Miss Ash Mass

In the last edition of  Bangin' with Ashley, she dished on her latest band exploits and promised an exclusive interview with The Hives.

Now, for the interview with The Hives. These guys were definitely super cool. They are from Sweden.

So funny…ya know how people always ask if you know someone from a certain state, meanwhile it’s a huge state, what are the chances of you knowing that person? Well, I totally pulled that on them, only one step worse. I found out they were from Sweden, and I happen to know a model from Sweden. Mind you, all I know is she’s from Sweden, and I have no idea what part or anything. So this jacka** (that would be me), upon meeting them says, “Hey guys, do know this chick Erika Johnson, she’s a model and she lives in Sweden."

Then I realized what a jerk I sounded like…UNTIL…they said, YES we know her, she’s in some movies and such! Apparently, she’s well known over there! So yeah, they saved me from being THAT girl. The idiot.

Anyway, without further rambling, I give you the interview with Nicholas Arson of The Hives:

Q: How did you guys get involved in working with Timbaland?
A: He called us.

Q: He just asked?
A: We knew of him and did the track around May.

Q: Sweet! When Timbaland’s tracking you down, that must feel pretty good. Do you have an album coming out or tour we should know about?
A: The album should be coming out this fall along with a tour around August. Lately we've been in a few places, including Miami, recording.

Q: Who are your musical influences, and what would you describe your sound like?
A: We listen to all kinds of music starting with ‘60s and punk. The Sonics, Before The Damned, Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys and bands that were around at that same time. The Oblivions and The New Bomb Turks also. We always described our sound as something like a velvet glove with brass knuckles; brutal and sophisticated at the same time.

Q: What about your style? It’s very unique. I love it. Derived from anything? (They wear all white and black fitted suits, ties and shoes, very James Bond-esque.)
A: We read an article once about Spy vs. Spy from the magazine MAD, and that's where the black and white came from. And black and white photo negs. Which we all dig.

Q: How did you like the video shoot overall and the track…were you happy with the way the song turned out?
A: I think the song sounds great. So far we’re having fun at the shoot.

Q: Have you ever watched wrestling?
A: When we were young, we got cable in Sweden around nine or 10 and watched American wrestling aka WWE. We were fans from then on. Our favorites included “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Brutus the Beefcake, Andre the Giant, Ultimate Warrior and Jimmy Snuka.

Q: Do you still live in Sweden?
A: Yes, we still live in the same town we grew up in. Two of us live in Stockholm.

Q: Where do you like touring the best?
A: Southern Europe, everywhere. It’s almost the same because it’s an amazing feeling to tour. The only different feeling place is Japan. They're very organized, they do what they are supposed to do, but as a punk band, to have them react that way at a show, well, it’s kind of weird.

Thanks, Nicholas. Good Luck to all of you guys with the new album, looking forward to it!!!

So I spoke to Lita and she's got some exciting and interesting news about herself and The Luchagors coming up in the next Bangin'. So stay tuned.

Speaking of other Superstars, I've decided my next victim to interrogate is going to be none other than the Dancin’ Divas themselves: Extreme Exposé:

Q: Kelly, what music runs through your iPod most often?
A: Probably hip-hop. I love rap. (Yes, I know having spent some time in the locker room with you hehe). My iPod is very ghetto fab. My favorite songs are "Throw it on Me" by Timbaland, (kiss a** hahaha, j/k) Trina, Trick Daddy, and Three 6 Mafia.

Q: How about you, Brooke? What are you into these days?
A: I have a wide range of music, lots of classic rock. Def Leppard is my favorite band of all time. I also like AC/DC, Billy Idol, Ozzy, Three Days Grace, Trapt, Linkin Park, Disturbed. Then I go to rap and hip-hop like Timbaland, Ying Yang twins, even a little bit of country – Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Garth Brooks.

Q: What about you, Layla? What do you like to shake that butt to?
A: Hip-hop. I love Timbaland’s whole new album. Also, “Put Some D’s on It.” I love that song by Rich Boy. The new Mya song with Lil Wayne "Lock You Down" is great too. Also, I'm listening to my old school R&B songs in a nice, slow way.

Q: As a whole, what would be the ultimate song Extreme Exposé would like to dance to on ECW?
A: There's so many that it’s so hard to choose from. Ok, top three...that’s why we like doing the Exposé, because every week we get to showcase a different song and style. We like to change it up. Next on the wish list, though, would be “Cherry Pie” by Warrant for Brooke, "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake for Kelly Kelly, And for Layla some Miami flavor, like a “Luke” song and really shake that booty!

Ok, that about wraps up this week’s edition of Bangin’. Thanks for stopping by, y’all. I think my Playboy is finally off newsstands, but can be purchased at Playboy.com if ya missed it. I still am shocked they let my piercings and tats stay. It’s such an honor for me to be breaking the mold of your "standard Playboy chick". That's what's most cool about having done this issue – paving the way for more altered beauties that aren't your cookie cutter mold. I'm proud of that, and hope this issue sells well so that different things are considered when choosing cover girls and Playmates.
Thanks for listening to my rants, dudes.

Love you guys...

Tunes of the day:
“Interesting Drug”- Morrissey
“Entrance of the Conflagration”- Trivium
“Don't cry out”- Shiny Toy Guns
“Oh the Guilt”- Nirvana
“I Don't Love you”- My Chemical Romance

Xoxo,
Ashley

So talk about a long hiatus! Sorry y’all. Between promoting the Playboy issue, to having a title match at WrestleMania 23, this blog has been neglected a bit. But, never fear; I have much to talk about. It’s all going to be packed into this one, fat, juicy, delicious blog.

Mmmmmmmm. K, although it’s been awhile, I'm back in full effect. So much has happened since I spoke to you guys last!!!

First of all, I went to see Taste of Chaos in Ohio which was unbelievably sick. Had the BEST time. Wil from Aiden was able to snag us a couple of backstage passes, and I got to watch Jared Leto’s band and a few others from the stage. Sweeeet. The lineup was amazing… Aiden, Chiodos, 30 Seconds to Mars, Senses Fail and my fave band The USED!!! Sick Show. I had a Playboy signing that morning in Cleveland and booked it (and I mean booked it) to Dayton to catch this show. Barely made it. Missed a bit of Aiden which was disappointing, but I have seen them more than anyone else on the card.

My PR rep, and one of the coolest peeps I know, Joe Villa, was with me because we had to start more media at five the next morning. Since we were coming from the signing, he was able to come with me! It was his first time seeing any of those bands, so it was fun! We saw a lot of WWE fans there! I signed a bunch of autographs and took pics right in the crowd. We are all just music lovers there, so we chilled together and talked, it was awesome. Wil said its amazing how many fans WWE has. He also mentioned that some woman and her children drove by their bus. They had driven all the way from Cleveland to see me because they heard I would be there. He was floored. It was so funny. I hope I got to find that bunch. I’d feel awful if they drove those five hours and didn’t get to. At least they’d get to see a fantastic show! Thanks, Wil, for everything. You freaking rule.

I went to see Blue October with Paul London a bit ago at Irving Plaza in New York City, my favorite venue. I am shocked more people don't talk about this band. They are majorly underrated. What an amazing show. The vocalist Justin Furstenfeld, is so powerful and moving you actually feel the pain, happiness, and emotion in his voice when he sings. It’s incredible. I suggest if you hear about Blue October coming anywhere near your city you go check them out. “Into the Ocean,” “Overweight,” “Balance Beam” and “Weight of the World” are my favorites. The first time I heard the acoustic version of “Weight of the World,” I cried. It’s such a moving song. After the show, it was pretty cold outside, and for some reason the window fell out of the socket on the driver’s side of my car. AHHH poor Paul had to drive all the way back to my house with the window open on his face. It was freezing, guys. You have no idea. I had a beach blanket around him. It was soo funny. His teeth were chattering. Still a fantastic night.

