At a very nice dinner that Metallica was gracious enough to invite us to, I did get to relate to James the story of how we met 30 years ago, at a backyard party, when I was a 13 year-old metalhead, and he was the first person I'd ever seen wearing a Maiden shirt. A homemade, one color print of the first album, but nobody knew Maiden in these parts, let alone had a shirt! So I, being the punk that I was, followed him around that party all night, pestering him to make me one. Of course he told me to fuck off. Repeatedly.
This year has been a whirlwind of activity in the FF camp, as well as mine, and we've still got a couple of months to go. FF's touring cycle has had us to Europe four times (five, maybe?), Down Under twice (watch out Tasmania, you're liable to be added to the list next time), across the States three times (four? Is it four?), a cross-Canada trip (I think Terry Fox still might've made it further than us), roughly a couple hundred shows, one passed-out-behind-the-wheel bus driver, and one burned-to-the-ground bus. And only a few screamers outta Ol' $eely.
As for me, I (with the help of the Minions here at GHI) got this fun new website out, as well as "The Atomic Clock" dvd. I would like to take a moment to seriously thank any of you who has bought it. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. The response has been pretty mighty so far, and I'm really happy that people seem to dig it. Again, I thank each one of you very much. To those who have merely stolen it, well, all I can say is that I and people like me, will keep self-funding our own projects, losing money more often than not, just to keep ourselves happy and your thievery business booming. We'll keep Hell packed with your fresh souls. Okay, that's a little harsh, but you get my drift. If you bought it, I thank you. If you stole it, I can't.
And in other breaking 'Shameless Pluggery'-OH MY GOD! I ACTUALLY MADE THE COVER OF MODERN DRUMMER! Holy moly, can you believe that? Lemme just say, that after plugging away at this career of mine for over 25 years, and this being the absolute highest honor a drummer could imagine for himself, I am still in shock at this unmitigated distinction. And I thank David Ciauro and all over at MD for bestowing upon me this incredible privilege. This mag has been the Bible for us drummers forever, and it would have been completely unfathomable to me 27 years ago when I picked up my first copy that I'd ever be on the cover. Needless to say, I am QUITE stoked! Hey, any time any bit of the mainstream acknowledges metal in any way, I get stoked.
Anyway, I'll drop the self-fellating for a minute to quickly point out to any regular reader of this website, that we've just posted a ton of links for the press campaign for the dvd. A crapload of interviews and such, with more to come. They can be found in the "MEDIA" section of HoglanIndustries.com. I hope you enjoy listening to me pontificate as much as I do. Har har.
So folks, I'm sure you can expect another update from me in the usual next 7-to-12 years. I'm sure I'll have a boatload to talk about, rest assured. This has been an amazing year so far, and we still have 2 months left. Awesome! Oh, btw, as of this writing, I've dropped 60+ pounds, with waaay more to come. I thank my woman for that, truly.
Mom, I made the cover!
Love,
Gene


Lala Chen 2 years ago
Kenneth Lanning 2 years ago
Nemo Nemo 2 years ago
Steven Leijen 2 years ago
Derek Trujillo 2 years ago
Matthew Parker 2 years ago
DeadBand 2 years ago
Stone Black Hymn 2 years ago
There Are Those 2 years ago
Stacy Perry 2 years ago
10 of 21MoreGood day and welcome to joy fax server: http://www.joyfax.com
about time they put someone on from the old scene again...congrats man-just wish I would've followed my original calling of playing the drums instead of joining the military, but oh well ;-)
Best of luck to ya-hope to see you live one of these days
MOST excellent sir. My brother bought the Atomic Clock DVD so now I can practice in my dorm. He even got you to sign it for me when you played the Pomona Glasshouse (I think). He was one of the security guards. Anyways, thanks for signing it for him, for me. It means the world to me.
Also, now I have a reason to buy Modern Drummer. Once again, thank you and take care.
Modern Drummer Magazine is not easy to come by in the Netherlands (I blame Slagwerkkrant!) but I'll be on the lookout! Congrats!
Dude!! That's awesome!! Way to go!!
Hell yeah, congrats Gene, on making it on the cover of Modern Drummer Mag. & the wieght loss!
Matt
Bout' freakin time!!!!! THe drum mags are not that metal friendly so I don't subscribe. But sometimes they stop kissing rock and jazz's collective ass and give a well deserved congads to a seriously great drummer
Mike Reseigh (Drummer singer for DeadBand)
Fuck yea! MAde the cover, I'm stoked for you man. You've been a big influence for me for a long time. It's about time you got this. Take care.
Gongrats for making the cover of MD. It's been long over due
Congrats, Gene. The video you have out is really good for aspiring drummers as well as fans of you.
Congrats on the weight loss as well. I hope everything is well and be safe on your journey.
~Stacy Perry
;ADPR