VOLUME 1, BILLY TALENT: PHOTOGRAPHS 2002 – 2005, OUT DECEMBER 18

LONGTIME BILLY TALENT PHOTOGRAPHER DUSTIN RABIN TO RELEASE SERIES OF E-BOOKS FEATURING RARE PHOTOS AND BAND COMMENTARY

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Acclaimed photographer and longtime BILLY TALENT collaborator Dustin Rabin has announced the release of a series of interactive Billy Talent E-Books.

Gleaned from Rabin's archives of photos of the band, the first volume, Photographs 2002 – 2005 covers the formative years of the iconic Canadian rockers.

Available exclusively through the Apple E-Book store on December 18, the E-Book features never-before-seen photos of the group from their earliest tours and recording sessions presented alongside insightful written and audio commentary from the band themselves. Go here to pre-order the first volume, with additional volumes to follow in the coming months.

"I've taken thousands of photos of Billy Talent over the past 18 years, most of which have never been seen by anyone but the band and me," recalls Rabin. "Looking back at that collection now, I realize there's a great story to be told. The day of our first photo shoot in 2002, Billy Talent had yet to sign a record deal, record their debut album, or even go on tour outside of Ontario, Canada. Within three years, the band released Billy Talent I, made three music videos, toured the world, and headlined an absolutely massive festival in front of nearly 70,000 fans! I'm grateful to have been there for all of it."

He finishes, "This E-Book format gives you the unique experience of not only seeing my pictures, but also hearing the band recount memories from that time in their lives. I'm excited to share so many previously unreleased photos with Billy Talent fans!"

"Dustin shot his first concert in 1992 around the same time the four of us started playing in a band together," the band shares. "When we started working with Dustin ten years later, both of our careers were just about to take off. It's been a pleasure going through all of these old photos and talking about them. So glad we've continued to work together for almost two decades."

To view exclusive sneak peaks at this volume and the future issues to come, follow the project's official Instagram account @billytalentbooks.

ABOUT DUSTIN RABIN:

Dustin has toured with some of the world's biggest names in music, including Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, Queens Of The Stone Age, Alexisonfire and of course, Billy Talent. His work has appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, a multitude of album and book covers, not to mention the personal collections of many of the artists themselves.

OFFICIAL SITE // INSTAGRAM


ABOUT BILLY TALENT:

Billy Talent are one of Canada's most successful bands. They have sold nearly 1 million albums in Canada alone, and nearly 3 million albums internationally, including 1.3 million albums in Germany. They have won 7 Juno Awards and have been nominated 23 times, including 3 nods for Afraid of Heights (Group of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, and Ian D'Sa for Producer of the Year). They have also twice been awarded ECHO Awards. In 2018, the group was honoured with a special Legends of Live Special Achievement Award, presented by Canadian Music Week. Most recently, Billy Talent released the anthemic #1 smash hit single "I Beg to Differ (It Will Get Better)." The band will continue to release new music in the coming months.

Saturday May 30th, the David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation, in partnership with the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition, is proud to present THE DECADE THAT ROCKED

 Once again, hosted by Ellefson and his partner, co-author, and solo band vocalist, Thom Hazaert, with legendary music photographer Mark “Weissguy” WeissTHE DECADE THAT ROCKED will be a loving nod to all things Metal and Hard Rock, a decadent celebration of Weiss’ upcoming book, THE DECADE THAT ROCKED: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF MARK “WEISSGUY” WEISS, available June 2nd from Insight Editions.

Weighing in at a hefty 6.1 lbs (and featuring a foreword by the “Metal God” himself Rob Halford), THE DECADE THAT ROCKED features almost 400 pages of Weiss’ iconic images, with over 700 photographs of legendary artists including Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Megadeth, Twisted Sister, Joan Jett, Van Halen, Aerosmith, KISS, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, and many more.

As one of the driving artistic forces of the 80’s, and one of its most notable “go-to” music photographers, Weiss’ resume reads like a who’s who of platinum 80’s Hard Rock, celebrated for his photographic work and creative direction on iconic covers and imaging elements for artists including Bon Jovi, Dokken, Twisted Sister, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Skid Row, Raven, W.A.S.P., and more. Mark’s work has endured through subsequent decades as well, including work for Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Osbourne, and exhibitions in the Hard Rock in Vegas and the GRAMMY Museum.

In the spirit of Weiss’ book, we present THE DECADE THAT ROCKED, featuring a studded-leather dais worthy of the Weissguy himself, including Zakk Wylde, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Charlie Benante, Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Marc Storace (Krokus), Mark Slaughter, JJ French (Twisted Sister), Don Dokken, Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat), Roxy Petrucci (Vixen, Madam X), Dean Davidson (Britny Fox, Blackeyed Susan), PJ Farley (Trixter), Steve Whiteman (KIX), Jack Russell (Great White), Bruce Kulick (KISS), and many more.