Then more recently I flew out to L.A. to be featured in Timbaland’s music video for “Throw it On Me” along with Torrie, Extreme Exposé and Maryse. The band The Hives are featured on this track and in the video. They were such cool dudes. I’ve got an interview with them in the next edition of Bangin' next Friday, so check it out! The video airs around May 21[on Raw] I believe, so be watchin’! We were kickin’ a**, and shakin’ our booties, so much fun!

A couple weeks ago, I got to appear on one of my favorite networks, Fuse! For you music lovers like me, this station kicks major a**. I appeared on The Sauce. It is a new, live show that interviews celebs, musicians, and has live performances and interacts with fans. It’s wayyy cool. Steven - Yes, THE Steven from Steven’s Untitled Rock Show was the one to interview me. He was so down to earth and cool. I couldn’t shut up; I mean you guys know better than anyone when it comes to music I’ll chew your ear off. So I may have some exciting news coming up about Fuse in the near future, but I’ll save that for the next Bangin' ! :o)

Well since the last time I dropped a blog I've learned some disappointing news. Not only did the singer of Bury your Dead leave his band like I reported last blog, Sonny Moore, lead singer of From First to Last (yes, one of my favorite bands) has left the band. I was devastated, until I spoke to him and he said he's working on a solo project. Sonny is such a talented musician. I'm absolutely certain you’re going to love his new stuff. I've heard some of it and it’s a different direction than it used to be with FFTL, but in my opinion a more expanded and interesting sound. It’s really, really good and I can't wait until he records an album. You can check it out at www.myspace.com/sonnysound. I was disappointed about the band breaking up until I heard this, so be sure to check it out if you were a fan of FFTL. “Glow Worm” is easily my fave. I remember how sad I was when Blink-182 broke up...but we got The Transplants, AND + 44, AND Angels and Airwaves out of it, which is cool, but I still love my Blink.

Ok, so another piece of news. You all know The Used is my favorite band. Well, their drummer Branden Steineckert, apparently left the band and started HIS own project… which I've checked out and is actually not that bad, but I would never stray from Bert and The Used. He, Jeph and Quinn still remain in the band, and have been using substitutes occasionally for touring. Although, I’ve heard they may have a more permanent drummer in place named Dan Whitesides. I’ll get the dirt on that…hehe.

Anyway, The Used’s long-awaited new album is coming out this month! I can’t wait. This is a band that I have completely felt and enjoyed every song off both their self-titled debut album and off Love and Death their second album as well. Their new one is called Lies for the Liars and is going to be released on May 22!!! Which is right near my birthday! (Which is the 26! I choose to believe this is a personal birthday gift from my fave band hahaha jk) AHHHH I can’t wait! My faves that I have heard so far are “Pretty Handsome Awkward,”  “The Bird and The Worm” and “Lies for the Liars.” This should definitely be an amazing album. These songs are sick.

Nothing wrong with some good music folks. It truly has been getting me through so much lately. This is definitely a very busy time in my life. Sometimes it goes so fast that I feel out of myself – if that makes any sense. I am grounded by music. I appreciate it and respect it, and most of all am in awe of it. I love talking about it, and I think you guys know that. Ha.

Lil more interesting news, the lead singer of Slipknot’s newer project Stone Sour has an album that came out, I’m sure some of you have heard called Come What(Ever) May. “Through Glass” and “Sillyworld” are their singles, and they are pretty freaking good. However, I find myself still digging Slipknot more. Not that I don't like this project, believe me I do. Anyway, they have an acoustic version of this album set to come out soon. I LOVE acoustic. LOVE. So I’m looking forward to it.

Every Time I Die, another favorite of mine, is set to do another album. Vocalist Keith Buckley (one of the more interesting human beings on the planet) says they're hoping it gets out by early summer. I love everything about this dude. His voice is un-$%&@-believable, he's sarcastic as hell, and he's hilarious. Aside from that, he is extremely intelligent...in my opinion he should be a force to be reckoned with as a musician. I can't wait for the new album. You guys who visit my MySpace(www.myspace.com/ashleymizassaro) know they are frequently on my background music. I talk about them a lot because I'm a huge fan of the band. And of Keith. Incubus has come out with a new one as well called Light Grenades. I've always enjoyed Brandon Boyd’s voice and lyrics, and if you've ever been a fan at some point, I suggest you check this album out. “Earth to Bella Part 2,” “Anna Molly” and “Oil and Water” are my faves. My brother Ronnie is a HUGE fan of this band, he has been for as long as I can remember. He’s seen many of their shows and introduced them to me ages ago.

I saw the movie Tenacious D last night. Weird, yet very funny. I was shocked by Jack Black’s voice; even though I know it’s satirical, I was still impressed. The boy can pretty much sing and they've got a CD out now called The Pick of Destiny, of course, if you've seen the movie. I love the metal spoofs in the movie.

Well, it’s been a little longer than usual, but I'm back in full effect.

Been crazy busy with SmackDown and some other cool projects, like hosting MTV’s Celebrity Death Match and working on some awesome photo shoots, so keep an eye out.

I got to go to one of the most amazing shows I think I've ever experienced – Peeping Tom at Irving Plaza (one of my favorite venues of all time). I even got to hang with my best bud, WWE Tag Team Champion Paul London, and our friend, Erin. Actually, Paul was the one who recommended the show. Well, it was amazing. The singer, Mike Patton, is one of the most musically talented people I've come across in a long time. You may remember him as the frontman of Faith No More. Anyway, it was a sick show. Rahzel performed. He does this human beat box thing – it is the CRAZIEST thing. He's able to construct a whole song, bass line, background vocals, main vocals – everything all at once. Look him up. He's freaking incredible. So crazy. One of the best nights out I've had in a long time. So check out Peeping Tom’s albums or any of Mike Patton’s other work. I'll get into those another time, but I guarantee you'll be impressed.

On to other subjects.... A TON of new albums recently came out that you NEED to know about. Where shall we start? Senses Fail's Still Searching just hit – its pretty good. The single, "Calling All Cars" ain't bad. My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade also was just released, and in my opinion is an awesome album. You've probably heard "Welcome to the Black Parade" because I've even been catching it on the radio. I LOVED it when I first heard it, but alas, like all good music, they'll play the crap out of it ’til I can't stand it anymore. You should also check out the new Trivium called The Crusade, and Killswitch Engage's As Daylight Dies. If you’re a downloader from iTunes (like myself), check out the singles "Daylight Dies" and "For You" off Killswitch – my faves, both solid. My friend, Erin, just caught the show in Texas and said it was amazing. Wish I could have gone. Matter of fact, I may be headed to the Papa Roach show tonight – my friend is going and asked if I'd like to tag along. I've been told the guys are pretty cool and actually have come to a few WWE events, so I think I may go. Anybody that digs WWE is cool in my book.

Anyway, Lita gave me a copy of her new band's CD, the Luchagors, recently, and I was extremely impressed. I think when you guys finally get the chance to check it out or go see her live you're going to be blown away. I wasn't sure what to expect, but her songs were completely solid, and I truly was taken aback by how good it was. I’ll be doing an interview with her after the Europe tour, and will give you guys all kinds of info on the band – where to check ’em out, how to hear the goods and when you can expect it. "You'll have it all right here with Bangin’ with Ashley!" (Insert overenthusiastic radio host voice.)

I have been on a complete ’80s monster ballads kick this month. Basically that includes Poison, Whitesnake, Firehouse, Bad English, Foreigner – total hairband cheese, but I love it. My faves are “Love of a Lifetime” by Firehouse and “Wind of Change” by Scorpions. I definitely go through phases. I won’t see an old CD or playlist in my iPod for a while, then come across it and get excited for it all over again. Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses don't count in this monster ballads playlist because they are constantly on in my iPod. I don’t get sick of GNR, period. Or Crue. Hehe, I'm such a nerd. Sometimes I'll be on a Frank Sinatra kick, or even a Rod Stewart kick (usually around Christmas) – you guys would be surprised. But I'm majorly musically diverse. Everyone at WWE jokes because there is never a time I'm not humming or singing something throughout the halls. Or if some totally random song is playing in an airport, elevator or at the arena, you can bet your ass I know the words. Some strange talent, I suppose. Too bad I can't do a whole lot with it, besides karaoke. Ha. Why is it I can remember all kinds of words to songs, but never anyone’s birthdays? Wow, where'd this blog turn to? Let’s get back on track....

