Magna Carta Records – Peter Morticelli

By Simon Lukic
Transcribed by Murphy

When it comes to the world of Progressive Rock/Metal Peter Morticelli is a name that many of you should know. Not only is he the President/Co founder of Magna Carta Records his history as a manager (from The Rods to Vinnie Moore), booking agent and recording artist should be enough to warrant respect. If you’re still not sure of his credentials then feel free to pick up something released by Shrapnel Records during the eighties for a little proof - you’re sure to find Peter’s name associated with it in some way. The following interview focuses on Peter’s foray into the music industry and the creation of one of the most unique labels currently in operation – Magna Carta Records. Sit back and enjoy the read…it’s quite a story.

"Evil in MERCILESS DEATH"

Interview by Luxi Lahtinen

Merciless Death, this relentless 3-piece old school Speed/Thrash Metal act, hails from Canyon Country, California. The band´s full-length debut, EVIL IN THE NIGHT, was unleashed a short while ago via Heavy Artillery Records. Merciless Death have made themselves known mainly around the LA area by their furious shows that they have been playing with many other rising local forces. There, they have been successfully introducing their ever-growing and strong thrashing muscles for wild crowds, and overall getting their name stamped on people´s foreheads.

Merciless Death´s guitarizt Dan Holder talks more about their world thrash domination to Metal-Rules.com when it got started and where it has led to them thus far. Now let´s enter Dan...

Dark Empire

Meltdown

Ethereality

July 12, 2007

The Hook

Brooklyn, NY

* Live Review by Shaq

* Live photos by Liquid Sky Photography

Interview by Shaq

Transcription by Claudia

Lordi is a band that was largely unknown outside the borders of Finland until their victory in last year's Eurovision song contest boosted them into instant stardom.  Despite their elaborate monster costumes, characters and stage shows, Lordi surprised many with their melodic hard rock with super catchy choruses.  I was able to have a chat with the drummer for Lordi, who goes under the name Kita, right before they kicked into their quest to bring the balls back to the Ozzfest mainstage.

SCOTTI HILL

Skid Row was one of the last hard rock bands to hit the mainstream before grunge took over in the early '90s. The band's self titled debut album was released in 1989 and it included such classic chart topping songs as songs as "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild". Skid Row then consisted of; vocalist Sebastian Bach, guitarists Scotti Hill and Dave "Snake" Sabo, bassist Rachel Bolan and drummer Rob Affuso - released their second album; SLAVE TO THE GRIND in 1991 and things were going even better then. They did their own headline tours across the world and album was selling even better than the first album, it went into number one in Billboard 200 list. But things started to change soon. There was a lot of bad blood between band members prior the release of third album SUBHUMAN RACE and as a result band broke up in late 1995. There was nothing happening in the world of Skid Row until the year 2000 when the band announced their plans to re-unite and go on tour as a support act for KISS. As a surprise for many, Sebastian Bach wasn't in the line up anymore. The new incarnation of Skid Row included Texas native vocalist Johnny Solinger and drummer Phil Varone (ex -Saigon Kick) among originals; Snake, Scotti and Rachel. That lineup released album THICKSKIN in 2003. Two years later Phil Varone was out and in 2006 band released their latest album REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE with new drummer Dave Gara on their ranks. Skid Row has gone through both good and difficult times but what's most important, they're here now and the show goes on. In June I met band guitarist Scotti Hill at the Swedenrock festival just prior bands show. Here are the results of our rather long discussion about the past and present of Skid Row, grunge, Rocklahoma, the state of hard rock in the U.S.A., among many other topics... read on!!!

Interview by Marko Syrj�l�

Transcription by Neil Batty