RSS

Eric Bischoff joined Main Event Radio to talk about inducting DDP into the WWE Hall of Fame, WCW's enduring legacy, and the women's wrestling revolution.

Audio can be streamed/downloaded here.

Coming back to WWE for the Hall of Fame Ceremony: It was a lot of fun. You get to meet so many people who are behind the camera. They have such a hard-working loyal, professional and dedicated staff. I was probably just as excited to see people who work behind the scenes as those in front of the camera. The woman who handles travel who has been there for 31 years. The production team, they all know who they are and they're a great staff of people.

On inducting DDP: It was a blast. It was an emotional moment. I knew how much it would mean to him. Thus it meant a lot to me to be able to do it. I felt bad in a way. I was kind of conflicted because in Page's heart he wished and still does wish that Dusty Rhodes would've been able to do that. I felt like such a distant insignificant 2^nd choice as a result. I also know that Page has a lot of respect for me and I do for him. I wish Dusty could've done it. Dusty was a mentor to Dallas in more ways than just getting in the ring. He had an influence on his entire life.

WCW's enduring legacy: People are finally figuring it out that at the end of the day that WCW created some of the best talent in the history of the world. It was a great run. WCW had its moment and that's what it was; it was a moment. And we created some great stories and changed the industry to a large degree. The fact that we are watching a live Monday Night Raw every week is due to Nitro. The fact that we are watching 205 Live and the cruiserweight division is because of what we did. There are so many things that we changed in the industry that we still enjoy today. Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, myself, and even Bill Goldberg for crying out loud main eventing Wrestlemania. That is WCW's legacy. We are still here today. The nWo is still selling merchandise 20 years later. That's our legacy.

Women's wrestling revolution: I was sitting in the front row during Beth [Phoenix]'s speech. I had never met her before and she made me cry 3 times. She was so emotional and she was speaking from her heart. She really crystallized for me the growth we are seeing now in women's wrestling. To see her talk about what it means for her as a girl, as a woman to be able to aspire to reach the level that she did in WWE and to know that same emotion and desire exists in young girls all over the world. It's possible, yes you can do it, and when you do you can now achieve that level of success.

Hosted by Michael Foldvari

Stories by Michael Foldvari & Patricia Petit Liang

Produced by Michael Foldvari

After long-awaited anticipation for the new Ayreon record The Source, I am happy to say that this new album brings in a lot to the table from previous Ayreon records and blends them all together.

Shifting from The Gentle Storm, the man behind Ayreon, Arjen Anthony Lucassen took a different approach with this record, going more sci-fi than romantic in genre. He knew that he had to make another exciting adventure.

After completing The Theory Of Everything, Arjen was told by people that there was not much of a structure to that album; with no choruses, it was a progressive rock album. He wanted to do something different. Therefore, continuing to get inspired by other sci-fi works such as 2001 Space Odyssey, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Stargate, he then found the source to which he was fueled by to create this album.

The story of the album takes place six billion years in the past, on planet Alpha in the Andromeda system where computer intelligence has conquered and taken over. The inhabitants, also known as the Alphans, try to save the planet from the global mainframe.

Opening up with the album is “The Day The Worlds Breaks Down,” which is approximately 12 minutes and 30 seconds, the only long song on this record. It gives a dark sinister tone, hinting that something is bound to happen that is crucial to the main story line.

The entire cast pulls off a marvelous performance, showcasing each character they portray. James Labrie plays the Historian, and tells the listener of a grave, warning of what's to come to the people of the planet Alpha.  

“A silence so deafening, as the stillness surrounds us;

A rush of fear is surging through our veins;

A shadow so menacing darkens our horizon;

What have we done, is this the end... when death descends?”

There are several references to previous Ayreon records hidden in different tracks. What I really liked about this album is the groove and the heavy melodic punch that’s very in-your-face, especially with the tracks “Everybody Dies!” “And Run! Apocalypse Run!” and a weird throw to EDM at one point that reminded of Muse. The guitar work and the structure of the songs flow perfectly throughout the whole album, and it is executed in a unique way that everything is showcased in The Source.

Overall, this is the best cast that Arjen has had in the Ayreon line-up, and this album is a very worthy contender above The Human Equation.

I had a lot of fun listening to this record and it gets better every time I listen to it. I don’t want to spoil too much in this review, but once you've delved into it, you are in an experience unlike anything you've heard before. There is a twist at the end that will make your mind go, what the heck!

Final rating: 10/10

Guest Vocalists on The Source

• James Labrie (Dream Theater) as “The Historian”
• Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as “The Opposition Leader"
• Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) as “The Chemist”
• Simone Simons (Epica) as “The Counselor”
• Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind) as “The Prophet”
• Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) as “The Captain”
• Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) as “The Astronomer”
• Michael Mills (Toehider) as “TH-1”
• Russell Allen (Symphony X) as “The President”
• Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) as “The Diplomat”
• Floor Jansen (Nightwish) as “The Biologist”
• Zaher Zorgati (Myrath) as “The Preacher”

Hosted by Michael Foldvari

Stories by Michael Foldvari & Patricia Petit Liang

Produced by Michael Foldvari