So, I spoke to Nick Wheeler, guitarist from All-American Rejects the other day. Turns out they're wrestling fans just like the rest of us. Check it out:

Ashley: First, tell me where are you right now at this exact moment and what are you doing?
Nick: Today we're in Maryland playing in some college gymnasium…. I think I'll eat some crab today. But in the grand scheme of things, we're gettin' ready for Tournado! It’s gonna be the biggest tour of our lives!!!

Ashley: Your song “Move Along” was the official song of the 2006 $250,000 Diva Search, as well as Layla’s, the Diva Search winner’s theme music on SmackDown. How does that feel? Any thoughts?
Nick: I grew up watching wrestling...WWE, WCW, etc., so it's an honor to be a part of it! I've had so many people come up to me and say they're a fan of our band because of WWE. That feels really good!

Ashley: Have you or any of the guys in the band watched wrestling? Now or as a kid? Any faves? Superstars and Divas alike ;-)
Nick: My favorites were the Ultimate Warrior, Bret "Hit Man" Hart, The Legion Of Doom, etc. Whenever I watch nowadays, it makes me happy to see guys like Undertaker and Shawn Michaels still wrestling!

Ashley: What's coming up for the All-American Rejects? Can we come out and see a show? What's the rest of the year look like for you guys?
Nick: Tournado 2006!! October 23 through December 20!!! All of the United States and
Canada!!! It will be the tour to see this fall, guar-an-teed!!!

Ashley: Have you seen any of our shows live? We'd love to have you! There's nothing like coming to a WWE live event!
Nick: Whenever WWE would come through Tulsa or Oklahoma City, I would go with
my dad – they were so bad ass!!! Those guys were rock stars to me, ya know?! I'd love to attend Raw, or even SummerSlam or WrestleMania. That'd be HUGE for me.

Ashley: Lastly, any funny stories of being on the road? We’re on the road almost all year long, and I know I've got a few myself. Crazy things that have happened? Stalker fans? If you have any feel free to share...
Nick: There are a lot of crazies, a lot of repeat offenders. Some bring cookies, and some call us on our birthdays cuz they work for an airline and get all of our info out of their system. I'm sure there are plenty more...

Anyway, that was my interview with Nick from All-American Rejects – check them out on the fall Tournado Tour!

Have you guys heard that song “Lips of an Angel” by Hinder? I kinda dig it. A few times when I've I heard it, I've liked it. I kind of identify with it and I think that's why, only on the opposite end – which is the girlfriend asleep in the next room – unfortunate, but whatever.

So I was able to track down one of SmackDown’s newer Superstars to find out what he has running through his iPod, and that would be – your boy and mine – Jimmy Wang Yang! Jimmy says he's really into a new up-and-coming Atlanta-based band called The Sixth Hour. Two of his favorite songs to work out to by them are “Degeneration 06” and “Out of My Reach.” They are southern rock, sounding similar to Life of Agony (one of my personal faves) and Clutch. He also enjoys working out to Stuck Mojo. Their new CD, Southern Born Killers, is awesome Jimmy says. Before a match he plays “When I Burn” and “Metal is Dead” to get pumped up. I'll have to check some of these out. Sounds good. Thanks, Jimmy.

In the next Bangin’, get ready for an interview with Lita, a report on another show I'll be attending next week and another one of your favorite Superstar’s musical preferences.  Until then, keep rockin’.
xoxo
Dirty Diva
Ashley

A-Tunes of the Day
“Send the Pain Below” – Chevelle
“Ape Dos Mil” – Glassjaw
“Make like a Door and Shut Up” – Secret Lives of the Freemasons
“The Kill” – 30 Seconds to Mars
“Good F'ing Bye” – Alkaline Trio

What it is, punks?! Dirty Diva here, back again with more inside info on WWE Superstars, music and shows!

It’s been completely busy in Ashleyland with all kinds of cool stuff going on. I went to see a bunch of cool shows, got to go to the MTV VMAs, went to the red carpet launch party for the CW network and even hosted SmackDown segments on Entertainment Tonight recently. One thing I’ve noticed especially during extremely busy months is how much of an impact music has on my soul. I can’t describe how much what I’m listening to impacts me. I usually play certain types of music to coordinate with my mood. Sometimes I play certain songs to get me out of a funk or frustrating time. Sometimes I play music where the singer is frustrated, screaming and releasing it all, and hearing it feels good. Perhaps that’s why I have such a passion for music. It influences my daily life so much. Well, let’s get started on these past few crazy weeks…

First off, AHHH! I went to see one of my fave bands, Theo and the Skyscrapers opening for Rancid a couple of Fridays ago! Sick, right?! The show was at B.B. King’s in New York City and it was amazing! Both bands brought the house down! It was so great to see Rancid in such a small and intimate venue. It was packed, loud and sweaty... just like every show should be. Theo and her Skyscrapers rocked a bunch of new tracks. (Do yourself a favor and download “Broken Girl”… sick song). Theo happens to be the lead singer of the legendary, all-girl punk rock group, the Lunachicks. It was awesome meeting her. I’m a big fan of both her old and new styles. Their bass player, Dimitry, is an old friend and one of the coolest guys I know. Rancid kicked it old-school by playing songs they hadn’t performed in years and even throwing in an Operation Ivy cover! So rad! I spoke with CM Punk about the show and it turns out he’s pretty good friends with Lars, Rancid’s guitar player. He says Lars is a huge Wrestling fan! Gotta love that!

A few days later, I went to the VMAs with Lillian Garcia and Edge. I don’t think I ever saw so many great bands and singers in one room. We got to meet a bunch of people and everybody was so cool. Well... that’s not 100% percent true. Fall Out Boy actually tried to big-time me a lil’… HA!... I guess that’s what happens when you do a Gap ad and sell lots of records! Perhaps they just got nervous around Lillian and I, all decked out. In that case, no disrespect, boys. We did tons of press and had a wicked time. The Killers and Panic! At The Disco performed along with Fergie, in her first live appearance without the Black Eyed Peas. Now I feel like I have to confess something here... I actually (do not laugh) dig that song “London Bridge.” It’s freakin’ catchy, what can I say?! I’m usually not really into these kinds of slick, super-produced, mainstream songs, but in this case, I had to suck it up and bop my head. 

OK... enough with the guilty pleasures... it’s time to talk about an album I’m completely obsessed with this month. It’s from the band Everytime I Die and it’s called  “Gutter Phenomenon.” The first single, “Kill the Music,”  is even my MySpace background music. I love it. ”The New Black,” and “Apocalypse Now and Then” are majorly worth downloading on iTunes. Come to think of it...you should buy the whole friggin’ album, cuz it’s amazing. It really pumps me up before getting in the ring and makes me want to kick ass… mostly Michelle McCool’s, but that’s another subject.

On a softer note, what I’ve been listening to AFTER performing: a band from Denmark called Mew. After the matches I had this weekend, I’ve been going back to my hotel and popping open my laptop and listening to “Snowflake” while I take a bath or “Wherever,” both off the album “A Triumph of Man.” These songs make me happy and relaxed. P.S.: check ’em out if you like being happy and relaxed... I highly recommend it, both good feelings, I insist ;-)  “Comforting Sounds” off the album “Frengers” is an amazing tune, too, probably my favorite by Mew.

In the last edition of “Bangin’ with Ashley,” I promised you guys an interview with Chris Jericho. Well, I always keep a promise, so this week I tracked him down and here’s what he had to say:

ASHLEY: First off, we miss you! When can we expect to see you, if ever again?

CHRIS: Well, I never planned to be away that long, and absolutely I plan on coming back. I’ve just had a lot of projects I’ve been working on, and each time one finishes up, another one starts, but I do hope the time will come soon that I come back and I’ll be better than ever. The Jerichoholics and myself would expect nothing less!

