Taylor Hawkins – Skin Back Alley

Live From Los Angeles – Tairrie B. Photography: Chevy Metal, Conejo Valley Days, 14th of May, 2016

19/05/201620/09/2016 by skinbackalley, posted in Live from Los Angeles - Tairrie B. Photography

When My Ruin frontwoman and wicked witch of the west coast Tairrie B. Murphy is not on stage or in the studio she’s busy conjuring rock magick behind the camera, shooting some of her favorite bands & musicians live in and around the city of angels. Check out her work in the gallery below.

Band: Chevy Metal
Venue: Conejo Valley Days, CA.
Date: 14th of May, 2016
All photos: © Tairrie B. Photography

Connect with Chevy Metal at:
Facebook: facebook.com/chevymetalrocks

To see more photos by Tairrie B. Murphy follow her online:
Facebook: facebook.com/tairriebphotography
Instagram: instagram.com/tairriebphotography
Twitter: twitter.com/tairrieb

Taylor Hawkins: U2 album “sounds like a fart”

11/11/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Birds of Satan bandleader and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has said what many of us were thinking anyway.

As reported by Consequence Of Sound, the sticksman has suggested that U2’s new album, Songs Of Innocence, “…sounds like a fart any way you listen to it.”

Earlier this year, U2 gave away their new album for free, with it being automatically downloaded in to iTunes user’s libraries whether they wanted it or not. The resulting uproar saw Apple having to rush-release a ‘removal tool’ for disgruntled music fans to get rid of the unwanted LP.

Says Hawkins: “What happened to U2, man? I don’t think people are that hyped on them. The album is so marred by that whole sort of Orwellian 1984 extreme that it just kind of sounds like a fart any way you listen to it.”

“I think they probably thought it was gonna be a great idea, ‘Here’s the deal – everybody who has an iPhone, gets your record. And they get it for free’”

“And they thought, ‘Well that’s pretty awesome,’ but they didn’t really take into consideration the Big Brother feeling that kind of goes along with it. You couldn’t get rid of it and they actually had to come up with an app to get rid of it. That’s horrible.”

Foo Fighters released their own new offering, Sonic Highways, this week. A documentary series of the same name is currently being broadcast on BBC Four in the UK and on HBO in the US. The programme follows the band as they travel around the USA, recording a new song in different cities across the country.

WATCH! The Birds of Satan: “Too Far Gone to See” on Carson Daly

26/09/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

In case you missed it, The Birds Of Satan ran through a show-stealing rendition of their track “Too Far Gone To See” on Last Call with Carson Daly last night.

With an extended acoustic intro featuring Pat Smear of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame, the song eventually sets controls for the heart of the sun as Birds’ core members Taylor Hawkins, Mick Murphy and Wiley Hodgden bring the thunder.

You can watch the clip by heading to NBC’s Widget Player here.

The televised performance comes hot on the heels of The Birds of Satan releasing a new song, “Be The Bird”, in a very low key launch earlier this week.

The Birds Of Satan release new track, “Be The Bird”

23/09/201424/09/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Fans of The Birds Of Satan rejoice! The band have sneakily released a new song, “Be The Bird”!

The track appeared calmly on Spotify and iTunes today with very little fanfare.

Meanwhile, over on the website of the UK’s Rhythm Magazine, the following popped up:

“What would a song featuring Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, Stewart Copeland, Zak Starkey, Stephen Perkins, Matt Cameron, Mark Brzezicki, Kenny Aronoff, Drew Hester and Butch Vig sound like? Pick up the new issue of Rhythm and you’ll find out!”

“Yes, there is an extra special treat for you in this month’s Rhythm – you’ll find an exclusive Birds of Satan track on your disc!”

“The song, Be The Bird, is no normal ditty either. No, it features the A-list drummers mentioned above solo-ing as if their lives depended on it.”

It’s safe to say that drummers – and those who love listening to them play – will get slightly excited around the 4 minute mark of this 7 minute plus firebrand of a song.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already, check out our 5/5 review of The Birds Of Satan’s debut album. Just click here to find out why we said “It’s a boundary-hopping, rule-breaking, category-defying rock n’ roll masterpiece!”

As well as Hawkins’ drumming, you’ll find some exceptional guitar work from his regular Birds Of Satan bandmates, Mick Murphy (also of My Ruin and Neanderthal fame) and Wiley Hodgden (also of Chevy Metal.)

The track was produced by John Lousteau at Studio 606 and mixed by Drew Hester. The startling list of other contributors is as follows:

John Lousteau: Vocals
Chris Chaney: Keyboards
Stephen Perkins: Drums
Dave Grohl: Drums
Drew Hester: Drums
Stewart Copeland: Drums
Zak Starkey: Drums
Matt Cameron: Drums
Mark Brzezicki: Drums
Butch Vig: Drums
Kenny Aronoff: Drums

Dave Grohl takes ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to a new level

21/08/201421/08/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has taken the ALS Ice Bucket challenge to a whole new level.

With the help of fellow Foos Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Pat Smear, Grohl spectacularly recreates the infamous “bucket of blood” scene from horror film Carrie, including being dressed head-to-toe in full prom dress. Hawkins portrays Grohl’s prom date.

Grohl calls out Jack Black and Carrie star John Travolta to make their own ice bucket challenge videos, and also nominates Stephen King, author of the original book of Carrie.

You can watch Grohl’s typically flamboyant video below:

Celebrities the world over have been taking part in the challenge, filming themselves having a bucket of ice cold water thrown over them in various different and dramatic ways. ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – is a terminal illness which causes muscles to weaken and stiffen.

If you’d like to donate to the cause, you can do so via the ALS Associate website.