Thrash Domination 2010 will shake Rock Citta at Fernandes hometown, Tokyo, on September 18th and 19th. This historic event will feature Fernandes endorsees Dave Linsk of headliners OVERKILL, and Juan Garcia of legendary Los Angeles thrashers AGENT STEEL. Check out a Sustainer-equipped guitar lineup at these shows, including Dave's Ravelle Elite, and Juan's Vortex Elite guitars. And don't forget to check out their websites for more tour dates and updates:

wreckingcrew.com -  agentsteelonline.com

Another addition to our metal artist roster, Cronos, leader and frontman of VENOM. Coming to prominence towards the end of the 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal', VENOM's first two albums – Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982) – are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. VENOM's second album proved influential enough that its title was used as the name of an extreme metal subgenre: black metal. Cronos left the band in 1988 to pursue a solo career and occasionally featured in many other bands, including Cronos, Enthroned, Cradle of Filth, Warpath, Massacre, and Necrodeath. He also produced some of the albums for other bands. VENOM tried to continue without Cronos but only managed a couple of releases before calling a halt on their efforts in around 1993 due to lack of sales and poor concert attendances. Cronos reformed the original VENOM line-up in 1995 and headlined the Dynamo Festival in 1996 to 90,000 fans. In 2000, the band went on to headline the Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany and play a one-off show in Holland before they were forced to take a break after Cronos was injured in a climbing accident in 2002, which left him unable to play bass or sing for a few years. He took to the computer to pass the time and studied games programming, learned 3D software skills and worked as the main multimedia engineer for the computer companies K-Class Systems and Globalfibre.tv. Cronos again reformed VENOM in around 2003 with his brother Antton on drums and recruiting Michael Alan Hickey. After the next couple of years of planning and intensive rehearsals, VENOM released their latest album 'Metal Black' in early 2006 on the Sanctuary Group label Castle Music, and they embarked on a sold out world tour. Cronos also appeared on Dave Grohl's heavy metal side project Probot in 2004, and guest starred on the track Knights of the 21st century on HammerFall's 2005 album Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken. Check out the photo gallery at metalshots.com, and rockfoto.nu where he's seen playing the VENOM classics at several European festivals with his Tremor basses.

SLAYER's mythical guitarslinger ripps a killer guest solo in Witchery's "Witchrieg", as witnessed in their latest video, destined to be a classic metal piece. The Fernandes Sustainer cannot only be seen within the shadows, but adds a noticeable and powerful vibe, unsurprisingly part of many of Kerry's wicked guitar solos.

Check out Kerry's solo here

Fernandes Germany has launched it's new official website, featuring an impressive layout and exclusive content in German language, local artists and news. If you are in the area, make sure to sign up for the newsletter on the top of the homepage to receive updates. Thanks to our distributor in Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Denmark; Ahead Music.

Visit fernandesguitars.de

We welcome to our family one of the most legendary guitarists of American music, Bob Wooton. He joined Johnny Cash's backing band, The Tennessee Three, after original lead guitarist, Luther Perkins, died in a house fire.  Bob had been a lifelong fan of Cash's and played his songs religiously until he had perfected the boom-chicka-boom style known as Cash's unique sound. At one of Cash's shows, a flight cancellation left only Cash and drummer W.S. Holland onstage, and Bob was asked to fill in and stunned the audience, particularly Cash himself, with perfect renditions of every song. Cash mentioned in passing that he might one day call on Wootton again, but within days asked him to join the tour as new lead guitarist. One of the next performances, perhaps the most notable of Bob's career, was at San Quentin State Prison where Cash's live album was recorded. Bob continued in the band with only a brief respite until Cash retired in 1997. From 2006 to 2007, he performed with Cash's original drummer, W.S. Holland, his wife Vicky and daughter, Scarlett Wootton, as The Tennessee Three. In 2006 the band released their first album since Cash's death, a loving tribute titled "The Sound Must Go On." The Tennessee Three was scheduled to perform at Folsom Prison in January 2008, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Cash's Folsom show. Bob eventually withdrew from the concert project, which was later scrapped following disputes between prison officials and show promoters. Bob continues his touring as The Tennessee Three with drummer Derrick McCullough, Vicky, Scarlett, and Montana Wootton to appreciative crowds across the globe.