ASHLEY: Fozzy seems to be doing very well right now, I’ve heard some buzz about it and have a copy of the album, so I know how good it is. (“Wanderlust” is by far my fave tune on the album, so definitely check it out.) Tell me about the tour, how’s it been going? Last time we spoke, you were in Aussie? Tell us the haps on the Foz! Are you writing and or recording a new album anytime soon? 

CHRIS: Fozzy is doing great! Thanks for asking! I actually just wrote a ton of lyrics and sent them over to our guitar player who puts together all the music. We’re working on writing some new tunes and hopefully we’ll start recording sometime in late fall. We’re totally focusing on new material and new stuff. I’ll tell you one thing, there will definitely not be any country ballad duets with Leanne Womack on the new Fozzy record!

ASHLEY: Ha! Let’s hope not. I want to go to the Delicious Rox festival so bad to check you guys out along with Fear Factory and Drowning Pool, but alas, I have a wedding to attend and will not be able to make it. I’m gutted I have yet to see your band live and need to work on that!
 
CHRIS: No! Damn that sucks. DROX festival’s going to be great! Definitely looking like it’s going to be an amazing show. 

ASHLEY: Whats next for Chris Jericho and what can the Jerichoholics look forward to in the near future?

CHRIS: All the Jerichoholics ask me on a daily basis when am I coming back to wrestling? They’ve been great, supporting me in all my other projects. You can always still catch me on my XM satellite radio show, “The Rock of Jericho,” every Sunday at 8 p.m. EST on The Boneyard, Channel 41. I play host. 

ASHLEY: One last thing, do you care to comment on the Celebrity Duets show?

CHRIS: I just want to say that Celebrity Duets was one of the best experiences I’ve had and I’m sooo happy I did it. I’m also very happy with both of my performances.  For those of you who didn’t dig “Mendocino County Line,” just remember that it’s a Willie Nelson song and he has a very unique vocal style. I think if you listen to the original, you’ll hear that my version was very faithful to his vibe and style. And Peter Frampton was awesome! Now was I the best singer in the contest? Hell no! Was I the worst singer in the contest? Hell no! Was I one of the most entertaining? Of course! Many people are saying I was robbed, and in some ways maybe I was. But I’d rather leave the party early than overstay my welcome and be the guy that HAS TO GO! But I stand behind my performances and my robot joke RULED! For everyone that thinks that I didn’t have the best time, and whoever didn’t think that being in People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and being on Extra, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight, as well as being on a network show in front of 10 million people didn’t help the Jerichoholic cause, then go back to the night shift at Taco Bell and analyze my life some more... Duets rules!!

ASHLEY: Thanks, Chris, you are awesome! I owe ya a cookie.

So that wraps up the interview with Chris. It was great to hear from him!

This week I’ve been constantly listening to the Smashing Pumpkins album, “Siamese Dream.” It truly is, in my opinion, one of the best albums of all time. There is no skipping ahead or fast-forwarding. It’s just an all around solid album.

Now, let me relive a moment that will be embedded in my brain forever. I am super level-leaded, I have a lot of friends in bands and I don’t have a favorite actress or actor.  People are just people. And I usually don’t mark. But let me tell you, for probably the first time in my life, I was completely speechless meeting Billy Corgan, lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins, backstage at WrestleMania. I freaked. I couldn’t speak normal at first. Ha! Tommy Dreamer introduced us. I asked, “Tommy? Is that who I think it is?”  And he said, “Yeah, he’s a wrestling fan, been for a long time, he’s really cool and down to earth. Let me introduce you.” Now, I was dying, and I’m telling you, I don’t get like this… ever. But it’s friggin’ Billy Corgan! Apparently he had come around a bunch of times before, and a lot of the boys had met him and said he was super cool. So he came over and said hi, and I just tried to get the words out of my brain since they were jumbled and I told him how amazing it was to meet him and how I’m a huge fan, blah blah blah. Well, we ended up hanging the whole time. I was injured and not performing, and he was there to see the show, so we chilled, talked about music, his band, the new album he’s working on, and everything for a few hours. The more I talked to him, the more comfortable I felt cuz he was so down to earth. The absolute coolest thing about him though was the fact that he knew so much about WWE and wrestling. He even knew stuff about me and knew who my first match was with and the feud I was in. I was floored that he even knew who I was. Anyway, it was great.  Had the best time hanging out with him and can’t wait ’til next time. He reminded me of Jeff Hardy a little, and from what I understood, they had hung out before and got a long really well.

Finally, last but not least, I can’t wrap up this blog without turning over the spotlight to the Tag Team Champions, and two of my best friends, Paul London and Brian Kendrick. They are amazing wrestlers and like you are about to find out, have great taste in music as well. I caught up with them while on a break from diligently training in the jungles of a secret location in Thailand. I was told by natives they blindfold themselves and catch fish with their hands, and that Paul strengthens his abs by having Brian drop heavy coconuts on his stomach while he’s perched on top of a tree. I always wondered how he got those abs. Hot. So without further ado, here’s what Paul had to say about the music they’re into… turns out we have very similar tastes :o)

“Brian is White Stripes, Tool and ABBA all the way, whether he’s working out, traveling, at home, getting psyched or whatever, and I have a healthy dose of Chimaira, As I Lay Dying, Bury Your Dead and Mike Patton throughout my days on the road and at home. Peeping Tom is Sept. 29 in NYC at Irving Plaza for anyone who is looking for a musical makeover in their life... DIZZLE.”

You can bet your @#$ I’ll be there! NYC, yeahhhhh!

Dirty Diva, signing off. Next time look forward to an interview with another awesome band (not telling you who yet), another one with one of your favorite Superstars and a report on the show at Irving Plaza. Later.

XOXO,
Dirty Diva

A-Tunes of the Day
1. “Where is my mind” – The Pixies
2.  “Forever” – As I Lay Dying
3.  “The Nameless” – Slipknot
4.  “Hey There Delilah” – Plain White T’s
5.  “Wish” – Nine Inch Nails

The sun was shining, the sweat was pouring, and the bands were kicking ass. The Warped Tour 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, N.Y., was wicked! And I can’t believe how many WWE fans I ran into there! My lil’ punks were everywhere! Check out the photos my brother (pictured to the right), my friend Brian and I collected throughout the day. They may not be professional quality, but I’m keeping it real, totally candid-style, know what I’m sayin’? ;-) We were out all day long and got filthy. My brother coined the nickname for me “Dirty Diva” a while back and today … well, it totally fit.

So, now I’ve got the dish on so many bands, and I can’t wait to share stories, pics and secrets I wasn’t supposed to tell… hehehe….

Saves the Day was amazing; they sound so good live. "Every Time I Die" was killer; my bro got in the pit for that one. And Aiden was awesome, as usual.

But one of my favorite shows of the day def. came from Silverstein! They were incredible. I know you punks that were there had to have seen them, too, and know exactly what I’m talking about. If you didn’t get to see them, and you don’t already have their album, you need to pick it up ­­– it’s called “Discovering the Waterfront.” “Smile in Your Sleep,” “Fist Wrapped in Blood” and “Already Dead” are some of my favorites – one even made its way onto a mix tape (which I have an affinity for – yes, I am a child of the ’80s) I made for Matt Hardy. Silverstein – Neil, Josh, Shane, Bill and Paul – put on a great live show. I caught up with Paul to hear his thoughts on Warped, his new clothing line and more. Here what he had to say:

ASHLEY: How was today’s show compared to the others on Warped? Is it standard every show? Does anything in your repertoire or set change in different cities? Where are you headed after this tour?

PAUL (pictured to left): New York Warped was a blast; we had one of the biggest crowds of the tour watching us. I always love playing in the city; the kids are just so much fun. Usually we get the best mosh pits from the crowd in New York.

ASHLEY: Yeah! That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Gotta love NYC. (Ash’s hometown for those who are not aware!)

