INTERVIEW: VAMPS Live at Welcome to Rockville

Right smack in the middle of their run with Nikki Sixx on SIXX:AM's Modern Vintage tour, VAMPS made a quick stop in Florida to perform in Monster Energy's Loudest Month series, rocking the stage during Ft. Rock in Ft. Meyers and Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville.  I caught up with Hyde and KAZ after their smoking set in Jacksonville on April 24 and, with the help of translator, Hiroki, chatted about touring with an American legend, performing in a foreign country and vampire evolution.


You guys have been playing a LOT lately. You’ve been very very busy. Do you do anything special to stay in shape, maintain your voice, anything like that?

H: We have kind of a hard time, of course. With the one man tour we get kind of tired, but everyday something new happens and it’s kind of refreshing.


Speaking of new things, Nikki Sixx recently played VAMPARK in Japan with you guys and now you are opening for him on his SIXX:AM Modern Vintage Tour. How did that come about?

H: Nikki knows that I’m a big fan of Motley Crue and Nikki Sixx. We recently had a big gig in Japan called VAMPARK Festival and we supported SIXX:AM and helped them get into the Japanese market. Now, we are with SIXX:AM because they are trying to give back for what we did for them.

PHOTO GALLARY: VAMPS Live at Welcome to Rockville

Have you enjoyed our coverage so far?  Want to see more shots of the action?  Head over to our Facebook page and check out the album featuring tons of photos you won't see anywhere else.  And, while you're at it, hit that Like button so you don't miss part two!

Check out all our photos from VAMPS Universal International / Delicious Deli Records at Welcome To Rockville!!Part 1...

Posted by Project: Lixx on Thursday, April 30, 2015

LIVE REPORT: VAMPS @ Welcome to Rockville

The Welcome to Rockville experience was, as you may have already heard, full of ups and downs. Day one was fraught with inclement weather which saw the entire crowd of almost 70,000 people evacuated no less than twice. Everyone was ordered to either go back to their cars or huddle with the masses under a nearby overpass until the storm cleared. Chants of “rain or shine” could be heard throughout the crowd as social media blew up with complaints tagged #WelcometoRainville from people desperate to see their favorite bands and even demanding refunds. I personally experienced only the later of the two evacuations and, honestly, it was a bit frightening. Between the angry people and the ominous black clouds looming overhead, there were moments where I feared for our safety; but after about an hour, the storm passed and we were allowed back into the park which was, by now, more like a mud pit. The storm had whole areas washed out and moving from one part to the next required waders.

PRESS RELEASE: Monster Energy Welcome to Rockville Band Performance Times Announced

Band performance times were released today for the fifth annual Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, April 25 & 26 at Jacksonville, Florida's scenic Metropolitan Park along the St. Johns River. The powerful rock lineup includes Slipknot, Korn, Godsmack, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Ministry, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Breaking Benjamin, Papa Roach, Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Of Mice & Men and many more.

General Admission and VIP tickets for Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville are on sale now at www.WelcomeToRockvilleFestival.com, with limited quantities available. A limited number of tickets are also available at select MetroPCS and Firehouse Subs locations with no service fees. A very limited number of Aloft hotel packages can still be purchased at www.WelcomeToRockvilleFestival.com. All other hotel packages are sold out.

Performance times for Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville are as follows (subject to change):

PRESS RELEASE: Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville: Metalachi Video, Graffiti Artist RISK, Tequila World Details & Onsite Sponsor Activities

Various onsite sponsor activities and an interactive art installation with graffiti artist RISK have been announced for the fifth annual Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, April 25 & 26 at Jacksonville, Florida's scenic Metropolitan Park along the St. Johns River. In addition, more details have been confirmed for the new Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville Tequila World.

Florida's biggest rock festival kicks off the World’s Loudest Month festival series and features music on multiple stages, band autograph signings, interactive experiences, a Monster Energy viewing area with beverage sampling, and a variety of food and beverage options, including local gourmet food trucks and the debut of the new Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville Tequila World.  

The new Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville Tequila World, with a Mexican fiesta theme, will feature a wide range of tequilas, extreme margaritas, gourmet tacos, mixologists and more. The expanded list of tequilas that will be offered in the Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville Tequila World is as follows: Cabo Wabo, Corazon, Espolon, El Jimador, Lunazul, Margaritaville, Monte Alban, Pura Vida, Siete Leguas, and more to be announced. Gourmet tacos will be provided by TacoLu Baja Mexicana. Admission to this area is free and open to those 21 and up.

Metalachi--the world’s first and only heavy metal mariachi band--will keep the party rolling with three performances on the Tequila World stage each day. Check out this hilarious behind-the-scenes video clip with Metalachi as they get the news about playing the festival: 

Also new in 2015 is the RISK interactive graffiti art installation. Kelly Graval, the multi-talented fine artist, illustrator, and graffiti artist known as RISK, will be curating an interactive art exhibit to be displayed on site. The exhibit will showcase multiple live demonstrations by RISK and will allow festival attendees the chance to interact and add to the exhibit. RISK has been synonymous with the Los Angeles art community for decades. With a career spanning 30 years, RISK has solidified his place in the history books as a world-renowned graffiti legend. He has come a long way since he pioneered the painting of freeway overpasses, signs and billboards, dubbed “heavens.” Although RISK loves aerosol art, he sees it as merely just one genre in his life’s work. From his days as a student at the USC School of Fine Arts to gallery and museum showings around the world, RISK has transformed from a street artist to a rising star in the contemporary art world. Check out a video of RISK in action here:

And this is only the beginning.  For more information on additional sponsor activities, check out the event page in the calendar on the sidebar.  Tickets for Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville are available now at www.WelcomeToRockvilleFestival.com. Those looking for a VIP experience are encouraged to buy now and save. A limited number of VIP tickets are still available for purchase for the following prices: Weekend VIP: $244.50 + fees; Single Day VIP: $129.50 + fees. On March 9 at Midnight ET, VIP ticket prices will increase to: Weekend VIP: $264.50 + fees; Single Day VIP: $139.50 + fees.

Website: www.WelcomeToRockvilleFestival.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/welcometorockville

Twitter: @RockvilleFest

Instagram: @welcometorockville

Official Video Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlWzJp7nV0I

Get Bitten at Rockville 2015

Monster Energy is kicking of it's World's Loudest Month festival series with Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville, Florida's Metropolitan Park on April 25-26.  They will be hosting an all-star lineup of heavy rock acts including Slipknot, Korn, Godsmack, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Ministry and many, many more.  Beyond music, the festival features autograph signings, interactive experiences and a Monster Energy VIP area including beverage sampling and exclusive gourmet food options.

Speaking of unique experiences, Welcome to Rockville has added Tequila World to this year's festival.  This area features a Mexican fiesta theme, serving a wide range of tequilas, margaritas and tacos, as well as performances from Metalachi, the world's first and only heavy metal mariachi band.  Admission to this area is free to festival goers 21 and up.

All this is well and good, but this is a Jrock blog.  Why do we care?  Because, in addition to an already epic lineup, Japanese superstars VAMPS will be crossing the ocean to rock the stage!  Hyde and KAZ will be bringing Sex, Blood and Rock and Roll to all three Monster events, Welcome to Rockville, Fort Rock and Rock on the Range.  So, mark your calendars, Bloodsuckers.  This is an opportunity you don't want to miss.

Tickets for all events are currently in presale and prices go up the closer we get to the event, so don't wait. Check the links below for details and ticketing information.

April 25-26

Jacksonville, FL

Tickets

April 25

Ft. Myers, FL

Tickets

May 15-17

Columbus, OH

Tickets