As tribute to Bob's lifetime work, Fernandes made him a custom black Retrorocket guitar, same specs as Deluxe model, except featuring The Tennessee Three logo, Bob's name on the truss rod cover, TN3 inlay in the 12th fret and Seymour Duncan NS/APS/NS pickups.

 

Hailing from the land of the raising sun, cradle of Fernandes’ name and legacy, a classic breed of guitars reappears.

Reviving the legendary craftsmanship of early Fernandes models from previous decades, the Revolver Classic Series brings superb finesse and playability to all music styles.

Loaded with the popular Seymour Duncan Distortion humbucker in the bridge, Cool Rails in the middle and the Fernandes Sustainer in the neck position, Coil Tap switch, Bone nut, Pearl pickguard, Gotoh tuners and Wilkinson Vintage Tremolo, you have all the tools necessary to play, look and sound like a pro.

Features 5A Quilted Maple top, Alder body, Maple Bolt-On neck, Rosewood fretboard, 25 ½” Scale, 22 Frets, 1 5/8" Bone Nut, Gotoh Magnum Lock SGM-07 tuners, Wilkinson VG300C Vintage Tremolo, 5-Way Lever Pickup Selector switch, 1 volume, 1 tone, Coil Tap switch, Sustainer ON/OFF & Mode switches.

Available in 6 beautiful finishes: See-Thru Black, See-Thru Red, Lemon Drop, Natural, Tobacco Sunburst, See-Thru Amber. In Stores Summer 2010.

 

For pricing and ordering information, contact your Fernandes dealer today!

 

Grindcore All-Star masters LOCK UP are gearing up for the most important metal festival in the world, Wacken Open Air, that will take place August 7th in Wacken, Germany. Catch them also at the Brutal Assault Fest and the Partisan Fest later this year, where Fernandes endorsee and CRIMINAL's frontman, Anton Reissenegger will be shredding with his Vortex guitars.

Band news, music and more at myspace.com/lockup

A Plea For Purging's third album The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell is a follow up to the highly acclaimed sophomore release Depravity. As one of the hardest working and touring bands on the planet, the band will be on this summer's Scream The Prayer tour to support the new album which will include festivals stops at Cornerstone and Sonshine Festival. The band once again recorded with Joey Sturgis at Foundation Recording Studio and the artwork was designed by Dave Quiggle. Once again, this new musical offering features plenty Fernandes firepower courtesy of Revolver and Dragonfly Deluxe guitars, in the hands of guitarmen Blake and Tyler, slamming some trully killer riffs.

More at myspace.com/apleaforpurging

As every year, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) hosted the 2010 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, June 18th-20th.

Flood relief efforts, music education support were main themes for three-day event. "In addition to some of our industry's largest manufacturers and distributors, Summer NAMM appeals to the new and emerging companies, and there were 70 brand new NAMM exhibitors this year," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. "During the show, the independent dealers, along with the largest buying and marketing groups, were able to see exciting new products to stock in their stores for the fall and holiday selling seasons."

“Fernandes generated quite the buzz at Summer NAMM with the Japan-made Classic Series, the Shin Series and the Limited Edition Spalted Maple Series." stated Jack Thompson, Fernandes and Musical Distributors Group, Sales Manager. "Everyone was talking about the quality and playability of the Revolver Classic. Overall a great time was had by all!"

Fernandes extends a big thank you to Musical Distributors Group, all our dealers, business partners, artists and visitors who made this show a great event.

Fernandes welcomes latin metal pioneer Ramon Ortiz to our family of artists, founder of Puerto Rican genre-blending masters PUYA and L.A.'s own ANKLA, as he introduces and shreds on his Sustainer equipped Revolver guitar on his new video clip (in Spanish). After opening for Guns and Roses in Puerto Rico, PUYA is currently working on a new album, and gearing up to play in Latin America's biggest rock festival, Rock Al Parque, to be held in Bogota, Colombia, July 3rd-5th. Also appearing at this Festival, officially sponsored by Fernandes this year, SAMAEL with Mas' thundering Ravelle Bass. More on Rock Al Parque at rockalparque.gov.co.

Visit PUYA and ANKLA's websites for more news on Ramon's proyects: www.puyapr.com / www.myspace.com/ankla1