PAUL: Sometimes we try and mix up our set for certain areas, especially if we’ve played the same songs before. Our live show is very important to us, and we are always giving the set a lot of thought beforehand. After this, we will be performing at Warped Tour in Canada, and then headlining Dirt Fest (Ash: Sounds fun already) in Detroit on Aug. 19. We’ll be doing a full Canadian tour with our friends, Underoath, during September. Finally, we will be headlining all over the States from October to December with Aiden, It Dies Today and He is Legend. We’ve been on tour since January, so after this, we will be taking a much-deserved break so we can begin focusing on our next album.

ASHLEY: WWE is on tour quite a bit, kickin’ it in the ring all year round, so I know the feeling. Def. takes a certain type of person to stay happy on tour, and thankfully I’m one of those people. Did you check out any of the other bands while on the Warped Tour when you weren’t performing/signing?

PAUL: I always tried to fill my day with watching a few of the other bands on the tour.  This year there were a lot of our friends on the tour, like Armor For Sleep, Aiden, Underoath, etc., and it was fun watching them as much as possible. Some other great bands that I enjoyed were Every Time I Die, Paramore and All Time Low. Warped Tour is great for bringing together bands of diverse genres together under one show.

ASHLEY: Are you cool with NOFX?  Although I enjoy them, they talk through much of their set, mostly about other bands on the tour. What are your thoughts?

PAUL: NOFX is one of the first punk bands that I really started listening to. “Punk in Drublic” is still one of my favorite punk albums of all time. I didn’t get a chance to meet any of them this year, but Bill and Shane from our band played poker with them a lot and got along pretty well. They do their thing and don’t compromise for anyone, so I really respect that. Punk might not be as popular as it used to be, but they are one of the great bands keeping it alive.

ASHLEY: They’ve been on the tour so long, I guess they are the veterans of the show.  And I’d imagine they are as respected as… well, Undertaker around these parts. Have you ever watch wrestling or did you as a kid? Any faves?

PAUL: I used to watch when I was younger and in elementary school. I remember the video game “Royal Rumble” was one of my favorites on my Sega Genesis back in the day. One of my favorite wrestlers has to be Bret “Hit Man” Hart, a fellow Canadian. Gotta love the Sharpshooter!

ASHLEY: Awesome! You know he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame this year! This Friday you can catch a glimpse of Paul’s new clothing line, LIARS manifesto, (I totally rocked it on SmackDown). Can you tell me a lil’ bit about your company?

PAUL: The company LIARS was created by myself, and my two best friends, Danny and Kenny (both from New York). We’re all designers and are heavily involved with the music scene so we decided to focus some of our creativity on a new business venture.  We’re really excited about the clothing so far and hope to really expand over the next year. 

ASHLEY: Thanks so much for checking in with us Paul! See you the next time you’re in town!

So that wraps up my interview with Paul from Silverstein. I’ve got a bunch more to share with you over the weeks. Oh, while we're on the topic of concerts – I just got word that Chris Jericho’s band, Fozzy, will be performing at an awesome festival called Delicious Rox in Sedalia, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 30, with Saliva, Drowning Pool and a bunch of other kick-ass bands! If you live in the area, you should totally go check it out. You will probably find me there. Perhaps I’ll include an interview with Chris in my next blog? Guess you’ll have to wait and see. …

OK, now this week has been a really busy one for me. On top of checking out Warped, I was also on the road and found the time to do a little snooping around, prying into the iPods of your favorite Superstars and Divas. I got the inside scoop on what they’ve been rocking out to, and every week I will give you the lowdown on their music picks.

So I figured who better to start with than this month’s FHM cover girl, Torrie Wilson. BTW, before we even start talking about music, if you guys haven’t seen the magazine yet, whoa … all I have to say is whoa!!! Torrie looks SMOKIN’ hot in those pictures! You seriously need to go get it. Now. Run. Quickly.

Here’s what Torrie had to say when I asked her about the kind of music she digs: “One of the songs I love to listen to while I work out is ‘Faster Kill Pussycat’ by Paul Oakenfold. I also always listen to ‘Where is the Love?’ by Black Eyed Peas, ‘Dirty Little Secret’ by The All-American Rejects, ‘Burning Up’ from Madonna (Ash: Any girl who grew up in the late ’80s/early ’90s has to love this song, I know I do. Old school Madonna, c’mon!!!) and ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers. Oh, I almost forgot another great workout song: ‘Dirty Drums’ by High Lonesome Sound System.

“When I just want to chill, I put on ‘Vertigo’ by U2 and ‘Under Pressure,’ featuring Queen and David Bowie. Recently, my mom gave me the single ‘I Hope You Dance’ by Lee Ann Womack, and I love it. Finally, when I’m driving, I love listening to Maroon 5; it’s on constant replay on my iPod.”

Well that about wraps up this week’s Bangin’ with Ashley. Thanks for checking in. Next week you can look forward to an interview with Chris Jericho, dirt on another Superstars' musical tastes and much, much more. Signing off, the dirtiest Diva of them all … Ashley

xoxo
Dirty Diva

A-Tunes of the Day
Volume 2

1. Kill the Music – Every Time I Die
2. Quit Your Life – MxPx
3. Beast & the Harlot – Avenged Sevenfold
4. Tear You Apart – She Wants Revenge
5. Cut Up Angels – The Used

The sun was shining, the sweat was pouring, and the bands were kicking ass. The Warped Tour 2006 at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, N.Y., was wicked! And I can’t believe how many WWE fans I ran into there! My lil’ punks were everywhere! Check out the photos my brother (pictured to the right), my friend Brian and I collected throughout the day. They may not be professional quality, but I’m keeping it real, totally candid-style, know what I’m sayin’? ;-) We were out all day long and got filthy. My brother coined the nickname for me “Dirty Diva” a while back and today … well, it totally fit.

So, now I’ve got the dish on so many bands, and I can’t wait to share stories, pics and secrets I wasn’t supposed to tell… hehehe….

Saves the Day was amazing; they sound so good live. "Every Time I Die" was killer; my bro got in the pit for that one. And Aiden was awesome, as usual.

But one of my favorite shows of the day def. came from Silverstein! They were incredible. I know you punks that were there had to have seen them, too, and know exactly what I’m talking about. If you didn’t get to see them, and you don’t already have their album, you need to pick it up ­­– it’s called “Discovering the Waterfront.” “Smile in Your Sleep,” “Fist Wrapped in Blood” and “Already Dead” are some of my favorites – one even made its way onto a mix tape (which I have an affinity for – yes, I am a child of the ’80s) I made for Matt Hardy. Silverstein – Neil, Josh, Shane, Bill and Paul – put on a great live show. I caught up with Paul to hear his thoughts on Warped, his new clothing line and more. Here what he had to say:

ASHLEY: How was today’s show compared to the others on Warped? Is it standard every show? Does anything in your repertoire or set change in different cities? Where are you headed after this tour?

PAUL (pictured to left): New York Warped was a blast; we had one of the biggest crowds of the tour watching us. I always love playing in the city; the kids are just so much fun. Usually we get the best mosh pits from the crowd in New York.

ASHLEY: Yeah! That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Gotta love NYC. (Ash’s hometown for those who are not aware!)

PAUL: Sometimes we try and mix up our set for certain areas, especially if we’ve played the same songs before. Our live show is very important to us, and we are always giving the set a lot of thought beforehand. After this, we will be performing at Warped Tour in Canada, and then headlining Dirt Fest (Ash: Sounds fun already) in Detroit on Aug. 19. We’ll be doing a full Canadian tour with our friends, Underoath, during September. Finally, we will be headlining all over the States from October to December with Aiden, It Dies Today and He is Legend. We’ve been on tour since January, so after this, we will be taking a much-deserved break so we can begin focusing on our next album.

ASHLEY: WWE is on tour quite a bit, kickin’ it in the ring all year round, so I know the feeling. Def. takes a certain type of person to stay happy on tour, and thankfully I’m one of those people. Did you check out any of the other bands while on the Warped Tour when you weren’t performing/signing?

PAUL: I always tried to fill my day with watching a few of the other bands on the tour.  This year there were a lot of our friends on the tour, like Armor For Sleep, Aiden, Underoath, etc., and it was fun watching them as much as possible. Some other great bands that I enjoyed were Every Time I Die, Paramore and All Time Low. Warped Tour is great for bringing together bands of diverse genres together under one show.

