 12 via Roadrunner Records. Catanese greeted many family and friends, which included Eric McKenna, owner of Boogie Street Guitars, and Nick's Mom and Dad, who were also in attendance. There were many prizes given away, including the grand prize, which consisted of an ET signature guitar.
The evening included a VIP dinner with the "Evil Twin," a very special question-and-answer segment, and "Shot to Hell" listening party from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.
After the party, I had the opportunity to sit down with Catanese and discuss "Shot to Hell", the new single and video "Concrete Jungle", the recently released "The European Invasion - Doom Troopin'" DVD, and the upcoming BLACK LABEL SOCIETY tour. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
Nick, it was so great to see so many Black Label Society fans turn out for the special, "Shot to Hell” listening party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh. Many of your family and friends turned out for this special event. What was your highlight of the event?
Just being there and seeing the turnout was amazing.
The "Shot to Hell" Listening Party, also included an induction of your Signature Washburn Guitar and vest to at the Hard Rock in Pittsburgh. What was running through your mind at the time of the induction?
Well, it was actually a green ET model guitar from Boogie Street and my denim vest. It was just surreal. It is cool to be in your hometown and to have people behind you.
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What is it like performing with Zakk Wylde, who is one of the true guitar heroes of our generation, every night onstage with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY? What has performing with Zakk taught you as a musician?
Zakk has taught me to just be yourself. Practice all the time. You can NEVER be good enough. Play from the heart and be yourself.
The Black Label Society fans really seemed to enjoy "Shot To Hell.” How do you feel about the response here tonight from the Pittsburgh Chapter?
They seemed to really dig it. They had it cranking’ man, so it was in true Pittsburgh style.
In your opinion, how does "Shot to Hell" compare to the previous BLS albums?
'Shot to Hell' has everything — great heavy grooves, slow piano songs for the 'Book of Shadows' people. It has everything, I think. 'Shot to Hell' is just the start , we have been going strong for 10 years, but this is the NEW beginning of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY."
Let's discuss the new single, "Concrete Jungle." Would you say that “Concrete Jungle" is about the music industry today?
No, it's actually about LA or NY, or any city in general. You always see freaks in the streets, not a lot of nuns with shotguns. But just the point of how you can do a lot of people watching. Hell I do it in the mirror everyday.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY are known for their stellar guitar work. How do you manage to capture the live sound so flawlessly on "The European Invasion - Doom Troopin'"? The DVD is so well produced, and with no overdubs on guitar.
It's just called 10 years of brotherhood. It is just like brothers and sisters know what the next is thinking or doing. It's been that way for Zakk and me. He is my older brother, case closed.
What was the vibe of the audience, when BLS performed "In This River"? Were you amazed of the impact that Dimebag had on so many fans worldwide and in Europe?
No, I wasn't shocked at all. Dime made his mark by being the real person that he was and is. He is always felt and will never go away. His music and legacy will be forever and when we do, 'In the River', it is always for him.
How did you deal with the different situations onstage while performing in Europe? How did you keep your chops in shape very day? Do you practice a pinch harmonic scale before you take the stage to warm up?
No, in fact I don't warm up as much as I should. That guitar never leaves Zakk's hands. But I will go up onstage maybe 15 minutes before and just get some blood in the digits.
Black Label Society are known for their stellar guitar work. How do you manage to capture the live sound so flawlessly on The European Invasion Doom Troopin? The DVD is so well produced, and with no overdubs on guitar.
It's just called 10 years of brotherhood. It is just like brothers and sisters know what the next is thinking or doing. It's been that way for Zakk and me. He is my older brother, case closed.
The DVD really captured the spontaneity that takes place at a BLS concert. Did you enjoy doubling on lead on "Demise of Sanity?
It's always fun to double with the boss. But I'm doing my job and loving it!
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Tell me about your new Signature Shot to Hell Guitar that you used to perform on tour this summer with BLS. Your guitar tone was warm, strong, and ferocious! What are some of the special features of the new Shot to Hell Guitar? Will you be performing with that guitar on the STH Tour this fall?
Nothing different, it just burned. The Shot to Hell Guitar, it's my Frankenstein LOL Yes, of course that guitar will be with me on tour this fall.
What was it like performing at the Sweden Rock Festival? I have heard that European Metal Festivals are really intense, and there is a huge market for metal bands in Europe? The DVD really captured the energy of the audience.
Oh, it's insane, just seeing that many people. It was a great feeling and sometimes fuckin’ scary LOL. But it is always a blast.
I really enjoyed the documentary on Doom Troopin. What was it like having cameras on you 24/7?
They weren't filming us all the time. It just when they thought they had a cool moment then they caught it on tape. I think Eric Zimmerman and Nik Jamgocyan (the producers) did a great job.
One of the funniest parts of the documentary is when you discuss food in Europe. From the reaction on your face, I take it that the food experience in Europe is something that you would not write home about?
Well you are not home, put it that way. You eat what they eat, and sometimes, we are spoiled. LOL But as always we manage and have a kick ass time, PLOPPP.
What was your favorite highlight on ‘Doom Troopin?’
I would say when Zakk brought the fans onstage and that dude knew how to play along with me. That kicked so much ass. I had a blast during that, and then he started soloing, it ruled.
The DVD was filmed at The Astoria in London, and also in Paris. How do European clubs and audience differ from performing in the U.S.?
There really isn’t a difference, a rowdy crowd kicks ass everywhere, but some kick more ass than usual.
The band performed a variety of BLS songs on the European Tour? Tell me about the recording of "In This River." BLS pays tribute to Dimebag on that song? What was the vibe of the audience, when BLS performed "In This River? Were you amazed of the impact that Dimebag had on so many fans worldwide and in Europe?
No, I wasn't shocked at all. Dime made his mark by being the real person that he was and is. He is always felt and will never go away. His music and legacy will be forever and when we do, "In the River" it is always for him.
How many different guitars did you use onstage every night, while performing on the European BLS Tour? Are you into Vintage guitars? How many guitars do you own?
I take around 8 with me, but use maybe 4. I always have a backup for it, so that's were a lot of guitars come into play. I love vintage guitars, who wouldn't?
How did you deal with the different situations onstage while performing in Europe? How did you keep your chops in shape very day? Do you practice a pinch harmonic scale before you take the stage to warm up?
No, in fact I don't warm up as much as I should. That guitar never leaves Zakk's hands. But I will go up onstage maybe 15 minutes before and just get some blood in the digits.
August 20 would have been Dime's 40th birthday. What was your favorite memory of Dime, that you would like to share with us, and what musical advice will you forever treasure?
My favorite memory would be just being his friend. His advice to me was, "Never give up, it is in your blood."
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In the past, I have always enjoyed the Black Label Society videos that included, live concert footage of the band. Now the band has taken a different approach on "Concrete Jungle."
Yes, the video is already done and I guess it's been leaked out already somehow, but it turned out kick ass, I think. It is all animated.
It was so cool to see so many BLS fans at .the Hard Rock Cafe. I know everyone everyone had a great time at the Pittsburgh "Shot To Hell" listening party. What can the BLS Chapters expect to see on the upcoming BLS Fall Tour, Shot to Hell?
I want them to leave the venue going, "Wow that was a fuckin show." We are pulling no stops this time.
www.nickcatanese.com
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