Took my kids in their first circle pit yesterday. 

To say that this would be a “proud dad” moment would be the understatement of the year.  I wanted to do this for so long, really since they were both born. In the past they were just a little too young, or Genevra was feeling a little over protective at the time, and it just didn’t happen. Now at 17 and 14 they were literally the perfect age, especially now that my 17-year-old is a giant musclebound galoot!  

Both of my kids very first favorite songs when they were young were System of a Down songs. Zander‘s was “waiting for my girl" (aka: "Hypnotize") and Wyatts was “old school Hollywood” ("Tony Danza cuts in line"). We were there with their forever-friend Braeden who is a gigantic fan of both bands as well, but in particular is bananas about Korn.

So my friend Deen and I grabbed all three kids and made our way from the soundboard to the edge of the circle pit. From there, Braeden just bolted into it, zero fucks given. We quickly followed suit, and man, we had the BEST fucking time. 

It’s been a looooooooong time since I’ve been in a circle pit, I think Gwar when we were on the Sounds of the Underground tour in '06 was the last one.  It was a blast for me, but it was thrilling as fuck for the three of them! The excitement, the danger of getting knocked down, the vibe of everybody screaming along… man, it was so much fun.  Maybe it was the two years off from live music, but it was exhilarating in every letter of the word.

Getting the opportunity to share that moment with my kids was fucking priceless.

Eventually Zander and Braeden got super close to the front row, and Wyatt and I stayed in the pit for “Bounce“ by a System which was absolutely bonkers.  

It’s wild watching the kids grow up, it goes so fast.  

And having been a metalhead dad that knew what a blast this was going to be, to literally watch this dream come true was truly special.  I wish I could’ve hung out with the Korn and System dudes some more, but unfortunately I was having too much fun in the circle pit with my boys at their show!

Shout out to Shavo, Brian and Munky for the epic hang.

VIDEO HERE:

Robb shares some memories of hanging around while Joey was mixing the first Slipknot album, how Joey refused to drink on there first tours they did together, their epic night at a strip club with Chris Fehn, his infamous “Fuck Monte Conner” chant at Roadrunner United show, and more. R.I.P. Joey Jordison

 Korn guitarist Head joins me to discuss his band Love and Death’s new album, writing with Breaking Benjamin, the completely insane early-days of Korn, the massive success of “follow the leader“, the toxic environment that caused him to quit Korn at its peak, his two year addiction to methamphetamines, the warts ‘n all documentary he put out about his journey towards sobriety “Loud Krazy Love”, and how religion has kept him sane.

Must listen!!

LISTEN ON APPLE

XXX...

30 Years…

From the moment I saw you at The Forum bar in El Cerrito… laid your incredible eyes on me… flashed the brightest smile I’d ever seen… I was yours.  

Genevra… what a name.

Fast forward to Paradigm Studios in East Oakland… white leather jacket, ripped up blue jeans tucked into square-toe motorcycle boots, a shock of red hair with blonde streak… you left me breathless.

I was so embarrassed when you noticed me singing Soundgarden’s - “Holy Water” under my breath, but then you joined in… who is this person?

11 dudes trying to pick up you, and somehow you decided to hangout with the one guy who wasn’t trying to pick up on you.  I made you laugh.

Kissing your neck under the black light in the hip hop room upstairs at the Floppy House… a memory burned into this brain forever.  Eternal.  One of the greatest memories of my life.  When I die it will be one of the last/best thoughts going through my mind.

Riding on your motorcycle back to your apartment, grabbing 40 ounces of Mickey’s beer, talking til 9 AM, watching the sun come up through your window overlooking the Bay.

You were/are so amazing to talk to.  Who is this person?

We’ve lived ten lifetimes since then.

30 years later, yours is still the brightest smile my eyes have ever seen, still lights up the sky… my world.  

30 years later, you still leave me breathless.

To 30 years more my Sugar Pie

Berto

XXX

30 years ago today Machine Head played our first show at a house party on Woolsey Street in Oakland, CA. House party, Isn’t really the right word, our friend / man-of-many-hats Mike Scum was getting evicted, so as a fuck you to his landlord it was a “destroy-the-house-party “ with Machine Head as the soundtrack

House parties and kegger parties weren’t anything new to me at this point. Back when I was in Forbidden all the early shows we ever played were backyard parties, living room parties, community centers, VFW halls.  There was always an insane vibe doing shows like that, and I wanted to recreate that feeling, especially since a couple of my guys were green AF and playing their very first shows ever. It was Tony Costanza on drums, Logan Mader on guitar, Adam Duce on bass.

Can’t remember the order, but set list would’ve been “death church”, “a thousand lies”, “blood for blood”, “nation on fire” maybe “rage to overcome”(?), “fuck it all”, and Cro Mags “hard times”, possibly Poison Idea “Alan’s on fire”.  "Davidian" wouldn't be written for almost another year.

Across the street from Mike was an infamous punk rock house, called The Woolsey House, and all of them came over and gleefully took part in the destruction. Many a hammer was punched into the walls. We bought several kegs, and raged HARD. When the police eventually came, I proudly walked up to his glass front door sporting my “fuck the police“ shirt, and refused to let them in since they didn’t have the authority to enter.

It was a hell of a way to start this journey all that time ago…

Kinda blown away that I’m about to drop a new album in 2 weeks, and that anybody still gives a shit about the band.

If your still here all these decades later... thank you from the bottom of my blackened heart for going on this wild ride with me.