ASHLEY: Are you cool with NOFX?  Although I enjoy them, they talk through much of their set, mostly about other bands on the tour. What are your thoughts?

PAUL: NOFX is one of the first punk bands that I really started listening to. “Punk in Drublic” is still one of my favorite punk albums of all time. I didn’t get a chance to meet any of them this year, but Bill and Shane from our band played poker with them a lot and got along pretty well. They do their thing and don’t compromise for anyone, so I really respect that. Punk might not be as popular as it used to be, but they are one of the great bands keeping it alive.

ASHLEY: They’ve been on the tour so long, I guess they are the veterans of the show.  And I’d imagine they are as respected as… well, Undertaker around these parts. Have you ever watch wrestling or did you as a kid? Any faves?

PAUL: I used to watch when I was younger and in elementary school. I remember the video game “Royal Rumble” was one of my favorites on my Sega Genesis back in the day. One of my favorite wrestlers has to be Bret “Hit Man” Hart, a fellow Canadian. Gotta love the Sharpshooter!

ASHLEY: Awesome! You know he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame this year! This Friday you can catch a glimpse of Paul’s new clothing line, LIARS manifesto, (I totally rocked it on SmackDown). Can you tell me a lil’ bit about your company?

PAUL: The company LIARS was created by myself, and my two best friends, Danny and Kenny (both from New York). We’re all designers and are heavily involved with the music scene so we decided to focus some of our creativity on a new business venture.  We’re really excited about the clothing so far and hope to really expand over the next year. 

ASHLEY: Thanks so much for checking in with us Paul! See you the next time you’re in town!

So that wraps up my interview with Paul from Silverstein. I’ve got a bunch more to share with you over the weeks. Oh, while we're on the topic of concerts – I just got word that Chris Jericho’s band, Fozzy, will be performing at an awesome festival called Delicious Rox in Sedalia, Mo., Saturday, Sept. 30, with Saliva, Drowning Pool and a bunch of other kick-ass bands! If you live in the area, you should totally go check it out. You will probably find me there. Perhaps I’ll include an interview with Chris in my next blog? Guess you’ll have to wait and see. …

OK, now this week has been a really busy one for me. On top of checking out Warped, I was also on the road and found the time to do a little snooping around, prying into the iPods of your favorite Superstars and Divas. I got the inside scoop on what they’ve been rocking out to, and every week I will give you the lowdown on their music picks.

So I figured who better to start with than this month’s FHM cover girl, Torrie Wilson. BTW, before we even start talking about music, if you guys haven’t seen the magazine yet, whoa … all I have to say is whoa!!! Torrie looks SMOKIN’ hot in those pictures! You seriously need to go get it. Now. Run. Quickly.

Here’s what Torrie had to say when I asked her about the kind of music she digs: “One of the songs I love to listen to while I work out is ‘Faster Kill Pussycat’ by Paul Oakenfold. I also always listen to ‘Where is the Love?’ by Black Eyed Peas, ‘Dirty Little Secret’ by The All-American Rejects, ‘Burning Up’ from Madonna (Ash: Any girl who grew up in the late ’80s/early ’90s has to love this song, I know I do. Old school Madonna, c’mon!!!) and ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers. Oh, I almost forgot another great workout song: ‘Dirty Drums’ by High Lonesome Sound System.

“When I just want to chill, I put on ‘Vertigo’ by U2 and ‘Under Pressure,’ featuring Queen and David Bowie. Recently, my mom gave me the single ‘I Hope You Dance’ by Lee Ann Womack, and I love it. Finally, when I’m driving, I love listening to Maroon 5; it’s on constant replay on my iPod.”

Well that about wraps up this week’s Bangin’ with Ashley. Thanks for checking in. Next week you can look forward to an interview with Chris Jericho, dirt on another Superstars' musical tastes and much, much more. Signing off, the dirtiest Diva of them all … Ashley

xoxo
Dirty Diva

A-Tunes of the Day
Volume 2

1. Kill the Music – Every Time I Die
2. Quit Your Life – MxPx
3. Beast & the Harlot – Avenged Sevenfold
4. Tear You Apart – She Wants Revenge
5. Cut Up Angels – The Used

What up, ya punks? Welcome to the first edition of Bangin’ With Ashley! If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time on this Web site. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why we’re all here...but, after meeting a bunch of you WWE fans on the road, in airports, outside the arenas and getting to know you a little, I’m starting to realize that we have something else in common, too: a passion for music!
 
I feel like music is a huge part of the sports-entertainment world. From the fans wearing T-shirts of their favorite bands, to the Superstars who appear in the ring with their entrance themes blasting through the speakers of the arena, music is everywhere in WWE.

For me, it’s been the center of my life. Through good times and bad times, music has always been there for me. So, I figured why not write a blog about it to let ya’ll know what’s runnin’ through the old iPod in Ashleyland. 
 
Ok, so here’s the deal. Every week I’m going to fill you in on what I’m listening to throughout the day, on the way to the arena, at the gym and on the 250-mile drive to the next city. I’ll also give you the inside scoop on what your favorite Superstars and Divas are listening to, and what I’ve been playing for the people I ride with. I’ll give you the lowdown on cool shows I’ll be checking out and bring back interviews with bands that I love. Give ya the inside scoop…
 
So... first off on Ashley’s agenda is the Vans Warped Tour ’06 this Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, N.Y.! Yeah!! Tons of awesome bands are scheduled to perform. Warped Tour goes on all Summer, and if you guys get the chance, you should totally check it out! They’ve got a great lineup this Summer. From AFI, to 30 Seconds to Mars, Aiden, Silverstein, HELMET, even Saves the Day ... almost every band on the bill finds its way to the most played section of my iPod. If you’ve never been to Warped Tour, you’re totally missing out. It’s def. one of my all-time favorite shows! There’s a bunch of bands playing in different spots at the same time, you get a list when you get in and check out the ones you like the best. Sometimes it’s hard ‘cuz you’ll have to choose between two bands you like, but I love the festival atmosphere. I mentioned in WWE Magazine how I went last year at Randall’s Island, N.Y. It was dirty and dusty and friggin’ awesome. Loved it.

So Warped Tour should be amazing. Unfortunately, two of my favorite bands dropped off -- From First to Last and underOATH. The singer of FFTL, Sonny Moore, had to undergo vocal surgery, and FFTL was forced to cancel the rest of their shows this Summer. In the meantime, you can check out their new record “Heroine,” it’s amazing! I love some of their older stuff -- like “Emily,” “Ride the Wings of Pestilence” -- but the new album, man, every single song on there is sick!! “The Latest Plague,” “Afterbirth,” “Waltz Moore” and “Shame Shame” are my favorites and are definitely worth checking out. So please do yourself a favor and get this CD. UnderOATH’s new album just came out and is called “Define the Great Line.” It’s sooo good. Yet another good way to spend your lunch money. Even though they’re no longer on the tour, you can totally pretend you’re at the show in the comforts of your own home with the new CD. Blast the music, play air guitar in the mirror … What, you don’t do that? …Well … neither do I … of course … I mean … well this is awkward … sooooo moving onward … ;o)

K, now of course I have my staples in my iPod that will always be mixed in with the new, like NIN, Rage, Slipknot, Smashing Pumpkins (p.s. met Billy Corgan at Wrestlemania 22, he was so rad; tell you about it in the next blog), The Used (my ultimate favorite band), A Perfect Circle, Johnny Cash, Morrissey, Death Cab and many more. Wouldn’t want to forget to mention them, they are the foundation of my iPod, along with many others you’ll be hearing about in the weeks to come. Lots of cool stuff to share.
 