With the first two events, “Oh Say Can You Stream” and “The Make-Up Test,” attracting over half a million viewers, across social media and streaming platforms, and TV and Radio simulcast, and a laundry list of some of the most notable rockers of the 80s (and today), THE DECADE THAT ROCKED is sure to live up to its name. The David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation (DEYMF)has also set up an eBay auction in connection with the event, with auctions running all week including signed Mark Weiss prints, a collection of Ellefson’s stage-used clothing and gear, and other donated items. You can find the listings at: https://www.ebay.com/usr/ellefsonyouthmusicfoundation

Says co-host Hazaert, “The first two OH SAY CAN YOU STREAM events were a phenomenal success, really beyond our wildest imaginations, and we were so thrilled with the outpouring of support and excitement that came with it. Since then, David and I have livestreamed several times a week, just, if anything, to try and keep people entertained, and aside from raising awareness, and funds, for the Ellefson Youth Music Foundation, and all of our work there, that’s really what these events are about. And I think, as far as entertainment goes, we are definitely going to outdo ourselves this time around.

“Of course our mission of spreading music and music education is on the agenda, as well as having options for people who want to donate and support the foundation, with some amazing prints and items generously donated by Mark, and some of our other friends, and a ton of David’s stage-worn clothing, and gear, that we will auction off to benefit the DEYMF. Not only is it another chance to spread the word of the foundation, but a celebration of our friend Mark, and his incredible book. There is something so over-the-top iconic about the 80’s, and all the amazing Rock and Metal music that came from it. Personally, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a decade that rocked harder. And we’re truly honored to have many of the guys who made it rock so hard joining us on Saturday.”

Ellefson adds, “We’re so appreciative for all the support from our friends on the first two OH SAY CAN YOU STREAM events, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, our partners at Cisco, Jackson Guitars, Hartke, Samson, Shure, Peterson Tuners, of course the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition and so many more of our amazing friends who joined, and supported us. It’s always a great time when you can get that many friends together, all with a common goal and purpose. Not only has it given us an incredible platform to support and inspire kids around the World through music, but to bring people together in a time when I think we all so desperately need it. 
“And we will continue that with THE DECADE THAT ROCKED, not only paying homage to Mark, his incomparable career, and the incredible book that it has now inspired, but to the decade that spawned not only Megadeth, but, really, all of our contemporaries. And it’s really an amazing event to be able to get so many of us together to talk about it.”

The David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation is an affiliate of the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition, a collaborative movement whose goal is ensuring all students in public schools across America have music education. Lee Whitmore, the Coalition’s executive director, shared, “Our Coalition of supporters of public music education numbers more than 70 organizations, and the David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation joined us early on. David’s enduring support for what music does in students’ lives is unwavering. Oh Say Can You Stream has an amazing lineup. It will be awe-inspiring, supporting kids, music education, and helping provide COVID-19 relief in our communities.”

Full list and details at: 
ellefsonyouthmusicfoundation.org 
thedecadethatrocked.com

Stream at: 
twitch.tv/grammymusiced 
facebook.com/davidellefson 
youtube.com/davidellefson 
facebook.com/grammymusiced 
facebook.com/thedeymf

The DEYMF has also set up a fundraiser in support of the SCHOOL’S OUT initiative at: https://fundrazr.com/deymfschoolsout

Hosted by: David Ellefson (Megadeth) and Thom Hazaert, with special guest co-host Mark “Weissguy” Weiss.

Zakk Wylde 
Scott Ian (Anthrax) 
Charlie Benante (Anthrax) 
Don Dokken (Dokken) 
Tamie Downe (Faster Pussycat) 
Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Ozzy) 
Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) 
JJ French (Twisted Sister) 
Jack Russell (Great White) 
Jacob Bunton (Mick Mars, Adler) 
Mark Slaughter 
Roxy Petrucci (Vixen/Madam X) 
Maxine Petrucci (Madam X) 
PJ Farley (Trixter) 
Dave Alvin (White Trash) 
Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth, Evil United) 
Carmine Appice (Ozzy, Blue Murder, Vanilla Fudge) 
Marc Storace (Krokus) 
Bruce Kulick (KISS) 
John Gallagher (Raven) 
Dean Davidson (Britny Fox, Blackeyed Susan) 
Bob Chiappardi (Concrete Marketing) 
Andre Comeau (The Real World NYC) 
Fred Coury (Cinderella) 
Steve Lacy (FOX 5 NYC) 
Steve Whiteman (KIX) 
Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff) 
THOR 
And more TBA!

SPONSORS/PARTNERS: CISCO, GRAMMY MUSIC EDUCATION COALITION, SAMSON TECHNOLOGIES, HARTKE, JACKSON GUITARS, METAL DEVOPS, PETERSON TUNERS, VOCALZONE, SHURE, YOURMUSICLIVE.COM, DESIGNED BY MELODY

Artwork: Melody Myers

Image 5-28-20 at 4.47 PM.JPG