HellYeah will embark on their first tour after the death of Vinnie Paul, and will have a new record “Welcome Home” out September 27th.
Meatball got a chance to talk with frontman Chad Gray before they come to The Cotillion in Wichita on August 13th.
Highlights:
(On their May 11th show in Vegas) “I thought I was gonna be paralyzed that night, but I had a calmness about me. We were a 7-piece that night. Vinnie and Dime were with me.”
“Vinnie was a great teacher. He taught me many things, he taught me how to be a better human being. He taught us all how to carry on the torch.”
“(Roy Mayorga) practiced 6 hours a day for a month and a half. Insane. We gave him a setlist – 17 or 18 songs on it – and he played through that set 4 or 5 times a day.”
(Talking to Vinnie) “This is your final music, and I don’t know how the hell I’m gonna do it, but I’m gonna finish this record.”
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life, and the burden i was shouldering was so heavy, because I knew it was his final music… He was my muse, he was my fire…. I remember looking at Kevin (Churko), and going, this is so insane… it feels like the weight of the world on my back… but I feel like it should be heavier. (Vinnie) and Dime were lifting just enough weight off me to keep me from crumbling under myself.”
(On ‘Welcome Home’) “Vinnie heard that song 2 million times. He loved that song.”
HellYeah also released the title track “Welcome Home” on Friday. Check out the video below.
HellYeah will be at The Cotillion August 13th. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