On a softer note … literally, when I hit the hay at night after a long day’s travel and work, in my hotel room, I have been leaning toward Regina Spektor lately. She’s amazingly talented, lyrically, and on piano. She sounds like a more cultured or at-peace-with-her-life Fiona Apple. Don’t get me wrong, I love Fiona, but I thoroughly enjoy Regina, as well. If you’re into that sort of music, check out the songs “Us,” “Somedays” and “Ghost of Corporate Future.” She has a way of making simple, beautiful music while incorporating lyrics that make you think. She’s got a logic similar to Jack Johnson combined with a childlike innocence and I love it.

So, gotta wrap things up. Be sure to check in next week, I’ll be including excusive candid pics from Warped Tour, a one-on-one interview with an awesome band that performed there, the lowdown on the Superstars’ tastes and much, much more…
 
One more thing, as you can see, discovering music and checking out new bands is a hobby of mine, so if you’ve got your own band and you’d like me to give a listen, don’t be afraid to slip me a copy of your stuff when you catch me on the street. Ya never know, it could be the next big thing. ;o) On that note, I’m out.

xoxo
ash

A-Tunes of the day: Volume 1
 
1.         Liar -- Taking Back Sunday
2.         Fist Wrapped in Blood -- Silverstein
3.         A Little’s Enough -- Angels and Airwaves
4.         The City is far from here -- Aiden
5.         Love like Winter -- AFI

What it is, punks?! Dirty Diva here, back again with more inside info on WWE Superstars, music and shows!

It’s been completely busy in Ashleyland with all kinds of cool stuff going on. I went to see a bunch of cool shows, got to go to the MTV VMAs, went to the red carpet launch party for the CW network and even hosted SmackDown segments on Entertainment Tonight recently. One thing I’ve noticed especially during extremely busy months is how much of an impact music has on my soul. I can’t describe how much what I’m listening to impacts me. I usually play certain types of music to coordinate with my mood. Sometimes I play certain songs to get me out of a funk or frustrating time. Sometimes I play music where the singer is frustrated, screaming and releasing it all, and hearing it feels good. Perhaps that’s why I have such a passion for music. It influences my daily life so much. Well, let’s get started on these past few crazy weeks…

First off, AHHH! I went to see one of my fave bands, Theo and the Skyscrapers opening for Rancid a couple of Fridays ago! Sick, right?! The show was at B.B. King’s in New York City and it was amazing! Both bands brought the house down! It was so great to see Rancid in such a small and intimate venue. It was packed, loud and sweaty... just like every show should be. Theo and her Skyscrapers rocked a bunch of new tracks. (Do yourself a favor and download “Broken Girl”… sick song). Theo happens to be the lead singer of the legendary, all-girl punk rock group, the Lunachicks. It was awesome meeting her. I’m a big fan of both her old and new styles. Their bass player, Dimitry, is an old friend and one of the coolest guys I know. Rancid kicked it old-school by playing songs they hadn’t performed in years and even throwing in an Operation Ivy cover! So rad! I spoke with CM Punk about the show and it turns out he’s pretty good friends with Lars, Rancid’s guitar player. He says Lars is a huge Wrestling fan! Gotta love that!

A few days later, I went to the VMAs with Lillian Garcia and Edge. I don’t think I ever saw so many great bands and singers in one room. We got to meet a bunch of people and everybody was so cool. Well... that’s not 100% percent true. Fall Out Boy actually tried to big-time me a lil’… HA!... I guess that’s what happens when you do a Gap ad and sell lots of records! Perhaps they just got nervous around Lillian and I, all decked out. In that case, no disrespect, boys. We did tons of press and had a wicked time. The Killers and Panic! At The Disco performed along with Fergie, in her first live appearance without the Black Eyed Peas. Now I feel like I have to confess something here... I actually (do not laugh) dig that song “London Bridge.” It’s freakin’ catchy, what can I say?! I’m usually not really into these kinds of slick, super-produced, mainstream songs, but in this case, I had to suck it up and bop my head. 

OK... enough with the guilty pleasures... it’s time to talk about an album I’m completely obsessed with this month. It’s from the band Everytime I Die and it’s called  “Gutter Phenomenon.” The first single, “Kill the Music,”  is even my MySpace background music. I love it. ”The New Black,” and “Apocalypse Now and Then” are majorly worth downloading on iTunes. Come to think of it...you should buy the whole friggin’ album, cuz it’s amazing. It really pumps me up before getting in the ring and makes me want to kick ass… mostly Michelle McCool’s, but that’s another subject.

On a softer note, what I’ve been listening to AFTER performing: a band from Denmark called Mew. After the matches I had this weekend, I’ve been going back to my hotel and popping open my laptop and listening to “Snowflake” while I take a bath or “Wherever,” both off the album “A Triumph of Man.” These songs make me happy and relaxed. P.S.: check ’em out if you like being happy and relaxed... I highly recommend it, both good feelings, I insist ;-)  “Comforting Sounds” off the album “Frengers” is an amazing tune, too, probably my favorite by Mew.

In the last edition of “Bangin’ with Ashley,” I promised you guys an interview with Chris Jericho. Well, I always keep a promise, so this week I tracked him down and here’s what he had to say:

ASHLEY: First off, we miss you! When can we expect to see you, if ever again?

CHRIS: Well, I never planned to be away that long, and absolutely I plan on coming back. I’ve just had a lot of projects I’ve been working on, and each time one finishes up, another one starts, but I do hope the time will come soon that I come back and I’ll be better than ever. The Jerichoholics and myself would expect nothing less!

ASHLEY: Fozzy seems to be doing very well right now, I’ve heard some buzz about it and have a copy of the album, so I know how good it is. (“Wanderlust” is by far my fave tune on the album, so definitely check it out.) Tell me about the tour, how’s it been going? Last time we spoke, you were in Aussie? Tell us the haps on the Foz! Are you writing and or recording a new album anytime soon? 

CHRIS: Fozzy is doing great! Thanks for asking! I actually just wrote a ton of lyrics and sent them over to our guitar player who puts together all the music. We’re working on writing some new tunes and hopefully we’ll start recording sometime in late fall. We’re totally focusing on new material and new stuff. I’ll tell you one thing, there will definitely not be any country ballad duets with Leanne Womack on the new Fozzy record!

ASHLEY: Ha! Let’s hope not. I want to go to the Delicious Rox festival so bad to check you guys out along with Fear Factory and Drowning Pool, but alas, I have a wedding to attend and will not be able to make it. I’m gutted I have yet to see your band live and need to work on that!
 
CHRIS: No! Damn that sucks. DROX festival’s going to be great! Definitely looking like it’s going to be an amazing show. 

ASHLEY: Whats next for Chris Jericho and what can the Jerichoholics look forward to in the near future?

CHRIS: All the Jerichoholics ask me on a daily basis when am I coming back to wrestling? They’ve been great, supporting me in all my other projects. You can always still catch me on my XM satellite radio show, “The Rock of Jericho,” every Sunday at 8 p.m. EST on The Boneyard, Channel 41. I play host. 

ASHLEY: One last thing, do you care to comment on the Celebrity Duets show?

CHRIS: I just want to say that Celebrity Duets was one of the best experiences I’ve had and I’m sooo happy I did it. I’m also very happy with both of my performances.  For those of you who didn’t dig “Mendocino County Line,” just remember that it’s a Willie Nelson song and he has a very unique vocal style. I think if you listen to the original, you’ll hear that my version was very faithful to his vibe and style. And Peter Frampton was awesome! Now was I the best singer in the contest? Hell no! Was I the worst singer in the contest? Hell no! Was I one of the most entertaining? Of course! Many people are saying I was robbed, and in some ways maybe I was. But I’d rather leave the party early than overstay my welcome and be the guy that HAS TO GO! But I stand behind my performances and my robot joke RULED! For everyone that thinks that I didn’t have the best time, and whoever didn’t think that being in People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and being on Extra, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight, as well as being on a network show in front of 10 million people didn’t help the Jerichoholic cause, then go back to the night shift at Taco Bell and analyze my life some more... Duets rules!!

ASHLEY: Thanks, Chris, you are awesome! I owe ya a cookie.

So that wraps up the interview with Chris. It was great to hear from him!

This week I’ve been constantly listening to the Smashing Pumpkins album, “Siamese Dream.” It truly is, in my opinion, one of the best albums of all time. There is no skipping ahead or fast-forwarding. It’s just an all around solid album.

Now, let me relive a moment that will be embedded in my brain forever. I am super level-leaded, I have a lot of friends in bands and I don’t have a favorite actress or actor.  People are just people. And I usually don’t mark. But let me tell you, for probably the first time in my life, I was completely speechless meeting Billy Corgan, lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins, backstage at WrestleMania. I freaked. I couldn’t speak normal at first. Ha! Tommy Dreamer introduced us. I asked, “Tommy? Is that who I think it is?”  And he said, “Yeah, he’s a wrestling fan, been for a long time, he’s really cool and down to earth. Let me introduce you.” Now, I was dying, and I’m telling you, I don’t get like this… ever. But it’s friggin’ Billy Corgan! Apparently he had come around a bunch of times before, and a lot of the boys had met him and said he was super cool. So he came over and said hi, and I just tried to get the words out of my brain since they were jumbled and I told him how amazing it was to meet him and how I’m a huge fan, blah blah blah. Well, we ended up hanging the whole time. I was injured and not performing, and he was there to see the show, so we chilled, talked about music, his band, the new album he’s working on, and everything for a few hours. The more I talked to him, the more comfortable I felt cuz he was so down to earth. The absolute coolest thing about him though was the fact that he knew so much about WWE and wrestling. He even knew stuff about me and knew who my first match was with and the feud I was in. I was floored that he even knew who I was. Anyway, it was great.  Had the best time hanging out with him and can’t wait ’til next time. He reminded me of Jeff Hardy a little, and from what I understood, they had hung out before and got a long really well.

Finally, last but not least, I can’t wrap up this blog without turning over the spotlight to the Tag Team Champions, and two of my best friends, Paul London and Brian Kendrick. They are amazing wrestlers and like you are about to find out, have great taste in music as well. I caught up with them while on a break from diligently training in the jungles of a secret location in Thailand. I was told by natives they blindfold themselves and catch fish with their hands, and that Paul strengthens his abs by having Brian drop heavy coconuts on his stomach while he’s perched on top of a tree. I always wondered how he got those abs. Hot. So without further ado, here’s what Paul had to say about the music they’re into… turns out we have very similar tastes :o)

“Brian is White Stripes, Tool and ABBA all the way, whether he’s working out, traveling, at home, getting psyched or whatever, and I have a healthy dose of Chimaira, As I Lay Dying, Bury Your Dead and Mike Patton throughout my days on the road and at home. Peeping Tom is Sept. 29 in NYC at Irving Plaza for anyone who is looking for a musical makeover in their life... DIZZLE.”

You can bet your @#$ I’ll be there! NYC, yeahhhhh!

Dirty Diva, signing off. Next time look forward to an interview with another awesome band (not telling you who yet), another one with one of your favorite Superstars and a report on the show at Irving Plaza. Later.

XOXO,
Dirty Diva

A-Tunes of the Day
1. “Where is my mind” – The Pixies
2.  “Forever” – As I Lay Dying
3.  “The Nameless” – Slipknot
4.  “Hey There Delilah” – Plain White T’s
5.  “Wish” – Nine Inch Nails

What up, ya punks? Welcome to the first edition of Bangin’ With Ashley! If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time on this Web site. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why we’re all here...but, after meeting a bunch of you WWE fans on the road, in airports, outside the arenas and getting to know you a little, I’m starting to realize that we have something else in common, too: a passion for music!
 
I feel like music is a huge part of the sports-entertainment world. From the fans wearing T-shirts of their favorite bands, to the Superstars who appear in the ring with their entrance themes blasting through the speakers of the arena, music is everywhere in WWE.

For me, it’s been the center of my life. Through good times and bad times, music has always been there for me. So, I figured why not write a blog about it to let ya’ll know what’s runnin’ through the old iPod in Ashleyland. 
 
Ok, so here’s the deal. Every week I’m going to fill you in on what I’m listening to throughout the day, on the way to the arena, at the gym and on the 250-mile drive to the next city. I’ll also give you the inside scoop on what your favorite Superstars and Divas are listening to, and what I’ve been playing for the people I ride with. I’ll give you the lowdown on cool shows I’ll be checking out and bring back interviews with bands that I love. Give ya the inside scoop…
 
So... first off on Ashley’s agenda is the Vans Warped Tour ’06 this Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, N.Y.! Yeah!! Tons of awesome bands are scheduled to perform. Warped Tour goes on all Summer, and if you guys get the chance, you should totally check it out! They’ve got a great lineup this Summer. From AFI, to 30 Seconds to Mars, Aiden, Silverstein, HELMET, even Saves the Day ... almost every band on the bill finds its way to the most played section of my iPod. If you’ve never been to Warped Tour, you’re totally missing out. It’s def. one of my all-time favorite shows! There’s a bunch of bands playing in different spots at the same time, you get a list when you get in and check out the ones you like the best. Sometimes it’s hard ‘cuz you’ll have to choose between two bands you like, but I love the festival atmosphere. I mentioned in WWE Magazine how I went last year at Randall’s Island, N.Y. It was dirty and dusty and friggin’ awesome. Loved it.

So Warped Tour should be amazing. Unfortunately, two of my favorite bands dropped off -- From First to Last and underOATH. The singer of FFTL, Sonny Moore, had to undergo vocal surgery, and FFTL was forced to cancel the rest of their shows this Summer. In the meantime, you can check out their new record “Heroine,” it’s amazing! I love some of their older stuff -- like “Emily,” “Ride the Wings of Pestilence” -- but the new album, man, every single song on there is sick!! “The Latest Plague,” “Afterbirth,” “Waltz Moore” and “Shame Shame” are my favorites and are definitely worth checking out. So please do yourself a favor and get this CD. UnderOATH’s new album just came out and is called “Define the Great Line.” It’s sooo good. Yet another good way to spend your lunch money. Even though they’re no longer on the tour, you can totally pretend you’re at the show in the comforts of your own home with the new CD. Blast the music, play air guitar in the mirror … What, you don’t do that? …Well … neither do I … of course … I mean … well this is awkward … sooooo moving onward … ;o)

K, now of course I have my staples in my iPod that will always be mixed in with the new, like NIN, Rage, Slipknot, Smashing Pumpkins (p.s. met Billy Corgan at Wrestlemania 22, he was so rad; tell you about it in the next blog), The Used (my ultimate favorite band), A Perfect Circle, Johnny Cash, Morrissey, Death Cab and many more. Wouldn’t want to forget to mention them, they are the foundation of my iPod, along with many others you’ll be hearing about in the weeks to come. Lots of cool stuff to share.
 
On a softer note … literally, when I hit the hay at night after a long day’s travel and work, in my hotel room, I have been leaning toward Regina Spektor lately. She’s amazingly talented, lyrically, and on piano. She sounds like a more cultured or at-peace-with-her-life Fiona Apple. Don’t get me wrong, I love Fiona, but I thoroughly enjoy Regina, as well. If you’re into that sort of music, check out the songs “Us,” “Somedays” and “Ghost of Corporate Future.” She has a way of making simple, beautiful music while incorporating lyrics that make you think. She’s got a logic similar to Jack Johnson combined with a childlike innocence and I love it.

So, gotta wrap things up. Be sure to check in next week, I’ll be including excusive candid pics from Warped Tour, a one-on-one interview with an awesome band that performed there, the lowdown on the Superstars’ tastes and much, much more…
 
One more thing, as you can see, discovering music and checking out new bands is a hobby of mine, so if you’ve got your own band and you’d like me to give a listen, don’t be afraid to slip me a copy of your stuff when you catch me on the street. Ya never know, it could be the next big thing. ;o) On that note, I’m out.

xoxo
ash
 
A-Tunes of the day: Volume 1
 
1.         Liar -- Taking Back Sunday
2.         Fist Wrapped in Blood -- Silverstein
3.         A Little’s Enough -- Angels and Airwaves
4.         The City is far from here -- Aiden
5.         Love like Winter -- AFI